Chapter 304: The Abyss of Mad Gambling

According to Uesugi Muneyuki's understanding, there exists a large number of "mask couples" among the upper-middle-class elite in Japanese society. This is not like the political marriages of Uesugi Hironori and Uesugi Tomoko, or Watanabe Eiji and Watanabe Michiko; such political marriages require long periods of time spent together and the combination of both parties' economic and political power.

These "mask couples" among the upper class stem from the very conservative and traditional character of the Japanese people. That is, in the eyes of the Japanese, if a working man or woman is not married, it means they are "unreliable" or "unsteady." In such cases, they cannot be entrusted with heavy responsibilities, which leads to them losing opportunities for promotion and being looked down upon in the workplace.

Likewise, if the owner of an individual, non-chain business—such as a hotel, restaurant, or shop—is not a married person, the Japanese will also feel that the business is likely not very good.

Yes, the Japanese are just that awkward and conservative.

Therefore, when a Regular Employee works their way up to around the middle-management level, companies and government departments will always prioritize those who have already started a family when considering promotions. In this situation, many Regular Employees, in order to obtain promotion opportunities and chances for further advancement, choose to voluntarily enter into a "formal marriage," finding a suitable partner and agreeing to live their own lives after marriage, neither interfering with nor disturbing each other.

And the openness and freedom of the Japanese are reflected in this aspect: as long as the "married" tag is applied, companies and government departments have absolutely no interest in how the couple's relationship is after marriage, whether they are messing around outside, or whether the children are their own.

So it is said that Japan is a very magical country. This country possesses the dual characteristics of modern conservatism and classical liberalism. That is, it is reflected in the fact that people have a perversely strict requirement for public morality, while in the private sphere, everything is permitted. It is like a dumpling factory producing a batch of dumplings; Japanese society requires the skin, color, and pleats of every dumpling to be the same, but it has absolutely no requirements for the filling inside. As long as the skin is the same, you can wrap whatever you want inside.

Kamikawa Kiyoshi and Kamikawa Eisa are just such a pair of "mask couples." Under the Death Soul Contract, Kamikawa Eisa admitted that she and Fujiwara Nobuhiro had maintained a lover relationship for a long time. Even Kamikawa Kiyoshi knew about this, and he did not care at all; they were "mask couples" to begin with.

Kamikawa Eisa even indicated that ever since they had two children after marriage, the two of them had never shared a room or even slept in the same bed, and they usually went out separately to find excitement.

Yes, the conservative point of the Japanese is also reflected here. Even two people with absolutely no feelings for each other will reproduce. They would rather take medicine than not have one or two children. So many people like to mock Japan for its low birth rate, but in fact, as long as they are married Japanese couples, they basically all have more than two children. The real problem is that most people do not get married.

Of course, the above problems all happen in Japan and have nothing to do with other countries.

"If I am not mistaken, you also found someone else to relax with heavily last night, and only returned this morning, right?" Uesugi Muneyuki said meaningfully.

Sweat broke out on Kamikawa Kiyoshi.

He felt that he had no secrets at all in front of Uesugi Muneyuki, and this also explained why he ran away when he encountered the police—he thought the police were there to conduct a raid!

"Alright, I am just a Forensic Pathologist; all I need to do is make things clear." Fortunately, Uesugi Muneyuki had no intention of digging deeper. He continued: "In any case, I have helped you this much. The room here costs 200,000 yen a night. You had better handle the follow-up matters well and do not disturb my vacation."

Vacation? One man and two women out on vacation???

Kamikawa Kiyoshi complained in his heart. He glanced at the one man and two women on the ground again, especially the dead wife, and only felt refreshed, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sky!

Kamikawa Kiyoshi's expression also fell into the eyes of the crowd.

How come this guy isn't sad at all, and even looks like he wants to laugh?

However, because he personally witnessed his wife cheating, belonging to the category of being cuckolded and then suspected of being a murderer, the people at the scene also gave him looks of sympathy and understanding.

It is hard to be a person.

"In any case, thank you very much. Let's get to know each other, Forensic Examiner Uesugi. I am Kamikawa Kiyoshi, a Senior Fund Manager at Nomura Bank, a subsidiary of Nomura Holdings. Let's exchange contact information. If you have any financial or asset management questions in the future, you can come to me." Kamikawa Kiyoshi took out a gold-plated business card and said in a low voice: "You at least helped me avoid a potential loss of 200 million, so you can consult me on any issues, free of charge."

"Let's make it 500 an hour." Uesugi Muneyuki thought that having a friend in finance would not be a bad thing.

"Hmm?!" Kamikawa Kiyoshi was stunned for a moment, thinking that this kid Uesugi Muneyuki was quite savvy.

According to the rules in the financial industry, if no money is collected, it is just a pure advisory relationship, and there is no need to be responsible if problems arise. If money is collected, it is different.

His, Kamikawa Kiyoshi's, quote for financial consulting is 50,000 to 80,000 yen per hour! And it is in high demand; as an elite with an annual income of over 20 million, he wouldn't even take on consultations that weren't introduced by clients!

