Chapter 438: , Investigation Division 1 Chief Forensic Examiner Uesugi!

PS: Today, for well-known reasons, it's a double chapter of 5300 characters! Wishing everyone health, victory, political clarity, and harmony!

"Congratulations, Uesugi-kun!"

Chief of Investigation Division 1, Ukyo Sugishita, read aloud the promotion order in his hand: "Starting today, you are appointed as Chief Forensic Medical Examiner of Investigation Division 1! Your duties include guiding and participating in all major criminal cases, and you shall enjoy the rank and treatment equivalent to a Superintendent, the same benefits as professional-grade officers, and all welfare provisions. After consultation with the University of Tokyo, your salary shall be based on Grade 5 of the national civil service pay scale, and as a part-time position, your annual salary shall be 5 million yen."

"Well, although it might be unnecessary, I still have to ask, Uesugi-kun, do you accept this appointment?" Ukyo Sugishita said with a smile.

Ukyo Sugishita's personal announcement of the appointment exploded throughout the Special Missions Unit.

Chief Forensic Medical Examiner of Investigation Division 1! Equivalent to professional-grade, enjoying Superintendent treatment!

Wow! Uesugi the Forensic Officer has been promoted!

From now on, you can't call him Uesugi the Forensic Officer anymore; from now on, it's Chief Uesugi!

Cooooool！

"Arigatou gozaimasu, ha-migaki wa sa~ watashi desu, Uesugi Sōsetsu, humbly accepting the appointment!" Uesugi Sōsetsu knew this was likely a position specially crafted by the Metropolitan Police Department's higher-ups and the University of Tokyo after much deliberation, and he chuckled inwardly, but still maintained a solemn expression as he extended both hands to accept the appointment letter.

Ukyo Sugishita calmly handed the appointment letter to Uesugi Sōsetsu.

Everyone present from the Special Missions Unit stood up and applauded for Uesugi Sōsetsu.

Indeed, as Uesugi Sōsetsu had thought, the Metropolitan Police Department actually didn't know how to properly promote him, but Minami couldn't be promoted for now, and at the University of Tokyo, Uesugi Sōsetsu had only been enrolled and employed for three months, making it impossible to jump directly from assistant professor to professor, and he wasn't even a supervising physician!

So in the end, they had to invent a special position just for Uesugi Sōsetsu to hold.

Chief Forensic Medical Examiner of Investigation Division 1.

This special position also seems to indicate that Uesugi Sōsetsu's relationship with the Metropolitan Police Department is ambiguous, vague, tightly connected yet not fully meaning a formal member of the system—his closest tie to the Metropolitan Police Department is actually through Minami's fiancé, yet he personally participated in all major cases handled by the Metropolitan Police Department, being called its cornerstone and last line of defense, the heavenly white jade pillar supporting the sea of purple gold beams—no exaggeration at all.

Uesugi Sōsetsu thought this was actually somewhat like Zhao Yun's relationship with the Shu Han regime and its founder Liu Bei.

Historically, the relationship between Zhao Yun and Liu Bei was especially vague, ambiguous, and complex—close comrades, but not quite; Liu Bei's true confidants were Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ji Yong, Mi Zhu, and Fa Zheng, after all, Zhao Yun wasn't an original shareholder from Zhuo Commandery, and for several critical years in between, he wasn't even by Liu Bei's side, nor did he bring resources like Fa Zheng did, nor did he have a personal relationship with Liu Bei so close they could share pants.

But to say Zhao Yun was an outsider to the core circle would be unfairly distant and dismissive of their bond—after all, compared to Pang Tong, Liu Ba, Wu Yi, and Huang Quan, Zhao Yun was undoubtedly a die-hard loyalist; how could the emperor's personal guard and cavalry be entrusted to someone untrusted?

Give him the title of Heavy General, and Zhao Yun's qualifications and record aren't sufficient; give him a miscellaneous title with "Han" attached, and it's hard to bear; but give him a random fringe miscellaneous title, and it would be a waste of Zhao Yun's talent—so Liu Bei ended up giving Zhao Yun a bunch of strange, neither-here-nor-there positions, like Gate Guard General, Central Defense Army General, and Wing Army General—positions with no precedent. To say he wasn't part of Liu Bei's core circle? He had light rank but heavy authority. To say he was in the core circle? Well, even Wei Yan had risen to Heavy General, while Zhao Yun remained a Wing Army General—this dubious, scrutinized miscellaneous title!

It wasn't until after Liu Bei's death, when Zhuge Liang took power, that Zhao Yun truly entered the Shu Han core circle and obtained a Heavy General title—only to lose it again after taking the blame for the first Northern Expedition's failure, being demoted to a miscellaneous title. By the time the third Northern Expedition succeeded in reclaiming Wudu and Yinping, and everyone was promoted en masse, Zhao Yun had already died.

