Chapter 459: , is what I taught!

Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters - Special Investigation Headquarters Conference Room

In the Special Investigation Headquarters conference room, where the air seemed to solidify, a suffocating low pressure hung in the atmosphere.

Criminal Affairs Director Uchimura Kaneji's face was grim enough to wring water from, his fingers tapping irritably on the desk. Investigation Division Chief Sugihara Ukyo furrowed his brow tightly, staring at the spread case files, his gaze somewhat distracted, clearly under immense pressure.

Although Police Superintendent Watanabe Eiji sat firmly in the chief position, the heaviness and fatigue between his brows could not be concealed.

A nationwide wanted notice for Okada Masayoshi had already been issued, with SAT's elite squad deployed across the city, public opinion a volcano ready to erupt at any moment, and the Metropolitan Police Department, this massive vessel, sailing toward an iceberg that could shatter its century-old reputation.

Just then, the conference room door was flung open! Kashiwagi nearly burst in, his face no longer bearing the previous domineering confidence, but instead a mix of shock, confusion, and a pallor from being scientifically overwhelmed. He clutched tightly to the preliminary analysis summary from the Forensic Science Division. "Director Uchimura! Chief Sugihara! Superintendent!"

Kashiwagi Jin's voice came with gasps, even slightly distorted: "The Forensic Science Division... has made a groundbreaking discovery!"

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on him. Uchimura Kaneji slammed his tapping fingers to a halt, shouting sternly: "Speak! What discovery?!"

Kashiwagi Jin took a deep breath, rapidly but clearly recounting the core discovery Ujisugi Sōsetsu had conveyed through Kashiwagi Misa:

185cm+ mysterious shoe print does not match Okada.

The perpetrator entered through the back door trash room via professional lock-picking; only someone 185cm+ in height could nimbly climb through the window to escape, contradicting Okada's injuries and stature.

Mikuni's fingernails contained deeply embedded dark blue polyester fibers and brass fragments, pointing to a third-party perpetrator, inconsistent with Okada's clothing (Okada Masayoshi did not wear such garments, and such materials would not be present in his suit fabric)!

Okada's severe back injury remained unhealed, with no new wounds or blood spatter at the scene, making it impossible for him to have engaged in intense combat or climbed over obstacles.

"Therefore, our conclusion is: Okada Masayoshi, Superintendent, is extremely unlikely to be the direct perpetrator! The scene may involve a possible fourth party—the true killer! Characteristics: height over 185cm, strong build, strong counter-investigation skills, wearing a dark blue polyester jacket, and having financial or grudge ties with Mikuni!" Kashiwagi Jin nearly shouted the final line.

Silence!

The conference room fell into an even more eerie silence than before—so quiet you could hear a pin drop!

A few seconds later—

"Sō da ne~" a short exhale, like releasing a heavy burden, even carrying a sense of having just survived disaster, escaped Sugihara Ukyo's lips. His tense body instantly relaxed as he leaned back in his chair, his tightly furrowed brow finally unfurrowing, the eyes behind his glasses lighting up with relief and devotion to the truth—filled with "As I thought" satisfaction.

"I knew it! Logically it made no sense! As expected, Kashiwagi-kun!"

The gloom on Director Uchimura Kaneji's face melted like ice and snow, though he remained stern, the oppressive feeling of an impending storm had clearly dissipated by more than half.

He slammed the desk hard—this time not in anger, but in resolve: "Good! Well done! Kashiwagi, you've rendered great service this time!" He immediately turned to the communications officer, his voice loud and decisive, carrying unprecedented clarity:

"Immediately! Issue emergency update orders to all pursuit units!"

"Change the target's danger level! Okada Masayoshi, Superintendent, is no longer to be listed as 'Extremely Dangerous,' downgraded to 'Important Suspect and Key Informant'!"

"Primary mission changed to 'Safe Apprehension' and 'Protective Custody'! Strictly prohibit the use of lethal force! Repeat, strictly prohibit the use of lethal force!"

"Upon locating the target, prioritize communication, emphasizing that the Metropolitan Police Department has obtained new evidence, believes he may have been framed, and requests his cooperation in the investigation to clarify the truth!"

