Chapter 16: , Transfer Her to Otsuka Station

One day later, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, surgical ward, VIP room.

The bedside table next to the pristine hospital bed was covered in fresh flowers; the sunlight from outside the room shone in through the transparent glass, and the room was filled with the scent of cleaning agents. The air conditioner was running steadily, and several ropes hung from the railing above. Uesugi Muneyuki lay on the hospital bed just like that, receiving a personal examination from Dean Ukai.

A dense crowd stood behind the Dean: Professor Okochi from the Department of Pathology, Professor Zaizen from the First Surgery Department, Professor Imazu from the Second Surgery Department, Professor Nosaka from the Department of Orthopedics, and professors from other departments had all arrived.

The scene was so grand that it made Uesugi Muneyuki feel a bit uncomfortable. Seeming to notice the change in his mood, Dean Ukai said with a chuckle, "No need to mind it, Uesugi-kun. We just finished this week's regular meeting and stopped by to see you. Let me see, let me see... Oh my, it is truly fortunate. You neither injured your bones nor damaged your nerves; it was only a flesh wound. You will be fine after resting for a few days."

"I have troubled you, Dean Ukai. I am truly grateful that you came to see me yourself." Uesugi Muneyuki had no fondness for the standard fake smile on this old man's face, nor did he have any interest in this kind of hollow, polite conversation, so he pressed on: "How are things at the police station? Has the female suspect been caught?"

"I heard she has been caught, Uesugi-kun. You don't need to worry. Hearing that you were injured, Chief Kanazawa and Section Chief Sudo of the police station led the team out personally. They gathered the police force from over thirty Kobans and conducted a dragnet search, catching the female suspect—no, she should be called a female criminal—in just one day." Dean Ukai said casually, his face smiling: "However, for the specific details, you should ask the police station."

"Professor Okochi, you really have taught a good student." Dean Ukai narrowed his eyes, confirming that Uesugi Muneyuki had only suffered a flesh wound, and smiled like a blooming flower.

In the cooperation between the hospital and the police station, the police station is the client and the hospital is the contractor. Normally, the contractor is always at a disadvantage when facing the client, but this time, since the problem clearly lay with the client, it was different. It was foreseeable that in the future, Otsuka Police Station would automatically be a step below Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

"Uesugi-kun, rest well." Professor Okochi did not say much. The old professor simply took the initiative to walk over, nod at Uesugi Muneyuki, and pat his left leg: "You have worked hard."

Just then, a commotion came from the corridor, and a resonant baritone voice roared at the top of his lungs: "Where is he? My dear son, Uesugi Muneyuki, where is he?!"

"Darling, don't go so fast!" A soprano voice followed the baritone, and the sound of high-heeled shoes went *clack-clack-clack*.

Voiceprint unlocked. Upon hearing these two voices, Uesugi Muneyuki immediately closed his eyes.

They were here.

The door to the VIP room was pushed open roughly. Uesugi Muneyuki's father, Uesugi Hironori, was wearing a black-based kimono with the white Uesugi bamboo-sparrow crest, clutching a large crocodile-skin bag, and rushed over in three or two steps, pushing through the crowd: "Yukimatsumaru, don't be afraid, Daddy is here! Daddy and Mommy have come to see you! How is it, do you feel okay? Child, the doctor said your hand function is not affected, that is truly great! Daddy brought you your favorite Sendai grilled beef tongue, and Mommy even made you sea bream tempura and fried shrimp!"

After the barrage of words, tears were almost falling from Uesugi Hironori's face.

"Father, I am fine!" Uesugi Muneyuki really wanted to pretend he didn't know this guy: "It was just a flesh wound, I'll be fine after resting for a few days."

"Is that so? That's good." Uesugi Hironori must have asked the doctor beforehand. Seeing his youngest son in good spirits, the expression on his face immediately changed from sunny to overcast. He turned around, both angry and resentful: "Dean Ukai, how on earth is your hospital running things?!"

"I am terribly sorry." Dean Ukai had no intention of arguing. The dozen or so professors in the entire hospital immediately gave the most standard bow of apology, from the Dean down to Professor Iwata outside the door, all bending over to express their apologies.

