Chapter 519

Thinking it over carefully, Uesugi Muneyuki also realized in his heart that while he certainly owed a debt of gratitude to the Metropolitan Police Department, to some extent Watanabe Eiji was an ultimate unlucky bastard—how many years had it been, aside from the era when the Red Army was active in the 1970s, had any Commissioner of Police encountered so many incidents during their term?

Yet precisely because he appeared out of nowhere, every time a major crisis arose, Watanabe Eiji not only handled it extremely well but also accumulated enormous political capital and prestige for himself!

Normally, the position of Commissioner of Police is the pinnacle and endpoint of the civil service system; aside from the Cold War period and extremely rare circumstances, most people who serve one term as Commissioner then retire due to age limits, but Watanabe Eiji not only secured reappointment through his own efforts as Commissioner, he has also gained the Cabinet's extreme trust and approval, with limitless prospects ahead.

Even Uesugi Muneyuki has surplus merits to distribute to others; Kai Qiū originally was destined to top out as Administrative Vice-Minister, but after being promoted to Vice-Minister for Justice, he became equivalent to the Police Commissioner in being a true "political official" (although still half a rank below the Commissioner)!

I have thus helped two administrative officials successfully cross that nearly insurmountable moat!

Yet, while I have done them favors, does Watanabe Eiji owe me nothing in return?

This cheap father-in-law of mine has several times risked removal from office to fully support me; whenever I caused trouble in the Metropolitan Police Department, he stepped in to handle it; I have messed around with several women, and he not only turned a blind eye but also helped cover for me; moreover, the state even granted me a charming, adorable, captivating beautiful wife and a mixed-race, long-legged, gorgeous concubine!

Why did Uesugi Muneyuki previously hold that thought? It was his subconscious belief that he was an Inner World Person, that his current achievements indeed had some bloodline and family background factors, but mainly it was because he had talent!

However, after being lectured by Minami, he realized that talented people are many! Whether one can have a platform to display their abilities is what truly matters!

It is like people often say: why did Liu Bang's hometown Pei County and Zhu Yuanzhang's hometown Fengyang produce so many talents?

This is actually reversing cause and effect!

It is not that these founding emperors' hometown fellows are all talented; rather, these people are all hometown fellows of the founding emperors!

Because they are hometown fellows! So they have feelings and original shares! Because they are hometown fellows, they were the earliest to follow the founding emperor and thus gained a platform to display their abilities!

This is what is meant by "merit to man, merit to dog"!

Uesugi Muneyuki laughed, laughing until tears came out.

No wonder that Hirate looked down on me—I am nothing more than a large-sized "merit dog" after all.

Expanding further, consider this example: why don't strategists become monarchs? Is it because they don't want to?

Look at the strategists of the Three Kingdoms period—does Zhuge Liang truly fall short of Liu Shan, or does Sima Yi not measure up to Cao Xiu,

Cao Shuang?

What a joke.

Of course, everyone will find many excuses for monarchs, such as being righteous and able to gather people, benevolent and able to win people's hearts, self-disciplined and able to command obedience, leading by example and able to guide others, and so on.

But if we carefully examine Wei, Shu, and Wu, aside from Liu Bei indeed generally possessing these qualities, how many of these conditions do Cao Cao and Sun Quan meet?

In reality, what matters most for being the top leader is resources! Resources! Resources!

Having a good father or being in the correct era is more important than anything else!

When the time comes, heaven and earth unite in strength; when luck departs, even heroes are not free!

Uesugi Muneyuki fully understood, he embraced Minami and Erena, thinking no more of those empty formalities—let us few live our lives well, which is more important than anything!

He had an epiphany!

Recall! I have had an epiphany!

Uesugi Muneyuki patted his own forehead, lowered his head and covered his mouth with his hand; this strange mental state of his caused Minami and Erena to exchange a glance, thinking our Uesugi Chief is having another fit of madness?

