Chapter 386

Setting aside Onoda for now, at Sakuradamon, having come out of the National Police Agency Commissioner's Office, Uesugi Muneyuki felt somewhat heavy-hearted, yet also somewhat relieved.

The heaviness lay in the fact that, as he had anticipated, the case had progressed to this point where it was no longer something he at his level could investigate, and indeed it was no longer something the Metropolitan Police Department could investigate; Suou Giin probably never imagined that by appointing himself to investigate, he would ultimately end up lifting a stone only to drop it on his own foot.

But now that this matter had just begun to show a clue, it immediately drew the intervention of the Public Security Police, which made Uesugi Muneyuki realize that the behind-the-scenes connections of this matter were extremely deep.

This is probably also the reason why Mai Xuejie did not tell him the truth: not letting him know the truth, on one hand, as previously mentioned, teaching a person repeatedly may still leave them with no concept, while experiencing something once makes them understand; Mai Xuejie likely knew Uesugi Muneyuki's stubborn nature, so she simply let him experience it himself.

On the other hand, Uesugi Muneyuki now counts as half a person within the police organization, and Mai Xuejie also believes some things are better for him not to know, because not knowing leaves room for maneuver, and not knowing can avoid some things to evade the condemnation of conscience.

I really am being eaten to death by this cunning and sharp senior!

Uesugi Muneyuki thought that later he would still need to talk things over with Mai Xuejie.

In the early morning hours, the Special Mission Unit was still brightly lit, everyone waiting for Uesugi Muneyuki and the others to return, and when Uesugi Muneyuki returned to announce that this case was temporarily suspended, it had already been handed over to the Public Security Police, and everyone had received two days off, the reactions of the crowd were not uniform.

Igarashi simply thought, Great, the Public Security Police have been deployed; any evil will ultimately be brought to justice!

Date Nagamune didn't care at all whether it was the Public Security Police accepting it; he only cared about Great, two days off!

Ishihara Mikoto's understanding of the case was not that thorough; the Forensic Beauty merely sighed once to indicate she understood, and since she would be of no use going forward, then so be it.

Only Kai Toru shook his head meaningfully: "Now I understand why the old thing wanted to shove me in here, Uesugi-san—your investigative ability is… I don't even know what to say. Normally, if someone wants to investigate a problematic bar, the police station where I used to work would first have to gain trust through falsified identities, a process that takes at least three months. Even after becoming a regular, one would still have to wait cautiously for an opportunity—like internal conflicts, curiosity-driven information exchange, or deep contact leading to an accidental discovery of evidence."

"Of course, there are also the post-case, huge, difficult-to-reimburse consumption invoices, and the one or two days of 'rest day' one can finally obtain after persisting for several months and finally cracking the case. As a result, I first learned that overtime in the Special Mission Unit actually does come with overtime pay! After solving the case, it actually does grant vacation!" Kai Xiangren couldn't help but complain: "Is this the ace department?"

Minami and Okada smiled upon hearing this.

The Japanese Police are the wall guarding the law, yet the first thing this wall does is trample the "Labor Law"; police work, especially that of frontline detectives, when busy, is called a 996ICU, even spending a whole week in the police station sleeping on the floor; many young police officers come in full of blood and passion, work a few years, and end up burned out, with no light in their eyes; even if they don't resign, most learn to silently endure, and the eyes of veteran police are even more filled with wind and frost.

Often after finishing a major case, the superior's greatest reward is just a group meal "consolation meeting" and a sentence like "Everyone go home early to rest today" or "Everyone can arrive a bit late tomorrow (referring to around nine in the morning)"; overtime pay is something one wouldn't even dare to think about.

As for the so-called "rest day," it's even more laughable: "rest day" does not mean vacation, but rather means "no extra tasks assigned, clock in and out on time," that is, according to the legal working hours, one can go home by five or six in the afternoon.

This too counts as the "jargon" of grassroots police.

As for why the Otsuka Station could previously clock out on time, the reason is actually quite simple.

Because Uesugi Muneyuki took over the vast majority of criminal business, leaving him with truly nothing to do on hand, naturally he could clock out on time.

So, the grassroots police profession is one that is not particularly self-serving but especially beneficial to those around one.

Of course, what is said here applies only to Japan and has nothing to do with other countries.

"If you don't want it, you can also transfer back to Nakane Police Station!" Watanabe Minami, the Young Lady, said impatiently: "If there are no objections, Special Mission Unit, disband!"

"Oh oh oh!"

"Wait!" Just then, Ikeda Erena spoke; the Tall Beauty had tears in her eyes, she angrily raised her hand: "One pound of duck pear (there is an objection)!!!"

"Objection invalid, disband!" Who knew Watanabe Minami, the Young Lady, would ignore her.

Thus, on the way back, Erena sulked, wearing an expression of I'm angry, first sent Mikoto to the dormitory, then the three of them returned together to Sakata Bridge Tower.

At this time, it was already 2:30 a. m., Asuka had long fallen asleep, the genkan light was not on, and the three nearly collided with the door while carrying a full body of low pressure and fatigue.

