Chapter 5: The Old Man and the Young Man

Setting aside the matter of the date, time skipped forward four days.

Nothing much happened during these four days; after entering the Forensic Pathology Department, the things Uesugi Muneyuki had to be busy with were indeed much fewer. Compared to the work style of the Department of Surgery—"three shifts, four weeks, no double days off like cutting leeks, long nights, overtime, and the inversion of black and white"—the life of a forensic pathologist was much more leisurely. Professor Okochi would occasionally work overtime at night himself, but he made no such demands of Uesugi Muneyuki.

For some reason, Uesugi Muneyuki discovered that the negative emotions brought about by communicating with the dead were still quite significant. That night, after he had fiercely "Princess Connected" with that temporary girlfriend from Hokkaido, he couldn't help but ask her out for another "Princess Connect" session the next day. Perhaps it was because he had hit the pity threshold on a ten-pull, but only then did Uesugi Muneyuki feel much better.

It seems that communicating with the dead still has certain side effects.

Besides this, Uesugi Muneyuki also secretly tried other ways to awaken dead souls. He used researching pathology as an excuse to enter the hospital morgue. However, it was not quite like what he had imagined; the vast majority of corpses that died of illness were cremated immediately. The corpses that were occasionally left behind generally involved insurance claims or lawsuits, and most of them had been dead for some time, their souls already dissipated. On the rare occasion that a recently deceased soul could be awakened, it was completely unable to trigger the Contract Law of the Azure Gem inside Uesugi Muneyuki's body. Even if Uesugi Muneyuki helped the dead soul, he would not obtain any "Soul."

He wouldn't do things for free.

It seems he really had to be a forensic pathologist.

The vast majority of East Asians have absolutely no interest in understanding the cause of death of the deceased, especially in Japan, so the status of forensic pathologists is extremely low. They must be tied to the police to come into contact with more corpses that can trigger the Contract.

Uesugi Muneyuki quickly made a judgment about his situation. Just then, the phone call from Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka finally came.

Jojoen is a Japanese yakiniku chain group that primarily deals in grilled meat. In essence, it is very simple barbecue, but Jojoen has made it into a relatively high-end middle-class level, famous for its elegant environment, smokeless technology, and exquisite service. For ordinary salarymen, it is already a relatively high-level enjoyment.

That night, Uesugi Muneyuki met Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka from the Otsuka Station in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, once again.

Unlike Uesugi Muneyuki, who had changed into formal attire, Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka appeared travel-worn. Although it was evident he had tidied himself up a bit, he still could not hide the exhaustion in his expression and that thick, greasy air about him.

Men seem to become like this once they reach this stage.

In the quiet, antique-toned barbecue booth, dim light shone on the brightly colored birthday platter on the table. Seasonings were placed on the brown tabletop, a grill was embedded in the center, and the surrounding greenery and the art student playing the piano not far away added a touch of elegance to the dinner.

"Yo, little brother Uesugi~" Putting down his coat, Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka greeted Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Hello, Tanaka-san, sorry to put you to such expense." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his hand very politely.

The middle-aged man was a good sport who honored his bet; he ordered two bottles of sake and soon began telling Uesugi Muneyuki about the case.

Uesugi Muneyuki used the barbecue tongs to gently pick up a slice of meat. The flames licked the meat, making a sizzling, delicious sound. After about 15 to 25 seconds, the bottom side gradually grilled through. Once one side was cooked, he used the tongs to flip the meat over to grill the other side.

Clearly, this was not his first time eating this.

"In the end, Mr. Endo and Mrs. Endo both chose to plead guilty. Mr. Endo might be sentenced to more than fifteen years for intentional homicide, and Mrs. Endo will also be sentenced to more than five years for assisting in the crime." Seeing that Uesugi Muneyuki had no reaction, Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka said with a bitter smile: "Hey, are you listening to me?"

