Chapter 364

After the Uesugi Muneyuki incident was exposed, the voices of criticism from all citizens immediately overwhelmed the previous praise for him, 《Weekly Bunshun》

The points of attack against him are by no means imprecise.

As Onoda Kimiaki said, the so-called "sexual consent" for those who are already 16 but not yet 18 is an extremely vague standard, so vague that if someone reports it and the police intervene, it may directly lead to a case being filed, and Japan's rigid and conservative judicial system determines that once a case is filed and public prosecution is initiated, the possibility of a guilty verdict is as high as 99%.

Because consent at 16 is limited consent, the best evidence is mutual guardian approval, mutual long-term acquaintance, no financial transactions or employment relationship between the two parties, and even so, being reported will still lead to police investigation, and if there is indeed evidence of contact between the two parties, conviction is still possible.

Uesugi Muneyuki's biggest problem is that he has an employment relationship with Saito Asuka, but assuming he did not engage in employment behavior,

then it would be even harder to explain why he kept her by his side.

Therefore, no matter what, Uesugi Muneyuki must not be allowed to reach the stage of being filed, otherwise, even if he can later prove his innocence and be acquitted, Uesugi Muneyuki will still carry the stain and blemish of having been detained, regardless of whether he is actually innocent or not.

And this is the purpose of the behind-the-scenes black hand, regardless of whether Uesugi Muneyuki can actually be brought to court, as long as he is smeared, as long as he is drawn into investigation, as long as his reputation is tarnished and his integrity is questioned, the purpose is achieved.

Through Uesugi Muneyuki's failure, the other side will also thus deliver a blow to the prestige and honor of the entire police organization.

Put bluntly, Japanese law in some aspects is indeed "too progressive."

This is probably also why the global left-wing leftist movement is gradually dying out—everyone has learned to exploit the bugs of progressivism, every group knows how to package itself as the "weak" and demand that society "make concessions," every group calls itself the "social bottom" and demands various welfare policies to benefit itself, demanding that society must comply with its propaganda, otherwise you are disrespecting us, you are discriminating against vulnerable groups.

For example, the typical move of the American president Obama Niu is just this: if you disagree with me, you are racist.

However, in reality, the more protection is given, the less protection is obtained, the more privileges there are, the fewer privileges remain—for instance, previously Onoda mentioned the teacher in Osaka who was falsely accused; afterward, the entire school began implementing teaching behavior NFTization (24-hour cloud-based immutable monitoring), binding voiceprint identifiers, establishing fully transparent soundproof glass counseling rooms, and equipping each teacher with a 30cm guidance stick to replace physical contact, all study documents placed on trays for self-service, requiring parents to sign authorization statements or else not be allowed to enroll, and at the same time, no teacher dares to overly concern themselves with students' studies—love learning or not, it's up to you.

Similarly, why did Japanese large companies fully implement the female dispatched employee system and the General Affairs Section system after the equal employment opportunity law for men and women was enacted? Why do most women, after joining, have to work desperately and work overtime to prove they are serious workers worthy of workplace recognition, yet still find it difficult to get promoted?

You are so protected that we must also protect ourselves with great politeness and distance.

The next day, the entire Japanese internet exploded.

A housewife on the spot said: "Five million yen just bought out the future of an underage girl? Is it still the Edo shogunate era? Uesugi Muneyuki! Death penalty!"

Even among supermarket cashiers, whispers spread: "Rumor has it that Uesugi Muneyuki had an underage girl do 'late-night housework' at home? Such beasts must be killed to quell public anger!"

At the same time, someone from academia also spoke up, for example, a professor from Kansai, which has always had poor relations with Kanto, at Osaka University publicly declared: "I feel a chill at the lack of human rights awareness in contemporary Japanese society; Uesugi Muneyuki's behavior is undoubtedly trampling on the bottom line of law and morality!"

Kyoto University also had an elderly professor state outwardly: "This incident evokes the pre-war tenant farming system and the dark era of control! Recommend a thorough investigation!"

External calls to purge the darkness in the Japanese police and demands for Uesugi Muneyuki to immediately resign in responsibility grew louder, while simultaneously, a massive crowd gathered in front of Sakuradamon, led by a left-wing leader who had collected signatures from 2,200 people, demanding Uesugi Muneyuki immediately resign from the Metropolitan Police Department and get lost, and also demanding the Metropolitan Police Department give a reasonable explanation for this matter.

However, the Metropolitan Police Department's response to this was indeed wordless, until Uesugi Muneyuki personally came to work at Sakuradamon that day.

"Is it Uesugi-san?" As Uesugi Muneyuki appeared, everyone pointed and whispered at him: "He actually dares to come to work?"

"Uesugi-san, I never expected him to be this kind of person———

"On the surface he looks solemn and righteous, but actually——"

"After such an incident, is his engagement with Watanabe Management Official still valid?"

"Who knows, if the truth is confirmed, then even Watanabe Director will be affected, right?

?

The female clerk at the front desk and the female internal police staff who were originally especially enthusiastic toward Uesugi Muneyuki began to avoid him, pointing and whispering behind his back without cease.

Uesugi Muneyuki paid no mind, he simply continued forward until he entered the elevator from the hallway, and from afar he saw the police of Investigation Division One notice him, quickly turning their heads and retreating into the side hallways.

