Chapter 60: Three Women, One Show

Watanabe Minami had no intention of communicating with Ikeda Erena throughout the entire process.

Likewise, Ikeda Erena did not look kindly upon this elite from the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters who had suddenly appeared, especially since the exchanges between Watanabe Minami and Uesugi Muneyuki always carried a hint of riddle-like ambiguity.

For instance, their conversation.

"Does the busy man finally have time to pay attention to a weak woman like me?" As the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department of this generation, Watanabe Minami was not chosen at random; although she was still at work and only wore light makeup with a subtle eyeliner, her long eyelashes fluttered, looking extremely soft and beautiful, with a few playful bangs falling over her crystal-clear eyes, and her petite lips and nose, along with her pink lips, appearing supple and moist. At this moment, she was chatting with Uesugi Muneyuki with her willow-leaf brows relaxed; viewed from the side, it was like admiring a tranquil landscape painting.

"???" Uesugi Muneyuki looked bewildered, then said meaningfully: "Is it me paying attention to you, or have you finally decided to pay attention to me?"

The man's implication was simple: You, the mastermind behind the scenes!

Upon hearing this, Watanabe Minami's pretty face flushed slightly. She stopped, stood slightly on her tiptoes, and with her two silk-stockinged legs crossed, one could see the fair heel of the woman, wrapped in silk, emerging from the bottom of her high-heeled shoe, possessing an indescribable beauty.

"How is it, are you satisfied?" Watanabe Minami said something Ikeda could not understand.

"Not entirely satisfied, but it counts as an unexpected joy." Uesugi Muneyuki's lips curled up: "It really was you."

"Mr. Uesugi, you must learn to obey the arrangements of the headquarters; it is not the case that the headquarters will give you whatever you want." Watanabe Minami chuckled and "threatened": "If you want it, must I arrange it for you?"

"Then what if I want it right now?" Uesugi Muneyuki said suddenly.

"Exchanges and returns are accepted~" Watanabe Minami did not expect Uesugi Muneyuki to make such a sudden turn. She thought it over, carefully looked around with her little head, and discovered that Ikeda Erena, who was following behind, did not understand what they were talking about, so she whispered: "Do you really want to exchange it? Didn't you say you were somewhat satisfied?"

"I meant to exchange you." Uesugi Muneyuki smiled nonchalantly: "I think the Metropolitan Police Department would agree."

"???" Watanabe Minami was stunned for a moment, and the gentle and intelligent expression of a Yamato Nadeshiko on her face immediately crumbled.

Are you playing with me here?

Bastard!!!

With great restraint, Watanabe Minami steadied her emotions and said with a charming smile: "In this case, I have no choice but to let you dispose of me, Mr. Uesugi."

"Miss Watanabe is truly clever." Uesugi Muneyuki's breezy manner caused Watanabe Minami to grit her teeth.

The Face of the Metropolitan Police Department meant that whatever you want, I can arrange for you, while the man meant, don't think you can manipulate me through personnel arrangements like Ikeda.

After a round of probing, Uesugi Muneyuki had a small victory, but Watanabe Minami had also obtained the intention that Uesugi Muneyuki was willing to continue cooperating, so it was not a total loss.

Watanabe Minami then returned to work mode: "In any case, after Division Chief Mikasa obtained the clues, he started to lean toward the 'clumsy method', but Mr. Uesugi, your speed... is really fast. Now that the suspect has been locked down, things have become simple; it's just that the motive for the murder still needs to be confirmed."

"Clumsy method?" Ikeda Erena finally found a space to interject. She trotted two steps to catch up with Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami: "What does that mean?"

"The location where the body was found and the approximate time of death have already been estimated, and the scope of suspicious personnel has been greatly reduced. Investigation Division 1 probably hopes to narrow down the scope step by step by gathering a large number of personnel to watch surveillance footage and investigate interpersonal relationships, eventually locking onto the suspect." Uesugi Muneyuki explained to Ikeda Erena: "The Metropolitan Police Department has always liked this method."