With the aroma of meat mingled with the scent of sake, Uesugi Muneyuki nodded without any fluctuation in his expression. Although this matter was a reasonable result... he still felt a bit regretful; the sentence for Mr. Endo was too heavy, while for some intentional homicides, the sentences were too light.

Japanese law has not completely abolished the death penalty, but in the specific sentencing process, it is very difficult for a true death sentence to appear. Generally speaking, even for intentional homicide, the vast majority are sentenced to 15-20 years or life imprisonment. Only when the number of victims is multiple and the circumstances are quite heinous is it possible to be sentenced to death.

And even if sentenced to death, there is a great possibility it will not be carried out. First, Japanese law leaves death row inmates with at least five years for appeals, and even if the inmate does not choose to appeal, it is reserved (what if they regret it?). Second, carrying out a death sentence requires the Minister of Justice to sign it personally, and this act often becomes an excuse for political enemies to attack and a "stain" on one's political career. Therefore, most Ministers of Justice tend to drag it out past their term, trusting in the wisdom of their successors.

Uesugi Muneyuki remembered a Minister of Justice who withstood the pressure and signed many execution documents at once to execute some notorious, heinous death row inmates, only to be cursed miserably. Political enemies attacked him crazily for this, and even ordinary people in society felt his moral level was low, calling him a murderer.

Many death row inmates have waited in prison for thirty or forty years without seeing the day of their execution.

"I am listening." The melodious piano music in the distance did not disturb Uesugi Muneyuki's train of thought: "If I hadn't come, this couple would have really gotten away with it. Well, isn't the traditional culture of our country that the elderly shouldn't add trouble to their children?"

"That may be so, but I think the Endo couple and the child are really too pitiful." Tanaka Naoki shouted: "Have you never thought that doing this would ruin a family?"

"If condoning such things is the true disaster, there are a thousand excuses in the world, but murder is murder. This precedent cannot be set." Uesugi Muneyuki appeared very cold toward this question: "You wouldn't want to see all the elderly in this country start a wave of hanging themselves in batches, would you?"

"Namu San, I can't win an argument with you." Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka could not out-argue Uesugi Muneyuki. He thought for a moment, took an envelope out of his coat, and handed it to him: "Alright, let's not talk about this. This is your reward."

The thin envelope slid across the brown tabletop. In the distance, the piano was playing "Memory of Love." Uesugi Muneyuki opened the envelope, which contained a 10,000-yen cash note: "Thank you!"

"Well, little brother, I fought for this for you. You know, originally this money wasn't there." Tanaka smiled as if claiming credit: "I specifically told the police station that you are of the Peerage, and the Uesugi in little brother Uesugi is the Uesugi of Uesugi Kenshin. Otherwise, they wouldn't have given this ten thousand... There's no help for it, the status of a forensic pathologist is just that low. Little brother, are you really not considering changing professions?"

"I've already transferred from the Department of Surgery; there's nowhere left to go." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head. He took a piece of large intestine; the specially processed intestine was rich in fat, chewy, and had an excellent texture. Once the meat was slightly charred and curled up with a sheen of oil, it was ready to be enjoyed.

"Hey, I'm serious, little brother Uesugi, the forensic profession really won't do." With a few cups of sake down, the atmosphere began to heat up, and Tanaka slowly shed his Idol baggage: "Not to mention the hospital doesn't like you, we police don't like you either. Just like this time, if the forensic pathologist gives an answer outside of what we imagined, things become troublesome. Namu San, you tell me, I make 300,000-plus a month, what am I risking my life for? A simple ending, having a plausible reason, everyone is happy—why must you obsess over one or two details?"

Uesugi Muneyuki sneered a few times and nodded to show he understood, but he did not accept this line of reasoning: "Tanaka-san, haven't you ever made a contribution by turning a civil case into a criminal one and gained some face at the police station?"

"Hey, what kind of face is that? What can truly affect my promotion must be cases like cracking drug trafficking, serial murders, or preventing terrorist attacks. And according to the Seniority System, it will be several more years before I can be promoted to Police Inspector!"

