Chapter 508

The change in human communication functions over the past century has had an enormous impact on human society.

Everyone should have read a poem called "Beacon fires burn for three months, a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold." In ancient times, sending letters by carrier pigeon or through multiple relocations was very romantic and meaningful, something modern people actually find hard to understand or truly feel—the emotion when a relative lost contact for months or even years sends back a letter from afar.

A more recent example is the New Lan romance in Detective Conan.

In the early serialization of Detective Conan, the relationship between Shinichi and Ran was maintained through public telephone booths or letters, which was very romantic in that era. Combined with Ran occasionally making a fuss to see Shinichi by setting up plum blossoms in the snow, that special feeling of being close yet worlds apart, and the charm of a red thread tying lovers across a thousand miles, could only be felt by people of that time.

However, Detective Conan has been serialized for far too long—from when mobile phones were brick-sized to flip phones, then smartphones, and now to triple-lens ultra-clear all-in-one devices.

The earlier romance and the idea of a red thread connecting lovers across a thousand miles have become laughable under technological development. Needless to say, Shinichi and Ran now only need to make a video call to stay in touch.

Aoyama Gosho also found it difficult. To avoid ending the series while keeping the Shinichi-Ran romance, he forcibly set Ran's phone as a flip phone and maintained it for many years until he finally abandoned all romance between them and their character development, after which the technology level in the Detective Conan world suddenly leapt forward, with drones appearing with a whoosh.

But this also means there is no longer any meaningful depiction of the Shinichi-Ran romance. Ran has since lost all value and become a discarded side character.

By the way, Ran's early "tomboy girlfriend" persona and "tsundere" trait are products of their time, eliminated by progress. Back then, limited by communication and transportation, interpersonal relationships were relatively closed.

As everyone knows, although my girlfriend might indeed be violent, tomboyish, arrogant, and hurl insults at me, she remains within my observable or perceptible range. This kind of relationship is closed to outsiders, and I can confirm she should like me—or at least be stable and not involve anyone else.

Now? You never know if your so-called "tsundere girlfriend" is just some "device" that rich guys look at and want to spit out. You might be insulted, beaten, and mocked in front of her, while she presents a completely different image to others (I won't elaborate—NTR has already obliterated pure love!).

Thus, tsundere and tomboy girlfriend elements have faded with the wind. What remains of tsundere now is either the "Dragon King's sibling disciple" type, whose face literally says "I like you so much I'm going crazy," or the "neighbor Alya who occasionally whispers in Russian to save face," where the two share a special "closed relationship" (Russian constantly confirming feelings). Otherwise, modern men simply don't believe "she likes me."

Uesugi Muneyuki quickly realized a problem.

Japan is a typical extreme atomic individual and postmodern society, but not everyone has entered postmodern society.

Watanabe Eiji, for example, is fairly typical of a "modern person"—he still retains some traditional morality and conservative views, but he himself has already entered modernization; those elements only appear in minor details and daily habits.

However, places like the Imperial Household Agency are inherently conservative and traditional. With older age, it's unsurprising that many pre-modern individuals exist here.

Letter and physical exchange!

Uesugi Muneyuki immediately proposed that the other party might not use phones or internet communication at all!

The Special Mission Unit immediately shifted its investigation direction, and finally, around 3 a. m., they discovered a suspicious person!

Deputy Director of the Imperial Household Agency Library Division, Horiguchi Nen, 58 years old!

A usually quiet man, considered gloomy in personality, who had gone years without promotion, a 58-year-old middle-aged man, in the past month, has exhibited several "abnormal" behaviors:

He once entered the Imperial Palace on a holiday under the pretext of "organizing documents," but surveillance showed he had long "strolled" near the North Enclosure area.

His personal purchase records (via electronic payment inquiry) show that two weeks before the incident, he bought a bundle of bright blue fishing nylon rope at a large sporting goods store—matching the fragments found at the scene—claiming it was for "repairing trees in the courtyard."

Most crucially, on the night of the incident, he claimed to be working overtime in the office organizing ancient texts, but internal corridor surveillance showed he had once stayed alone in his department's office area, where a computer accessing the patrol log system was located. Although many powerful bureaucrats have accessed the system, his access means tampering is possible!

"Director, are you familiar with this Horiguchi?"

It was already 3 a. m., everyone was exhausted, Uesugi Muneyuki steeled himself and asked Director Maeda Toshisuke.

"Horiguchi?" Maeda Toshisuke sighed: "He's actually been in this position for a long time... always had complaints."

