Chapter 351

The startled cries from the warehouse on set interrupted the preparation for the next scene, and the hundreds of crew members on the Taiga Drama set all turned their gazes toward the warehouse direction.

What happened?

"Oh no! Nishimura accidentally fell! Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!"

The NHK props team's startled cries rang out continuously, and in an instant, the entire set descended into chaos, especially the actresses who screamed while wearing long kimonos, each trying to stand up and run, only to step on each other's hems, causing seven or eight actresses to tumble together in a heap, their cries of distress unceasing.

"My makeup's come off!"

"I have to reapply my foundation again!"

"Oh dear, why did this happen?"

The male actors were equally frightened, but relatively more composed, and at a certain moment, everyone's gaze suddenly turned toward that man sitting in the rest area.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Division 1 Special Mission Unit specially appointed on-site forensic examiner, Uesugi Muneyuki!

As expected, where there's a murder case, there's Uesugi?

"Don't move! Nobody move!" Indeed, Uesugi Muneyuki immediately stood up, he shouted at everyone at the scene: "Nobody move!"

Uesugi Muneyuki's voice was loud and penetrating, the scene trembled, the on-set safety officer preparing to run over to check the situation, the assistant director, the extra leader, and the production assistant were all stunned by this inexplicable reprimand,

and then began to grow angry.

Who the hell are you, chicken-neck? Why are you yelling so damn loud?

Hierarchy rules on Japanese film sets are extremely strict, and the Taiga Drama crew, having filmed long-term, are all familiar with each other,

now suddenly encountering an unfamiliar person speaking, many crew members felt offended.

However, upon seeing the person who walked out, the crew instantly underwent a collective change of expression.

Oh, it's Uesugi-san!

Uesugi-san, this way!

"Nobody move! Safety officer, come with me, you immediately call 119 and 110!" Upon a murder case, Uesugi Muneyuki's aura immediately rose, he stood with hands behind his back, calmly took out the cherry blossom badge symbolizing the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Division 1, and pinned it to his collar.

(Japan's emergency and police numbers are also 119 and 110).

"Yes!"

After saying that, Uesugi Muneyuki took Ikeda Erena and the on-site safety officer with him, rushing to the warehouse.

At this moment, in a secluded warehouse somewhere at the NHK Taiga Drama set in Nikko City, Wood Prefecture, it was already filled with people, and when Uesugi Muneyuki arrived, he saw a corpse lying on the steep slope below the secluded props warehouse outside.

"Nobody move!" Uesugi Muneyuki shouted again, then personally stepped forward to examine the corpse.

His appearance also quickly caused a commotion at the scene, many staff members seeing his arrival felt surprised, discussion and exclamations rang out continuously.

At this moment, only a certain guy in the crowd saw Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena's arrival, his expression drastically changed.

This, this isn't right?

How did this guy get here?!?

According to the shooting schedule, he should only arrive on set tomorrow!

Now things are really bad!

If this guy is here to conduct the autopsy, then indeed, Uesugi Muneyuki immediately began the autopsy on site, after briefly confirming this guy was indeed dead, he began examining his essence refining, and immediately learned who he was from the safety officer and crew leader.

The deceased, Nishimura Yuzuru, 33 years old, assistant in the Taiga Drama set production department, a young, eager-to-perform but sometimes somewhat reckless newcomer, responsible for coordinating venues, extra dispatch, and part of logistics.

Cause of death: falling from height, according to Uesugi Muneyuki's on-site examination, it should have occurred while moving the variety show team's props,

on the external stairs leading to the set storage point, due to ice causing a slip, falling from height, head hitting the ground, the corpse bore obvious fall trauma.

Uesugi Muneyuki further examined the corpse's clothing, discovering this clothing was still warm, the outside frozen, the inside soaked through with sweat, clearly in this extremely cold January environment, the deceased had been in extremely arduous conditions, momentarily careless,

slipped and fell all over, leading to death.

At least it appears this way.

However, Uesugi Muneyuki hasn't even triggered the death soul contract yet, he effortlessly used spirit vision to see something different.

In spirit vision, Uesugi Muneyuki saw a tabi sock footprint on the deceased's clothing.

At this moment, producer Nakamura Takashi and director Tanaka Kenji have already arrived at the scene.

"Uesugi-san, we've already called the police, please tell us if you've found anything?" Producer Nakamura Takashi broke into a sweat, he glared fiercely at director Tanaka Kenji, then hurriedly asked the crouching Uesugi Muneyuki examining the corpse.

Set accident, this is major dereliction of duty! As a producer, he can't escape punishment!

"No need to call 119 anymore, the person is already dead." Uesugi Muneyuki said calmly: "Please have NHK personnel first maintain scene order, await the arrival of officers from the Wood Prefecture Police Department Nikko Station, besides that, I need some time for further examination."

""—Alright, we understand, we'll entrust the scene work to Uesugi-kun!" NHK producer Nakamura Takashi, upon learning the person was dead, broke into a cold sweat, in the freezing January ninth-day cold, this NHK producer outside had cold winds blowing while inside his shirt was soaked with sweat, his lips trembled a few times, only able to say softly: "Please, Uesugi-san, before the results come out, be sure to first communicate with our station.....""

"I'm just a forensic examiner, I only need to clarify the facts, as for how to communicate, that's not my concern, please contact Special Mission System Management Officer Superintendent Watanabe Minami of the Criminal Investigation Division 1, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, alright, now I need to conduct the autopsy." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his hand.

