Chapter 178: Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo

In the Todai Case, Mrs. Tsuda went missing on May 7th, Professor Tsuda reported it on May 10th, and on May 17th, the Metropolitan Police Department announced they had successfully solved the case; Professor Tsuda admitted to the fact of killing his wife before the cameras and chose to plead guilty.

The efficiency of the Metropolitan Police Department once again shocked all citizens of Japan, and in a press conference held on May 21st, Komiyama, as President of the University of Tokyo, and Furuya, the Dean of Agriculture and Forestry, formally apologized to the entire nation; President Komiyama stated that he and Dean Furuya would take full responsibility, would resign from their positions as President of the University of Tokyo and Dean of Agriculture and Forestry afterward, and apologized to the whole of society, saying the University of Tokyo had "caused trouble" for the citizens.

"Gomen nasai!" At the press conference, the top brass of the University of Tokyo, represented by President Komiyama, bowed in unison.

This was an extremely rare case for Japan, actually causing the University of Tokyo to voluntarily admit defeat and apologize, which led the entire society's attention to shift back from the paranormal urban legend of the Fuji TV female anchor in front of the Odaiba Building to the Todai Case.

The Metropolitan Police Department solved the case seven days after it was reported, and their outstanding performance over the past year had gained widespread recognition from the whole of society, with their reputation in the hearts of the citizens rising significantly; among them, the name of Uesugi Muneyuki once again caught the attention of all citizens.

To actually be able to make the University of Tokyo bow its head—is this the descendant of Lord Kenshin?

Great! Righteousness!

Great righteousness lies with the Eastern Army!

However, the praise belonging to the Metropolitan Police Department did not last long; soon, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Team immediately exposed the corruption case of Oshima, Chief of Investigation Division 1 of the Metropolitan Police Department.

It is reported that during the three years when Division Chief Oshima was transferred to the Ikebukuro area to serve as Station Chief, he received a total of 58 million yen in bribes through various methods and channels under different names!

Once this news was exposed, all citizens were shocked, and major television stations and newspapers immediately turned to report on this matter.

And the former Division Chief Oshima, who had already been arrested and was struggling to hold out during interrogation, discovered that he had actually been sold out by the District Public Prosecutors Office; furious and anxious, he tried every possible way to have someone ask Kirekawa Ryoichi, the Special Investigation Headquarters Chief of the District Public Prosecutors Office, questioning why the District Public Prosecutors Office had not kept its promise to protect him.

I already leaked information to you, so where are you people?

The response from the District Public Prosecutors Office was very cold: If the information you provided was effective, we would certainly protect you, but was your information effective?

Only then did Division Chief Oshima realize he had been abandoned by the District Public Prosecutors Office; having no other choice, he admitted to his crimes, was demoted from Investigation Division 1 Chief to a Patrol Sergeant at a Hokkaido Hakodate Koban, and voluntarily resigned to take responsibility before his transfer; moreover, unlike other Division Chiefs, this guy had no chance to take up positions in enterprises or local associations.

To the Japanese, this result was already considered a very severe punishment, and the whole of society was quite satisfied with the response from the Metropolitan Police Department; on the United States side, Professor William Edwards expressed satisfaction with the handling of the University of Tokyo, and after learning the inside story, he also expressed regret regarding Professor Tsuda's situation (he discovered that Professor Tsuda was the one who had been trying his best to protect his family, and was moved to tears); the Massachusetts Institute of Technology withdrew its cooperation with the University of Tokyo, and the FBI could no longer find an excuse to intervene.

Subsequently, the Metropolitan Police Department formally announced that a press conference would be held on May 24th, where Uesugi Muneyuki, the Special Appointed On-site Forensic Consultant for the Special Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Department, would recount the case details to all citizens.

On the television at the "Sushiro" conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Toshima, Tokyo, reports about the Todai Case were playing on a loop.

"Is the Metropolitan Police Department really this amazing lately?" a diner said below: "Even the District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Team has been suppressed!"

"The Metropolitan Police Department has been really strong during this period; I heard that the current Director General is also from the University of Tokyo, and he was actually able to withstand the pressure and make the University of Tokyo apologize voluntarily. Are we really living in Japan?"

"Yeah, in my memory, the only ones who could make the University of Tokyo apologize voluntarily were the Americans, right?"

"Sigh~ don't mention it. In my opinion, if the American side hadn't intervened, this case wouldn't have been solved so easily. Heh, we're just an air and naval base for the United States."

"Tsk, if it weren't for the American Lord MacArthur, would you still be able to eat conveyor belt sushi here? You'd probably still be harvesting rice in the fields for the 'Eight Corners of the World Under One Roof' and 'Seven Lives for the Nation' slogans, or catching crabs on a crab-canning ship! These corrupt parliamentary bureaucrats and lawmakers—who can control them besides the United States? No matter how big they talk, what does that have to do with my 250,000-yen monthly salary?"

"That's true, come on, let's drink, let's drink~"

"Beer~ beer~"

In the middle of the conveyor belt sushi seating, two men in their 50s wearing suits were sitting together.

"It was I who recommended you to Director Watanabe to serve as Investigation Division 1 Chief." Onoda, the Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat of the National Police Agency, ate a tuna sushi and said to the middle-aged man beside him—who was dressed like a gentleman, wearing a suit with suspenders, greasy slicked-back hair, not very tall, and wearing silver-rimmed glasses: "Oshima is finished, and the position of Division Chief is also vacant."

