Chapter 319: Metropolitan Police Department Annual Meeting

PS: Because I fainted on the spot yesterday while watching my brother's competition, there was only one update yesterday. I apologize. Therefore, today's first update is a full 4,600-character chapter to make up for yesterday's. Please forgive me!

Due to the loss of his position at the hospital, Uesugi Muneyuki could not legally perform autopsies for the time being. He had to wait for special approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the personnel update appointment letter from Tokyo University. However, the time was already very close to the New Year holidays, which was a bit awkward.

Tokyo University was on winter break, and they would not process Uesugi Muneyuki's official employment procedures until the winter break officially ended on January 12th. Professor Funao's intention was even to delay it for a few more days, because if Uesugi Muneyuki resigned from Tokyo University and was hired immediately, it would seem a bit too deliberate, as if Tokyo University had directed Uesugi Muneyuki to testify in court. Therefore, it might be dragged out until January 20th or even February.

Tokyo University naturally has its own dignity. As the highest institution of learning in this country, Tokyo University's current global QS university ranking has fallen behind Tsinghua and Peking University, HK University, and the National University of Singapore across the sea, ranking only fifth in Asia, but Tokyo University is, after all, Tokyo University.

By the same token, Japan's public servant organizations are also sluggish. Even though the Metropolitan Police Department had already negotiated, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare indicated that since Uesugi-kun had testified in court directly against his alma mater, if we approve his qualifications immediately, wouldn't that make the Kanto Medical Association and the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital feel that Uesugi Muneyuki's testimony was supported by us? How about this, give us some face, and we will process it for the Metropolitan Police Department immediately after the New Year holidays end!

Thus, from late December until the end of the New Year holidays, Uesugi Muneyuki could not legally perform autopsies. Of course, he could still perform them, but the criminal profiles and scientific deductions he provided would no longer have legal validity and could only serve as reference.

It was also during this period that another case occurred in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo.

There was a chef who was hot-tempered and would cause trouble wherever he went. He had changed jobs several times but was still very unpopular with his colleagues. Because of his career frustrations, he began to drink heavily and secretly inhale laughing gas. Before long, he began to experience hallucinations and auditory hallucinations, and because of his work, he often carried a willow-blade knife on his person.

On a day in mid-December, this chef suddenly attacked passersby indiscriminately on the street without warning. After killing one person and seriously injuring two others, a mother happened to pass by pushing a baby carriage.

She was pushing the baby carriage with her child lying inside. With nowhere to hide and seeing the chef stabbing with the knife, the mother actually turned her back to the man and threw herself over the baby carriage.

However, the chef's knife pierced through her back and simultaneously went straight through the infant's head. Both mother and child died.

At this time, nearby police had already arrived, but they were all somewhat afraid when facing this situation. They dared neither to fire their guns nor to rush into hand-to-hand combat, so they could only try to surround him while waiting for reinforcements.

Eventually, Police Inspector Kosaka of the First Division of Investigation Division 1 and Police Inspector Shiratori of the Second Division arrived. Seeing that the chef was still continuing to hurt people and had slashed another police officer, Kosaka and Shiratori finally drew their guns and fired, killing the serial killer who had caused three deaths and three serious injuries on the spot.

Because they had killed someone by shooting, Police Inspector Kosaka and Police Inspector Shiratori were still forced to undergo an emergency judicial review. Fortunately, the Ministry of Justice ultimately determined that this was an "Emergency Avoidance Procedure" for arresting a major flagrant offender and preventing further major harm. The shooting was deemed legal, and the act of killing by shooting was not pursued; their contribution to "justifiably defending the citizens" was affirmed. However, considering that a police officer killing someone with a gun ultimately had a bad impact, no public commendation was given, changing it instead to an internal record, and the Metropolitan Police Department held a special private meeting to express its affirmation.

The general public expressed understanding and support for the Metropolitan Police Department's actions this time, mainly because the tragedy of the mother and child dying together shocked the entire Tokyo Metropolis. Such an incident occurring at the end of the year also cast a shadow over Tokyo's New Year.

But Uesugi Muneyuki's focus was not here.

After he arrived at the scene and examined the bodies, his brows were tightly locked.