"If you were already promoted to Police Inspector, you wouldn't have been the one to come this time, Tanaka-san. For this, I want to say thank you; at least you were willing to bet with me." Uesugi Muneyuki poured a cup of sake and took the initiative to toast: "Thank you!"

"Heh, that's finally something human!" Tanaka was clearly very pleased with Uesugi Muneyuki's toast and beamed with joy: "As expected of the Peerage!"

One level above Assistant Police Inspector is Police Inspector; for example, Officer Megure in Detective Conan is at the Police Inspector level.

This level is also the highest level among Japanese police who will personally go to the scene to participate in investigations. If one is promoted further to the Superintendent level, one sits in an office to coordinate and plan, and unless it is an extremely special situation, one will never personally go to the scene to handle a case.

Speaking of which, it is a tragedy. According to the setting, Officer Megure has cracked at least one or two hundred murder cases thanks to Conan. Why, after more than a thousand episodes, is he still a Police Inspector?

This brings us to the issue of the "Seniority System" that Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka mentioned.

In the Japanese workplace, promotion not only depends on merit, but a very important factor is: in what capacity did you enter the police force? Are you Career Track, Associate Career Track, or Non-Career Track?

Career Track simply means having a degree from a top university or graduate school and entering the police force through the "Comprehensive Examination," which in Chinese terms would be the "National Exam."

Associate Career Track is for those with a high school or university diploma who enter the police force through the "General Examination," which is the "Provincial Exam."

The recruitment requirements for the Non-Career Track are very low; one only needs to take a local test to prove their intelligence is normal and then go to the police academy for further training.

Unfortunately, Officer Megure and the Officer Tanaka before us are undoubtedly "Non-Career Track."

So, what is the difference between the three methods?

The biggest difference between these three types of police lies in their starting point and their career ceiling. For example, Career Track police are granted the rank of Assistant Police Inspector upon entry, promoted to Police Inspector in the second year, and automatically promoted to Superintendent after seven years.

Non-Career Track police start as Patrol Officers. Only after three years in the Patrol Officer position are they eligible for promotion to Police Sergeant; only after four years as a Police Sergeant are they eligible for promotion to Assistant Police Inspector; and only after five years as an Assistant Police Inspector are they eligible for promotion to Police Inspector. Moreover, for the Non-Career Track, it is not an automatic promotion when the age is reached, but rather a "one radish, one hole" system—they only have a chance to compete based on merit when the position above them is vacated by retirement or promotion.

Therefore, an Officer Megure who is in his forties and a Police Inspector is definitely Non-Career Track. No matter how many cases he cracks or how many merits he earns, if the years haven't reached the requirement and there are no vacancies above, he will never be promoted.

There are plenty of 60-year-old Non-Career Track Police Sergeants.

The same goes for Tanaka. This small merit cannot help him. If he wants to be promoted to Police Inspector, he must have a monumental achievement (like the three types he mentioned before); otherwise, he will just have to slowly endure the Seniority System.

Why risk one's life for a small case that doesn't help one's career?

Tanaka told Uesugi Muneyuki about the situation inside the police force and then chuckled: "Besides us, there is also the District Public Prosecutors Office! That is the truly difficult one to deal with. Little brother Uesugi, many times, in order to successfully prosecute, the District Public Prosecutors Office often forces you to modify the Forensic Autopsy Report to a situation favorable to them for filing a public prosecution. Most forensic pathologists actually have no ability to resist the District Public Prosecutors Office, but if it's you... the District Public Prosecutors Office really wouldn't dare to bully someone like you too much."

The three great mountains of the hospital, the police, and the District Public Prosecutors Office—the forensic profession is truly unloved by the hospital and unwanted by the police.

Uesugi Muneyuki felt as if he had returned to the moment he had just transferred departments. This life was set.

But his own power... Uesugi Muneyuki shifted his gaze to the Azure Gem on his right hand.

