Chapter 20: Secrets of the Inner World

"Got it! Little brother Uesugi, thinking about it now, I suddenly feel you have such an advantage. Think about it: you aren't part of our police system, the Metropolitan Police Department definitely won't casually accept complaints against you because of what happened last time, you've helped her before, and you're single. You're just the right person to deal with her!" As Tanaka Laodeng spoke, his eyes grew brighter and brighter: "From now on, she's yours to handle! Isn't it a blessing to work with such a beauty?"

Uesugi Muneyuki kept his eyes slanted, saying nothing.

If this blessing were given to you, would you want it?

As expected of an old fox who has been drifting in the system for over twenty years, his schemes come one after another, and he even uses the slogan of "doing it for your own good" to unknowingly toss a bomb at you.

"I don't think we're close enough for that, Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka." Uesugi Muneyuki wore a playful expression: "Handle the affairs of your own station yourself. I'm just a Forensic Pathologist, not a special commissioner for your Metropolitan Police Department's Forensics Division! What does Ikeda's business have to do with me?"

"Don't say that, little brother Uesugi..." Tanaka Laodeng pulled a bitter face: "If our Criminal Investigation Division has any business in the future, we'll definitely look for you. In that situation, Ikeda will be handed over to you."

Uesugi Muneyuki rolled his eyes. Just as he wanted to say something more, his phone rang.

It was his older brother, Uesugi Sadanori! He was asking to meet Uesugi Muneyuki during the lunch break.

"I have things to do this afternoon. If you need me, you can contact me at any time." Uesugi Muneyuki finished his extra-large beef bowl and said goodbye to Tanaka Laodeng.

"Definitely, definitely!" Tanaka Laodeng's expression was bitter; after finishing this meal, he would have to face his destiny.

It's miserable.

"Oh, right, can you drop me off at Waseda University?"

"Of course."

Half an hour later, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, Waseda University main campus.

Waseda University, abbreviated as Waseda or Souda, was founded in 1882 by former Prime Minister of Japan Ōkuma Shigenobu. Its main campus is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is a world-class research university with great prestige in Japan and one of the most internationalized universities in Asia; it is a private comprehensive research university.

This university belongs to the "Super International Class A University" mentioned earlier. Unlike Uesugi Muneyuki's Tokyo Medical and Dental University, which is at the tail end of the Super International Class A Universities, Waseda University is the pinnacle among them, and it even has ten campuses distributed across different regions of Japan.

Uesugi Muneyuki's biological older brother, Uesugi Sadanori, is a graduate of Waseda University and currently serves as an Archaeological Researcher there. Since Uesugi Muneyuki's awakening last time was triggered by touching an antique brought back by Uesugi Sadanori, Uesugi Muneyuki guessed that Uesugi Sadanori might know something, so he made up an excuse to ask his brother for help in looking into it.

Uesugi Sadanori did not refuse; he only said he needed some time.

Now, it seems his brother has found something.

"Have you eaten?" Uesugi Sadanori's appearance is quite similar to Uesugi Muneyuki's; one look and you can tell they are brothers. His office walls are covered in books—ancient and modern, domestic and foreign, in many languages, everything is there. Behind the desk sits an extra-large printer-fax machine. The guest area in front of the desk has chairs made of typical sandalwood, hard and very uncomfortable to sit on. On the desk are some small wooden carvings, mostly Buddhist sculptures; it is evident that Uesugi Sadanori also has considerable attainments in Buddhist studies.

"I've eaten." Uesugi Muneyuki sat down opposite Uesugi Sadanori: "Regarding the matter I mentioned last time, did you find anything?"

"You, you're still as impatient as ever." Uesugi Sadanori took a deep look at his younger brother. Compared to Uesugi Muneyuki, his brother had a much richer scholarly air. He took two documents out of a file folder and tossed them in front of Uesugi Muneyuki: "These are two records from the sixties regarding the excavation of ancient tombs from the medieval period. Take a look."

