Chapter 387: , Metropolitan Police Department All-Out War!

PS: The season is long, I'm really tired, so today I'll just update with a combined 4600-word big chapter. The Emperor needs to rest!

At the entrance, the light footsteps of Eda Erina returning home could be heard, mixed with the scent of sweat on her body, as always. Whenever Erina had no field assignments, she would routinely do morning exercises, working up a good sweat, especially after yesterday's incident with the public security officers' Nissan truck, she channeled all her excess energy into weightlifting and punching the sandbag.

When this punch is thrown, it is mushin!

By the time she returned home, Saito Asuka had already gone to school, and the young lady Minami was curled up on the large sofa in the living room, like a cat whose bones had been melted by the sun. She wore only a loosely draped old shirt of Uesugi Munetoshi, the wide hem not even reaching her thighs. Beneath the shirt, a pair of legs wrapped in soft, matte black thick stockings lay weakly crossed, toes slightly curled, sinking into the soft, plush orange cat slippers.

Hearing Erina return, Minami strained to open her eyes just a slit. Those eyes, once sweet as honey tangerines, now had a veil of dark gloom, filled with an exhaustion so thick it couldn't be dispelled. A faint blue shadow lingered on her face, and her whole being exuded a fragile, overworked weariness. Seeing Erina's figure appear at the doorway, Minami instinctively tried to display the dignity of a chief wife, but her waist went weak, and she only gave a feeble wriggle before returning to her original state, letting out a barely audible, weary sigh.

"Erina, traitor!" Her voice was soft and hoarse, like a feather brushing past, carrying a hint of barely noticeable dependence and resentment: "Overthrowing superiors is shameless—"

Erina set down the bag with her change of clothes, her gaze first landing on that lazy, fragile "Mistress of the Inner Chambers" on the sofa. A flash of amusement and mockery passed through her warm brown eyes, quickly replaced by amusement as she walked over: "Pfft, where's that smug confidence of yours, my superior? What happened to our long-term plan?"

Minami was poked by her and tilted her head slightly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. She didn't deny it, just buried her face into the soft pillow, speaking in a muffled, grumbling tone: "I almost—died. Died. So many times, so many, so many times."

Her voice was soft and gentle—less an accusation, more like a spoiled child tattling. Her weak, exhausted body and drowsy expression bore no trace of the former proud, arrogant, scheming lady who loved memes and political tricks.

Erina was both annoyed and amused, letting out a chuckle, her fingertips naturally sliding down with soothing pressure, gently massaging Minami's sore spots. Her technique was professional—after all, she was a black belt in karate and judo and a fitness enthusiast: "Now you know you can't do without me, huh? So who really needs whom?"

Minami, being massaged by her, sighed contentedly a few times, her body like a cat being petted, eyes closed in enjoyment, reluctantly admitting: "Damn it, this just makes me look weak..."

"Pfft!" Erina laughed at Minami's teasing—this lady was soft from head to toe, but her mouth was stubbornly hard. Their sisterly bond had lasted months, so she simply took Minami's hand and teased: "With your little frame, you're a fitness wreck and lack training—I'll tell Munetoshi later to go easy on you, okay?"

"Eh eh eh eh eh? Wait? Erina, you're not planning to help anymore?" Minami jumped, struggling to shout: "No!

Can! To!"

"Help, help, buy a bunch of Bondo at once!" Erina said with a laugh, then shifted focus: "And Munetoshi?"

"He said he's going to check out Tokyo University Hospital." Minami said, then buried her face again in Erina's broad chest: "Ah, I want to lie here, don't wake me up~~~"

Did Munetoshi go to Tokyo University?

Erina actually had some doubts in her heart—the tall beauty and Munetoshi were practically inseparable, but sometimes Munetoshi would go to the hospital without her. She understood he didn't want her involved in certain matters, but—she still felt something was missing without him by her side.

I, I've already become entirely shaped by Munetoshi—Munetoshi, when will you come back?

Erina watched as Minami sank into deep sleep in her arms, feeling the gentle sunlight outside warmly enveloping the sofa where the sisters lay, her heart filled with countless emotions.

It's truly wonderful to have met Munetoshi Uesugi and Minami Watanabe.

At the same time, around 10 a. m., Sakuradamon, Metropolitan Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division, First Section.

The main office. The air was stagnant, oppressive enough to make breathing difficult. Yesterday's sense of humiliation still lingered heavily. Inspector Ren Kashiwagi sat in his small cubicle, unconsciously tapping his fingers on the desk, extremely irritable.

Although Kashiwagi Ren was also part of the Golden Watch Group, his status was naturally nowhere near that of Munetoshi Uesugi, who had the authority to "reach heaven directly"—whenever needed, he could see the Superintendent General without delay. Kashiwagi knew far less, and after returning home yesterday, he flew into a rage. Kashiwagi Misa still comforted him for a long time, and the former face of the Metropolitan Police Department told her she didn't know much either, advising him to consult with Section Chief Sugita Ukkyo and Inspector Uesugi for forensic matters whenever he had issues.