But geniuses, after all, always have some aberrant behavior; Uesugi Muneyuki often has divine-sounding remarks and inexplicably powerful insights in daily life, and they have grown accustomed to it.

And as if responding to Uesugi Muneyuki's enlightenment, his phone suddenly rang.

It was Watanabe Eiji: "Muneyuki, are you free now? If you are, come to the Administrative Lounge—Onoda Minister and Onoda Secretary-General are here, I have something to tell you."

"What if I'm not free?" Uesugi Muneyuki said with a laugh.

"Even if you're not free, tidy up and come right away! You little brat!" Watanabe Eiji said half-laughing, still thinking Uesugi Muneyuki was bullying his daughter Minami; this cheap father-in-law was extremely satisfied with this son-in-law, and moreover he had come over to the Watanabe side as an adopted son-in-law, merely without changing his surname, naturally also without feeling that his painstakingly raised daughter had been taken away: "You can also bring Minami and Ikeda along, you decide for yourself."

"Alright, I'll tidy up and go over." Uesugi Muneyuki hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?" Minami blinked her bright, lovely eyes: "Does Father have something to say?"

"Mm, he asked us to come to the Administrative Lounge, the Onoda brothers are also there." Uesugi Muneyuki looked at Minami and Erena, then suddenly gave an evil smile: "Hey, Minami, you just said, privileged class, right?"

"Huh?" Minami widened her sweet, denying eyes, having a vague premonition, while Erena also thought of something, her face turning crimson: "Minami, it's all you, you misspoke!"

"Hehe, since that's the case, I will exercise my privilege!" the evil Uesugi smirked: "Two beauties, please do as I say!"

I am doing as I say—the dividing line: the Administrative Lounge at Akasaka Rikyū, located on the higher floors of the main building of the detached palace, is a private space reserved for only a handful of privileged individuals.

Unlike the grand classical style of the banquet hall, here the design leans more toward the modern empire's luxury and restraint; the huge floor-to-ceiling windows frame the most dazzling core of Tokyo's night scenery, like a flowing diamond scroll. The walls are dark precious wood, inlaid with delicate metal lines. The genuine leather sofa set is spacious and comfortable, surrounding a low natural marble coffee table; the air is filled with the faint, mellow aroma of premium cigars and the rich fragrance of aged whiskey. The entire space exudes a tranquil yet authoritative atmosphere, where even low voices seem to carry the weight of a thousand jin.

Soon, Uesugi Muneyuki arrived at the Administrative Lounge with Watanabe Minami and Ikeda Erena.

"Muneyuki, this way!" Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki—this figure who always appears stern-faced in TV news, grasping the nerve center of national administration—now leaned back relaxed on the sofa, speaking softly with his brother beside him, Police Commissioner Secretariat Chief Onoda Kimiaki.

And Police Commissioner Watanabe Eiji, the highest-ranking official of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police System, his stern gaze swept the doorway several times before finally spotting Uesugi Muneyuki, whereupon he immediately greeted him, urging him and Minami and Erena to hurry over.

Yet just this one glance caused the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tall Beauty to instantly flush crimson, subconsciously pressing down on their skirt hems, their toes twisting slightly in their high heels, their delicate ankles wrapped in stockings slightly askew, as if about to snap.

Minami Young Lady sat down carefully, quickly pressing her legs together, sitting obliquely on the edge of the sofa in an extremely elegant yet exceedingly restrained posture; the champagne bubbles danced on her tongue tip, yet could not dispel that utterly real sensation; the fine texture of the high-end stockings completely enveloped her buttocks without any barrier, making her feel indescribably comfortable, yet simultaneously she felt a startlingly captivating stimulation, almost making her tremble.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes moist, presenting an unusually charming and uneasy allure.

Erena likewise felt extreme tension; although she and Uesugi Muneyuki had played this kind of game many times before, this all-encompassing, tight wrapping sensation was stronger and clearer than ever before. This is a sensation slightly constricting yet utterly smooth, like a second layer of skin, allowing her to feel the minute friction of the material with every tiny movement, bringing a sense of shame yet also fascination, a comforting feeling.