Uesugi Muneyuki opened the two dossiers and discovered that they were identical, both recording an archaeological discovery.

"The Himiko Ancient Tomb Incident."

In the sixties of the last century, Japanese archaeology discovered a large-scale Kofun-period ancient tomb near Kyoto, inside which many ancient mummies were buried. Archaeological scholars conducted excavations and surveys on it.

Japanese history is divided into several eras. According to different period divisions, it can be divided into the Ancient Era, Asuka-Nara Period, Heian Period, Kamakura Shogunate Period, Muromachi Shogunate Period, Edo Period, Modern, and Contemporary.

Among them, it is generally believed that Japan only became a proper country by the Asuka-Nara Period. Before this, the history of this country could basically only rely on archaeology, as well as side-corroboration from records made when paying tribute and studying in the Chinese Empire. The main point is that they didn't keep history. It is generally believed that it wasn't until the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, bestowed the "Han Wei Nu King Gold Seal" and the subsequent "Wako Special Envoy Tribute" event, that the rudiments of a country began to appear here.

Later, Buddhism was introduced to Japan, and tomb burials began to become popular. During this period, reconstructing history mainly relied on foreign records and local archaeology.

The two sets of data record the same event, namely that many ancient relics and corpses were discovered during the archaeological process of the ancient tomb. The beginning looked normal; the only difference was that one was written in Japanese and the other in Classical Chinese.

The Japanese-written part began to become blurry and vague by the middle. It first said that many difficulties were encountered during the excavation process, and members of the archaeological team successively suffered from physical discomfort. For this reason, the Osaka Metropolitan Police Department (the name at the time) stepped in to take over, and later they even had to request the cooperation of the United States military.

The document ended there.

The part written in Classical Chinese was completely different. It stated, "During the excavation process, archaeological team members were disturbed by illusions and intense physical discomfort," yet they still overcame the difficulties and forcibly opened the tomb.

The moment the tomb was opened, all the archaeological team members entered a strange space and were attacked by strange creatures. Not only did everyone die, but later, the strange creatures began to appear in the real world. The Osaka police were dispatched but could hardly match the eerie creatures. Finally, they requested the cooperation of the United States military, and only after planes and cannons were used together were these things completely eliminated, but the ancient tomb was also completely destroyed.

"This is..." Uesugi Muneyuki frowned. Due to his family heritage and the fact that he was a person from the Heavenly Dynasty in his previous life, he naturally understood Classical Chinese: "Why are there two written records of the same event that differ so drastically?"

"You should understand. The first document was completely tampered with; everything involving eerie things was deleted. The second document is an old Classical Chinese file left behind by the Kanto Shrine Alliance. Some key content inside was hidden, but we can still notice that a portion of the information remains, such as the strange space and the strange creatures."

Uesugi Sadanori also frowned deeply when talking about this: "In historical archaeological discoveries, I have discovered that a very small number of documents have issues with being vague before and after. Unfortunately, my mentor didn't know either. If it weren't for our family heritage, that we have all learned a little Classical Chinese, and that we are descendants of Lord Kenshin and the Yonezawa Domain, these old Classical Chinese files of the Kanto Shrine Alliance would likely be unreadable to anyone."

"Kanto Shrine Alliance..." Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that he seemed to have heard this name somewhere before.

"Besides this one, there are several other archaeological records that are also vague, but I lack the old files to verify them. For example, this one." Uesugi Sadanori pulled out an archaeological excavation report from Nagano Prefecture, which also started to become vague in the middle, and similarly, all the archaeological team members went missing.

"Are there any other old files?"

"No more." Uesugi Sadanori shook his head helplessly: "I only found this one, or rather, this is the only one you and I can understand. The Americans probably also thought this was just some missing ancient Heavenly Dynasty data because it was an old file, so they didn't destroy it."

Uesugi Muneyuki understood. It wasn't that only this event existed, but that only this old Classical Chinese file was something Uesugi Sadanori could read.

