Chapter 44: Gamblers don't get a house

The Metropolitan Police Department's pork cutlet curry is indeed delicious, and with the eel Erena shared with him, Uesugi Muneyuki ate with great relish.

His attention was entirely on his meal; he was completely unaware that both Erena and that beauty in police uniform fifteen meters away were staring at him.

Watching him eat heartily is better than countless things in the human world.

Ikeda Erena withdrew her attention from the beauty in the police uniform and watched Uesugi Muneyuki eat her eel with such gusto; a profound sense of satisfaction suddenly flashed through the tall beauty's mind.

Ever since the two of them established a deeper relationship, Erena had been unable to curb her greed; she wanted more, to understand him more, to explore his secrets and talents.

Probing him occasionally to see how he would react, and testing him from time to time to see what he would do, was Erena's pleasure.

However, Uesugi Muneyuki was truly a stubborn person; Erena did not know if Uesugi Muneyuki was conservative, dull, or simply too skilled, but every time Erena's probes were either dissolved into nothingness by him or suppressed by his sheer intelligence, and in the end, he even had to help her out of a tight spot.

But Ikeda Erena did not care that she was the one failing every time; she felt perfectly at ease—who told you to need my help? Who told you to like peeking at me?

Who told us to be partners.

Deliberately picking the eel from her own bowl into this guy's bowl was Erena's little test, and Uesugi Muneyuki's reaction of eating it without ceremony made her very satisfied.

In her satisfaction, a brilliant smile could not help but bloom on the tall beauty's lovely face.

If you ask me next time, it wouldn't be impossible for me to wear the police uniform just for you to see.

It just depends on whether you dare to ask.

"It seems these two get along very well." Not far away, the arrogant and languid beauty in the police uniform wore a teasing expression: "It seems this arrangement is not a problem; if he can get along well with Ikeda, he will naturally get along well with everyone else in the Metropolitan Police Department."

This beauty in the police uniform was as beautiful as ever, enough to make one jealous; although she did not possess the miraculous model figure like Erena, her physique was balanced and exquisite with alluring curves, her beautiful head with dark hair falling by her ears was infinitely lovely, and her sweet almond-shaped eyes were slightly narrowed.

"He does not seem to have the habit of being arrogant about his talent, but considering his upbringing, it is reasonable." Inspector Yanagisawa nodded; the inspector was about forty years old, with eyes that had more white than iris, and a mean and sinister appearance: "Looking at them, they should not have slept together yet."

"……A guarded man." The beauty in the police uniform wanted to say more, but suddenly she noticed Erena casting her gaze over.

The gazes of the two policewomen intersected invisibly.

Ikeda Erena widened her eyes, her expression a mix of indifference, confusion, and a hint of vigilance.

The beauty in the police uniform's expression was as natural as ever, revealing no flaws, and she even greeted her with a look that was half-smile, half-mockery.

The strange sixth sense between women is extremely sensitive; the moment they locked eyes, a peculiar echo reverberated in each other's minds, and they both seemed to understand something.

The beauty in the police uniform revealed a faint smile and waved her hand with a composed and indifferent air.

Ikeda Erena was not to be outdone; she lifted her long, swan-like neck with a hint of triumph, assuming the posture of a mother wolf guarding her food, and moved her position slightly, blocking the gap between Uesugi Muneyuki and that policewoman.

Heh.

The beauty in the police uniform ignored the gunpowder smell on Ikeda Erena and quickly looked away.

It will never be your turn.

Idiot.

After the meal, Police Inspector Megure of Investigation Division 1 arrived right on time with several detectives: "Uesugi-kun, could we trouble you to come with us?"

"What is it?" Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, thinking to himself, work has arrived?

"A case occurred in Minato Ward; they say there was a fall accident at a construction site, a construction worker fell to his death. We are about to head out now, and the Forensics Division is currently handling a body-dumping case in Tokyo Bay. Since you happen to be at the Metropolitan Police Department, could you come with us?" Police Inspector Megure said very politely: "Of course, we will notify Otsuka Station and the hospital; your compensation and such will be handled according to standard."

"Of course!" Uesugi Muneyuki naturally had no reason to refuse; he was eager for the Metropolitan Police Department to come to him for autopsies.

"Then let's move now." Police Inspector Megure signaled that they could leave immediately.

Several black Toyota cars drove out of the Metropolitan Police Department. In the car, a Police Sergeant was driving, and Police Inspector Megure, sitting in the passenger seat, introduced the case to Uesugi Muneyuki in the back seat.