The killer was the chef, and yet it was not the chef.

The chef had long since died suddenly while drinking and inhaling laughing gas due to alcoholic cardiomyopathy + laughing gas-induced hyperhomocysteinemia + electrolyte imbalance + autonomic nervous system dysfunction + malignant arrhythmia.

The one who did the killing was the possessed Saijo Yasue. This murder demon had returned!

It made sense; only she could pierce through a back and then through a skull with a single blade.

However, in the end, Hironaka Mariko had absorbed too much of Saijo Yasue's Cursed Grudge power. She had become much weaker than before, and coupled with the fact that the police had guns, Saijo Yasue could not escape as she had wished and was forced to abandon this corpse and flee far away once again.

"We cannot continue to be this passive." Uesugi Muneyuki said to Hironaka Mariko and Miyahara Toru: "We must find a way to proactively eliminate this threat."

"Indeed, there is no logic in a thousand days of being a thief, but no thousand days of guarding against a thief." Hironaka Mariko twisted her neck: "But she is always far outside my perception range. We must find a way to lure her out."

"I think we can find a way, otherwise... Mr. Uesugi has me and Hironaka by his side, but the safety of others..." The smoke ghost Miyahara Toru also expressed his support: "She hates you the most. Perhaps Mr. Uesugi, you need to act as the bait yourself... I will try my best to protect you with my smoke."

The process from human to Cursed Grudge is quite difficult to endure. Miyahara Toru spent several months before gradually adapting to this process. His final wish now is to watch his son and daughter grow up.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Miyahara did not love her husband very much. Ever since her husband died, Mrs. Miyahara had actually been quite happy. She didn't have to accompany this ugly man anymore and had received a large sum of compensation. Yoshimoto Kogyo paid out two hundred million in one go, and the rest of the money was paid in installments over 20 years.

Fortunately, Mrs. Miyahara loved her two children, and although Miyahara Toru died, he did not completely disappear. Relying on Uesugi Muneyuki's power, he appeared and gave Mrs. Miyahara a scare, which directly frightened her so much that she never dared to go looking for a Host again.

"I am not afraid myself, but I am afraid that Saijo Yasue will target those around me." Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a while: "I think I need to discuss this with Senior Mai."

Senior Mai had not appeared for a long time. The main reason was that she was a very busy person. In addition to her entertainment affairs and the management of the Kanto Shrine Alliance, Senior Mai also had many Inner World areas to maintain. Especially during the end of the year, she had to check the Inner World seals of the major shrines in Kanto one by one, and she had to spend time cultivating, so she was busy to death.

No wonder she had no thoughts of marrying him, and she had absolutely no desire to be a wife or a mother.

However, it was only a few days until the day of the Dual Cultivation at Meiji Jingu that both parties had agreed upon.

December 22nd, the second year of the Uesugi Era, Sunday.

This year's Metropolitan Police Department annual meeting was held at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Naturally, this was partly because the director of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan was Uesugi Muneyuki's father, Uesugi Hironori, but well, all procedures were legal and compliant, and you couldn't find any problems—it was upright and honorable!

"Oh ho ho ho~ You flatter me. How is it that my hall's business is getting better and better just as I'm about to retire~" Uesugi Hironori said to his wife with smug satisfaction.

"You wish!" Uesugi Tomoko said one thing while meaning another: "Hurry up and prepare seriously, don't embarrass us in front of our in-laws!"

Thus, that evening, Ueno Park was shrouded in the cold of winter, but the bright lights of the Bunka Kaikan illuminated the area as if it were daylight. In front of the main entrance, more than ten black official cars slid silently into the driveway. As the doors opened and closed, the high-ranking officials of the Metropolitan Police Department, dressed in dark blue and black suits, appeared one after another.

The stage of the Grand Music Hall was temporarily transformed into the main venue for the celebration. The giant LED screen played a loop of the Metropolitan Police Department's annual major events review: the investigation of the Yokohama Case, the Yokohama Tank Road, and the second Fuji TV Case. Every scene was inseparable from the figure of Uesugi Muneyuki... The screen finally froze on the golden seal-script characters: "Sakigawa X Year Metropolitan Police Department Year-End Commendation Ceremony."

