Chapter 518

PS：Typhoon incoming! The Emperor had to stock up on food, water, and sig early, so today's update is a 5200-word double chapter merged into one—please bear with us!

PS2: Please write me a scene of the LPL annual finals where the older brother scores five kills in a row and lifts the Silver Dragon Cup—no more than 5000 characters! QAQ!

Midway through the banquet, the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Imperial Household Agency's Maeda Director exchanged a glance, then slowly rose. The entire hall fell silent at once.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki's expression was solemn, his voice deep and steady yet powerful:

"Everyone, gathered here today, I, on behalf of the Prime Minister and all cabinet ministers, once again express my deepest and highest gratitude to the members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Mission Unit. Your loyalty, courage, and outstanding professionalism displayed in the face of sudden national crisis have defended the nation's dignity and peace."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each person: "In recognition of your extraordinary achievements, the Cabinet meeting has preliminarily decided."

"To award the entire Special Mission Unit the 'Prime Minister's Commendation' and a bonus!"

"To award Assistant Police Inspector Kai Toru the 'Chief Cabinet Secretary's Special Award' and corresponding bonus!"

"The Cabinet will formally pass a resolution: the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Mission Unit shall be retained and strengthened as a permanent institution, with Superintendent Watanabe Minami continuing to serve as Management Officer!"

"The plan takes effect immediately!"

Immediately after, the Imperial Household Agency's Maeda Director stepped forward, his tone more emotional and solemn: "I, representing the Imperial Household Agency and all His Majesties and imperial family members I have served, offer you my utmost gratitude. What you protect is a treasure beyond measure. Thus, His Majesty has specially bestowed upon you a set of silver cups to honor your loyalty and valor. At the same time, the Imperial Household Agency will grant you lifetime special access to the Imperial Outer Garden as a token of our regard."

"The Imperial Household Agency will soon personally visit the Metropolitan Police Department to publicly present the 'Highest Grade Letter of Thanks' to the Special Mission Unit."

"We will apply for partial funding from the Imperial Special Fund to establish a special assistance grant as a reward for those who risked their lives for the safety of the Imperial Palace."

"Mitsukoshi Isetan Department Store has already agreed to cooperate; we will prepare another gift for delivery—please look forward to it!"

Though merely spoken aloud, the weight of these words made all those in the know understand that these awards represented immense political capital and invisible privileges behind them.

Uesugi Muneyuki and Date Nagamune both noticed Maeda Toshisuke glancing at them more than once, realizing this was an unspoken understanding within the peerage; from a certain perspective, the Yonezawa Uesugi clan and the Uwajima Date clan had this time saved the Kanazawa Maeda clan.

The Kanazawa Maeda clan likewise faced a succession problem—Maeda Toshisuke's son currently serves as a director of the Japan Corporate Association Policy Research Council and president of the Ishikawa Prefecture Human Federation, a rank roughly equivalent to that of the Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Department Chief; compared to the Imperial Household Agency Director, a political official (and even to some extent, the Imperial Household Agency Director holds higher status than the Financial Services Agency Commissioner and the National Police Agency Commissioner), he is naturally one in heaven, the other on earth.

If Maeda Toshisuke were to fall here, the Kanazawa Maeda clan might not say they've fallen from tiger to flat ground, but lacking a bureau-chief-level power broker, the Maeda family's influence and exalted status in high society would inevitably be diminished.

This is also what Grandfather Uesugi Kuninori had long worried about—if not for Uesugi Muneyuki's sudden rise, the old man had also constantly worried about what would happen to the main house after I retire (or die).

Thus, from a certain perspective, although the bureaucratic system is fraught with flaws and problems, it is currently the best system humanity has devised, capable to a large extent of avoiding so-called hereditary power.

At the banquet scene, after the series of rewards was announced, Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki and his brother Onoda Kimiaki stood together, gazing at Watanabe Eiji and Kai Toru speaking in the corner.

Kai Toru, a Vice-Minister of Justice of equal standing, at this moment was bowing and expressing thanks, carefully accompanying Watanabe Eiji in conversation; though his old face still bore the expression of "an unworthy son causing you trouble," the raised corners of his eyes and mouth hinted at how pleased he was.

So, as the person who agreed to have Kai Toru transferred into the Special Mission Unit, Watanabe Eiji now forever owes a debt of gratitude to Watanabe Eiji and the Special Mission Unit's personnel—let alone the fact that his son is currently being held by the Special Mission Unit, having achieved unparalleled merit reaching the heavens.

