Chapter 385

In the early morning hours, Sakuradamon, Chiyoda Ward, the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters remained brightly lit.

Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji sat in his office; the all-nighter had left this normally energetic Superintendent General looking somewhat fatigued. He leaned limply against his comfortable chair, eyes closed, sensing the light coming from across the room through his eyelids, along with the anger of the Special Mission Unit's three leaders standing inside — Management Officer Watanabe Minami, Forensic Examiner Uesugi Muneyuki, and Unit Chief Okada Masayoshi.

Minami's anger was written on her face; Uesugi Muneyuki's anger was a silent fury; while Okada Masayoshi's anger was a reserved, probing sort of rage.

Watanabe Eiji did not speak. His stern, imposing demeanor reminded Minami of her fiancé Uesugi Muneyuki, who had grown increasingly composed and profound lately; she felt her father was becoming more and more like her fiancé, and the thought left her feeling rather aggrieved.

【4】 However, the even more aggrieved person was outside — Ikeda Erena, that was true grievance; but her rank determined she had no qualification to meet the Superintendent General.

However, the more aggrieved person outside is Ichiran Ikeda Erena—that's what true grievance is, but her police rank determines she has no qualification to meet the Superintendent General.

Watanabe Eiji, for his part, remained silent for a long time. When he received the internal encrypted call, although he was long accustomed to the dark side of high-level politics, the blatancy of this order and the vileness of the protection target still hit like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing his fatigue. A powerful wave of visceral disgust and anger exploded in his chest. His fingers unconsciously tightened, nearly crushing the expensive handset.

"Greater stability"? Protecting these parasites, this human trash — that is stability?! This is a national disgrace!

The Superintendent General found this decision hard to accept. He did not roar, did not smash anything, but that suppressed, breath-stealing anger permeated the entire space.

In the end, he still calmed down. A police officer's duty is to obey orders; the existence of the state apparatus, the existence of the police organization — their greatest significance is not "justice" but "maintaining stability." The government does not care about good and evil, only about order and chaos.

Of course, if he insisted on resisting, this Superintendent General position he had barely managed to regain might also be lost; the risk of shaking the favorable situation he had built since taking office was naturally one reason as well.

"Let's stop this case here for now. Minami, Muneyuki, Masayoshi — you've worked hard." Watanabe Eiji rested his eyes for a good while, then said in a deep voice: "For the time being, hand over the current case files and all intelligence to Public Security. In a few days you'll probably see the news that Public Security police raided that Burning Bar, cracking down on its illegal operations and punishing its direct criminal acts."

"Father!!!" Minami shouted angrily: "What is Public Security trying to do? Stealing our credit? That's tantamount to shielding major criminals, trampling on the victims!"

"Yeah, Superintendent General!" Okada Masayoshi spoke more cautiously: "Public Security doing this must have its reasons, right?"

Uesugi Muneyuki's gaze was piercing. He sighed: "An order came from above, didn't it?"

Watanabe Eiji glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki, did not answer directly, but said meaningfully: "Onoda's side probably received an internal call too. The higher-ups pressing this case so urgently shows the members involved are at an extremely high level, possibly even implicating 'the above' itself or important financial backers/allies. This pool is deeper and more poisonous than imagined. Forcing a breakthrough would not only leave us battered and bleeding, but could also alert the enemy, expose our intentions and strength, and even trigger an uncontrollable political earthquake. You three, understand?"

"And fundamentally, our Metropolitan Police Department never had the authority to investigate Diet members in the first place." Watanabe Eiji said calmly: "In this country, only the 'Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Unit' can investigate Diet members." Uesugi Muneyuki added coldly.

"Mm." Watanabe Eiji nodded, radiating a heavy weariness and a bottomless chill: "Now you understand why I dislike the Public Security faction so much?"

"So that's it? It just ends like this? Those Public Security police burst in, seize everything, and the case is over?" Uesugi Muneyuki pressed on: "Then what is the meaning of the Special Mission Unit's existence? Even, what is the meaning of your existence as Superintendent General? Just a rubber stamp for Public Security police?"

"Muneyuki!" Minami cried out in alarm, hurriedly grabbing Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Uesugi-kun!" Okada Masayoshi also hurriedly covered Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth: "Superintendent General, Uesugi-kun, he's just—"

"Just because this is your first time encountering this you react like this? Muneyuki, you've encountered it once and you're this worked up?!" Watanabe Eiji widened his eyes, staring dead at Uesugi Muneyuki: "Do you know how many times I've encountered this sort of thing?"

".. — Looks like my adoptive father already has rich experience dealing with this." Uesugi Muneyuki's anger came fast and went fast. In truth, after discovering the investigation's direction had shifted, he had realized this problem, which was why he only let Kashiwagi Jin go with him, not the Special Mission Unit — especially not Minami and Erena. He himself had deep connections and Inner World abilities and feared nothing; Kashiwagi Jin would make a scene if not allowed to go, and anyone else would absolutely have to be brought along.

Moreover, Watanabe Eiji was right — the Metropolitan Police Department itself had no authority to investigate Diet members.

"Public Security — actually often has to do this kind of dirty work for big shots." Watanabe Eiji nodded calmly: "Everything is for the nation's stability and long-term peace, at least that's what they say on the surface. They simply underestimated your investigative ability."

"And, even though I am Superintendent General, I have neither the ability nor the qualification to interfere in the National Police Agency Security Bureau's affairs. Even the Metropolitan Police Department's own Public Security Bureau, I can only exercise limited control. I don't know exactly what forces are behind this case either." Watanabe Eiji rose and walked to the window, gazing at the National Police Agency building across from Sakuradamon: "In any case, regardless, you've worked hard. I promise you, this matter won't end so easily, and I won't allow Public Security police to repeatedly disrupt Criminal Investigation's normal investigations. But for now, pause temporarily — this is also for your protection."

