Chapter 455

Uesugi Muneyuki immediately locked his target onto Kashiwagi Misa.

Although Okada Masayoshi urgently sought his help and declared his absolute innocence, Uesugi Muneyuki and Okada Masayoshi were not particularly close, so he could not and would not fully trust Okada's words, and asking Minami yielded no definite answer either; at this point, if Uesugi Muneyuki stepped forward to personally vouch for Okada's innocence, he would not only raise suspicion of collusion and cover-up but also severely damage his reputation.

The problem with Okada's case is that it is being investigated by Kashiwagi Jin.

This guy Kashiwagi Jin, once he fixes on something, will forcibly couple all existing clues and connections together.

But the good thing about Okada's case is that it is being investigated by Kashiwagi Jin.

After these cases, especially the Fujitsu case and the bulletproof vest case, Kashiwagi Jin became famous nationwide, giving the entire nation a model of someone who fears no power and embodies unmatched justice.

If Kashiwagi Jin insists that Okada Masayoshi's case has issues and investigates thoroughly, his conclusion that Okada Masayoshi is wrongfully accused would actually seem very reasonable, help Okada clear his name, and avoid public suspicion or any stigma of collusion and cover-up within the Metropolitan Police Department.

The issue is, how to influence Kashiwagi Jin? I must avoid conflict of interest, and Kashiwagi Jin and I are not on good terms, so he may not accept my advice or follow my guidance—he is quite proud.

So at this moment, it's decided to be you! Acting Unit Chief of the Third Division, Personnel Department, Police Affairs Bureau, Metropolitan Police Department, Assistant Police Inspector Kashiwagi Misa!

Uesugi Muneyuki smiled meaningfully, thinking: you may ignore others' words, but you cannot possibly ignore your wife's words, can you?

Still, one must be cautious, after all, the famous Great Tang Ten Garrison Jiedushi, Summer King Shaoshu De once said:

Conquering a married woman is harder and more challenging than conquering a married man!

……………………

Indeed, the storm of national hero wife-killers sweeping the Metropolitan Police Department did not affect its clerical staff; here, the female internal staff are all radiant and elegant, dressed appropriately, speaking politely and properly, revealing eight teeth in standard smiles, each appearing busy but actually not doing much real work.

This is the famous Japanese clerical staff culture, especially the Metropolitan Police Department's clerical section, where beautiful women are truly abundant.

Generally speaking, if an industry meets the following four points, it will undoubtedly attract beautiful women in droves:

One, it mainly recruits women.

Two, it has no educational or technical barriers—even a high school diploma from a commercial high school suffices.

Three, it is not heavy physical labor, does not require working outdoors in wind and sun, relatively speaking it is not arduous or tiring, and appears respectable to outsiders.

Four, the monthly income reaches or exceeds the local average.

A very typical example is flight attendants; besides, the Metropolitan Police Department's clerical section is similarly naturally attractive to beautiful women.

Conversely, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, due to its high professional requirements, rarely sees beautiful women able to pass the entrance exams.

"Nanase, are you done?" In the Personnel Division, the former face of the Metropolitan Police Department, the iceberg mixed-race beauty Kashiwagi Misa, Section Chief, asked softly.

"Horse, horse, almost done~" came her soft, timid reply.

Yamada Nanase wore a fitted navy-blue Metropolitan Police Department internal staff uniform, the collar of her white shirt neatly pressed outward, the gold cherry blossom police badge reflecting faintly under the light.

She sat in a corner of the slightly crowded open-plan office area, with several documents and a computer before her; her smooth brown long hair was neatly tied back into a bun, revealing small ears and soft facial contours, that naturally slightly baby-faced, soft-looking doll face now lacking some of its former lively radiance.

She lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on the computer screen, but her eyes were unfocused, without focus, her fingertips hovering above the keyboard for a long time without landing; the clacking of colleagues' keyboards nearby, the regular hum of the photocopier in the distance, and the occasional ring of a telephone formed the usual office background noise, yet seemed to be shut out by her; the few documents before her had been organized, but one edge was slightly skewed, revealing her distracted state.

Although the deep sorrow in her eyes was no longer as suffocating as at the funeral, it still lingered like a thin mist over her; the dull pain from losing her closest kin had not vanished, only temporarily sunk beneath the surface, leaking out in subtle actions like occasionally pressing her lips together or inhaling lightly.

The future once filled by her husband Yamada Yuki's presence now lay before her as a vast, blank expanse, bringing a silent sense of oppression, making her appear unusually quiet and detached even amidst the bustling Metropolitan Police Department environment.

She sat there like a delicate figurine in uniform, striving to blend into the background, her gaze penetrating the flickering screen toward some distant, uncertain place only she could sense; the crispness of the uniform was quietly overlaid by that serene confusion and lingering grief not yet dispelled.

Until interrupted by Kashiwagi Misa, she reluctantly came to her senses and responded in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Kashiwagi Misa could only sigh.

This newly arrived martyr's widow is truly…… incapable of anything, unable to do anything, even the most basic document work requires hand-holding instruction, she can only handle the simplest tasks like serving tea, pouring water, delivering goods, and typing—truly a clerical officer among clerical officers.

But there's no helping it, who made her a martyr's widow?

If she is not properly settled, and Yamada Nanase causes trouble or, forced by family circumstances, goes into the sex industry, it would be a devastating blow to the Metropolitan Police Department.

The Metropolitan Police Department not only compensated her with twenty million yen in cash, but also relies on the survivor's pension providing an annual income of eight million yen—I don't know how many other female officers in the clerical section envy her; however, precisely because she is a martyr's widow, other female officers in the clerical section also feel embarrassed to bully her.