The Japanese police have a standard that is hard to evaluate, which is that if the clues to a case are broken and there is currently no lead, the Japanese police will start the 'clumsy method' mode. Specifically, they start from the deceased's interpersonal relationships and surrounding surveillance, searching district by district, day by day, over months and years, investigating hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people who were in that time period and area one by one.

This is considered a "clumsy method," and to be honest, it consumes a lot of manpower and material resources, and it might not necessarily yield results in the end. However, doing this has two benefits: first, it makes it look like we are really searching diligently; second, if an exhaustive search has been conducted and there are still no results, society cannot easily blame us anymore.

A typical example is the famous "Three Hundred Million Yen Robbery." After all clues were cut off and several suspects were either dead or found to be wrongly accused, the Japanese police started using the exhaustive method. They successively dispatched hundreds of thousands of police personnel, investigating a total of over 110,000 people. In the end, the infinitely piling investigation budget had already exceeded the three hundred million yen that was stolen, and it was finally called off by the authorities. Since then, the investigation into this case could be openly suspended, or only a small group of a few people would be kept to put on a show.

"Isn't that just fake effort?" Ikeda Erena complained with dissatisfaction: "It's just like staying in the gym for an hour, taking photos for 40 minutes, doing a few sets of stretches and bench presses, and then showering and going home!"

"Miss Ikeda, you have to know that not everyone is your Mr. Uesugi, with both action and ability online." Watanabe Minami finally took the initiative to talk to Ikeda Erena, her tone gentle and slightly doting.

【Feels like she's teasing a puppy,】 Hironaka Mariko commented.

Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes flickered, and he was a bit tired from holding back his laughter.

"What 'my Mr. Uesugi', Miss Watanabe, don't talk nonsense!" Ikeda Erena huffed. Under her police uniform skirt, a pair of beautiful legs were crossed, her fair feet were tense under the wrap of black silk stockings, and her toes, like cardamom seeds, were curled tight.

"In any case, let's return to the Special Squad headquarters first." Watanabe Minami spoke softly and gently, like a calm lake. A breeze blew, ripples appeared on the lake surface; when the wind stopped, the lake was like a mirror and the beauty was like jade: "You've been busy for the headquarters all day, tired, right? Rest well first, and leave the rest to us at the Metropolitan Police Department."

"Alright." Uesugi Muneyuki agreed.

The experience of being with Watanabe Minami was completely different from being with Ikeda Erena; she was gentle, quiet, and ice-cold smart.

This time, it was his turn to feel very comfortable.

————I am a very comfortable dividing line————

At this very moment, inside the Special Squad headquarters on the first floor, police from Investigation Division 1 and local branches were reviewing surveillance footage one by one. The police force of the Special Squad and the fresh reinforcements who had arrived temporarily had already locked onto the approximate floors of the suspect and were searching them one by one.

However, many police officers were a bit absent-minded at this time.

The reason was that in the temporary restaurant set up by the Special Squad headquarters, the national actress Shirakawa Mai was introducing the progress of the case.

After the body was found downstairs, the Metropolitan Police Department began searching according to the suspect sketch described by Uesugi Muneyuki. Mai-senpai was able to temporarily step down from her hosting duties. She politely greeted everyone and excused herself, and she did not show anything special toward Uesugi Muneyuki, making it impossible for people to tell whether she was sincere or just acting toward this little junior of hers.

The ratings of the Fuji TV Live Broadcast plummeted after airing the Metropolitan Police Department going upstairs to search for a while, dropping all the way from 45% and unable to even hold 30%. President Kameyama was anxious and hurriedly ordered a change of perspective, switching to filming Shirakawa Mai.

Only then did the ratings rise rapidly.

However, Shirakawa Mai's unexpected appearance as host directly pushed Uesugi Muneyuki to the opposite side of everyone.

As expected, we should have just killed Uesugi!

Many men in front of the television and at the scene had bloodshot eyes, wishing they could skin Uesugi Muneyuki alive.

At the same time, there was also a group of people who were very anxious.

