Chapter 384

At the dead of night, in the Special Investigation Headquarters of the Ebisu Gym in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, the lights were on.

After Uesugi Muneyuki and Kashiwagi Jin completed a search that was not entirely clear in method but successful in obtaining information and publicly presenting "reasonable suspicion" evidence, the entire Special Investigation Headquarters, especially the expressions of others, was utterly shocked.

The gym, involving a whole chain of sexual entertainment industry behind it?

Investigation Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo, Kosaka of the First Division, Kashiwagi of the Third Division, Itami of the Fifth Division, and the Special Mission Unit led by Minami gathered together, standing before the whiteboard to discuss what should be done concretely.

The whiteboard was densely covered with gym photos, bar structure diagrams, and communication record excerpts, with red circles marking the female trainer Sayakura and the "girl (mentioned earlier, Chihiro) missing?" and "international human trafficking?" questions; at this moment, upon further investigation, indeed, the female trainer Sayakura was released at noon the next day due to insufficient evidence, and that afternoon she boarded a plane to the Philippines, and notably, the airport police showed no reaction.

The desk was piled with case files and uneaten instant noodles; everyone furrowed their brows, the air thick with fatigue, anger, and a hint of impending breakthrough tension.

"Why hasn't the search warrant come down yet?" Kashiwagi Jin grew impatient: "Chief, go ask again!"

"It's already midnight; applying for a search warrant requires submitting the application to the Criminal Investigation Department first, then the Criminal Investigation Department submits it to the Prosecutor's Office, the Prosecutor's Office reviews and approves it before submitting it to the Court, and only after the court judge approves can the search proceed." Minami Ojou-sama yawned, she too was frightened by what Uesugi Muneyuki had uncovered, so she struggled to stay alert: "In theory, court judges are on duty 24 hours a day; the main issue is the Prosecutor's Office—"

"I know all that!" Kashiwagi Jin said irritably.

"Then shut up!" Minami Ojou-sama, irritable from lack of sleep: "Don't keep asking! I'm not the District Prosecutor's Office! And if the Prosecutor's Office doesn't approve, you should think about whose fault it really is."

"What do you mean, whose fault?" Kashiwagi Jin didn't grasp the implication in Minami Ojou-sama's words.

Minami Ojou-sama rolled her eyes, finding it amusing; indeed, if this guy realized he had offended Superintendent General Nishikawa, he wouldn't be mixing in the professional ranks like this.

Meanwhile, Uesugi Muneyuki and Sugishita Ukyo remained silent; these two from the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division One had already sensed something unusual.

The submitted search warrant application received no reply, but what came back was a reminder from Hironaka Mariko,

【Someone's here, over a dozen men in suits, fast!】

The meeting room door wasn't knocked on; instead, it was violently shoved open by several public security police in black suits, expressionless, with icy auras, one on each side, the door panel slamming against the wall with a dull thud, instantly breaking the room's focus, all detectives staring up in shock.

Immediately, led by a police officer with brown hair and wheat-colored skin, eight similarly dressed men with lethal auras filed in, swiftly and precisely taking key positions in the meeting room, like a sudden black wall descending, isolating the original space and atmosphere; the lead officer, wheat-skinned, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, the gaze behind the lenses sharp as a scalpel, sweeping over every detective present, finally settling on Investigation Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo, as he raised his police handbook in hand.

Security Planning Division, Police Agency Security Bureau, Kino-shita Tōya, Police Inspector—the entire Special Investigation Headquarters fell into dead silence, keyboard clacking stopped, discussion whispers ceased, only the low hum of monitors and the detectives' heavy, shocked and angry breaths remained; Ikeda Erena's hand instantly flew to her holster at her waist (though rationally knowing she couldn't draw), her eyes like blades toward this public security officer; Itami Deputy Chief gaped, at a loss; Sugishita Ukyo's face first showed shock, then uncontainable anger, he straightened his body with a stern expression and said in a low voice: "Inspector Kino-shita? What does Public Security mean by this? This is the Special Investigation Headquarters of Investigation Division One!"

Inspector Kino-shita ignored Sugishita Ukyo's question and the burning anger in all the detectives' eyes. He expressionlessly took out a document from his person, his voice not loud, yet like cold metal scraping, clearly audible to everyone.

"Order of the Police Agency Security Bureau."

"Regarding the 'Burning Bar' case and related illegal activities, the Police Agency Security Bureau Security Planning Division now assumes full control."

"This case involves sensitive national security information and a highly complex international criminal network background, exceeding the current investigative authority and scope of the Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Department Investigation Division One."

"Thanks to the hard work of Investigation Division One personnel in the early stage, providing a valuable foundation for subsequent investigation. All case files, physical evidence, electronic data, and related personnel information are to be immediately transferred to the Security Planning Division's takeover team."

Inspector Kino-shita, with two public security officers stepping forward immediately, eyes locked on the documents and computer on the desk: "Your task is completed. Please immediately cease all related investigative activities, observe confidentiality regulations. Subsequent matters will be handled by Public Security. Everyone, you've worked hard—go rest."

Inspector Kino-shita said this without emotion, bland as chewing wax, even carrying an undeniable tone of dismissal.

And over a dozen public security officers had already filed in, roughly and violently, even deliberately shoving aside the detectives blocking them, directly beginning to collect all case materials.

