Chapter 41: , Metropolitan Police Department!

The light was on in the small room. The girl chosen by the gods had by now abandoned all restraint. She was like a little she-wolf who had been hungry for three days; her greedy appearance was full of the aura of a primitive person from Hokkaido. The lid of the high-end custom-made wooden lunch box had fallen to the side. Saito Asuka tore open the packaging of the chopsticks, first using them to stir the rice in the wooden box—the wooden chopsticks clattered against the wooden lunch box—and then mixed in the high-quality ingredients like the raw beef slices and grilled beef tongue. She picked up a piece of shrimp tempura and began to eat it with a "slurp, slurp" sound. She ate with such sweetness and greed that a satisfied smile appeared on the face of her older sister sitting across the table.

Life in Tokyo is truly bitter. After the sisters finished handling the property their father left behind, they came to live in Tokyo together. In their daily lives, they could only eat the leftovers sold at sushi roll shops—cheap food that provided a strong sense of fullness—or the discounted bento boxes from convenience stores after eight or nine o'clock every night.

Money is needed everywhere. What the sisters liked most was using sushi rolls to count the days. They would describe the money they earned from part-time jobs in terms of how many "sushi rolls" it was worth. If they could earn more than 10 sushi rolls in a day, that counted as having made it through another day.

The temperature of the food had already cooled somewhat, yet Saito Asuka ate with immense sweetness. She knew her sister must have already eaten outside, and these were all left for her.

But as she ate, the girl's movements slowed down. As the food entered her mouth, the intense feeling of fullness temporarily dispelled her hunger, giving her the time and energy to think. At this moment, the glaring red mark on her sister's neck made her nose ache, and she was almost on the verge of tears.

"Sister..." the girl called out softly, not knowing what else to say.

Her heart was gripped so tightly, as if she were suffocating. The girl truly hated it; she hated herself for why she couldn't do anything, and she hated herself for why she only had the energy to care about these things after she was full.

How much she had longed for this big city when she first arrived in Tokyo; only after truly living here did she realize how difficult it was. Money was needed everywhere. Half a year after moving to Tokyo, her sister started going out on "dates" frequently. Asuka saw all of this in her eyes.

Every time her sister returned, she would bring back some "gifts" or packed delicious food. These were also the only moments of enjoyment for the two sisters, moments to improve their lives.

"It's okay, Ashu, eat." The flush had not yet faded from her sister's face. She tucked her short hair behind her ears, let out a soft breath, and leaned against the table, looking weary yet satisfied: "Working part-time is hard."

Ashu was the girl's nickname.

"Sister, where did you pack this food from?" Seeing that there was no pained expression on her sister's face, the girl cautiously tried to ask: "This set meal must cost at least 3000 yen, right? It's enough for us to eat for two days."

"Just eat, don't ask."

"If Sister won't say, I won't eat!" The young girl was very stubborn.

"Ashu, be obedient!"

"Sister is the one who needs to be obedient! Anyway, I won't eat it. I won't eat it even if I starve to death!"

"... 6800 yen. And I know you love beef tongue, so I packed an extra portion. It probably cost about ten thousand."

"So expensive???" The younger sister's face turned pale the moment she heard the price.

This, this was worth how many sushi rolls?!

Seeing that her sister did not answer, the younger sister could only ask again: "Then... Sister, did you go on a date with that guy again today? Recently... it's been so frequent."

"Who else could it be besides him?" Her sister nodded, her tone carrying a hint of unclear meaning: "It couldn't be that Mr. Tadano, could it? He's stingy as hell. It's the one I met at the study room before, the most handsome one."

"It's him?!" Asuka covered her little mouth in surprise; clearly, this was not the first time she had heard of this person: "But didn't he only eat ordinary set meals with you before..."

"Yeah, I don't know what happened recently, but he's become much more generous." Her sister nodded lazily. Her face was flushed, her body trembling slightly, and her eyes were hazy like strong, fine wine: "Not only is he treating me to better food, but the places we go to are also higher class..."

"... Sister." Asuka didn't know what she should say.

"Oh, right." Her sister seemed to remember something. She took a large handful of disposable items out of her bag, from slippers to disposable toothbrushes, disposable toothpaste, soap, body wash, shampoo, and even included tea bags, shower caps, disposable towels, and combs from the hotel: "Ashu, these are for you."

It was indeed becoming higher class; the girl could feel it from these disposable items too.

But all of this is...

"That, Ashu." Her sister's words interrupted the girl's wandering thoughts: "What do you say... how about I find you a brother-in-law?"

"Who? Him?" The girl bit her lip slightly, answering the rhetorical question with some reluctance but great anticipation.

"Mm." Her sister nodded gently, full of expectation; she needed a reason to convince herself.

