Chapter 554

Uesugi Muneyuki never disappoints.

This is the feeling of everyone at the scene after Uesugi Muneyuki made his judgment, especially Watanabe Eiji and Onoda Kimiaki!

Since the Joint Special Investigation Headquarters was formed, these two have been under the most pressure. First is Watanabe Eiji, as Superintendent General. The incident happened in Tokyo; as Superintendent General, the responsibility is his alone. Moreover, the bomb exploded right under the police organization's nose, and a police mole was caught at the scene. Even if he had no responsibility before, he has it now!

The other is Onoda Kimiaki, Director of the Commissioner's Secretariat of the National Police Agency. This man, who has sidelined the Police Commissioner, clearly does not intend to stop at the position of Assistant Commissioner and Director of the Secretariat. As the younger brother of the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Onoda Kimiaki is certainly aiming to continue climbing toward Superintendent General or even higher.

As stated earlier, for a career bureaucrat to advance toward a political appointee is a nearly insurmountable chasm, unless one repeatedly achieves unprecedented merit like Watanabe Eiji. Otherwise, a career bureaucrat's ceiling is Superintendent General or Administrative Vice-Minister of a ministry.

But with Uesugi Muneyuki here! It is simply impossible for Onoda not to breed even greater ambition. And just like the Special Mission Unit full of second-generation scions, Onoda Kimiaki's merits have people watching and recording them.

Even now, although Uesugi Muneyuki still cannot immediately identify the culprit, it is enough for the predicament currently facing the Japanese police organization!

"Good. Immediately notify Togasaki Tomonobu. Hold a press conference this afternoon and announce Chief Uesugi's investigation results! And present the surveillance footage we've collected!" Watanabe Eiji's face involuntarily showed joy, but considering the case isn't solved yet and we police must keep striving, he held it in. He slapped Uesugi Muneyuki hard on the shoulder with a "Son, Father is counting on you again" expression, then let go at once and went off to prepare.

After Watanabe Eiji dropped his hint, Onoda Kimiaki also came before Uesugi Muneyuki. He gazed deeply at this young man, then said in a low voice: "Uesugi-kun, the Cabinet has granted the highest authority. If there is any need, including 'voluntary investigation,' 'emergency arrest,' and 'emergency search,' the Public Security side is willing to cooperate at any time!"

"Thank you." Uesugi Muneyuki didn't say much else.

The Public Security Police, like Uesugi Muneyuki himself, are a double-edged sword, possessing both attributes simultaneously. Borrowing Public Security's power allows warrantless searches, warrantless arrests, and mobilization of SAT and many special channels. But it also means sometimes having to accept Public Security's requests and designations.

Uesugi Muneyuki's attitude toward the Public Security Police is: necessity, proportionality, minimum extent.

That is: is it necessary to deploy Public Security (e. g., the suspect will flee if not deployed urgently)? Is the opponent's relative strength proportional to Public Security? And can the problem be resolved to the minimum extent (e. g., the Ikebukuro Phantom Guest absolutely required Public Security's help)?

Forensic pathologist, have some backbone!

But this time, regarding whether Public Security Police assistance is needed, even Uesugi Muneyuki himself isn't too sure.

Just what is the origin of this Sakikawa Restoration Army?

If the other side really has strong underworld capabilities, then we'll serve them a Barrett sniper rifle!

Namu Gatling Bodhisattva, aid me! Six Roots Purified, Apache!

……………………

Sure enough, once the news broke in the afternoon, it immediately caused a huge sensation!

Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji immediately convened an emergency press conference, announcing the investigation results with a solemn expression but firm tone.

He first again expressed condolences for the deaths of Akimoto Shōta and the others, then shifted tone: "Based on conclusive evidence, the root cause of this fatal explosion lies in a major flaw in the security system protecting the nation's core VIPs. The explosive was installed on the vehicle while it was parked long-term in an area secured by another department, before the vehicle arrived at the scene. The Metropolitan Police Department's bomb disposal operation for the target (Akimoto Shōta) at the scene was successful and responsible, but it cannot be held responsible for a fatal trap pre-installed from outside its security jurisdiction!"

The subtext being: "The responsibility lies not with us, but with the SP and their management system responsible for the Minister's personal safety. We, the Metropolitan Police, came to put out the fire, but the arsonist lit it in your own backyard!"

Subsequently, Watanabe Eiji presented all of Uesugi Muneyuki's deductions at the press conference, attached reasonable chemical analysis results and the "clean layer" conclusion. And as the Metropolitan Police displayed that blurry figure from the parking lot surveillance, public opinion flipped instantly!

"According to the final appraisal by the Metropolitan Police's Scientific Police Research Institute and forensic experts, the explosive that detonated the Foreign Minister's vehicle was confirmed to have been installed on the undercarriage during the vehicle's stay at the Official Residence parking lot. Currently, one suspicious person disguised as a maintenance worker has been identified, and the relevant investigation is proceeding at full force!"

Despite the cautious wording, this "thunderclap of truth" instantly spread nationwide via live broadcast.

NHK immediately ran the headline: "Major Security System Flaw! Terrorists Infiltrate National Core Area!"

Private broadcast commentators in the studio nearly lost composure: "Unbelievable! This means the security of our Ministers' Official Residences is virtually nonexistent!" "This isn't a simple crime; this is a naked violation of national sovereignty!"

News flashes covered the internet like snowflakes: "Target Points Straight at Power Core!" "Who Can Still Feel Safe? — The People's Enormous Question."