Lying on the bed, Uesugi Muneyuki understood everything completely.

Dean Ukai and all the professors were here because they knew his father would come, and his father came because he was certain all the professors would be here.

These two old foxes!

Sure enough, both sides raised the issue high and lowered it gently. The professors dispersed, leaving only Dean Ukai and Uesugi Hironori to talk privately.

His father pulled Dean Ukai aside and whispered: "This matter is not easy to handle, Ukai-kun. I only have two sons, and Yukimatsumaru has finally achieved some results. The Metropolitan Police Department has also received the report. Ukai-kun, you are the Medical Department Director, your words carry a lot of weight!"

"The police station called to apologize and promised to pay the full medical expenses. This incident was truly caused by the mistake of that female Patrol Officer Takasaka. It is very difficult for our hospital to handle as well," Dean Ukai said unhurriedly: "In the end, it is unavoidable for a forensic pathologist to go to the scene; there is always danger. It was the police who failed to provide proper protection, right?"

"That is true. So, if you wish, Ukai-kun, let's leave it at that for the hospital side. However, could the hospital consider Yukimatsumaru's transition from an intern to an official forensic pathologist? After all, our Yonezawa Uesugi Clan is ranked quite high among the 1,103 Peerage families in Kasumigaseki. If the hospital doesn't give some sort of explanation, it really wouldn't be very reasonable, would it?" Uesugi Hironori leaned forward, smiling until the corners of his eyes crinkled: "You won't lose out by making a friend."

"Heh heh, as expected of the Chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Exchange Association, you really know how to put pressure on people." Dean Ukai did not push back anymore. The old fox pursed his lips, thinking to himself that he had been caught by the handle this time: "Fine, I understand your request."

The two old foxes finished their bout, and Uesugi Hironori was beaming with joy.

"Hey! Yukimatsumaru! You are going to finish your peer review! Come and thank Dean Ukai!"

"I am deeply grateful!" Uesugi Muneyuki immediately got out of bed to thank him.

Just like that, Uesugi Muneyuki became the physician to finish his internship at Tokyo Medical and Dental University the fastest in history. His peer review time was only 3 months, while the normal peer review time is two years.

"What do you plan to do about the police station?" The deal reached, Dean Ukai and Uesugi Hironori immediately turned to the next topic. The old fox said in a neither-yin-nor-yang tone: "You must hold the bowl of water level."

"The police station will have to change their approach... Yukimatsumaru, don't worry, the blood will not be shed in vain. Father will not let you lose any of the benefits you deserve." Uesugi Hironori gave Uesugi Muneyuki a reassuring look: "See you in the *Asahi Shimbun*."

————I am the separator line for "See you in the news"————

The next day, Bunkyo Ward, Otsuka Police Station, Tokyo.

Section Chief Sudo of the Criminal Investigation Division had been working overtime for a whole day because he had personally led the team in the dragnet search yesterday. Just as he had caught the suspect and was exhausted and wanted to go back to rest, a call from the Metropolitan Police Department forced Section Chief Sudo to pull himself together to answer: "Hello, is that Fujido? Thank you for yesterday."

"Sudo, this is bad. Have you seen the news on the Yahoo website?"

"News?"

Section Chief Sudo hurriedly opened Yahoo, and among the hot topics, there was one that stood out.

"Detective from Otsuka Station, Bunkyo Ward, causes injury to a new forensic pathologist due to poor arrest"

A few drops of icy water dripped onto the forehead of Sudo's butt, and then a hailstorm rolled down from the top of his head following that trace of coldness!

This time, he was screwed!

30 minutes later, Chiyoda Ward, Sakuradamon, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

A large round table filled most of the room. At one end of the conference room, five inspectors from the Police Affairs Department sat in a row. On the other side, Sudo's butt, Tanaka Laodeng, Kuwabara Mako, and Takasaka sat.

