Chapter 43: The Affirmation of the Metropolitan Police Department

This surprise questioning resulted in a crushing defeat for the District Public Prosecutors Office; before the three Special Investigation Department prosecutors had even stepped out of the Metropolitan Police Department building, they could hear the gloating laughter of the many suit-clad Metropolitan Police Department officers behind them.

For the always lawless Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, this could only be described as humiliating.

In Tokyo, the District Public Prosecutors Office had always been able to do as they pleased!

As mentioned previously, the predecessor to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office was the "Special Investigation Department for Concealed Assets" established by Five-Star MacArthur.

After the war, while handling the aftermath, Five-Star MacArthur discovered that goods and assets worth approximately 240 billion yen (equivalent to about 350-400 million US dollars in the 1950s) had been transferred elsewhere by old bureaucrats before the defeat and their whereabouts were unknown. MacArthur was furious, believing the entire old system was rotten to the core and required a heavy hand. Considering the intricate connections among the old Japanese bureaucrats, he knew internal investigations would yield nothing. Therefore, MacArthur assembled a group of people from Japanese-Americans with US experience and the embassy staff in Japan and the US to form the aforementioned Special Investigation Department. With MacArthur's support, these Special Investigation Department prosecutors possessed immense power, striking at the old high-ranking bureaucrats and large enterprises one by one, and recovering a massive sum of money.

This organization later evolved into the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office; when it was first formed, it would not be an exaggeration to say it was a branch of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.

As time passed, after the 1970s, due to the renewal of the US-Japan Security Treaty and a lack of sufficient excuses to continue interfering, the majority of US influence withdrew from the prosecutorial system. Although they no longer directly controlled the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, they still exerted considerable influence behind the scenes. Everyone who manages to work at the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office is a true super-elite; for example, of the 23 new recruits this year, 9 are from the University of Tokyo, 11 from Chuo University, and the remaining 3 are also top students from the law departments of the Imperial Seven Universities. It is precisely because of the US background that even a Korean-Japanese female prosecutor can enter the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office; otherwise, for the traditionally conservative Japan, this would be absolutely impossible.

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has never held other departments in high regard.

Regarding major crimes, as long as the District Public Prosecutors Office deems it necessary, they possess completely independent investigative power.

This is also why the Metropolitan Police Department Investigation Division 2 is always at a disadvantage when facing the District Public Prosecutors Office, because these people only need to take orders from the Minister of Justice.

Yet today, they actually hit a wall with an ordinary Forensic Pathologist!

Having finally made it out of the Metropolitan Police Department building, the lead prosecutor, Kamibayashi, seeing that there was finally no one around, kicked the pigeon feed on the ground in the Metropolitan Police Department's front garden in a fit of rage, sending it flying everywhere: "Damn brat!"

The faces of the three prosecutors were the color of pig liver; the other Korean-Japanese female prosecutor was so hateful that her teeth itched and veins bulged on her forehead. Her eyes were already small, and as she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, they narrowed into slits: "This dog, still talking tough. Find a dark place to detain him for a few days; I don't believe a mere little Forensic Pathologist has no weak points!"

"Shut up! Lin!" Prosecutor Kamibayashi barked: "The Metropolitan Police Department is right next to us!"

The Korean-Japanese female prosecutor only then realized she had been a bit agitated, but she remained unwilling to let it go: "This matter cannot just end like this! He is provoking our District Public Prosecutors Office, provoking our 132 Public Prosecutors and Administrative Officials, and challenging the authority of the entire Ministry of Justice!"

"I said, shut! up!" Prosecutor Kamibayashi was even angrier: "Do you know who he is? This brat is a member of the Peerage; the Peerage Hall in Kasumigaseki is right across from us! A University of Tokyo professor is his grandfather, the director of the Tokyo Cultural Exchange Hall is his father, and Professor Okochi is his mentor. You have no reasonable grounds to detain him; are you planning to challenge the entire Peerage, the medical community, the cultural circles, and the Metropolitan Police Department?"

"This..." The female prosecutor was indeed hesitant.

