Chapter 190: The Toyokawa Group Accountant Suicide Case

A while later, when Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami knocked on the door of Department Manager Uchimura, this guy had completely changed his tune; upon seeing the two, he took the initiative to stand up, enthusiastic and excited: "It's Uesugi-kun and Watanabe! Please, sit, please sit! Welcome!"

"Hello, Department Manager Uchimura!" Watanabe Minami smiled gracefully: "I've brought Uesugi-kun here to receive his appointment papers as a Forensic Examiner!"

"Oh ho ho ho, I knew Miss Watanabe couldn't wait; I've had them ready for a long time!" Department Manager Uchimura said enthusiastically, then immediately took the appointment letter from the desk and handed it to Uesugi Muneyuki: "Uesugi-kun, although it may be overstepping, I still must ask you: are you willing to take the position of Forensic Examiner for the Special Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Department?"

"............" Uesugi Muneyuki looked at Department Manager Uchimura's behavior and really couldn't hold it together.

After obtaining the Vajra Yaksha Dharma Image, Uesugi Muneyuki's vision, sense of smell, and hearing had all improved significantly; as long as he wished, he could completely listen to movements in other places through gaps.

Just how arrogant and rude Department Manager Uchimura had been a moment ago was exactly how enthusiastic and exuberant he was now.

Looking again at the plaque hanging on the wall in Department Manager Uchimura's office with the words "Open and Aboveboard" written on it, paired with his current expression, it was truly hard not to laugh.

He remembered that the one hanging on Watanabe Eiji's wall seemed to be "Clean Politics and Harmonious People."

The one his own grandfather hung at home was "Where There Is a Will, There Is a Way."

However, on the way here just now, Miss Minami had already told him that compared to Mouri Takayoshi, who had served as Watanabe Eiji's subordinate for a long time, Department Manager Uchimura had joined later and lacked the camaraderie of having fought together, so naturally, he had to pledge his loyalty more forcefully and aggressively; otherwise, the position of Criminal Investigation Department Chief would not have fallen to him.

As for Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo, Watanabe Eiji had been forced to compromise with Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda, so naturally, he didn't have a pleasant look for him; Department Manager Uchimura understood quickly, coming up with threats and intimidation right away.

It was to be expected that Sugishita Ukyo would have a very difficult time as Investigation Division 1 Chief; the Metropolitan Police Department was now full of Watanabe Eiji's people.

However, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda backing him, it wouldn't be that easy to drive Sugishita Ukyo out.

The future Investigation Division 1 would be interesting.

"It is a great honor." Uesugi Muneyuki still accepted the appointment letter: "I am deeply grateful, Department Manager Uchimura."

"Hehe, in private, you can just call me Uncle Uchimura." Department Manager Uchimura patted Uesugi Muneyuki on the shoulder and smiled: "From now on, our Criminal Investigation Department will be counting on you! Megure relied on you to become a Management Officer, and Mouri-san relied on you to take the post of Chiba Prefecture Headquarters Chief; Uesugi-kun, you mustn't favor one over the other!"

"Then, please look forward to the performance of our Special Investigation Division!" Miss Minami said gracefully.

After taking office, Department Manager Uchimura had quietly inquired and learned that Watanabe Minami and Uesugi Muneyuki were dating.

And seeing him like this, Uesugi Muneyuki also knew that he would probably see this new Criminal Investigation Department Chief in the VIP lounge at the Oi Racecourse very soon.

Both sides exchanged words with tacit understanding; they said nothing, yet they said everything.

Since they were all on the same side now, Uesugi Muneyuki took the opportunity to ask about the Toyokawa Group accountant suicide case.

Seeing that Uesugi Muneyuki was interested, Department Manager Uchimura described the general situation of the case to Uesugi Muneyuki, Watanabe Minami, and the others.

Yesterday morning, on a station bench in Shinagawa Ward, the body of Yamabuki Ryuhei, an accountant in the finance department of Toyokawa Trading Company, a subsidiary of the Toyokawa Group, was discovered; the time of death was around dawn, and the cause of death was poisoning; after a brief investigation, the Ebara Police Station concluded it was suicide, meaning he had drunk barley tea containing toxins.

