Chapter 37: Uesugi Secret History (Second Update!)

PS: This extra update is to thank the book friend "temperance"; he helped me reach Legend rank in Hearthstone.

On the second day, at the end of August, a food box with vibrant colors was set out on the tatami mats of a Japanese-style ryotei. Exquisitely crafted Japanese cuisine and sashimi platters were arranged together. A golden folding screen blocked out the noise from outside, and the walls were adorned with patterns of cranes and pine trees.

Today was the day of the blind date for Uesugi Muneyuki's older brother, Uesugi Sadanori. The entire Uesugi family turned out in force. Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori and father Uesugi Hironori were both wearing kimonos with a black base, gold trim, and the white Uesugi Suzaku Pattern, holding folding fans. Mother Uesugi Tomoko was wearing a dark blue tomesode kimono with an orchid pattern.

The two brothers, Uesugi Sadanori and Uesugi Muneyuki, were wearing black suits. Uesugi Sadanori looked solemn, while Uesugi Muneyuki looked cold and stern. However, the contours of their parents' features could be seen between the brows of both brothers; there was likely no need for a paternity test.

"Is this Russian caviar? It's so delicious. I've wanted to eat this for a long time; it's so exquisite!" Mother Uesugi Tomoko looked on in pleasant surprise as the server brought out various dishes. "Wow, how exquisite! There's even herring roe!"

"Heh heh, my wife mentioned wanting to eat this last time, so I specifically asked the restaurant to reserve it this time. How is it? Is it to your taste?" Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori twitched his graying eyebrows and smiled kindly.

"I'm more than satisfied, thank you, Father-in-law." Uesugi Tomoko nodded repeatedly, her smile as bright as a flower.

"If you like it, eat more. If you really can't finish it, you can have my son's portion too," Uesugi Muneyuki added.

"Hahahaha~" A burst of laughter echoed at the dining table.

Uesugi Muneyuki's mother, Uesugi Tomoko, held a high status in the household. Firstly, because the grandmother had already passed away, she no longer had a mother-in-law above her. Secondly, it was because Uesugi Tomoko had given birth to two sons for the Uesugi Residence, namely the brothers Uesugi Sadanori and Uesugi Muneyuki. She became pregnant and gave birth to Uesugi Sadanori in her second year of marriage, and gave birth to Uesugi Muneyuki in her fifth year.

For a traditional family like the Uesugi, the ability to bear sons was of utmost importance. Relying on these two sons, Uesugi Tomoko established an unshakable position in the family in one fell swoop. Even when Uesugi Muneyuki's grandmother was still alive, she had been very amiable toward this daughter-in-law.

The Yonezawa Uesugi Clan had always struggled with heirs; the generation of great-grandfather Uesugi Takanori was a single line of descent. By the generation of grandfather Uesugi Kuninori, there were two brothers and one sister. The sister had already married and passed away, and the second grandfather, Uesugi Takaharu, also passed away in 2004 without leaving any heirs. Only grandfather Uesugi Kuninori had produced a son, namely the father, Uesugi Hironori. At this point, seeing that the family had reached the end of its rope, Uesugi Tomoko bore two sons while carrying the hopes of the entire clan; it would not be an exaggeration to say she had the merit of rebuilding this family.

"I passed through the hotel lobby just now and noticed that fewer and fewer people are wearing kimonos. Everyone is wearing Western clothes; how does it feel like I've walked into a Uniqlo?" Uesugi Tomoko said with a smile. "Chitokumaru, Yukimatsumaru, don't you go finding girls who would wear Uniqlo clothes. It would be too embarrassing to say out loud."

"............" Uesugi Sadanori's complexion looked as if he were constipated; he did not say a word.

"Why, does Mother go to Uniqlo too?" Uesugi Muneyuki raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't seem like it."

"She wouldn't go." Father Uesugi Hironori shook his head repeatedly. He knew his wife came from a noble family and had high self-regard; for Uesugi Tomoko, even glancing at a place like Uniqlo would be lowering her own status.

"I do go, occasionally," Uesugi Tomoko insisted stubbornly. "Don't think I don't know anything."

Everyone at the table was laughing, except for the older brother Uesugi Sadanori, who kept a constipated expression the whole time, feeling very uncomfortable. Today he was the protagonist; it was his blind date, and he had only come because he had run out of excuses to delay it any further.

