Chapter 553

The next morning, the Metropolitan Police Department's Grand Hall, the Major Joint Special Investigation Headquarters.

The Special Investigation Headquarters was in chaos that morning, with leftover takeout boxes, empty drink bottles, temporary sleeping mats, and rice ball wrappers tangled messily among countless documents, whiteboards, and computers; the air reeked of male sweat and instant noodles, cigarette butts piled high in the smoking room, and stacked empty coffee cans resembled some new-era abstract art, while investigators lounged in twos and threes—some waiting for news, some discussing, some eating heartily, some sleeping.

This is the work style of the Japanese police: when faced with such matters, they never rest until the goal is achieved, never stand down until the case is solved, sharing weal and woe together as beasts of burden.

At that moment, the Grand Hall's doors opened, against the outside's small Kiso scorching sun, a group of figures in Western suits and leather shoes followed by a person wearing the Metropolitan Police Department's summer uniform for internal duties, flawless silk stockings and lacquered high heels, her footsteps somewhat unnatural as she entered the Grand Hall.

It was the Special Mission Unit! It was Special Mission System Management Officer Superintendent Watanabe Minami!

The atmosphere in the Grand Hall instantly changed, all police focusing their attention on Minami's rear.

The Special Mission Unit has arrived! The Uesugi Chief has arrived!

Uesugi has arrived—will a breakthrough still be far off?

Now, boundless confidence surged throughout the Special Investigation Headquarters.

At this moment, Minami rubbed her waist, silently suffering.

She had planned everything yesterday, the only thing she hadn't anticipated was Ikeda Erena's poor condition—Erena was sturdy but heat-intolerant, so yesterday, under that blazing sun, she followed Uesugi Muneyuki outdoors for over ten hours of investigation, directly causing Erena to be even more fatigued that night, which made Minami suffer.

She was already weak; that morning, waiting for the inn staff to call them up for breakfast, Minami could barely stand, her waist sore, back aching, legs weak, eyes unfocused.

Damn, Muneyuki seems to be getting stronger and stronger!

If this continues, disaster!

Will we have to request external aid later? Like Asuka Mikoto or something?

Damn, this way, this Superintendent Minami, Honorable Lady of the Inner Palace, won't just appear lacking in dignity?

Unable to let Muneyuki enjoy himself fully, I truly feel apologetic—encountering such a fiancé, I am truly grateful to..."

Minami voiced her happy complaints, her heart full of sweet worries.

Fortunately, she mainly works as an office-based young lady; after the preliminary investigation yesterday, if unnecessary, she wouldn't personally go to the scene, so she found a quiet spot in the Metropolitan Police Department to secretly nap and rest, while awaiting the next investigation results and Uesugi Muneyuki's lab analysis.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Uesugi Muneyuki, who had thoroughly enjoyed himself the previous night, felt refreshed and invigorated.

Those four guys yesterday—really blew up too finely! Too charred!

More charred than even the prison boss!

So charred that whether it was the minister's secretary, Akimoto Shōta, or the minister's guards, almost none could trigger the Death Soul Contract and Death Flashback; only the driver's situation was somewhat better, so Uesugi Muneyuki had to expend great effort to barely summon the driver's remnant soul.

The driver provided a very important piece of information: regarding the minister's Toyota Century, he meticulously maintains it daily, but at the time he drove out, it was an emergency, so he departed without checking the vehicle's condition; therefore, without doubt, the bomb must have been installed after the previous night, before departure yesterday at 7 p. m., beneath the minister's official vehicle.

And the minister's Toyota Century has been parked this entire time in the parking lot near the official residence!

So there's no doubt—it was definitely installed in the parking lot!

As for Akimoto Shōta's matter, the minister's driver also knows some: the minister actually has always been earning income from overseas, specifics he isn't clear on, but besides receiving dollar subsidies, the minister's driver also knows Akimoto Shōta has always relied on his father's influence to settle various matters, and he is generous, values loyalty and relationships, those around him praise his character endlessly; girls truly in trouble who see him pull out wads of green US dollars usually give up, like Ishihara Kumiko, such a "steadfast" person is indeed rare.