The crystal chandelier originally hanging under the dome was dimmed to its lowest setting, replaced by dozens of deep blue beams of light that projected a huge police badge pattern onto the floor. In front of the red velvet seats in the auditorium were black sandalwood tables, and in the center of each table stood a silver desk lamp shaped like a miniature cherry blossom branch, its soft halo illuminating the seat nameplates and gold-stamped menus.

At the same time, Watanabe Eiji, the master of the Metropolitan Police Department, as the focus of the entire venue, was in a crisp dark blue Armani three-piece suit, receiving congratulations from everyone. Everyone knew that after this successful re-election, Watanabe Eiji's future would be limitless.

Since the Cold War, no Superintendent General had successfully been re-elected. The longest-serving Superintendent General in Japanese history was Tanaka Eiichi of the Showa era, who served as Superintendent General for a full five-plus years (1948-1954), but that was due to the needs of the special situation after the war. Later, during the Cold War, some Superintendents General had served for more than three years, but after the end of the Cold War, there were no more re-elections for Superintendent General.

If Watanabe Eiji could complete two terms, then at most four years and six months, and at least four years, he would become the longest-serving Superintendent General since the end of the Cold War. And those Superintendents General who served for more than three years were all promoted afterward, completing the magnificent leap across the chasm from Administrative Official to Political Official.

"Congratulations, Superintendent General Watanabe, congratulations on your re-election!" Watanabe Eiji and his wife, Watanabe Michiko, stood in the center of the venue, receiving congratulations from the high-ranking officials of the Metropolitan Police Department. He was beaming; being re-elected as Superintendent General was not the best outcome for him, but it was the second-best. For a bureaucrat, the most important things are accumulating seniority and having a beautiful resume, and he lacked neither.

"Congratulations to you." One high-ranking official after another came up with their wives to offer congratulations; I won't list them all here.

After a while, the Assistant Commissioner-level high-ranking officials had finished congratulating him, and Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kanji finally found an opportunity to come up and offer his congratulations. I saw this Criminal Investigation Department Chief, who was usually arrogant and overbearing in the Criminal Investigation Department, being very humble and fawning as he toasted Watanabe Eiji. After saying two flattering words, he immediately turned his attention to Watanabe Michiko: "Today, the protagonist doesn't seem to be Superintendent General Watanabe, but rather you, Madam! The outfit you are wearing is truly graceful and luxurious!"

"Hehehehe~ Is that so?" Watanabe Michiko was born into a major political family. Hearing Uchimura Kanji's flattery and thinking of her husband's successful official career, she smiled like a flower. She was wearing a black crape Tomesode Kimono with a pattern of purple bauhinia flowers. She had the full air of a great noble matriarch. Although the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes were obvious and the nasolabial folds were also faintly visible, one could still see that she had been a peerless beauty in the past: "This was specially custom-made for me. Department Manager Uchimura, you have a good eye!"

"Uchimura, you old rascal, your bootlicking is getting more and more refined. This is my wife, go find your own wife!" Watanabe Eiji laughed with a hint of feigned reproach.

"Oh my, I am only speaking the truth!" Uchimura Kanji pretended to be aggrieved at being misunderstood.

"Hahahaha~" Watanabe Eiji laughed loudly, not taking it to heart.

"Father-in-law!" Uesugi Muneyuki also made a brilliant entrance at this time, holding the small hand of Watanabe Minami: "Congratulations on your re-election."

Uesugi Muneyuki was wearing a custom-made dark navy worsted wool suit, paired with a white poplin shirt, a navy blue jacquard tie, and a V-neck cashmere vest of the same color, with a double-breasted Chesterfield coat draped over his shoulders. He looked cold, extraordinary, and full of nobility.

When Minami-ojousama's 7cm black red-bottomed High-heeled Shoes hit the floor, they made a rhythmic sound full of control. The hem of her midnight blue herringbone wool suit skirt rose with her steps. The dark gray 20D velvet Silk Stockings outlined her straight leg lines like a second layer of skin. A thin silver necklace passed through the collar of her silk shirt, and her long hair behind her ears was coiled into a princess hairstyle, revealing the silver pearl earring on her left earlobe. The subtle light and shadow formed by the soft gray stockings behind her knees matched the charming color of the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department created by the upward curve of her eye corners.

