Chapter 570

At the entrance of the Special Investigation Headquarters, Black River Tetsuro, the lawmaker, did not collapse; he stood frozen like a statue instantly weathered by wind, his mouth open but emitting no sound, only tears silently and turbulently streaming from his hollow eyes.

When he heard Chief Criminal Division Nakazawa describe the scene's horrors in the most concise, restrained (yet still incredibly brutal) language, especially mentioning that formalin jar—

This man, who had stirred up political storms with unwavering will, let out a series of "gek-gek" sounds from his throat, like a dying beast, then suddenly spat a mouthful of blood, staining the front of his immaculate suit.

He had completely collapsed—not weeping bitterly, but that state where the soul is drained, leaving only endless void and destructive imagery,

complete collapse.

He roared, wanting to rush in and die together with Taguchi Jun'nosuke, but with so many police at the scene, it was obviously impossible for him to succeed; Uesugi Muneyuki heard only Black River Tetsuro's wailing, and he felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

The origin of law is "homomorphic revenge," as previously stated, so no need to repeat here.

However, homomorphic revenge is essentially a behavior that easily falls into a dead cycle.

For example, if A kills B's father; then B has the right to kill A to avenge his father—this holds true across ancient and modern times, East and West, even when emperors walked the mortal world as fishermen in Asia Minor, and it was recognized and encouraged in tribal eras.

But, if A's son sees his father killed, does he also have the right to take revenge on B? And then, does B's son also have the right to kill A's son, completing homomorphic revenge?

Oh dear, one careless move, and war just begins.

Moreover, "homomorphic revenge" is very difficult to precisely control the scope. For instance, when B kills A, if A's son comes out to resist and is also killed by B, then next time, should A's grandson kill two members of B's family to count as homomorphic revenge?

Now everyone's a bloodthirsty warrior! Great victory in the fear and torture arena!

Thus, society realized this couldn't continue; to break this "endless revenge" cycle, the concept of law began to emerge, the state apparatus replaced private homomorphic revenge, substituting the victim's demand for the killer's life with the state bearing the "cause and effect" by taking the killer's life, individuals cannot take revenge on the state (though a tiny few might achieve some results).

Thus, the state apparatus, through law, prevented the "dead cycle" of homomorphic revenge.

However, at the very moment the system and law were established, "homomorphic revenge" lost its legal basis; legal provisions state that for what crime, what punishment, the purpose of punishment is not revenge or venting, but to reprimand offenders, and the purpose of the system and law is not an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but to establish and maintain an order so that everyone can live happily under its protection.

Since it's about reprimand, the death penalty seems hardly worth advocating? Because why deprive a person of life when you could give them a chance to reform?

This is the origin of the "abolish death penalty" theory, and objectively speaking, this legal logic holds, because revenge cannot be an infinite chain, an infinite cycle turning society into a fear and torture arena.

Even the country across the sea that insists on retaining the death penalty has, in recent years, followed cautious killing and non-killing principles in homicide cases—not for the extremely heinous, but trying to avoid death sentences whenever possible.

However, Uesugi Muneyuki supports cautious application of the death penalty but does not support abolishing it; he insists the death penalty is still necessary to retain.

Because, some bastards won't shed tears until they see the coffin, are unrepentantly evil, and when it's not truly about taking their life, they will never repent; they know no fear, and without the death penalty as ultimate deterrent, for some people, spending life in prison is just like going home—everyone speaks pleasantly, prison guards are kind, I super love this place!

Not to mention, some people would not repent even if executed by gunfire.

The modern legal system advocates forgiveness, but forgiveness often requires great moral courage, hard to achieve in practice.

Moreover, forgiveness requires the person themselves to choose it, not someone else forgiving on their behalf.

Without the death penalty, we would lose the ultimate deterrent against crime.

This is also why Uesugi Muneyuki dislikes Mai Xuejie's kind of private vengeance vigilantism; he himself has already closely allied with the system and its powerful enforcement departments, and if he engaged in private vengeance, it would easily cross the line and lose control.

He is merely a forensic pathologist; his job is to clarify things, how to prosecute and sentence—this is not his concern.

Unless, the other party targets him and those around him.

"Evidence is solid; the Taguchi father and son will soon be sent for prosecution." As the three departed, Investigation Division 1 Chief Sugishita Ukyo said to Uesugi Muneyuki and Kashiwagi Jin: "Among them, Taguchi Shigetaka will be charged with 'kidnapping resulting in death,' 'corpse damage,' 'assisting in murder,' etc.; Taguchi Shigetaka is unlikely to be sentenced to death, very likely to receive life imprisonment, considering he already has lung cancer, so he should die soon in prison."

"As for Taguchi Jun'nosuke, he is the core perpetrator of this case. The prosecution will charge him with the fullest severity: 'kidnapping resulting in death,' 'murder,' 'corpse damage,' 'illegal confinement,' and possibly 'terrorist acts' under the 'Act on Prevention of Subversive Activities'!" Sugishita said, pausing here.

"Although there is a possibility of psychiatric evaluation diagnosing him with mental disorder, given the planning, cruelty, political motivation, and serious challenge to social foundations of his crimes, the court will almost certainly sentence him to death." Uesugi Muneyuki continued.