"The deceased, Matsunose Kōfu, 28 years old, a worker at a housing construction company, fell to his death from the top floor of the construction company this morning."

"Fell to his death?" Uesugi Muneyuki's expression remained unchanged: "Why would a case of this level involve Investigation Division 1?"

He had been doing autopsy work at the police station for several months; generally speaking, unless it involved a homicide or a heinous crime, the local police station would handle it themselves and would not trouble the Metropolitan Police Department to mobilize.

"Yes, originally Police Inspector Hayata of the Akasaka Station in Minato Ward had already taken over, but during the investigation, Akasaka discovered a death message left at the scene."

"Before Matsunose Kōfu died, he wrote 'The housing company president killed me' on the wall of the top floor of the construction company, so the local branch suspected it was a homicide and reported it to Investigation Division 1." Police Inspector Megure's tone was a bit helpless: "Division Chief Mikasa told me to go take a look, and I thought it was perfect since you were here too."

Fell to his death, yet able to leave a death message before dying?

Uesugi Muneyuki thought it was interesting.

Beside him, Ikeda Erena's eyes also lit up.

She could see Uesugi Muneyuki perform an autopsy on-site again!

When Investigation Division 1 arrived at the scene, it had already been cordoned off by the local police station. In front of several strips of yellow tape, a row of police officers stood with their hands behind their backs, isolating the crowd, and half the street was filled with police cars.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Police Inspector Megure got out of the car, and a man in his forties in a suit immediately came up to greet him. Uesugi Muneyuki thought this must be Police Inspector Hayata of the Akasaka Police Station. He saw the inspector first arrogantly scolding his subordinates not to disturb the scene, his head held high and his face anxious, but as soon as the Investigation Division 1 car stopped, his expression changed immediately, and he trotted over with a smiling face.

"Thank you for your hard work." The elite detectives in suits from Investigation Division 1 naturally did not give the local branch a good look. Police Inspector Megure opened the car door for Uesugi Muneyuki: "Sorry to trouble you, Uesugi-kun."

"Oh? Is this that Uesugi Muneyuki? The one from Tokyo Medical and Dental University?" Upon hearing this name, Police Inspector Hayata of the Akasaka Station in Minato Ward's eyes lit up.

"Yes, it's him. Our division specifically called him in this time." Police Inspector Megure introduced him to Uesugi Muneyuki: "This is Acting Chief of the Criminal Division Hayata of the Akasaka Police Station."

Akasaka Station is a major station in Minato Ward, and the station chief is at the rank of Police Superintendent.

"Nice to meet you, please treat me well."

"Likewise." Uesugi Muneyuki signaled: "If possible, let's start directly."

"Please, this way."

The housing construction company is located near Akasaka in Minato Ward. The building is not tall, only six stories. The company president's name is Hoya Daiken, and it is a family business, so the company is named the Housing Construction Company.

Such a big incident occurred at the company, so the president had naturally already arrived at the scene. Because of the death message left by the deceased, this president had already become the prime suspect. Two police officers from the station were by his side, never leaving him, and he was crying without tears, shaking his head vigorously: "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me, I didn't kill anyone!"

"Stop quibbling, President Hoya. According to our investigation, you owed the deceased one month's wages, and someone saw you and the deceased having a dispute. If you say you didn't kill him, then provide evidence!" The Akasaka Station police surrounded the president fiercely: "Confess early!"

"It really wasn't me, I don't know why he fell!" The president shook his head vigorously.

"Then why, even though the company was closed today, were you working overtime inside? Why didn't the deceased write anyone else's name, but wrote yours? Hurry up and confess!"

The detectives from Akasaka Station put heavy pressure on the president. President Hoya just shook his head vigorously; he was about to cry.

On this side, Police Inspector Hayata was also describing the situation: "According to the investigation, this company had just finished a project, and the president gave everyone three days off. From that morning until the time of the incident, the company was empty. After checking the surveillance cameras, only the president and the deceased entered the company building one after another. Furthermore, according to the investigation, the Housing Construction Company owed workers wages ranging from one to three months, which could be a motive for murder."

"It wasn't me, I didn't!" President Hoya wailed: "It is normal to owe wages when project payments haven't been settled! When the money arrives, I will naturally pay the wages! I swear to Tōshō Daigongen, I really didn't kill anyone!"