"The taste of female police is indeed extraordinary."—these were Akimoto Shōta's exact words boasting to the driver.

"Indeed."—this was Uesugi Muneyuki's affirmation!

Since the location is known and the time is known, handling this case will be much easier!

The only problem is, he must provide sufficient evidence, because the Metropolitan Police Department lacks jurisdiction to investigate National Diet members!

This point was already stated earlier, so even if the Special Investigation Headquarters obtained the highest approval from the Cabinet and the National Public Safety Commission, seeking to investigate the minister's residence, parking lot, office location, and surrounding persons, solid evidence is required!

Therefore, Uesugi Muneyuki asked Ishihara Mikoto: how can we prove the vehicle had the bomb installed before entering the premises? How can we prove the vehicle had the bomb installed in the parking lot?

Mikoto-nee, as expected, quickly gave a reasonable explanation and investigative method.

Clean Layer Particles!

Thus, various units, the Forensic Science Laboratory, and frontline detectives, after a night of investigation, Tokyo University's graduate and undergraduate research students—beasts of burden in science—struggled hard all night, and soon messages and reports from all directions converged before Uesugi Muneyuki; he took the results to find answers, and soon organized a perfect explanation.

"Okada, Nanxiang, notify everyone including Watanabe Director, tell them I have a major discovery!" Uesugi Muneyuki's playful expression gradually faded, replaced by the absolute calm and focus of a scientist.

This Uesugi has always spoken science!

"So fast? Good! I'll go notify the Director right away!" Okada Masayoshi blinked, then immediately said excitedly.

Indeed, hearing this news, the entire Special Investigation Headquarters immediately sprang to life.

At eleven a. m., the Special Investigation Headquarters held a temporary special meeting!

Uesugi Muneyuki stood before the command center's huge electronic screen, facing the Metropolitan Police Department's highest decision-makers: Director Watanabe Eiji, Commissioner's Secretariat Director, Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kanji, and Investigation Division 1 Management Officer Sugishita Ukyo.

Also present were over three hundred detectives in the Grand Hall, covering all elites from the Kantou Region.

The entire headquarters fell silent as tombs, all eyes focused on this young genius forensic pathologist.

"Director, everyone," Uesugi Muneyuki's voice steady and clear, like a scalpel cutting into the topic: "Regarding the Foreign Minister's vehicle explosion case, forensic identification and physicochemical analysis are complete, conclusion clear."

He manipulated his Apple iPad, and the large screen instantly displayed side-by-side images under high-power microscopy and complex elemental analysis spectra.

"First, the blast epicenter is locked."

He enlarged a photo of a key part of the vehicle's undercarriage debris. "Please look here, the inner side of the undercarriage armor not fully detached, its adhered substance shows a clear 'three-layer structure'."

He circled with a laser pointer:

"Bottom layer: detected mixed dust, containing diatomaceous earth, specific polymer particles, and rare Japanese alder pollen and willow fiber fragments from the Kantou Region."

"Middle layer: high-concentration ANFO explosive residue, mixed with trace pine and cypress wood shavings, its isotopic features highly matching soil samples from the Tree Sea."

"Top layer: common asphalt particles from Kōku Hiroba, residual heavy metal particulates from vehicle exhaust."

His gaze swept over the crowd, giving the decisive conclusion: "This layered structure, physically termed the 'Clean Layer' effect, irrefutably proves the explosive was installed on the undercarriage only after being contaminated with the official residence parking lot's unique dust (bottom layer), then finally detonated at Kōku Hiroba, picking up local pollutants (top layer)."

"This is ironclad proof that the explosive was already installed before entering the scene!"

"Second, explosive source tracing and installation site precision."

He switched the screen, displaying the pollen analysis report: "The key lies in the bottom layer's Japanese alder pollen and willow fibers. We compared all vegetation distribution databases within Tokyo Metropolis. Japanese alder is not rare in the metropolis, but forms a stable symbiotic community with willow, and pollen and fibers can simultaneously fall in large amounts to the parking area—"

He switched the screen again, a satellite map enlarged, locked onto the southeast corner of the Foreign Minister's official residence parking lot.