The lead Police Affairs Inspector took out a printed news article: "The day before yesterday, police officers from Otsuka Station in Bunkyo Ward, Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka, Police Sergeant Kuwabara, and Patrol Officer Takasaka, in the process of arresting a female suspect, watched as she went to the kitchen to retrieve a knife and stab the forensic pathologist who had followed them to the scene, even though they had already controlled her. During the second arrest, they let her escape due to carelessness."

The Police Affairs Inspector widened his eyes, pressed his hands on the table, and leaned forward, expressionless: "Is this true?"

Section Chief Sudo was under immense pressure. He wiped the sweat from his head: "This, please allow us to explain..."

"I, am, asking, you, a, question!" The inspector clasped his hands together, enunciating every word: "I am asking you, did you not stop her from going to the kitchen to get the knife? Did you let the female suspect stab the forensic pathologist right in front of you?"

"............" Section Chief Sudo was not at the scene, and when he cast his gaze toward Tanaka beside him and saw the pale complexion of his subordinate, Sudo knew it was over.

"Answer me!!!!" Seeing that they were not speaking, the inspector angrily slammed his hand on the table.

The carpet was shaking, the tabletop was trembling, and the ceiling echoed: "We are police, police who protect the lives, safety, and interests of all citizens. We are different from others. You do not have the right to remain silent here!!!"

"We wanted to enter the apartment at the time, but there were many of the suspect's personal items placed inside the apartment." Tanaka Laodeng spoke with difficulty: "Under these circumstances, according to regulations, we men must avoid getting involved in gender disputes, so..."

"So you let Takasaka enter the room?" The inspector drew out his tone: "Takasaka, you just watched the suspect go to the kitchen to get a knife and hurt someone?"

"I... it was too fast at the time, I didn't even know what happened. I thought she wanted to go get a drink." Patrol Officer Takasaka lowered her head uneasily: "It's all... it's all Uesugi-san's fault for being so strange! As soon as he entered the room, he suddenly stated the modus operandi and the method of the crime. It's normal for the suspect to react when there is no evidence!"

"No evidence? Heh heh! You say there is no evidence?!" The inspector from the Metropolitan Police Department sneered and said: "Do you know that on the very day of the crime, Yamada Aika went to Shinjuku Kabukicho and ordered a 500,000 yen champagne tower for a host?"

Sudo, Tanaka, and Kuwabara's eyes shook.

Is this the intelligence capability of the Metropolitan Police Department?

"And do you know that the autopsy results from the Forensics Division and the University of Tokyo Medical Department are almost exactly the same as Uesugi Muneyuki's conclusions?" The inspector hummed lightly, clearly suppressing his anger to the extreme: "So the question is! When the suspect took the knife, why didn't you fire your guns? Why?!"

Regarding the inspector's question, Tanaka and Kuwabara truly had grievances they could not voice.

That's right, as detectives, they were undoubtedly armed. According to the Police Law, if the other party is holding a knife and there is a possibility of a threat to life, firing is permitted.

But regulations are regulations! When it comes to specific implementation, unless it reaches a point of absolute necessity or the other party fires first, if you take the initiative to fire, it will become very troublesome afterward!

Getting into trouble and leaving a stain on their careers would be the least of it; the existence of the four great mountains—the perpetrator's family, public opinion, the District Public Prosecutors Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department—determined that people like them at local stations would never use their guns to solve problems if there was even the slightest room for maneuver.

Moreover, if they had fired their guns at the time, the Inspector's question now would certainly be: "The opponent only had a kitchen knife, why did you open fire?"

This is the Metropolitan Police Department, and this is a local station.

"Cat got your tongue?" The Inspector tilted his head, full of disdain: "Last question, Takasaka, how were you able to be handcuffed in reverse when the female perpetrator had already been subdued? Are you really a Detective?"

"I... I just, she, she said..." Takasaka was on the verge of tears, and she stammered as she tried to compose herself for a long while: "She said she was in pain, so I let her go first to get the handcuffs, I thought she was so pitiful..."

As soon as the word "pitiful" came out, Sudo, Tanaka, and Kuwabara all closed their eyes in agony.

It's over.

