Chapter 548

As Akimoto Shin'ichirō slammed down the phone, Watanabe Eiji's expression turned extremely grim.

Friends who often watch "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" know that in a parliamentary cabinet system, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are extremely important positions, arguably the two most important in the cabinet.

In fact, the UK originally had no concept of a "Prime Minister" in its early cabinet; the so-called Prime Minister was merely the "First Lord of the Treasury," and over time, the First Lord of the Treasury became the "Prime Minister," while the Minister of Finance in the cabinet was actually the "Second Lord of the Treasury," yet this Second Lord of the Treasury still held the highest rank in the cabinet!

Then comes the Foreign Minister.

Japan follows the same logic: after the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, it is either the Minister of Finance or the Chief Cabinet Secretary (the exact ranking is uncertain, depending on whom the Prime Minister relies on more), and then comes the Foreign Minister!

Watanabe Eiji still hasn't figured out how he managed to deeply offend the Foreign Minister.

Wasn't the bomb defused? Didn't the explosives expert also check Akimoto Shōta's condition, confirm he was fine, and then the Foreign Minister sent a special car to pick him up, after which we police organizations gave the go-ahead!

How did I become the murderer who killed the Foreign Minister's son?

Watanabe Eiji's complexion was extremely grim.

But there is no reasoning with a father who has lost his son, and Watanabe Eiji also understands this.

If he were to lose Minami over this, he himself would go mad, fly into a rage, and launch a fierce retaliation against all possible parties involved in this matter, sparing no cost!

He pursed his lips, and finally calmed down: "Since it has come to this……arrange the vehicles! I want to go to the scene!"

All senior officers of the Metropolitan Police Department focused their gazes on Watanabe Eiji.

Deputy Superintendent Ōyama Ren of the Metropolitan Police Department cautiously proposed: "Superintendent, the situation at the scene is unclear; there may still be a risk of secondary explosion. Are you……?"

Watanabe Eiji raised his hand to stop him, his gaze sweeping over the burning wreckage on the large screen and the chaotic surroundings, his eyes sharp as a hawk.

"No, I must go." His voice left no room for doubt: "Every officer on the scene is taking risks, and the public, watching through the lens, sees only chaos and helplessness. Now, if the highest responsible person of the Metropolitan Police Department cannot appear at the front line, it signifies retreat and fear. This is not the time to display personal courage; this is the attitude of steadying morale and facing crisis head-on."

He turned to Kanchōkanbou Onoda Kimiaki of the Police Agency: "In my name, report to the Police Agency, request coordination of support from surrounding prefectural police, and advise the Cabinet to immediately convene a National Security Council!"

"I understand." Onoda Kimiaki, when faced with major events, never acts foolishly. He knows Watanabe Eiji is speaking to him, this empty title of Police Agency Chief Secretary, but more so to his brother, Cabinet Chief Secretary Onoda Kimiaki. Onoda Kimiaki gazes at Watanabe Eiji's resolute expression, inwardly wryly smiling, thinking this Metropolitan Police Superintendent truly invites disaster: "Trouble you then!"

"Prepare the vehicles, but change the route to ensure safety. Notify Sugishita, Ichijo, and the Special Mission System—I will arrive at the scene to command!" Watanabe Eiji said coldly.

Going to the front line is not only for inspecting the scene, but also to steady the helm of this great ship of the Metropolitan Police Department amidst the tumultuous waves of public opinion and politics.

Cherry blossom flag raised! Mother cloth troops ready!

Watanabe Superintendent, advancing with dignity!

……………………

Evening, seven thirty, half an hour after the explosion occurred.

The cordon's range was expanded to a radius of three hundred meters, red and blue emergency lights dyeing the night with an uneasy hue.

Members of the Special Mission System, Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami, etc., wearing disposable protective suits, entered the blast epicenter, the air filled with a pungent mixed odor—burnt rubber, plastic, leather, and a sweeter, more nauseating burnt protein smell.

It is obvious that Akimoto Shōta, along with the driver, guard, and minister's secretary, had no possibility of survival under these circumstances.

As for this human tragedy, aside from Minami and Okada, etc., of management immediately considering the case's gravity and negative impact on the police organization and thus appearing displeased……

"Good riddance, I'll pop the champagne!" Ikeda Erena's face wrote her thoughts.

"Good riddance, I'll pop the champagne!" Kai Toru, Igarashi, Date Clan, etc., all had this thought in their hearts.

【Good riddance, I'll pop the champagne!】Hironaka Mariko and Miyahara Toru couldn't help cheering for this explosion, applauding the bandits' actions! Never has such a splendid opening been seen!

【Good riddance, I'll pop the champagne……Uesugi, what is champagne?】The Village Flower Palace likewise felt pleased by this grand fireworks display, but she soon asked Uesugi Muneyuki what champagne is?

【What is champagne? Champagne is……】Uesugi Muneyuki hummed a little tune.

【Thanks to you transforming into an elf, replicating my genes, interpreting what it means to be father and son in battle~】

【My win rate declines step by step, you single-handedly hold back the raging torrent~】

【In an instant, waves high and winds fierce on high ground~like sprayed champagne~~~】

After the scene was simply handled and the fire extinguished, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit completely extinguished the flames on the Toyota Century and confirmed no third explosion would occur, whereupon Uesugi Muneyuki finally personally approached the scene, preparing to examine the corpse: "Mikoto-nee?"

