Chapter 48: The Proposal to Seal the Building

Police Inspector Megure, forty-two years old this year, is the Section Chief of the Thirteenth Section, Investigation Division 1, Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police Department. He is a Non-Career Track officer. His full name is Higurashi Sota. Born in Chiba Prefecture, he passed the entrance exam for the Tokyo local branch at twenty-two. Starting as a Patrol Officer, he climbed the ladder step by step, eventually making his way into Investigation Division 1 through sheer grit—which goes to show the caliber of this man.

In his early years, Police Inspector Megure was a workaholic, possessing both courage and strategy. When the current Superintendent General, Watanabe Eiji, was still serving as the Section Chief of Investigation Division 1, they met due to a pedestrian bridge murder case. Watanabe Eiji greatly admired this local branch officer, pulled some strings, and had him transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters and into Investigation Division 1.

There are very few Non-Career Track criminal police officers who can rise from a local branch to the Metropolitan Police Department by being slackers. Police Inspector Megure is certainly not a slacker from a local branch; with just a moment of association, a terrifying answer surfaced in his mind.

Of these three possibilities, two can actually be ruled out first.

Japan's waste recycling and sorting system is extremely advanced. Although the Odaiba Building does not perform direct waste sorting, it is almost impossible to stuff an adult female into a trash bag and carry her out of the building. First, the building's property management would inspect the trash bags and sort them, and second, when sent to the landfill for incineration, the landfill processing staff would check them again.

It has been nearly four days now; if there had been a discovery, it should have blown up back then.

Then there is the possibility of being stuffed into a large suitcase and carried out of the building.

This is not to say it is entirely impossible, but thinking about it carefully, the operational difficulty is also extremely high, unless Ms. Hironaka Mariko was cut into several pieces... That is even more impossible; there is absolutely no suitable place or tools, and the Odaiba Building is not a sawmill or a slaughterhouse!

Therefore, that answer is ready to emerge: the news anchor Hironaka Mariko never left the Odaiba Building at all, but instead stayed in some corner of the Odaiba Building for four full days without being captured by any surveillance.

Police Inspector Megure, who has been handling cases for twenty years, was already covered in sweat at this moment.

The situation is bad, very bad!

"Kazama!" Police Inspector Megure immediately ordered: "Take your men to the landfill immediately and search all the trash discarded from the Odaiba Building from Friday until today!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Kosuge!"

"Here!"

"Collect all the entry and exit logs for the Odaiba Building from Friday until now immediately, and see which suspicious individuals have entered or exited, especially those carrying huge boxes."

"Understood."

"Notify Ms. Hironaka Mariko's family immediately!" Police Inspector Megure made his judgment calmly and heavily: "Also, please notify President Kameyama!"

"The Metropolitan Police Department demands that the entire Odaiba Building be sealed off starting now!"

"What?" The Security Division Chief of Fuji TV turned pale the moment he heard this request: "Inspector, can this be reconsidered? Sealing the building is a major matter!"

"I am not asking for your opinion!" Police Inspector Megure gritted his teeth: "I am notifying you. Invite President Kameyama over immediately; we demand to seal the building! Do it now, I am watching you make the call right here, now!"

"As for the rest, guard all the entrances and exits of the television station and notify headquarters immediately; we need reinforcements." Police Inspector Megure ordered calmly with his hands behind his back.

"Yes!" The surrounding squad of men in suits shouted in unison. One of the detectives hesitated for a few seconds and asked: "Do we need to notify the local Police Station?"

"Hmm..." Police Inspector Megure frowned and glanced at the time on the monitor. It was already past six in the evening; the guys at the local branch must have all finished work. Calling them to assemble at this time would surely result in them being full of complaints and resentment.

"Request assistance from the local Police Station!" After a moment of thought, Police Inspector Megure still made the decision.

At a time like this, we cannot only think of ourselves. We, Investigation Division 1, are the last line of defense for all of Tokyo. If we don't do it, who else will?

