Chapter 235: The Truth Revealed

Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat Onoda Kimiaki, of the Public Security faction, a graduate of the Tokyo University Faculty of Law, had heavy bags under his eyes, and his small eyes were filled with coldness.

After Watanabe Eiji defeated Director of Security Kudo Tsuyoshi, he had assumed the Detective faction had gained the absolute upper hand, but he had not expected Onoda Kimiaki's sudden emergence to quickly provide the Public Security faction with a new backbone.

More importantly, Onoda Kimiaki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki were brothers; it was clear the Chief Cabinet Secretary intended to have his younger brother take his place in controlling the Public Security Police, and Director Onoda had immediately sidelined the already-retiring Commissioner Kaneko Takuro upon taking office, effectively suppressing Watanabe Eiji's overbearing arrogance.

Of course, Onoda Kimiaki himself respected Watanabe Eiji somewhat, consulting him as Superintendent General on both major and minor matters; if their opinions aligned, they would proceed according to Watanabe Eiji's will, but if they disagreed, they would likely proceed according to Onoda Kimiaki's will.

Carried by the early morning breeze, Sugishita Ukyo and Uesugi Muneyuki's expressions turned grim after hearing Onoda's words.

Sugishita Ukyo truly understood Director Onoda; he had known beforehand that if they reported their findings as he and Uesugi Muneyuki had deduced, the matter would nine times out of ten be transferred to the Organized Crime Control Department and the Public Security Police to resolve, and with the incident blown up so large, it provided the perfect opportunity for Director Onoda to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Therefore, when his subordinate asked him, as Division Chief, whether they should report it, Sugishita Ukyo hesitated.

He knew that once reported, the situation would inevitably escalate, and bloodshed would be inevitable.

But if they did not report it, the Kudo-kai had already committed more than one homicide, which did not align with Sugishita Ukyo's standard that human life is paramount, even though the perpetrators were already dead.

No matter how he chose, it was a dilemma, so Sugishita Ukyo could only choose silence.

As for Uesugi Muneyuki's silence, it was because he still harbored doubts about this matter; the mystery of the Tokyo Woman's Christian University female student who went missing, was murdered, and had her body dumped had not yet been solved, and if he let the Public Security Police take over now, it would be equivalent to terminating the investigation—wouldn't that mean the mystery would never be solved?

As for Onoda's intentions, he understood them.

It made no difference to Director Onoda whether it was the first or second scenario; he had already found an excuse to intervene, with sufficient reasons and ample evidence, making it a very suitable moment—the Public Security faction needed to seize this opportunity to prove themselves, well, ever since they had lost face in Chiba Prefecture last time.

At this point, Uesugi Muneyuki's attitude was irrelevant; whether he approved or opposed, whether his stance was intense or calm, it would not affect Director Onoda's decision, and being able to tell him in person was already the Director giving him face.

Sure enough, seeing that both Sugishita Ukyo and Uesugi Muneyuki were silent, Director Onoda smiled triumphantly: "Eiji, the Uesugi-kun you promoted with all your might and the Special Mission Unit you built with all your might really have some skills; they are very capable at handling cases, and this time, with the Yokohama Case, he has cracked it again—a great achievement."

"Next, leave it to us in the Public Security Police to resolve." Director Onoda checked the time and signaled his subordinate: "I want everything ready by nine o'clock tomorrow morning, and... we do not need the participation of the Kanagawa Detective force."

"Yes!" the accompanying Counselor immediately replied.

As the propellers spun, Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji came up and patted Uesugi Muneyuki on the shoulder with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work, Muneyuki-kun."

"You're welcome." Uesugi Muneyuki offered a strained smile to his future father-in-law and pressed: "But the matter of the Tokyo Woman's Christian University student..."

"That sort of thing will naturally be pinned on the Kudo-kai." Watanabe Eiji was a bit sleepy; the Superintendent General looked at the salvaged Mazda with a serious expression: "The bodies were all dumped in the same place; besides them, who else could it be?"

"In any case, thank you all for your hard work; it's almost dawn now, so you should all go back and get some rest."

Dismissed, dismissed.

Everyone in the entire Special Investigation Headquarters bowed to the Superintendent General and the Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat upon hearing this, preparing to disperse.

Only Uesugi Muneyuki stood lingeringly in front of the salvaged Mazda, thinking about what exactly had been missed.

There was still one point in this case that didn't make sense.

Why would a Violent Group dare to kidnap an employee of Mitsui Real Estate? Did they think that by merely kidnapping the person involved, they could obstruct a national-level project?

What era was this? Did they think it was still the late 70s, the heyday of the Yamaguchi-gumi?

He recalled the Death Soul Contract with Sasaki Toshito and the results of the Death Flashback once again.

If the Yokohama Case and the Tokyo Woman's Christian University disappearance case were two independent cases, why would the bodies be dumped in the same place?

Hmm?

Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly recalled a crucial point!

【There was someone in the car, someone else! We clearly confirmed there was no one in the car, but there was someone in the car!】

These were Sasaki Toshito's original words.

This instantly reminded Uesugi Muneyuki of another person—Ms. Yamada Aika.

She too, there was clearly no one in the prison cell!

Wait! Wait~ wait!

Could it be?

Uesugi Muneyuki immediately summoned Hironaka Mariko; as the Cursed Grudge of the former Fuji TV anchor manifested, Uesugi Muneyuki immediately pointed at the waterlogged car: "Hironaka, take a look and see if there is any aura left in this car from the Inner World existence that was there when Yamada Aika committed suicide?"