Both sides held their own opinions, and Police Inspector Megure and Police Inspector Hayata turned their gazes toward Uesugi Muneyuki.

Uesugi Muneyuki did not say much; he immediately began the autopsy.

The deceased's state of death was miserable; having fallen from a great height, the lower limbs suffered multiple fractures, and the body lay face up on the ground. The head and facial features of the corpse were still relatively intact, and the body emitted a stench of someone who had not bathed for a long time. Since not much time had passed since death, there were no signs of decomposition yet, with only a portion of the body experiencing corpse stiffness.

Hmm, the lower limbs landed first.

Uesugi Muneyuki easily determined the cause of death: death due to massive internal hemorrhaging caused by multiple fractures of the sternum and ribs resulting from the fall.

Looking up, Uesugi Muneyuki noticed that the sixth-floor rooftop had a safety railing.

Raising his right hand, he activated Qinghui Stone Power and Uesugi Muneyuki attempted to communicate with the deceased.

"It is suicide." Only five minutes later, Uesugi Muneyuki stood up with a strange expression on his face, a look of disdain appearing on his face as he said this very definitively to Police Inspector Megure and Police Inspector Hayata.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Suicide?"

The crime scene fell into a dead silence after hearing Uesugi Muneyuki's judgment.

The suit-wearing elites of the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division 1 were full of question marks.

Five minutes? On-site autopsy? Confirmed suicide?

"Uesugi-kun?"

"It is suicide," Uesugi Muneyuki repeated.

The police from Akasaka Station only then reacted; the lead Police Inspector Hayata swore this was the widest he had ever opened his mouth.

"Uesugi-san, I am not questioning your level of expertise, but..."

"It is suicide."

"But the deceased left a death message..."

"That is also suicide."

"??????"

Seeing that everyone present looked confused, Uesugi Muneyuki repeated it again: "It is simply suicide."

What kind of person is this?

Sure enough, following Uesugi Muneyuki's affirmation, the local police station side looked completely bewildered, and some detectives already had looks of suspicion on their faces.

No dissection, no examination, no site investigation, no interrogation, no canvassing, just looked at the corpse once and then said it was suicide?

What kind of person is this!

This guy, is he even reliable at all?

"Let me explain briefly." Uesugi Muneyuki signaled for everyone to listen to him first: "There are three possibilities for death by falling from a height: suicide, homicide, and accidental death."

"In cases of accidental death, it is usually a worker who, while working, leans a part of their body out from a height and falls because they lose their balance. In the vast majority of cases, it is the upper body that leans out; it is not impossible for the lower body to lean out and fall, but it is extremely rare, and the deceased did not call for help." Uesugi Muneyuki first held up his first finger: "This is not a construction site, so we first rule out the possibility of accidental death."

No one had any questions about this point.

"Then we talk about homicide." Uesugi Muneyuki held up his second finger: "The situation for homicide is quite special. First of all, the company's rooftop should have a safety railing, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes, there is a safety railing! There is a 1.3-meter safety railing! It reaches my chest!" the company president screamed: "I swear, I swear to Suwa Daimyōjin!"

"There is a safety railing upstairs. Two Police Inspectors, think about it: if it were homicide, first, the president would need to lure the deceased into the building, and furthermore, he would need to trick him to the side of the safety railing, and then, he would need to push a strong, able-bodied construction worker over a 1.3-meter safety railing to fall off the building." Uesugi Muneyuki smiled: "Not to mention that the president does not have such ability, even if he really did this, what would happen?"

"Signs of a struggle?" Police Inspector Megure was thoughtful.

"No, it is the manner of the fall." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head: "In order to get over the safety railing, the president would either place the deceased horizontally or push the deceased straight; in any case, no matter which, the result is the same."

"The deceased would die head-first."

"However, the deceased died with the lower body landing first." Uesugi Muneyuki pointed at the corpse on the ground: "This is the most typical situation for jumping to one's death. Generally speaking, jumping to one's death involves jumping with one's back to the building and feet downward. Of course, there are those afraid of heights who face the building, but in any case, the deceased is in the typical standing posture when dying, feet landing first, then the pelvis hitting the ground, and the body then falling backward into a face-up position. Therefore, this is suicide."

Uesugi Muneyuki said with absolute certainty: "If we perform a dissection, we can see the order of the deceased's fractures."

"But... homicide could also make the deceased jump while standing!" Ikeda Erena could not help it; the tall beauty took the initiative to ask: "On what grounds do you conclude that jumping while standing is suicide?"