This is the responsibility of our Investigation Division 1, and it is also the honor of our Metropolitan Police Department!

Police Inspector Megure straightened the Metropolitan Police Department pin on his collar: "Start now!"

The Security Division Chief had no choice but to dial the phone number of the Fuji TV station head, President Kameyama.

Before long, President Kameyama of Fuji TV rushed to the Security Division in person. This president looked to be in his fifties, his hair was still quite thick, and he wore a pair of toad-eye sunglasses with slightly graying sideburns; his appearance was somewhat like a frog.

President Kameyama's attitude upon arriving was very tough: "Who made this request to seal the building?"

"It was me." Facing the president of one of the top two commercial television stations in Japan and looking at the group of high-level executives behind him, Police Inspector Megure immediately felt the pressure.

He was just a small Police Inspector; there were at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, in all of Tokyo. Standing opposite him was the entire high-level management of a television station: six Department Directors of the Production Bureau, two Fuji TV board members, one Managing Director, and the Representative Director of the television station, President Kameyama.

"Absolutely impossible!" President Kameyama's answer was within expectations: "Are you joking? Because of one person's disappearance, you want to seal the entire Odaiba Building?"

"Which section of the Metropolitan Police Department are you from? What is your name, and what is your badge number?" The Managing Director behind President Kameyama stepped forward.

"You must know what the impact of sealing the building will have on our station, right? Who will compensate for our losses?" A director from the Production Bureau also shouted: "Investigation, investigation—do you intend to bring the entire Odaiba to a standstill because of an investigation?"

"Exactly, keep the investigation within reasonable limits."

"Are you trying to destroy Kanto Broadcasting? Kora!"

The Fuji TV side clamored.

"Gentlemen of the Metropolitan Police Department, we deeply regret the disappearance of Ms. Hironaka, and I have already notified the Security Division to cooperate with your investigation as much as possible. However, please forgive us for not being able to agree to the request to seal the building." President Kameyama shook his head repeatedly: "This will make the entire television station the laughingstock of Tokyo. Since when can the police interfere with the internal operations of a television station?"

Police Inspector Megure's expression was solemn. He first reported his name and badge number, then said in a deep voice: "President Kameyama, the Metropolitan Police Department has always respected your station, and we have collaborated on many television dramas. Several of the directors should have experience filming at Sakuradamon. The headquarters wanting to seal the building is not targeting your station."

Once Police Inspector Megure said this, the expressions of the Fuji TV executives improved slightly.

"I only want to say that if your station does not choose to seal the building, then can you answer one question for headquarters." Police Inspector Megure said slowly: "Where did Ms. Hironaka Mariko go?"

"............" The muscles on President Kameyama's face twitched. He sniffed and said hesitantly: "Perhaps she went somewhere else? Or maybe... because of cold feet? After all, tomorrow is the day of her wedding."

"President Kameyama, Ms. Hironaka's mother, Mrs. Hironaka, reported the case on Friday, and headquarters also acknowledges the strictness of the entry and exit surveillance of your building." Police Inspector Megure saw President Kameyama's hesitation and continued to raise the stakes: "If your station does nothing now, then headquarters can only assume that this matter might be related to your entire corporation. The disappearance of a Regular Employee will not only make your employees feel insecure, but it will also cause a major blow to your brand image!"

"And..." Police Inspector Megure thought it was perfect, as he had met with the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office with little brother Uesugi that morning: "This matter might lead to the intervention of the District Public Prosecutors Office due to the existence of commercial issues."

Every word from Police Inspector Megure struck the hearts of the Fuji TV executives. Several directors, board members, and the Managing Director looked at each other suspiciously. Among them, Managing Director Takamatsu secretly asked in President Kameyama's ear: "Kameyama, could it be you?"

"How is that possible?!" President Kameyama was so angry he pushed Managing Director Takamatsu away.

He did indeed like Hironaka Mariko and often took her out to social events, but he had no reason to kill her!

He was innocent!