After much pleading and begging, Miyazaki Takataka, the president of the Soul Agency who was only allowed to enter by the Metropolitan Police Department after the body was found, ran for his life to the external glass door of the first-floor restaurant. Seeing the agency's "treasure of the house" speaking through the glass, he was so anxious that he pulled the door with his hands, but the door didn't move at all, and he fell on his butt.

"Ouch!" The mechanism wouldn't budge.

"President?" Shirakawa Mai couldn't help but laugh at her own president's awkward appearance. She took the initiative to come over and open the door: "Don't you know that the door here in the restaurant cannot be opened from this side?"

"Now is not the time to talk about this!" Miyazaki Takataka finally saw the treasure of the house. He first breathed a sigh of relief, then became even more anxious. He signaled for the camera to pause for commercials and whispered to the National Goddess: "Mai, what on earth are you doing?"

"?" Shirakawa Mai tilted her head, her bright eyes flashing with great confusion: "President Kameyama asked me to."

"I'm not talking about that; I'm talking about, what are you and that Uesugi doing?" Miyazaki Takataka was simply heartbroken: "Chatting so happily on the live broadcast, calling each other senpai and junior, and even leaving him your contact information. Mai, do you know how much of an impact this will have on your image?"

"So what?" Shirakawa Mai raised her bright and cold face, her slender hand pressing on her temple, a trace of displeasure flashing in her beautiful eyes: "President?"

"Uh... I mean, don't do this in the future." Facing the agency's top star, Miyazaki Takataka really had bitterness he couldn't speak of: "Can you not let it happen again?"

Shirakawa Mai could bring at least 1.5 billion in net profit to the agency every year. As the absolute top sister and treasure of the house of the agency, her status was absolutely unshakable, not to mention that she herself was the Head of the Alliance of the Kanto Shrine Alliance. Those local forces, especially the major Shinto shrines, followed her lead. She could even decide with a single word whether candidates in many places could be elected as city councilors or county councilors. For many local activities and filming, the agency often needed to ask her for help.

"Alright, I have a sense of proportion." Shirakawa Mai patted Miyazaki Takataka's shoulder with her slender hand: "It's rare to meet an alumnus, what's wrong with getting to know him?"

"Get to know him, then get to know him." Miyazaki Takataka could only take another step back and smile ingratiatingly: "In any case, at your age, you must not fall in love. If you really must, you must tell the agency, and we will help you cover it up! Don't make it public, okay?"

I don't know what's so good about that kid?

"Alright, alright, I know. You go down, President~ I am truly honored that you would personally inquire about this~"

Miyazaki Takataka responded sheepishly, not knowing who the real president was.

Love? Bai Chuan Mai chewed on this word. Her usually bright and brilliant eyes turned sharp in an instant, carrying a trace of murderous intent. The corners of her pink lips gradually curled into a beautiful arc, and she murmured, "I always thought this word was very far away from me."

Ever since she eliminated her master and took office as the Head of the Alliance of the Kanto Shrine Alliance, she knew that for someone like her, the only rigid requirement for a partner was "one of her own kind."

However, the only thing that could threaten her life was also "one of her own kind."

At the same time, as Uesugi Muneyuki, Watanabe Minami, and Ikeda Erena were going upstairs, a voice suddenly came through the walkie-talkie.

"Special Investigation Headquarters, this is the Special Squad!" A rough male voice suddenly came from the walkie-talkie.

"We found Fukushima Sozaburo on the fifth floor! He is currently hiding in a cabinet in a pile of clutter! What should we do? Please instruct."

Upon hearing this news, Investigation Division 1 Division Chief Mikasa fiercely punched the Management Officer next to him: "Good!"

"Prepare to assault!" The suit-clad brigade led by Police Inspector Megure of the Metropolitan Police Department immediately mobilized.

The person was found?

After hearing this news, Uesugi Muneyuki did not hesitate in the slightest and was the first to rush out of the restaurant.

He had to know exactly what had happened.

The man rushed out of the Special Investigation Headquarters like lightning, following Police Inspector Megure and the others as they ran up toward the fifth floor.

Ikeda Erena did not hesitate at all; she immediately followed, running even faster than Uesugi Muneyuki.