"Hmm." Sugishita Ukyo nodded; such extreme severity, extreme cruelty, and terrorism ties mean even Japan would sentence him to death, but swift execution is unlikely; he will be held in some death penalty detention center, waiting years or even decades, until finally executed quietly and unnoticed.

"Tsk!" Kashiwagi Jin slammed his thigh hard in anger, feeling this was too lenient for the Taguchi father and son.

"This case ends here for now; Uesugi, Kashiwagi, I want to tell you this." Sugishita Ukyo earnestly fixed his gaze on his two subordinates: "First, without doubt, headquarters will label this case a 'successful crackdown,' a 'major victory'."

Uesugi Muneyuki twitched the corner of his mouth; funerals turned into celebrations—those who understand, understand.

"Kashiwagi, you will become the hero in reports, but unfortunately, I suggest you immediately take leave." Sugishita Ukyo turned his gaze to Kashiwagi Jin: "First, the extremely brutal details of the scene will absolutely not be disclosed to the public, nor will the Red Goldfinch's political demands and ransom requests be made public, and since you fully know the inside story and led all operations, if you don't want to cause social panic and ruin your reputation, you must learn to stay silent, so you should now return to Metropolitan Police Department and immediately apply for psychological counseling for trauma and long-term leave!"

"Section Chief! But—" Kashiwagi Jin exclaimed urgently.

"This is an order!" Sugishita Ukyo said calmly, yet his words were filled with sternness and irrevocability: "Don't you want to stay in the Investigation Division and go to the police academy to become an instructor?!"

"——" Kashiwagi Jin naturally wanted to continue working in Investigation Division 1, but he knew this "complete failure of a successful crackdown" would be a lifelong pain; he very much wanted to argue his case, but the case is already closed, people will be sent for prosecution, what can he argue? How to prosecute and sentence is for the prosecutors and courts.

He realized he seemed to have no grounds left to refuse!

"As for you, Uesugi, you'd better avoid this too." Sugishita Ukyo, seeing Kashiwagi Jin silent, turned to Uesugi Muneyuki: "The bomb case and the negotiations involving Ōsumikawa—once Ōsumikawa publicly reveals the details, you will inevitably draw retaliation from that faction of the foreign ministry; are you prepared?"

"I am prepared." Uesugi Muneyuki forced a smile: "I have already applied for annual leave, because Maeda Director of the Imperial Household Agency sent me a message inviting me to Karuizawa for summer retreat, to live next to the Emperor's family."

"!!!" Sugishita Ukyo heard Uesugi Muneyuki say this, his pupils shrank slightly, but then he relaxed.

Indeed, this kid has deep background, so he doesn't need to worry.

Moreover, the Imperial Household Agency proactively inviting him to Karuizawa for summer retreat sends an extremely strong and clear signal!

This amounts to the Imperial Household (via the Imperial Household Agency) declaring to the outside: "This person is someone we appreciate and wish to be close to, a national exemplar."

Attacking Uesugi Muneyuki, to some extent, is challenging the gaze and authority of the Imperial Household that issued this approval. In Japan's social context, this is almost unimaginable disrespect. As a senior government official, Akimoto Daijin would absolutely not dare to commit the ultimate taboo of touching this forbidden zone.

The Imperial Household does not engage in politics, but precisely because of that, no political force can absolutely direct the flames of struggle toward the vicinity of the Imperial Household!

"Very well, the upcoming matters have already involved far-left organizations and terrorists, so they will be fully handled by public security police; this part has already exceeded the jurisdiction of us criminal police, so you also should not interfere further, nor mention this matter."

"Taguchi Jun'nosuke is not a 'martyr' or 'revolutionary'; he is merely a shameless 'murderer,' but if we keep bringing this up, Taguchi might instead become the 'ideological warrior' he wants to be, and it will draw imitation from other extremists; you know this, Uesugi, Kashiwagi, Black River Tetsuro is a good person, but the general public may not have the extra energy to understand him; hearing about this, their likely reaction is—" Sugishita Ukyo expressed some concern.

"Die well, I'll open champagne." Uesugi Muneyuki said with a hint of mockery: "Today an MP's daughter died, everyone opens champagne shouting she got what she deserved; tomorrow a minister falls, everyone still opens champagne shouting serves them right; I understand."

This is Japan, as heard from Toyota Wei saying this.

However, this cannot entirely be blamed on the Japanese; after Japanese society became highly atomized and fragmented, superimposed with a repressive atmosphere and immense social pressure, the people need an outlet, and such events are one of them; no matter what, their first reaction is habitual anger + habitual champagne opening.

But this will cause even more cruel secondary harm to Black River Tetsuro's family.

"You understand? Good, then enjoy your holiday." Sugishita Ukyo said politely: "Wishing you a pleasant holiday!"

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Muneyuki raised his eyebrows; whether his holiday will be pleasant, he doesn't know.

But he knows that the Foreign Minister himself, currently waiting for results in the official residence, and Mr. An of Kansai New God, are certainly very "pleasant" right now.

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