Chapter 546

"Pa!"

A hand reaching out from the side clamped down on her wrist like an iron vise, the immense force making it impossible for her to press the button.

"Inspector Ishihara! I'm sorry for what happened to you!" A calm, clear voice rang in her ear.

She turned her head in shock, seeing Uesugi Muneyuki's handsome face now frosted over.

"You! No, you can't be—you're the forensic pathologist, how do you know?"

Ishihara Kumiko's pupils shrank; the resolute calm on her face shattered instantly, replaced by disbelief and the violent rage of a plan gone awry. She thrashed wildly, trying to break free of Uesugi Muneyuki's grip and slam down that button!

Even thinking of headbutting to press the remote at that moment—

A lithe figure darted in like a whirlwind! It was the female officer of the Special Mission Unit, famed for her black belts in judo and karate—Ikeda Erena!

Her movement had no wasted motion! She sidestepped half a step, blocking Ishihara's attempted backward elbow strike with her right arm, while her left hand clamped like an iron vise on Ishihara's cuffed wrist, jerking it upward (a joint lock from judo), and simultaneously her right foot precisely hooked behind Ishihara's supporting leg at the popliteal fossa.

Ishihara Kumiko lost balance and was slammed face-down to the ground by Ikeda Erena's irresistible force. Ikeda planted one knee on her back, the other hand pressing Ishihara's skull sideways into the scorching ground, rendering her completely immobile.

The whole process took less than two seconds—clean, efficient, filled with the beauty of power and skill.

"Stay still!" Ikeda's cold voice declared the end of resistance!

Uesugi Muneyuki raised the seized remote, waving it before her eyes, his voice still steady but sharp with penetrating insight: "From being able to so precisely track Akimoto Shōta's movements and use a custom detonator, we suspected an insider was feeding information or assistance. Everyone who handled Akimoto Shōta's old case and showed strong dissatisfaction is on our screening list. And you, Ishihara Kumiko…… if I'm not mistaken, you're also one of the victims, right?"

Standing beside Uesugi Muneyuki, Watanabe Minami wore a complex expression as she gazed at the female officer pinned by Ikeda Erena, speaking softly: "According to our emergency investigation, you were one of the officers handling the two suspected rape cases involving Akimoto Shōta, but both were dropped due to 'insufficient evidence.' Afterwards, you went to confront Akimoto Shōta alone, and then…… you were assaulted by him, correct?"

Watanabe Minami's tone carried a hint of regret but remained unwavering: "What we've been waiting for is this moment—you producing the evidence yourself. Without this remote, many charges wouldn't hold. Now, suspect and goods in hand!"

July 18, 7:00 PM, the female patrol division chief of Akasaka Station in Minato Ward, Ishihara Kumiko, arrested!

"Sorry, we know you have many grievances, and we'll detail them in the post-report, but…… arresting you is our duty!"

"Aaaah——!!!" Ishihara Kumiko unleashed a roar of utter unwillingness, straining against her bonds, her once-comely face twisted by extreme fury and despair: "Why?! Why stop me! That scum! He deserves to die! This system shielding him deserves to die too! You're not upholding justice—you're protecting filthy power! You lot are lackeys! You won't die well!!!"

Her roar, sharp in the quiet square's edge, leaked through sensitive microphones into the live broadcast signal, sparking another wave of uproar and speculation.

Most officers on scene stared dumbfounded at this internal upheaval.

Only Sugishita Ukyo, chief of the Criminal Investigation Division One at the Metropolitan Police Department, watched from afar with a complex expression.

When Uesugi Muneyuki first told Sugishita Ukyo there was a mole among the police, Sugishita Ukyo didn't believe it—but Uesugi Muneyuki quickly laid out his reasons, emphasizing the complete lack of findings in nearby searches and discovering the enemy was someone present at the scene observing.

So, having eliminated all impossibilities, the remaining answer was——there is a mole among the police on scene, and one capable of manipulating the collar detonator!

Only then could the enemy observe at any time; only then could they, upon spotting Uesugi at a safe distance but actually whispering with Akimoto, immediately light the indicator to warn.

Thus Uesugi Muneyuki's approach was——investigate, investigate who was on scene, investigate who in the police organization had handled Akimoto Shōta's case before, investigate who bore a grudge against this Foreign Ministry minister's son!

But this required Sugishita Ukyo's help—Sugishita Ukyo is close with Onoda Kimiaki, and as head of Public Security, Onoda Kimiaki naturally knows the dirty work Public Security does for VIPs.

Thus, once Sugishita Ukyo spoke, everything fell into place.

Ishihara Kumiko, this female officer on duty at the scene, had participated multiple times in the search for Akimoto Shōta, but each time came to nothing, so this young officer burned with rage and went to confront the minister's son herself.

What happened next needs no elaboration—we only know that afterward, Ishihara Kumiko consulted the police affairs department, but was talked down by the Public Security officers who learned of it.

This is how the Public Security officers talked her down.

"Miss Ishihara, so you want to report that the Foreign Ministry minister's son committed unlawful acts against you, is that right?"

"So you confirm, you were drinking, visited as an adult, then under semi-coercion had relations, is that right?"

"So you have no video support, no physical evidence, with large amounts of alcohol still in your system and surveillance showing you initiated the invitation and semi-coercion to pressure Akimoto Shōta into meeting you, yet you still want to report his unlawful acts against you, is that right?"

