Chapter 326: Life and Death in an Instant

PS: Tenshi went to protect Super Earth today, so there's only one update, but 4600 characters of guaranteed quality!

The night in Kabukicho, tonight's sudden turn of events dealt a heavy blow to everyone's heart.

Starting from the Superintendent General's sudden patrol raid, several hundred police officers suddenly surged onto one side of Ichibangai, openly sweeping through the streets; the Superintendent General personally advanced from the street's head to its tail, and along the way large groups of officers in police uniforms and plainclothes began inspecting all shops — everything hurtled toward an unpredictable situation.

Kabukicho is originally Japan's most famous entertainment center and red-light district; not only Japanese themselves, but including Asia's South Korea, countries across the sea, Southeast Asia, Singapore, and even India have large numbers of tourists who will definitely come here to visit (some even come specifically for the sex industry), and European and American tourists are also astonishingly numerous, because to Europeans and Americans, having been to Japan basically equals having been to Asia, at most adding HK, other places generally aren't necessary to visit.

Japan's annual foreign visitor flow reaches over thirty million; tourists on the streets number far more than ten thousand?

Thus on this day of Uesugi Reki Year 2, December 28th, at least twenty or thirty thousand pairs of eyes on the street personally witnessed a shocking scene that even a big-budget movie couldn't film.

The Superintendent General suddenly patrols, midway a sudden murder case erupts, over a hundred detectives deploy urgently, a host club sees bloodshed, the perpetrator jumps out a window to escape, a two-kilometer hundred-man pursuit, and that agile slightly chubby female murderer actually achieved a 1VS100 feat!

The police who were imposing during the earlier patrol had absolutely not a shred of resistance capability before the murderer; everyone along the way personally witnessed how she played the Investigation Division 1 elite Japanese police like a fiddle, yet Japanese police simply dare not shoot — aside from the aforementioned reasons, shooting is just too troublesome; even though Kosaka of the First Division and Shirotori Keibu of the Second Division repeatedly warned and reluctantly shot her dead when she was already a major caught-in-the-act criminal who had killed three and severely injured three, they still endured three days of questioning by Justice Ministry senior officials afterward, and because they killed by shooting, both have been seeing a psychologist for over a week straight.

Even this situation requires emergency review; the remaining police are even less willing to shoot.

Moreover, as Superintendent Higurashi Sota said, Kabukicho currently has heavy foot traffic; shooting could easily injure citizens, even foreign tourists, which would create a massive diplomatic incident!

Even so, Date Nagamune of the Special Mission Unit's shot blowing out a motorcycle tire still triggered large-scale panic.

General Employee, Kazama Hikaru, around thirty years old, was one of them; like most passersby and tourists, he had come to Kabukicho to play near the New Year holiday; when the Superintendent General patrolled the street, he didn't mind and was actually pleased, pulling out his phone at the roadside to snap photos furiously, not putting it down even when patrol and Organized Crime Control Department officers came to stop him.

What a joke, if NHK can film it, why can't I?

And when uproar and conflict erupted behind them, he still thought it was some drill or on-location filming.

No help for it, Japanese society is universally repressed with strict hierarchy, therefore Japanese often have a strong curiosity for the bizarre,

Moreover, humans themselves inherently like the bizarre and novelty.

He watched all the way, personally saw the rioter flee, Kazama still didn't feel it was a big deal, until he personally saw that murderer slash open a detective's chest with one stroke, blood gushing like a spring — only then did this general employee harboring curiosity truly realize, this isn't a drill!

There really is a murderer! It's real!

Subsequently, the female murderer first slashed a Shibuya-kei Gal's throat with one stroke, kicked over an elderly person and snatched his cane, then stabbed a delivery worker riding a motorcycle preparing to deliver food — everything seemed to happen in an instant, yet also like a Big Bang, making one feel incomparably suffocated, a long suffocation.

The Edogawa kitchen indiscriminate murder case from a week ago, Kazama Hikaru had heard of it, but today he finally personally saw what a true murderer is, what a War God is — a hundred-odd police were suppressed by this one female murderer alone!

