Chapter 507: , Imperial Palace at Night

When Uesugi Muneyuki received the news and returned to the frontline command post, the atmosphere at the scene was already tense, as if facing a great enemy.

Imperial Household Agency Director Maeda Toshisuke and Vice Minister Nakajima, Imperial Guard Headquarters Chief Kenji, and Imperial Palace Chief Steward Takeuchi were all seated; on the other side, the Special Mission Unit members, led by Young Lady Watanabe Minami, had also taken their seats.

Around the Imperial Palace, there are many special facilities of the Imperial Household Agency; these facilities outwardly appear as ordinary old-style mansions, Imperial Household Agency dormitories, or even small office buildings, but their interiors have undergone special renovations—architectural style is modest yet filled with an ancient simplicity, yet in many details they reveal a profoundly luxurious essence.

This place serves both as a temporary command post for the frontline and as temporary lodging for the Special Mission Unit; as the most noble individuals, Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami enjoy an entire large suite arranged by the Imperial Household Agency, including a bedroom, living room, and small office, while other Special Mission Unit members: Acting Unit Chief Nango Yui enjoys a single room, others share double rooms, and as for Ikeda Erena, she is arranged to share a double room with Ishihara Mikoto, but she has no intention of staying there—everyone understands why.

"What?" Uesugi Muneyuki fell into thought after hearing Minami's news.

Indeed, there is an insider?

No, perhaps I should say: this case may not be limited to external intruders and insiders, but could even be……inside and outside collusion!

People from the inner world and the Imperial Palace in inside-outside collusion?

What on earth are they trying to do???

The Special Mission Unit members were also greatly shocked by this news; Date Nagamune incredulously said: "If that's the case, will our grand display lead to……"

"Will it allow that possible intruder to fish in troubled waters?" Goto Hayato still had his usual simple mind, he exclaimed: "Done~ Everyone's attention is focused on the North Enclosure, so is that intruder escaping?"

"Pfft~ If the intruder truly escapes, that would be absolutely good news for us now." Young Lady Watanabe Minami stood with hands on hips, her standard Metropolitan Police Department female superintendent uniform fitting her petite, delicate frame with imposing dignity, plus a hint of the superior woman's looking-down aura; after receiving cabinet permission, she finally could command the Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Guard Headquarters as Special Investigation Headquarters Chief.

After all, Minami is Minami—born into an official family, she well grasped the trait of adapting to circumstances while maintaining respect for several superiors (the Imperial Household Agency Director actually holds more weight than the Police Commissioner; in a sense, the Imperial Household Agency is a 'small cabinet,' and Administrative Vice-Minister Nakajima ranks higher than the Police Commissioner General, the Imperial Guard Headquarters Chief is an Assistant Commissioner, and although Chief Steward Takeuchi theoretically has no power, he in some sense embodies the will of the Imperial Palace); she pondered for a moment, then said to the Imperial Household Agency officials: "Who in the Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Guard Headquarters can access and modify patrol records?"

"This……" Imperial Household Agency Director Maeda Toshisuke hesitated for a moment, exchanged a glance with Chief Kenji, and said softly: "Theoretically, only seven or eight people……but……"

"But?" Uesugi Muneyuki instantly realized what Director Maeda had left unsaid.

"But……in actual management, there has inevitably been some laxity……" Maeda Toshisuke painfully admitted.

Imperial Household Agency Vice Minister Nakajima lowered his head in shame, while Imperial Palace Chief Steward Takeuchi also awkwardly averted his gaze.

Originally, such management in the Imperial Household Agency was very strict; theoretically, only a few most important officials had the qualification to access and modify patrol records.

However, after long peace, rules and restrictions always deteriorate whenever no major incident occurs.

Thus, Maeda Toshisuke had to admit: in reality, heads of major departments, vice ministers, and even assistant vice ministers in the Imperial Household Agency all have the qualification to access and modify patrol records—this number instantly expanded from a few to twenty or thirty.

Upon hearing Director Maeda say this, Chief Kenji's facial muscles twitched for a moment; an expression of schadenfreude arose and vanished like smoke.

Humph, everyone's the same!

Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami exchanged glances; they realized the true contest had only just begun. The culprit's features gradually became clear, while the deeper-hidden insider, like a venomous snake, still lurked in the shadows.

Watanabe Minami smiled helplessly at the sight.

Uesugi Muneyuki is only half a system insider; he still has a somewhat vague understanding, but as the daughter of the Police Commissioner General, she understands all too well.

This is just the systemic disease, isn't it?

Take a similar example: in the Japanese police system, beneath the Police Commissioner General is the rank of Assistant Commissioner, and beneath that is Police Commissioner.

When the rank of Assistant Commissioner was first established, it was highly prestigious; after Yoshida Shigeru's comprehensive reform, the Japanese Police Act stipulated that only twenty Assistant Commissioners existed nationwide, with smaller prefecture police chiefs holding only the Police Commissioner rank and no Assistant Commissioner, and within the National Police Agency, only the Criminal Investigation Department Chief and Security Department Chief held Assistant Commissioner rank.

However, with the passage of time, the Assistant Commissioner rank began to become "diluted."

First, in the National Police Agency, aside from the Criminal Investigation Department Chief and Security Department Chief, other department heads such as General Affairs, Public Security, and Police Affairs also began enjoying and gradually becoming Assistant Commissioners; subsequently, the National Police Agency Secretariat's Secretary-General and Chief Auditor also became Assistant Commissioners, even the "Deputy Secretary-General (Secretariat Attaché)" and Chief Inspector began serving as Assistant Commissioners.

The National Police Agency oversees ten Regional Bureaus, dividing prefectures outside the Metropolitan Police District into ten regions; each Regional Bureau Chief also became an Assistant Commissioner.

Finally, the Metropolitan Police Department originally had only one Assistant Commissioner (the Deputy Police Commissioner General), but now the Criminal Investigation Department Chief, Police Affairs Department Chief, Public Security Department Chief, and Security Department Chief—four key positions—can wear the Assistant Commissioner badge for one year before retirement.

Therefore, the actual establishment of Assistant Commissioners in the nationwide Japanese police now exceeds fifty-one.

Let's tell a famous British joke.

"How many main battleships do we have now?" "Seven."

"Then how many fleet admirals do we have now?" "Thirty."

Another typical example is the title "Shogun"; actually, before the Eastern Han, not to mention Shogun, even the rank of Colonel was highly prestigious.

However, starting with the Western Han, the titles of General and Miscellaneous General appeared, and in the Eastern Han, Miscellaneous Generals began to proliferate; by the Sui-Tang period, the title of General had completely become worthless roadside trash—same principle.

The bureaucratic system will forever keep trying to expand and produce ever more redundancies.

"Please provide us with all the lists, and then please be sure to assist us in conducting a thorough check!" Young Lady Watanabe Minami said calmly.

"Understood, the Imperial Household Agency will fully assist the Metropolitan Police Department in conducting a comprehensive check, merely……" Imperial Household Agency Director Maeda Toshisuke hesitated for a moment, but said softly: "Individual actions ultimately cannot represent the entire diligent staff of this agency; please, Watanabe Management Official, ensure proper screening."

"Of course." Young Lady Watanabe Minami nodded repeatedly, and as she received permission from the Imperial Household Agency, Minami officially began deployment!

"Muneyuki! Mikoto!"

"Present!" Uesugi Muneyuki and Ishihara Mikoto responded.

"You two continue conducting tests and screenings; be sure to carefully examine any traces left on the deceased and various fibers and plastics, to see if any new discoveries can be made!"

"Yes!"

"Ikeda, Hayato, Yui!"

"Present!"

"You form the first team, follow Director Maeda and them, and conduct a thorough check of the entry and exit records of every suspicious person!"

"Yes!"

"Kai, Nagamune!"

"Present!"

"You two form the second team, and screen all suspects' official and private communication records!"

"Yes!"

"Special Mission Unit, deploy!"

Under Minami's arrangement, the Special Mission Unit immediately, with the assistance of the Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Guard personnel, conducted a comprehensive check of suspicious persons.

