Chapter 542

The explosive ordnance disposal unit at the scene explained why they were powerless against the explosives.

The bomb on Akimoto Shōta's body is similar to the one on Horiguchi Nen in the Imperial Palace case—it is an extremely sensitive explosive that detonates instantly upon external stimulation; under normal circumstances, bomb disposal experts could resolve it within two minutes.

But the problem lies with that remote-controlled collar!

The remote-controlled collar has sensors and sensing devices; anyone approaching within 10 meters triggers the indicator light to flash, and if it flashes continuously more than 50 times, it detonates the explosives on the spot. Moreover, the explosives themselves may contain an extremely precise balance sensor—any violent movement, fall, or even forced disassembly causing a slight tilt will instantly trigger the explosion.

"What about signal jamming?" Okada Masayoshi immediately asked.

"No, the collar has a wireless signal receiver; if we rashly conduct radio jamming, the device may interpret it as 'signal loss,' which would also detonate the explosives." The explosive ordnance disposal expert frowned and said: "In other words, that young man himself is the most unstable detonator. We are not facing a machine that can be calmly disarmed, but a fear-controlled walking bomb. Unless we can render him instantly unconscious and keep him absolutely still, any forcible intervention is equivalent to pressing the detonation button."

Watanabe Minami listened, her brows knitting tightly; Minami Ojou-sama unconsciously thought of the Imperial Palace case.

She decisively ordered: "Immediately establish multiple security perimeters! Clear the surrounding 50 meters, investigate nearby possible surveillance cameras and nearby buildings—the enemy might be observing from nearby!"

"Immediately establish the on-site command center—Division One, Public Security, SAT, and the Special Mission Unit must cooperate!"

"Have the negotiation experts stand by!"

"Begin information control, monitor the scene footage, have reporters retreat, and stop spreading panic and anxiety!"

"Immediately investigate what exactly happened to Akimoto Shōta, when he lost contact, confirm his kidnapping time, and begin investigating suspicious personnel!"

"Yes!!!"

Minami Ojou-sama arranged everything, and the main force of the Metropolitan Police Department finally arrived.

Sugishita Ukyo, Chief of Investigation Division One, led the Second, Third, and Fifth Sections of Division One to the scene; Shiratori Sho, Kashiwagi Jin, and Itami Kenichi followed closely behind Sugishita Ukyo. After listening seriously to Watanabe Minami's report, he nodded: "You've worked hard."

Itami, section chief of the Fifth Section, ran to the railing; at this moment, the surroundings were heavily fortified with riot police in thick summer duty uniforms and helmets, drenched in sweat, while Itami in his suit was equally sweltering: "This brat! I've heard his name before—someone must be taking revenge on him!"

"Hard to say—those who make this kind of explosive and detonation device are certainly not good people!" Inspector Shiratori Sho saw the dense wiring on the other party's body and felt his scalp go numb.

Kashiwagi Jin ran up to Uesugi Muneyuki's side: "Uesugi, why are you just standing here watching?"

"Do I look like a bomb disposal expert to you?" Uesugi Muneyuki narrowed his eyes: "I'm a forensic pathologist! Not Superman, Batman! Not even Iron Man!"

"Damn it!" Kashiwagi Jin angrily punched the railing: "There's definitely something behind this—Akimoto Daijin……the darkness behind the nation?"

"If I'm not mistaken, there should be." Uesugi Muneyuki stared fixedly at Akimoto Shōta, kneeling on both knees.

Now? Everyone's here—what are the people behind waiting for?

The other side didn't just blow this guy up directly but arranged it this way—there must be a reason.

At this moment, Kashiwagi Jin suddenly said: "Quick look, Public Security is here!"

In the distance, several sedans and a Toyota Coaster pulled up, and another squad in suits got out—their demeanor and solemnity made it clear they were Public Security police at a glance.

Uesugi Muneyuki almost without hesitation walked toward them, and seeing Uesugi Muneyuki move, Ikeda Erena immediately sprang to follow.

The leader of the Public Security police was Kino-shita Tōya, section chief of the Security Planning Division under the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency. He had just gotten out of the car, about to say something, when he saw Uesugi and Erena approaching. His dark face twitched once, and he still said: "You can stay here, but don't do anything unnecessary."

"What exactly happened at the Imperial Palace?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked: "Wasn't everything already handed over to you Public Security to handle back then?"