Why is Misa also talking about Uesugi?

Although Kashiwagi Ren felt a bit strange, he didn't pay it much mind—after all, we're the pride of the Metropolitan Police Department, so it's only natural that Misa admires Uesugi.

He had analyzed things deeply the previous night, and his conclusions were similar to what Watanabe Eiji had provided: first, the Metropolitan Police Department itself lacks the authority to investigate members of parliament; having reached this point, they had already overstepped legal search boundaries, immediately raising alarms; the Prosecutor's Office hadn't issued a search warrant. Second, they had definitely already identified some high-ranking individuals—patrons or allies—on whom the public security had acted so swiftly.

Hmph! You won't let me investigate? I'll do it myself! Kashiwagi Ren thought of last night, when public security officers had pressed a gun to his waist, and felt a wave of humiliation—but also a flicker of glee.

The evidence wasn't completely taken! He had secretly copied a portion of the phone's data onto a USB drive and handed it over to Shinichiro Kosaka of the First Section.

There's still a chance! If the phone data contains overlooked details, or if other evidence can still be found!

Thinking this, Kashiwagi noticed Kosaka's expression was distant, almost soul-less, even avoiding eye contact. Remembering that crucial backup USB drive (containing chat logs and transaction summaries) was still in Kosaka's hands, a bad premonition struck him. He suddenly stood up,

strode to Kosaka's desk, voice low but unquestionable: "Inspector Kosaka, hand over the USB drive. Now."

Kashiwagi Ren extended his hand, eyes sharp as a hawk's, locked onto Kosaka's gaze.

Kosaka's body jerked violently, as if struck by electricity. He lifted his head, face even paler, lips trembling, eyes filled with panic, guilt, and deep helplessness. He avoided Kashiwagi's stare, voice dry and hoarse: "Inspector—Inspector Kashiwagi—we—we should talk in the stairwell…."

The fire door blocked the outside world. Under the pale emergency lights, Kosaka leaned against the cold wall, as if all strength had left him. Kashiwagi stood before him, his tall frame radiating an invisible pressure, his gaze burning and piercing: "Where's the USB drive?"

Kosaka drew a deep breath, as if using all his strength, then barely lifted his head to meet Kashiwagi's eyes. That gaze held no deceit—only a layer of shameful resentment and deep remorse.

"I'm sorry, Inspector Kashiwagi," Kosaka's voice choked, each word squeezed out with difficulty: "The USB drive is gone—I—I deleted it—I completely formatted it—"

"What?!" Kashiwagi's pupils contracted sharply, a chill shooting from his feet to his head. He lunged forward, grabbing Kosaka's collar with such force it nearly lifted him off the ground: "Say that again?! Who told you to delete it?! That was an order! Those girls' lives!" His voice tore apart from extreme shock and rage.

Kosaka didn't struggle, letting Kashiwagi hold him, his face a mix of pain and numbness, tears streaming uncontrollably: "It was public security! Inspector Tou of the Wood Below—no, it's the people behind him, the order came directly from the Security Bureau of the Police Agency! Just this morning at dawn! He found me, said he knew I had a copy here." Kosaka's voice trembled with fear and helplessness: "The Security Bureau's public security told me—if I don't immediately destroy it myself and ensure no other backups exist, then—not just me—but you—even Section Chief Sugita Ukkyo and the entire First Section will be in serious trouble! They'll prosecute us for hoarding classified information and defying superior orders! Inspector Kashiwagi! What can we possibly use to fight them?! This is the newly appointed Superintendent General Shin'ichiro Jindai of the Security Bureau Chief! One of the highest ranks in the Police Agency!"

Kosaka's pain carried real fear and helplessness, but as he spoke, a flicker of something unnoticed—his own smooth self-preservation—passed through his eyes: "Besides, Inspector Tou said it himself—what's the point of keeping it? If we keep investigating, we'll only get crushed! Kashiwagi, I'm a non-career officer, a non-career officer! You know how much I've sacrificed to get here? With Inspector Uesugi forensics on my side, I'll surely make it in a few years… Sorry, Inspector Kashiwagi, I really—can't do this—I have a family too, a wife and kids to support!"

Kashiwagi listened to Kosaka's confession, his grip on the collar trembling violently. He understood—it wasn't Kosaka's voluntary betrayal, but a vast, cold machine of power crushing this fragile hope! The Security Bureau—its chief! Like an insurmountable mountain, suffocating people, especially Kosaka, who had always dreamed of becoming First Section Chief—this was his life's ambition. Now seeing him steadily advance toward that dream, not to mention the middle-aged man's anguish—aging parents, young children—all relying on his annual 8.5 million yen salary…

But in that instant, this "understanding" was drowned by a tidal wave of fury and despair! Those girls' terrified, helpless faces—those unimaginable atrocities possibly happening right now—the only clue, the only hope—was right here in this weeping man's hand, destroyed by his own obedience to orders! For his "career"? To avoid "trouble"?!

