Chapter 549: , Reverse Forensics Again!

PS: I have to go on a blind date today, so the second update might be delayed and shorter. I'll post a 3,800-word hard-hitting chapter first—on-site in Minato Ward, total chaos.

The Metropolitan Police Department's medical team has already arrived, and follow-up nearby hospitals and additional medical resources are rushing here.

Besides instantly killing Autumn's first secretary, Shinichiro Akimoto, his driver, the Cabinet Office-affiliated SP (Security Police), and his most "precious" son, Shota Akimoto, the Toyota Century explosion also caused at least three people to suffer serious injuries, fifteen with minor injuries, and at least thirty to forty others to be frightened by the blast wave.

Worse still, this explosion completely destroyed all the efforts the Metropolitan Police Department had made beforehand.

Before the bomb explosion, the Metropolitan Police Department and people like Muneyoshi Uesugi were heroes, brave warriors, or at least competent civil servants who didn't waste taxpayers' money—trustworthy and worthy of public trust.

But after Akimoto Daijin's Toyota Century exploded, killing four people in the car and injuring over a dozen nearby, the Metropolitan Police Department became synonymous with "trash, incompetent, tax thieves."

Shinichiro Akimoto poured all his grief and extreme anger onto the Metropolitan Police Department.

Angry citizens even louder in their curses.

"What kind of joke is this! What are the police even for! Wasn't safety already declared?"

"This is the second explosion! Is the Metropolitan Police Department's bomb disposal a joke? They can't possibly protect the people!"

"I bet there's still a mole inside the Metropolitan Police Department! They're silencing witnesses!"

"Or maybe this is the Metropolitan Police Department staging this themselves to cover up their earlier incompetence!"

"No matter the cause, after the police declared the danger over, the vehicle picking up victims exploded—this exposes an unavoidable major flaw in the Metropolitan Police Department's aftermath handling and safety inspection procedures."

Public opinion instantly reversed; all previous praise vanished, and the Metropolitan Police Department was thrust into the spotlight, becoming the target of everyone's anger.

Facing this overwhelming blame, although the Metropolitan Police Department internally felt just as shocked and heavy-hearted, it had to respond immediately.

While trying to unite his demoralized subordinates after the bomb explosion, to give the public an explanation, and to respond to the furious foreign minister, Watanabe Eiji personally came to the scene—not only to show his utmost attention to this case, but also hoping Muneyoshi Uesugi could, as in all previous major cases, accomplish the impossible.

Reverse the forensic analysis!

Where is my son, Muneyoshi?

Uesugi, save my teeth!

And Muneyoshi Uesugi never lets Watanabe Eiji down.

In front of the Police Agency Director and the Metropolitan Police Chief, Muneyoshi Uesugi stood calm and professional, pointing at the wreckage of the Toyota Century after the explosion: "Chief, Director, look here."

He gestured for everyone to focus their gaze on the wreckage of the Toyota Century.

In front of everyone and the live TV broadcast cameras, Muneyoshi Uesugi calmly said: "Pay attention—look at this vehicle's wreckage."

"Based on key components of the vehicle's undercarriage in the explosion debris, and my autopsy of the four victims, I found that all bone fractures facing the vehicle's underside—such as the pelvis and leg bones—were most severely comminuted, along with severe internal injuries, and the metal fragments embedded in their bodies mainly came from undercarriage components that penetrated upward."

"In other words, the bomb did not explode inside the car, but underneath it."

"The blast point was located in the middle of the vehicle's undercarriage, near the exhaust pipe. The metal tearing there is most severe and shows typical inward curling."

"Therefore, I can reasonably conclude that the bomb causing the Toyota Century explosion was not possibly on Shota Akimoto's person (not ruled out), nor was it from inside the car, but was located on the undercarriage of the Toyota Century, attached before the vehicle entered the scene!"

Muneyoshi Uesugi gave a very calm judgment.

His judgment immediately convinced all police on scene, including Police Agency Director Tamaru and Metropolitan Police Chief Watanabe Eiji, who instinctively believed it.

