Chapter 245: The Funeral and the Newcomer

On September 28, the funeral for Igarashi Aiko was held at a funeral home in Tokyo.

In reality, many days had already passed since Igarashi Aiko's death, and her entire body had already decayed beyond recognition. To ensure a smooth burial, Igarashi Aiko's family had no choice but to pay a high price to hire a forensic team from the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health to stitch the body together, and then pay a high price to hire an encoffiner to perform restorations. Even so, the viewing of the remains was omitted.

At the funeral hall, a crowd of high-ranking officials from Japan's political, business, and police circles all attended. In particular, many high-level executives from the Mitsui Sumitomo Group all appeared to offer flowers to Igarashi Aiko one by one. They also hired a high-ranking monk to chant sutras. The entire procedure strictly followed traditional Japanese rituals and included segments such as friends and family offering flowers and the reading of eulogies.

Igarashi Aiko's parents and her four younger siblings were sobbing uncontrollably.

The entire funeral process was quite cumbersome, so it will be omitted here.

On the side of the Metropolitan Police Department, Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena attended the event. Minami and Sister Mikoto did not come because they had to handle follow-up matters. Moreover, if it weren't for the fact that former Division 2 Chief Igarashi Masataka had specifically requested Uesugi Muneyuki's presence, the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Department would have only intended to send Section Chief Itami of the Fifth Section to make a token appearance.

It is worth mentioning that when Ikeda Erena was told she needed to accompany Uesugi Muneyuki to the funeral, the tall beauty realized she didn't actually own a dress suitable for a funeral, so she had to rent one at the last minute.

Formal funeral attire is actually nothing special; it is nothing more than a pure black suit with a knee-length pencil skirt, paired with a white formal shirt underneath. The stockings must be matte black with a transparency of ≤10D, paired with formal high-heeled shoes.

Yet, this ordinary outfit looked particularly striking on Erena, who stood 170cm tall. Especially as she followed beside Uesugi Muneyuki, her proud figure stretched the neckline of her shirt and the back of her pencil skirt high, shaking in a way that was earth-shattering and breathtaking. The well-nourished tall beauty swayed a pair of slender, black-silk-clad legs and beautiful feet, her face cold and detached, yet unable to hide the trace of charm and love for the man beside her that inadvertently leaked from the corners of her eyes. Many visitors at the scene couldn't help but take a few extra looks at Erena.

However, Erena only had eyes for Uesugi Muneyuki; to the tall beauty, Uesugi Muneyuki was almost her everything.

This rose with thorns had an owner.

The men present couldn't help but feel envious in their hearts, but they couldn't really say anything.

Uesugi Muneyuki naturally liked this outfit on Erena as well, but it was a pity that he had been drained in a dual sense the previous night; his spirit was listless and his body weak. He simply followed the flow of the process, wanting to bid farewell to the host.

Igarashi Aiko's father, former Division 2 Chief Igarashi Masataka, signaled for Uesugi Muneyuki to stay a little longer and not be in such a rush to leave.

Uesugi Muneyuki knew Igarashi Masataka had something to say to him, so he had to signal for Erena to stay behind with him.

Erena naturally had no reason to refuse; to her, as long as she was with Uesugi Muneyuki, every day was a sunny day.

After the funeral ended, Igarashi Masataka and his wife, accompanied by a young man with a hedgehog hairstyle, found Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena, who had stayed behind. The couple immediately bowed deeply to apologize: "We are sorry, Uesugi-kun. Last time was our rudeness. Regardless, thank you very, very, very much for your help, which finally allowed Aiko to rest in peace. Thank you very, very, very much for your investigation, which allowed the true culprit to be brought to justice. I thank you on behalf of the whole family. If you have any matters in the future, please do not hesitate to ask us."

"I am just a Forensic Pathologist, Mr. Igarashi, Mrs. Igarashi. This is my professional duty; all I did was clarify the facts." Uesugi Muneyuki also stood up and bowed: "There is no need for this."

"No, no, no, we must thank you. If it weren't for you, relying on the Kanagawa and Metropolitan police, we would probably have been spinning in circles inside a cocoon forever." Igarashi Masataka said very seriously: "I worked at the Metropolitan Police Department, so I naturally know what Investigation Division 1 is like. You don't need to defend them. Compared to our era, Investigation Division 1 will only be worse, not better. After all, those who could enter the Metropolitan headquarters back then were the elite of the elite; as for now..."

Beside him, Ikeda Erena nodded in deep agreement. Before entering the Metropolitan headquarters, the tall beauty had a very deep filter regarding the Metropolitan Police Department, but after actually joining... one could only say that while the overall quality was indeed stronger and the moral standards higher, and there were some elites, generally speaking, the Metropolitan headquarters was not as invincible, as high-end, or as capable of action as she had imagined.

In the end, wasn't it still Uesugi and I who solved the case?

Uesugi Muneyuki noticed Erena's expression and glanced at her; Erena could only restrain herself a little.

"May I ask, Director Igarashi..." Uesugi Muneyuki asked tentatively.

"Oh, this is my youngest son, Igarashi Hayato." Igarashi Masataka brought up the real business, introducing his youngest son: "He previously served as a police officer in Yamanashi Prefecture, 25 years old, currently a Patrol Officer."

Wow, 25 years old?

Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena couldn't help but show looks of surprise.

Igarashi Masataka is over 60, and his youngest son is only 25?

It seems this old fellow's body is quite good. Well, with five children in the family, it wouldn't do to have poor health.