"Yes, but unfortunately, Horiguchi Nen was merely a pawn. He admitted he and the 'Red Goldfinch' conducted fixed-point secret exchanges, and at the time, the bombs and detonation devices were transferred in batches into the Imperial Household Agency Library Division office via physical handoff. To this day, we still haven't figured out how they bypassed security—it's as if they simply vanished."

Vanished!

That shadow!

Uesugi Muneyuki said in a deep voice: "Any more news from Public Security here?"

"No, but if the other side is being manipulated by an extremist organization behind the scenes, then this arrangement will surely be used to make demands. So as long as we wait for their demands, we can investigate in reverse according to the conditions—we will surely gain something." Kino-shita also felt frustrated about Public Security having no other results: "Uesugi-san, we Public Security have no need to deceive you—we also didn't expect this to happen."

The atmosphere at the scene solidified like cement. Police, SAT, bomb disposal experts—all forces were in place, yet as if bound by invisible chains, they could only watch helplessly at the human-shaped bomb on the verge of collapse in the central open space.

At this moment, the mobile phone screen strapped to Akimoto Shōta's wrist suddenly lit up, the vibration sound especially piercing in the silence. Akimoto Shōta, like a startled bird, trembled as he raised his hand and looked at the message on the screen.

His eyes widened from fear, his lips quivered, as if he had seen a more terrifying devil.

He raised his head, using all his strength, and shouted hoarsely toward the police beyond the cordon, the distant dark crowd, and the few cameras already beginning to livestream: the command he had just received:

"They……they said! Livestream! All livestreams must not be interrupted! Let everyone see! Hear!" His voice carried a sob, yet also a frenzy from coercion: "By seven o'clock tonight! Must be before seven o'clock tonight! By my father……Foreign Minister Akimoto Shin'ichirō himself! Personally standing here, or via nationwide livestream, announce……announce all the crimes he and I have committed! All! Not a single one can be omitted!"

He nearly collapsed, but forced himself to stand, despairingly adding: "Otherwise……when the time comes, or if the livestream signal is cut……they……they will detonate the bomb!"

The news struck like a meteorite into the ocean, raising towering waves.

The on-site commander, Sugishita Ukyo, Chief of Division One, turned iron-faced, immediately communicated via radio with headquarters. After a moment, he silently nodded and issued a humiliating order to his subordinates: "……Do as they say. Notify all media—they may continue livestreaming, but must maintain a safe distance; cameras must not excessively zoom in to stimulate the target."

Almost simultaneously, at the Metropolitan Police Department's highest command center, Watanabe Eiji's dedicated encrypted phone rang shrilly.

Caller ID shown——Foreign Minister's Official Residence.

Watanabe Eiji took a deep breath, pressed the answer key, and even before he spoke, the handset transmitted Akimoto Shin'ichirō's familiar voice—but now it had lost its usual composure, filled with uncontainable anger and panic. The voice, strained by extreme anxiety, sounded somewhat sharp:

"Watanabe Director! What the hell are you guys at the Metropolitan Police Department doing?! Why have you let things develop to this point?! My son is right there in front of so many cameras, with a bomb strapped to him! Is this your vaunted 'Japan's top public safety capability'?!"

Watanabe listened expressionlessly until the questioning eased, then replied in a calm tone bordering on coldness: "Foreign Minister Akimoto, the situation is urgent—we are dealing with it with all our strength."

"All strength? I don't want the process—I want results!" Akimoto Shin'ichirō's voice hardened, carrying an unquestionable command tone: "I tell you, Watanabe-kun, you must save my son Shōta unharmed! Not a single hair can be missing! This is a death order! Moreover, those kidnappers' nonsense about so-called 'crimes' is pure nonsense, slander! You must ensure, without provoking the kidnappers, that no false information spreads! My son's safety and Japan's diplomatic reputation must both be protected! Do you understand what I mean?"

This statement was watertight—it expressed the father's concern while maintaining the politician's dignity, defining "crimes" as "slander" and using "diplomatic reputation" as leverage.

However, Watanabe Eiji was not intimidated by this official rhetoric; he fell silent for two seconds, during which only Akimoto Shin'ichirō's heavy breathing could be heard from the handset.

Then, Watanabe Eiji spoke in a tone that was plain yet contained immense power:

"Foreign Minister Akimoto." His voice was not loud, yet like a cold dagger, it precisely pierced the other's pretense: "During your tenure as Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, your son's several……incidents that ultimately ended with 'insufficient evidence' or 'mutual settlement,' suspected forced sexual acts—you used your influence to suppress them. The number of times you did this, you yourself know better than this old man."