"Come, brother, don't pull such a long face. Have a drink." Uesugi Muneyuki poured a cup of sake for his brother.

"............" Uesugi Sadanori wore a bitter expression. He took the sake and downed it in one gulp, like a prisoner about to be taken to the execution ground.

Seeing his grandson in this state, grandfather Uesugi Kuninori shook his head repeatedly. Amidst the elegant and powerful shamisen music, he signaled for everyone to pause for a moment. "Stop for a moment, Chitokumaru, and Yukimatsumaru, listen to me."

Everyone at the table immediately shut their mouths to listen to the speech of the 32nd Head of the House.

"People, in the end, will still die." The grandfather stared at his two grandsons. "I am getting older and older, and Grandmother Junko is no longer here."

"She passed her life on to you."

"Junko, she still lives on in Sadanori, and she also lives on in Muneyuki."

Both Uesugi brothers were silent. It was true; Grandmother was no longer here.

"You must both have children to continue your lives and the life of the main family, so that Grandmother can rest in peace." Uesugi Kuninori felt a bit sentimental. "Sadanori, listen well: bearing children and continuing the family line is a human's duty in this world."

"Yes..." Uesugi Sadanori lowered his head slightly, his expression complex.

"Muneyuki, you as well."

"Yes." Uesugi Muneyuki also put away his smile and agreed in a low voice.

Through joys and sorrows, the threads of the era intertwined to become the long river of history. In this instant, Uesugi Muneyuki felt the weight of a thousand-year-old noble house.

"Hmm, now that you have both grown up, I will tell you some things about the main family," Uesugi Kuninori said in a low voice. "The main family can be traced back to Uesugi Norifusa, the maternal grandfather of Ashikaga Takauji of the Muromachi Shogunate. Lord Norifusa's son, Uesugi Akikata, came to the Kanto region; he was the ancestor of the Yamanouchi Uesugi Clan. You all know this, right?"

"Yes." Both Uesugi brothers nodded.

"The last direct descendant of the Yamanouchi Uesugi Clan, Uesugi Norimasa, adopted his own retainer, the Guardian Deputy Nagao Kagetora, as his heir—that is Lord Uesugi Kenshin. From that point on, the true direct line of the Daimyo Uesugi Clan from the Kamakura period was gone."

"Lord Kenshin became a monk and remained celibate his whole life. He adopted the son of his sister Sentoin, Nagao Akikage of the Ueda Nagao Clan, as his heir—that is the first Feudal Lord of the Yonezawa Domain, Lord Uesugi Kagekatsu."

"Lord Kagekatsu passed it to the second Head of the House, Lord Uesugi Sadakatsu, and the second Head of the House, Lord Uesugi Sadakatsu, passed it to the third Head of the House, Lord Uesugi Tsunakatsu. But by the third Head of the House, Lord Uesugi Tsunakatsu, the main family had no heirs." Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori smiled bitterly. "After Tsunakatsu suddenly passed away from illness, the family almost fell into a crisis of being abolished due to having no heir. At the time, Edo had already planned to abolish the Yonezawa Domain. It was the retainer Kira Yoshinaka who proposed letting his own son inherit the Uesugi Residence. This was the fourth Head of the House, Uesugi Tsunanori. However, despite avoiding the crisis of being abolished, the family's Stone Yield was still reduced by Edo from 300,000 koku to 150,000 koku."

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded. The Kira Clan had a very high family status; as early as the Muromachi period, they were a prominent Noble family known as the Ashikaga Go-Ichimonshu, and were even called the "Shimoge-shu"—meaning other Daimyo had to dismount from their horses when meeting them on the road to show respect. The Ashikaga Go-Ichimonshu, also known as the Ashikaga Ren-shi Shu, were the direct line of the Kawachi Genji and the highest rank among the warrior class.

"Although the Kira Clan saved the main family once, they used this as an excuse to withdraw and spend all 150,000 ryo of the domain's treasury savings accumulated over three generations." Uesugi Kuninori was also a bit speechless when speaking of this history. "They even borrowed a lot of foreign debt in the name of the Yonezawa Domain and squandered it in Yoshiwara. In the end, the main family was forced to pay off the debts, so... it was a wash."

Yoshiwara was the city of courtesans in Edo, a pleasure district. "A wash" meant there were both good and bad, and the merits and demerits canceled each other out.

