Chapter 112

In the bright, warm winter sun, inside a VIP room decorated in Taisho style, Uesugi Muneyuki finished reading Watanabe Minami's proposal on a soft sofa chair.

The Special Mission Unit, is it?

It must be said, Miss Minami had a beautiful vision; her meaning was simple: she would serve as the Chief of the Special Mission Unit herself, and have Okada Keibu serve as the Acting Unit Chief. These two Career Track police inspectors—one responsible for holding down the fort and coordinating the overall situation, the other responsible for frontline operations—could provide the greatest support to Uesugi Muneyuki.

As for other police forces, they would naturally be drawn from the elite within the Metropolitan Police Department. In fact, according to Miss Minami's concept, the three of them were actually enough for the Special Mission Unit, because just like the Joint Special Investigation Headquarters, if a case occurred in Tokyo, other units from Investigation Division 1 and Division 2 would all be dispatched, and the Special Mission Unit could simply go along with them.

If it were a case occurring elsewhere in the country, the Special Mission Unit would simply cooperate with the local Prefectural Police Headquarters after being dispatched.

If it were more serious, they would draw elite personnel from the Metropolitan Police Department to assist.

It must be said, this design was truly to Uesugi Muneyuki's taste.

Although there had been no direct confrontation or active attacks during these few incidents, Uesugi Muneyuki felt he had offended the District Public Prosecutors Office quite significantly; even if he wanted to join them now, he reckoned there was no chance.

The Metropolitan Police Department, on the other hand, had always treated Uesugi Muneyuki well. With Ikeda Erena by his side, Miss Minami as a confidante, and the help of Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji, their few collaborations, while having friction, were overall quite pleasant.

Moreover, the Public Security Police had shown Uesugi Muneyuki several very important capabilities this time—they could conduct illegal searches, make arrests without evidence, and distribute eyes and ears across the entire country.

Uesugi Muneyuki still had doubts about the existence of the Inner World. Although he might not have a use for it now, perhaps one day he would have to rely on the power of the Public Security Police for help. Besides, his way of investigating cases was to shoot the arrow first and then draw the target; if the deceased did not know the murderer or simply did not understand how they had died, it was inevitable that he would feel tied up.

Facing the earnest and expectant gazes of Watanabe Eiji and Watanabe Minami, Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth: "Listen to me first, Superintendent General Watanabe..."

"This is a racetrack, just call me Uncle. And Minami, just call her by her name," Watanabe Eiji waved his hand. "You speak first, are you willing?"

"Of course I am willing, it's just..." Uesugi Muneyuki's words made Watanabe Eiji and Watanabe Minami frown deeply.

What do you mean "it's just"? Translate that for me, what does "it's just" mean?

Was he planning to politely decline?

"Uncle Watanabe, Minami, you should know that I am still a student, right?" Uesugi Muneyuki smiled bitterly and pushed the proposal back to Miss Minami. "This Special Mission Unit proposal is excellent, and I also really like being with Minami, but I am graduating next April!"

"It is already late November now. I have to prepare for my graduation thesis, and then there is the Specialized Physician qualification exam in May, which I must also prepare for." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head. "So, let alone the possibility of forming the Special Mission Unit right now, I came here this time to tell you that for the next period until May of next year, I have to focus on my graduation thesis and exam preparation. As for the Metropolitan Police Department and Otsuka Station, I can only put them aside for the time being."

"Oh!!!"

So that was it!

Watanabe Eiji and Watanabe Minami suddenly realized. The father and daughter widened their eyes almost simultaneously and leaned back in tactical retreat together.

That's right, Uesugi Muneyuki's previous performance had been god-like, and coupled with his precociousness and the fact that he had skipped his peer review, they had forgotten that he was still a medical student at the Medical and Dental University!

He had to write a graduation thesis, and he had to prepare for the Specialized Physician exam.

Then Uesugi Muneyuki's meaning was very simple: the Special Mission Unit could be formed, and the cooperation could continue, but everything had to be pushed until after the Specialized Physician exam in May of next year.

"So, Uesugi-kun, you are still willing to be with Minami?" Watanabe Eiji thought this answer was better than he had imagined. He had been a bit worried that his daughter was being too aggressive, and having this buffer period was actually better.

"To be precise, it has to be her," Uesugi Muneyuki nodded with a smile.

Watanabe Eiji was rendered speechless by this brat's bluntness. As a father, hearing words that sounded like a marriage proposal made his mouth twist in anger. He crossed his arms over his chest, looked at the ceiling, and clenched his fists in silence.

If it weren't for the fact that it was you, kid, if anyone else said this in front of me, I would have beaten your face to a pulp!

It was one thing for him to have his own thoughts, but it was another for Uesugi Muneyuki to say it to his face.

As for Miss Minami, she turned away with her arms crossed as if by a conditioned reflex.

"This... that... Uesugi, you saying it like that... I mean..." Miss Minami's head was in a mess. She babbled incoherently for a long while before pinching the hem of her coat, her face as red as an apple, and muttered: "It's too direct for you to say it like that, Uesugi-kun! I know my investigative level isn't great, I don't have enough field experience, my marksmanship is average, and I'm not good at fighting..."

"You have great self-awareness! My Miss Minami!" Uesugi Muneyuki nodded in shock. "I thought you didn't know!"

"Ya-ya-ya-ya! I'm going to kill you!!!" Miss Minami was so angry at Uesugi Muneyuki's words that smoke was coming out of her head. She lunged at him, grabbing his face with both hands and pulling and kneading it hard.

I didn't tell you to admit it! I meant for you to deny it and then praise me!

You idiot Uesugi! Die!