"Are you so sure it was the Americans who did it?" Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but shake his head.

"Hmph! It must have been the Americans!" Uesugi Sadanori was extremely dogmatic about this. He pushed up his rimless glasses, his expression full of disgust: "I even think this was all self-directed and acted by the Americans."

"In any case, you mentioned something supernatural to me last time, so I remembered this." After his brother finished venting, he regained his composure: "Pay a little attention. The Kanto Shrine Alliance calls the strange space the 'Inner World', and our world the 'Outer World'... Muneyuki, you haven't run into something dirty, have you?"

"Me?" Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head with a bitter smile: "I'm the same as you. I discovered a similar situation in the hospital morgue; some files were deleted."

"Muneyuki... be careful." Uesugi Sadanori didn't know whether to accept his explanation. His brother didn't stand up to see him off, but said meaningfully: "According to the records in the old files, the corpses of the strange creatures in the Inner World will soon automatically decompose and disappear..."

Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes flickered. He whispered that he understood, then asked if he could take it away.

Uesugi Sadanori naturally gave a negative answer, so the two brothers said their goodbyes.

Uesugi Muneyuki did not return to the hospital in the afternoon; he went straight back to his own apartment in Bunkyo Ward.

Uesugi Sadanori's investigation had already made it clear that supernatural abilities do indeed exist in this world, but they have been artificially deleted and hidden very deeply.

Looking at how the Osaka Prefecture police couldn't solve the problem independently but succeeded after inviting American planes and cannons, supernatural abilities should be at a level greater than ordinary pistols but less than heavy firepower.

Interesting, and quite accurate compared to Uesugi Muneyuki's own judgment of his power.

Since that was the case, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly thought of a possibility.

Up until now, he had already examined many corpses for Otsuka Station, and the only one who triggered a Contract but did not accept being sent off, instead actively possessing him and granting him an Incarnation Technique, was Ms. Kurosawa. Perhaps she might know something.

No sooner said than done, Uesugi Muneyuki nodded to the apartment property front desk downstairs and took the elevator back to his apartment.

He summoned the lingering Soul of Ms. Kurosawa, and the moment he summoned her, the whole room turned deep red.

【Little handsome guy? Are you calling me?】

Ms. Kurosawa's lingering Soul appeared within the Aizen Myoo Dharma Image, and her appearance directly confirmed certain things for Uesugi Muneyuki—Ms. Kurosawa was wearing a standard Kohaku outfit for a Shrine Maiden. Although she was over sixty years old, her figure was bloated and no longer as slim as in her youth, her hair was gray, her forehead was slightly bald, and her face was covered in wrinkles, but there was no doubt she must have once been a Shrine Maiden!

【Little handsome guy...】 Uesugi Muneyuki always felt it was very strange for a sixty-year-old Shrine Maiden to call him that.

【You look even better than the most handsome host I've ever played with!】 Ms. Kurosawa replied with a smile: 【You've gained the approval of our Kurosawa Shrine!】

"What is Kurosawa Shrine? Do you know about the Inner World? What connection do you have to the Inner World?" Uesugi Muneyuki could not help but press, "Do you possess supernatural abilities?"

"You're quite serious, handsome... I am the twenty-seventh successor of Kurosawa Shrine." Kurosawa pouted as she spoke of these matters, her expression indifferent: "The Secret Art our lineage practices is called the Vajra Cutter."

"Vajra Cutter? The Diamond Sutra? The Taisho Shinshu Daizokyo?" Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes widened: "Indian Mahayana Buddhism?"

"Sorry, I don't understand any of that." As it turned out, Kurosawa shook her head repeatedly, showing little interest: "I don't know the traditions of our shrine. The succession of Shrine Maidens is chosen in secret within the village, selecting a girl under sixteen to pass it on to in private. No one knows what the criteria for selection are; I was also suddenly chosen when I was fifteen. Regarding what you're talking about, I know nothing."