"I won't say much more. I have been in contact with Eiji and know that you, Forensic Examiner Uesugi, like to speak plainly. The situation is this: regarding Aiko's matter, I do not intend to pursue the issues with Kanagawa's handling of the case. With this as a condition, the National Police Agency has agreed to transfer Hayato from Yamanashi Prefecture to serve at the Metropolitan headquarters."

"I have heard that Forensic Examiner Uesugi's Special Mission Unit currently only has five people, and there are plans to formalize it..."

Once the conversation reached this point, even Ikeda Erena understood.

Igarashi Masataka wanted to stuff his youngest son into the Special Mission Unit. This old father had basically cleared all the obstacles; the only problem was needing Uesugi Muneyuki, the true core of the Special Mission Unit, to nod.

Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but turn his head to look at Igarashi Hayato.

Igarashi Hayato was quite tall, about 178cm, with a slightly thin build but clearly the type who exercised and had muscle. He wore a brown hedgehog hairstyle, and his face was still filled with the sorrow of losing his eldest sister. His appearance was handsome and upright, and even at 25, he still had a sense of naivety and the feel of a big boy.

"Hello, Forensic Examiner Uesugi, it is an honor to meet you. I am Igarashi Hayato, a Detective from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters!" The big boy immediately bowed deeply, saying with a mix of admiration and nervousness.

"This son of mine is not very smart, but his marksmanship and martial arts are very good, and he is a Karate black belt." Igarashi Masataka introduced: "He has great physical strength and is good at pursuit, but he is not good at interpersonal relationships. I think someone like him is most suitable to follow by your side, Forensic Examiner Uesugi. As for other matters, you can rest assured. Although this son of mine is not very smart, he values relationships and loyalty, and he is sufficiently obedient."

"Our entire Igarashi family and the Mitsui Sumitomo Group will also support Forensic Examiner Uesugi from behind."

Uesugi Muneyuki fell into silence. He saw the anticipation in the eyes of Igarashi Masataka and Igarashi Hayato, and even more so, he saw the glances drifting over from time to time from the high-level executives of the Mitsui Sumitomo Group nearby, as well as the kind gaze of Department Manager Sato.

Normally, a unit should have a staff of ten, and currently, the Special Mission Unit only has four people: Minami, Erena, Okada, and Mikoto. And with the Metropolitan Police Department having just released rumors about formalizing the Special Mission Unit, some people have already started planning.

"Regarding this point, I cannot give you a definitive answer right now, Mr. and Mrs. Igarashi. Regarding the formalization of the Special Mission Unit, I have only heard that there seems to be such an intention. I am just a Forensic Pathologist; you should contact and discuss it with Unit Chief Watanabe Minami." Uesugi Muneyuki could only say this.

"Understood. With these words from Forensic Examiner Uesugi, we are relieved."

Igarashi Masataka indicated he understood.

It seems Director General Watanabe has firmly tied Uesugi Muneyuki down through his daughter.

This is also fine; one doesn't fear having conditions to negotiate. You ask for a high price, and I bargain on the spot. What one fears is not knowing what the conditions and requirements are.

This son of his is only a Non-Career Track officer; it seems he will have to bleed a little.

However, with the support of the entire group behind him, the problem is not that big. It's just that some people are going to be unlucky.

……………………

After attending Igarashi Aiko's funeral, on September 29, news of an earthquake-level magnitude for the Japanese police world was immediately released from the National Police Agency headquarters.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department Public Security Bureau's search of the Kudo-kai stronghold during the "Yokohama Special Anti-Terrorism Operation," narcotics (that is, illegal drugs) with a cumulative value of 1.2 billion yen were seized, and a black ledger with as much as 5 billion yen was discovered! Among them, at least 12 remittances were related to the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters!

Affected by this, the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Chief resigned, the Criminal Investigation Department Chief resigned, and the Public Security Department Chief, Security Department Chief, and Police Administration Chief resigned.

Among them, the Prefectural Police Chief, the Criminal Investigation Department Chief, and the Public Security Department Chief were arrested by the District Public Prosecutors Office right after they resigned. Dozens of police officers from the entire Kanagawa Prefectural Headquarters were taken away for investigation.

Chief Prosecutor Okochi Haruki of the Metropolitan Police Department's Police Affairs Department was parachuted into Kanagawa to announce a joint investigation with the District Public Prosecutors Office.

Affected by this, Commissioner Kaneko Takuro of the National Police Agency issued a public apology.

I am so sorry!

Commissioner Kaneko took the opportunity to announce that he would take responsibility for the recent turmoil and the huge problems that had appeared in the Kanagawa police. He would officially resign from his position as Commissioner of the National Police Agency and retire upon reaching the mandatory age.

His destination was already prepared: it was the Executive Director of the Japan Ship Construction Association's Yokohama branch.

The new Commissioner of the National Police Agency is named Tamaru, but who he is actually doesn't matter, because with Commissioner Kaneko's departure, Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda has already completely controlled the entire National Police Agency.

The trigger for the storm and earthquake in the police world was the solving of the Yokohama Case, so all of Japan turned its eyes to the Metropolitan Police Department's press conference on September 30.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department's announcement, once again, Forensic Examiner Uesugi would recount the entire course of the Yokohama Case at the press conference. And more crucially, this time, Chief of the Public Relations Division Togasaki Tomonobu announced that Uesugi Muneyuki would allow the media to ask him questions, and at the end of the press conference, he would announce a new institutional reform!

Thus, on this day, September 30, the eyes of 30 million people in Japan's Kanto region were all focused on this press conference!

(End of chapter)