"What kind of toxin?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked with interest.

"Judging from the stomach contents, the thermos at the scene, and the vomit, the poison was Aconitine." Department Manager Uchimura said: "Actually, there are many suicides by Aconitine, but the headquarters is mainly concerned about another matter, which is the Toyokawa Group."

"That super-large group that has a lot of trade with overseas?" Miss Minami asked with interest.

"No, no, it's about the promissory note fraud case that Investigation Division 2 has been investigating recently." Department Manager Uchimura said: "According to reports, it seems that Toyokawa Trading Company, a subsidiary of the Toyokawa Group, was defrauded; that is, after both parties signed the contract, the other party exploited a loophole in the contract, and Toyokawa Trading Company did not receive money, but instead received a promissory note worth 16.8 billion... And while this case is still under investigation, the accountant from the finance department of Toyokawa Trading Company met with an accident; this matter is still quite suspicious."

"However, Station Master Kurosu of the Ebara Station insists that it is a suicide..."

"Interesting, then our Special Investigation Division will go and take a look too." Uesugi Muneyuki became interested.

"Oh? Uesugi-kun, you want to go take a look too?" A hesitant look appeared on Department Manager Uchimura's face; on one hand, there might be many things involved behind this case, and sending Sugishita Ukyo to investigate was because he valued his sense of justice to investigate to the end, and he also hoped that he would offend many people because of his sense of justice.

On the other hand, this was also the first case after he took office as Criminal Investigation Department Chief, and handling it well was also very important.

If Sugishita Ukyo handled it well, the credit would of course be the credit that Department Manager Uchimura designated; if Sugishita Ukyo offended people because of the investigation, it would of course be the problem of the Division Chief himself.

"Actually, it makes sense to call it a suicide, Uesugi-kun; you must be very tired after just finishing the Todai Case and participating in the formation of the Special Investigation Division, right? Do you want to rest for a few more days?" Department Manager Uchimura decided to kick the ball to Uesugi Muneyuki.

"No need, let our Special Investigation Division be dispatched; I'm quite interested in this case too." Uesugi Muneyuki smiled: "At least this time, we don't have to look for a body."

Inducing Uesugi Muneyuki to take the initiative to request it, Department Manager Uchimura's face immediately blossomed into a smile: "Really? Ah, that's a huge help! Uesugi-kun! And Division Chief Watanabe, then I'll leave it to your Special Investigation Division; if you need anything, just tell me, and I will arrange it!"

"Then, we will prepare and set off." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, and Watanabe Minami, who was by his side, saw this and followed him to take her leave.

"Wait, Forensic Examiner Uesugi, Division Chief Watanabe." Department Manager Uchimura paused, then continued: "My wife has pickled a lot of delicious pickles at home; when the time comes, I'll send you a jar, shall I?"

Uesugi Muneyuki stopped in his tracks: "Then please remember, Department Manager Uchimura, I don't eat very spicy pickles!"

"Hahaha, that goes without saying!" Department Manager Uchimura laughed heartily.

The two walked out of the department manager's office, and Watanabe Minami blinked her bright, large eyes and asked: "Why did you decide to investigate this case?"

"There's a body, why not investigate it?" Uesugi Muneyuki stroked his chin: "And I always feel that there must be something behind this case; Minami, do you remember what happened to the former Division Chief Oshima at the Ikebukuro Station? I suspect that the Ebara Station and the Toyokawa Group have a similar relationship."

"If you put it that way, indeed." Miss Minami pondered: "Station Master Kurosu is indeed about to reach mandatory retirement age."

"So, let's go over and take a look."

"Mm."

In the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division 1, Police Inspector Shiratori of the Second Subsection and Police Inspector Shimano of the Fourth Unit hung up the phone: "Understood!"

"Investigation Division 1, dispatch requested!"

The dozens of detectives from the Second, Third, and Fourth Subsections who were on standby in Investigation Division 1 immediately stood up, tidied their attire, put their luggage on carts, and set out collectively.