"Pitiful? Hahahahahaha! Hahahahahaha ah hahahahahaha!" Upon hearing this word, the Inspector burst into wild laughter, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably; he stood up abruptly, stumbling slightly due to the speed of his movement, and strode across the carpet in his leather shoes, walking around the round table toward the four-person team from the local station: "Pitiful, is it? A Detective, instead of pitying the deceased, pities a perpetrator who assaulted a police officer and committed murder?"

"You four are done for." Having said that, the Inspector couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath on them.

But just at this moment, a knock came from outside the conference room door.

"Knock~ knock~"

"Please come in."

Stepping into the conference room was a face of indescribable beauty; long, black, silky hair hung down from her ears, soft yet carrying a hint of solemnity; her features were exquisite and refined without losing their softness, and her slightly parted red lips and sweet, bright, pure eyes carried an inherent, carefree arrogance and majesty; just a single expression from her was enough to make the cold air from the room's central air conditioning drop by two degrees.

The young woman was dressed in the standard Metropolitan Police Department office uniform, blue and white, with a tie and shirt; beneath her police skirt were slender legs wrapped in pantyhose, the thin, flesh-colored surface fully revealing the fairness of the skin beneath.

Her slightly permed shoulder-length hair was curled at the ends, and the bangs on her forehead flipped up playfully; her face, comparable to an angel's and exquisite enough to make one fall in love at a single glance, was covered in a layer of frost.

Personnel Division of the Police Affairs Department at the Metropolitan Police Department, Watanabe Minami, Police Inspector, the only daughter of the incoming Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji who takes office next month, the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Police Inspector Watanabe? May I ask..." Although the Inspector from the Police Affairs Department was one rank higher than this Face of the Metropolitan Police Department, the previously arrogant Inspector did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent in her presence.

"The matter ends here. Uesugi has entrusted someone to present a letter of apology to Otsuka Station regarding this incident; he hopes that this matter will not affect the cooperative relationship between him and your police station." The young woman's tone did not fluctuate in the slightest: "The Metropolitan Police Department has comprehensively considered his plea, so the handling this time is: cancellation of paid leave, writing a letter of repentance, and the cancellation of the six-month bonus for the four of you."

The local four-person team felt a huge weight lifted: "Thank you very much!"

Little brother Uesugi! You really are a kind-hearted person!

"Hmph, you got lucky this time." The Inspector's teeth itched with frustration, but he was helpless, so he signaled that Sudo and the others could get lost.

As the people from the local station left, the Inspector watched the doorway and paced over to the young woman's side: "From the current look of it, this Miss Takasaka has absolutely no capacity to be a criminal investigator; such a person is not fit to stay in the Criminal Investigation Division, transfer her back to office work... Otsuka Station has repeatedly requested the transfer of a capable female Detective to assist with cases, but who can be transferred?"

The Metropolitan Police Department had also considered external assignments, but after discussing it, several Inspectors concluded that sending a female police officer who lacked professional ability to a local area would be a true disaster.

However, Miss Takasaka would not have it easy either; a "major dereliction of duty" had been recorded in her file, and she likely had no hope of promotion for the rest of her life.

The young woman did not answer immediately; she picked up the report on the table with great interest.

Uesugi Muneyuki—this was the second time she had heard this name, and the interval was so short.

Interesting, too interesting!

What a formidable guy; his on-site autopsy judgment was exactly the same as the judgment reached by the University of Tokyo Medical Department after working overtime to perform a dissection!

"Transfer her there," the young woman said softly, picking up the report and the accompanying Uesugi Muneyuki file.

"Her? Who?"

"Patrol Officer Ikeda Erena, transfer her to Otsuka Station." The young woman's cold, arrogant eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of her mouth lifted into dimples, bright and light: "Isn't she the one who best meets the requirements of Otsuka Station? An excellent and capable field officer."

"Ah?! Her???"

The Inspector was extremely surprised by the young woman's decision.

Transfer that Ikeda to Otsuka Station?

This wasn't helping; this was simply causing trouble.

This is the second update. Guess who the prototype for this Ikeda is? I don't think it should be hard to guess.





(End of chapter)