Chapter 556

PS: I wrote this 4,400-character update in one go, you're welcome!

8:20 PM, Shizuoka Prefecture Police Headquarters building.

Sato Masashi, the night-shift Police Sergeant of the Criminal Investigation Department's Personal Accident Investigation Section, yawned at a dull stolen bicycle report on his computer screen. The phone rang, and he answered listlessly: "This is the Personal Accident Section..."

"This is the Headquarters Chief! Activate emergency response procedures immediately! Level One Incident!" The voice from the other end was Headquarters Chief Oshima Shigeo's, never before heard so urgent, even carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

Sato's yawn was forcibly choked back; he bolted upright, nearly tipping his chair over. "Ch... Chief Headquarters?!"

"Kurokawa Giin's daughter, Uno Yukiko, suspected kidnapping! Four months pregnant! Immediately notify the Criminal Investigation Department Chief, Police Administration Chief, all relevant executives — assemble at the top-floor Emergency Command Room within five minutes! Hurry!" Headquarters Chief Oshima spoke at breakneck speed, hanging up without allowing any objection.

Police Sergeant Sato put down the phone, his hand still trembling slightly.

He glanced at the wall clock — less than an hour had passed since Uno Yukiko was reported missing!

If this were an ordinary citizen, forget filing a case, even a report would likely be dragged out until tomorrow morning; the standard response is always "Adult missing less than 24 hours, please contact friends and family again."

But now it's a National Diet Member's daughter, and she's pregnant... this bureaucratic machine's efficiency instantly switched from a horse-drawn carriage to Shinkansen mode.

Let you witness what's called Japanese speed!

He smiled bitterly, shook his head, grabbed the internal phone, and began dialing numbers frantically.

This really is... typical Japanese black humor.

But one must also understand, because police resources are limited; if every adult who couldn't be reached triggered a large-scale search, not just 300,000 police, even 3 million might not be enough.

Top-floor Emergency Command Room, atmosphere heavy.

Shizuoka Prefectural Police's giants — Headquarters Chief Oshima Shigeo, Police Administration Chief, Criminal Investigation Department Chief, all present. The large screen displayed Uno Yukiko's photo and a map of her last known location.

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Nakazawa reported the preliminary situation with a stern expression: "... Based on the lead provided by Kurokawa Giin, the kidnappers possess high counter-surveillance awareness, demanding a 1 billion yen ransom and political concessions. We judge this is no ordinary crime; it most likely involves an extremist organization."

Headquarters Chief Oshima braced both hands on the table, brows tightly knit. "Political kidnapping... this is an open provocation against the Japanese Police! We must spare no expense, safely rescue the hostage, arrest the criminals!" His voice was low, yet carried undeniable resolve.

As long as our police organization's professional team strikes with an iron fist, everything will turn out fine!

However, resolve was shown, slogans were shouted, speed was there, yet the on-site Emergency Command Room appeared strangely silent and lacking confidence.

The reason was none other than the Foreign Minister Akimoto Daijin car bombing case, which had already drawn away a full 108 detective backbone and Public Security elites from Shizuoka Prefecture Police Headquarters!

Don't underestimate just over a hundred people; this draw of over a hundred was enough to plunge the entire Shizuoka Police Headquarters into a semi-paralyzed state!

The Japanese Police, as a bureaucratic system, possesses all the ills of bureaucratic systems — bloated structure, redundant personnel, low efficiency; few who actually work, many who idle away days in offices responsible for internal churn!

So don't look at Uesugi Muneyuki's Special Mission Unit spending 500 million of the Metropolitan Police Department budget a year — in reality he saved the Metropolitan Police Department money, saved big money! Those many major heinous cases requiring hundreds of police and months of work, he wrapped up in days, at most a dozen days!

The conference room atmosphere stiffened for a while; Police Administration Chief Yamada paused for a long moment, seeing everyone looking at him, and personnel matters being unquestionably his responsibility, he could only say with difficulty: "Headquarters Chief... that..."

"What?"

"Right now, we... don't have enough personnel to form a Special Investigation Headquarters..."

Oshima's expression visibly froze.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice, tone carrying a hint of disbelief.

A collective sharp intake of breath sounded in the Command Room. This was simply a bolt from the blue!

All prefectural police in the Kanto Region, including Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, even Shizuoka, were required to draw elites and urgently rush to aid the Metropolitan Police Department, assisting investigation and maintaining order in Tokyo.

In an instant, the Command Room fell into dead silence.

The Headquarters Chief who moments ago was full of heroic passion vowing "spare no expense" now seemed to have had his strength drained. He slowly sat back in his chair, fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop.

Manpower! The most fatal issue is manpower!

A kidnapping case requires massive police force: surveillance, screening, negotiation, tracking, assault... every link needs experienced elites. And now, Shizuoka Prefectural Police's most elite strength had been drawn to Tokyo to cope with that larger political storm; what remained under his command were mostly personnel responsible for daily public order, traffic management, and grassroots Administrative Officials like Police Sergeant Sato — fundamentally incapable of handling such a professional, dangerous kidnapping case.

