Chapter 36: An Unsurmountable Gap

In the crowded throng, the married couple Uesugi Hironori and Uesugi Tomoko watched their youngest son's performance, each with their own thoughts.

May Bishamonten protect him, may the eight million gods and ancestors shield him—this fellow Muneyuki is truly taking too big a risk!

Mother Uesugi Tomoko was squeezed into the crowd; wearing an expensive Tomesode Kimono and standing so close to ordinary people made this noble-born Peerage lady feel quite displeased. In truth, under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for these commoners to have any contact with Uesugi Tomoko. As the wife of a traditional Peerage family, Uesugi Tomoko was always picked up and dropped off when going out, attended events at fixed locations, and usually stayed at home as a housewife—the kind who does no housework.

The mother's eyes were full of worry and lingering fear; her youngest son had actually managed to verify the case with this one strike.

But what if he hadn't verified it? Wouldn't he have been disgraced and ruined?

This won't do; our whole family must be well, perfectly well.

Uesugi Tomoko clutched her chest, unable to stop herself from praying.

Unlike his wife's reaction, a flash of pride crossed Uesugi Hironori's usually carefree face.

Worthy of being my son! Truly my own flesh and blood! He has my blood flowing through his veins.

This glimmer of shrewdness vanished in an instant, and Uesugi Hironori immediately returned to his carefree state. He was the first to applaud, shouting: "Good! Well said! I think he's right. Mr. Police Inspector, the efficiency of your Metropolitan Police Department is truly remarkable, truly remarkable!"

"Ahahahaha~" The father's hearty laughter and his act of playing the fool to offer compliments drew a round of laughter from the surrounding crowd, who then all applauded in agreement. Meanwhile, the squad of men in suits from the Metropolitan Police Department, despite their serious and stern expressions, could not hide the look of smugness in their eyes.

Isn't that obvious? We are the elite from the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters; we are different from the trash at the local branch.

This fellow has a good eye; where did he come from?

Police Inspector Megure only had to glance at the black-and-blue bamboo-sparrow crest on Uesugi Muneyuki's kimono to give a start.

Good heavens, he's actually Peerage!

No wonder; I had heard before that Uesugi Muneyuki was of Peerage descent, and it turns out to be true... Besides the Yonezawa Uesugi Clan, who else would wear such a large Uesugi bamboo-sparrow family crest on their clothes nowadays?

"Alright, prepare to withdraw!" With Uesugi Muneyuki's help, the evidence, the suspect, and the sequence of events had all been reconstructed. There was no need for the Metropolitan Police Department to remain at the scene; the rest was a matter for the local branch. Police Inspector Megure ordered the withdrawal, taking the evidence, the suspect, and the corpse back to the Metropolitan Police Department, where the Forensics Division and the Criminal Investigation Department were already prepared.

Before leaving, Police Inspector Megure specifically came before Uesugi Muneyuki to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your assistance, Uesugi-kun. Resolving this so quickly is truly your merit. However, if there is a need later, you might have to go to the Metropolitan Police Department in person, and there is also the Forensic Autopsy Report."

"I will have the Forensic Autopsy Report written within three working days," Uesugi Muneyuki nodded. "Also, tonight's events should count as overtime, right? I hope the Metropolitan Police Department can have a word with the hospital regarding overtime pay and compensatory leave."

"Of course!" Police Inspector Megure couldn't help but find it a bit amusing, thinking to himself: does this guy only have money in his eyes?

"This is already my thirteenth day of overtime this month," Uesugi Muneyuki said calmly. "I have worked for twenty-two consecutive days. Today was supposed to be my day off, but I ended up working overtime again."

Police Inspector Megure was filled with sudden respect: "I will have the Metropolitan Police Department notify your hospital. By the way, regarding the motive, what is your take, Uesugi-kun?"

"An ex-wife killing an ex-husband usually boils down to a few reasons. Considering that both parties were able to negotiate a divorce rather than having a murder occur during the marriage, and there are no children, the vast majority of reasons can be ruled out. Furthermore, considering that Ms. Akashi is wearing old, tattered clothes yet carries 500,000 yen in cash, I suggest the Metropolitan Police Department check Ms. Akashi's account to see if it was caused by alimony not being paid on time," Uesugi Muneyuki said coolly. "According to surveys by Tokyo University and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in nearly 80% of divorces, the ex-husband does not pay alimony on time, or even at all."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ms. Akashi nearby sobbed and knelt on the ground.