"Then what is the ability of the Vajra Cutter?" Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that she was another clueless one: "Do you know about the Inner World?"

"The ability of the Vajra Cutter is... playing the stock market." Kurosawa chuckled as she spoke of this, bowing her head: "I don't understand much either. I only know that the countryside is too boring. I'm not some boring old woman like my master who can sit for a whole day with a cup of tea and a collection of waka poems. I like Tokyo, I like nightclubs and bars, so I came here."

"I use my Diamond Dharma to play the stock market. I can roughly tell whether the stock market will be trending up or down in the coming months. Although it's not always accurate, most of it comes true. To me, isn't that just like picking up money?"

A supernatural stock market god, is that it? Very well.

Uesugi Muneyuki twitched the corner of his mouth: "Then don't your master and the shrine have any objections?"

"Of course, aside from the money from stocks, I have donated a lot of funds to my hometown and renovated the entire shrine." Kurosawa could not help but look proud: "The life of a Shrine Maiden is truly dull; the days in the capital are colorful and diverse. I have never regretted it."

Uesugi Muneyuki: "............"

Kurosawa told Uesugi Muneyuki some things in bits and pieces.

As it turned out, after Kurosawa gained a bit of supernatural power, she should have been like her master, divining fortunes and praying for blessings for others. However, she had no interest in the boring rural life. She went to the capital alone, used her ability to make a lot of money in the stock market, lived a good life, and even donated to her hometown.

But supernatural abilities could not fight against a stock market crash. Kurosawa eventually suffered heavy losses when the bubble economy burst. Even so, she still had a lot of money left, and it was precisely because of this that she was constantly being asked for host club offerings by Yamada.

And Kurosawa herself was also a fan of host clubs, having even opened a 500,000 Champagne Tower for a host. Yamada Aika's habit was purely picked up from following her. The difference was that Kurosawa had quite a bit of savings, while Yamada had no proper income at all.

By the time they finished talking, most of Uesugi Muneyuki's sympathy for Kurosawa had dissipated.

You old hag, so you too?!

"What do you know about the Inner World?" Uesugi Muneyuki grabbed the main point; he did not want to waste time.

"It's a pity, my knowledge of the Inner World is very limited. I'm not interested in those things, but if you're interested, handsome, I remember there are still some books in the shrine regarding this aspect. Perhaps you might find something." Kurosawa was truly unlearned; her master wanted to teach, but she was unwilling to learn.

"Where is Kurosawa Shrine?"

"Gunma Prefecture. Our shrine is one of the members of the Kanto Shrine Alliance," Kurosawa said: "But after me, there are no more Shrine Maidens. I am the last generation of Kurosawa Shrine Maidens."

The Kanto Shrine Alliance again?

"Very well." After Uesugi Muneyuki confirmed the location of Kurosawa Shrine, he almost subconsciously wanted to go investigate right now.

But he forcibly held himself back.

According to what Kurosawa said, Kurosawa Shrine was now abandoned. Without the succession of a Shrine Maiden, there was no one guarding the place.

A Shrine Maiden needs to regularly maintain the Barrier of the shrine, otherwise, something will happen.

However, Kurosawa Shrine no longer had a Shrine Maiden.

And according to the information his brother gave him, the monsters of the Inner World could not even be defeated by the SIGs in the hands of the police; they were only eliminated by the planes and cannons of the United States military.

It would be a miracle if the only 【Hardening】 he had on his body could defeat an Inner World monster!

Must be careful! Must make more preparations.

Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a while and suddenly found his direction.

Internally, and externally.

For his own body, he must work hard to train, learn combat techniques, and strengthen his own combat power, which was especially critical.

As for the Metropolitan Police Department, he must grasp it firmly!

"In any case, tell me everything you know about the Inner World."

"Sure."

Updated, please vote for me~

Being a best man for a whole day is so tiring, especially since the bridesmaid on the other side weighed a full 230 jin.

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(End of this chapter)