Watanabe Eiji finally understood how his daughter usually got along with Uesugi Muneyuki. As a father, he subconsciously showed a strange expression, looking both comforted and sour: "Minami!"

Miss Minami then stopped and sat to the side, huffing.

"Hehe, in any case, I have stated my most basic requirement: if the Special Mission Unit is formed, Minami must be the Chief. I feel that I am very compatible with her, and we are a very suitable pair." Uesugi Muneyuki's words turned Miss Minami's anger into joy, though she could only stubbornly turn her head away to hide the corners of her mouth curling up.

That's more like it!

"Hmm, anything else?" Watanabe Eiji nodded; this counted as reaching a preliminary consensus.

"Second, I want an independent office." Uesugi Muneyuki held up his second requirement. "I hate being squeezed into a room with a bunch of people."

In the Metropolitan Police Department, even those at the Superintendent level were not guaranteed a private office, but Uesugi Muneyuki did not like noise.

"That's no problem. Although it's a bit against the rules, it's still possible to clear one out for you," Watanabe Eiji agreed readily.

"Third, when the time comes, can you transfer Police Sergeant Ikeda Erena from Otsuka Station to the Special Mission Unit?" Uesugi Muneyuki continued to make requests. "I like working with her."

"Ikeda Erena? Who is that?" Watanabe Eiji was stunned.

"It's that Judo policewoman from the Fuji TV Case! Arashi no Yama!" Miss Minami immediately reminded him.

"Oh, right, there is such a person." Watanabe Eiji finally remembered.

She was just a Police Sergeant; as the Superintendent General, he didn't care at all.

Seeing that her father was about to agree, Miss Minami immediately said: "It's fine, I can have her transferred from Otsuka Station to the Headquarters."

Thus, both sides agreed that after Uesugi Muneyuki finished his exams in May next year, the Special Mission Unit would be officially established. At first, it would just be a non-permanent organization, and they would find a way to convert it into an official one later. Everyone was happy.

After the discussion, Uesugi Muneyuki wanted to take his leave, but Watanabe Eiji signaled for him to wait a moment.

Soon, Mouri Takayoshi, the Criminal Investigation Department Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, wearing a casual cashmere sweater, and Okada Masayoshi, dressed simply in a plain sweater and trousers with an old tweed coat over them, arrived.

The five-person group from the racetrack last time was complete.

"Daisaburo, your appointment will come down next April," Watanabe Eiji said first, addressing Chief Mouri. "The position is Prefectural Police Chief of Chiba Prefecture."

"Eh?!" Mouri Takayoshi looked at his current superior and former superior in disbelief upon hearing this appointment.

He was the Chief of the Joint Special Investigation Headquarters for the Chiba Prefecture Serial Murder Case!

He had thought he would be promoted to Deputy Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department, or at the very least, a position of real power like Police Affairs Department Chief, Director of Criminal Investigation, Chief Inspector, or Head of the Imperial Palace Police Headquarters. Even taking a step back, being the President of the Police University or a Regional Bureau Director of the National Police Agency would have been fine!

How could it be the Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters? Who would go to a place like that?

Being transferred from the center of the Metropolitan Police Department to the Boso Peninsula region was equivalent to exile in Japan.

"My meaning is to promote you to Assistant Commissioner first. Daisaburo, there are no positions available right now. Commissioner Kaneko and I discussed it; you go to Chiba Prefecture for about a year first, and then I will transfer you back," Watanabe Eiji said calmly. "We will see how to arrange things then."

"I still want to stay by your side." Department Manager Mouri was somewhat unwilling.

"Hehe, rest assured, Mouri. You have been with me for so many years; don't you trust me? In a year and a half at most, I will definitely transfer you back to the main headquarters." Watanabe Eiji pacified his subordinate.

Since the old leader had said as much, Department Manager Mouri could only agree.

"Okada, as for you, transfer to the Thirteenth Subsection together with Minami. Megure has been promoted; Minami, you will serve as the Thirteenth Subsection Chief, and Okada, you will serve as the Thirteenth Subsection Acting Unit Chief. Before the Special Mission Unit is established, accumulate more experience."

"Yes." Watanabe Minami and Okada Masayoshi both replied in the affirmative.

The five of them chatted idly for a few moments in the VIP box at the racetrack, and then Uesugi Muneyuki took his leave.

Watching the young man depart, Watanabe Eiji told Mouri Takayoshi and Okada Masayoshi about the plan for the Special Mission Unit, and only then did he ask his daughter: "What is the relationship between Ikeda and Uesugi? Why does he want to have her transferred over?"

"Ikeda is a gift I arranged for him." Miss Minami's eyes narrowed, her intelligent gaze revealing a cunning glint: "Uesugi-kun doesn't have many flaws, except that he is rather lecherous."

Hearing this, Watanabe Eiji, Mouri Takayoshi, and even Okada Masayoshi were unimpressed.

What kind of flaw is it for a man to be lecherous?

For these members of the Career Track, they don't fear you having desires; they only fear you having none!

"So you mean to choose a concubine for Uesugi-kun within the main headquarters?" Watanabe Eiji said quite naturally: "Just handle the arrangements."

"This, wouldn't it be hard to arrange?" Okada Masayoshi thought to himself, isn't Ikeda Erena's reputation in the police force quite poor? A whistleblower fanatic who loves to offend her superiors: "It's normal for those two to have something happen if they are paired up like that, but will that Ikeda be willing to submit to your arrangements? What if she blows the whistle?"

"Rest assured." Miss Minami's smile was like a blooming flower, sweet as honey, and cunning as a fox: "I have a way."

"Through the issue of Ikeda's secondment, when the time comes, whether it is Uesugi-kun or Ikeda, both will have to obediently submit to me, ehehehehe~"

(End of this chapter)