On the other end of the line, silence fell like death.

Only Akimoto Shin'ichirō's breathing could be heard—it suddenly stopped, then became extraordinarily heavy, as if someone had gripped his throat.

After several seconds of suffocating silence, Akimoto Shin'ichirō's voice rang out again, still hard, but upon close listening, one could detect a faint, hard-to-discern mix of bluster and inner weakness: "……Watanabe! Are you threatening me now?! I don't care what you think! Now! Immediately! Figure out how to save my son! This is your duty as Superintendent General!"

"Naturally I understand the duty." Watanabe Eiji's tone remained unchanged: "Saving lives is the first priority. But to undo the bell, one must find the one who tied it, Minister. The kidnappers want 'truth' and 'repentance.' How to find that impossible balance between meeting their demands to 'save the son' and 'not expose anything'—this is precisely the 'greatest' dilemma we currently face."

He deliberately emphasized the two characters "greatest."

"I……I don't care! You must find a way!" Akimoto Shin'ichirō nearly roared, but his strength was gone: "I will have the Chief Cabinet Secretary pay attention to this! If Shōta suffers any misfortune, your Metropolitan Police Department cannot escape blame!"

"Click." The phone was slammed down heavily.

Watanabe Eiji slowly put down the handset, his face showing no expression.

Now, all pressure has piled onto the Metropolitan Police Department—they must not only contend with a mad bomber, but also face political pressure from the highest echelons of power, as well as a hidden terrorist organization with ruthless methods and clear objectives.

Time was flowing, minute by minute, second by second.

After hearing the robber's demands, the over a hundred police officers at the scene, as well as the mobile unit surrounding the scene, all had very grim expressions.

The surrounding television stations' live broadcasts were even more frenzied, focusing on Akimoto Shōta kneeling on both knees.

What exactly is the reason? What crime did he commit? Why broadcast nationwide? Who exactly did this? What grudge do they have against the minister's son?

But after hearing the robber's demands, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly made a thought-provoking move!

He alone crossed the police line, then quickly came to Akimoto Shōta's front!

Uesugi Muneyuki's speed was so fast that it almost left all the police at the scene unable to react, but Uesugi Muneyuki himself hesitated not at all, because at this moment he was already one hundred percent certain.

Since the other party did not directly kill Akimoto Shōta, since they set a time limit of seven o'clock in the evening, since they put forward clear demands, then it can only mean one thing!

The other party does not want to immediately let this minister's son ascend to heaven right on the spot, at least not now!

So Uesugi Muneyuki acted quickly, he snatched a bottle of Hōkōriki from a Public Security Police Toyota Coaster, crossed the police line to come before Akimoto Shōta, raised both hands to gesture that he meant no harm, knelt on one knee at a distance of about twelve meters, and silently poured water from the ground to Akimoto Shōta himself.

Akimoto Shōta grabbed the Hōkōriki and took a explosive drink, this scene was captured by all the cameras at the scene!

The two were separated by a stable distance of about twelve meters, the lights did not flash.

Special Mission Unit's Uesugi Chief? You hurry up and catch the criminal, catch the criminal ah!

The Foreign Affairs Minister's son glared fiercely at Uesugi Muneyuki, using his eyes to gesture: Don't come near me! They, they are watching!

"Where?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked in a low voice.

It was miraculous, clearly separated by twelve meters, clearly not hearing directly, but Akimoto Shōta could vaguely feel Uesugi Muneyuki's voice: "Where were you kidnapped?"

"…………I, in the parking lot of my apartment." Akimoto Shōta horrifiedly discovered that he could actually speak to Uesugi Muneyuki with an extremely weak voice.

"When? Yesterday?"

"Early yesterday morning, two forty or so……I was in the underground parking lot, kidnapped."

"Can you guess who the criminal is?" Uesugi Muneyuki used the ability of the Village Flower Palace, then asked.

"I……"

Akimoto Shōta was about to answer, when suddenly, the collar bomb on his neck suddenly rang.

"Ding-dong~ding-dong~ding-dong~"

Then, a text message was immediately sent to his mobile phone.

"Let Uesugi get lost! Now!"

"Also, don't be conceited, even if it's Uesugi Muneyuki, he can't save you!"

(Chapter End)