Chapter 267: Wait, Why Is Everyone a Connection Hire?

The trailer released by Fuji TV was viewed over a million times on a certain non-existent YouTube website within half an hour, and the heated discussion among the Japanese public also reached its peak.

Regarding the coincidences that Fuji TV had another incident, someone died in Odaiba again, Uesugi Muneyuki performed forensics again, and Shirakawa Mai was present again, Japanese netizens began to discuss it heatedly, and the comment section exceeded ten thousand in no time.

@OvertimeCorporateSlaveDemonKingSakiko-chan said in the comments: "I was just in that studio last week participating in the recording of 'SMAP×SMAP'! Now my back is cold; I'll probably have a shadow over watching variety shows from now on, right?"

@riokoHotHotTen-ko commented: "No way, why does Fuji TV always drag Mai-sama into this? I get annoyed just seeing that smug face of Uesugi Muneyuki. They're just a regular senior and junior, what's with the forced shipping? Fuji TV is truly disgusting to the max... But if it airs, I'll still watch this episode, just for Mai-sama!"

@7C-Rainbow also followed up in the comments: "This show of yours is too fake! I, for one, want to see just how fake it is."

The three most-liked comments on the 2ch anonymous board were:

"I'm an internal staff member, I can guarantee the content is absolutely explosive. Uesugi-san performed the forensics on-site for us, President Kameyama was so happy he could fly on the spot, and we even invited the cutest Sakura-chan for this episode!"

"It's definitely a cover-up. Did everyone notice the content in 'Weekly Bunshun'? This case is very likely related to the Yokohama Case. The funniest part is that the Yokohama Case was also solved by Uesugi Muneyuki. How come everything relies on Forensic Examiner Uesugi to solve? Maybe the Metropolitan Police Department should just change the cherry blossom emblem to the Uesugi bamboo-sparrow crest!"

"I seriously suspect Fuji TV is staging this themselves! The Ministry of Justice and the Metropolitan Police Department must investigate thoroughly!"

On Instagram, this topic was also exploding with heat.

@UniverseMeatball: "@FujiTV, release the next episode! Release it! Release it!"

@AlwaysRidingSayoLostInStarCall: "No rumors, no spreading, sitting and waiting for Fuji TV's plot twist!"

@TokugawaShogunFreshMisoSoupOnSale: "Please stop exploiting the dead? What? The one who died was that ugly Miyahara? Then it's fine!"

@MapoTofuRoundHeadElderlyDoraemon: "When the show airs, the one who keeps sweating is the killer!"

@MyOshiAcademyIdolGorbachev: "This is the norm in the industry. To meet deadlines, outsiders are often allowed to enter and exit the studio at will; security only guards against fans, not real killers. After this incident, stations might strengthen security checks, but the increase in production costs will eventually lead to a decline in program quality..."

Under the endless flood of posts, the Japanese were simply crazy about discussing this show, and everyone's eyes were focused on one thing.

When exactly does Fuji TV plan to air this episode of the "murder reality show"?

To what extent can it actually be broadcast on television?

When Uesugi Muneyuki got off work that day, the entrance of the Metropolitan Police Department was once again surrounded by reporters of all kinds, with long guns and short cannons pointed at him, wanting to dig up some big news from him.

However, Uesugi Muneyuki stated that he could not and could not say anything right now; don't ask him about the specific matters, go ask the Metropolitan Police Department, Fuji TV, and the Ministry of Justice.

At the same time, at the Sakuradamon Headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Department, in the conference room.

Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat Onoda and Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji were also discussing this matter.

"So, the Kudo-kai matter ends here?" Watanabe Eiji looked at the "Political Situation Resolution Plan" sent by Onoda Kimihide and said with quite some dissatisfaction: "Even though so much was uncovered, to actually just..."

"Originally, this matter was indeed not that simple, but isn't this just right? The emergence of the Yoshimoto Case has diverted the public's attention, and I think it's about time to stop here." Onoda Kimihide put his hands in his pockets, looking at the scenery outside the window: "Public Security has already grasped some evidence of the crimes, and a portion of the people involved have already been punished."

"I know, but..." Watanabe Eiji looked at the punishment decision, his brows locked tight: "What is this?"

According to the investigation by the Public Security Police, the Kudo-kai's ledger was clearly related to that Lawmaker Yuasa Masamichi. However, just yesterday, Yuasa Masamichi took the initiative to find Prime Minister Oowada and admitted his mistakes, so the Prime Minister gave a heads-up to the Public Security Police, indicating that this matter should end here.

As the price, Yuasa Masamichi's party position would be demoted from "Secretary General" to "General Affairs".

General Affairs is still one of the Party Three Roles, but it is clearly lower than "Secretary General" in both power and importance.

This matter ended there. Other high-ranking bureaucrats, including an Administrative Vice-Minister, were also punished and demoted, with one even being demoted and sent to Israel, but overall, it was just a slap on the wrist, and nothing major happened.

Watanabe Eiji was very dissatisfied with this result, extremely dissatisfied.

After the Yokohama Case, Watanabe Eiji received a reminder from Uesugi Muneyuki. The Superintendent General used his personal connections to investigate the Kudo-kai and the case handled by Igarashi Masataka when he was the Chief of Investigation Division 2, and sure enough, he made discoveries.

Back then, Igarashi Masataka handled a famous "Early Bright Academy Case," which involved major black-money corruption. This matter is complicated to explain; simply put, Lawmaker Yuasa colluded with a large group of capitalists to do one thing.