"So that's how it is." The middle-aged man in suspenders nodded calmly and picked up a plate of bean-curd sushi.

"The matter is serious, and I cannot shield Oshima," Director Onoda continued: "You know, I am not that kind of person."

"I did not interpret it that way..." The man in suspenders was quick-witted; seeing that Director Onoda had actually placed the finished sushi plate back onto the moving belt, he hurriedly grabbed it: "Do not put the plate back! You will cause trouble for the shop if you do that!"

"Sorry, I'm used to it." Director Onoda, despite clearly being scolded, had a very calm expression, as if it had nothing to do with him: "But having said that, it really is amazing. Uesugi Muneyuki-kun, do you really believe that he could discover the bone fragments at the bottom of the bucket with just his naked eyes, sense of smell, and hearing while the District Public Prosecutors Office was inspecting it?"

"Whether I believe it or not, it is already a fact." The man in the suit with suspenders revealed a faint smile and said: "The fact is, Professor Tsuda has already pleaded guilty."

"Indeed, to be able to make the University of Tokyo bow its head for it is truly remarkable." Director Onoda nodded in agreement: "But this is precisely why I want you to take the position of Investigation Division 1 Chief."

"Hai↓i↑?" the man in the suit with suspenders asked, puzzled.

"If I don't make a move now, Watanabe Eiji will gain actual control over the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Police Agency," Director Onoda said: "Relying on the previous cases, the entire Metropolitan Police Department is full of his people... The new Criminal Investigation Department Chief is Uchimura Kanji, who is also Eiji's confidant."

"Regarding that person, I have nothing to say." The man in the suit with suspenders clearly did not think much of this new Criminal Investigation Department Chief.

"And there is the Special Investigation Division; Uesugi-kun is truly too amazing. Investigation Division 1 can no longer do without him now," Director Onoda said: "Therefore, the only strategy now is for you to take on this key position of Investigation Division 1 Chief to limit Director Watanabe. You and Uesugi Muneyuki are very similar; you are both the best tools. It's a pity I don't have a daughter as beautiful as that; I only have two grandsons and one granddaughter."

"In any case, it's just a tool to be discarded after use." The man in the suit with suspenders smiled: "Just like when you kicked me away back then?"

Director Onoda looked at his old friend, a rare flicker of emotion in his eyes: "You still remember... Am I not trying my best to compensate you? We were both wrong at the time, I admit it."

"Is your best compensation keeping me in the Life Safety Division for over twenty years?" The man in the suit with suspenders was still smiling: "I am 56 years old this year. According to the rules within the Metropolitan Police Department, shouldn't one be preparing to step back to a secondary role after 55?"

For those on the Career Track, regardless of what position they hold after 55, they automatically rise by half a rank—for example, a Police Superintendent enjoys the treatment of a Police Superintendent, and a Police Superintendent enjoys the treatment of an Assistant Commissioner—but they will no longer be allowed to hold important positions.

"But besides you, I have no one more suitable, and this candidate must also be acceptable to the criminal faction, so it can only be you, Sugishita Ukyo. Only you, this Sugishita, can deal with that Uesugi of the Special Investigation Division."

"You still haven't changed; you like to force people to do things." The tone of the man in the suit with suspenders carried a hint of helplessness.

"Wrong, I just like to force you," Director Onoda said: "I know you don't want to team up with me again, but I've forced you again. You must be very unhappy, right?"

"Hmm, that is indeed the case." The man in the suit with suspenders said calmly.

"But I need you to help me. There's no other way; help me one more time, Sugishita Ukyo!" Director Onoda thought for a moment, then suddenly left his seat, knelt on both knees in a standard dogeza, and pressed his head against the carpet: "Do I need to beg you?"

"Don't play these boring tricks." Sugishita Ukyo, the Police Superintendent and Section Chief of the Life Safety Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, did not fall for it, even though the eyes of the entire conveyor belt sushi restaurant were fixed on them.

"True, this trick doesn't work on you." Director Onoda stood up naturally, and then took out a transfer order signed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary from his person: "Then how about this trick? This is an order from the Cabinet. It is the sacred duty of the police to obey orders."

"............ This time it has turned into a threat?" Sugishita Ukyo was truly helpless regarding this old friend.

"In order to get you to accept the appointment, I am capable of doing anything!" Director Onoda said with a hint of smugness: "No way around it, after all, my older brother is the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Do you want to see other methods?"

"............ I really can't do anything about you." Sugishita Ukyo was silent for a long time before finally agreeing.

"Very good, Sugishita Ukyo, Investigation Division 1 Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Department!" Director Onoda smiled: "Your official appointment letter will arrive immediately."

"Hai↓i↑?" Sugishita Ukyo's expression changed slightly: "Wait, then what is in your hand?"

"Oh, this is just a routine official document from the Cabinet to the National Police Agency." Director Onoda narrowed his eyes: "Didn't I say, in order to get you to accept the appointment, I am capable of doing anything!"

Sugishita Ukyo felt at a loss regarding this and could only remain silent.

I fell for Onoda's trick again!

(End of chapter)