"Simultaneously, immediately adjust investigative focus! Establish the 'Deep Blue Phantom' Special Task Force! Target: height over 185cm, recent possible close contact or conflict with Okada Mikuni, with prior violence, theft, or extortion offenses, especially noting whether there are records of wearing dark blue workwear or hooded jackets! Focus on investigating Mikuni's social circle, debt relations, and online statements involving threatening individuals!"

The order was swiftly issued, and the atmosphere of the entire Special Investigation Headquarters instantly reversed! From desperate full-scale encirclement, it shifted to dual-front operations: protective search for Okada Masayoshi, and full-force pursuit of the true perpetrator, the "Deep Blue Phantom"!

Superintendent Watanabe Eiji's taut nerves finally eased slightly.

He apologized once, found an empty corner, took out his phone, inhaled deeply, and dialed the private number of Financial Affairs Bureau Chief Okada Masahide.

This time, his voice carried a sense of relief: "Okada Bureau Chief! I am Watanabe Eiji! I have major progress to report!"

On the other end, Okada Masahide's voice remained low and tense: "Speak!" Clearly still immersed in the shadow of his son being a murderer.

"Bureau Chief! We have just obtained the re-examination forensic report from the scene!" Watanabe Eiji spoke faster, tinged with excitement: "The report's conclusion overturns the initial judgment! The scene revealed definitive scientific evidence, including traces of third-party intrusion, biological and physical evidence pointing to the true perpetrator, and key evidence (the weapon) with temporal proof! These findings highly consistently indicate: Okada Masayoshi, Superintendent, is extremely unlikely to be the direct perpetrator of the murder of Mikuni Fujin and Koizumi Ryōsuke! He merely happened to be caught up in it!"

The line fell into a silence lasting several seconds. Deathly silence.

Watanabe Eiji could even hear the other party's breathing suddenly grow heavier.

"You... you say what?!" Okada Masahide's voice finally emerged, filled with disbelief, trembling, and a massive, suppressed... ecstatic impact! "Masayoshi... not the killer?! Evidence... definitive?!"

"Yes, Bureau Chief! The evidence is definitive! It's the conclusion reached by Kashiwagi and the Forensic Science Division after personally examining the bulletproof vest case! We have since fully adjusted our investigation and pursuit strategy based on this!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Okada Masahide said "good" three times, his voice brimming with relieved excitement, even carrying a barely perceptible sob. The boulder pressing on his heart, making him nearly suffocate, was instantly moved aside! His son is not a murderer! The Okada bloodline remains untainted!

But immediately after, the authority and calculation inherent to his role as Financial Affairs Bureau Chief and head of the Okada family returned instantly. His voice instantly reverted to its customary cold hardness and unquestionable tone, even more resolute than before: "Watanabe Superintendent! You've handled this very well! At a critical moment, you withstood pressure, brought in true authority to clarify doubts, and avoided a miscarriage of justice! This demonstrates the Metropolitan Police Department's professional caliber and your judgment as a leader! I am very satisfied!"

He shifted gears, his tone becoming extremely hardline, charged with the urgency of protecting family honor: "But! This is not enough! Masayoshi is still out there! Still wanted! Still bearing the stigma of a suspect! This is immense harm to him! For our Okada family, it is an unacceptable disgrace! I demand you, the Metropolitan Police Department, must achieve the following two points!"

"At any cost, safely locate Masayoshi! Ensure he comes to no harm! He is injured, mentally and physically exhausted, needs the best medical care and protection! If he suffers any unnecessary injury during his flight, I will hold you solely responsible!"

"Deploy the full strength of the Metropolitan Police Department to solve this case as quickly and perfectly as possible! We must bring to justice the true perpetrator who framed my son, the 'Deep Blue Phantom'! I want ironclad evidence! I want indisputable proof! I want all of Japan to see clearly that my son, Okada Masahide, is a pillar of heaven and earth, a hero wrongfully framed! His honor must be restored completely and perfectly! Not a single speck of stain or doubt may remain! Understand?!"

Finally, Okada Masahide's voice lowered, carrying a meaning only Watanabe Eiji could understand—naked and transactional, like an icy blade pressed to the throat: "Watanabe-kun, you've already served another term in this position, haven't you...? This incident is a massive crisis for the Metropolitan Police Department, but if handled well, it will also be the best proof of your personal ability. Letting Masayoshi completely shed the stigma, letting the case be perfectly resolved... this will be very, very important for your future advancement. I think you should understand my meaning?"

