Chapter 543

When Uesugi Muneyuki returned within the yellow line, everyone gathered around him.

"What did he say?" Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo and Public Security Police Officer Kinoshita Tōya couldn't help but press for answers, while behind them, criminal police and public security officers glared angrily, calling each other useless.

"He was kidnapped." Uesugi Muneyuki wiped the sweat from his forehead; in truth, after gaining the power of the Village Flower Palace, he no longer feared the cold, but he still feared the heat: "Akito Shōta said he probably arrived yesterday... that is, at 2:40 a. m. today at the apartment's underground parking lot, where he was attacked upon exiting the vehicle, and then, when he woke up, he discovered a bomb strapped to his body."

"Is that so?" Sugishita Ukyo nodded elegantly: "Does he know who attacked them?"

"He didn't say; judging by his expression, he probably doesn't know." Uesugi Muneyuki then reported the address Akito Shōta had mentioned.

"Families of this sort of young aristocrat usually own many apartments in the city, especially someone like him who plays rough with women—typically, they have multiple hideouts, like a clever rabbit with three burrows. I've seen a young lord who always conveniently escorts his female companions home, not because he's making excuses, but because no matter which direction in Tokyo, he owns property." Kai Toru said, hands on his hips, utterly indifferent.

Kai Toru's words caused many officers present, especially Fifth Section Chief Itami Kenichi, to glare at him, muttering under his breath; he's over forty and still unmarried, repressing his frustrations.

"This isn't important. What we must do now is hurry to investigate who kidnapped Akito Shōta. If we can seize this opportunity to find the kidnappers, then we can solve the bomb problem." Beriki Jin had his hands in his pockets, his expression grim: "Otherwise, continuing like this isn't a solution—we'll turn the Metropolitan Police Department into a terrorist's plaything, forced to do whatever they demand. If this goes on, where will our department's dignity be? Where will the people's confidence lie?"

"There's one more detail." Uesugi Muneyuki generally agreed with Beriki Jin's words: "Did you notice?"

"When I spoke with Akito Shōta earlier, at first, when we were about twelve meters apart, the indicator light on his chest didn't flash. But after we briefly exchanged words, it began to flash." Uesugi Muneyuki said in a low voice: "So, without a doubt, there is an observer from the opposing side at the scene!"

"It could be someone in the nearby crowd, someone in a nearby high-rise, or someone who set up surveillance equipment at the scene." Uesugi Muneyuki turned his gaze toward the surroundings: "Also, please have everyone check."

"Although you say that..." Shiratori Sho glanced around, his expression somewhat awkward: "But this is Minato Ward!"

Everyone's faces were grim; this is Minato Ward, surrounded by large commercial districts and office building clusters, a dense forest of steel and concrete in gray. To search thoroughly would take hours—impossible to finish in a few.

It's already 1:40 p. m., and the deadline given by the opposing side is 7:00 p. m. —only about five hours left, far too little time. Moreover, due to the impact of the minister's son incident on normal commercial and economic activities in the area, the Metropolitan Police Department must bear immense pressure.

Police officers naturally carry the burden of blame, and besides, the opposing side demands a live, uninterrupted broadcast!

"Then everyone, split up. Public Security officers, please investigate and disperse the nearby crowd. Investigation Division 1 team, immediately start based on Akito Shōta's personal connections and apartment location—see what you can find. As for the Special Mission Unit, Uesugi Chief, please use your imagination." Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo immediately assigned tasks: "Speed must be as fast as possible—the people are watching us!"

"Yes!"

The officers at the scene scattered in a rush, leaving over a hundred Mobile Unit Police officers to surround Akito Shōta himself, who stood in the center of the plaza in three inner and three outer layers. Meanwhile, snipers from SAT on nearby rooftops had their rifles ready.

