Chapter 495

Today's affairs having been settled, Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena got into the car and returned to Sakata Bridge Tower.

In the car, Ikeda Erena was still somewhat indignant, complaining: "You're letting Weekly Bunshun off too easily, Muneyuki. Saying such things, you should at least have Weekly Bunshun's people thrown in jail!"

Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but snort at her words, shaking his head repeatedly: "Prosecution is handled by the District Public Prosecutors Office; our civil lawsuit mainly aims to obtain compensation, and moreover..."

Moreover, I've already taken private revenge—Mai Xuejie even caused the Executive Director in charge of this matter to suffer cardiopulmonary arrest, and the scion of the Suou family pulling the strings behind the scenes has been reduced to such a state—isn't that far more terrifying than spending a few years in prison?

"Anyway, I think this is very unfair." Erena pouted, her exquisite exotic-featured face suffused with a look of wronged dissatisfaction: "Besides, you don't support me either, and Asuka doesn't like me—I'm just an outsider at home!"

"................" Uesugi Muneyuki was amused by Erena, and seeing her state, he reached out and pinched her cheek, smiling: "How are you an outsider? You're my dear, dear tall judo sparring partner beauty master~ oh, and also the young attendant of the Minami Clan."

"Pfft~" Upon hearing "young attendant," Erena couldn't help but giggle; though she didn't understand history, Minami had called her that for so long that she roughly grasped its meaning, and she couldn't help but feel both angry and annoyed, punching Uesugi Muneyuki's shoulder with her fist: "To be honest, Muneyuki, if it weren't for meeting you, I never would have imagined I'd have a day of romance, and yet... how did our relationship become so strange? Good heavens, my mother keeps saying she wants to come to Tokyo to play, asking where I live, and I don't even know how to answer—do I have to say I live with my boyfriend, my boyfriend's fiancée, and my boyfriend's childhood sweetheart cum housemaid, forming a family of four?"

"Well, it's not impossible." Uesugi Muneyuki felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing this.

As previously mentioned in Ikeda Erena's family background, she is from Fukuoka in Kyushu, with half Filipino-Spanish blood; her mother was someone her father met through foreign trade earlier on, and her father was also a mid-level foreign trade employee years ago, earning over nine million yen annually after tax, but after the bubble burst he lost his job, yet relying on accumulated overseas resources he switched to a foreign trade company, with after-tax income also reaching six to seven million yen; given Fukuoka's cost of living, this income still allows the family to live relatively comfortably.

Ikeda's mother is a pure old fairy—since marrying her father, she hasn't worked a single day, nor does she do much housework, spending all day eating, drinking, and playing.

However, Ikeda's mother has one merit: although she contributes nothing materially or in housework, she lacks neither maternal affection nor spiritual care, paying close attention to her children's mental state and education, being a mother who can confide worries and share joy; although she occasionally asks Erena for some money to buy food for a big meal, it's only two or three ten-thousand yen a month, not the kind of endless bloodsucking parents.

Since hearing that her daughter had found her footing in Tokyo, Ikeda's mother has constantly nagged about wanting to come to Tokyo to play and have her daughter treat her, especially wanting to meet Uesugi Muneyuki, but Erena simply doesn't know how to articulate their relationship.

"Don't your parents know me?" Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself: I'm a big star in the Kanto region, and surely a celebrity nationwide in Japan?

"They know, but they don't really care..." Erena said, full of resentment: "They often praise you for being strong... but they simply don't care what exactly our relationship is."

"Your daughter is already serving as someone's young attendant, and you act as if you haven't noticed at all! Kora! (Minami's face)"

"Hahahaha~ No problem, why not wait until they both come up to Tokyo, then I'll treat them to a meal?" Uesugi Muneyuki smiled: "How about the Imperial Hotel? Just as a thank-you for giving birth to such a wonderful woman as the master?"

"Muneyuki... is it my imagination? I always feel your expression is like you're showing off?" Erena stared at the curve of Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth, saying suspiciously.

"Nothing of the sort, Master—am I that kind of person?" Uesugi Muneyuki said earnestly: "Others don't believe you, but you still don't trust me?"

"Mm, I believe you!" Upon hearing the man say this, Erena immediately responded without hesitation.

The tall beauty has long grown accustomed to being with Uesugi Muneyuki without needing to think—just needing to hear how he speaks and act accordingly, which has nearly become her instinct; when Uesugi Muneyuki speaks seriously, instinctive belief and obedience have already become part of Erena's DNA.

For the tall beauty, not only is her body shaped like Uesugi Muneyuki's, but even her brain is shaped like his.

Without Uesugi, wada si, oh nae ga!

Therefore, when questioned by her mother, Erena instinctively thinks of how to deflect, how to explain, how to make her mother accept— the only thing she doesn't think about is leaving.

On the way back, the two again chatted about the matter of the Ghost Guest Sakuma Kaito in Toshima Ward.

Sakuma Kaito has been formally indicted by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, and the penalty proposed by the prosecutors for him is—death penalty!

Recently, Tokyo residents have also been paying attention to this matter; indictment for the death penalty is no exception, because Sakuma Kaito's crimes are truly heinous—he has four lives on his hands (a family of four) + shooting two public officials (two police officers) and a plethora of other charges.

Under these circumstances, it's truly not applying the death penalty that would fail to quell public outrage.

Yet lawyers have still taken on this case, defending Sakuma Kaito, and the lawyer's reason is that the previous Toshima Ward extermination case has already exceeded the 15-year statute of limitations (although the law was later amended to make it perpetual, whether retroactive application to the past can be discussed), and while Sakuma Kaito's responsibility for the killings is undoubted, there is no doubt that his birth environment, tragic childhood experiences, lack of familial care, early biker gang involvement, and being blackmailed by a shady agent into dangerous oceanic routes are among the causes.