"Go on." Finished speaking, Watanabe Eiji waved his hand: "I'm granting you two days' leave. Get some proper rest."

Minami, Okada, and Uesugi Muneyuki all bowed slightly, turned, and left the office, leaving only Watanabe Eiji watching a certain direction of the National Police Agency.

Onoda's existence might be the greatest obstacle to his own further advancement, and he was the Chief Cabinet Secretary's own younger brother.

However, the good news was that this trump card Uesugi Muneyuki was in his own hands — with him, he might be able to contend!

At the same time, the National Police Agency Commissioner's Secretariat Director's Office.

National Police Agency Commissioner's Secretariat Director Onoda Kimiaki sat in his dim office. The lights on his side were off; only the golden Police Emblem Cherry Blossom Crest behind him and the Japanese Medicinal Plaster Flag beside him reflected faint light in the gloom. Onoda sat in darkness, only his shrewd, weary small eyes within heavy bags staring at the approaching Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo, who had come demanding answers.

Sugishita Ukyo said not a word, merely gazing at his old friend.

"Ukyo, after your divorce, have you ever dated anyone else?" Onoda did not directly face Sugishita Ukyo's challenge, but changed the subject.

"Hah↓huh?" Sugishita Ukyo was clearly surprised by this question, froze for a moment, then replied with a 'I'm 57, what are you talking about' reaction: "No."

"Hmm, figures. I thought you probably didn't, heh~" Onoda Kimiaki nodded lightly: "Going to ryotei every day is your greatest pleasure, heh~ Ukyo, do you know what flaw a person with exceptionally high moral standards who is strict with themselves has?"

"Such people like to measure others by their own moral standards. Ukyo, you're 57; you don't need it, doesn't mean others don't have needs." Onoda Kimiaki said: "They love to point fingers, dislike many things, fancy themselves the embodiment of justice."

"Director! This doesn't seem to have anything to do with this case!" Sugishita Ukyo cut off the topic: "I'm asking you, why?"

"You've always been like this." Onoda Kimiaki sighed: "Stuck in that isolated island of the Life Safety Division for twenty years, still hasn't matured, heh~"

"This involves sexual entertainment and human trafficking!" Sugishita Ukyo stepped forward, expressionless.

"Well said. Then do you have evidence?" Onoda Kimiaki said blandly: "I mean, evidence other than chat logs and hidden cameras."

"We can find that Sayakura Female Trainer! We can also seek out those women who were once victimized by the bar— to testify!"

"The Philippines has no extradition treaty with us, and that Sayaka Coach will probably be dead on some beach within 24 hours." Onoda Kimiaki shook his head, looking composed: "As for the other women, do you want them to face that fate too? Do you want to cause secondary trauma, or force them to relive it over and over, or testify publicly in open court?"

"Director!!!" Sugishita Ukyo finally lost a bit of control: "That's a Diet member! He represents the people in proposing bills in the Diet! How can we hand the country over to scum who toy with vulnerable girls' lives and human rights?!"

"I am a police officer, I uphold justice! A protector of the people!"

"No." Facing Sugishita Ukyo's challenge, Onoda said coldly: "We police organizations, our highest duty is to obey orders. And, Ukyo, even if you smash this den, even if you use this bit of evidence to slap a minor charge on that Diet member's son — who is still being resuscitated and has already been confirmed to have permanently lost his reproductive system and gender characteristics — so what?"

"Do you know how many such dens providing sexual entertainment Public Security has found in Tokyo and nearby prefectures?"

"Hah√huh?" Sugishita Ukyo's pupils shook violently.

"Just the ones Public Security suspects — there are 13 locations." Onoda Kimiaki said coldly: "You smash one, smash two,

what use is it? It only alerts the enemy, and makes the other side more hidden, more cunning."

"And, behind these forces, there seems to be a more mysterious force linking them together. Public Security has already placed several undercover agents inside. Moving now would put them in danger!"

"For a few girls, sacrifice several excellent officers — is that your meaning too, Sugishita Ukyo? Your so-called justice is to tread on countless people's blood and advance heedlessly? Just like you did in that embassy hostage incident back then?"

. ：

" Faced with Onoda's words, Sugishita Ukyo lowered his head, speechless.

"If you understand, go back and rest properly. Good work, my Investigation Division 1 Chief." Director Onoda gestured that his old friend could withdraw.

"Whose call was it." Sugishita Ukyo made one last effort: "Who made you deploy Public Security?"

"No~ com~ ment~ heh~" Onoda finally showed a smile: "Oh right, Hokkaido hairy crabs are good lately, eat more. You've gotten thin, it pains me to see. But be careful — lots of fakes on the market now. If you really can't tell, I'll treat you."

"Thank you, I'll be careful." Sugishita Ukyo paused for a moment, wanted to ask more but had missed the right timing, could only silently take his leave.

Sugishita Ukyo did not turn off the light. He left half the room's brightness behind, leaving only Onoda Kimiaki immersing his body in darkness.

Uesugi Muneyuki, huh? This kid, his investigative ability is terrifying. What Public Security investigated for years, he closed in on their progress in days.

How to make use of his ability, but without risking injury to myself like this time?

Uesugi Muneyuki, what are his weaknesses and hobbies that our Public Security Organization could exploit?

Hmm, hard to guess.

Onoda glanced at the telephone on the desk, "Large Figure" wants this much surface statement, we Public Security will provide it fully, but when the time comes and we cast our dragnet, don't you cry either!