She lightly smoothed her skirt hem, sensing the peculiar feeling of being completely occupied by the stockings, her face showing a mix of bashfulness and pride in a smile, she lightly pulled Minami's hand, leaning against her.

The expressions of the two women were somewhat strange, their faces also very red, but the Onoda brothers and Watanabe Eiji assumed it was because Uesugi Muneyuki, after the banquet ended, could not wait to be intimate with them, and thus revealed the knowing smile men share, thinking youth is truly wonderful.

"Watanabe-kun, Uesugi-kun." Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki proactively raised his wine glass, proposing a toast: "No matter what, this time we truly thank you for your mighty assistance; I and Kimiaki both owe you our gratitude."

"Just part of our duty, not worth mentioning." Watanabe Eiji and Uesugi Muneyuki also raised their champagne glasses; Minami hurriedly followed suit, and lightly kicked the distracted Erena with the toe of her stocking-clad foot: Hurry up!

Only then did Erena realize that the place she now occupied was the very pinnacle of this nation!

The Tall Beauty produced a distorted sense of achievement; each time she raised her glass, each time she smiled, she unconsciously tightened her core, fearing any inadvertent movement would leak heavenly secrets; that intense feeling of shame, like the most stimulating seasoning, made her feel the champagne in her mouth especially intoxicating, the night scenery before her eyes especially dreamlike.

Wanting to be together with Muneyuki—no, all three of us together—

several people sharing one cup.

Uesugi Muneyuki conversed effortlessly with Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki, inquiring about the follow-up handling after the Imperial Palace incident.

Since Onoda Kimiaki had not concealed anything from him regarding the matters of Horikawa Nen and the Red Goldfinch, he naturally would not conceal the post-event handling either; and when he said that subsequent handling would be fully taken over by the Cabinet Public Security Investigation Bureau and the Security Bureau Public Security Police, Uesugi Muneyuki immediately asked doubtfully: "How so? Regarding the intruder matter, will there be no investigation?"

"Not that we won't investigate, but we will delay it," Onoda Kimiaki said with a half-smile.

"—Good, good, good, Secretary-General, you know I don't want to hear this." Uesugi Muneyuki quickly shook his head, saying in confusion: "Then? Is the Imperial Palace bombing case intended to be closed just like that? Is that intruder to be treated as nonexistent?"

"Yes, and no." Watanabe Eiji said calmly: "Sōsetsu, you don't think that after something like this happened, our police organization would have no reaction, do you?"

"The Prime Minister has already decided that the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Division and the International Criminal Affairs Division will immediately launch a full intervention, with priority raised to the highest level.

We will fully investigate the online presence, funding sources, and membership composition of the 'Red Goldfinch,' as well as whether there are any other infiltration plans.

The National Police Agency has already secretly issued a warning to the nationwide police system, strengthening security for key infrastructure and government agencies, especially monitoring far-left remnants, and the Imperial Palace's security must also be fully strengthened.

Through necessary channels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the intelligence agencies of allied nations (such as the United States) about the possible resurgence of the 'Red Goldfinch,' requesting joint investigation to prevent its internationalization.

The Imperial Family has already relocated elsewhere; from today onward, the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Palace Police will conduct a carpet search of the entire Imperial Palace, while our internal investigation of the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Police has become stricter and deeper, and we must screen all staff for any potential influence from extremist thought.

In this situation, is it still meaningful to search for intruders within the Imperial Palace? Because we are conducting a full-area search!

"Yes, Uesugi-kun, the conclusion of the Imperial Palace bombing case is not an end; this bomb is a challenge letter from the Red Goldfinch to our police organization, and indeed to the entire state!" Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki said coldly: "This case is merely a beginning."

"Uesugi-kun, this will be a total war—·! WantYou!"