On the way, several police inspectors began to discuss their new Investigation Division 1 Chief.

"Letting a Life Safety Division Chief serve as the Investigation Division 1 Chief, is the Director General serious?" Police Inspector Shiratori of the Second Subsection said helplessly: "And he's already 56 years old."

"Yes, Division Chief Sugishita seems to be the oldest Investigation Division 1 Chief from the Career Track in history." Kashiwagi Jin of the Third Subsection was full of confidence and high spirits: "But he is a graduate of the University of Tokyo like you and me; perhaps that is exactly why he gained the favor of Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda and Director General Watanabe?"

At this moment, Police Inspector Shimano of the Fourth Unit suddenly spoke up: "This guy Sugishita Ukyo has always been very difficult to get along with; apart from someone named Kameyama Kaoru and the current National Police Agency Public Security Department Counselor, there has been no one who could get along with him for a long time; the last person who partnered with him ended up in the hospital with a perforated stomach."

Police Inspector Shimano of the Fourth Unit was from the Non-Career Track and had been promoted from the First Division for his meritorious service in the Todai Case; he was also 45 years old this year.

"Then what about that Kameyama Kaoru?"

"He resigned later and went to the Salween Republic in Africa with his wife to serve as a volunteer."

For a moment, everyone in Investigation Division 1 swallowed hard.

Parachuting such a person in to serve as Division Chief, what exactly is the headquarters trying to do?

"Dispatch requested!"

At the same time, in the Special Investigation Unit, Okada Masayoshi also said to Ikeda Erena, who was playing Solitaire on the side: "Ikeda, prepare to move out!"

"Okay!" Ikeda Erena was not afraid of having a case; she got excited whenever there was a case, and this time she would be able to see Uesugi Muneyuki's performance again; the tall beauty's heart was full of anticipation!

On the way, the four members of the Special Investigation Unit converged; Watanabe Minami briefly recounted the case, and they got into the brand-new Toyota Camry; Ikeda Erena sat in the back seat next to Minami and asked casually: "I understand the logic, but what is a promissory note? Why can this thing lead to a loss of 16.8 billion?"

Okada Masayoshi is the son of the Financial Services Agency Commissioner, and he took charge of explaining: "A promissory note refers to a type of commercial bill, issued by the drawer, and upon being accepted by a bank or enterprise (the acceptor), promises to unconditionally pay a fixed amount to the bearer on a specified date."

"This type of bill carries a certain risk of non-payment; if a situation arises where an enterprise or bank is unable to make payment upon maturity, it results in the bill being unable to be converted into cash, and once this situation occurs, these bills become bad debts."

"And a large volume of commercial bills is often continuously resold and mortgaged through the secondary market; once a portion of them encounters problems, it leads to the chain collapse of the entire system of mutual bill mortgages. I imagine the 16.8 billion loss of the Toyokawa Group came about this way, didn't it?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked.

"Mm, this phenomenon is especially severe in Japan," Okada Masayoshi nodded.

"Interesting." Uesugi Muneyuki found this matter increasingly interesting; even the Metropolitan Police Department felt something was wrong with the case, so why did the local Police Station insist on ruling it a suicide?

Wait!

The Special Mission Unit Forensic Examiner suddenly realized something.

They felt that behind this incident, there was the shadow of some powerful department!

It's fine, this time there is a corpse; let me examine it, and everything will come to light.

As long as we are faster than them, it will be fine.

Just like that, Uesugi Muneyuki led the Special Mission Unit and rushed toward the Ebara Station located in Shinagawa Ward.

By this time, the members of Investigation Division 1 had already arrived, but what Investigation Division 1 did not expect was that the Ebara Station side actually adopted an uncooperative stance!

"What are you doing, what is this?"

"We have not received any orders to establish a special investigation headquarters! Nor have we requested intervention from the Headquarters!"

"Does the Headquarters have to manage even suicide cases? Isn't the Headquarters being a bit too excessive lately?"

(End of this chapter)