Old sir, my heart is happy!

Today, I am joyful!

"Pfft-pfft-pfft, the Financial Services Agency, Ministry of Justice, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Mitsui Sumitomo Group, plus the Metropolitan Police Department and the peerage of Kasumigaseki—I feel an iron curtain slowly descending at Sakuradamon, brother~" Onoda Kimiaki said lightly, feeling both envy and admiration.

"Having achieved such great merit, once this term ends, Kai Toru may be appointed Vice-Minister for Justice." Onoda Kimiaki said calmly: "After all, Kai Toru's achievement is unrewarded; I've read the Public Security report—the bomb was real, the detonator was real, he truly rushed forward risking being blown to pieces! But this kid is currently in a promotion freeze, so we can't make an exception—then we can only let his father become Vice-Minister for Justice."

"The status of Vice-Minister for Justice may be hard to grasp, but if I say it's like a Ministry of Justice Senior Secretary, you'll understand immediately: the Ministry of Justice has one Minister, one Vice-Minister, three Political Officials, and one Administrative Vice-Minister."

"We all know who Kai Toru and Watanabe Eiji rely on." Onoda Kimiaki turned his gaze toward Uesugi Muneyuki, who was bowing his head and eating voraciously: "Truly—remarkable Uesugi, the peerage has finally produced a talent, just a bit one-sided."

"And a bit headstrong—seeing me, he doesn't bow or greet, but geniuses always have their quirks; I've forgiven him, and now—he's shaken hands with the Retired Emperor, the Retired Emperor remembers his name—does it matter whether he bows to me?" Onoda Kimiaki smiled: "I owe Uesugi a favor, Kimiaki—you also owe Uesugi a favor."

"Speaking of favors, for us police organizations, Uesugi's kindness compounds, and Uesugi's kindness is never repaid." Onoda Kimiaki muttered, the two brothers exchanging smiles.

"If that's the case, brother, have you already arranged it?" Onoda Yoshio finally couldn't help but bring up the old matter.

"No way—currently, only Eiji can handle Uesugi; this kid is a double-edged sword, dangerous if misused." Onoda Kimiaki nodded: "He has a daughter to serve as his sword sheath; Kimiaki, what do you have?"

"Actually, Public Security isn't completely empty-handed—" Onoda Kimiaki's eyes flashed as he recalled the Security Department's Wooden Below Detective's report and his discussion with the Security Department Director Shinchou.

"Is the sword sheath…?"

"We Public Security can also provide it!"

The Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Public Security Police leader conferred briefly, then decided to let Watanabe Eiji finish this term, then arrange for Onoda Kimiaki to be promoted to Superintendent General to succeed Watanabe Eiji!

"This position is too important! Uesugi Muneyuki is too important!"

"He and his Special Mission Unit have already become an undeniable presence in the entire Kanto political scene!"

On another note, after the banquet ended, the guests were led to luxuriously extravagant guest rooms to rest.

Night fell, and Akasaka Rikyū, set against its meticulously tended garden and soft landscape lighting, resembled a floating white European-style castle at the heart of modern Tokyo—serene yet imposing. Watanabe Minami and Ikeda Erena silently walked down the corridor, pausing before the gleaming guest room doors, their hearts fluttering uncontrollably from this sudden, ultra-high-standard invitation, faces betraying unhidden nervousness and excitement.

We truly took residence at Akasaka Rikyū!

We've eaten state-banquet-level meals four times!

We've also achieved great merit! I shook hands with the Retired Emperor! The Imperial Household Agency bowed to me! The Chief Cabinet Secretary thanked me!

Minami thought: this trip out is definitely worth bragging about!

Meanwhile, Uesugi Muneyuki appeared quite composed, smiling as he watched one tall and one short beauty enter the guest room one after another.

Due to the sudden nature of events and the need for secrecy, their attire was entirely arranged and provided by the Imperial Household Agency.

At this moment, they wore evening gowns carefully selected by the Imperial Household Agency—appropriate for the occasion and extremely well-fitted.

Watanabe Minami wore a soft cherry-pink taffeta knee-length dress.

The skirt flared in an A-shape, elegant yet lively, the neckline a modest boat neck, perfectly showcasing her delicate, beautiful clavicle line.