But Uesugi Sōsetsu wants exactly this kind of strange relationship.

He doesn't intend to fully join the department, because everyone understands East Asian workplace systems: once fully in, the system can freely mold and distort a person; but if the system cannot fully control someone, then that person gains united front value, and the system must respect their opinion and make concessions.

Is Uesugi Sōsetsu's status due to his rank and position?

Absolutely not!

His lofty status and immense influence come entirely from his abilities!

From this perspective, it's the Metropolitan Police Department that is asking him, not him asking the department!

It's the Metropolitan Police Department trying every way to keep him, not him trying every way to get a position from them!

So this position actually doesn't mean much to Uesugi Sōsetsu, but he has no reason to refuse the free status, benefits, professional-grade standing, and cold hard cash.

If you give it to me, I'll definitely take it!

This time, others started causing a stir.

"Uesugi! Chief~ Uesugi! Chief~"

"Uesugi-san, we respect and love you~"

「\ToT/\ToT/\ToT/\ToT/\ToT/~」

Facing everyone's flattery and praise, Uesugi Sōsetsu just smiled faintly—also fitting his usual solemn demeanor.

"By the way, Uesugi-san, what's your annual salary at the University of Tokyo?" Kai Kyō suddenly remembered something and said with ill intent: "Can you tell us?"

"There's nothing to hide—you can just check the University of Tokyo's official website. My annual salary there is 7 million yen." Uesugi Sōsetsu said casually.

"Wow! So Uesugi-san, you're not..." Kai's eyes lit up, excitedly saying: "Then your income isn't 7 million plus 5 million—12 million yen per year?"

"Yes, Uesugi-kun's income is now about the same as mine." Chief of Investigation Division 1, Ukyo Sugishita, nodded with a smile. As a 57-year-old professional-grade Superintendent, his salary is also around 12 million yen.

Upon hearing this, the Special Missions Unit began stirring, wanting Uesugi Sōsetsu to treat them.

"Did you get it wrong? Am I supposed to treat you?" Uesugi Sōsetsu said, pulling at the corner of his mouth, retorting: "Obviously, you should be treating me! If it weren't for me, would there even be a Special Missions Unit? If it weren't for me, could you all still be employed here? And still get promoted this fast?"

Really!

The Special Missions Unit members thought about it and couldn't help but nod.

Yeah, we're like stars and the moon, orbiting around someone like the sun—Chief Uesugi, the Forensic Medical Examiner!

"No problem, I'll treat!" At that moment, Minami Ojou stood up without hesitation, patted her chest, and said proudly: "Listen well, this young lady has rewards!"

"Eh~ eh~ oh!"

"Minami Management Officer, saikō~"

"Everyone, you're all wonderful people!"

The Special Missions Unit instantly filled with a cheerful atmosphere, except for Eri Rena, still slumped at her desk, staring at thick stacks of legal and theoretical exam books, wanting to cry but unable to.

Superintendent Promotion Exam, so hard!

If that's the case, when exactly will I be able to promote to Superintendent?

After the celebrations ended, Division Chief Ukyo Sugishita finally said: "By the way, Uesugi-kun, you might need to hire a dedicated financial advisor."

"Why?" Uesugi Sōsetsu blinked, thought for a moment, and somewhat understood: "You mean, tax issues?"

"Yeah, that's what I mean." Ukyo Sugishita nodded: "12 million yen counts as high income by any standard—once you reach this level, tax issues can't be ignored."

"Right, let me check, let me check!" Forensic beauty Shiho Miyako paid the most attention to this, immediately opened her computer, entered Uesugi Sōsetsu's income into a Japanese tax quick calculator, and factored in all possible deductions.

Annual income: 12 million yen.

Actual take-home: 7.98 million yen.

Seeing this number, Uesugi Sōsetsu froze.

7.98 million?

Only 7.98 million?

Wow! My annual income is 12 million, but after deductions, I only take home 7.98 million?

I, Uesugi Muneyuki, work hard performing autopsies and solving cases, shouldering the burden, yet it feels like I'm doing it for the Ministry of Finance!

My money!!!

I get 7.98 million, they get 4.02 million, and I still have to thank this country???

Hmm!

Uesugi Muneyuki clutched his chest, feeling immense pain, and suddenly understood what taxpayer anger meant.

No, this matter isn't over!

I'm going to find my senior, find Mai Xuejie! She has a dedicated financial advisor who designed legal tax avoidance for me, and regarding this case, I need to consult with my senior on how to escalate it further!

Damn it, how can the taxes in this wretched little life be so heavy?