"Horiguchi came from a civilian background, relied on hard work to enter Tokyo University, and in his early years worked extremely diligently and responsibly, but due to lack of connections was assigned to the obscure Library Division... Uesugi-kun, you should understand: although we in the Imperial Household Agency value ability and dedication, only the elite of the elite get in, especially at the deputy director level—who doesn't have some connections?" Maeda Toshisuke already understood: "Horiguchi... has been in this deputy director position for over ten years, yet never waited for an opportunity, so naturally he harbors some resentment."

"Not only that, we have other reasons for not promoting Horiguchi." Deputy Minister Nakajima Jikan finally couldn't hold back: "Actually, we once heard Horiguchi say something while talking to family and friends on the phone... extreme left-wing rhetoric. We warned him at the time."

"Extreme left???" The Chief Steward of the Imperial Guard, Takeuchi Jichou, was stunned, and without thinking shouted: "Eight Trigrams!!!"

"After such an incident, why didn't you inform us? Are you people trying to destroy this country???" Takeuchi Jichou, who had long held grievances with no outlet, finally exploded, grabbing Nakajima Jikan's collar: "Speak! Why didn't you report it?"

"................ Because it's troublesome." Nakajima Jikan had no reply, and only after a long silence said so.

Uesugi Muneyuki remained silent.

Bureaucrats are just like that—better not to do extra things.

Do not discuss current events to show off talent, always be smooth, always be humble, ministers should manage finances calmly, do not display extraordinary merit, do not speak of loyal devotion, all personnel matters should be handled calmly, no need for discussion, no need for rebuttal, eight directions peaceful, years prosperous, state fortune thrives, official fortune flows, everyone should assist in harmony—good things patched, bad things patched.

Reporting this is just creating work for oneself; conversely, privately warning once and treating it as no incident—after I die, let the flood rage, as long as it doesn't explode on my watch.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. In short, I believe this 58-year-old Deputy Director Horiguchi has major suspicion in the crime. The Stone Room may not be a homicide, but he absolutely provided sufficient help to the intruder, even directly assisted them in evading surveillance and patrols." Uesugi Muneyuki said solemnly: "For example, he likely used a certain extremely hidden tree hollow or stone crevice in the North Maru Park forest as a 'mailbox,' writing patrol route maps, surveillance blind spots, shift change times, etc., on extremely thin paper, stuffing it into a waterproof bag, and placing it in the 'mailbox.' Given how many times he enters North Maru, it's highly possible!"

"External accomplices then regularly come to retrieve the information and leave new instructions or items. This method leaves almost no electronic traces, relying instead on extreme familiarity with terrain and precise timing. This also explains how the killer could so precisely find the infiltration route."

That makes sense!

After Uesugi Muneyuki said that, everyone felt it could be explained!

There's an insider!

No wonder it was seamless inside and out, no wonder we searched so long and found nothing!

"Director Maeda, the situation is urgent now—please immediately allow us to arrest Horiguchi!" Kai Toru of the Special Mission Unit immediately said.

"No, not now." However, Minami Ojou-sama objected: "Whether it's the Imperial Palace or all personnel, we are currently in a situation requiring secrecy but also high tension. If we just rush out like this, we might scare the snake, not only exposing that we've found an insider, but possibly leaking internal Imperial Palace matters to the outside."

"Exactly, absolutely cannot leak! Absolutely cannot!" Director Maeda Toshisuke and Chief Steward Takeuchi Jichou nodded urgently.

"I have an idea... it's so late now, everyone should rest first. Tomorrow morning, when this Library Division Deputy Director Horiguchi comes to work, the Imperial Household Agency will notify him to come to the Library Division for a meeting on ancient text organization, luring him into the conference room, then arresting him directly." Minami Ojou-sama immediately thought of a plan: "The target may be emotionally extreme—must be cautious, prioritize control, avoid provocation."

"I think it works." Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but nod—informing others to hold a meeting and then immediately arresting has been proven by countless historical precedents to be the simplest yet most effective method.

"Good, then let's arrange it immediately!" Director Maeda Toshisuke nodded without hesitation.

And so, it was already 4 a. m. —Uesugi Muneyuki and everyone rested first, while the Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Guard Police secretly discussed for a while, finalized the plan, then each went to rest. They made a fuss all day and were all exhausted.

Only the Imperial Guard Police Chief, Kenji, really couldn't sleep. He thought it over, then simply called his subordinate.

"Must be absolutely secure, absolutely reliable, absolutely guaranteed to take down Horiguchi Nen in one go!"

"Chief, what do you mean?"

"Add personnel, increase plainclothes numbers, strengthen surrounding deployment—must guarantee 100% success of the arrest operation!" Police Chief Kenji gritted his teeth—whether he can keep his Assistant Commissioner rank depends on tomorrow morning!

"Yes!!"

(Chapter End)