The sleeves were slightly puffed short sleeves, cuffs gently gathered with matching-color sheer gauze, adding a touch of romantic maidenhood. Her long hair was skillfully pinned up, leaving a few loose curls to adorn that face hailed as the "Face of the Metropolitan Police Department"—one clear, bright eye, a small, perky nose tip, and lips as soft as flower petals, all the more endearing under her light makeup.

Her legs were lightly wrapped in a near-transparent, luminous flesh-toned pantyhose, making the leg lines appear even more even and smooth; her feet were in a pair of satin pointed-toe high heels matching the dress's color scheme, the heels slender and moderately high, making her walk with even greater upright posture and graceful gait, like a princess stepped from a classical painting, carrying a hint of shy nobility.

Standing beside her, Ikeda Erena displayed another kind of allure.

The Imperial Household Agency chose for her an intelligent, literary, slightly cool-toned lavender purple velvet form-fitting dress, the V-neck design subtly revealing skin, accentuating her long, fair neck and clear, beautiful clavicle, while also adding a touch of mature charm to her mixed-race, striking five features.

The tailored cut followed her body's curves downward, cleverly flaring into a fish-tail skirt below the hips, blending modernity with elegance.

Her signature light brown long hair was swept to one side, revealing a clean forehead and that pair of slightly weary, mysterious light-colored eyes, a high nasal bridge and full lips shaping an extremely infectious smile.

Her legs were wrapped in pantyhose with slightly lower transparency, emitting a fine silk sheen in deep skin tone, harmonizing with the velvet material to enhance luxurious texture. Her feet were in a pair of black suede fine high-heel sandals, the slender straps winding around the ankles, not only perfectly complementing her superior ankle line and foot arch curve, but also adding a hint of unapproachable cool elegance.

Two stunningly different yet equally radiant beauties, clad in the Imperial Household Agency's provided attire, under official guidance, slightly nervous, adjusted their breathing slightly, then stepped forward in elegant strides shaped by the pantyhose and high heels, walking on the mirror-smooth marble floor toward the door about to open—an audience-level gate gathering power and history—skirts swaying, heels tapping lightly, each step weaving surprise, aspiration, and endless longing.

The suite was typical European classical style, with a high ceiling hung with dazzling crystal branch-shaped chandeliers.

The walls were covered in warm-toned silk wall hangings, displaying large Western oil paintings. In the center of the living room stood a luxurious sofa set upholstered in velvet fabric; to one side burned a beautiful marble fireplace with artificial fire.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window lay the glittering Tokyo nightscape; on the other side stood an exquisite Japanese folding screen, subtly hinting at a fusion of East and West. The whole space was luxurious and tranquil, permeated by a solemn atmosphere that made one unconsciously lighten one's steps.

Watanabe Minami shed her composed mask and collapsed onto the soft sofa, letting out a long breath, then pouted a little unwillingly:

"Sigh, honestly — 'Commendation by the Prime Minister', 'Silver Cup', 'Special Passage Permit'... they sound pretty intimidating."

Minami Ojou-sama pouted: "But ultimately speaking, most of it is just symbolic. If it weren't for this damn 'promotion freeze period', I definitely could've moved up another step this time. And the bonus — though it's not a small amount — compared to the risks we took..."

Her words carried the pragmatism of a professional elite and a yearning for promotion.

Uesugi Muneyuki, who had been gazing at the detached palace nightscape by the window, turned around at those words, a gentle yet playful smile on his face. He walked to his fiancée's side and lightly put his arm around her shoulder.

"Minami, you... truly the Superintendent General's daughter, your way of thinking is still so 'nouveau riche'." He deliberately used that word to tease her.

"Hey! What did you say?" Minami glared at him with feigned anger: "Ikeda, challenge him!"

Eirina, meanwhile, was admiring the room's interior. The tall beauty was also staying in a VIP suite at the detached palace for the first time. Hearing Minami say that, she couldn't help but smile, but immediately responded by rushing into Uesugi Muneyuki's embrace and hugging his waist, a faint blush rising on her face.

These past two days were simply like a dream!

Holding Ikeda Erena's curvaceous, slender body in his arms, Uesugi Muneyuki laughed and pulled Minami Ojou-sama up as well, gathering both beauties — one taller, one shorter — into his embrace. At this moment, his heart was filled with satisfaction.