"That would be great, of course. If he doesn't mind us, wouldn't we be able to eat this kind of cuisine every day?" Asuka's eyes lit up. She suddenly put down her chopsticks: "I'm full! Let's eat the rest tomorrow!"

"Huh? You're not eating anymore?" Her sister noticed that Asuka had only eaten half of the set meal.

"Girls will get fat if they eat too much," the girl said righteously: "Eat a little less, and we'll save one meal for tomorrow. It would be best if business at the shop is a bit slow tomorrow, so we can save a few more sushi rolls and solve dinner too. Wouldn't we save another day's food money that way?"

"Ashu..." Her sister's eyes also turned red. She reached out her arms to hug her younger sister: "It will get better, believe me, okay? Everything will get better. Finish eating; we don't have a refrigerator at home, and this kind of set meal won't last until tomorrow."

"Then, Sister, let's eat together!" The young girl was earnest and stubborn: "Otherwise I won't eat."

"Alright, alright, let's eat together."

In the dim, chaotic, and noisy public housing complex, a pair of sisters from Hokkaido happily ate the food they had packed back.

————I am the divider line for eating together————

End of September, Chiyoda Ward, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo.

Uesugi Muneyuki came to personally submit a report at the request of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Bringing him were the Criminal Investigation Division Section Chief of Otsuka Station, Sudo, and the female Patrol Officer, Ikeda Erena.

Because one must wear formal attire to report to the Metropolitan Police Department, Erena finally appeared once again in Uesugi Muneyuki's sight dressed in a standard police uniform skirt, high heels, and silk stockings, which truly made Uesugi Muneyuki feel it was a feast for the eyes.

Beautiful things are always longed for, especially Erena in this police uniform, her short hair past her ears looking fresh and capable. The dark blue slim-fit police skirt perfectly displayed her waistline, and her straight, long legs, clad in flesh-colored pantyhose paired with black patent leather commuting high heels, revealed a section of shapely, firm calves and delicate feet in stockings, looking exceptionally elegant and refined, her whole body radiating a transcendent and moving beauty.

This was perfectly in line with Uesugi Muneyuki's aesthetic.

"What's wrong?" The tall beauty noticed Uesugi Muneyuki's gaze was always hovering over her calves and feet under her skirt. She wondered if her stockings had snagged again?

Damn it, she really hated wearing stockings. At this moment, because she was so tall, the crotch of her stockings had already pulled up to the middle of her thighs. She wanted to use her hand to pull them up, but there were two men in the car, and Section Chief Sudo was still driving, so it was really inconvenient.

"Oh, nothing." Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that his secret must not be exposed: "Rarely see you wearing formal attire, Master Ikeda."

"Didn't I tell you not to call me Master?" Erena snapped subconsciously, but then realized there were others in the car: "This isn't the dojo."

"Haha, you two seem to have a good relationship." Sitting in the front, Sudo laughed.

"Of course, she is my Karate master," Uesugi Muneyuki's reply was quite serious.

Sudo's full name was Sutō Risō. Of course, just like Tanaka Laodeng, Uesugi Muneyuki often couldn't remember his name, only his nickname.

"As long as the relationship is good, I've always been worried," Sudo said casually while driving. As a result, he immediately noticed Erena glaring at him in the rearview mirror, which scared this Police Inspector-level Criminal Investigation Division Section Chief into immediately shutting his mouth and changing the subject: "Speaking of which, this is your first time going to the Metropolitan Police Department, little brother Uesugi, right?"

"It's my first time going inside, but I've passed by often before," Uesugi Muneyuki replied nonchalantly: "The Kasumi Kaikan of the Peerage in Kasumigaseki is right next to the Metropolitan Police Department. I've attended the Peerage Assembly."

"Oh right, I forgot, little brother, you are a Peer," Sudo apologized half-jokingly: "Then you shouldn't be unfamiliar with the Metropolitan Police Department, right?"

"I ask for your guidance, Sudo." As soon as Uesugi Muneyuki heard this, he knew this old guy loved to play the teacher. Just as well, he also wanted to learn more about the Metropolitan Police Department: "It is my honor to be able to help the station."

"Heh~" Sudo laughed out loud: "You asked the right person, little brother Uesugi. Come, let me tell you about the Criminal Investigation Department."

Uesugi Muneyuki indicated he was all ears.

The Criminal Investigation Department under the Metropolitan Police Department generally investigates criminal offenses. It is the department to which officers known as "detectives" belong. The Criminal Investigation Department Chief is a Police Superintendent, and under him are Counselors (Police Superintendent), Directors, and Management Officers (Superintendent). It is mainly divided into the Criminal General Affairs Division, Investigation Division 1, Investigation Division 2, Investigation Division 3, Criminal Assistance Division, Forensics Division, Scientific Investigation Research, Investigation Support Center, and the Mobile Investigation Unit.