They wanted to use the excuse of building the "Early Bright Academy" to spend 2.2 billion yen to purchase a worthless landfill from the government.

After the government received this money, it granted the academy permission to be established, issued a license, and promoted it as a major political achievement and revenue generator for that term.

After the academy was established, it hired many bureaucrats from that term to become special advisors or members of the School Board.

These bureaucrats then used their connections in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to introduce students to study at the academy.

And so, everyone won: the government got revenue, the capitalists started an academy, and the bureaucrats had a place to go after retirement.

We are all winning.

However, the then-Division 2 Chief Igarashi investigated the shady dealings behind this, causing the Early Bright Academy to close down after only a few years, and to this day, one billion yen in funds remains unaccounted for.

One of the parties involved in this case was Yuasa. He was the initiator and planner of the entire project, and because of this, he was delayed by three full years before becoming a lawmaker.

"Can't we impose some forceful punitive measures on the parties involved?" Watanabe Eiji couldn't help but say: "People died! More than one! And a detective died too!"

"You're right, but compared to one or two people dying, it is more important to ensure the operation of the entire Public Security system." Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat Onoda was also somewhat displeased: "This time, the Public Security's Yokohama operation... was not a complete success. Secretary General Yuasa promised not to make trouble on this issue, so my older brother requested that it end here."

"Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat?" Watanabe Eiji swallowed his saliva.

"Hmm, my older brother is the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yuasa is the Secretary General of the Party Three Roles, and you are just a Superintendent General; I am merely a Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat." Onoda patted Watanabe Eiji on the shoulder: "You and I are both small fry; I am even just a general employee of the General Affairs department."

The Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat also appears to be at the Assistant Commissioner level, only one rank below the Superintendent General, but in reality, the gap is huge. According to the promotion path of the Japanese police, for a Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat to be promoted to Superintendent General, one generally must be Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat — Regional Headquarters Chief — return to serve as Director of Criminal Investigation or Security Department Chief or Deputy Commissioner General — Superintendent General.

In other words, there are still three small realms within one major realm.

For ordinary people, a Superintendent General is already considered a high official, but to the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Party Three Roles, he is just a "clerk" with a high position, not to mention the Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat.

"Uesugi-kun offended people by investigating this case." Onoda Kimihide said coldly: "And as those responsible for the connection between the top and bottom, the most important thing is to protect Uesugi-kun and protect the Special Mission Unit, so let's just stop here."

"Is it to protect Uesugi, or to protect Sugishita Ukyo?" Watanabe Eiji sneered.

The relationship between Onoda Kimihide and Sugishita Ukyo is intimate to the point of being a bit strange; this is not news in the Metropolitan Police Department. The Special Investigation Headquarters Chief for the Yokohama Case was Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo, and clearly, he also offended people, and Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat Onoda is protecting him with all his might.

"Hehehe~ It is to protect our entire police system. Eiji, the credit for Uesugi and Sugishita belongs to them, and we are responsible for filling the holes they poked." Onoda Kimihide couldn't help but laugh. He heard the sarcasm in Watanabe Eiji's tone, thought for a moment, and suddenly said: "Speaking of which, Eiji, you've also been in your position for a year and a half... How about Chairman of the Japan Traffic Association?"

"!!!" Watanabe Eiji's pupils constricted.

"Indeed, you are not from the Traffic Division, then... Managing Director of the Board of Directors of Secom Co., Ltd.? Or... Chairman of the JRA (Japan Racing Association)?" Onoda Kimihide continued to ask.

These positions are undoubtedly super lucrative, with an annual salary of over 100 million yen for each post, not to mention other benefits, and one could even retain a portion of their power.

But these were not what Watanabe Eiji wanted.

"Regarding this matter, the construction of the Special Mission Unit investigation system currently in progress and the Metropolitan Police Department's digital innovation reform project are at a critical stage. I believe I have a responsibility to complete this work thoroughly. If the organization allows, I hope to continue contributing my humble efforts." Watanabe Eiji said calmly: "Currently, the Special Mission Unit and the new system have finally made a major breakthrough, and the public favorability of our police organization has improved significantly. Now is the time when we need to continue our efforts."

"Oh..." Onoda Kimihide nodded and didn't say anything more: "Speaking of which, it really should be time to make the Special Mission Unit a permanent fixture. That prospective son-in-law of yours... many people want to join the Special Mission Unit."

Onoda Kimihide tossed over a stack of files.

Besides Patrol Officer Igarashi Hayato, who was already designated to be transferred from Yamanashi Prefecture to the headquarters to appease the former Division 2 Chief Igarashi Masataka, the number of people wanting to join the Special Mission Unit... was unsurprisingly high!

The son of the Administrative Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Justice!

The son of a Managing Director at Mitsubishi UFJ Bank!

The son of the Board Chairman of the Japan Sport Council.

The daughter of a committee member for the Cabinet Crisis Management Supervisor.

The son of an executive committee member at Fujitsu.

As well as the children and juniors of multiple top-level bureaucrats from the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Police Agency.

Even the Imperial Household Agency came to inquire, saying that a high-ranking official's child is taking the Public Servant exam this year, and if they pass, could they be arranged to serve in the Special Mission Unit? It doesn't matter, starting as a Police Sergeant is fine too.

Looking at these stacks of lists, Watanabe Eiji felt immense pressure.

How are they all connected people?!

(End of this chapter)