The reason is simple: humans naturally love to shift blame and avoid responsibility. They instinctively believe what they want to believe, what benefits them—let alone when it's the legendary forensic expert Muneyoshi Uesugi making the conclusion.

When has Muneyoshi Uesugi's judgment ever been wrong?

And if the bomb wasn't on Shota Akimoto's person but came with the Toyota Century, then responsibility completely reverses—this has nothing to do with us at the Metropolitan Police Department! The minister's security is handled by the Security Division of the Police Agency's Guard Bureau, the Imperial Palace Police Headquarters, and the Police Agency's Special Protection Unit, which deploy SPs!

Muneyoshi Uesugi's words shocked everyone present.

I said it! This has nothing to do with us police! In mid-July, during the scorching summer, we police stood under the blazing sun for seven or eight hours fighting for the minister's son's safety and successfully defused the bomb—now something happens and we're blamed hysterically? Is there any justice left?

Even the most justice-driven Jin Beruki and the unflappable, stoic Ukyo Sugishita, Section Chief One, showed expressions of agreement and satisfaction.

But Watanabe Eiji remained very cautious. Although the Metropolitan Police Chief also fully believed in his son's judgment, he still said solemnly: "Chief Uesugi, words aren't enough—we need evidence, scientific proof. First, we need proof that the bomb detonated under the car; second, proof that the bomb was attached to the car and brought from elsewhere. Only with evidence can we announce this to the public."

"——As for evidence—" Muneyoshi Uesugi paused, then turned his gaze to the forensic beauty, his sole designated assistant, Mikoto Ishihara.

"Evidence isn't hard." Indeed, Mikoto Ishihara never lets Muneyoshi Uesugi down. The forensic beauty calmly said: "First, we can use the Scientific Investigation Research Institute's blast point reconstruction technology to verify the explosion came from under the car."

"All four bodies show typical 'bottom-up' blast injury patterns. Pelvic and thigh bone comminuted fractures are most severe, with the most undercarriage metal debris embedded in the wounds. Chest and abdominal organs show far more severe damage on the lower sides than the upper."

"And as for proving the bomb was brought by this car from elsewhere—this isn't hard either. We can request Tokyo University's help to chemically and spectrally analyze the non-detached undercarriage parts of the wreckage left at the scene—we should get results."

"We'll also conduct autopsies on the bodies," Muneyoshi Uesugi added: "Let's see if there's anything else to find."

Muneyoshi Uesugi's exceptional on-site insight and judgment, unmatched reconstruction ability, combined with Mikoto Ishihara's solid scientific knowledge and her ability to always find a scientific explanation for any of his deductions, together form the top forensic capability of the Special Command System nationwide.

"Excellent!" With Muneyoshi Uesugi's judgment, Watanabe Eiji immediately gained confidence. The Metropolitan Police Chief said solemnly: "Uesugi, Ishihara, you will receive all available resources to assist you! Please analyze and deliver results as soon as possible!"

"Yes!"

"Everyone else, take action immediately!"

"Section Chief Sugishita, please personally lead the team to investigate Shota Akimoto's personal relationships and social network—and" Watanabe Eiji looked at the arrested Kumiko Ishihara: "—and this terrorist accomplice, conduct searches and interrogations! Be sure to quickly uncover all possible defensive lines!"

"Yes!" Sugishita Ukyo's face was stern.

"Section Chief Kanri, please immediately investigate the security arrangements for Akimoto Daijin and the Toyota Century issue. If it's truly as Chief Uesugi judged, then the minister's car must have been rigged with a bomb before picking anyone up—and recently!" Watanabe Eiji continued: "Please help!"

"Yes!"

"As for the Police Agency's Guard Bureau personnel, since this happened suddenly, please fully assist the Special Command System and Public Security in their investigation!" Watanabe Eiji looked at Deputy Chief Kinoshita and others of the Guard Bureau: "Especially regarding cabinet officials and SP matters."

"Understood!" Deputy Chief Kinoshita and the Guard Bureau/Public Security personnel looked grim—this incident is a disgrace to them.

Muneyoshi Uesugi stood aside, coldly observing. He looked at the guard who was also blown to charcoal.