Among them, except for the General Affairs Division, Investigation Division 1, and Investigation Division 2, whose Section Chiefs are Police Superintendents, the other Section Chiefs are of Superintendent rank.

Police Superintendent > Police Superintendent (Assistant) > Superintendent > Police Inspector.

The criminal affairs of the Metropolitan Police Department are primarily handled by Investigation Division 1, 2, and 3, with different departments responsible for different categories of cases; among them, Investigation Division 1 is mainly responsible for heinous crimes such as homicide and robbery, while Investigation Division 2 is mainly responsible for economic cases such as fraud and tax evasion, which is what is known as criminal investigation and economic investigation.

Besides these, there is also Investigation Division 3, but Investigation Division 3 is full of small fry; their duties are mainly responsible for residential burglary, bag snatching, pickpocketing, and bicycle theft, and they have always been marginal characters.

"Little brother, you have to pay attention; the relationship between Division 1 and Division 2 is extremely poor. Both sides are like two independent kingdoms, incompatible as fire and water." Sudo briefly introduced the composition of the Criminal Police and then said very seriously: "For any case Division 1 is handling, Division 2 will never provide any assistance; likewise, for any case Division 2 is handling, even if it involves content that Division 1 is responsible for, Division 1 will never participate, and both sides will even try their best to drag the other down."

"Why?" Ikeda Erena could not help but ask: "Shouldn't the content that Division 1 and Division 2 are responsible for be clearly distinguished?"

"............" Sudo did not answer, but instead, Uesugi Muneyuki spoke up: "Because of competition and promotion issues."

"Yes, little brother Uesugi is right." Sudo then replied: "To put it in terms you can understand, the positions and budget for promotion at the Metropolitan Police Department every year are a big cake. If Division 1 eats more, Division 2 eats less, especially from the Superintendent level and above; every high-level position has a fixed quota. Once you miss a promotion opportunity, you have to wait another two or three years. Heh, two or three years, two or three years—the position won't be kept for you forever, and every turn of the Wheel means a large number of newcomers coming up."

"Then isn't there ever a time when Division 1 and Division 2 cooperate?" Uesugi Muneyuki was very interested in this point.

"That, of course, happens." Sudo nodded with a wicked smile: "Only when the Criminal Investigation Department Chief personally issues an order, or even in cases where the Superintendent General intends to intervene, involving the honor and public trust of the entire Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, will Division 1 and Division 2 reluctantly cooperate."

"This involves a non-permanent agency within the Criminal Investigation Department—the Special Investigation Headquarters." Section Chief Sudo said: "When the Criminal Investigation Department Chief deems it necessary, he can issue an order to establish a Special Investigation Headquarters, directly drawing personnel from various departments of the Metropolitan Police Department and local branches to form the Special Investigation Headquarters."

"So that's how it is." Uesugi Muneyuki asked the last question: "I heard you are on very good terms with Police Inspector Ichijo of the Public Security Department? It seems that the host club incident last time was something you asked him to help with?"

"Ah, I took care of him when he was in training before." Sudo did not shy away: "However, compared to the Criminal Investigation Department, the affairs of the Public Security Department are much more complicated. Little brother Uesugi, you are not yet qualified to participate or inquire about them."

Criminal Police and Public Security Police, is it?

Uesugi Muneyuki said no more; just like Investigation Division 3, he was currently just a small fry.

Seemingly realizing that saying it this way was a bit offensive, Sudo's tone softened: "Moreover, the Metropolitan Police Department is not the only one in power. It is said to manage all public security crimes in the entire Tokyo Metropolis, but in reality, many departments have overlapping functions with other ministries."

"For example, the District Public Prosecutors Office you have to face today has functions that highly overlap with Investigation Division 2; not only that, in reality, Division 2 is always at a disadvantage when facing the District Public Prosecutors Office."

"The Organized Crime Countermeasures Department of the Metropolitan Police Department has long been in opposition to the Narcotics Control Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Narcotics Control Department often has greater operational authority than the Countermeasures Department."

"Others, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice both have their own Public Security Departments, and they have never really looked at us with much regard, but if something goes wrong, it is our responsibility. There are also other police headquarters, the Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters and the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters. Little brother Uesugi, do you think these local headquarters would be happy to see the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters have a big mess?"

Uesugi Muneyuki sighed incessantly: "Of course, after all, the local headquarters finally obtained the title of Metropolitan Police, only to have it snatched away by Tokyo here."

"Ha, that is exactly it."

Listening to the conversation between the two men, Ikeda Erena on the other side suddenly felt disgusted.

She suddenly felt a trace of aversion toward her own profession.

In the middle of their words, they arrived at the place.

The Metropolitan Police Department building at 2-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

And the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office building at 1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

No wonder there aren't many dramas about Investigation Division 2; because for similar themes, everyone goes to film the District Public Prosecutors Office.

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(End of this chapter)