Chapter 502

【10:30 AM, Imperial Palace, Sakashita Gate.】

The Sakashita Gate, which is usually heavily guarded and only allows passage for a handful of high-ranking officials and imperial family members, today had an atmosphere so tense it reached its peak.

Several Imperial Palace police officers stood with solemn expressions, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks, having cleared the area of any idle onlookers in advance.

Two black luxury cars without any Metropolitan Police Department markings glided silently to the gate under the guidance of a black official car from the Imperial Household Agency.

After undergoing identity verification and vehicle inspection several times stricter than airport security, the heavy iron gate slowly opened.

Inside the car, Uesugi Muneyuki gazed calmly at the stone walls, pines, and wide gravel plaza gliding past outside the window, his eyes holding a unique scrutiny, while Watanabe Minami beside him maintained the sharp alertness of a career-track officer, quickly memorizing the route and security arrangements.

Even they were entering the core area of the Imperial Palace in this manner for the first time.

"This is the Imperial Palace." Uesugi Muneyuki said to Minami: "I never thought we would one day enter in this capacity."

"Yes, most of the Imperial Palace is open to the public, but the inner gardens are only opened for one day each year during New Year's and the Emperor's birthday." Minami gazed around curiously; as a young lady, she felt curious about everything inside the Imperial Palace, though as a Tokyo native she had never come here before, and she herself had never imagined entering in this capacity, and she could not help but feel excited.

In fact, there is no doubt that, given her grandfather's generation once served as President of the National Railways and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and her father is a Superintendent General, the Watanabe family actually stands above the so-called old peerage Uesugi clan; as the saying goes, the county magistrate is no match for the current administrator, and since the Uesugi family took a blow and transformed into a scholarly household, they are neither very powerful nor very wealthy, and can barely be called "noble and pure" only because Uesugi Kuninori is a University of Tokyo professor.

However, the Uesugi clan's strong ties to national culture, and their status as heirs to the Yonezawa domain and old peerage counts, are something the Watanabe family, as political upstarts, desperately crave but cannot obtain.

In short, if it were not for Uesugi Muneyuki's peerage status, their group would not have the qualifications to enter the Imperial Palace through the Sakashita Gate, nor would it be possible...

Thinking this, Watanabe Minami also somewhat understood why her family agreed to not change her surname.

What a useless Watanabe clan—just hearing the name sounds like a purebred stray dog from the roadside!

On the contrary, just mention Uesugi, and you immediately know they are descendants of Lord Kenshin!

This is the confidence Muneyuki gave me! This is the value of peerage!

Hehe!

Young Lady Minami thought to herself that she would later change her name to Uesugi Minami, feeling delighted in her heart, and couldn't help but hum softly.

And Muneyuki is essentially a son-in-law adopted into the family~ he is now one of us Watanabe family~

Minami was daydreaming, already thinking about how to shine brilliantly at the peerage assembly, and whether she would introduce herself as "Watanabe Minami" or "Uesugi Minami" when meeting the big shots of the Imperial Household Agency.

As for Uesugi Muneyuki, at this moment his attention is entirely on the main residence of the Imperial Palace.

The scene before him is not the gilded splendor outsiders imagine, but an ultimate grandeur of "stillness" and "tranquility."

Before his eyes lie vast expanses of meticulously maintained yet nearly empty lawns and broad gravel expanses, the view extremely open, so any intruder would have nowhere to hide.

In the distance, the elegant turrets left from the Edo period, such as Fushimi Turret, stand silently, silent witnesses of history.

Almost no noise from outside carriages and horses can be heard; only the rustling of wheels rolling over gravel, and the mournful sigh of wind blowing through giant camphor trees and pine forests.

This extreme tranquility itself has become a tangible pressure.

Passing through the verdant trees, one can see the eastern garden of the palace; in the distance, the Chōwa Hall and other modern building complexes where public ceremonies are held stand with simple, grand lines, exuding an unassuming dignity. The entire environment is solemn and dignified, every blade of grass, every tree, every stone and pebble seeming to follow some ancient law, allowing no slightest transgression.

This place, like Nagatacho, is the heart and symbol of this nation.

Unlike the Forbidden City, which is a dead Purple Forbidden City, the Purple Forbidden City is a living Forbidden City; although after the war Emperor Taishō took away all administrative power from the imperial family, this palace remains alive, it is still a symbol of the nation, and also a symbol of the unbroken line for myriad generations, and may even involve the mysterious transmission of the inner world and the descendants of the ancient living god.

The motorcade finally stopped before a building that appears unremarkable but whose security level is clearly higher, of traditional style. This is not the formal palace, but a high-class reception facility belonging to the Imperial Household Agency.

The car door was silently opened by an Imperial Household Agency staff member wearing a dark suit and white gloves. Those greeting them were not a large crowd, but only a few individuals, yet of immense weight.

Leading them was none other than the Director General of the Imperial Household Agency—Maeda Toshisuke.

He wore morning ceremonial dress, every crease immaculate, his expression solemn and heavy. Behind him stood Administrative Vice-Minister Nakajima and Chief Steward Watanabe, similarly dressed formally, with grave expressions.

