Chapter 527: , Okada Returns!

In early July, the Metropolitan Police Department's Sakurada Gate, the Criminal Investigation Department's First Investigation Division's large conference room.

The ceremony was solemn and joyous.

All the senior officials of the Metropolitan Police Department were present: Commissioner Watanabe Eiji, Deputy Commissioner Oyama Ren, Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kaneji, as well as First Investigation Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo, Administration Officer Higurata Sota, and Special Assignments Administration Officer Watanabe Minami, among other high-ranking officials.

In the center, Watanabe Eiji stood smiling, his expression his usual sternness, but upon closer look, one could see that his tightly pressed lips bore a barely perceptible, relieved relaxation.

Okada is back!

Watanabe Minami also stood smiling in the crowd, she was very happy that her Okada brother had finally recovered from his injuries and returned to the Special Assignments Division, although the Okada Miki incident had caused him great harm, as long as he was still alive, it was still better than continuing to let this time bomb remain by his side.

Minami even felt that it was too cheap for Okada's wife to die like this.

However, considering that Okada's wife used her death to exchange for Okada Masayoshi to gain enormous sympathy from the entire nation and unimaginable great fame, and used her own blood to exchange for Okada Masayoshi and his father Okada Masatomo to gain very valuable political resources, her dying this way might not be unacceptable.

"Welcome back! Okada." Amidst a sea of black-suited men, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Watanabe Eiji smiled and said: "Is your health all right now?"

"Yes! Thanks to the excellent doctors arranged by the department and everyone's concern, I'm fine now!" Okada Masayoshi quickly bowed his head.

The face of the Special Assignments Division Chief still bore some bleakness; he had not yet emerged from the betrayal of his previous wife, but thinking of what Uesugi Muneshige told him: "Besides your wife, you still have us!"

Indeed, I still have everyone! Seeing the entire Metropolitan Police Department come to welcome him, Okada Masayoshi felt a warmth, and at the same time, a bit of a wry smile.

During these three months, besides visits from colleagues, friends, and relatives (mainly his mother), many young and beautiful girls also came to see him.

The daughter of Mitsubishi Pharmaceuticals, the noble lady of the Nanbu Clan Clan aristocratic family, the legitimate daughter of the famous political clan Aso, and even the second daughter of the JR East president's family, as well as the niece of Diet member Kimura—these women all came to visit him in the hospital and appropriately expressed their admiration.

This really drove Okada crazy; he knew which invisible big hand was behind it, and without his father's nod, these girls dared to directly enter his hospital room?

He had originally planned to be discharged in the middle of this month, but he really couldn't take it anymore—after all, he was enjoying the best medical conditions. After a check-up at the University of Tokyo Hospital at the beginning of the month confirmed he had fully recovered, Okada immediately chose to be discharged.

While recuperating in the hospital ward, watching the Special Assignments Division solve case after case, he also felt an itch to get back in the action.

"Well, if the doctor says you're fine, then that's good. Anyway, I, on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Department, welcome you with twelvefold enthusiasm!" Watanabe Eiji laughed and patted Okada Masayoshi on the arm: "Do you need proper rest (meaning sticking to regular hours without going out on field duty) for a day or two?"

"No, I'm ready! Please give the order, Commissioner! Chief! Division Chief! Administration Officer!" Okada Masayoshi straightened his back, proudly declaring: "I want to make up all my rest time!"

Yeah, without Miki, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Special Assignments Division are everything to me.

"Hehe, look, this is our Metropolitan Police Department's elite! Since you're fine, then let me work you to death!" Watanabe Eiji nodded, signaling Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura to assign work.

"Very well, no time for idle chat—let's get started on the investigation!" After Commissioner Watanabe Eiji finished speaking, Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura began assigning tasks: "This morning we received a report that a senior executive of Tokyo Meiva Bank jumped to his death! The case involves hundreds of billions in insider trading, and because of this, Meiva Bank is facing a bank run, with all online banks and ATMs malfunctioning or under clearance. This time, the First Investigation Division, Second Investigation Division, and Special Assignments Division will conduct a joint operation! We must uncover the cause of death and the key details!"

"Hai ya!!!" The large conference room erupted in response.

"Alright, let's move out!" Ordered by First Investigation Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo, large groups of suited officers filed out of the First Investigation Division one after another.

"Starting off with such high intensity!" Okada Masayoshi couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth; his eyes scanned the crowd for a moment, then he said to Minami: "Where's Uesugi Chief?"

"Uesugi Chief went to Izu to film 'Hand of God.'" Gai Kai muttered beside him: "Nice, Ikeda went too, I want to go too!"

"Enough already, Gai-san, don't you know Uesugi Chief works two jobs? The Metropolitan Police Department needs him here, and Tokyo University needs him there—his overtime has piled up like a mountain. He's taking compensatory leave to film the show, and no one can say anything about it." Date laughed beside him.

"That's what they say, but without Uesugi Chief here, I still feel like something's missing." Gai Kai scratched his head.

"Don't worry, we still have another super-strong forensic expert, right? That is, the legendary forensic expert of the Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Department First Investigation Division Special Assignments Division, Uesugi Muneshige———————'s exclusive assistant, Shihori Mikoto-san!" Minami smiled and nudged the beautiful forensic expert: "Shihori-san, do your best!"

"Eh... uh." Shihori Mikoto was practically in tears.