"So, starting from the fourth generation, the main family carried the bloodline of the Kira Clan. And by the eighth generation, the Feudal Lord, Lord Uesugi Shigetada, had no heirs. With no other choice, Lord Uesugi Shigetada adopted an heir from the Akizuki Tanemi, the Feudal Lord of the Kyushu Takanabe Domain—that is Lord Uesugi Yozan."

"So after Lord Uesugi Yozan, the main family has carried the bloodline of the Kyushu Akizuki Clan, right up to the present."

Uesugi Sadanori was fine, but Uesugi Muneyuki had already opened his mouth wide. He pointed at himself: "So, should I be called... Akizuki?"

Disarm! Disarm!

Is it Zhenlina, or Aili?

"Heh heh, although it was an adoption, inheritance is still inheritance. The main family is still a thousand-year-old noble house; that point will not change." Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori smiled on his aged face. "I told you these things because I wanted to tell you that having heirs is extremely important!"

Uesugi Muneyuki was lost in thought. He glanced at the eldest grandson, Uesugi Sadanori.

It seems... it has nothing to do with me?

After the family gathering meal was finished, the person Uesugi Sadanori was to have a blind date with today arrived.

"Excuse me."

A woman about 1.5 meters tall with a slightly plump figure carefully slid open the sliding paper door. She had long hair, a slightly plump build with a fleshy chin, and was wearing a standard women's Western-style tube skirt. Beneath the skirt, a pair of slightly pigeon-toed, short, thick legs curled up uneasily.

She was the blind date for the older brother today, said to be the daughter of a certain Executive of the Glico family.

Short and stout, a slightly plump, long, winter-melon-shaped face, pigeon-toed short legs—it was said that her appearance fit Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori's aesthetic perfectly, very much like the traditional women in ukiyo-e paintings.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked away in despair, thinking that this family was truly unbearable; I don't want to go on this kind of blind date!

Maybe I should just call myself Akizuki Muneyuki from now on.

————I am the separator line for the winter melon————

At the same time, at Sakuradamon in Chiyoda Ward, near the fountain plaza of the Metropolitan Police Department.

The newly appointed Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji was sitting on a bench in front of the fountain, munching loudly on a grilled meat wrap, accompanied by a cola. Birds and children passed by nearby. This highly dignified master of the 80,000 police officers of the Metropolitan Police Department even took an interest in teasing the young children, making no effort to hide his love for kids.

Not far away, Detective Megure, dressed in a suit and tie, was drenched in sweat. He had finally found the Superintendent General himself. He trotted quickly toward the Superintendent General, first bringing his legs together and bowing to show respect, then said with some urgency: "Superintendent General, why are you here? This is too unsafe."

"I just had a meeting with the President of JR East Japan." Watanabe Eiji was tall and had a very imposing presence. "No need to be so nervous. This is Sakuradamon, the headquarters of our Metropolitan Police Department, after all. Sit down."

"It's precisely because this is Sakuradamon that I'm nervous, Superintendent General," Detective Megure thought to himself. This newly appointed Superintendent General was indeed different.

In 1860, the Sakuradamon witnessed the Sakuradamon Incident, which shocked the entire nation. Radical ronin from the Mito Clan, dissatisfied with Ii Naosuke—the Great Elder of the Edo Shogunate and Feudal Lord of the Hikone Domain—ambushed Ii Naosuke's procession outside the Sakuradamon of Edo Castle as they prepared to enter the city. Ii Naosuke was killed on the spot, an event that had a profound impact on the historical trajectory of this country.

"No need to be so formal, sit down." Watanabe Eiji emphasized again, and only then did Police Inspector Megure dare to sit.

"I've read the case report from the Forensics Division. My, that fellow named Uesugi Muneyuki is truly impressive. Megure, you're in luck." The Superintendent General picked up a wrap from the bench with great ease: "Here, this is a reward, a different kind of Superintendent General's Award!"

"Uh, this?" Police Inspector Megure did not dare to take it.

"This is a shawarma, it's delicious, and I even added ketchup inside." Director General Watanabe pushed it forward a little more: "Eat it, I can't finish it. I'm getting old; my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I wanted both, but I didn't expect the filling to be so generous, I'm full after just one."