But would these board members and directors believe it? Would the Metropolitan Police Department opposite believe it? Would the District Public Prosecutors Office believe it? Would all of Tokyo believe it?

President Kameyama began to feel the pressure.

The Fuji TV executives had already been holding a meeting to discuss this matter just now, and they truly did not know where Hironaka Mariko had gone.

The two sides stood in a standoff for a while when suddenly a security guard ran in and whispered: "President, Ms. Hironaka's fiancé, Shimakawa Ren, and her mother, Mrs. Hironaka, have arrived, and the Section Chief is currently receiving them... It's a bit troublesome."

President Kameyama's face immediately wrinkled like a chrysanthemum.

Shimakawa Ren, Executive Director of the Tokyo Ota Real Estate, Hironaka Mariko's fiancé, engaged last year, and the wedding date is—tomorrow.

Things were getting more and more troublesome. If he couldn't clear the suspicion as soon as possible and some urban legend like "Fuji TV Cursed Grudge" came out, he didn't know if Fuji TV would be finished, but he, Kameyama, would definitely be finished!

But sealing the building was also a major matter without a doubt. Even if the Odaiba Building were sealed in the middle of the night, it would still attract the attention of the entire Kanto Broadcasting region!

However, if this matter is not ended as soon as possible...

"We need to convene an extraordinary Board of Directors meeting to discuss this matter." President Kameyama consulted with several board members and directors and gave a somewhat uncertain answer.

"Please, as quickly as possible." Police Inspector Megure knew the Fuji TV side's attitude had softened, and he let out a sigh of relief.

"Also, you are not qualified to speak with me." President Kameyama was soft first and then hard, lifting his chin: "Go report to the Metropolitan Police Department, and have the Metropolitan Police Department call me!"

"That goes without saying." Police Inspector Megure's status was naturally nothing compared to President Kameyama.

Having slightly steadied the Metropolitan Police Department, the senior executives of Fuji TV hurriedly sat back together to discuss what should be done.

The executives checked again, and indeed not a single person knew where Hironaka Mariko had gone, especially President Kameyama; facing the distrustful gazes of the board members and subordinates, Kameyama's head felt like it was going to explode.

He really did not know, but everyone refused to believe him!

Fuji TV also really did not know, but the Metropolitan Police Department, the District Public Prosecutors Office, the family members, and even the entire Tokyo Metropolis would not believe it either!

President Kameyama looked ferocious, stomping his feet hard and looking at everyone around him, at a loss for what to do.

Finding her was a bad thing, and not finding her was also a bad thing.

Can this world get any better? Is there really not a single good thing?

"President, why don't you just turn yourself in?" a board member said in a low voice.

"It has nothing to do with me! It really has nothing to do with me, you bunch of idiots!" President Kameyama was so angry he lost his composure: "I don't know, I really don't know!"

"But you..." The executives all cast suspicious looks at President Kameyama.

The board member who offered the suggestion said again: "We can't really let the Metropolitan Police Department come in to investigate, right? What if they actually find something?"

"No, sealing the building is absolutely out of the question!" Another Production Bureau Chief also shook his head repeatedly: "Not to mention anything else, there are quite a few private invoices in the warehouses of the various production bureaus; if this draws in the District Public Prosecutors Office, the losses will outweigh the gains."

"But if we don't seal the building, how can we prove our innocence?" A more senior board member disagreed: "So, where exactly did Hironaka go? If it isn't investigated clearly for even one day, the Odaiba Building will become a haunted building! Are you planning to destroy our Fuji TV?"

"This matter has an extremely bad influence. If this station refuses the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation again, it will be equivalent to admitting we have a problem! What if it provokes the District Public Prosecutors Office?"

The executives each held their own views, arguing without reaching a decision.

"President." Just then, a Production Bureau Chief within the station suddenly had an idea; his name was Abiru Kazuhiko, and he was also one of the television station's senior executives, having always been relatively close to Kameyama: "Let's do a Live Broadcast."

"What?" President Kameyama did not understand for a moment.