The SP killed in the explosion was named Masahiro Higashide, a member of the special protection unit provided by the Guard Bureau.

And he very likely was the only innocent one among the four killed—because whether the minister's driver or secretary, they inevitably involve themselves heavily in the minister's private affairs, possibly including Shota Akimoto's series of... indiscretions, so although it's unfortunate they died, calling them accomplices is no problem.

However, as for Shota Akimoto, Muneyoshi Uesugi believes that in any country, if he were prosecuted for rape, he wouldn't deserve the death penalty—even in South Korea, which has the strictest rape laws, only causing death leads to a possible death sentence.

Though one shouldn't advise others on virtue when they haven't suffered, Muneyoshi Uesugi has nothing to say about Shota Akimoto's death—he got what he deserved.

If you encounter someone whose situation you know nothing about and immediately urge them to be magnanimous, stay away from such people.

But Masahiro Higashide was indeed innocent—this guard was assigned by the Guard Bureau's Protection Division to the minister, not a private hire. The minister would have to be mentally impaired to let him know about Shota Akimoto's affairs!

Moreover, the explosion also caused three serious injuries and over a dozen minor ones. Looking at this, Muneyoshi Uesugi turned his gaze to the detained Kumiko Ishihara, thinking this female officer will certainly not escape legal punishment—and very likely face 20 years, possibly life—but I can do is privately submit her case to the district prosecutor, hoping for a lighter sentence.

The legendary forensic expert Chief Uesugi stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the night sky, knowing this was destined to be an unrestful night.

A new challenge has arrived!

Indeed, the news of the explosion spread like a shockwave, shaking the entire nation's power center.

Yamada Prime Minister urgently summoned all core cabinet ministers at the official residence, Akimoto Shin'ichirō's indignant accusation and Watanabe Eiji's calm report were simultaneously placed before him, and the political balance was struck in an instant—regardless of the truth, the nature of the event could no longer tolerate any leniency.

"This is not an ordinary criminal case; this is war."

Yamada Prime Minister said in a deep voice, "Mobilize all forces—we must crush these enemies of the state!"

Finance Minister Hanzawa promised to approve sufficient budget, Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda stated he would provide all conveniences for the Metropolitan Police Department, and National Public Safety Commission Chairman Higashi Kotaro declared he would urgently delegate authority, granting the Metropolitan Police Department maximum permission to mobilize national police forces under unified command to find the perpetrator!

The Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters has activated the highest emergency mechanism. The vast headquarters lecture hall was quickly cleared, and technical personnel began setting up the most advanced communication and display equipment.

One hour later, in front of the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters building, police lights flashed like a starry sea.

A line of high-ranking officials in formal attire stood solemnly. Before countless media cameras, Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji of the Metropolitan Police Department stood shoulder to shoulder with Chief Tamaru of the National Police Agency, symbolizing the unity of national police power.

Facing the microphone, Watanabe Eiji's voice was transmitted through the megaphone across the entire square, cold and full of power:

"Considering the extremely heinous nature of this case and its serious challenge to the foundation of national public security, approved by the Cabinet and the National Police Agency, effective immediately, establish the 'Minato Ward Serial Major Terrorist Incident Special Investigation Headquarters'!"

"The Headquarters Chief is me, Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji, personally assuming the role!"

"The Headquarters will integrate all forces of the Metropolitan Police Department and receive full support from the National Police Agency and even all prefectural police forces nationwide! The number of investigators deployed will have no upper limit!"

"Our target is only one: at any cost, to thoroughly uncover and bring to justice those who carried out the bombing plot threatening the safety of state officials including Akimoto Shōta and all their associates, and to uphold the dignity of the law, comfort the deceased, and restore public tranquility!"

Behind him, inside the windows of the Headquarters building, silhouettes moved, as telephone rings, radio calls, and keyboard taps converged into a torrent of revenge.

A total war between the state machinery and the enemies lurking in the shadows has thus been declared begun.

The entire weight of Japan now rests upon this newly established "Special Investigation Headquarters."

The pressure was substantial, permeating Tokyo's hot night sky—this is a war without gun smoke!

Tatata kai!