Chapter 555

The atmosphere in the command center had become somewhat stagnant due to the interruption of the "maintenance worker" lead. Faced with the deadlock, Uesugi Muneyuki stood before the massive clue board, his eyes sharp. He suddenly turned around and said to Watanabe Director and Uchimura Criminal Investigation Department Chief: "Director, Chief, the routine investigation has hit a bottleneck. We need to return to the source, using more cutting-edge science to tear open a gap from the physical evidence itself! I request the deployment of all available resources to conduct an unprecedented in-depth analysis of the ANFO explosives and the scene's physical evidence!"

"Approved!" Watanabe Eiji said without hesitation, "Whatever you need, the entire Metropolitan Police Department's resources are at your disposal!"

Uesugi Muneyuki immediately took action without hesitation; the first thing he did was make a phone call.

An overseas call.

This call directly connected to a certain world-leading university in Massachusetts, USA.

Third-generation Japanese-American professor, Tanaka "Ken" Kenji.

That is, the "true forensic expert" who had provided sufficient help in the Yamaguchi Maho case earlier.

This person is actually the true master of forensic science; Uesugi Muneyuki knows that calling him a forensic science master is not as accurate as calling him a necromancer grandmaster! His real name is Smuedru, also known as Kelthuzad's kind.

Since that's the case, I won't pretend anymore!

The attendants, servants, and soldiers from the dark winter, listen to my call, Uesugi Muneyuki!

The call connected, and the background sound was the distinctive hum of instruments from the MIT laboratory.

The other party answered the phone, and from his mouth came the sound of almost chewing something, in fluent American English: "Gutomu ning~, stupid pig~ Uesugi boy, say the password, Arigatou three Qxiexie sseumdada~"

"Ken, I've run into trouble……" Uesugi Muneyuki said patiently.

"Say the password, otherwise I wouldn't know it's you." The other party muttered.

"Uh…… Ninini kid kid Jing Jing Major Champion!" Uesugi Muneyuki had no choice but to say this password with a dark face.

"Ouch! Uesugi boy, it's really you!" Tanaka Kenji feigned surprise: "I was just saying how come this morning's corn flakes tasted so delicious, I can swear by my ancestors' name that it turns out Kenshin Kō used his folding fan to fiercely whip my butt! Oh, God, this is truly the blessing of the Virgin Mary…… So, what's the matter?"

"I'm encountering trouble with a case in Tokyo and need your wisdom." Uesugi Muneyuki asked: "Have you seen the news? It's the one where the son of the Minister of Foreign Affairs was blown up into the sky?"

"Ah ha, Isee." Tanaka Kenji glanced at the screen, which happened to be the Associated Press news: "Why are things in Japan always so bad? If you didn't tell me, I'd still think you were in Chicago or Detroit."

"No more nonsense, business is business, your consultation fee won't be short." Uesugi Muneyuki quickly explained the situation, especially the ANFO explosives and the trace physical evidence left at the scene, and the dilemma of being unable to investigate the suspect.

"Wait a moment." Tanaka Kenji was indeed a person who means business when talking business; upon hearing that Uesugi Muneyuki was willing to pay a high consultation fee for this, he immediately summoned the elites of MIT, and through the screen, observed the various physical evidence and explosive fragments displayed by Uesugi Muneyuki.

MIT first observed the ANFO explosives.

"Muneyuki, ANFO this type of explosive is essentially ammonium nitrate fertilizer + fuel oil made into a crude explosive; as long as there are sufficient raw materials, anyone who understands the technology can make it, and the ammonium nitrate isotopic composition from different fertilizer sources may have weak differences. Japanese forensic chemistry in micro-trace sourcing indeed needs improvement. Listen, two directions: first, conduct high-precision isotopic ratio analysis (IRMS) on the ammonium nitrate crystals——this is like its 'geological fingerprint,' able to trace the unique regional characteristics of its nitrogen and oxygen sources!"

Tanaka Kenji said calmly.

"Understood!" Behind Uesugi Muneyuki, a large group of Metropolitan Police Department desk duty personnel were writing furiously!

"Second, you can know the 'clean layer,' 'pollen,' 'parking lot particles'—these analyses have already been done well enough, but it's still not enough; Japanese forensic technology is really…… Anyway, we noticed that you extracted trace amounts at the scene, confirmed to come from the explosives, wood shavings, right?" Tanaka Kenji continued: "Such wood shavings, don't just look at the type; I noticed inside there are components of wood preservatives! Analyze the chemical composition and age of the wood preservatives inside! This is extremely likely to be the component mixed in from the surrounding environment when the other party assembled and manufactured the explosives!"

"The formulations of different periods and different manufacturers in Japan are all unique 'time capsules'!"

"If we can determine what kind of wood preservative it is……"

One statement was like parting the clouds to see the sun!

Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes reignited with fire: "Understood, Ken! Thank you!"

"No thanks, one hand pays money, the other delivers goods, oh right, remember to transfer the money to my overseas account, otherwise it's just giving free labor to the federal government!" Tanaka Kenji chattered on: "After that, it's up to you, Uesugi boy~ see you again~"

The video call ended, and at this time, it had already become late night.

Uesugi Muneyuki ended the call, and when he turned around, he was faced with hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at him.