"Uesugi, I'll speak frankly—this job pays well, but earning it is truly a pain." Ishihara Mikoto donned her protective suit, completely concealing her silk stockings, high heels, and lovely petite figure beneath it, then coiled her black hair and tucked it into the protective helmet, those fox-like eyes giving Uesugi Muneyuki a helpless white roll: "Can I say I regret it?"

"Regret comes too late!" Uesugi Muneyuki snorted, then his expression turned stern: "From now on, this is our battlefield!"

Two SAT officers and several other mobile unit members pulled up the yellow line for Uesugi Muneyuki and Ishihara Mikoto; beyond the yellow line, the Toyota Century no longer existed, only a twisted black metal skeleton scorched by flames remained, still emitting wisps of blue smoke.

The blast power just now was truly formidable; Uesugi Muneyuki stared intently—all four people in the vehicle were charred.

Charred black and black.

In the driver's seat, a charred corpse remained trapped between the steering wheel and the deformed driver's seat. The body assumed a terrifying "boxing stance"—due to muscles and tendons contracting under extreme heat, the limbs were forced to bend.

Facial features were completely carbonized, unrecognizable, only the teeth reflecting a forest-white light under the searchlight.

On the left rear secretary's seat, the corpse was partially thrown out of the vehicle, lying face-up on the charred ground. The suit had long turned to ash, the torso severely torn, viscera exposed externally, already partially scorched by high heat. One hand was unnaturally twisted, finger bones fractured.

The guard's corpse on the right rear was relatively intact, but similarly severely carbonized. The metal buckle of the gun holster remaining on his body had melted and deformed, the sidearm blown to over ten meters away, the barrel twisted.

As for Akimoto Shōta in the middle rear, this is the most horrific corpse: his torso was almost completely blown apart, leaving only part of the charred pelvis connected to a segment of spine with both legs still relatively "intact."

The skull was severely damaged, only inferable from scattered interior decorations (a deformed metal pendant, believed to be his) and relative position.

Really like sprayed champagne~Uesugi Muneyuki inspected, thus thinking.

The scene was deathly silent, only the occasional shutter clicks of evidence personnel's cameras and metal cutting sounds resounded. Even Special Mission System members accustomed to crime scenes couldn't help but turn pale facing such a horrific sight.

"Mouth area~" Ikeda Erena beside was still okay, she having followed Uesugi Muneyuki on countless autopsies, but Minami Ojou-sama couldn't bear it, she immediately began retching dry heaves, yet the strong-willed Minami unwilling to leave, facing Okada reaching out to pull her arm signaling her to temporarily withdraw, Minami Ojou-sama fiercely shoved him away.

I am the Special Mission System Management Officer! Honored mistress of the Watanabe Uesugi clan! Face of the Metropolitan Police Department, Watanabe Minami!

At this moment, I must be on the scene, standing with Muneyuki!

Just as he held me in his arms during the earlier explosion~

Mouth area! Minami fiercely gave Okada a white eye, then continued retching.

Just then, a commotion came from the outskirts.

A train convoy silently entered the cordon, doors opened, first to disembark were SP (Security Police) with solemn expressions.

Subsequently, two men in black suits, shoulder insignia flashing with cherry blossom and rising sun badges, entered this scorched earth under the escort of many senior officers.

The one on the left is Metropolitan Police Superintendent Watanabe Eiji, his face calm as water, but his eyes sharp as blades, each step taken steadily and powerfully. The one on the right, slightly shorter and thinner, but equally stern, is Police Agency Commissioner Tamaru Juzaburō; his arrival signifies that the highest authority of the national police system has personally come to the front line.

The two stood before the burned wreckage, silently gazing upon this hellish scene.

There were no excessive words, but the pressure permeating the air was almost suffocating. Chief Tamaru spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet enough for everyone around to hear clearly: "Watanabe-kun, this is a declaration of war. A declaration of war against the country itself."

Watanabe Eiji gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over those charred corpses before finally settling on the wrecked car frame: "Ah, I know. So this is our frontline battlefield. If we don't win, the country will know no peace."

The two highest leaders of the Japanese police stood side by side before the crowd, facing Division Chief Sugishita Ukyo of the Criminal Affairs Investigation Division 1 and Superintendent Ichijo Kaoru of the Public Security Division who had come to report, Watanabe Eiji didn't say much, merely nodded slightly, then immediately strode toward the wreckage of the Toyota Century.

"Director General!"

"Director General! You can't go there! It's dangerous!"

His action drew a chorus of surprised exclamations, but Watanabe Eiji didn't stop his steps. He soon noticed his daughter Watanabe Minami was retching in nausea, his eyes flickered, he merely patted his daughter's shoulder, saying nothing.

From a certain angle, this father and daughter were very alike.

Then he turned his gaze toward his son, who had once again become the police organization's last hope — Uesugi Muneyuki.

He and Ishihara Mikoto were performing an autopsy. Although Watanabe Eiji confirmed they were already four charred lumps, the probability of any findings was low.

But he was an Uesugi!

His name was Uesugi Muneyuki!

"Uesugi, found anything?" Watanabe Eiji personally asked.

"Yes, Director General." Uesugi Muneyuki wanted to wipe the sweat from his head, but because he was wearing protective clothing he could only give up. Seeing Watanabe Eiji arrive, he showed not the slightest surprise, instead pointing at the Toyota Century wreckage: "Director General! And everyone, look here!"

"Oh?!" Uesugi Muneyuki indeed did not disappoint everyone. Hearing his words, the Police Commissioner Superintendent General, and the police of the SAT Mobile Unit Investigation Division 1 Public Security Security Department all looked over.

"What is this?!"

(Chapter End)