This isn't the justice I want!

"No way?! Career?!" Kashiwagi's voice was no longer a shout, but a cold, bone-piercing howl from the depths of his soul, dripping with bitter irony and despair: "So—you just gave in? Strangled the last hope of those girls?! This is your 'no way'?! This is what you want—'raising a wife and kids'?! You became a cop just to support a wife and kids?"

Seeing Kosaka's face etched with helplessness, fear, and a hint of despicable self-preservation, thinking of those victims waiting in darkness for rescue, of himself as a police officer powerless to act—this immense humiliation—and of the nauseating tyranny of the public security officers—the string named "reason" in Kashiwagi's heart snapped completely!

An unstoppable surge, mixing justice, anger, despair, and destructive impulse, crashed over him!

"You coward!! You damn fool!!!"

With that roar, like a dying beast's bellow, Kashiwagi Ren channeled his entire strength, poured all his grief and rage into his right fist, which screamed through the air as he struck—without restraint—directly into Kosaka's face!

"Thud—one!!!" A deafening, heart-stopping thud exploded in the narrow space!

Kosaka's whole body was hurled backward by the immense force, slamming hard into the fire door with a loud crash. His slightly ashamed expression instantly shattered and flew apart; his nasal bone seemed to crack, blood gushing violently from his nostrils and mouth corners. He didn't even have time to cry out in pain before sliding limp against the door, curling up on the floor, writhing in agony, blood rapidly soaking the floor and his collar. The last thing reflected in his eyes was Kashiwagi's—eyes blazing red like blood, burning with the fire of destruction.

Though it clearly hurt, Kosaka managed a laugh, turned his head away from Kashiwagi Ren's eyes, tugged at the corner of his mouth: "If you think hitting me helps, go ahead—if it really helps, then great, then great—'Pfft! I—'" Kashiwagi Ren, furious and defeated, kicked his foot—he knew hitting Kosaka wouldn't help, but—was this really going to end like this?

What a joke!

But if there's no evidence or clues—

The massive impact and Kashiwagi's roar drew everyone's attention.

"Oh no! The stairwell!"

"Inspector Kashiwagi! Inspector Kosaka!"

Inspector Shiratori of the Second Section and Inspector Shimano of the Fourth Section rushed forward, shoved the door open, and froze at the sight before them:

Kosaka curled in a pool of blood, twitching and groaning in pain, half his face a mangled mess of flesh and blood—horrific to behold.

Kashiwagi stood like a statue heated red by rage, rooted in place, his clenched fist dripping with blood—mixed from Kosaka and his own split knuckles—his chest heaving violently, his blood-red eyes locked dead-on onto Kosaka on the floor, hollow and despairing, as if his soul had been sucked out.

"Stop it, Kashiwagi!" Inspector Shiratori, though unaware of what had happened, still rushed forward and grabbed Kashiwagi's arm: "No matter what, you shouldn't hit people! We're the Metropolitan Police Department, we're comrades-in-arms! Don't you remember the days we solved cases together?"

Inspector Shimano of the Fourth Section was originally a subordinate of Inspector Kosaka of the First Section, and it was precisely due to his performance in the Todai Case and the seniority system that he was promoted to Inspector, but at this moment, seeing his old superior being struck, he trembled with rage, his face turned deathly pale, clenched his fists tightly, and prepared to throw a left hook, also intending to let Kashiwagi Jin taste the flavor of bleeding!

"Wait a minute!" At this moment, Kosaka grabbed him from behind, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head, shaking his head repeatedly: "Don't—don't fight, it's my just deserts, it's my fault, but I also have no choice, no choice."

Kashiwagi was firmly held down by Shiratori and other police colleagues, he no longer struggled, nor did he roar, but stared fixedly at Kosaka, whose face was stained red with fresh blood on the ground, then slowly raised his head, his gaze seeming to pierce the ceiling, directed toward that unreachable, cold and heartless upper echelon of Sakuradamon, his expression wavering uncertainly, and finally he abandoned the attack.

Superintendent Higurashi Management Officer and Section Chief Sugishita Ukyo, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, looked at this horrific scene, Sugishita Ukyo's face turned dark as iron, his eyes filled with shock, anguish, and deep helplessness, he knew what had happened (pressure from Public Security), he knew Kosaka's helplessness, and he also knew that behind Kashiwagi's devastating punch lay the most desperate accusation against the entire unjust system and his own powerlessness! This was no longer a simple internal brawl, but a horrific tragedy of humanity erupting under the crushing weight of Public Security privilege.

He knew everything, but he could do nothing, even though he had been promoted to Investigation Division 1 Chief, the organization is the organization, we the organization,

Ultimately, it is impossible to avoid such things from happening.

Sano Yoshio, you have won again.