Seeing her reaction, the elites of Investigation Division 1 had nothing more to say.

The cases the Metropolitan Police Department handled and the criminals they interrogated daily were all ones that the local branches could not deal with. Compared to a Koban or a Police Station, the Metropolitan Police Department's ability to interrogate criminals and handle cases was on a different level. Even those who had just joined the Metropolitan Police Department, as long as they could enter Investigation Division 1, were undoubtedly true elites.

Matters came to a temporary pause here; the remaining tasks would be handled by the Koban and the local Police Station. Naturally, the Metropolitan Police Department would never touch such trivial matters that offered no credit.

By this time, it was already very late, and the three from Otsuka Station conferred and made a decision.

Let's all head home! Everyone worked hard today!

"Hey, aren't we going to write the report?" Ikeda Erena was shocked by this result, the tall beauty looking at her superiors in confusion.

"What can be done tomorrow should be left for tomorrow; that is what it means to be a Public Servant, Ikeda," Tanaka Laodeng said, avoiding Erena's sharp gaze with great nonchalance. "Ikeda, you are single, so naturally you wouldn't understand. The Section Chief and I have families; our wives and children are still waiting for us to come home."

"Besides, the Metropolitan Police Department has taken over this matter, so we at the local branch are just helping out. There's no rush until they get results," Kuwabara Mako also chimed in.

"Oh, right, Ikeda, Uesugi-kun is on compensatory leave for the next few days, so you take those days off too," Section Chief Sudo finally made the arrangement.

Erena thought to herself, what kind of arrangement is this? What do you take me for? An accessory to Uesugi?

And besides, even if the Metropolitan Police Department intervened, what kind of attitude is this?!

But just then, Erena suddenly remembered the favor Uesugi Muneyuki had asked of her—he wanted to learn Karate and Judo from her.

Thinking of it this way, it didn't seem unacceptable for their time off to coincide, not to mention that she had an agreement with him to spend their days off together.

"Mm, I understand."

"It's very late, Ms. Ikeda, there are no more last trains. Let me take you back," Uesugi Muneyuki jingled the Lexus car keys in his hand, signaling to Erena. Naturally, Erena had no reason to refuse.

The harvest tonight was truly great! The tall beauty felt very invigorated; even the uncomfortable feeling of the Silk Stockings wrapping around her lower body vanished. She looked up at Uesugi Muneyuki beside her, feeling cheerful.

As expected, he is different; just being with him feels very comfortable.

Before leaving, Uesugi Hironori held his son back.

"Muneyuki, be careful," the father whispered.

"I know, Father," Uesugi Muneyuki nodded.

The father was speaking with a double meaning; he was telling him to be careful about the autopsy, and also telling him to be careful about the matter with Ikeda.

It seems Father has already investigated the matter regarding Erena, Uesugi Muneyuki realized.

It seems my parents don't like her very much either.

However, in Uesugi Muneyuki's view, Erena wasn't that hard to get along with, and besides, she could teach him martial arts.

Learning some self-defense skills through Ikeda was the main reason he had taken the initiative to befriend her.

Late at night, the brilliance of Tokyo would not fade with the passage of time. Uesugi Muneyuki drove Ikeda Erena to the bottom of her apartment building. At the end, he naturally took out his phone: "Let's exchange LINE, Master Ikeda?"

"Alright~" Having been busy all day, Erena was a bit tired. Initially, seeing the low-rise building of her apartment, the tall beauty had felt a bit reluctant to part, but hearing Uesugi Muneyuki's teasing remark, she couldn't help but burst into a laugh, looking radiant and sunny.

Calling me Master already?

With the tall beauty's movement, her ample chest shook violently twice—quite an imposing sight!

"Go back and get some good rest; our lessons start tomorrow!" Erena didn't rush to get out of the car, nor did she point out that Uesugi Muneyuki had looked again. She wanted to stay with Uesugi Muneyuki a little longer and say a few more words.

Going out shopping, eating out, and even watching him solve a case on the spot today—the experience was truly perfect.