I also want to take compensatory leave, I also want to go to the Izu Peninsula for a vacation! Go soak in the hot seawater and join the fireworks festival!

Damn, why did Muneshige take Ikeda and Asuka with him, but not me!

This is unfair!

Before, the Akasaka Detached Palace, then the administrative lounge, and now this Izu trip—she hasn't enjoyed a single one.

Although I don't want to overly interfere in your life, that doesn't mean you shouldn't bring me along when you're enjoying life!

Muneshige! You damn eight ga!!!

At the same time.

Summer Izu Peninsula, like a piece of jade carefully polished by the Pacific Ocean. Sunlight filtered through the lush zelkova leaves along the coastal road, casting dappled, dancing light spots. A low-key yet smooth Mercedes-Benz S600 sped along the whale's coastline, windows down, the salty yet warm sea breeze flooding the car, brushing against Shirakawa Mai's smooth long hair.

She wore a light Chanel resort outfit today, with Dior sunglasses covering half her face, a hint of relaxed and pleased smile at the corner of her mouth. Having personally cleared the premises and dealt with the traitor Matsumoto Toshiaki who ate inside and betrayed outside, the gloom weighing on her heart vanished completely, her mood as clear and blue as the sky outside the car window.

"So, junior." She skillfully steered with one hand, the other restless hand reaching toward the passenger seat, gently squeezing Uesugi Muneshige's firm arm muscle, tone teasing: "Still thinking about yesterday's autopsy report?"

"Come on, just relax while filming the show."

Uesugi Muneshige withdrew his gaze from the ocean scenery outside the window, turned to look at her. He wore a simple white polo shirt and khaki trousers, his aura clean and scholarly, but deep in those profound eyes lay hidden the sharpness of someone who enjoys the privileges of being the Metropolitan Police Department's ace, despite knowing the truth.

He smiled helplessly: "Senior, I'm thinking, although you've suppressed this incident, in the Kantou Alliance internals, probably no one dares to look you in the eye anymore."

What he cared about wasn't the case itself, but this person before him. She could mobilize resources so swiftly, using "suicide"—an impeccable method—to end a senior shrine priest, her terrifying control and influence, deeply entrenched in the Kantou power structure, made even this insider secretly shudder.

Too dark, the Kantou Shrine Alliance.

Too dark, Mai senior!

Well, although she's especially white—white everywhere—if it were before the Imperial Palace case, Uesugi Muneshige thought Matsumoto would be arranged to "commit suicide," he might still have felt a bit reluctant, but after that night at the Akasaka Detached Palace, he also came to understand: the other side already regarded him as a two-five spy, wanting to ally with the Kansai New Gods to harm Mai senior, so Mai senior arranging his "suicide" was already giving him face—at least his family and children were protected.

It's normal for a no-rope bungee jump to have an accident—your wife, I self-nurture, you don't need to worry—thinking this, Uesugi Muneshige suddenly had the image of Beruki Jin flash in his mind.

Compared to that, Old Jin really is a good comrade! For Misa's sake, let's help him more in the future!

"Heh," Shirakawa Mai chuckled lightly, her fingers sliding down to pinch his handback—not too light, not too hard—leaving a faint mark: "They should be afraid. As for you, my Uesugi Chief, when did you become so anxious? Rest assured, in front of me, your senior, they can't stir up a single wave."

Her tone carried undeniable confidence and a hint of the unique "teasing" toward her junior: "You, in this lifetime, will never escape my Five Finger Mountain—accept your fate."

Uesugi Muneshige gazed at her radiant profile, that familiar hint of a mischievous smile, and instantly the sense of alienation born from her immense power vanished, leaving only utter helplessness and indulgence.

Yeah, no matter how awe-inspiring she is as the Kantou's foremost figure in the outside world, before him, she has always been this person who enjoys teasing him,

and whom he willingly accepts being "restrained" by her and also "grasping" her—ah, her weak point.

"What movement? What waves?"

In the back seat, adorable Asuka cautiously poked her little head out, curious and asking.

Being able to accompany Uesugi Muneshige out to film the show, the girl changed into a Myanmar summer wind indigo-blue striped dress, paired with her small face and extremely cute chubby cheeks, truly a youthful storm of adorable charm, a pair of delicate long legs stepping on simple thick-soled strapped sandals, ten toes painted with bean-green nail polish lined up like cute silkworm babies, excitedly swaying back and forth in the back seat.

"We're talking about adult topics, good girl Asuka doesn't need to know that much, okay?" Mai senior smiled and said with indisputable tone: "Ashura Spirit only needs to enjoy herself."

"Moo~~" Asuka, upon hearing "adult topics," puffed up her cheeks, very dissatisfied and shouted: "I'm already 17 and a half years old! After New Year's, I'll be 18, and then I won't be a kid anymore!"

"Yes, yes, then we'll talk when you're grown up!" Mai seemed to really enjoy teasing the little bird.

"Oh, is that so? Then I am 1994 years old this year, can you tell me?"

At that moment, in the back seat, a woman with ancient-style black long straight hair wearing a snow-white small-patterned kimono appeared, her face bearing a smile and satisfaction as she spoke softly.

"???" On the coastal avenue, the Mercedes-Benz S600 shuddered violently, and all three people in the car were startled.

Village Flower Palace? When did you arrive?