Chapter 239: Police Storm

On September 27, the large-scale gunfight that erupted in Yokohama City captured the attention of all of Japan; NHK and the five major commercial television stations simultaneously reported on this police-gangster shootout and Public Security special operation, the likes of which had not been seen since the Cold War era.

The headline on NHK was "Kudo-kai Leader Meets His End in Darkness; Gunfight Subsides After SAT Battle in Kanagawa."

Fuji TV's headline was "The Light and Shadow of Gangster Downfall: Fugitive Executive Shot Dead; What Is the Dying Wish of the Fallen Patrol Officer?"

NTV focused on the end of the "Kanagawa Evil": "Kudo-kai Former Executive Dies in Gunfight; National Police Agency Calls It 'Execution of Justice'."

By noon that day, the front-page headline and the midday news on NHK were dedicated to this incident, dubbed the "greatest and worst gunfight in twenty years," as the host faced the camera with a solemn expression.

"This morning, the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Mission Unit (SAT) engaged in a gunfight in Yokohama City with the violent group Kudo-kai's Young Head, Kudo Geni (52), eventually subduing him and confirming his death. The Kudo-kai is suspected of involvement in the disappearance of Sumitomo Mitsui female executive Igarashi Aiko in Yokohama this month and the Tokyo Bay Serial Body Dumping Case, and is charged with the shooting incident and the murder of a patrol officer.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the Kudo-kai was hiding in a warehouse near Yokohama City; under siege by the SAT, they used handguns to fight back while fleeing, killing one patrol officer. Later, during the exchange of fire, the suspect was shot in the head and died on the spot. The scene yielded the Kudo-kai's financial ledger and documents regarding secret dealings with overseas organizations.

On the other hand, the funeral for Patrol Sergeant Yamada Shota (33), who was shot to death while fleeing, will be held tomorrow. Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson and Public Relations Division Chief Togasaki Tomonobu stated, 'Thoroughly eradicating the violent group is the best way to mourn him.'

The National Police Agency assessed that 'the most vicious violent group of the Heisei Era has been dismantled,' while simultaneously hinting at a review of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters' security mechanisms. Public sentiment is a mix of 'a sense of relief' and 'grief over the death of the young patrol officer.'"

Once the news broke, the entire society was in an uproar.

Since the nineties, Japan had enjoyed long-standing peace; let alone gunfights, there had been few large-scale confrontations between police and violent groups. Yet this time, a large-scale gunfight had actually occurred on the streets in broad daylight?

"Is this really Japan? How did I end up in Chicago?" — Japanese netizen "Hechen" quipped.

"Japan is starting to become Americanized too, the end of a defeated nation! Sad!" — netizen "Shogunate General Kusunoki Masashige" chimed in.

"Because they accidentally rear-ended a high-end black sedan, the Kudo-kai, which was then hit by the heavy fist of Public Security, ended up being 'three times, ah, three times'." — netizen "Akua-chan who digs for Dimension Stones" commented.

"A patrol officer was sacrificed, but fortunately there were no civilian casualties; it's a great stroke of luck." — netizen "Neon's Pink Rabbit" was glad that it was a policeman who died.

"Heroic Patrol Officer, thank you."

"So why on earth would a violent group open fire in retaliation? Can a handgun beat an armored vehicle? Are you kidding me?"

"Who knows, probably more dirty dealings between some politicians and trading companies?"

"Is this what the Public Security Police are like? So swift, so fierce; is this what they usually do?"

Japanese netizens quickly launched a massive discussion, and the entire social network was immediately flooded with the Yokohama Case.

Before the public had much time to digest the event, the Metropolitan Police Department officially announced that the Sumitomo Mitsui female executive disappearance case and the Tokyo Bay Serial Body Dumping Case were officially solved!

After investigation, the perpetrator was identified as Sasaki Toshito, a member of the designated violent group Kudo-kai. He had kidnapped and murdered Mitsui Real Estate Department Manager Igarashi Aiko. Furthermore, the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that Tokyo Woman's Christian University student Hirasawa Yui was also murdered by him, with evidence being conclusive.

The Metropolitan Police Department announced that a press conference would be held on September 30. Special Mission Unit Forensic Examiner Uesugi Muneyuki—the legendary rookie Forensic Pathologist who single-handedly reversed the forensics in this mysterious case, broke through the entire information cocoon, and turned the impossible into the possible by identifying the perpetrator of the "impossible crime"—will personally face over two hundred media outlets to explain the entire investigation process.

Public Relations Division Chief Togasaki Tomonobu announced this news to all of Japan with pride, with NHK and the five major TV stations broadcasting it simultaneously, asking the public to look forward to it.

Uesugi Muneyuki again?