On social media, panic and anger intertwined: "Too scary! Even a Minister's car can be rigged with a bomb!" "What do the SP (Security Police) eat for a living?"

"Demand the entire Cabinet apologize!"

"Damn it, we pay this much tax every year, each Minister spends over 100 million on security annually, and this is the result?"

The spearhead of public opinion violently shifted from "Metropolitan Police incompetence" to "Cabinet security collapse" in an instant.

Inside the Official Residence, Minister Akimoto Shin'ichiro watched the broadcast. His face flushed red, then turned ashen. All his previous rebukes and buck-passing toward the Metropolitan Police now became the most stinging mockery echoing in his own ears.

The bomb was actually planted in his own "Absolute Safety Zone"! He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to the secretary beside him, but ultimately couldn't utter a single word. He could only slump dejectedly in his chair, repeatedly wiping away the cold sweat that instantly beaded up with a handkerchief. A massive embarrassment and an even deeper fear drowned him — not only because of the grief of losing his son, but because he himself might already be the next target on the Sakikawa Restoration Army's list.

In other words, my son, my most beloved Shōta, died in my place?

Shōta, my Shōta! Father thanks you!

Thinking of his blown-up son, his blown-up trusted secretary, his driver of twenty years, Akimoto Shin'ichiro couldn't hold back his grief. Tears streamed down; he was overwhelmed with emotion.

They were all my dearest friends and kin, brothers in arms!

Sakikawa Restoration Army, I'm not done with you! Not done!!!!

However, when Minister Akimoto Shin'ichiro informed the Cabinet — both to play the victim for more political capital and to seize the chance to show he'd stand by Prime Minister Oowada at any cost — who knew the Cabinet would already be in total chaos!

Even all of Nagatacho blew up!

Oh wait, not literally blown up, but a super stun grenade was dropped, leaving everyone fearing for themselves!

The Foreign Minister's official car was rigged with a bomb! His own son, chief secretary, dedicated driver, and guards were all sent into manned spaceflight — how far behind can we be?

Finance Minister Hanzawa and Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki, holding down the fort in the Cabinet, were already losing control of the situation!

Cabinet Ministers immediately summoned their SP chiefs, sternly demanding "carpet" explosive inspections of official cars, offices, and residences. The black official cars that once symbolized status now seemed like potential mobile coffins!

Diet Members followed suit one after another, contacting private security companies. For a time, high-end explosive detection equipment and personnel in Tokyo became scarce commodities!

Prime Minister Oowada had no choice but to appear from his own Official Residence, forced to reassure his cabinet members, promising an immediate comprehensive review and upgrade of all VIP security protocols. But the atmosphere of "every man for himself" permeating the air could not be easily dispelled.

A profound security trust crisis plunged the entire Japanese power core into the chaos of "seeing a bow's reflection in a cup and mistaking it for a snake."

Unable to secure Cabinet support and faced with the Metropolitan Police's ironclad evidence, Akimoto Shin'ichiro's towering rage instantly died down. He could no longer blame the Metropolitan Police, because the bomb was planted on his own "turf." This instead exposed the extreme threat he himself faced and the severe dereliction of his dedicated security team.

His attitude had to do a 180, shifting from high-profile accountability to low-profile evasion. He no longer publicly attacked the Metropolitan Police, instead expressing through his secretary "trust in the relevant departments' investigation results" and emphasizing "the current focus is tracking the real culprit and safeguarding national security."

He fell into an extremely awkward position: grieving his son's death, yet losing all face because his own security flaw caused the tragedy, and even facing potential attacks from political opponents for "administrative incompetence."

But the Foreign Minister still announced he would not resign. He would fight to the end against enemies opposing the national polity, against this kind of extremist left-wing terrorist organization!

However, that evening, inside the Metropolitan Police Special Investigation Headquarters, the elated atmosphere from the initial breakthrough didn't last long.

The Public Security Bureau deployed its top-tier facial recognition technology and massive manpower to enhance and match the image of that "maintenance worker."

But the result was disappointing — the other party had clearly undergone meticulous disguise, and the uniform used was a replica. In the existing databases and internal personnel screening, no exact identity could be matched.

He was like a true ghost, leaving a fleeting glimpse in the Official Residence surveillance, then blending into the crowd and vanishing without a trace.

Another ghost?

Sakuma Kaito the Second?

Investigation Division 1 and all the police in the Kanto region fell into a quagmire once again.

On the large screen of the Command Center, that blurred and suspicious masked face was frozen there, as if silently mocking the police's efforts.

Uesugi Muneyuki furrowed his brow, hands braced on the Command Platform, staring at the face hidden beneath the mask; he knew merely pinning down the installation method and approximate time wasn't enough—if they couldn't find this person, the leads would run dry.

Hmm... what should we do next?

The following content concerns the blind spots untouched by the Death Soul Contract and Death Flashback.

But by now, Uesugi Muneyuki is no longer the rookie who only knew how to solve cases by telling stories with Dead Souls.

The weak version of me from before is already dead!

Now I am an even weaker me! (Heavy Fog) Cough cough, but now I am me who has achieved all-round development!

Since the lead from the Death Soul Contract has been cut off, Uesugi decided to shift the investigation toward a more scientific direction.

"Flowers," "Trees," "Sky," "Breeze," "Clouds," "Sun," "Rainbow," "Ocean," "Beach," "Forest," "Pebbles," "Gravel," "Earth"!

(Chapter End)