Chapter 328

Did Ikeda Erena kill someone?

It was definitely her kick just now—she kicked the female murderer's nose bone and shattered her skull, but she didn't control her strength and kicked her to death!

The police at the scene all had the same thought pop into their minds.

Someone's been killed—police killed someone!

This isn't good at all. The Japanese police are inherently strict about law enforcement, rigidly constrained to the point of neurosis—some officers would rather be beaten to death than fire their guns. Today's scene was the same: even though Watanabe Eiji gave the order, out of fear of taking the blame, no officer was willing to shoot and kill the suspect in the act.

Ikeda Erena also keenly sensed the change in the atmosphere at the scene. The tall beauty lifted her head and saw that all the surrounding police were staring at her.

I… killed someone? Erena stared blankly into the distance at the already-confirmed-dead plump female murderer, her heart trembling.

Normally, Erena, who is highly skilled in martial arts, has excellent control over her strength—she usually causes pain but never leaves a fatal injury. But today's situation was different: Uesugi Muneyuki was clearly in real danger of losing his life, and Erena didn't think much—she truly used ten percent of her strength. Even now, she still feels a faint ache in her calf.

I killed someone?

But I didn't mean to! I just wanted to save Muneyuki—I wanted to save him… I didn't mean to kill him!

Erena was about to defend herself, but she's tongue-tied, her mouth opening and closing for a long time without forming words. She wanted to say it was better that the other person was kicked to death than Uesugi being sliced to death, but then she felt that wasn't right either.

Just then, a large hand pressed down on Erena's shoulder. Coming toward her was Uesugi Muneyuki's gentle smile. He said nothing, only spreading his arms wide on the ground toward the crowd.

"Pop!" His entire right hand suit jacket sleeve, sweater, and shirt slid down his arm.

A deep gash in his three-piece suit ran from one armpit to the other, tearing open directly to expose his bare chest. The suit at his waist was torn into spiral rags, revealing the wound that had just been bandaged.

"I…" Uesugi Muneyuki knew Erena wasn't good with words, and in this situation, the more she spoke, the worse it got. He immediately tried to take over the conversation, but his throat gurgled a few times and he couldn't get a word out.

Oh no! I've absorbed too much slaughter energy—I'm about to spit it out!

"Mmm!" He struggled to gesture that his phone had been cut off—this was official business, after all—who's going to compensate me? But instead of sound, blood spurted from his nostrils.

This startled everyone quite badly.

"Uesugi, are you alright?" "Uesugi-kun, pull yourself together!" "Uesugi??? What's wrong with you?"

Everyone rushed over.

"I…" Uesugi Muneyuki thought this was due to absorbing too much slaughter energy, which had overflowed and he couldn't control it, causing the nosebleed. He tried to get up, but his body wouldn't obey. His spiritual power suddenly emptied, leaving him numb and weak, then suddenly absorbed a large amount of external force, leaving him somewhat unable to control his body. He could only gesture that he had a cramp and wanted to stand up.

"Can't stand up?" Igarashi Wakasaka immediately came over: "Need help?"

Nod.

So two police officers, one on the left and one on the right, lifted him up.

At this point, no one's attention was on Ikeda Erena's killing anymore. Everyone's gaze was focused on Uesugi Muneyuki, held up by two police officers. See this hero who saved hostages by exchanging himself, risking his life alone, now with blood dripping from his nose, wearing a tattered suit like a beggar, his legs inconvenient, being carried by two officers.

The crowd automatically made way for them.

A grand avenue located in the dazzling neon ocean of Kabukicho.

Kazama Hikaru, squeezed in the crowd, looked at Uesugi Muneyuki's disheveled state and felt a sourness in his nose. He couldn't help but shout "Uesugi-san" and then gave him a thumbs-up in the crowd.

Uesugi Muneyuki heard the shout, squeezed out a smile on his face, and nodded.

Then one, two, five, ten—hundreds of people around formed a long street, all raising their thumbs at Uesugi Muneyuki together.

This scene was also recorded by all the TV stations present and broadcast live.

At this time, Ikeda Erena was still standing blankly in place, not knowing what to do. Her mind was still tangled—Did I kill someone? Did I really kill someone?

"Hey, Ikeda, what are you still waiting for? We're here—hurry up and follow to take care of Uesugi!" Okada Keibu patted Erena's shoulder again, his expression a bit serious: "Don't worry, everyone's watching—this is definitely legitimate self-defense, nothing will happen. You might just face a suspension and investigation for a while, but don't worry—the department will stand by you."