Of course, celebration is still necessary.

After Sugishita Ukyo congratulated Uesugi Muneyuki, the members of Investigation Division 1 also came one after another to congratulate Uesugi Muneyuki on his promotion. Finally, because the Special Mission Unit was too small, everyone simply moved the celebration to the large hall of Investigation Division 1, starting with Inspector Kosaka of Division 1, the members of Investigation Division 1 formed two lines.

Pop~ A can of cola was pulled open.

"Thank you all. Without your strong support, I, Uesugi Muneyuki, would not be where I am today. Thank you for your continued care. In the future, I also ask everyone in Investigation Division 1, and even the Criminal Investigation Department, to continue guiding us. Cheers~" Uesugi Muneyuki said to the members of Investigation Division 1.

"Ah, everyone, wait a moment." At this moment, Watanabe Minami spoke: "Everyone in Investigation Division 1, today we can share celebratory cola here, all thanks to my fiancé Zongxue for his consistent accurate judgment and wise decisions. Facing any difficulty, his perseverance and extraordinary strength have repeatedly broken boundaries for our Metropolitan Police Department. Here, come, let us toast to Zongxue's continued miraculous performance and his ever-victorious health!"

"I think it's fine!" Date Nagamune Ichiro thought to himself, having become a regular employee detective at the Metropolitan Police Department despite being a former Self-Defense Official, and felt inwardly delighted.

Everyone in Investigation Division 1 nodded in agreement. Which detective here hasn't enjoyed the case-solving KPI benefits brought by Uesugi? Even Kashiwagi Jin nodded deeply in agreement.

As expected of Uesugi-kun, only someone like this deserves to be called my arch-rival!

"Wishing Uesugi Chief Medical Examiner, ever-victorious health!"

"Ever-victorious health!!!"

Amid the laughter and joy in the Investigation Division 1 office of the Metropolitan Police Department, a new police system is being established.

However, in this scene, the Special Mission Unit is missing a very important person.

……………………

Late at night, the international arrival hall of Haneda Airport remained brightly lit.

The heroic superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Department, renowned as the Lion of the Special Mission Unit, Superintendent Okada Masayoshi's beautiful wife, Okada Miki, whose appearance resembles Sakai Noriko, dragged a suitcase obviously stuffed with luxury brand shopping bags, nearly bursting, off the airplane.

Her face bore the fatigue of long-haul flight, but deep in her eyes lingered the excited afterglow from her shopping spree at Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Via Montenapoleone in Milan.

Her friend, because she still needs to go to Switzerland, will return a few days later.

At this moment, she was calculating: her credit card is about to max out, she needs to go home first to hide part of the newly bought bags and clothes, to avoid being nagged by Masayoshi, then… well, tomorrow or the day after, she'll go to the hospital to check on Masayoshi, after all, the news didn't say he only suffered external injuries? He won't die, oh right, the news said they would award 2 million? The new crocodile skin bag from Hermès…

As she pushed her luggage cart out of the customs gate, what greeted her was not the expected quiet late night, but suddenly flashing lights, almost blinding!

"Okada Madam! Are you Okada Miki Madam?"

"Miki Madam! May I ask your feelings about Superintendent Okada Masayoshi's heroic act of sacrificing himself to save others?"

"Why didn't you interrupt your trip and return home immediately after the incident? Was it because you didn't know the news beforehand?"

"As the wife of the heroic superintendent, how do you feel now? Do you feel guilty toward the people's expectations?"

"There are reports saying your marriage with Superintendent Okada Masayoshi is not approved by Director Okada Masahide, will this incident affect your family status?"

"Your photos of frenzied shopping in Europe have already circulated online, how do you view the public's criticism of you as 'indifferent'?"

A series of sharp, harsh, even maliciously guided questions came down like hail. Over a dozen journalists and photographers, like sharks smelling blood, instantly surrounded her, microphones almost poking her face.

The blinding flashlights made Okada Miki instinctively raise her arm to block, her carefully styled hair became somewhat disheveled from the pressure, the vacation glow she had meticulously maintained on her face instantly faded, leaving only shock, embarrassment, and a hint of fear.

"What… what?" Okada Miki was completely dazed.

She knew about her husband's rescue, her friend had shown her the news headline while scrolling on her phone, she had been startled at the time, thinking the survivor's pension she wouldn't even be able to collect at age 50, but after confirming her husband was fine and breathing a sigh of relief, she turned her head and continued researching how to match her newly bought Chanel coat. She never expected that returning home would actually lead to such a scene!

"Please make way! I refuse interviews!" She flusteredly tried to push away the microphone in front of her, her voice carrying a hint of sharpness. The journalists, of course, wouldn't let her, instead closing in tighter. The questions became even more twisted and piercing:

"Do you feel guilty toward your husband currently recuperating in the hospital?"