Ikeda Erena immediately understood, she stepped in front of the NHK producer and director, straightened her waist, that trembling was like earth-shaking momentum, chest puffed: "Please step back, do not touch the scene! Await the forensic examiner's autopsy!"

Uesugi is big, Uesugi has come! Quickly retreat!

NHK personnel obeyed the command to retreat, collectively cowed by Uesugi Muneyuki's authority, we dare not speak, we dare not ask, we'll just obey arrangements!

Thus, the entire Taiga Drama crew immediately sprang into action, the Taiga Drama leads were immediately escorted by assistants and staff to safe locations to wait, avoiding witnessing the grim sight or getting caught in chaos, the scene immediately followed Uesugi Muneyuki's orders to loudly command everyone to stay away from the fall point and surrounding areas, set up police lines (or use anything available on site like ropes, prop boxes to isolate), maximally protecting the scene from destruction.

Uesugi Muneyuki examined the corpse while issuing orders one after another.

The high-altitude fall victim is already dead, immediately notify the NHK president and production company legal entity, send personnel to calm emotionally broken staff, provide hot water, warm items. If other staff feel unwell from fright or cold, they also need care.

As soon as possible, gather all cast and crew to the designated safe area for roll call, require everyone to stay in place, not leave without permission, await police questioning.

Record the names and locations of the first eyewitnesses, remind them to remember what they saw and heard. Prohibit anyone from touching scene items, especially the area around the corpse, possibly related props, equipment.

Uesugi Muneyuki's calm commands gave the crew a backbone, they knew what to do.

A large group of actors were hurriedly driven into the rest tent, the actor playing Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Takenaka Hanbei, took the hot tea brought by staff, was about to go see what happened, but then saw staff come to the scene to set up the yellow line, indicating they were all prohibited from entering or exiting, awaiting police arrival.

Even staff had already come with the roster to take roll call.

The scene was immersed in a heavy, sorrowful, and uneasy atmosphere.

Everyone was discussing in groups.

Taiga Drama set fatality! For the first episode of Gunshi Kanbei, which achieved a viewership rating as high as 18%, this could be a major blow!

Moreover, because of this accident, the entire production's filming schedule and progress will inevitably be greatly affected.

You should know that the Taiga drama itself is an "annual series," so the filming cycle is already relatively short and tight, not to mention that the lead actor Okada Junichi is still a popular male idol member of V6 from the Kansai Johnny's Office, with many schedule activities, performances, and concerts.

Filming time is especially tight, to the point that sometimes summer scenes are shot in winter and winter scenes in summer.

By the way, at that time, the lead actor of Ultraman Diga, Nagano Hiroshi, also had a very tight schedule and was busy with other matters, which forced the Ultraman Diga production team to shoot many episodes focusing on supporting characters' main storylines, and as a result, it turned out to be quite successful, creating a cast of supporting characters full of life and depth.

Sure enough, the producer rushed over to announce a complete halt to filming, and moreover, no one can leave; we have to wait for the police to arrive.

For a moment, the rest tent was very silent.

Takenaka Hanbei, still wearing Toyotomi Hideyoshi's golden kimono, helplessly complained to the other extras: "You see, Uesugi Kagetora brought his concubine Lady Ikeda-in and has imprisoned us all; it looks like he wants to become Seii Taishōgun and rule over us, huh!"

Upon hearing that, laughter broke out on the set, especially since Takenaka Hanbei was still wearing Hideyoshi's clothes.

"I've long heard of your name, Uesugi Shougenshou—well, as Ningning, being imprisoned by the Uesugi clan always feels a bit strange." Actress Kuroki Hitomi, upon seeing Uesugi Muneyuki's noble and handsome appearance and sharp demeanor, felt a certain liking, though she is already over fifty; if Uesugi Muneyuki had been born twenty years earlier, he might not have been her type or hunting target.

She just likes this tender type.

"I never thought the Taikō's palace would also have a day of gekokujō!"

"Toyotomi Administration? Three-Day Reign!"

"Nikko Temple Incident! The enemy is in the Taiga drama set, Uesugi Mitsuhide has wiped us all out~"

Many actors on the set started playing with various historical jokes.

"Taikō, quickly find your all-powerful military strategist Kanbei to think of a solution!" someone shouted.

Lead actor Okada Junichi laughed awkwardly, gave no answer; the Kansai Johnny's Office really doesn't like Uesugi Muneyuki, but their business scopes are worlds apart, and moreover, Uesugi Muneyuki has the Metropolitan Police Department's powerful division behind him, so there's no need to offend him—just let well enough alone.

Seeing Okada Junichi not respond, Takenaka Hanbei leaned on his age to tease his older brother Uesugi Sadanori: "This, this isn't right? Uesugi Gon Chunagon (Uesugi Kagekatsu's official position)? I remember the Otate no Ran was won by Lord Kagekatsu? Looks like I need to tell the producer to have you brothers switch roles?"

Takenaka Hanbei's another awkward joke made Uesugi Sadanori's face not look good, and he could only laugh awkwardly, however,

Looking at his younger brother in the distance conducting an autopsy, a strange thought suddenly arose in Uesugi Sadanori's mind.

Snow Pine this guy, seems especially energetic and fond of women—surely he won't lack offspring in the future—