"Let me see, let me see~" Hironaka Mariko dove into the car and licked the car interior, which had been rotted by seawater, with her tongue.

She licked for quite a while and slowly nodded: "There is a little bit, very faint, but... that's right, it's very similar to the aura left in that prison cell; it's that guy!"

The third eye on the forehead of the Wisdom King opened, and the crimson flames of the brain-storming lotus swept through Uesugi Muneyuki's brain.

He understood!

He realized!

He knew what was going on!

This case was indeed related to that runaway host, Tsubasa!

Sasaki Toshito and his accomplice Fujisaki Katsumata were killed by Tsubasa! This guy had used the same technique as last time, sneaking into the car of these two Yakuza in the same unknown way, deliberately causing the accidental fall into the sea.

This was the reason why Sasaki Toshito said there was no one in the car, yet there was someone in the car.

Because Tsubasa was an Inner World existence; naturally, normal people couldn't see him.

As for why the body parts of Hirasawa Yui were found together with the body parts of Igarashi Aiko, the reason was also very simple.

Tsubasa had followed these two guys the whole way, and while they were dumping the bodies, this guy had also taken the opportunity to dump a portion of Hirasawa Yui's processed body parts, which was why parts of the bodies from both cases appeared in the same place, misleading the police's investigation direction.

And Tsubasa was precisely the murderer who had killed Sasaki Toshito and Fujisaki Katsumata.

Completely understood!

Uesugi Muneyuki was now incomparably certain of Tsubasa's existence and that he was indeed an Inner World person, and indeed the mastermind who had murdered Hirasawa Yui and persuaded Yamada Aika to commit suicide.

Three cases, all linked together!

Awesome, I suddenly understand everything. jpg

Uesugi Muneyuki finally relaxed his tightly furrowed brows and revealed a smile; his relaxed appearance made Minami and Eirina, who were waiting for him nearby, look puzzled.

"What is it, Uesugi? Did you discover some new clue?" Eirina, relying on Uesugi Muneyuki's affection, took the initiative to ask: "Is there some new situation?"

"?" Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji and Director Onoda, who were busy setting up the scene and arranging tasks, also looked over: "Any new discoveries? Uesugi-kun?"

"No, I've confirmed it; the murderer is Sasaki Toshito." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head and said softly: "Sasaki Toshito originally shouldn't have intended to kill Igarashi Aiko, and the Violent Group shouldn't have given such extreme instructions either, but... Ms. Igarashi must have recognized Sasaki and responded with intense resistance and insults, which angered Sasaki."

Igarashi Aiko always thought highly of herself and also had a more feminine way of thinking; Sasaki actually hadn't wanted to kill her, but just wanted to extort an extra sum of money, blackmailing Igarashi Aiko for 10 million yen under the pretext of compensation for car repairs and medical expenses.

Igarashi Aiko was not short of ten million yen; if it had been anyone else, they would have agreed first just to save their life.

But Aiko did not; having lived a life of luxury since childhood without experiencing much of society and always being under the protection of the order of a big city, she fiercely declared that she would not give Sasaki a single cent, and furthermore stated, "I know who you are, once I get out you are finished, my father is a former Chief of Investigation Division 2, my family knows many Detective, you just wait, you are dead," after which she spat out a bunch of workplace profanities and even cursed Sasaki as a maggot in the sewer.

Then she also found an opportunity and attempted to escape, which was why Sasaki had no choice but to kill her.

"Indeed, the male way of thinking is truly different from the female," Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda nodded, "Perhaps in her state as a prisoner, she still thought she was the daughter of the Division 2 Chief and a Department Manager at Mitsui, still putting on that air of a strong career woman."

"However, these things no longer matter, Uesugi-kun. The National Police Agency thanks you for your contribution; investigating up to this point is already enough. Leave the rest to us," Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda signaled that Uesugi Muneyuki could go back and rest.

Uesugi Muneyuki wanted to say something but hesitated.

He actually wanted to talk about the problems hidden behind this case, but how could he explain the parts involving the Inner World to someone from the Outer World?

No, he could not say it, especially now that Takigawa Tsubasa was in the shadows; that kind of invisibility ability of his was too lethal.

Fortunately, he himself was now in the shadows as well.

The enemy was in the dark and he was in the dark; at the same time, Uesugi Muneyuki already had some understanding of and precautions against Takigawa Tsubasa, but the other party still knew nothing about him.

Perhaps the Kudo-kai knew something; with the Metropolitan Police Department as his cover, it would not be easy for him to be exposed.

"Director General Watanabe, regarding the subsequent Public Security operations, could you let me be a spectator?" After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Muneyuki said to Watanabe Eiji, "Together with the command headquarters."

"You also want to see the downfall of the Kudo-kai?" Watanabe Eiji glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki, slightly surprised by this idea of his, and the Superintendent General then looked at Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda, "How about it, let the kid broaden his horizons?"

Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda stared at Uesugi Muneyuki for a few seconds.

He had no choice but to give this face; to put it bluntly, the entire Japanese police force had been like headless flies regarding the Yokohama Case, and it was entirely thanks to Uesugi Muneyuki alone turning the impossible into the possible that they had found the perpetrator of that "impossible crime."

"Very well."

(End of chapter)