"As things stand, the situation has reached this point; regardless of whether we seal the building or not, this station will definitely be affected." Bureau Chief Abiru said to the executives sitting there: "The most important thing right now is that we must prove this station's innocence in this matter, that Hironaka's disappearance has nothing to do with this station, otherwise this will be the most fatal blow to this station's image and reputation!"

Everyone sitting there could not help but nod.

"So, you are saying you think we should seal the building?" President Kameyama frowned.

"That's right, we should seal the building and agree to the Metropolitan Police Department's request." Bureau Chief Abiru continued: "But... we demand that when the building is sealed, we conduct a Live Broadcast from this station!"

A Live Broadcast?!

Before everyone could respond, Bureau Chief Abiru signaled for everyone to listen to him first: "The situation of sealing the building is extremely bad. Everyone, I can guarantee that as long as we choose to seal the building, the news vans from other commercial broadcasters and NHK will immediately park at Odaiba Park to start a Live Broadcast. Reporters from dozens of newspaper offices in Tokyo will all hear the news and rush over. Plus, the Metropolitan Police Department has already opened a case, and the family members have already rushed over; there is no way we can hide it!"

The Fuji TV executives all felt incredibly anxious and uncomfortable, but they nodded one after another.

"Therefore, sealing the building is terrible, and not sealing it is also terrible. We might as well use agreeing to seal the building as a condition to demand that the Metropolitan Police Department allow this station to do a Live Broadcast about this matter!"

"Other television stations are outside the building and can't get in, and all the viewers and reporters want to know what exactly happened and want to know the first-hand news. This is the perfect time to start a Live Broadcast! President, we can conduct the Live Broadcast directly inside the station, and Hironaka Mariko is also our station's anchorwoman; her background file, family, and fiancé are all within the station."

Production Bureau Chief Abiru became more excited as he spoke: "The footage that other stations can't broadcast, we at Fuji TV will broadcast. The first-hand information that other reporters can't get, we at Fuji TV will provide during the Live Broadcast. This will become one of the Live Broadcasts with the highest ratings this year, or even in the history of our Fuji TV!"

"And, most importantly, a full Live Broadcast can prove this station's innocence! Prove that this station really knew nothing about this matter! We can also follow the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation throughout, avoiding the involvement of more issues and avoiding the Metropolitan Police Department secretly using other investigative methods."

"That's right!" President Kameyama also realized it.

The situation was already beyond repair; one could only choose between bad and worse.

The Security Division Chief had already warned Kameyama before that, given the strictness of the surveillance at the entrances and exits of the Odaiba Building, Ms. Hironaka might already be in grave danger.

Seal the building, seal the building—you don't even look at what kind of place this is. We are one of the top two television stations among the five major commercial ones. Even if the Odaiba Building is sealed in the middle of the night, it is a super-major event that can make national headlines and shake the region.

You only lost one family member, but our Fuji TV's loss is the reputation of the entire company!

What we need to do most now is, instead, to make use of waste, squeezing out all the remaining value of the building-sealing incident and Ms. Hironaka, and we can also prove that Fuji TV was indeed not involved in the case. It can be said to be killing two birds with one stone!

"Let's do it!" President Kameyama slapped the table: "Takamatsu, you go and contact the Metropolitan Police Department. Abiru, you go and prepare for the Live Broadcast matters. I will go and notify Dentsu and Hakuhodo. Also, make sure to notify the insurance company!"

"Yes!"

After discussing urgently for half an hour, the Fuji TV executives finally made a decision.

Agree to the Metropolitan Police Department's request and carry out the sealing of the Odaiba Building.

At the same time, Fuji TV's request was also transmitted to Sakuradamon.

They demanded a full Live Broadcast of the search process!

Representatives from four parties—Fuji TV, the Metropolitan Police Department, Dentsu and Hakuhodo, and the Nippon Life Insurance Company, which had been notified temporarily—would hold an emergency meeting regarding what happened today.

Fuji TV's dramas have been so rotten these past few years.

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(End of this chapter)