"Wait!" Kashiwagi Jin snapped, he slapped the table, sending the cup noodles on it flying: "What a joke! 'National security'? 'International network'? We're investigating a missing girl! It's rape! It's human trafficking! The evidence chain points here (he pointed to the bar and clues on the whiteboard)! What gives Public Security the right to just say—"

Before he finished, he wanted to rush forward to block them, but then felt something hard pressed against his waist.

"Say more, and I'll charge you with obstructing official duties, Inspector Kashiwagi—don't forget, you're still in the cooling-off period." Inspector Kino-shita said coldly.

Kashiwagi Jin heard the click of Inspector Kino-shita cocking his pistol's safety; in that instant, even the fearless Metropolitan Police Department Star Inspector felt an instinctive sense of mortal danger.

But someone was fiercer: Ikeda Erena stepped forward, nearly face-to-face with Inspector Kino-shita, her voice trembling with anger,

eyes like she wanted to spit fire: "Inspector! Those girls! They were drugged, likely sold!

You just say 'takeover' and think you can cover it up?! Who exactly are you trying to protect?!"

Ikeda Erena's hands clenched into fists.

But Inspector Kino-shita paid no heed to her meaning.

At that moment, Uesugi Muneyuki stepped forward: "Inspector Kino-shita, if we just stop here, what about the victims?

What if the leads are cut off? What about this case involving Councilor Suou's son?"

The lead public security officer's eyes showed no wavering, not even glancing at Ikeda Erena's angry face; he originally didn't want to explain, but since he knew Uesugi Muneyuki, and knew the Public Security leadership and top brass valued him, he calmly, with an air of doing him a favor, repeated coldly: "I'm sorry, Forensic Examiner Uesugi, but this is the Security Bureau Chief's order. The order has been issued, no room for doubt; if you have questions,

please ask Director General Shinchou; we are merely following orders."

The public security officers behind him had already moved in, systematically gathering documents from the desk, sealing computer hosts, preparing to receive evidence bags. Their movements were professional, efficient, unstoppable, as if the detectives and their anger before them were mere air. One officer walked straight to the whiteboard, began carefully removing the photos and charts above, ignoring Kashiwagi's near-furious gaze.

"I will report everything here to the Criminal Investigation Department." Investigation Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo closed his eyes; seeing this, he already understood—this was Onoda's doing.

"Always welcome."

Watching the public security officers execute orders like machines, watching the painstakingly gathered leads bearing victims' hopes being taken away bit by bit, a huge sense of helplessness and deep humiliation enveloped the entire Special Investigation Headquarters; no matter what, they could not defy the Police Agency's direct order, especially with the "Security Bureau Chief" title brandished.

The public security officer watched as case files were taken by his subordinates, the whiteboard cleared more than half, then spoke again, tone still unchanging: "Chief Sugishita, please control your subordinates. If cooperation is needed later, Public Security will formally contact the Metropolitan Police Department. Now, please leave this room. This place is under our control." He stepped aside to clear the doorway, clearly gesturing: You should go.

Kashiwagi Jin last glanced at the photo of the female trainer Sayakura taken by public security, his eyes filled with bone-deep hatred and profound helplessness. He turned sharply, strode out of the meeting room with long steps, shoulder hitting the doorframe without a care.

Meanwhile, Uesugi Muneyuki narrowed his eyes meaningfully; he suddenly understood why Mai Xuejie had deliberately made her familiar disguise as the female trainer Sayakura, and why she hadn't told him what was really going on.

Sometimes, no matter how you teach people, they won't learn; events teach people, truly, once is enough.

Before, in Uesugi Muneyuki's mind, public security officers had always been an image of excellent ability and relatively positive.

Today, he witnessed firsthand, for the first time, the dark side of this organization.

In Uesugi Muneyuki's mind surfaced again the hard-won chat evidence of the sexual entertainment industry, and that famous line: "My lover is this country."

Indeed!

A strong sense of black humor enveloped him.

Inspector Kosaka and Deputy Chief Itami hung their heads, like defeated soldiers, silently following behind Kashiwagi Jin as they left.

Minami Ojou-sama's face turned ashen, her chest heaving violently; she stared fixedly at Inspector Kino-shita, then glanced once more at the Special Investigation Headquarters site rapidly "disinfected" by public security, her expression shifting several times, about to say something, when the phone suddenly rang.

It was Watanabe Eiji's.

"Let this case end here for now; public security will handle the bar's operators; as for the VIP list and behind-the-scenes network, temporarily set aside.

This is for 'greater stability'." The Superintendent General said lightly.

"But, Father!"

"Minami, listen!" Watanabe Eiji emphasized: "And Uesugi-kun, you all come back first; the Special Mission Unit also returns first; I have something to say to you."

Minami Ojou-sama wrestled with herself for a while, finally squeezing out from between her teeth: ". —We're leaving."

The voice was filled with unwillingness and indignation.

Just like that, the once fighting-spirit-and-hope-filled Special Investigation Headquarters now had only cold, black-suit-wearing Public Security Police, and an empty room with all "sensitive" information swiftly erased.

The Public Security Police stood in the center of the emptied conference room; the leader, Police Inspector Kinoshita Tōya, pushed his glasses, looking at the cleared whiteboard with a blank expression, he took out his mobile phone, and sent an encrypted message only Shinzou Kamiya could understand: "Completion of On-site Takeover, Cleanup Completed.

"Quoted Term" has been sealed."