"Of course, homicide could also involve jumping while standing, but this is difficult, really difficult." Uesugi Muneyuki rolled his eyes nonchalantly and continued to explain: "First, in the presence of a safety railing, if the deceased were conscious, they would struggle. As long as they struggle, it is impossible for this kind of standing jump to occur; it would definitely be head-first or hands-first. Secondly, if the deceased were unconscious, it is indeed possible to be thrown off the building in a standing posture, but in this situation, the deceased's muscles would be in a relaxed state, and the falling posture would change in mid-air; it is impossible to form a standing landing."

"Therefore, this is suicide," Uesugi Muneyuki concluded finally.

So that's how it is!

The police from the Metropolitan Police Department and Akasaka Station suddenly realized.

In that case, everything is explained.

But there was one last question.

Police Inspector Hayata asked: "Then what about the death message? The deceased wrote on the wall that the president killed him."

"This is actually one of the pieces of evidence for suicide." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head: "If it were really homicide, the deceased could not have left such a death message, but... if you insist on saying it that way, it is not wrong; the president was indeed one of the important reasons that forced the deceased to commit suicide."

"Hmm?" Police Inspector Megure and Police Inspector Hayata, hearing Uesugi Muneyuki say this, turned their dangerous gazes back onto the company president.

"Ah???" The company president, having listened to Uesugi Muneyuki's analysis, had already been smiling like a chrysanthemum, but the situation suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse, scaring him so much that his legs went weak and he was about to collapse: "I didn't, I don't, don't talk nonsense, Mr. Forensic Pathologist!"

"If I am not mistaken, the deceased should be a gambling addict, right?" Uesugi Muneyuki signaled that I know you are in a hurry, but don't be in a hurry yet, and he pointed at the corpse: "For a corpse, corpse stiffness should occur earliest in the parts where the muscles are most fatigued, and as a construction worker, the stiffest part of the deceased's body is neither the waist and back nor the arms and legs, but the index fingers."

"What kind of person would use their fingers frantically, like someone with Parkinson's?"

The people at the scene fell into thought.

"Pachinko! Pinball?!" Police Inspector Megure reacted the fastest.

"Exactly. If I am not mistaken, President, this employee Matsunose was having a dispute with you over wages, right?" Uesugi Muneyuki smiled: "As long as we go and ask the deceased's friends and check his personal accounts and nearby Pachinko parlors, all the facts will be clear."

"Understood!" On the Akasaka Station side, Police Inspector Hayata immediately shouted at his subordinates: "Go check, go now!"

"Yes!"

The suit-wearing brigade immediately began to act.

Less than twenty minutes later, sure enough, the police station learned from the deceased's coworkers and friends that the deceased was an old gambling addict; all his wages were spent on Pachinko, offered up monthly, leaving him with nothing, and his personal financial status was already riddled with debt.

Subsequently, the police station even investigated the Pachinko parlor the deceased frequented and learned that he had spent over 300,000 yen the previous night and was seen weeping bitterly at the entrance by passersby.

From this point on, the chain of evidence was complete.

News gathered from all directions, and the way everyone looked at Uesugi Muneyuki changed.

President Hoya finally plopped down onto the floor and began to wail.

I am innocent!

Five minutes, just five minutes.

One look, no dissection, confirmed homicide or suicide, confirmed cause of death, confirmed reason for suicide.

What kind of person is this?!

"We understand everything you've said, Uesugi-kun, but why would the deceased leave such a death message when committing suicide?" Police Inspector Hayata voiced his final doubt.

"Because of a month's wages," Uesugi Muneyuki blinked his eyes.

"Huh?"

"Because the president owed him a month's wages. To a gambling addict, this was his last capital to turn things around, but President Hoya withheld the wages. Driven to a dead end, the deceased chose suicide. He hated the president for owing him money, so he deliberately left this message," Uesugi Muneyuki said quite naturally. "Even in suicide, the deceased wanted to disgust President Hoya."

Hearing Uesugi Muneyuki say this, the detectives at the scene all wore expressions of contempt.

"I..." The president was even more exasperated: "I (Inazuma profanity), screw him (Inazuma profanity), this (profanity)."

With this, the case concluded; Uesugi Muneyuki raised his right hand, and the soul of the deceased surged into the Qinghui Stone.

Hoya Hoya, what a good name.

Gambling addicts get no house.

There really are many strange surnames among the Japanese, some of which are quite humorous, haha.

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(End of this chapter)