"Only here—adjacent to the Akimoto Minister's official residence parking lot, the inner courtyard edge. This area has three mature Japanese alder trees planted, with an artificial stream beside them, along which willows are planted."

"Combined with meteorological data, the wind direction the day before the explosion was southeast, perfectly able to blow this area's pollen and fibers to the parking lot's core zone. Therefore, the bomb has over a 95% probability of having been installed when the vehicle was parked in this specific area of the official residence parking lot."

The entire command center fell so silent a pin drop could be heard.

This line of reasoning is strict, the evidence chain is interlinked, and science has been used to the utmost.

Watanabe Eiji Director's eyes flashed with sharp light, without any hesitation, he immediately issued the order: "Onoda Kanchoukanbou! We have evidence! Immediately coordinate with the Public Security Bureau, centering on that area, retrieve all possible angle surveillance! Screen all personnel and vehicles that approached the area the day before the explosion! Including internal staff! Sugishita Division Chief, assist in the screening!"

"Yes!" Onoda Kimiaki and Sugishita Ukyo immediately stood up, grabbed their communicators and began deployment.

The order was like a stone thrown into a still lake, stirring layer upon layer of ripples; the entire vast Special Investigation Headquarters machine, revolving around the precise "compass" provided by Uesugi Muneyuki, began operating at high speed.

Countless criminal investigators stared dumbfounded.

Is this Uesugi Muneyuki?

Too strong.

With solid evidence, they can now apply to the Cabinet for permission to view surveillance near the Minister's Official Residence and investigate surrounding personnel!

Onoda Kimiaki, who was on duty at the Cabinet, agreed to the investigation permit immediately after seeing the evidence.

Indeed, two hours later, the Public Security Police who had obtained the permit immediately sent back good news.

Public Security Bureau Management Officer Ichijo Keishi, holding an urgent report, walked briskly into the Command Center, his face showing uncontrollable excitement: "Director! We found it! Based on the area and time period locked down by Doctor Uesugi, we repeatedly screened the surveillance and discovered a suspicious figure! Around four o'clock in the afternoon the day before the explosion, a man wearing the uniform of an internal maintenance worker at the Official Residence, but whose build and gait did not match registered personnel, was seen carrying a tool box and loitering in the area for about seven minutes! He was captured from at least three angles bending down to approach the Minister's Toyota Century!"

"Can you lock down his identity?" Watanabe Director pursued.

"We are fully conducting image enhancement and comparison! The other party is wearing a mask—possibly difficult, but at least, we now have a clear target and direction!"

"Great!" Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Shinobu couldn't help but punch his fist.

In the Command Center, the long-suppressed tense atmosphere was finally broken, and a low, hopeful chorus of praise and relief rang out.

All eyes turned toward Uesugi Muneyuki, filled with sincere admiration. In the search of thousands of police forces like looking for a needle in the sea, it was he who, with his extraordinary scientific eye, illuminated the most crucial direction like a lighthouse!

Sugishita Ukyo Division Chief walked up to Uesugi Muneyuki, patted his shoulder firmly, and said concisely: "Well done, Uesugi."

Watanabe Eiji Director also gave a slight chin nod; although he said nothing, his approving gaze already said everything.

Uesugi, you have twice guarded this home, guarded Sakuradamon!

With evidence, with images, with surveillance records, and furthermore with the results of various scientific comparisons, the Metropolitan Police Department's handling of affairs without direction, acting unreliably, suppressing bandits without strength—having failed to thoroughly remove the bomb on Akimoto Shōta's body—can now have its hat removed!

Uesugi successfully proved that this explosion was basically unrelated to the Metropolitan Police Department, so the police organization would not have to bear responsibility for the explosion, and thus in the investigation would not and need not be so passive!

Next, it is the turn of the Metropolitan Police Department and his Watanabe Eiji to counterattack against Akimoto Daijin!

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