Staying at the detached palace, eating a state banquet, receiving honors, meeting the Retired Emperor, and in the end being able to embrace Minami and Eirina on both sides.

"Worthy of the detached palace, this is probably what they call the privileged class." Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but exclaim to Minami and Eirina, while also feeling something a little different in his heart.

Horiguchi Nen's matter still floated in his mind; he wanted to tell Minami and Eirina, but it needed to be kept secret, so in the end he could only sigh.

"What privileged class? Uesugi, aren't you the biggest privileged class?" Minami Ojou-sama hugged Uesugi Muneyuki's waist, smiling with a touch of puzzlement as she retorted: "Back when you offended Professor Zaizen and the patient, wasn't it your grandfather's connections that let you become a forensic pathologist? Your early cases also relied on invoking Lord Kenshin's name to intimidate people. After you met me it was even more so — entering the Metropolitan Police Department and Tokyo University, not to mention how much was due to actual ability. Just take you leading the team into the Imperial Palace — if you weren't a warrior descendant, the Imperial Household Agency really wouldn't have easily arranged for us to enter normally."

"The final audience too — Father aside, us being able to go up and speak and shake hands with the Retired Emperor at close range, isn't it because you're Peerage! This young lady could only get close as a Peerage lady's identity!"

"You can't only exclaim about the privileged class when staying at the Imperial Palace, right? You, Uesugi Chief, Tokyo University forensic medicine authority — aren't you the biggest privileged class?" Minami Ojou-sama murmured with a hint of jealousy. No choice — her family were political nouveau riche who rose after World War II, and her mother had been conflicted about it for a long time.

This time she finally managed to steal Muneyuki's surname through marriage with the old nobility!

Actually, I've been Uesugi's person for a long time!

And when Uesugi Muneyuki heard Watanabe Minami retort "you're the biggest privileged class," he was struck as if by lightning!

He opened his mouth, subconsciously wanting to defend himself.

Watanabe Minami's words were like a cold dagger, piercing through Uesugi Muneyuki's righteous indignation.

Yeah, me, Minami, and every single person in the palace tonight — we're all component parts of this system, and its beneficiaries too.

Maintaining it is maintaining the foundation of our own existence.

This isn't a multiple-choice question, but a survival necessity.

Until now, Uesugi Muneyuki had always subconsciously felt he was different from others!

Not that he had some leftist ideological imprint, thinking he could represent the bottom layer and plead for the people — he wasn't that deluded and bored — but because, in his subconscious, he was an Inner World person!

His current status didn't rely on bloodline or inheritance, but on his Inner World ability — Death Contract and Death Flashback — and the countless cases solved through them!

I rely on my own ability!

Yet Minami's words shocked him awake.

No matter how capable, without a platform to exercise that ability, could he have reached today's step?

Like entering the Imperial Palace — if he and Date weren't warrior descendants, the Imperial Household Agency couldn't have arranged for them to enter the forbidden garden. Then there might not have been that subsequent after-midnight brainstorm, and Horiguchi Nen might really have exploded!

There's no absolute fairness in the world, correct!

But there also aren't enough livers in the world!

Resources are forever scarce. Humans are endlessly greedy creatures. Even if Earth's resources could actually satisfy every person's survival needs, humans always want to possess more resources.

Some people eat potatoes and eggs three meals a day; some people's dogs eat tomahawk steaks every day.

Privilege, opportunity, even the chance to survive — they're like that one single liver.

So-called fairness is just the most reasonable distribution possible under the rules. And this 'system' he's currently in is one of the rules that has operated for hundreds of years.

It may not be perfect, but it provides order.

Don't argue about stars and seas, distribution according to needs, psychic transcendence — he first has to ensure the safety and interests of himself and those he wants to protect!

At least when it truly comes to needing a liver, he and those he protects will always stand in the position of those qualified to allocate the liver, not in the position of waiting for one!

"Ha, hahahaha~~" Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly burst into loud laughter. He held Minami and Eirina, nodding desperately, laughter mixed with tears. He couldn't imagine what his reaction would be if one day something happened to Minami and Eirina.

Two lifetimes as a human already — no more of this hypocrisy!

"You're right, Minami. I overthought it. I am the privileged class to begin with. No need to deliberately avoid that point. I am me, I'm still me."

"I'm just a forensic pathologist. What I have to do is speak things clearly, that's all!"

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