The Live Broadcast department of Fuji TV followed along; the cameramen's stamina was truly impressive, as several people ran wildly while carrying a set of equipment.

Only Watanabe Minami remained where she was, returning to the Special Investigation Headquarters unhurriedly.

"Aren't you going to follow and take a look?" Okada Keibu stood up to greet the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department and said curiously, "Aren't you here at the scene specifically for him?"

"I am here to watch his performance in forensic techniques and deduction." Watanabe Minami stood where she was with a smile, watching Uesugi Muneyuki's back as he left: "Things like this are the duty of Megure, Ikeda, and the others."

This was work for the Non-Career Track; they of the Career Track did not do these things.

Running to the fifth floor with the crowd, the special police of the SIT Special Team held submachine guns, surrounding a pile of clutter in a corner, inside which stood a cabinet, in three layers inside and out.

The lead special police officer made a gesture toward the arriving Police Inspector Megure, signaling that the person was inside.

Police Inspector Megure nodded, signaling that they could make the arrest.

"Come out!" Two MP5s and four electric batons were aimed dead at the cabinet: "Otherwise, we are going to open fire!"

"Fukushima Sozaburo, stop hiding. We have already found the body of Ms. Hironaka Mariko, as well as the blood-stained work uniform you hid. The ironclad evidence is like a mountain. Come out, hurry!!!" Police Inspector Megure truly hated this culprit who had made him work overtime for most of the day.

There was still no sound from inside the cabinet.

"Bastard!" Police Inspector Megure was truly furious now.

People are like this; when tired and hungry, under exhaustion and long-term mental tension, they become irritable and short-tempered.

"Make way, make way!" Uesugi Muneyuki squeezed in with Ikeda Erena at this moment, and he signaled for the SIT special police and the detectives of Investigation Division 1 not to act in a hurry: "Wait a moment before acting!"

The Special Squad and Investigation Division 1 naturally recognized Uesugi Muneyuki, and after a moment of hesitation, they temporarily stopped their actions.

"Mr. Fukushima, I know you are inside." Uesugi Muneyuki approached the cabinet alone, but with the experience from last time, he kept a relatively safe distance: "I only want to ask you one question."

"Ms. Hironaka was so good to you, why did you kill her?"

"She specifically sought you out for a private discussion before her marriage, and you went willingly, didn't you? Why did you suddenly attack her? Why?"

Uesugi Muneyuki's words quickly received a reaction; there was suddenly movement inside the cabinet.

"Hey?" Just as Uesugi Muneyuki was about to ask again, the cabinet door burst open violently.

"Baka!!!" A man in his forties with a haggard expression, a slightly bald head, and many wrinkles on his face held a fruit knife and shot out from the cabinet, charging straight at Uesugi Muneyuki: "Give me back my life, ahhhhh!!!"

Taking short, rapid steps, the middle-aged man had only rushed out two paces when someone made a move.

The well-tailored police uniform outlined her body with distinct curves; her round and alluring buttocks tilted upward sexily, connecting with her slender waist to form a curvaceous silhouette. Her dark blue pencil skirt was lifted above her knees, revealing plump thighs wrapped in black transparent silk stockings and two slender, exquisite calves. Although covered by the stockings, one could still see the fair, tender skin through the texture of the stockings and the leg muscles formed by long-term exercise, appearing taut and full of elasticity.

It was Ikeda Erena!

Only to see this policewoman set up a right-handed stance, using a fishing grip to seize the guy's right sleeve, turning in place to adopt a back-carry posture, kicking the lower part of the opponent's calf with one beautiful black-silk-clad foot, then hooking with her toe, slipping aside to brush his waist, and throwing this knife-wielding man to the ground in one go!

Caught by Ikeda's standing throw, the man flew into the air like a storm being whipped up, his legs spinning toward the sky, and he was slammed onto the ground on the spot, dazed and confused.

This move left all the police present, including Uesugi Muneyuki, stunned.

Judo masterpiece—Arashi no Yama!

It's so cold. Brother, do your best today.

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(End of this chapter)