The Special Mission Unit members gathered again, having temporarily commandeered a nearby port-style tea restaurant. Date Nagamune, while connecting to a computer, spoke with a sarcastic tone: "Wow, the minister's son is really something! Strapped with a bomb, he brings two or three hundred police running! How nice! I wonder if I'd get the same treatment if I were kidnapped?"

"If you were kidnapped, Date Munetada's grandfather would absolutely call Kasumi Kaikan in Kasumigaseki for help." Uesugi Muneyuki said helplessly: "Well, the minister's son's life is still a life. Let's set aside any possible past misconduct for now. Regardless, kidnapping, attaching a bomb, and using terror and threats to life to achieve political goals—these are serious crimes. So, for now, don't overthink it. Whether Akito Daijin and his son are guilty or not isn't our current concern. What we must focus on is solving the immediate problem."

"Uesugi is right." Minami Ojou-sama also interrupted Date's resentment, giving the Special Mission Unit members a wry look, thinking: Besides the foolish Ikeda and Uesugi Muneyuki's beloved Shiyuan, which of you lot—including me—isn't a second-generation heir?

"Okada, you and Igarashi Kai go together—investigate the surrounding area and suspicious personnel, see what you can find."

"Nanxiang, you're with our team. We're all firsthand witnesses to the Imperial Palace case, so we'll check the apartment surveillance to see if we can uncover any valuable clues. As for Uesugi and Shiyuan, you two wait on standby with Ikeda."

"Yes!"

Thus, the Special Mission Unit began its activities. Although Uesugi Muneyuki was temporarily unused, the unit's existence formed a bridge between the Criminal Police and Public Security factions!

Within the few minutes the Metropolitan Police Department was forced to allow the live broadcast to continue, besides that famous "Calm King," all major mainstream TV stations in Japan cut their regular programming and began emergency special reports. On screen, Akito Shōta's desperate figure and the flashing red light became the most stimulating visual spectacle of this scorching afternoon.

Under the blazing sun, Akito Shōta was being roasted, yet he could only stand motionless in place—sometimes sinking into depressed tears, sometimes frantically tearing at his own hair. The scene was quite horrific. Seeing this, Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo could only comfort him, shouting from afar: "Akito-kun, please don't worry! Your father will surely save you! We're also thinking of ways! Please hold on, hold on—there will be a solution!"

"…………" Akito Shōta squeezed out a smile uglier than crying, and said nothing.

Thus, the Metropolitan Police Department side began its investigation in a frantic rush.

Meanwhile, all major TV stations had already arrived in full force.

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)'s report was the most "restrained," but the headline was already shocking enough—"Extreme Incident Occurs in Central Minato Ward; Foreign Minister's Son Bound with Bomb Makes Shocking Demand."

The anchor's tone was heavy, background footage quickly reviewing several controversial foreign policies led by Foreign Minister Akito Shin'ichirō (such as hardline economic sanctions against a certain African nation and refusal to forgive loans, and exchanges and secret talks with the "Zheng He" of a certain country across the sea at the Jiangtian Island Naval Academy), and he commented cautiously: "So far, no organization has claimed responsibility, but the political direction of the event is extremely clear; it cannot be ruled out as an extreme retaliatory act targeting Akito Daijin's political line. The police face an unprecedented handling dilemma!"

NTV's report was more direct—"Bomb Threat in Live Broadcast! Son of Foreign Ministry Minister Becomes Human Bomb!"

The anchor and guest commentator (former Director-General of the National Police Agency Kaneko Takuro) stared in disbelief at the studio. Kaneko, former Director-General, spoke with a hint of absurdity: "This is straight out of a Hollywood script! The kidnappers aren't just technically professional—they deeply understand media dissemination patterns. They're not extorting an individual; they're judging a political family, even challenging the entire system. Demanding the father confess his sins on live broadcast... this... this is too surreal!"

TBS ran the headline "Tragedy of a Political Family? Akito Shōta-kun's 'Final Cry of Sorrow'."