"…………Ikeda-san, don't worry." Kai Toru of the Special Mission Unit also put aside his usual playboy, second-generation rich-boy demeanor. He hesitated for a moment and said: "I'll call my father about this matter—not for you, but more for Uesugi-san and the Special Mission Unit… and also for this guy."

After saying that, Kai Toru pointed at Date Nagamune, who was crouched on the ground—this guy had also fired a gun earlier.

"……Then I'll trouble you all, thank you." Ikeda Erena forced out a sentence, then quickly walked toward Uesugi Muneyuki. The scene was left with Okada, Kai Toru, and Date Nagamune—the Special Mission Unit trio.

Okada Keibu stood with hands on his hips, looking at the chaotic scene. The female murderer, declared dead after failed resuscitation, was surrounded by wailing sirens and the belated arrival of helicopters and Criminal Investigation Department snipers. His expression was grave.

This is already the second such incident recently—both indiscriminate killings, both committed by sword-wielding murderers with extraordinary skill, unbelievable psychological strength, and explosive mental fortitude. Could there be some connection?

Hah, probably I'm overthinking it. And both suspects are already dead—what connection could there be?

But… Okada Keibu finally glanced at the brightly lit Kabukicho and thought: once this gets out, Kabukicho will be finished for a while. And I'm afraid we Metropolitan Police officers won't be able to have a good year either.

Lately, it's truly been one trouble after another. And it seems since Watanabe Director took office, our Metropolitan Police have just been one disaster after another!

……………………

That day, under the personal command and deployment of Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji, the Metropolitan Police Department spent over three hours clearing the scene. Injured criminal police were sent to hospitals one after another, while the remaining personnel handled cleanup. The Organized Crime Control Department and Public Security Police began working overtime, yet they still hadn't even identified who the female murderer was!

Considering the emergency, after obtaining cabinet approval, the entire Shinjuku Kabukicho district announced a business suspension for rectification, with the initial suspension expected to last until after the New Year holiday on January 5th.

This undoubtedly infringes on the interests of countless people, but faced with this major serial attack and murder case, the involved parties could only stay silent.

In fact, every club, lounge, adult entertainment venue, pachinko parlor, mistress hotel, and luxury brand boutique operating in Kabukicho has deep backing behind it. If not for this terrible incident, everyone would have done everything in their power to stop Kabukicho from being shut down.

The Metropolitan Police Department began preliminary investigation of the murder scene and subsequently confirmed some information.

The Organized Crime Control Department police have connections with every local violent group and still managed to gather information relatively quickly.

The victim's name was Mano Matsuko, 35, unemployed, working part-time at Okubo Park to make a living. She was a host club enthusiast, and due to emotional failure, she became addicted to host clubs three years ago and was soon scammed out of her 2.4 million yen savings.

To continue her "relationship" with the host, while still a regular employee, Mano Matsuko began charging expenses to her company, then resigned, but still couldn't resist the host's temptation. Over three years, she accumulated a debt of 60 million yen to AnonTokyo, and as the violent group behind the host sent people to the countryside to collect debts, her parents also announced they were cutting ties with her.

To make matters worse, due to long-term part-time work at Okubo Park, she contracted X disease, which is severe, and she has no money for treatment.

Thus, although it's still unclear why Mano Matsuko had such astonishing swordsmanship—killing people as easily as chopping vegetables—the Metropolitan Police Department has already summarized a reasonable motive for her crimes: life had lost hope and confidence, she was plagued by serious illness, and she had developed antisocial tendencies.

The Metropolitan Police Department held an overnight meeting and publicly released the victim list.

The host club had a total of six hosts killed—five were decapitated, and one was stabbed thirty-eight times, chopped into chunks, neatly arranged, and stuffed into the refrigerator. The killer seemed highly skilled, completing the entire act in under ten minutes.

Three people seriously injured—among them, the Shibuya-kei gal who had her throat cut died despite resuscitation efforts; the criminal police officer whose chest was cut open is still undergoing emergency treatment; and the delivery worker who was stabbed in the stomach and had his motorcycle snatched, after resuscitation, is no longer in immediate danger of death.

Seventeen people lightly injured—among them, fifteen were police officers injured during pursuit, one was an old man who tripped after his cane was snatched, and one was a hostage.

This case is also known as the "12-28 Kabukicho Major Indiscriminate Serial Assault and Murder Case."

With too many onlookers at the scene, the news couldn't be contained, so Watanabe Eiji simply ordered a full public disclosure.

As expected, and with the Metropolitan Police Department's intentional emphasis and portrayal, for a time, praise from all over the world flew toward the man involved in this incident.

Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Division 1 Special Mission Unit Forensic Examiner, descendant of Uesugi Kenshin, Uesugi Muneyuki!

Kokumin Hero!

Chapter End