It is easy to strike at the Metropolitan Police Department; they had originally intended to use Uesugi Muneyuki as a point to strike at the Metropolitan Police Department. The District Public Prosecutors Office's greatest task is to monitor both political and business circles, but the District Public Prosecutors Office also has its fears, which is that they must pay attention to their reputation and social influence. Once stained with any blemish, a glorious career as a prosecutor would end immediately, and once that status is lost, what would happen goes without saying.

"So this matter is just going to end like this?" Another prosecutor was also very unwilling.

"How could it?" Prosecutor Kamibayashi said bitterly: "No matter, let's just watch for now."

"He is only a Forensic Pathologist; there will always be times for mistakes and misjudgments. Once he makes a mistake, he is finished."

"Just wait."

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the Metropolitan Police Department side was completely different; as the District Public Prosecutors Office retreated in defeat, the three Superintendents of the Metropolitan Police Department were beaming with smiles.

"Little brother Uesugi, you are really something!"

"Uesugi-kun, you are truly impressive."

"The local branch stations all said that not only is your professional work strong, but your reporting ability is also very strong; our Metropolitan Police Department has truly witnessed it today."

The three Superintendents from the Metropolitan Police Department gave Uesugi Muneyuki a thumbs-up one after another. Among them, the inspector who had once judged Sudo, Tanaka, Kuwabara, and Takasaka took the initiative to signal to Uesugi Muneyuki: "Let's get acquainted; my name is Yanagisawa, an inspector from the Police Affairs Department. In the future, if you have any business at the Metropolitan Police Department, just look for me."

"Nice to meet you, Inspector Yanagisawa." Uesugi Muneyuki greeted the inspector: "First time meeting, please treat me well."

Ikeda Erena noticed that although Uesugi Muneyuki had won a great victory, he was not in a happy mood.

Coming out of the conference room, Sudo was taken away to provide a statement, while Police Inspector Megure followed Uesugi Muneyuki out. He had sweat on his forehead and looked at Uesugi Muneyuki with eyes that saw him in a new light: "Remarkable, little brother Uesugi, I was very worried before."

"Is the District Public Prosecutors Office always like this?" Uesugi Muneyuki's expression was listless.

"They cause trouble every so often." Police Inspector Megure sighed: "They targeted Division 2 several times before, and this time it was our Division 1's turn. Their goal is to make Division Chief Mikasa bow his head and admit fault, so that Division Chief Mikasa wouldn't dare to defy the District Public Prosecutors Office again during his tenure."

"A declaration of defeat?" Ikeda Erena said angrily.

"Exactly, that is what waving the white flag means." Police Inspector Megure walked halfway and suddenly stopped.

Without realizing it, Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena suddenly discovered that they were surrounded by the suit-clad brigade!

Thirty or forty male and female detectives from Investigation Division 1, dressed in plain clothes, led by Police Inspector Megure, bowed in unison toward Uesugi Muneyuki to express their gratitude: "We are deeply grateful, Uesugi-kun, you helped us maintain the dignity of Division 1."

Having said that, these true elites of the Metropolitan Police Department bowed their noble waists one after another: "Thank! You!"

The tall beauty's pupils shook; at this moment, she finally realized what a terrifying thing Uesugi Muneyuki had actually done.

To be able to make this group of heaven's favored children from Investigation Division 1 bow... Erena looked at Uesugi Muneyuki's back with a complex expression.

She, too, had once dreamed of entering Investigation Division 1 of the Metropolitan Police Department to punish evil and promote good on the front lines!

"If you really want to thank me, take me to the cafeteria." Uesugi Muneyuki was neither humble nor arrogant, his every gesture possessing a natural, graceful, and gentle noble air: "I heard the pork cutlet rice in the Metropolitan Police Department cafeteria is very delicious?"

"This way, please; you must also try the Eel Rice."

The Metropolitan Police Department's large cafeteria was vast, as it had to provide for tens of thousands of people at all times, and the pork cutlet rice trope mentioned by Uesugi Muneyuki was already an incredibly old trope in the police world.