"When you were on your shopping spree in Europe, did you ever think your husband was on the brink of life and death?"

"Did Director Okada Masahide of the Financial Services Agency express dissatisfaction over your delayed return to the country?"

"Enough!" Okada Miki finally became completely enraged, a surge of anger rushed to her head, she forcefully shoved the journalist in front of her (unexpected strength), her voice rose, carrying the tone of being offended and impatiently sharp: "Masayoshi only suffered minor external injuries! Do you really have to make such a fuss?! All of you, get out of my way!"

This sentence was like pouring a bucket of cold water into boiling oil, instantly igniting the scene!

The journalists first fell silent, then became even more frenzied in pressing their shutters, voice recorders almost reaching into her mouth! Flashlights connected into a sheet of daylight!

"What did you say? 'Making a fuss over nothing'? Superintendent Okada Masayoshi nearly sacrificed himself to save people!"

"'Just minor external injuries'? Miki Madam, do you know how deep that knife wound was?"

"Is this your evaluation of your husband's spirit of sacrifice?"

"Say it again! Do you consider your husband's heroic act 'making a fuss over nothing'?!"

Okada Miki realized she had misspoken, her face instantly turned pale. She knew she had caused trouble!

She tightly covered her mouth, refusing to utter another word, merely bowing her head desperately, using her suitcase and arm to awkwardly block the barrage of cameras and microphones. Fortunately, airport security heard the news and rushed over, struggling to separate the crowd, allowing her to, under their escort, stumble into a taxi she hailed in panic.

"Quick! Drive!" She almost screamed at the driver, gave her apartment address, the car started, she slumped in the back seat, her heart pounding violently, her hands still trembling. Seeing journalists outside the window still relentlessly filming, she trembled all over with anger.

"Crazy! A bunch of crazy people!" She muttered under her breath, tears unwillingly welling up in her eye sockets, half from fright, half from anger and injustice.

Taking out her latest model space gray iPhone 6 Plus, the screen lit up, the lock screen wallpaper was her selfie laughing brightly with her friend under the Eiffel Tower. She looked at the photo of herself radiant and beautiful, then thought back to her disheveled state at the airport just now, a strong surge of resentment welled up in her heart.

It's all Masayoshi! It's all him! If it weren't for him pretending to be heroic and getting injured, causing a nationwide uproar, how would she have been surrounded by journalists right after getting off the plane? And still been forced to say those words! Now it's fine, tomorrow's news headline will definitely be all about her "disgraceful state" and that damned "making a fuss over nothing"! She could already imagine how she'd be cursed online!

"Go… go to the hospital!" She suddenly told the driver, her voice still trembling. No, she must go to the hospital immediately! To get there before journalists embellish and report what just happened, she needed to hurry and "visit" her husband, take a few "loving" photos to salvage her image!

The taxi turned and drove toward the hospital. However, as the car approached that private hospital, Okada Miki's heart sank completely.

Outside the hospital gate, and at the intersection leading to the VIP ward building, there were actually many journalists gathered! Long and short lenses flashed faintly in the darkness, and several broadcast vans were parked by the roadside!

"Good heavens! Is there no end to this!" Okada Miki despondently lamented, immediately shrinking into the back seat, "Don't stop! Don't stop! Go fast! Back to the apartment! Quick!" She no longer wanted to face those terrifying cameras and questions.

Now going to the hospital would be no different than walking into a trap, only making the situation more awkward.

It is well known that taxi drivers in Japan are very professional and try not to initiate conversation or show emotion, but this taxi driver still gave a sympathetic glance at the panicked beautiful woman in the rearview mirror and silently accelerated away from the hospital area.

Returning to the apartment where she lived with Okada Masayoshi, Miki almost fled through the door. She locked it from the inside, leaned against the door panel, and slid down to sit on the cold floor, gasping for breath.

The expensive suitcase lay overturned to one side, revealing many luxury brand shopping bags inside.

She took out her mobile phone, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not call her husband's hospital ward.

The television was turned on by her subconscious, tuned to the entertainment channel, where YKC48 Little Cherry Blossom's variety show was playing, and the hehehehe laughter sounded especially grating.

She collapsed onto the expensive genuine leather sofa, her eyes vacant, surveying the middle-class 3LDK apartment of about seventy to eighty square meters, with only one thought running through her mind over and over: It's over, my reputation is completely ruined.

It's all Masayoshi's fault! If he hadn't insisted on being some kind of hero, how would I have ended up so unlucky!

What nonsense! When I first agreed to marry you, it wasn't so I could suffer alongside you!

(Chapter End)