Seeing this, the men smirked foolishly; they probably don't know how to face themselves either?

Facing a person who might be ruined, the Japanese are too skilled at protecting themselves—cannot get too close, or else they'll be dragged down, nor can they rush into justice-cutting, or else they'll be seen as heartless and earn resentment, and afterward, even if nothing happens, they might still face retaliation.

However, there was one person who did not avoid him,

"I believe you are innocent." The acting unit chief of Search Division One, Third Section, Police Inspector Kazumasa Kashiwagi, leaning against the wall, tossed a bottle of American-style bitter coffee to Uesugi Muneyuki: "Absolutely—innocent."

"I never expected to be evaluated this way by Kashiwagi-san, I feel very happy." Uesugi Muneyuki reached out and grabbed the coffee, smiling: "But I seem to recall, the last time I was framed was by you, right?

Upon hearing this, Kazumasa Kashiwagi felt a bit embarrassed and turned his head; as one of the parties involved in the night attack incident at East Medical and Dental University, he naturally knows what relationship Uesugi Muneyuki and Saito Asuka have, and after learning of this, deep down he truly admires Uesugi Muneyuki's willingness to take in this orphan girl.

Uesugi this guy, awesome, not bad!

Being able to stand alongside him as the Metropolitan Police Department's Absolute Dual Pride, this move is not a loss!

"I don't know what I can do for you, but I will support you!" Kazumasa Kashiwagi said very seriously: "Regarding the matter of Saito Asuka, I am willing to testify for you!"

"Don't, this will cost you your job." Uesugi Muneyuki, upon hearing this, glanced again at Kazumasa Kashiwagi.

"Do you look like someone afraid of losing their job?" Kazumasa Kashiwagi sneered: "Last time with the Fujitsu incident, was I afraid? Todai Case, was I afraid? Including your incident, was I afraid of you?"

"Indeed." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, thinking to himself, you really are a oh-mo-shi-roi man, Kashiwagi.

Thinking of what happened between myself and Masaya Kashiwagi, he suddenly felt it was time to reveal a bit of the truth to Kazumasa Kashiwagi.

"Don't panic, Kashiwagi." Uesugi Muneyuki let out a cold laugh, turning his gaze toward the distant sky outside the Metropolitan Police Department window: "The advantage is mine!"

"Counterattack starts now!"

Come, followers, servants, and foot soldiers of the dark Uesugi, listen to my call!

That day, Sakuradamon outwardly transmitted a major piece of news!

Regarding the incident involving Uesugi Muneyuki recently, Uesugi Muneyuki announced that tomorrow afternoon, a formal hearing will be held at Sakuradamon of the Metropolitan Police Department!

At the hearing, Uesugi Muneyuki will invite the Ministry of Justice, Japanese Courts, Public Prosecutors Office, third-party appraisal agency, Japan Child Welfare Consultation Office, and various major media to face all external doubts head-on, and publicly release all documents and records, even, the underage girl A and her guardian Ishihara Mikoto will appear together!

This hearing will be exclusively live-broadcast by Fuji TV! And Uesugi Muneyuki promises he can accept all questions on the spot and answer all doubts!

This move single-handedly overturned the entire nation's heated discussion and debate, outsiders did not expect Uesugi Muneyuki's response to be so swift, and moreover, he is planning to confront head-on?

But, that is a minor, that is a live-in housekeeper with photographic evidence of coming and going that largely proves cohabitation, so must Uesugi Muneyuki also answer this face-to-face?

Could it be that he truly has irrefutable evidence?

For a moment, the entire external focus converged on tomorrow afternoon's hearing at the Metropolitan Police Department.

And aside from Uesugi Muneyuki publicly announcing the specific time of the hearing, there is also his list of three pieces of evidence.

The first is the contract he signed with Tsukuba University High School for payment of miscellaneous fees, plus the labor employment contract signed by the third-party domestic service agency, which clearly states all fund flows; Uesugi Muneyuki paid all miscellaneous fees for Asuka over two years in full, and the money went entirely through clear accounts.

The second is the formal adoption certificate, proving the entire adoption process was legal and compliant.

The third is the monthly home visit file from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

At the same time, the law faculty professors of Tokyo University began to take action.

A professor accepting an interview said: "The report by 《Weekly Bunshun》 deliberately ignores Article 4 of the 《Underage Labor Regulations》,

This is equivalent to depriving people aged 16 and above of their right to work part-time; if even fully legal and compliant labor employment is questioned, then who would dare to hire minors for part-time work in the future?

Moreover, a salary of 5 million yen over two years, entirely used for education—everyone might consider that the monthly average budget for child welfare institutions in Japan is 23,000 yen for meals, 8,000 yen for clothing, and 14,000 yen for education, while Uesugi Muneyuki is even willing to spend 5 million yen over two years for her to attend Tsukuba University High School! And all the money is openly accounted for!

If it were truly about sponsorship and late-night domestic work, that would be somewhat too outrageous, wouldn't it?

After this remark was made, criticism of Uesugi Muneyuki in society became somewhat conservative; still, as the saying goes, Japanese people will fiercely approve due to conservatism, and will also fiercely oppose due to conservatism.

It seems everything will have to wait until the outcome is revealed the next afternoon.

The next afternoon, the Sakurayamon hearing of the Metropolitan Police Department was officially convened.