Damn, is Tokyo Miyamoto Musashi's old nest?

How come these "invincible persons" are all swordsmanship masters one by one now?

With Date Nagamune's shot blowing out the motorcycle tire, Kazama Hikaru finally turned from a spectator into an ordinary citizen feeling the threat of death; in terror and fear he couldn't help fleeing in all directions; police sirens, screams, gasps, gunshots, and music playing from nearby shops mingled together, converging into a grand performance!

"Aaaaaah!" After a wave of panic and shoving, Kazama mindlessly followed the crowd running wildly, but ended up running in the same direction as the female murderer! He ran a good long distance before realizing he'd run the wrong way.

Just as he was about to turn back, the general employee suddenly discovered that besides NHK broadcasting live nationwide, other TV stations had also arrived!

Fuji Television, NTV, TV Asahi, TBS — all four major commercial broadcasters rushed there urgently, the scene began setting up a live broadcast, and faintly from afar new developments could be heard — it seemed the murderer had taken a hostage?

Kazama Hikaru was originally very scared, but seeing so many ordinary citizens curiously craning their necks at the scene, so many police, and TV stations broadcasting live, he instead wasn't afraid anymore; he always felt that if he didn't follow the crowd and fled alone, it would be shameful behavior for him, so he ultimately still followed along.

Pushing through the crowd to approach the scene, the sight before him was frightening: the female murderer was grabbing a female tourist from behind, a long kitchen knife pressed against her neck, a thin bright red line flowing down with the blade's tension, already dyeing the female tourist's chest clothes a patch of blood red — a shocking scene that, besides police, large numbers of citizens also surrounded to watch.

"This is Fuji Television, we are at the scene in Shinjuku Kabukicho; today, a major serial murder case erupted in Kabukicho."

"TBS reporting for you: the female serial murderer, after committing crimes at consecutive scenes, currently has taken a hostage—."

"I am TV Asahi reporter Kato Zo; currently police and the caught-in-the-act criminal are in a standoff; because the other party has a hostage, police have many concerns."

"I am NTV's frontline reporter Wu- — first let us see the scene; the caught-in-the-act criminal seems to have proposed negotiation terms!

Heavens, she suddenly proposed exchanging Investigation Division 1 Special Mission Unit's Uesugi Muneyuki for the hostage!"

In everyone's eyes, the female murderer suddenly pointed at Uesugi Muneyuki in the police ranks, demanding he exchange for the hostage.

"It's Uesugi Muneyuki, he came to the scene? Special Mission Unit came to the scene?" Kazama Hikaru exclaimed.

On the Kanto side there are hardly a few people who don't know Uesugi Muneyuki; after all, this kid has been too famous recently, but him being right at the scene now was unexpected by everyone.

As expected, where there's a big case there must be Uesugi?

"Right, that's the kid!" A street-side yakitori stall uncle nearby pointed at Uesugi Muneyuki and exclaimed: "The other party wants to swap him as a hostage, what are they trying to do?"

"That's a living demon! Just now I saw, when she kills, she doesn't even blink, simply a Prajna evil demon, evil demon ah evil demon!" A suit-wearing man of about the same age shouted along.

"Uesugi, don't go!" A Harajuku-style gal involuntarily said.

"Right, Uesugi-kun, don't go over!" Many bystanders at the scene shouted along.

Indeed, hearing the female murderer demand Uesugi Muneyuki come replace the hostage, even Sugishita Ukyo, Chief of Investigation Division 1 who has always been very skilled at negotiation, hesitated; Sugishita Ukyo had worked in the Life Safety Division at this Kojima for nearly twenty years, he could naturally see the resentment and killing intent in the female murderer's eyes; although it was unclear why she was so interested in and hated Uesugi Muneyuki so much, from her killing without blinking and extremely sharp fierce knife technique, she perhaps fundamentally had no intention of escaping alive!

This kind of desperate outlaw is always the hardest to deal with; the other party doesn't even care about their own life.