"This could get you charged with false accusation, bring prison disaster, and possibly affect you and your boyfriend…… family……"

After this Public Security routine, Ishihara Kumiko finally gave up.

Sugishita Ukyo, Division Chief, silently recalled Onoda's confession about the Public Security secret files, then immediately ordered: "Contain her! Take her away!"

At the same time, he shouted to all units: "The crisis is not over! Repeat, the crisis is not over! The bomb on the target remains active! Bomb disposal experts!!!"

At this moment, the clock struck exactly seven in the evening.

Akimoto Shōta was still sobbing, unaware of the shocking internal police drama just unfolded that hung on his life and death. He awaited neither his father's redemption nor an imminent explosion, merely trapped in boundless despair and fear.

But the bomb did not detonate.

Nearly simultaneously, the explosive ordnance disposal experts on standby surged forward like unleashed wild horses toward Akimoto Shōta, who no longer posed a direct threat.

They moved swiftly and precisely, using professional cutting tools to sever the restraints, carefully removing the ANFO explosive pack, and finally, the unit chief personally used a specialized tool—amid countless lenses and heartbeats—"Click!"—to undo that death collar.

The instant the collar and explosive were placed into the explosion-proof bucket, before anyone on scene could react, they heard the bomb disposal experts' roar: "Detonation prevented! Repeat, detonation prevented!!!"

Won?

Won.

Won!!!

A tremendous cheer, nearly enough to overturn the plaza, erupted from the police ranks!

The usually stern SAT members punched each other's shoulders, the mobile unit members removed their caps to wipe sweat-drenched brows, and Ichijo Keishi let out a long, long sigh, feeling as if he'd fought a hard battle lasting days and nights.

Watanabe Eiji and Onoda Kimiaki in the command center exchanged glances, their tight jawlines finally relaxing, a flicker of hard-to-discern relief crossing their eyes.

On the TV broadcast, the anchors' voices brimmed with excitement and emotion: "Success! The bomb has been defused! Akimoto Shōta is saved! This is a great victory for the Metropolitan Police Department, the result of everyone's relentless effort!"

The office workers and citizens on scene joined the cheer, and online, comments like "Long live the police!" "So great!" "Tears are flowing!" flooded the feed. A massive, cathartic joy blanketed the nation.

While Akimoto Shin'ichirō, the minister, saw his son rescued on the screen in his official residence, his whole body froze.

Na na na na na…… Na ni?

Just seconds ago, he had been immersed in a complex mix of sorrow, guilt, and self-pity over "nobly sacrificing" his son for the greater good, even beginning to plot how to maximize his son's "martyrdom" as political capital.

But now, his son hadn't died! The bomb was also cleared!

At this moment, joy like a tsunami shattered that false sorrow! His son hadn't died! No need to sacrifice! His political career needn't bear the stigma of "abandoned child" (even if unknown to anyone)!

He nearly wanted to dance, but immediately suppressed this loss of composure, shouting at his secretary in a voice trembling with excitement: "Quick! Immediately send my car to pick up Shōta! Use the Century! With my guards and secretary! Quick! Bring him back safely!"

That "dimly godlike sorrow" expression on his face instantly gave way to near-loss-of-composure elation and relief at recovering a treasure, despite the rapid shift flashing a hint of embarrassment in his heart, which was quickly drowned by joy.

A few minutes later, before the still-ongoing live broadcast lens, a black Toyota Century symbolizing top-tier nobility drove smoothly to the scene. The minister's secretary, dedicated driver, and a pistol-equipped guard swiftly disembarked, and with police assistance, helped the nearly limp, dazed Akimoto Shōta into the car.

Before boarding, Akimoto Shōta finally regained a hint of aristocratic bearing, coldly glancing at the ground where Ishihara Kumiko was still pinned, surrounded by a swarm of criminal investigators still lunging at her, her effort collapsed into furious shrieks of extreme unwillingness—he obviously recognized her.

Oh, it's that female detective!

A very faint, contemptuous smile finally appeared on Akimoto Shōta's face.

Sorry, but my Amma finished my life's work when he entered the pass!

If you don't believe me, go report it to the police, and see whether the police help me or help you!

But under the gaze of countless cameras and all the police at the scene, he masked his contempt well, and instead desperately thanked the police.

These ones wearing police uniforms are all good dogs! My father will reward you for me!

Well then, sayonara~

The Young Master got into the back seat, and the car slowly drove away from the plaza amid the attention of the masses and an atmosphere of blessings for survival after calamity.

Everyone thought this nightmare lasting nearly seven hours had finally ended in the victory of justice and life.

The Toyota Century drove about a hundred meters more, just as it was about to turn onto the main road——

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!

A huge, scorching fireball mixed with flames and black smoke violently erupted without warning from inside that black luxury sedan!

The explosion's shockwave instantly shattered the glass of surrounding buildings, as if a rain of crystal had fallen!

The sturdy Toyota Century body was torn apart and thrown up like a fragile toy, then crashed heavily back to the ground, becoming a fiercely burning, twisted metal wreck!

Flames soared into the sky, dyeing Minato Ward's evening sky red.

Debris fell like deadly raindrops.

Akimoto Shōta, the Secretary, the Driver, the Guard——four people were blown to bits in an instant, turning into charred wreckage along with this moving coffin.

The cheers at the scene came to an abrupt halt.

(Chapter End)