Watanabe Eiji's hand, holding the phone, slowly began to sweat coldly. Okada Masahide's hint could not be clearer: successfully handling this "perfect" case—safely retrieving and clearing Okada Masayoshi—is his ticket to advancement! Otherwise... the consequences are unthinkable.

"Yes! Bureau Chief! I completely understand! Please rest assured! The Metropolitan Police Department will spare no effort to ensure Okada Masayoshi, Superintendent, is safe and unharmed, his honor intact! We will surely apprehend the true perpetrator, clear his name, and restore the Metropolitan Police Department to utter purity!" Watanabe Eiji's voice was unwavering, filled with the resolve of burning one's boats.

"Very well, I await your good news." Okada Masahide coldly tossed out these words and hung up.

Hearing the busy signal, Watanabe Eiji exhaled long and deeply, but the weight on his shoulders felt heavier than before—by a hundredfold—compared to when they were encircling the "murderer" Okada Masayoshi! This was no longer just about catching a suspect and solving a case; it was a political mission and honor-defense battle demanding perfection, allowing no flaws!

Returning to the conference room, he addressed the reinvigorated yet equally pressured Uchimura, Sugihara, and Kashiwagi: "Did you all hear? New objectives: First, safely retrieve Okada Masayoshi! Second, perfectly solve the case, extract the 'Deep Blue Phantom'! Third, fully restore Okada Superintendent's honor! This concerns the survival of the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as each of our futures! Move out!"

"Lift all freezes on the Special Assignments System, dispatch Ujisugi and team, conduct joint operations!"

"Yes!!!"

Meanwhile, having hung up the phone, Okada Masahide did not feel the relief one might expect after such tension. He slowly sank back into the vast leather chair symbolizing power, his body seeming to be drained. He covered his face with his hands, shoulders slightly twitching.

Regret, like cold seawater, welled up belatedly and surged forward, instantly engulfing him.

The public opinion storm he meticulously engineered... his using media to besiege that supermarket cashier... he thought he was merely removing a "blemish"... but he hadn't anticipated that this fire would not only kill Mikuni, but nearly burn his son... his only son... to ashes!

The immense relief that Masayoshi is not the killer... behind it lies sharper self-reproach. If he had not launched that public opinion campaign... perhaps the supermarket cashier would not have invited death by violence? Masayoshi would not have fallen into such dire straits?

"Masayoshi... is Daddy..." a whisper barely audible, carrying endless fatigue and deep regret, slipped from the fingers of this Financial Affairs Bureau Chief, cold father, and dissipated into the empty, icy office.

He still could not say it aloud.

Outside, Tokyo's lights still glittered, but they could no longer illuminate the cold, regretful abyss in his heart left by the backfire of political machinations—saving his son, clearing his name, had become his only, and final, hope.

He cannot apologize, he will never be able to apologize, he will know his fault, correct it, but he will never apologize to his son.

Because he is his father!

Okada, having endured this, you now understand fathers act only for your good!

And just as Okada Masahide's heart swirled with complexity, here at the Metropolitan Police Department, the Special Assignments System finally received the unfreeze order.

"What, that Kashiwagi Jin is that strong?" Inside the Special Mission Unit, Kai Toru couldn't help but complain: "In my impression, this guy does nothing but cause trouble and do bad things."

"Tsk tsk tsk, after three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes." Upon hearing that Kashiwagi Jin actually thought Okada Brother was very likely not the culprit, Minami Ojou-sama relaxed considerably: "Wasn't that exactly why we kept him around in the first place?"

At that moment, Uesugi Muneyuki walked in from outside.

"Hey! Muneyuki, why did you only just arrive!" Minami complained, a little annoyed: "Look, even without you, Kashiwagi Jin could solve the case!"

"I taught him." Uesugi Muneyuki said casually.

"Eh???" Everyone inside the Special Mission Unit was shocked.

"Yeah, I taught him hands-on." Uesugi Muneyuki continued, gesturing toward Eirina: "But that's not the key point."

"The key is, I've already found where Okada is hiding."

"Special Mission Unit, deploy!"

(Chapter End)