Damn it, when can Headquarters' snipers arrive?

And the murderer's negotiation demand spread throughout the entire scene.

NHK's on-site reporter immediately said to the camera: "We have received new information! The murderer demands the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Mission Unit Forensic Examiner Uesugi Muneyuki exchange with the hostage!"

"Yes, Uesugi Muneyuki-san is right at the scene! Let us watch — heavens, Uesugi Muneyuki accepted the conditions! Repeating, Uesugi Muneyuki accepted this condition; he voluntarily stepped forward, agreeing to the hostage exchange demand!!!"

NHK's reporter, seeing this, had their heart in their throat, voice trembling.

And the surroundings erupted in an even greater uproar.

Uesugi Muneyuki, really going to personally go replace the hostage?

Don't, Uesugi-san!

Moreover, he's just an ordinary person; he isn't even a police officer!

Under the gaze of Kazama Hikaru and hundreds of other bystanders and tourists, under NHK's nationwide live broadcast, under the tense gazes of a hundred police at the scene, Uesugi Muneyuki, brows tightly knit, resolutely agreed and voluntarily stepped forward to exchange with the female customer in the izakaya who had suffered an undeserved disaster.

At this moment, in the Kabukicho koban, Watanabe Eiji stared dead at the screen, eyes bloodshot, fists clenched tight; Uchimura Bucho even cursed violently, wishing he could swap Uesugi Muneyuki for Sugishita Ukyo and get rid of a scourge at the same time!

And so, just like that, Uesugi Muneyuki slowly, one step, two steps, one step, two steps, came before Saijo Yasue.

I see you!

Saijo Yasue smiling, as Uesugi Muneyuki gradually closed into her attack range, she threw the izakaya female customer — who had already lost much blood and was a bit dizzy — toward Uesugi Muneyuki; taking the instant Uesugi Muneyuki reached out to catch her, the Zwilling kitchen knife in her hand emitting a sharp fierce glow, slashed directly at Uesugi Muneyuki's neck!

You, are already dead!

Uesugi Muneyuki had anticipated this situation; he of course knew Saijo Yasue's target was him! But he had to come out; just for the Metropolitan Police Department and hospital paying him eight hundred million yen a year in salary and the trouble of being unable to thoroughly eliminate Saijo Yasue for so long, he had to face her head-on!

Catching the female customer lunging at him with one hand, Uesugi Muneyuki had no time to push her away — the kitchen knife had already chopped down!

Seeing this scene, everyone present widened their eyes, pupils shrinking, holding their breath tightly, and Watanabe Minami in front of the TV even rolled her eyes and fainted on the spot.

"Uesugi!!!!"

Uesugi Muneyuki, however, remained calm throughout, his left hand catching the female guest, his right hand suddenly pulling out an iron baton from behind his suit, which he had casually "borrowed" from a violent gang member on the street.

Normally speaking, this strike could not possibly be blocked against Saijo Yasue's divine ability to block gods and Buddhas, which could directly dismember objects.

But, Precision Defense is here!

The Spirit Power Circuit rotated three times, and the Spirit Sphere formed at the instant the iron baton and kitchen knife collided, exploding, the unstoppable cutting ability failed, Saijo Yasue's kitchen knife was blocked and flung open, the impact force causing her to drop to one knee on the spot.

Now!

Uesugi Muneyuki, taking advantage of the momentum, shoved the female guest hard with his left hand, shouting to run away, the female guest screamed, feeling a tremendous force emanating from Uesugi Muneyuki's arm, pushing her forward a few steps, then with another push she sprinted continuously over ten or more meters, whereupon Inspector Itami of the Fifth Section immediately arrived with two officers, embraced her, and sent her into the human wall.

"Hostage safe!!!" A shrill roar rang out, yet no one paid attention, all focus remained on Uesugi Muneyuki's side.