"Then... I won't stand on ceremony." Police Inspector Megure had no choice but to take the shawarma wrap.

The difference in rank between the two was too great; according to normal protocol, Police Inspector Megure had no qualification to report directly to Superintendent General Watanabe.

But beyond their superior-subordinate relationship, Director General Watanabe had once worked in Investigation Division 1, so they shared a bond as former comrades-in-arms, making their relationship somewhat closer. Plus, since they were not inside the Metropolitan Police Department, a slight breach of protocol was still acceptable.

Yes, the Japanese are just this rigid and conservative.

"I noticed that Uesugi Muneyuki matter a long time ago." Watanabe Eiji leaned back on the bench and said casually: "This kid, he only cares about causing trouble without considering the aftermath. The president of JR East just found me, asking why the Metropolitan Police Department didn't give them a heads-up about such a big matter... How was I supposed to know this little Forensic Pathologist was so capable? He just had to expose the whole thing?"

"The most interesting part is that he was actually right about everything." The Superintendent General said with interest: "So I told the JR side, is this really a bad thing? Isn't this actually a good thing?"

"What do you mean?" Police Inspector Megure did not understand.

"The incident happened, that's a fact, but how you handle it is when you demonstrate your ability. I told the JR side, isn't cleaning up and helping the homeless the perfect time to build a brand image? Furthermore, many of JR's facilities are very old. Now that this has happened, isn't it a normal excuse to tell the public that operations are suspended for inspection, and a sufficient reason to convince the Board of Directors to replace the equipment?" Watanabe Eiji laughed: "Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. The matter has already occurred; whether it is good or bad depends on how you handle it. Megure, you did well in this matter, trusting that kid's judgment. Solving a case in a day—you've earned merit."

"I am deeply grateful for your recognition." Police Inspector Megure still felt a lingering fear when thinking about the incident: "It's just that the kid was too reckless. Did he never think about what would happen if the blade went in and there was no adhesive substance? It was so imprudent."

"I was the same kind of person in the past. Once my sense of justice flared up, I felt invincible. The difference is, if the Forensics Division report is accurate, this kid is truly a remarkably capable person." Watanabe Eiji sighed: "My daughter has also noticed him. Sigh, my daughter has always hated me eating this kind of street food and drinking cola. Here I am, a dignified Superintendent General, having to run outside just to eat a shawarma."

So this is the reason you went missing? Police Inspector Megure was torn between laughing and crying.

This newly appointed Superintendent General was 50 years old this year and had only one daughter, whom he cherished like the apple of his eye.

"In any case, he handled these few cases very beautifully, and it has greatly saved face for our Metropolitan Police Department. I have said many times, we are the Metropolitan Police Department, not pizza delivery men. A big corporation makes one phone call, and a dignified Police Inspector has to personally go to their door... Does that make any sense?" Watanabe Eiji wiped his mouth and turned his head: "Let the local branch continue to cooperate with him. We need to see more—is he truly talented, or does he just like to guess blindly?"

"Yes, but I feel that with his personality, and offending people like that..." Police Inspector Megure was still hesitant.

"He followed standard procedures the whole way. Even if he offended people, so what? JR East, a Fortune Global 500 company, facing a kid who followed proper procedures the entire time, not only cannot retaliate against him, but they also have to thank him." Watanabe Eiji gently shook his head: "He is a sharp Sword. Used well, it can hurt others; used poorly, it will only hurt oneself. Ensuring he doesn't go off the rails and lose control is what we at the Metropolitan Police Department must do."

"Yes." Police Inspector Megure thought for a moment, then decided to press further: "Then what if it is confirmed that this kid really has the ability?"

"Then that is an opportunity for us. The Metropolitan Police Department has reached a point where it needs to change after all these years." Watanabe Eiji picked up his cola, his eyes moving upward to stare at the magnificent Metropolitan Police Department building: "When that time comes, we'll find a way to get him into the Metropolitan Police Department."

"The local branch doesn't allow, nor does it need, such an awesome existence."

"Such talent is only worthy of being possessed by our Metropolitan Police Department."

I should add here that although Kira and the Akizuki Clan were both adopted, both of these direct adoption lines had intermarried with the Uesugi Clan. They can be considered to have a portion of the Uesugi Clan's bloodline; they are not just random children found with no blood relation to inherit the name.

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(End of this chapter)