"Uesugi-kun, thank you for coming from afar, I am deeply grateful." Maeda Toshisuke stepped forward and spoke in extremely standard language with the bearing of old-time peerage, his voice calm and strong, perfectly fitting his identity as a top-ranking Japanese bureaucrat: "In this extraordinary situation, having no choice but to invite you through personal ties, truly it is the court's misfortune; I hope you will understand."

His wording was seamless, wrapping an urgent forensic investigation in the guise of an expert consultation invitation based on personal relations, conducted due to an "unfortunate event of the court (imperial household)."

"Invitation of peerage descendants to the palace as advisors" found, in their internal rules, a barely self-consistent, flexibly interpretable path, cleverly avoiding the sensitive phrasing of "external forces intervening."

Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami both bowed slightly in return: "Director Maeda, you flatter us. To be able to contribute even a little to this matter is our honor."

He responded equally with familiar ancient rites; at this moment, the century-old context of the Yonezawa Uesugi family and the Kanazawa Maeda family silently intertwined in the air of the Imperial Palace.

This is what the main family wants, this is what the main family wants! Kora!

Young Lady Minami felt triumphant.

Director Maeda's gaze then turned to Watanabe Minami: "Superintendent Watanabe, the Metropolitan Police Department's swift response and professional support, the Imperial Household Agency deeply thanks you; for the subsequent investigation coordination, we will still need to rely heavily on you all."

He separated his official thanks to Minami from his personal invitation to Uesugi, with impeccable etiquette.

"Director Maeda." From the Special Mission Unit, Date Nagamune stepped forward; he too is of peerage, a descendant of the Uwajima Date line (i. e., the eldest son line of Date Masamune).

"How is Lord Sōsetsu?" Maeda Toshisuke nodded slightly.

"My grandfather is well." Date Nagamune spoke unusually seriously: "Having received greetings from the head of the Kanazawa family, my grandfather must also be very pleased."

After a brief, almost ritualistic introduction, Director Maeda personally led the entire Special Mission Unit into the secret facilities of the Imperial Household Agency.

After entering a completely Japanese-style room, extremely quiet, even able to hear the sound of the garden stream, Director Maeda signaled others to wait, and under the pretext of leading Uesugi Muneyuki to "appreciate a hanging scroll," he walked alone with him to the far corner of the room.

Just as he turned his back to everyone, seemingly appreciating an ink bamboo painting, Maeda Toshisuke's face, that of a perfect top-tier bureaucrat mask, showed a barely perceptible crack.

His bodily posture did not change, but his voice dropped extremely low, his speech quickened, carrying a hint of irrepressible, senior-like urgency and deep panic: "Muneyuki-kun... you should have learned something by now?"

"Grandfather Maeda, please tell me everything." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded seriously, also too lazy to waste words.

"Well, in this you take after Kuninori, liking directness." Maeda Toshisuke used an extremely private term of address: "The situation... is far worse than what the reports write. People's hearts are in turmoil, those above are extremely worried... we even do not know whether that villain is still within the 'Imperial Gardens,' or what his ultimate goal is..."

The Imperial Household Agency Director quickly and slightly inhaled, continuing to whisper, almost reduced to breath: "Rules... those troublesome rules can temporarily be set aside. I need you, no, 'we' need you, with your eyes and wisdom, to see the truth! The sooner the better, the more certain the better! Otherwise... otherwise, once the storm is unleashed, you and I both understand, this will not merely be someone's dereliction of duty, but will shake the entire..."

He did not finish, but the fear in his eyes already said everything. That is the ultimate fear of systemic trust collapsing and the nation's foundation being sullied.

If this matter is not explained, we can all prepare to commit seppuku!

After saying these few short sentences, Maeda Toshisuke immediately returned to normal, his voice also returning to normal volume, and he loudly gave a slight nod to that painting, so everyone could hear: "Indeed, a fine atmosphere, pure and refined, able to calm the mind. Uesugi-kun, later you will have the Shoryo Bureau take you to the 'library' to have a look."

Uesugi Muneyuki's face remained calm, merely nodding slightly, and said softly: "I understand, I will do my utmost."

What he received was not only an official commission, but also a peerage elder's near-exceptional, heavy personal request in the face of a great crisis.

"Mikoto-nee, prepare." Just within the Imperial Household Agency's secret facility, Uesugi Muneyuki called for forensic assistant Ishihara Mikoto, and he himself then spread his arms, as Ikeda Erena immediately draped him in a white coat and outer autopsy medical attire.

".................. I am still visiting the Imperial Palace for the first time." The forensic beauty, since entering the Imperial Palace, has felt increasingly tense; she no longer dares to laugh and joke as before, nor does she dare to habitually reveal her fox-like charm, lowering her brows and eyes, especially when facing the extremely stern expressions of the Imperial Palace police and Imperial Household Agency staff, she dare not even breathe loudly.

She had previously been thinking in her heart that she was mocking why Muneyuki's grandfather was in such a hurry.

Now she finally felt it herself, the oppressive feeling at the heart of the nation making her legs tremble.