The police at the scene had already received Watanabe Eiji's permission to open fire directly, but there were simply too many people around, and the circular crowd made accidental injury very likely; although the officers had taken off the safety, they could not summon the resolve to fire, instead gesturing to form a human wall to push the surrounding crowd further back, creating a large open space in the center, and the anxious Ikeda Erena was even shoved to the rear.

The iron baton that had blocked the kitchen knife was instantly severed in two, the sharp blade sliding along Uesugi Muneyuki's arm, cutting open his suit sleeve, the sweater underneath, and the shirt, directly exposing his arm.

As Saijo Yasue glared, wanting to slash again, she saw something appear behind Uesugi Muneyuki.

It was Hironaka Mariko!

The grudge of the former Fuji TV female anchor surged forward, violently slamming into Saijo Yasue's body, whereupon Uesugi Muneyuki swung another punch, imbued with the power of the Spirit Sphere, striking Saijo Yasue's chin.

Crack!

A sound of bone breaking, Saijo Yasue stepped back one pace, but she immediately swung her knife even more fiercely!

Uesugi Muneyuki hastily retreated, in the cold air, the sharp Zwilling kitchen knife directly sliced along his chest, the heavy three-piece suit and the added sweater were all cut through at once, along with the ballpoint pen and Huawei 5PIus Senzoku Ōkami red phone in his suit's inner pocket, also severed in two!

Damn it!

Uesugi Muneyuki triggered Precision Defense failure this time, no choice, he was simply too exhausted, Mai Xuejie had drained all his Courage to treat his wounds, at this moment his body was utterly empty, extremely fatigued, forcing himself to fire two more Spirit Spheres caused his eyes to go dark and stars to flash before his vision, he plopped down onto the ground.

"Uesugi!" In the unseen Grudge Domain, Hironaka Mariko scattered her own hair to bind Saijo Yasue's limbs, although she was soon cut through by Saijo Yasue, but she had already bought a little time for Uesugi Muneyuki!

Another knife thrust came, Uesugi Muneyuki could only roll on the spot to dodge, the blade tip pointed at his abdomen and fell, the sharp edge slicing open the torn hem of his suit, Uesugi Muneyuki already felt the blade tip gliding across his skin surface, the first layer of epidermis already cut, the second layer of dermis also split open a gap, blood already seeping from the ruptured capillaries!

Just a forward thrust, with her swordsmanship, Uesugi Muneyuki would be severed at the waist on the spot!

Saijo Yasue thought the same, but as she was about to continue slashing, a strong gust of wind blew from the side!

It was Ikeda Erena!

The arriving tall beauty at this moment her emotions were like those of an enraged lioness, emitting an extremely dangerous aura, she seized the moment and launched a side kick, her left leg sweeping like a battle axe, the 45-degree diagonal cutting force exploded outward, her shin squarely striking Saijo Yasue's skull, this strike's power so great that even Uesugi Muneyuki heard the sound of bones cracking!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

The Female Murderer's kitchen knife, at the moment it had already sliced through Uesugi Muneyuki's second layer of skin, her skull suffered a heavy blow, she finally lost control of the knife, which flew from her hand, seeing the perpetrator disarmed, Erena shouted angrily, her left hand locking the opponent's right leg's groin, her right arm embracing the opponent's waist, using her own body weight in a counterclockwise roll, a ground-based spinning press!

"Kesa ga?"!! A knowledgeable officer at the scene exclaimed in surprise.

Another Judo divine technique?!

Right arm locking the neck, left arm controlling the opponent's right arm, Ikeda Erena finally subdued this Female Murderer, pressing her down firmly, immobile!

"Uesugi, are you alright?!" Erena finally had a chance to inquire about Uesugi Muneyuki's condition.

But Uesugi Muneyuki's attention was not here, when Saijo Yasue dropped the Zwilling kitchen knife, he saw a wisp of black grudge detach from the female murderer's body and flee swiftly.

Hmph! Want to escape?

Utterly exhausted, Uesugi Muneyuki lay on the ground, raising his right hand toward the grudge that Saijo Yasue wished to flee far away.

Accept it, this is my—last Spirit Sphere!

Biu!