"No problem." Kamikawa Kiyoshi still agreed quite decisively.

Knowing a friend in the Metropolitan Police Department would not be a bad thing, and as an insider, Kamikawa Kiyoshi knew that Uesugi Muneyuki was currently the "father" of the Metropolitan Police Department!

Seeing is believing; making such a friend is worth it.

Both sides shook hands in greeting.

"Let's go, let's go back to the room to rest." Uesugi Muneyuki turned and said to Minami and Eirina; he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.

He had triggered the Death Soul Contract three times in one go this morning, and his body was already feeling quite famished and impatient.

"Eh? Why are we going back to the room? I've already changed my clothes; aren't we going out to look around first?" Miss Minami was quite confused.

But Ikeda Eirina already understood completely, and the tall beauty immediately agreed: "Okay, let's go back."

Every time Uesugi Muneyuki finished an autopsy, he would start to become restless and impatient. Having been by his side for a year, Eirina understood this too well. Although she didn't understand why Uesugi Muneyuki would become so strong and powerful every time he finished an autopsy, she knew he needed her now.

The three returned to their room, and Uesugi Muneyuki immediately hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. He hesitated for a moment, but still smiled at Minami: "Do you feel better?"

"???" Minami tilted her head, not understanding at first, but when she saw Eirina starting to take off her coat and heard Uesugi Muneyuki emphasize not to take off her stockings, her cute apple-red face was immediately stained with brilliant morning clouds. She stammered hesitantly: "You guys, are you usually like this?"

"Mm, do you want to join?" Ikeda Eirina said with a hint of shyness and a hint of honesty.

"No no no~ I'd better pass!" Miss Minami shook her head quickly; her legs were still weak right now.

"Pfft~" Eirina couldn't help but laugh.

"Then you can just watch from the side."

————Omitted below————

That morning, by the time the prefectural police arrived, finished taking statements, stored and transported the bodies, and finished handling matters, it was already noon. At this time, the three of them finally came out of the inn again.

They arrived at a famous scenic spot of Hakone Hot Springs—Lake Ashi.

They were going to take a "pirate ship" at Togendai to tour the lake.

"Arriving at the highest level of the world, Lake Ashi!" The refreshed Uesugi Muneyuki laughed: "Lake Ashi is so beautiful~ Hey, isn't this the Peace Torii?"

"Let's look at Mount Fuji in the distance, family."

At noon, the three had lunch at Togendai. Because it was a scenic area, the price was relatively expensive, and the three of them ate nearly 6,000 yen in total. Under the reflection of the late autumn red leaves and the green mountains in the distance, the outline of Fuji TV was vaguely visible. The bright red Peace Torii by the lake told the ancient history of Hakone, and looking across the lake, it appeared to have a unique charm.

After lunch, the three took the pirate ship to tour the lake. The pirate ship was decorated luxuriously and exquisitely. While feeling the lake breeze brushing their faces on the ship, Miss Minami remembered the morning's events again, and for a moment, her legs felt a little weak again.

Before leaving, she had instructed the landlady to change all the water in the entire pool; she didn't know if it had been changed yet.

So, were Muneyuki and Eirina always like this?

In the future, would she also have to be like this with Muneyuki? One case and then...

Thinking of this, Miss Minami was both afraid and expectant. The Face of the Metropolitan Police Department took the initiative to pull Eirina's hand and held it tightly.

From now on, we must all be together!

Eirina also felt Miss Minami's determination. She looked at the blush on Minami's face and understood the other's meaning almost instantly. She also applied a little force to her hand to show she understood, while also being unable to hold back her laughter and shyness.

You are so weak, in the end, you still have to rely on me.

The two women looked at each other and smiled; finally, a feeling of true sisterhood began to sprout.

And when the pirate ship stopped at Hakone-machi Port and the three walked through Hakone Shrine together, a unique beauty of tranquility lingered around them, but waves of crisis also arrived.

Hakone Shrine, it seems to be a member of the Kanto Shrine Alliance, right?

Looking at the Kohaku Shrine Maiden dancing on the stage, Miss Minami suddenly remembered that most fatal threat!

It is time.

It is time to give Uesugi Muneyuki a little treat to taste.

After touring Lake Ashi, that same evening, Minami and Erena signaled for Uesugi Muneyuki to wait outside for a moment, as they wanted to give him a surprise.

A surprise, really? Are you even capable of it?

Uesugi Muneyuki expressed both anticipation and helplessness regarding this, thinking to himself that she should focus on recovering her health first.

However, when Watanabe Minami and Ikeda Erena appeared after changing their clothes, Uesugi Muneyuki still held his breath for an instant!

They had changed into cosplay outfits! Did they bring them in advance? How had he not noticed at all!

Moreover, these two were cosplaying as two characters from Kakegurui!

Watanabe Minami was cosplaying as the female lead of Kakegurui, Jabami Yumeko, while Ikeda Erena was cosplaying as the Student Council President, Momobami Kirari!

Thinking back to the waived room fee, Uesugi Muneyuki could not help but sigh with emotion.

This trip to Hakone was truly worth it!

Miss Minami, I love you!

(End of this chapter)