The entrance of the golden boy and jade girl was incredibly dazzling.

"Whoa! Muneyuki, Minami, you've arrived?" Watanabe Eiji naturally showed joy at the arrival of his daughter and son-in-law... or to be precise, his son and daughter-in-law. He patted Uesugi Muneyuki on the shoulder without saying much, just signaling for a drink.

Being able to be successfully re-elected is all thanks to you, my son.

Being able to solve cases legally is all thanks to you, my father-in-law.

Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Eiji looked at each other and smiled without saying more; everything was in the toast.

Mikoto-nee didn't come today; she was an outsider and didn't like participating in such occasions. Eirina, however, came, following behind Minami-ojousama. The tall beauty was wearing a midnight blue suit dress that was exactly the same as Minami-ojousama's, paired with gray Silk Stockings. The two beauties, one big and one small, instantly attracted the attention of the entire venue.

In terms of body type and age, Eirina was the big beauty and Minami was the small beauty, but the reality was that Minami was the big wife and Eirina was the small wife.

Anyway, it had always been the three of them together. Minami was too delicate... Uesugi Muneyuki looked at the two beauties, one big and one small, and revealed a playful smile. He was already used to holding Minami and Eirina at the same time.

However, Eirina was truly very poor at social interaction; she only offered a stiff congratulation and then did not know what else to say. Fortunately, Minami was there to guide her. The petite Miss Minami shielded the tall beauty Eirina behind her, holding her hand and teaching her what to say to different guests, and Eirina simply followed along, repeating after her and letting Minami handle everything, making the scene quite harmonious.

Watanabe Michiko cast a meaningful look at Eirina and her own daughter.

Is that so? That is fine too.

"Today is the happiest day~" Eiji Watanabe raised his wine glass amidst the melodious sound of the cello.

Originally, Uesugi Hironori had invited the recently famous old Kyoto girl band "auvmujica" to perform a Kyoto opera on-site today, but Uesugi Muneyuki vetoed this "Ayoyowei-Mujica" nonsense, feeling that this kind of Kyoto opera was not authentic.

Sorry, I hate the atmosphere of girl bands the most!

"Father-in-law, Kosaka and Shiratori have both arrived." Uesugi Muneyuki communicated secretly with Eiji Watanabe: "I suspect that the shooting that day was Kosaka's idea."

In the distance, First Division Chief Police Inspector Kosaka and Second Division Chief Police Inspector Shiratori had both arrived. However, the Non-Career Track Police Inspector Kosaka was already over forty, and his wife was naturally quite old, very plain in appearance, and overweight; her kimono was also clearly rented and did not fit well. Meanwhile, the Career Track Shiratori Sho was only 28, and his girlfriend, professional model and professional mahjong player Okada Sayaka, was wearing a white pearl chiffon Greek-style long gown. Although it showcased her delicate, slender, and dashing figure, it appeared too flashy; after all, the Metropolitan Police Department annual meeting was a relatively serious occasion.

"Remove the 'should,' it was definitely Kosaka's idea." Eiji Watanabe nodded meaningfully: "Shiratori has always been a conventional person. As a member of the Todai Kinbyo-gumi, Shiratori only needs to seek no demerits to be promoted on schedule, but the Non-Career Track Kosaka is desperate for a massive achievement... This man is a fame-seeker."

"As for Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo..."

At this moment, another commotion came from the annual meeting venue, and Uesugi Muneyuki and Eiji Watanabe paused their conversation and looked up.

Oh, it is Third Division Police Inspector Kashiwagi Jin and his wife Kashiwagi Misa making their entrance.

These were the golden boy and girl of the previous generation at the Metropolitan Police Department.

However, although Kashiwagi Jin had recently been stealing the spotlight outside the department, his situation within the department was not very good, but regardless, this couple arrived as promised today.

And after they appeared, they did not stop, walking straight toward where Uesugi Muneyuki and Eiji Watanabe were!

The moment Kashiwagi Jin's sharp and arrogant gaze met Uesugi Muneyuki's half-smiling gaze, thunder and fire clashed, and a crackling explosion rang out!

(End of this chapter)