Uesugi Kaka, please give the order!

Uesugi Muneyuki did not decline; he immediately began assigning tasks.

"Okada!"

"Here!" Okada Masayoshi straightened his back.

"You go with me, Ikeda, and Watanabe Management Official to Tokyo University; we need Tokyo University's help. Director, please immediately notify Tokyo University that we need it to summon top professors and research teams in chemistry, geology, and materials science. Mobilize the university's most advanced mass spectrometers and isotopic analysis equipment to conduct, day and night, the isotopic ratio analysis of explosive residues as guided by Professor Tanaka!"

"Yes!" Okada Masayoshi couldn't help but excitedly shout his agreement, and Watanabe Eiji also nodded to indicate he understood.

"Nango!"

"Here!" Nango Yui immediately stepped forward.

"You and Kai together, mobilize all expert teams of the Forensic Science Laboratory to be responsible for ultra-trace component analysis of the wood shavings, to separate out any possible preservatives, adhesives, or even contaminants; note, every microgram-level discovery must be repeatedly verified and compared."

"Yes!" Nango Yui loudly affirmed.

"Igarashi, and Date!" Uesugi Muneyuki continued.

"Present!" Igarashi Hayato and Date Nagamune stepped forward.

"The key to the breakthrough point lies in the wood! Igarashi, please immediately contact your father Igarashi Masataka, and I will also call to request assistance from Executive Director Sato of Mitsui Sumitomo Group! To investigate wood and preservatives, as well as age and chemical components, we must obtain the support of the timber industry guild; looking at it this way, Sumitomo Forestry's cooperation is indispensable!" Uesugi Muneyuki said in a deep voice: "The vast database of timber, especially historical preservative formulas, from all regions must demand Sumitomo Forestry's full support and cooperation; Date, you assist Igarashi!"

"Yes!" Igarashi Hayato and Date Nagamune couldn't help but feel excited.

"Very well, everyone, take your positions, prepare for battle!" Uesugi Muneyuki straightened his back, then bowed: "Please, everyone, please!"

"Metropolitan Police Department warriors, fight for honor!"

"This is ours, all-out battle!!!"

"Oh oh oh oh oh!!!"

……………………

Time rewinds to that evening.

Shizuoka's dusk, the sky dyed a warm orange-red, the distant outline of Mount Fuji appearing especially tranquil, but for Black River Tetsuro Lawmaker, this tranquility was completely shattered at seven o'clock sharp in the evening.

His daughter, who took her husband's surname Uno after marriage, Yukiko, usually returns to her high-rise apartment in Shizuoka City before six-thirty. She works at a well-known design company, her life regular.

Today, when she failed to answer her husband's third phone call, an ominous premonition began to shroud the Black River household.

At this time, Black River Lawmaker had already learned of the explosion case in Tokyo, which made him feel even more panicked, so he immediately returned home and continuously dispatched people to investigate what exactly was going on?

Seven fifteen, the doorbell of the Black River household rang. Not Yukiko, but a expressionless delivery person, delivering a hard paper box with no sender information, requesting "Black River Tetsuro to open personally."

In the study, Black River Lawmaker and his chief secretary Miyajima together carefully opened the package. What was inside made the blood of both instantly freeze:

A light blue silk scarf, the birthday gift Black River gave to Yukiko last year, which she was still wearing when she left home this morning.

Her company access card and one earring.

A black USB drive with no brand markings.

An old-fashioned flip phone capable only of basic calls.

Almost simultaneously, the old phone emitted a sharp, monotonous ringtone.

Kurokawa Giin took a deep breath, pressed the answer button, and turned on speakerphone. A cold, obviously electronically processed voice came through, devoid of any human emotion:

"Kurokawa Tetsuro."

"It's me! Where is my daughter?" Kurokawa struggled to stay calm, but the tremor at the end of his voice betrayed him.

"The item has been received. Proof." The electronic voice interrupted him.

Miyajima immediately plugged the USB drive into the computer. A short video popped up on the screen. The lighting was dim, showing Uno Yukiko blindfolded, tied to a chair, her mouth sealed with tape. She appeared to be sobbing loudly, her shoulders shaking violently. The video lasted only ten seconds, yet it felt like a blunt knife cutting into the heart.

"Yukiko!" Kurokawa shouted into the phone, "What have you done to her?! Let my daughter go!"

The electronic voice ignored his outburst and announced the conditions in a flat tone:

"Listen. There are two demands."

"First, prepare one billion yen in cash, old bills, non-consecutive numbering. Await further instructions."

"Second, the National Security Enhancement Act you are pushing in the Diet must, within three days, see you personally, at a press conference, publicly announce its indefinite postponement and admit its error."

Kurokawa Tetsuro's face turned ashen. This bill was the core proposal of his political career, involving sensitive left-leaning policies, and had made him many enemies.

"This... this requires time..."

"You have three days." The electronic voice coldly cut him off, "If you report to the police, if you attempt to trace, if you play any tricks..."

A faint, processed audio noise suddenly came through the handset, followed immediately by Uno Yukiko's muffled, fear-filled short whimper.

"... You will receive a part of her body. Remember, this is only the beginning."

"Remember, our name, we are—the Red Goldfinch!"

(Chapter End)