Chapter 418

"It's fine, it's fine." After learning that it was actually Uesugi Muneyuki's discovery, the people of Watanabe Eiji's faction were both shocked and fearful, and still felt a sense of relief after narrowly escaping disaster.

Legendary Forensic Examiner Uesugi is the Superintendent General's son-in-law and adopted son, so it's fine—everyone here is one of us.

"Uesugi-kun, as expected of you, and fortunately it's you." Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura had the most contact with Uesugi Muneyuki; he wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling his legs go numb and his stomach twist in spasms, his heart racing.

General Affairs Department Chief Tanaka also voiced his relief, but the other department chiefs' faces were not so pleasant.

These two guys actually intend to suppress this matter?!

Hah, of course—after all, one is the General Affairs Department Chief directly involved in equipment procurement, and the other is the Criminal Investigation Department Chief directly involved in the two fallen inspectors (posthumously honored), so of course they don't want another incident.

But are we really just going to do nothing and let our police wear "paper armor"?

How could that be?!

Indeed, Watanabe Eiji flew into a rage upon hearing this, grabbing the ashtray on the table and hurling it straight at Uchimura Bucho's head: "I'll mess you up!"

Bang! The ashtray struck in front of Uchimura Bucho; since the ryotei had wooden tables and tatami mats, the ashtray didn't shatter but bounced a few times on the floor.

Yet this action still startled Uchimura Bucho, and the Criminal Investigation Department Chief only then realized what foolish thing he had said, immediately bowing low in apology: "Please forgive me!!!"

The scene fell silent; everyone understood from Watanabe Eiji's attitude that the Superintendent General intended to deal with this matter severely.

But—once this bomb detonates, it's highly likely we'll all be blown up ourselves!

Superintendent General! Once you draw the bow, there's no turning back!

"You lot, think this through properly!" Indeed, after Watanabe Eiji expressed his anger and stance, he turned serious: "This matter won't be resolved just by silencing Muneyuki; when he discovered this, several other forensic examiners from the Forensics Division were present, and to verify it, he even called in personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory to assist with testing—so the report you saw came from the Forensic Science Laboratory!"

"So now, several people already know about this—we can't keep it hidden for long."

"What?!" Everyone gasped.

Even Minami Ojou-sama, who was pouring tea and water nearby and had no right to speak, widened her lovely almond eyes.

How come I didn't know about this?! Hajiki Yuki, you bastard! Don't hide this from your superior and fiancée! Kora!

"Yes." Uesugi Muneyuki said coldly beside his adoptive father: "So after I discovered this, I immediately went to consult the Superintendent General and strictly ordered those present not to speak of it."

"I am the Forensic Examiner of the Metropolitan Police Department; my cooperation with the department has always been pleasant, and the department has always supported my work and treated me well, so I didn't immediately expose this—I wanted to see how the department plans to handle it."

"If the department doesn't plan to handle this, then I'll have no choice but to inform the District Public Prosecutors Office, the media, and Nippon Life Insurance about this." As Uesugi Muneyuki's words fell, the several senior police officials present almost immediately rose and shouted: "No way!!!"

Inform the District Public Prosecutors Office??? Inform the media???

Are you planning to destroy the entire Japanese police?

If the leadership collectively resigns, even without criminal conviction, all career paths will be cut off, resignation will bring infamous disgrace and social death, no company will hire them, and on the street they'll still be cursed by passersby as corrupt officials—don't do this!

"So, please don't consider how to conceal this matter—I need to know how you and the Superintendent General plan to handle it." Uesugi Muneyuki said calmly.

Everyone fell silent, and even Watanabe Eiji felt his adoptive son's resolve.

After a moment's thought, Watanabe Eiji decided to start with Tanaka Yasushi of General Affairs, as the direct handler of police equipment procurement, the General Affairs Department is undoubtedly the responsible party and cannot escape: "Tanaka?"

"Here." Tanaka Bucho was on the verge of tears.

"Now tell us, regarding the quality of the bulletproof vests procured from Daiwa Bōgu, how exactly were they inspected?" Watanabe Eiji asked.

"It's factory sampling—each batch, three vests are randomly taken from the manufacturer's submitted samples for testing. Daiwa Bōgu has cooperated with us for many years, and every inspection has been problem-free." Tanaka Bucho said softly.

"What about the annual warehouse inspection?" Police Administration Chief Hasegawa followed up.

"Warehouse inspection—just responsible for visually checking the exterior of stock, only looking for stains or tears." Tanaka Bucho spoke softer and softer.

"Combat pressure testing?" Security Department Chief Ide already sensed serious trouble: "What about the annual combat pressure test?"

"In theory—should be done randomly, but since gunfights are extremely rare, there's no mandatory requirement." Tanaka Bucho had already buried his head in his chest.

Upon hearing "no mandatory requirement," Watanabe Eiji and Watanabe Minami, both familiar with bureaucratic ways, had already closed their eyes.

Theoretical permission means actual impossibility; no mandatory requirement means no requirement at all.

These little tricks of Japanese bureaucrats are understood not only by the father-daughter pair, but by everyone present.

"Superintendent General! Superintendent General, save me ah ah ah!!!" Tanaka Bucho had already realized things were going badly,

he suddenly lunged forward, a backward fall in the "falling wild goose" style, like a tiger descending the mountain, and fiercely clung to Watanabe Eiji's thigh: "It's always been like this—routine inspections, no exceptions, and it shouldn't be changed either—I really don't know! I truly don't know!"