This must be the fourth time we've heard this name in the last two years, right?

Special Mission Unit, too strong!

We in Japan finally have our own Sherlock Holmes!

Uesugi Muneyuki had once again made a deep impression in the hearts of the Japanese people, and everyone became incredibly expectant for the press conference three days later.

We get to hear Uesugi-san tell us about the case again!

After releasing the news about Uesugi Muneyuki to attract public attention, the National Police Agency and the Metropolitan Police Department began their own maneuvers.

On the afternoon of the 27th, the National Police Agency, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department, officially held a funeral for the patrol officer Yamada Shota who sacrificed his life in the Yokohama Case.

Patrol Sergeant Yamada Shota was posthumously promoted to Assistant Police Inspector. National Police Agency Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat Onoda, Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji, and others attended the funeral. More than twenty high-ranking police officials at the level of Superintendent or above were present, a truly honorable death. Yamada Shota's wife and children will receive a large pension and enjoy benefits such as priority housing in police apartments, priority school enrollment for their children, and lifetime medical insurance.

However, it was soon noted that not a single high-ranking official from the local Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters attended; only Yamada Shota's colleagues from the Koban and mid-level officers from his police station were present.

Does this signify something?

The National Police Agency soon provided the answer.

Three hours after the funeral ended, shocking news came from the National Police Agency.

The National Police Agency announced that due to involvement with the Kudo-kai ledger, dereliction of duty in the Yokohama Case, and "improper means" used by high-ranking police officials during the investigation, the National Police Agency would officially launch an internal investigation into the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters.

The Governor of Kanagawa and the Mayor of Yokohama issued public apologies and announced that due to this turmoil, they would resign from their positions as Governor and Mayor.

Gomen nasai~

However, these matters had nothing to do with Uesugi Muneyuki; after finishing everything, he was truly exhausted and went home to sleep.

Ikeda Erena went home with him, and as for the reports and follow-up processing, that was a matter for Miss Minami, Ishihara Mikoto, Okada, and the others; he wouldn't bother with it.

Once home, Uesugi Muneyuki slept soundly until that evening, when the ringing of the phone woke him up.

"Hello, Minami, what is it?" Uesugi Muneyuki picked up the phone and found it was Miss Minami calling.

"Had enough sleep? You guy, Uesugi!" Miss Minami's spoiled, arrogant voice came through the phone: "Leaving your own fiancée behind to go home and sleep, and letting your superior work hard to handle all the cleanup, does that feel great? Kora!"

"It does feel great," Uesugi Muneyuki laughed. He was about to get up, but found a heavy, soft weight pressing on his body, with arms wrapped around his waist.

It really does feel great.

"How are the follow-up matters? What's the situation with the search of the Kudo-kai stronghold?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked groggily.

"The situation... is very bad. Let me put it this way, Uesugi: inside the Kudo-kai, the Public Security Police found a total of 1.2 billion yen worth of narcotics. Besides that, they discovered multiple ledgers involving a total of 23 black-money transactions, involving 16 companies and multiple government departments, with a total amount exceeding 5 billion yen. Naturally, as you expected, there is a mole within the Kanagawa Police," Miss Minami said, sounding a bit heavy-hearted about this.

"How does the National Police Agency plan to handle it?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked casually: "It won't be just 'punishing themselves with three cups of wine' again, will it?"

"The current plan is: Kanagawa Headquarters Chief, dismissed; Kanagawa Criminal Investigation Department Chief, dismissed; Kanagawa Security Department Chief, dismissed; Public Security Department Chief, dismissed; Police Affairs Department Chief, dismissed," Miss Minami said. "Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat Onoda is determined to handle this matter, and Father supports it too. However, considering that a Kanagawa police officer died in the line of duty in this case, they are drawing a line, focusing mainly on the high-level officials so as not to affect the mid-to-lower levels."

"That's good," Uesugi Muneyuki nodded repeatedly. He yawned: "Ah~ I'm still sleepy~"

"Hmph~ you only know how to sleep... You're at home tonight, right? You won't be going out again, will you?" Miss Minami asked.

"Yeah."

"That's perfect, there are some things that aren't convenient to say directly over the phone... Mikoto and I are coming over to settle two things."

"About adopting Asuka, and about the officialization and permanent establishment of the Special Mission Unit."

"Okay." Uesugi Muneyuki was still a bit groggy at this moment, and it wasn't until more than ten seconds after Miss Minami hung up that he suddenly woke up.

Miss Minami and Mikoto-san, coming to my house?

Hearing the sound of Saito Asuka preparing dinner in the living room, and feeling the warm, soft body of Ikeda Erena, who was fast asleep while hugging his waist, pressing against him.

Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly had a bad premonition.

A four-party talk?

(End of this chapter)