"Headquarters Chief," Criminal Investigation Department Chief Nakazawa broke the silence, voice hoarse, "Our current strength... I'm afraid can barely maintain basic deployment and surveillance, let alone respond to possible complex firefights or negotiation situations. Kurokawa Giin's daughter's safety..."

Headquarters Chief Oshima closed his eyes.

Let Shizuoka handle it alone? If it fails, not only is Uno Yukiko's life at stake, but Oshima Shigeo's political career and Shizuoka Prefectural Police's reputation will be ruined in one fell swoop.

A few seconds later, he snapped his eyes open, a flash of determination in them, also tinged with humiliation.

"Request aid from the Metropolitan Police Department." He practically gritted the words out.

"Headquarters Chief?!" Several executives showed surprised expressions.

Seeking help from Tokyo is tantamount to admitting Shizuoka Prefectural Police's incompetence!

"There's no other way!" Oshima said sternly, "Tokyo's case is a sky-high matter, but our Shizuoka case, to us, is equally a sky-high matter! Our manpower shortage is fact, but Kurokawa Giin's daughter must be saved! Immediately in my name, through National Police Agency channels, formally request support from the Metropolitan Police Department! Request they dispatch... Investigation Division 1, Organized Crime Countermeasures Department, and... Public Security Bureau elites, to immediately rush to Shizuoka, establish a Joint Investigation Headquarters!"

He paused, adding with a tone carrying a hint of complex meaning: "Tell them, here... there's also a war to be fought."

"Request aid, request aid immediately!"

Late night, Metropolitan Police Department, Sakuradamon.

The massive Special Investigation Headquarters, after experiencing the daytime clamor and high-speed operation, entered another mode of "combat state".

Nearly a thousand police like sardines packed in a tin, crammed into the brightly lit, turbid-air space; the pungent smell of tobacco mixed with the sour bitterness of fast-food coffee, and the odor of sweat and fatigue, forming a greasy yet real atmosphere unique to high-pressure battlefields.

In the corner, young Patrol Officers hugged issued blankets, leaning against walls or curled up on pushed-together chairs, emitting uneven snores, faces still bearing undropped childishness and obvious weariness.

Middle-aged Police Inspectors in groups of three or five, gathered around whiteboards or makeshift small tables, arguing in lowered voices over current leads, ashtrays piled with cigarette butts. Quite a few also seized this rare "standby" time to wolf down already-cold Bento or Cup Noodles, making rustling sounds.

Even with the Grand Hall's air conditioning on full, the air was still quite stuffy; not only that, the entire space was filled with chaotic background noise — keyboard tapping, low murmurs, snores, AC hum, and the occasional deliberately lowered static noise from radios. This is a peculiar balance; tension hasn't dissipated, merely temporarily suppressed, converted into a dull, pre-eruption energy-accumulation state.

Uesugi Muneyuki assembling a professional team takes time; whether Tokyo University, Forensic Science Laboratory, or Sumitomo Forestry, all need time to mobilize personnel and resources — probably ready by tomorrow morning. For now the Special Investigation Headquarters finally gets some adjustment time; Watanabe Eiji and the others discussed and decided to rest first, regroup tomorrow morning.

"Muneyuki, let's go back too." Watanabe Minami said softly with hands on hips; the Young Lady's waist ached from standing so long.

No help for it; too many bigwigs on site, she a mere Superintendent, really couldn't just sit there.

"Yeah, Muneyuki, let's go back to the hotel; you staying up like this isn't any use." Ikeda Erena watched Uesugi Muneyuki constantly thinking, investigating, reasoning, analyzing, and felt a pang of sympathy.

"You go back first, I'll finish arranging things." Uesugi Muneyuki didn't say much; he signaled everyone could more or less go rest.

But just then, in this male-hormone-dominated, slightly rough scene, a figure's appearance was like an ice crystal thrown into a turbid lake, instantly attracting countless overt or covert gazes.

A person pushed open the Special Investigation Headquarters' main door.

Former Face of the Metropolitan Police Department, Police Affairs Department Personnel Section Deputy Superintendent Kashiwagi Misa actually appeared here.

Even at the Metropolitan Police Department, a place teeming with beautiful women, she remained one of the most dazzling presences.

A single red dot amidst myriad greens, she possessed the rare, sculpted, deep contours uncommon among Japanese people; her skin was a healthy honey tone, a head of jet-black long hair pulled back into a meticulous, power-filled chignon at the nape of her neck, revealing a smooth forehead and those bright eyes with mixed-race features, slightly sunken eye sockets.

Her beauty was not gentle and charming, but a kind of iceberg-like sharpness that carried a sense of distance.

At this moment, she was not wearing a police uniform, but a superbly tailored dark gray women's suit set with skirt, outlining her tall and well-proportioned figure just right.