It was mentioned earlier about "Ghost Hachibei," the legendary Hiratsuka Hachibei of the Japanese police world. He once broke a major criminal's psychological defense with a bowl of pork cutlet rice: a man kidnapped a 4-year-old boy and demanded a ransom; although the family paid the money, the boy was still killed. Afterward, the criminal was arrested but refused to confess, so Ghost Hachibei paid out of his own pocket to buy him a bowl of fried pork cutlet rice.

It was the 1960s, and fried food was high-end cuisine. The criminal, smelling the pork cutlet rice, remembered his own impoverished childhood and the story of how he would share the pork cutlet rice he earned from working part-time with his 11 siblings. He burst into tears, crying while he ate, and subsequently confessed.

The authenticity of this event is actually in doubt—Hachibei firmly denied it in his later autobiography, but there are also claims that it was because such behavior violated the Police Law and was easily criticized, making it easy for those "gods of law" (like the District Public Prosecutors Office) to seize a handle and ruin his reputation in his later years.

In any case, since then, pork cutlet rice has become a trope, similar in meaning to drinking tea.

Sitting down, they ordered a pork cutlet rice and an Eel Rice. Uesugi Muneyuki and Erena sat opposite each other; Erena could see that Uesugi Muneyuki's mood was still not very high: "Are you in a bad mood?"

"Yeah, so did you see? Master Erena, how difficult it is to get things done without offending anyone." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head with a bitter smile: "With just a little achievement, the District Public Prosecutors Office wants to use me to strike at the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department throws me out to deal with the District Public Prosecutors Office. Fortunately, I am just a doctor... I just wanted to clarify the facts."

After speaking, the man's expression was desolate, and he shook his head helplessly.

"We all want to clarify the facts, Uesugi. Isn't the Metropolitan Police Department on your side? Division 1 also thanked you, and besides, there is me; Otsuka Station will also support you!" Ikeda Erena felt a pang in her heart seeing Uesugi Muneyuki like this and hurriedly comforted him: "It's not that bad; how could you possibly lose?"

Having said that, the tall beauty didn't know what else she could do, so she simply used her fork to take a large piece of eel from her own bowl and put it into Uesugi Muneyuki's bowl: "Here, I'll give you half of my eel. Don't be angry, don't be angry; we are all on your side!"

"They are only on my side because I won; if I had lost, hmph hmph." Uesugi Muneyuki watched Erena clumsily comforting him and couldn't help but laugh, his mood improving significantly.

Do you believe in me that much?

The essence of a police officer is a bureaucrat; only she is the one who truly wants to stand by his side.

Silly woman.

But my dear Master Erena, have you noticed that throughout the whole process, these elites of the Metropolitan Police Department didn't look at you once or answer a single word you said?

Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that after this incident, he should have gained the initial affirmation of the Metropolitan Police Department.

It's not enough; it can only be considered a good start.

Damn it, the reason he didn't want to join the Metropolitan Police Department was precisely because once he entered, all the bullshit unrelated to autopsies—Division 1, Division 2, Criminal Public Security, Police, District Public Prosecutors Office—would be waiting for him. And Uesugi Muneyuki himself had no intention of participating in this dirty politics; what he needed was the Metropolitan Police Department platform to provide him with the opportunity to trigger the Death Soul Contract, collect more Soul to strengthen his abilities, and explore the truth of his transmigration and the origin of the gem on the back of his hand.

Of course, if one could climb the career ladder and gain both fame and fortune in the process, that would naturally be for the best.

"Let's change the subject." Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment and felt much better; seeing his expression improve, Eirina felt there was no objection.

"You're wearing your police uniform again today?" Uesugi Muneyuki stole a glance at the tall beauty's taut, bulging collar: "It really suits you."

"Because I have to give a formal report today, so..." Ikeda Eirina sensed Uesugi Muneyuki's gaze, and the tall beauty's heart stirred: "I'm in field operations, how could I wear a police uniform every day? I only wear it occasionally for the monthly meeting... Do you really think the police uniform suits me?"

"To tell you the truth, it's fantastic!" Uesugi Muneyuki gave a thumbs up: "I'd long heard that the Metropolitan Police Department is full of beauties, and seeing it today, it's truly well-deserved. But I must say, not to mention short hair, even those with long hair rarely compare to you."