The door "Bang!" was flung shut by Erena with force, shaking the wall with a hum. She didn't even take off her high-heeled shoes, took a few steps to the center of the living room, like an angry lioness trapped in a cage.

"Bastard! Those bastards from the Public Security Department!!" Erena's roar exploded in the quiet apartment, completely losing her usual calm and briskness. She fiercely flung her leather bag onto the sofa, emitting a dull thud.

"What national security! What international crime network! All nonsense! Hollow righteousness!" She trembled with rage, her finger joints turning white from gripping, pacing back and forth, each step as if she wanted to stomp through the floor; under the lamp light, her eye sockets, reddened from anger and extreme suppression, were especially conspicuous.

"Who are they protecting? Ah! Muneyuki! Minami! Tell me! They barged in, like bandits, taking all our clues! Like dismissing janitors, they told us to 'go rest'! What about those girls? Those girls treated as merchandise, bought and sold, controlled by drugs, subjected to wanton abuse?! What are they to do?!" Erena's voice rose higher and higher, filled with tearing pain and helplessness, she suddenly stopped in front of Watanabe Minami, her eyes blazing, as if she wanted to burn an answer into him. "We clearly… clearly were just one step away! Those VIP lists, those transfer records… Public Security Police Security Planning Division! Kinoshita Tōya! That dead-faced man of his! And that 'Security Department Chief' behind him who cannot see the light! All accomplices!!"

"This police force, I won't serve in it anymore!!!" Ikeda Erena grabbed a cushion from the sofa, fiercely smashed it against the wall, then let her arm drop weakly, her chest heaving violently, her ragged breathing mixed with suppressed sobs. "What are we police… unable to even save the victims…"

"Really? Erena, do you really want to resign?" Watanabe Minami, the Young Lady, was also quite tired at this moment; she casually took off her shoes, picked up the high-heeled shoe Erena had flung aside and put it back in place, glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki's expression.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at Erena venting, his face full of heartache, helplessness, and the same resentment.

He was about to say something, but was gestured by Minami to shut up, I'll speak.

As the Omitaidokoro Lady, suppressing the little male servant is my duty! Kora!

"Erena, you promised me, didn't you!" Watanabe Minami smiled with narrowed eyes, taking Erena's little hand: "If you quit, then you won't get to see Muneyuki anymore, and my previous sharing contract will also automatically be void!"

Erena's shoulder twitched, but she stubbornly refused to respond.

"I know you feel wronged, Erena." Watanabe Minami's voice was not loud, yet unusually clear, carrying a heaviness rarely seen in her usual tone: "I know how deep our current anger and helplessness are. I also wish… wish I could rush back to argue with them, snatch back the evidence… Don't even mention you, I, a Superintendent-level Management Official, am no different than a rag, pressed to the ground and rubbed by a Police Inspector?"

"…………" Erena's movements gradually came to a stop.

"But, Ikeda, think calmly now, are we truly without recourse?" Watanabe Minami said seriously: "I and Muneyuki have already gone to see my father because of this matter; we are not without recourse, we are taking the long view, we are insignificant and powerless, unable to oppose the orders from above, this is reality, but we still have uncovered quite a bit, still found quite a bit of evidence, this has already drawn direct intervention from above, believe me, Ikeda, this matter will not end so easily."

"…………" Erena still wasn't too satisfied with this result, but her agitated emotions had noticeably eased.

"You don't believe me, you still don't believe Muneyuki?" Watanabe Minami continued to persuade gently: "If we clash head-on now, it will only make us also leave our posts, then we truly can do nothing, Erena, believe me, also believe in our police intuition and perseverance. This case… will not just end like this, we all know in our hearts, right?"

Erena listened to Watanabe Minami's various tactics of changing the subject, the anger and resentment in her chest surging, finally like a punctured balloon, slowly deflated, she no longer fiercely rebutted, merely lowered her head, her shoulders slightly slumped.

"I'm tired, I want to rest." Watanabe Minami daily used the same old routine on Erena, but after too much and too deep a routine, even if Erena were dull she would notice, she felt that Watanabe Minami was shifting the blame, but she was tongue-tied and didn't know how to rebut, and deep down she also didn't want to leave the police post, let alone leave Uesugi Muneyuki.

But this bad breath of hers must be let out!

After thinking, Ikeda Erena suddenly came up with a plan.

"I'm tired, I want to rest, Muneyuki, tonight I won't accompany you and Minami." Ikeda Erena suddenly said.

"?"

Watanabe Minami initially didn't understand what Erena meant, then heard Uesugi Muneyuki shout from behind "Haiyi", immediately a pair of strong arms embraced her waist, Watanabe Minami then realized things were not good: "Wait! This this cannot! Erena, you cannot abandon me!"

"Wait!" Watanabe Minami screamed as Uesugi Muneyuki gave her a princess carry, her petite frame and lack of strength, although she had been sitting in the office all day, she was also very exhausted: "Wait! Ikeda! You can't do this, I can't manage alone, I'll die! I'll die ah ah ah ah!"

"Bang!" The door closed, and only then did Ikeda Erena finally reveal a hint of pride and relief in her smile, entered the bathroom to run herself a bath.

Who exactly can't do without whom?

Muneyuki is yours, and also mine!