The report's angle was slightly sensational, interspersed with old photos of Akito Shōta in his student days wearing designer brands and attending parties, forming a cruel contrast with his current disheveled image on screen. The anchor said meaningfully: "A minister who appears clean in public, promoting 'values diplomacy'—what shadows does his family truly hide, leading to today's tragedy, worthy of being written into textbooks?"

As for Fuji TV? Still as shameless as ever, the headline read: "Victim or Perpetrator? 'Generous Young Aristocrat' Akito Shōta's Double Life."

They quickly hit the streets, interviewing several young people claiming to be Akito Shōta's "ex-girlfriend" and "friends." Before the camera, these men and women unanimously praised Shōta's "generosity":

Ex-girlfriend Maple Feng (pseudonym): "Shōta-kun is very gentle, never stingy—his birthday gift was a limited-edition handbag, and he took me to the best restaurant."

Friends Sky Brother, Chong Chong Brother (pseudonyms): "He's just too loyal! Every gathering, he rushes to pay the bill, helps friends solve trouble without hesitation—we call him 'Minato Ward's Timely Rain'."

Friend Yunxiao Brother (pseudonym): "Even if Shōta-kun might have made mistakes in the past, he's truly blameless toward friends! Such a generous, loyal person—how terrified must he be now! Those kidnappers are too hateful! Akito Daijin, hurry and save your son!"

TV Tokyo was airing "Keroro Gunsō"—the frog squad from outer space was plotting how to invade Blue Star! Launch! Promotion Gun, fire! KERO Ball, activate!!!

Blue Star in grave danger!!!

Japanese society as a whole seemed thrown into a massive information vortex. People clung to televisions and phones, feeling fear yet also a strange curiosity for watching a real-life political thriller.

Meanwhile, on the Metropolitan Police Department's side, after spending some time investigating, around 4:00 p. m., they quickly made a discovery.

Date Nagamune placed his notebook in front of Uesugi Muneyuki and others: "Everyone, look at this!"

Uesugi Minami, Eirina, and Nanxiang immediately gathered around.

After extensive searching and coordination, police finally obtained the apartment's basement surveillance footage. Through comparison, they finally located Akito Shōta's figure.

At around 2:35 a. m., Akito Shōta, having just finished a tryst alone, drove to the apartment basement. He looked somewhat tired, wearing a mask and a duck-tongue cap, and a long-sleeved shirt as he exited the car, heading straight for the basement elevator door.

At this moment, everything seemed normal.

But precisely at this moment, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly signaled: "Wait!"

"Huh?" Date Nagamune blinked: "Uesugi Chief, we haven't reached the critical moment yet!"

"Wait! Stop, stop!" Uesugi Muneyuki furrowed his brows, signaling Date Nagamune to rewind: "Just this moment when he got out of the car!"

Date Nagamune had no choice but to rewind.

Rewinding to the moment Akito Shōta opened the door and stepped out, Uesugi Muneyuki signaled to stop.

Looking at this exiting figure, Uesugi Muneyuki felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

No, that's not right!

This isn't the first time I've seen this figure!

This figure—I've definitely seen it somewhere before, and it left a deep impression!

But where was it?

While Uesugi Muneyuki's suspicious behavior drew everyone's gaze toward him, Ikeda Erena attempted to ask: "What's wrong, Muneyuki? Could it be that you knew Akimoto Shōta before?"

"Hey hey hey, Muneyuki, you wouldn't tell us you used to hang out with this guy, would you?" Ishihara Mikoto also found it somewhat amusing, she fixed her gaze on Uesugi Muneyuki, thinking Uesugi wasn't the type to go out and cause trouble!

And at that moment, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly recalled something, he once again pulled out the memory from his mind's eye, and suddenly locked eyes with a certain shadow.

The shadow wearing a mask, cautious movements, and that voice.

The man's pupils suddenly dilated.

Could it be?!

(Chapter End)