One can easily distinguish whether a policewoman is in internal or field operations by the length of her hair; short hair doesn't necessarily mean field operations, but long hair is definitely internal operations. The Metropolitan Police Department is indeed a gathering place for beauties. Along the way, Uesugi Muneyuki had already spotted several whose looks were no worse than Eirina's. After all, Eirina has foreign ancestry, which makes her facial features slightly rigid, so in terms of looks alone, she isn't considered the absolute top tier.

But in terms of figure, no beauty in the Metropolitan Police Department can compare to Eirina. The Japanese women's short, bow-legged, and waistless body lines pale in comparison to Eirina's 1.7-meter height, long slender legs, and perfect waistline.

Was he complimenting her?

A faint blush appeared on Eirina's lovely face, and her light brown eyes shimmered.

As expected of you, even your compliments are said in a way that makes one not feel the slightest bit of resentment!

It's a pity this man rarely says sweet things.

If he really likes it, it wouldn't be impossible to wear it for him occasionally...

"But there's a beauty over there who is also very pretty; I wonder which department she's from." Just as Ikeda Eirina was trying to guess Uesugi Muneyuki's thoughts, the man suddenly pursed his lips, signaling Ikeda Eirina to look over there: "She seems to be peeking at us."

Hearing this, Eirina looked to the side and indeed felt a faint, lingering gaze.

About fifteen meters away, sitting opposite Inspector Yanagisawa, who had just participated in the District Public Prosecutors Office questioning, was a policewoman. She looked very young, dressed in a standard policewoman's commuting uniform with a tube skirt, low-heeled shoes, and flesh-colored Silk Stockings. A head of shoulder-length hair fell from her shoulders without any accessories. That aggressive, cold temperament carried its own aura of solemnity, making those around her afraid to approach. Her expressive almond eyes were dotted with indifference, and her soft brows were as sharp as a Sword, casting a look of curiosity and scrutiny toward this table.

But she was too young; her exquisite, naturally cute features did not appear old-fashioned due to her cold temperament. Instead, one could faintly sense a bit of a young girl's playfulness and cuteness. She possessed a very sweet apple-shaped face, and her relatively long mid-face, delicate nose, and thin lips subconsciously reminded one of the standard image of a "Yamato Nadeshiko."

Unlike Eirina's deliberate coldness, strength, and indifference, this policewoman's pride, like the noble air on Uesugi Muneyuki, seemed to spread out bit by bit from her bones. She had already noticed Uesugi Muneyuki and Eirina looking at her, and her expression was completely calm, her whole body rippling with an aura called "experience."

Damn it! After seeing the policewoman's face, Eirina knew that her own looks definitely couldn't compare to hers.

Is this guy still looking?

The tall beauty regretted it; if she had known, she shouldn't have changed the subject!

"Is that him?"

Fifteen meters away, the policewoman asked Inspector Yanagisawa.

"Yes, it's him." Inspector Yanagisawa said in a low voice: "However, to be able to firmly hold onto the existing evidence loop to prove his own innocence in that kind of situation so that the District Public Prosecutors Office couldn't find a breakthrough, and considering his talent, perhaps this is a real monster."

"The District Public Prosecutors Office is just looking at Father's new appointment and wants to use him to strike at Father." The policewoman said coldly. Under the natural light, her skin was fair and flushed, reflecting the faint smile on her face: "After all, coming from a Noble, scholarly family, having some level is normal."

"The call from Minato Ward just now..." The policewoman remembered something.

"Yes, Minato Ward reported that there was a falling death case. It might be a criminal case, and Investigation Division 1 is preparing to send someone to take a look." Inspector Yanagisawa described the matter.

"Let Section Chief Megure go, and call him and that woman along too." The policewoman ordered indifferently. The police badge on her chest was that of a Police Inspector, but she dared to speak directly to a Superintendent, and her attitude was a matter of course.

"I only believe in seeing is believing."

The District Public Prosecutors Office is still sweet; I can also negotiate, and I can also love the Great Han!

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(End of this chapter)