··... 」」

Watanabe Eiji fell silent for a moment: "Tanaka, I need you to tell me the truth—did you accept anything from Daiwa Bōgu?"

"No! Ah, yes!" General Affairs Department Chief first shook his head frantically, claiming he hadn't accepted anything, but quickly realized something,

and said awkwardly: "I did accept New Year gifts from Daiwa Bōgu—but not much, never exceeding 100,000 yen per year! Just some year-end goods!"

"And you?" Watanabe Eiji said: "Those who have directly accepted money and various cards—raise your hand! I'm serious!"

No one in the ryotei raised their hand.

"Then, those who have accepted New Year gifts from them, not exceeding 100,000 yen—raise your hand."

Everyone raised their hand, including Watanabe Eiji himself; the Superintendent General had also received several items from Daiwa Bōgu—some wagashi pastries and a small amount of seafood, worth about 39,800 yen.

Everyone looked at each other, and all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Very well." Watanabe Eiji said coldly: "Since it's this way, everyone must act immediately—those who know about this will only grow in number, we can't keep it hidden much longer. Compared to being exposed externally and probed by the District Public Prosecutors Office, we should act first, completing all evidence collection and arrest operations independently before the District Public Prosecutors Office gets wind of it, proactively exposing this matter so the District Public Prosecutors Office has no room to intervene. Even a huge scandal would then become an example of us atoning through merit and our excellent internal oversight system!"

Everyone nodded in agreement—since we can't hide it for long anyway, and given that District Public Prosecutors Office involvement and public exposure would be destructive, it's better for the Metropolitan Police Department to proactively reveal it, wrapping things up before the District Public Prosecutors Office even reacts. Although we might not avoid having to hold an apology press conference and bow while eating red bean paste in private, the Metropolitan Police Department itself pulling out the rotten elements means outsiders won't easily find fault with us.

This actually makes it more genuine—knowing faults and correcting them is no small virtue!

Otherwise, if we wait for the District Public Prosecutors Office to come arrest people, even the Superintendent General would have to resign in apology.

"Very well, now everyone take immediate action!"

"Tanaka, General Affairs Department Chief, you and Ide, Security Department Chief, immediately conduct a full inventory and live-fire test of all bulletproof vest stock in Tokyo Metropolis!"

"Yes!"

"Hasegawa, Police Administration Chief, you and Uchimura, Criminal Investigation Department Chief, immediately proceed under the pretext of the bereavement payments and posthumous honors for Inspectors Kikuchi and Yamada, investigating cause of death and planning police funerals under the guise of discussing firearm policy revisions, conducting large-scale personnel transfers and gatherings to prevent the District Public Prosecutors Office and Public Security Police from noticing!"

"Yes!"

"Kawakami, Organized Crime Control Department Chief, you immediately act on the pretext that Sakuma Kaito confessed firearms came from Southeast Asia, possibly smuggled by crew members to supply local violent groups, deploying large police forces in Tokyo Metropolis to draw public attention, providing cover for Tanaka and Ide!"

"Understood!"

"Everyone, this is precisely the life-or-death moment for Headquarters! Tonight, please do not rest; I will wait inside Sakuradamon for your news!" Watanabe Eiji said sternly: "Now, depart!"

"Hai-yi!!!" Inside the ryotei, voices like shocking thunder, the high-ranking police officials all responded in unison, each donning their coats, departing swiftly under cover of night.

Only Watanabe Eiji, Watanabe Minami, and Uesugi Muneyuki remained inside the ryotei.

"Muneyuki, Minami, do you two want to go back and rest first?" Watanabe Eiji asked casually; he truly both loved and hated this adopted son of his, he practically wanted to give him a hug and then give him a slap.

What he had uncovered was simply too horrifying, too explosive — the kind that would blow the entire Metropolitan Police Department sky-high in one shot!

However, could it be that if Uesugi Muneyuki didn't investigate, this matter wouldn't exist?

How could that be possible!

The posthumous promotion of two Inspectors who died in the line of duty — during the subsequent investigation of the bulletproof vests and the autopsies, it was extremely likely to be discovered! And when that time came, the Metropolitan Police Department.

Boom

"I'll stay with Yifu Daren." Uesugi Muneyuki naturally had to watch the whole process.

"Then I'll come too." Minami Ojou-sama also nodded seriously.

"Good, then let's go to Sakuradamon together, let's see what happens next." Watanabe Eiji felt immense pressure — I have walked on thin ice all my life, you ask if I can reach the other shore?

Father, Uncle, please lend me your strength!

That night, a massive number of police throughout Tokyo were deployed everywhere, causing tremendous chaos; the Metropolitan Police Department announced to the public that Sakuma Kaito had subsequently confessed to a channel smuggling firearms from Southeast Asia into Japan for use by violent groups, and the Metropolitan Police Department was investigating; the public expressed understanding, after all two police officers had died in the line of duty, a police organization could not possibly have no reaction.

And the many violent groups were left baffled, but these people also knew the Metropolitan Police Department was enraged, so they dared not resist.

Just like that, six hours later, Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters Building, underground secret facility.

Security Department Chief Ide arrived covered in dust and wind, placed a report before Watanabe Eiji with a shocked expression, breathless,

And with uncontrollable panic.

"According to our sampling and live-fire testing, Daiwa Bōgu's bulletproof vests supplied over the past ten years, 87%——"

"87% pass?"

"No.. 87%, all defective!"