"Let's make it the day after tomorrow; I have something to do at home tomorrow," Uesugi Muneyuki smiled. "My older brother is going on a blind date, and our whole family has to turn out for it; we're having a dinner party in the evening."

"A blind date?" The pair of beautiful legs in silk stockings under Ikeda Erena's tube skirt tightened slightly, her expression flickering, but she quickly suppressed it. "Understood, I need to prepare as well, so let's make it the day after tomorrow."

"Mm, anyway, we can stay in touch online if anything comes up," Uesugi Muneyuki shook his phone, and the two parted ways.

On the way back, Uesugi Muneyuki recalled the day's events, then thought of his previous conversation with the Dead Soul of Mr. Koyama, and shook his head with a sigh. He thought to himself that the man was truly like his name; despite earning no more than a Dispatched Employee, he insisted on pretending he could afford to buy a house in Bunkyo Ward, maintaining the air of a head of the household even when living beyond his means, and on top of that, he was abusive and used verbal violence.

What, in the end, does marriage bring to people?

However, after the autopsy finished today, he wanted to play Princess Connect again.

Who should he look for? The man flipped through his phone contacts, thinking about who he could invite at this hour.

At the same time, Ikeda Erena returned home, tossed her bag onto the bed, and almost impatiently took off the stockings on her legs, immediately taking out her phone to look at the profile picture of the newly added Uesugi Muneyuki, falling into deep thought.

He should still be in the car right now.

I'll contact him in a little while.

————I am the divider line for still being in the car————

The next day, Sakuradamon, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Metropolitan Police Department Investigation Division 1.

Police Inspector Megure arrived at Investigation Division 1 early in the morning, and another Police Inspector, Shiratori, was already there: "Megure-san, you've arrived? The results from last night's interrogation and the Forensics Division are already out."

Police Inspector Shiratori was different from Police Inspector Megure; he looked to be in his twenties, young and full of vigor, laid-back yet confident, arrogant yet polite.

Clearly, he was Career Track.

"What? So fast?" Police Inspector Megure couldn't help but retort: "This doesn't seem like the efficiency of the Forensics Division? Did they really do their work properly?"

"Yes, the guys in the Forensics Division aren't usually that efficient, but guess what happened? The opinion given by that Forensic Pathologist named Uesugi Muneyuki angered the guys in the Forensics Division, so they performed the examination and Dissection overnight." Police Inspector Shiratori always had a mocking tone when he spoke; his family had been politicians for generations.

"How was it?" Police Inspector Megure became interested.

"Com~plete~ly~ con~sis~tent!"

Before long, in the Metropolitan Police Department conference room, the special investigation meeting for the Bunkyo Ward arson-murder case.

The policewoman on the stage faced the PPT, explaining the case details to the dozens of Investigation Division 1 Detectives sitting below.

"The criminal suspect, Akashi Sana, 32 years old, is the ex-wife of the deceased, Koyama Kengo."

"The motive for the crime is exactly as judged by the Forensic Pathologist on the scene, Uesugi Muneyuki. Originally, according to the divorce agreement, Koyama Kengo was to pay 80,000 yen in alimony to his ex-wife every month, but Koyama Kengo stopped paying the alimony on time after paying for eight months. Akashi Sana believed that Koyama Kengo was intentionally not paying the money she was entitled to, and she went to argue with him multiple times, to no avail."

"According to the investigation and interrogation, it was learned that Akashi Sana had always believed her ex-husband was a Regular Employee with a high income, and that his refusal to pay alimony was intentional. Furthermore, Mr. Koyama often committed domestic violence during their marriage, drank heavily, blamed his dissatisfaction at work and low income on Ms. Akashi, and at the same time liked to act tough and pretend he had a high income, leading to frequent quarrels between the two."

"But according to the investigation by Investigation Division 1, although Koyama Kengo was a Regular Employee, his income was very limited and he often needed financial support from his parents, but Ms. Akashi did not know these things; she thought her ex-husband had a lot of money and was just intentionally not giving it to her."

"After repeated quarrels, Ms. Akashi developed the idea of murder."

"After committing the murder, Ms. Akashi only found 500,000 in cash that Mr. Koyama had prepared to pay this year's mortgage and property taxes, along with a pile of bills. Only then did she realize that her ex-husband didn't have any money either, but it was already too late."