"Everyone, take your positions." Minami Ojou-sama also put on her protective clothing and said to the Special Mission Unit.

"Yes." Nango Yui, Kai Toru, Date Nagamune, and Igarashi Hayato all had solemn faces and were still very nervous.

Their position was within bowshot of the Imperial Palace Honmaru.

And now, an unidentified corpse has appeared in the heart of this nation, and it is a regular employee of the Imperial Household Agency!

Besides Uesugi Minami, Nango Yui, and the three of them, the other members of the Special Mission Unit only learned of the incident after entering the Imperial Palace, and a major incident at that!

Now, only hoping for Uesugi Muneyuki's autopsy ability……

In the Imperial Household Agency's secret facility, with a post every three steps and a guard every five steps, Uesugi Muneyuki quickly saw the unidentified corpse lying in the temporary autopsy room—Imperial Household Agency regular employee Shizuo Ishitsu.

At this time, Imperial Police Forensics Division staff had already briefed Uesugi Muneyuki on the situation.

"Shizuo Ishitsu, 49 years old, unmarried, regular employee of the Imperial Household Agency's Inner Court, his work has always been very arduous and responsible, according to reports he had no major grudge with anyone, he did not leave Chiyoda during this period, we checked the surveillance and found he only went back and forth between the dormitory and the Imperial Palace, there were no obvious beating, scratching, or binding marks on his body, only minor abrasions, the ground by the pond shows signs of a possible slip, he worked overtime and returned late, did not leave work at the normal time, according to reports he was affected by the Imperial Palace attendants……"

The Forensics Division staff was still briefing the situation when Uesugi Muneyuki's calm voice already sounded: "It is homicide."

"The Inner Court let him go to check……ah?" The Forensics Division staff had not yet reacted.

"Tell the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Police, Shizuo Ishitsu died of homicide." Uesugi Muneyuki said coldly: "Not an accident."

"He, he homicide……?!" Several Forensics Division staff and Imperial Household Agency staff at the scene all opened their mouths wide, stunned into silence.

You're joking, right?

You haven't even done the autopsy yet? You're already saying it's homicide? What international joke is this?

Everyone says Uesugi Chief is very capable, but could it possibly be this outrageous?

"Uesugi……Uesugi Chief, we know you are the top forensic pathologist, but……you need to give us some evidence, right? How else are we supposed to report to headquarters and the Imperial Household Agency?" Indeed, the Forensics Division staff's first reaction was disbelief.

"The evidence will be here soon, I am starting the autopsy now." Uesugi Muneyuki said coldly: "What you need to do now is go tell the waiting Maeda Director and the Imperial Palace headquarters, tell them my judgment is, this is a homicide incident!"

"This……"

"Didn't you hear what I said? This is an outright homicide incident! Go report it now! Or are you deaf? Mute?!" Uesugi Muneyuki directly roared: "Go say it!"

"Yes……yes."

The Forensics Division staff did not dare delay, immediately ran to the Lan no Ma in the Underground Secret Facility, and informed the waiting Imperial Palace four—Maeda Director, Nakajima Jikan Minister, Kenji Chief, and Takeuchi Chief Steward—of Uesugi Muneyuki's preliminary judgment of homicide.

"Good! As expected of Zongxue!" Maeda Toshisuke's face immediately showed a hint of joy.

Indeed, as long as there is a corpse, Uesugi is omnipotent!

I will draw the Boundless Void Universe!

I said I would draw the Boundless Void Universe, you TMD deaf???

(Uesugi Spirit Bomb! -125!)

"So, Shizuo was killed by someone?" Takeuchi Chief Steward first felt delighted, then horrified: "But why, how was it done?"

"Don't rush, Uesugi Zongxue has already begun the autopsy, believe he will soon give us sufficient evidence and conclusion." Kenji Chief also showed joy, thinking not unworthy of being the Metropolitan Police Department's trump card, the last line of defense.

Watanabe Director! So strong! So powerful!

However, Imperial Household Agency Administrative Vice-Minister Nakajima was not so happy, he pondered for a few seconds: "If it is homicide, then is it internal or……external?"

"If it is internal, then……the entire Imperial Household Agency, Imperial Police, and Imperial Palace attendants……are they not……?"

"If it is external……then where is this murderer now? If he left after committing the crime, that would be fine, but if he……did not leave?"

Nakajima Jikan Minister wanted to speak but stopped.

And his words made everyone instantly feel a chill.

Yes, if following Uesugi Muneyuki's words, it is homicide, then where exactly is the killer from, internal or external?

If it is internal, then they all cannot escape blame!

If it is external……what if the killer did not leave? Still hiding in the Imperial Palace?

"Hiss~" Everyone present gasped for cold air

At this moment, the complexity of the system, the weight of history, the sense of crisis in reality, and the panic of human nature reached a delicate balance in this quiet conference room.

The Special Mission Unit's investigation of the Imperial Palace officially began in this incomparably solemn yet incomparably oppressive atmosphere.

Mountain rain is coming, the wind fills the tower.

(Chapter End)