It must be a forensic pathologist.

"Tanaka-san, I need money, I really need money." Uesugi Muneyuki said seriously: "So, can you introduce more autopsy work to me in the future? I really need this extra income."

"It's possible, but as a high-ranking Peerage, why would you be short of money?" Tanaka did not have many doubts about Uesugi Muneyuki's professional ability.

"I am the second son," Uesugi Muneyuki said concisely.

"I see," Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka immediately understood. "Understood. Then whenever the Police Station encounters such matters, I will come to find you. The Police Station is indeed in great need of talent like you."

In Japan, only Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture have specialized Forensic Pathologist institutions; among them, only the Forensics Division affiliated with the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo has specialized Forensic Pathologists, while the Police Stations below can only seek help from university hospitals or even private clinics to perform an Autopsy.

Because of the shortage of Forensic Pathologists, interns who normally lack the qualifications to perform an Autopsy are tacitly permitted to participate; because of the shortage of Forensic Pathologists, if there is truly no other choice, even finding a surgeon is tacitly permitted.

That Uesugi Muneyuki is willing to take the initiative to do this is truly a pleasant surprise.

Both sides have reached a preliminary consensus.

With their hunger satisfied, they extorted twenty thousand yen from Tanaka for the meal; the old guy felt a stinging pain in his wallet, but the young guy showed little sign of gratitude, as if he had just eaten a casual meal.

Damn Peerage! The old guy muttered to himself, thinking, I will never bet with this young guy again; he probably just counts on farming gold coins from an old guy like me!

After eating, they stood up, and passing by a large screen downstairs, a piece of news instantly caught the attention of Tanaka and Uesugi Muneyuki.

On the large screen, a young girl possessing a miraculously beautiful face was answering questions in front of a large pile of microphones.

"Recently, the super popular Actress Shirakawa Mai of the Soul Agency announced that she is about to participate in the filming of the Antique Book Hall Incident. She will serve as the lead actress in this highly anticipated Moon Nine Drama. President Miyazaki Takataka of the Soul Agency confirmed this rumor, stating that he looks forward to further cooperation with Fuji TV!"

The stunningly beautiful girl on the screen was still accepting an interview facing the camera, and the area below had already erupted.

"Super cute Mai-sama! The ideal of humanity, Mai-sama!"

"Shirakawa Mai, number one in the world!"

"The answer to the Earth, the pinnacle of life! I will love Senior Mai forever!"

The fanatical fans under the screen waved glow sticks; just for a piece of news, hundreds of fans had gathered to cheer and shout for her.

"She's really popular lately, this actress," Tanaka said casually. "The young people in the Police Station, regardless of gender, all like her. Do you like her too, Uesugi?"

"Of course, she is even my senior!" Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at the screen, feeling slightly proud. "I attended the same high school as her in Gunma; I was in my second year, and she was in her third."

"Wow, as expected of the Peerage!" Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka sighed with emotion.

However, Uesugi Muneyuki did not say everything; he knew Shirakawa Mai, but Senior Mai did not know him.

After waking up, he was already in his second year of high school. Because of conflicts with his family and a lack of sense of immersion, Uesugi Muneyuki always felt that everything was not so real; his relatives, friends, and classmates were all like NPCs, so he requested to transfer to another place to be "quiet" by himself. His parents, who doted on their son, agreed to Uesugi Muneyuki's request, and he transferred to Gunma, truly becoming a schoolmate of Shirakawa Mai.

However, he had actually never met Shirakawa Mai—the other party had almost never come to school to attend classes during her entire third year.

But, this is what youth is, after all.

Youth is dreams that cannot be realized, wishes that cannot be completed, a senior you cannot chase after, and Erii who died.

Hmm, Erii actually has the surname Uesugi!

Damn it, he wants to play Princess Connect again.

Everyone can try to guess who the prototype for this Senior Mai is; there is no prize for getting it right~

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(End of this chapter)