At this time, the Great Meal Section also began preparing dinner for everyone; tonight's dinner was simple: delicious salmon flake rice paired with salt-grilled silver cod and grilled eel, accompanied by sweet and delicious Chikuzen-ni, plus delicate thick omelet, crab meat vinegar-mixed cucumber, cold spinach with sesame, and served with Kyoto pickled radish (senmaizuke); furthermore, each person received a slice of 120g pan-seared Matsusaka beef steak.

Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but glance at this obviously extra-added Matsusaka beef steak, falling into thought.

He had merely complained privately during the imperial meal that duck meat was no good, and the Great Meal Section should prepare Matsusaka or Kobe beef instead; result: tonight the Great Meal Section really prepared it.

This also indicates one thing: that within the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Household Agency's eyes and ears are everywhere!

After a simple dinner, the Special Mission Unit and others continued working until past eleven at night.

Uesugi Muneyuki re-examined the "bright blue plastic fragments" discovered at the intruder's entry point. Through electron microscope and spectral analysis, he confirmed they were coating fragments from a specific model of high-strength nylon rope used in fishing, commonly used for sea fishing, available in ordinary stores, and difficult to trace.

Kai and Date, with the assistance of the Imperial Household Agency, screened all suspects' official and private communication records, finding no abnormalities.

Meanwhile, Minami Nango and others found the surveillance footage too voluminous; even watching together left them dizzy, and they only managed to view a short segment.

As the clock struck twelve, everyone still came up empty-handed.

Immense pressure accompanied the deepening night, weighing on everyone.

At that moment, Minami's phone rang.

It was Watanabe Eiji calling; she sighed and answered: "Director?"

In such a serious situation, Watanabe Eiji, holding the rank of Superintendent General, still lacked the qualification to join the Cabinet Emergency Crisis Meeting, so he could only call to inquire about the situation.

Minami briefly explained the situation; Watanabe Eiji told her not to rush, to think slowly and thoroughly, and asked about Uesugi Muneyuki's findings before hanging up.

"My father is still in the office right now." Minami hung up, then teased Uesugi Muneyuki: "This call was still made from his office landline, sigh—he clearly has a mobile phone, but he insists on using that fax-equipped landline."

"He's typical of a Matsushita person, Matsushita thinking, Matsushita logic, Matsushita Electric." Uesugi Muneyuki added with a chuckle: "Old-generation folks, quite normal…… Wait! Minami! What did you just say?"

"Huh? I said, my father is still in the office." Minami blinked in confusion.

"No, the latter part!" Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly realized he had overlooked something.

"The latter part: my father clearly has a mobile phone, but he insists on using that landline with fax functionality." Minami said instinctively: "What's the problem?"

Being called out by Uesugi Muneyuki, everyone present turned to look at this legendary forensic doctor.

"Watanabe Director is 52 this year…… Minami, tell me, what is the average age of all suspects?" Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes darted faster as he realized he had missed something crucial.

"The average age of all suspects…… Hmm, 54.8 years old; if we exclude those deputy section chiefs and secretaries, the average rises to 57.7 years old!" Nango Yui quickly calculated and replied.

"54.8 years old, 57.7 years old, 54.8 years old, 57.7 years old……" Uesugi Muneyuki murmured the two numbers repeatedly.

Suddenly, a flash of insight sparked in his cerebrum!

Watanabe Eiji, though considered enlightened and progressive among his peers, still prefers using a landline because it feels formal and work-oriented; so if one were even older, more conservative, could there be a possibility? A possibility rooted in the Japanese tendency toward conservatism?

Namely, that the mole, for absolute security and control, would avoid phones entirely, instead using the most primitive means—letters or physical objects—to transmit communication?

"Abandon screening phone and internet communications; immediately mobilize to review all recent entry/exit records and internal surveillance of Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Police personnel! Focus on those frequently entering/exiting the Imperial Palace, and frequently loitering near the North Maru Park, forest, waterfront, and outer palace grounds!" Uesugi Muneyuki declared loudly: "Now!"

"Yes!!!" Though initially uncomprehending, out of instinctive trust in Uesugi Muneyuki, they immediately reversed course.

As the twelve o'clock chime faded and the three o'clock chime rang in the early morning, the Special Mission Unit finally had a breakthrough!

There was a deputy section chief of the Imperial Household Agency, highly suspicious!!!

(Chapter End)