The most important competition within the clerical section is actually competition for men, especially young, unmarried elite men—this is a life-or-death struggle; every unmarried female officer in the clerical section faces rivals as if facing a major enemy, outwardly amiable but inwardly wishing other competitors dead, and the most common gossip in the clerical section daily is the résumés of this year's new young unmarried male entrants.

For example, the clerical section has recently been discussing the Special Mission Unit a lot, which has many elite, high-quality unmarried men!

Inspector Date Nagamune of the Uwajima Date Family! Assistant Police Inspector Kai Toru, son of the Vice-Minister of Justice! Police Sergeant Igarashi Hayato, son of the Mitsui Sumitomo Real Estate director! And also the soon-to-be-hired "Diamond Man" career track member, Nanase Yui, son of the Nanxiang Managing Director, graduate of the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law!

This is their hunting target.

"Nanase, how are you feeling lately?" Kashiwagi Misa has always been concerned about Yamada Nanase's mental state, and she has been repeatedly instructed by the Personnel Department to pay attention to this widow.

"Well, well, I've recently developed a liking for someone new, I feel much better." Yamada Nanase said weakly.

"Eh??? New? Liking someone???" Kashiwagi Misa nearly had her jaw drop.

Just a few days like this? And already a new liking?!?

Are you giving up your survivor's pension? Are you giving up all your subsidies and this Metropolitan Police Department job?

"Yeah, but it's just one-sided love!" the soft-spoken Nanase said, head lowered, a hint of shyness flashing across her face.

"Who? Is it another man from headquarters? Or someone outside?" Kashiwagi Misa thought: could it be that this Mrs. Yamada is a fool, the unteachable kind?

"It's…… Captain Saito Hajime of the Shinsengumi!" Yamada Nanase suddenly pulled out a book from her desk.

It is Shiba Ryotaro's《New Selected Units Blood Storm Chronicle》.

Saito Hajime? The Shinsengumi of the Bakumatsu period?!?

Kashiwagi Misa couldn't handle Yamada Nanase.

Indeed, as soon as Yamada Nanase mentioned her interest, she immediately tried to recommend it to Kashiwagi Misa, startling her into repeated retreats.

Fortunately, at this moment, Uesugi Muneyuki arrived.

Uesugi Muneyuki's appearance naturally provoked screams from the clerical female officers; as the radiant Uesugi Chief, a noble descendant with an annual income of twelve million yen, Uesugi Muneyuki naturally enjoys immense popularity among the clerical female officers—too bad he's already taken.

"Is…… the newly hired Yamada Nanase-san?" Uesugi Muneyuki first noticed Yamada Nanase, and he gently spoke to this outwardly soft and cute but inwardly grieving widow.

"Eh? Is it the Uesugi Chief? Really the Uesugi Chief? Nice to meet you!" Seeing Uesugi Muneyuki appear, Yamada Nanase's eyes widened, her sorrow wiped away, she stood up excitedly and bowed, saying with both excitement and regret: "I've really been looking forward to your cameo as Uesugi Kagetora in《Gunshi Kanbei》!"

"Yeah, it's a pity." Yamada Nanase's face is quite distinctive—not exactly pretty, but especially soft and cute, with transparency, approachability, and neighborly charm maximized; Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at her again and said politely: "No one expected such a thing to happen."

"It's really a pity, I love Lord Kagetora so much—so handsome and strong! Moreover, the rekindled master-servant bond across time and space between Nagao and him, and that extramarital romance, are truly super exciting!" Yamada Nanase said excitedly.

Uesugi Muneyuki: "?"

Wait, which Uesugi Kagetora are you talking about?

This, this seems wrong, doesn't it?

Oh, yes, yes!

Uesugi Muneyuki recalled that there was a famous BL comic called Divine Wind Sword Style that seemed to have neta'd these historical figures from the Yokosuka Rebellion and even made a time-traveling male lord and retainer amnesiac forbidden love... It's also hard to judge.

That is, here is Japan, and culturally it is relatively inclusive and open.

"Kashiwagi Section Chief, I have something to discuss with you, concerning the matter of Okada Section Chief..." Uesugi Muneyuki, having arrived here, no longer wanted to waste words with Yamada Nanase, this history-obsessed widow: "Are you familiar with Okada's wife Miki?"

"I... I have met her a few times, not very familiar." Kashiwagi Misa, every time she encountered Uesugi Muneyuki, felt her body go weak, both anticipating and yearning, subconsciously wanting to obey.

"Good, regarding this matter, I have something to tell you." Uesugi Muneyuki said seriously: "You should know something major has happened, right?"

"Yes, you guys continue working, I'll go with Uesugi Chief for a moment." Kashiwagi Misa nodded.

The people of the Third Personnel Division had no suspicions, continued working, appearing busy but actually idle.

Indeed, after a while, Kashiwagi Jin, who was investigating the case ahead, received a call from his wife.

"Jin... you, uh... the case, how is it going? I... I want to know."

Kashiwagi Jin, seeing it was his wife's call, said somewhat impatiently: "Still investigating, quite clearly it's Okada... never mind, telling you this is useless, you're just an internal affairs HR person, why are you suddenly concerned about this?"

"Nothing... just saying, oh, that is... I and Okada Miki's wife... are friends, very good friends... I want to know the situation... and... uh, the Metropolitan Police Department here, wants to suspend... Okada Inspector's duties... I am from the Personnel Division, need to... understand."

"Misa, what's wrong with you, why are you panting like that?" Kashiwagi Jin listened and listened, feeling something was off.

"Nothing, just... a bit busy, rushing to deliver documents." Kashiwagi Misa breathed slightly, sounding strained.

"Take care of yourself... since it's like that, then I'll brief you on the case."

"The current situation is as follows..."

Chapter End