Therefore, the defense lawyer believes he should undergo psychiatric treatment and be sentenced to life imprisonment.

That someone would defend Sakuma Kaito at all instantly sparked nationwide outrage, making the defense lawyer a figure of social death, pointed at by thousands; yet this lawyer not only gained fame from this, but also attracted overseas attention.

Uesugi Muneyuki's evaluation is that Sakuma Kaito naturally deserves it, and the only outcome should be a death sentence, and it's highly likely he will be executed faster than ever before in Japan—New Minister of Justice Yuzō Setouchi stated that as long as the final verdict establishes guilt and imposes the death penalty (even by Japan's fastest standard, also taking two and a half years) during his term, he will certainly sign the execution documents for Sakuma Kaito's death penalty by hanging on the last day of his term and broadcast it nationwide, instantly earning nationwide applause, with public support breaking through 80%.

So, does that defense lawyer not know about public outrage and Sakuma Kaito's inevitable death sentence?

No, he certainly knows, but he still defends Sakuma Kaito, because bad publicity is still publicity, infamy is still fame.

This is the greatest trait of lawful evil—within the rules, no means are spared.

Likewise, Minister of Justice Yuzō Setouchi publicly pledged to swiftly sign the death penalty execution documents—is it because he truly wants to carry out justice?

Absolutely not; this Minister of Justice was even previously an abolitionist, advocating for the abolition of the death penalty.

This too is the greatest trait of lawful evil—doing whatever benefits me, flexibly adjusting bottom lines and stances, a "moral vacuum."

Bureaucrats and lawyers—truly the culmination of existence beneath human order.

Uesugi Muneyuki sat in the car, smiling inwardly as he thought of this.

That last Old God and first New God probably never imagined that, having exhausted all to bring the world reason, logic, and order, remaking the world so that even the one who most loved and cared for humanity themselves would have to leave it, the result being that humanity would raise these two ultimate monsters born from these rules?

Interesting, truly interesting.

Humans are truly an interesting kind of creature~

……………………

Evening, twilight, Sakata Bridge Tower, 1802.

"We're back!" Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena opened the room door, and a rich aroma came rushing toward them.

"Ah, welcome back!"

Saito Asuka, who was cooking in the kitchen, poked out her little head, saying delightedly: "Mr. Uesugi, and that woman, dinner will still take a while, please wait a moment."

That woman? Which woman???

A # symbol popped up on Erena's forehead, thinking this girl is really enough!

Is it not just that you have a better figure than me, and a little shake would instantly defeat me?

Is it worth holding a grudge this long?

If you're capable, you should also develop a figure like mine?

Oh right, you're also 17 this year, afraid it's too late~ Thinking of this, Erena couldn't help but smirk.

Anyway, Uesugi just likes this point about me, and I just like looking at your expression of envying me yet lacking my figure.

Victory!

Saito Asuka, however, wasn't looking at Erena; she stood in the kitchen, today the girl wore a snow-white cute lace maid apron, the sash lightly tied at her waist into a beautiful butterfly bow, setting off her figure to be even more slender and delicate.

Beneath the apron was the girl's slim yet youthful waistline, her long black silky hair swaying slightly with her movements, tied up with a white silk scarf, a few strands of hair falling onto her neck, making her appear especially tender and delicious, her movements skilled and light, every detail showing practiced elegance, still carrying a hint of joy.

"Minami-senpai says she'll arrive soon, today's dinner is a Spanish feast!" The girl stood before the natural gas stove, her slender fingers lightly tapping, the egg mixture sliding into the frying pan, emitting a faint "sizzle"; Asuka leaned in slightly, the apron's ties outlining her slender waist, the skirt hem below her slender legs wearing ultra-thin black seamless shiny high-waisted silk stockings, a pair of delicate jade feet stepping on simple slippers; seeing Uesugi Muneyuki return, the girl was like a blooming flower, revealing a radiant smile.

The lawsuit has been won! From now on, no one will be able to stop me and Mr. Uesugi from being together!

Now we just wait for... adulthood!

18 years old, legally recognized adulthood, the age of sexual consent, and then… hehehehe!

Sister, you can go in peace; I will faithfully inherit everything of yours and dutifully care for Mr. Uesugi—I swear!

The pan handle swayed gently, the egg mixture slowly solidified in the pan, the edges turning golden yellow; Asuka carefully flipped it with the spatula, her movements smooth and natural, as if completing a delicate artwork, the aroma of the fried egg spreading, and Asuka's radiant smile blooming in turn.

I like what Mr. Uesugi likes, and I dislike what Mr. Uesugi dislikes.

I will protect Mr. Uesugi's smile!

And when Mr. Uesugi Muneyuki smelled the aroma and his face showed surprise and joy, Asuka knew this was the meaning of her life.

The meal wasn't ready yet; after Mr. Uesugi Muneyuki and Saito Asuka exchanged a few sentences, they heard the doorbell ring at the door.

Minami has come back.

Following Minami's return, she was panting and carrying several large clothing bags in her hands.

"Muneyuki! Quickly praise me!" Minami said happily, gesturing for Erena and Muneyuki to come quickly and take them!

"Ah?"

"Quickly praise me, I've brought you a big surprise!" Minami handed several large clothing bags to Muneyuki and Erena: "Your long-held dream is about to come true!"

"What?" Muneyuki skeptically took the long clothing bag, and under Minami's gesture, opened it and glanced inside—his pupils suddenly contracted.

"What is this?!"

(Chapter End)