Beneath the skirt hem were a pair of slender legs wrapped in high-quality black silk stockings with excellent sheerness, lines flowing smoothly down to the ankles; on her feet she wore a pair of seven-centimeter black suede pointed-toe high heels, the heels striking the hallway floor tiles with a crisp, rhythmic "tap, tap" sound, every step carrying an aura that could not be ignored.

In her hand she carried a high-end insulated bag and a tote bag holding clean clothes, her expression calm, her clear cold gaze sweeping over the faces along the way, whether fatigued or surprised, heading straight for the area where Investigation Division 1 Third Subsection was located.

At this time Kashiwagi Jin was discussing something with several subordinates, his face bearing the oily sheen and stubble of consecutive all-nighters; when he saw Meisa, he visibly froze for a moment, then his eyes welled up with emotion difficult to mask and a trace of awkwardness.

"Meisa? How come you're here?" Kashiwagi Jin hurriedly went forward to meet her.

"Came to bring you a change of clothes, and a late-night snack." Kashiwagi Meisa's voice was like her person, carrying a touch of clarity, but facing her husband, her tone softened slightly.

She handed over the tote bag, then opened the insulated bag; inside was the late-night snack she made herself — carefully shaped Japanese rice balls. Not the convenience store kind, but made with premium Koshihikari rice, filled respectively with grilled salmon flakes, mentaiko, and pickled plum, wrapped in nori roasted to just the right degree, even thoughtfully wrapped separately in plastic wrap, and a small box of palate-cleansing pickled ginger placed beside them.

Against the backdrop of everyone's instant noodles and bento, this homely yet thoughtful late-night snack appeared exceptionally precious.

"You've worked hard, eat while it's hot." She said, reaching out, extremely naturally straightening Kashiwagi Jin's slightly crooked tie. This subtle action, in the eyes of the surrounding group of rough men, was simply textbook-level "virtuous wife" care, drawing a chorus of low envious praise.

"Kashiwagi-san, truly blessed!"

"Miss Meisa is still so beautiful and considerate!"

"Wah wah wah, I also want the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department as a wife!"

"The previous generation is gone, this generation is also gone, Higashi, you'll have to wait for the next generation~"

Amid his colleagues' teasing, Kashiwagi Jin reddened a bit embarrassedly, but the emotion in his eyes deepened.

"Thank you, Meisa." He said softly, picking up a rice ball, taking a bite; the familiar taste of salmon and plum seemed to relax his taut nerves for an instant.

However, beneath the seemingly warm husband-wife interaction, Kashiwagi Meisa's seemingly casual sweeping gaze, when it brushed past that tall upright figure in the independent work area not far away, imperceptibly paused for a fraction of a second.

Found you! Uesugi!

The ice mountain beauty wife's gaze sharpened; she feigned asking Kashiwagi Jin how the case progress was, and upon hearing her husband say Uesugi Chief was currently assembling a professional team, she very naturally looked over.

As if telepathic, just as Kashiwagi Meisa's gaze went over, Uesugi Muneyuki also happened to raise his head; the two's lines of sight briefly intersected in midair.

No words, no change of expression.

Uesugi Muneyuki's gaze remained calm and waveless, using his eyes to ask: Something the matter?

Can't I look for you if there's nothing? Kashiwagi Meisa gritted her teeth, thinking: lately this dead ghost doesn't come find me at all, and Jin spends all day outside fooling around with soapland girls, I'm alone guarding an empty room, bored to death! Isn't this me coming personally?

Uesugi Muneyuki's gaze flickered; he pointed at the whiteboard before him.

Madam, busy right now! Big case!

What's the meaning of you coming to the door at this time?

However Kashiwagi Meisa just looked at him without speaking.

Uesugi Muneyuki helpless; his gaze remained calm and waveless, merely extremely slightly, almost imperceptibly, using the little finger of his right hand holding the marker pen, to lightly tap three times on the outside of his own thigh.

Seeing this scene, on Kashiwagi Meisa's iceberg-like face there was not a single ripple; she seemed to have merely unintentionally seen a busy colleague, her gaze naturally moving away, falling back on her own husband, even reaching out to brush off a speck of invisible dust on his suit shoulder.

But only she herself knew that in that instant, her heart was as if lightly scratched by a feather.

Those three taps were the code phrase between them — three hours later, meet at the old place.

"The old place?" A tremor mixed with thrill and guilt flashed through her heart, but her face still wore that perfect, flawless image of an elite policewoman concerned for her husband.

Can again, can be favored by Uesugi again.

The mixed-race ice mountain wife police officer's face immediately bloomed with a smile; she sincerely admonished Kashiwagi Jin, telling him to be careful, pay attention to safety, pay attention to dietary health, harvesting her husband's full emotion, and Kashiwagi Meisa also gazed at her husband with deep affection.

Jin, everything I do is for your own good!

(Chapter End)