The sea of suits below nodded one after another: "So that's how it is."

The motive for murder was established.

Next, the Metropolitan Police Department's Forensics Division took the stage to report.

"The deceased, Koyama Kengo, 38 years old, cause of death was asphyxiation, the method of murder was direct strangulation."

Higashiyama from the Forensics Division was silent on stage for a moment, then said: "After our Dissection, whether it be the cause of death, the method of murder, the physical evidence, or the state of the body, it is exactly the same as the judgment given by Mr. Uesugi Muneyuki of the Medical and Dental University."

"We dissected the body of the deceased and indeed found the bruised marks of strangulation beneath the charred skin of the neck. Then, following Mr. Uesugi's judgment, we opened the skull to remove the brain, and indeed found fractures and pale blue marks beneath the cranial cavity. Just as he judged, this was bruising caused by the jugular vein."

The Forensics Division expert on stage, Higashiyama, spoke of this matter as if entranced: "Incredible, truly incredible..."

"Don't say such disheartening things!" Sure enough, an elite from the headquarters in Investigation Division 1 below couldn't stand it anymore and roared: "Could it be that our Metropolitan Police Department's Forensics Division can't do it? Didn't you, Higashiyama, Kamioka, and Ishikura also find the true cause of death through Dissection?"

"That is indeed true..." The Metropolitan Police Department Forensics Division expert on stage, Higashiyama, did not have a hint of pride on his face, but instead shook his head with a bitter smile: "However, Kashiwagi, taking the answer and deducing the process is completely different from starting from scratch to find the answer. In fact, the few of us in the Forensics Division chatted all night and still didn't understand how Uesugi-san could tell at a glance whether the deceased died before the fire or was strangled."

"Everyone here, you might not know what this means." The Forensics Division decided to give the people at the Metropolitan Police Department a little bit of forensic shock: "Theoretically speaking, if we don't use a scalpel to cut open the trachea and lungs, we can also judge whether the deceased died before the fire by measuring the changes in the body temperature of the deceased and the ambient temperature."

"But doing this cannot convince the prosecution. We would need the University of Tokyo Medical Department's specialized laboratory to conduct at least three fire body temperature simulation experiments and at least two authoritative academic reports, and even invite experts from America to verify it from multiple angles, just to convince the prosecution... and ourselves."

"Uesugi-san only needed one look."

"Excuse me."

Below, Police Inspector Megure raised his hand to indicate he had a question: "Uesugi-kun said at the scene that he identified it through the bruised marks on the neck of the deceased..."

"Yes, we also considered this problem." Higashiyama of the Forensics Division smiled bitterly: "But we found the bruised marks, which had been mostly burned away, deep in the neck only after performing a Dissection and scraping away the completely charred surface skin. But that guy didn't dissect the neck at all."

"In a charred state, the color difference between the bruised area and the normal area is only a tiny chromatic difference; only professional equipment can distinguish it."

"Uesugi-san only needed one look."

The elites of the Metropolitan Police Department at the meeting were shocked.

Although they were not all professional forensic pathologists, their understanding of this aspect was more or less better than the average person.

Uesugi Muneyuki's autopsy at the scene could be called flawless.

Or perhaps there might have been flaws, but even the forensic experts in the Forensics Division couldn't pick them out.

The forensic pathologists in the Forensics Division worked all night after being stimulated, yet it wasn't as effective as one look from Uesugi Muneyuki, and this was even while they were holding the problem and looking for the answer.

The meaning of the Forensics Division was clear: in terms of autopsy, Dissection, and deduction, none of them could compare to Uesugi Muneyuki. Even more shockingly, the efficiency of the entire Forensics Division combined was not as high as Uesugi Muneyuki alone.

Astonishment, refusal to accept, embarrassment and anger, shock, being convinced, and then rising feelings of unspeakable shame.

This was the change in the mindset of the Forensics Division; usually, these elites of the Metropolitan Police Department were all somewhat proud.

During the all-night Dissection, they now only felt their own insignificance.

And the Investigation Division 1 Detectives below were even more amazed.

My goodness, did Otsuka Station find a treasure?!

Updated, I slept late today, sorry about that~

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(End of this chapter)