Chapter 607

In the evening, as the city lights began to glow, public security police, following limited clues, finally tracked Nagase Arisu to the "Harakawa Nishiyō Iin" on the western side of Arakawa Ward, where she had been sent.

It is a medium-sized medical facility with seemingly modern facilities, yet carrying a certain detachment typical of private hospitals.

Uesugi Muneyuki and Miyawaki Sakura waited in the command vehicle, while Kino-shita Detective and Ichijo Superintendent, seeing the situation, moved out.

The public security police party walked straight to the front desk.

Kino-shita Tōya Detective presented his credentials, speaking in a strictly official tone: "We are police, and we need to inquire about the information of a patient named Nagase Arisu, including her room number."

The front desk staff member was a young man wearing glasses; he glanced at the credentials, then stole a look at the stern-faced companions behind Kino-shita, his expression shifting to a mix of vigilance and embarrassment.

As mentioned earlier, public security personnel have a certain odor.

But now, that odor is exactly what the public security police need!

The public security stench and the official bureau smell—only then can the other party immediately recognize who we are.

"I'm very sorry, Officer." The front desk, sensing ill intent, could only maintain professional politeness as best as possible: "Protecting patient privacy is our primary duty. Inquiring about specific patient information and visitation requires special authorization from the hospital director or department head. However, unfortunately, the director is currently overseas attending an academic conference, and we cannot—"

Kino-shita's expression instantly turned fierce.

Don't push me!

This elite public security police officer fell silent for a moment, his body leaning slightly forward, his voice lowered yet carrying an undeniable pressure: "You must have realized by now that we are public security police. If you insist on following procedure, we can now apply for a search warrant against your hospital. I guarantee that before the paperwork is completed, at least you can cooperate with the investigation" for two to three days. "Are you sure you want to bear the cost of the entire hospital being unable to operate normally just for this rule?"

The front desk man's face instantly turned somewhat pale.

I'm just a part-time worker, you've got the wrong person!

What can I do? I'm desperate too!

At that moment, Ichijo Kaoru Management Officer stepped forward, his tone seeming to soften somewhat, but his words becoming even more blunt: "We don't need you to reveal" any information. You only need to————temporarily leave your seat, for example, go to the back room to pour a cup of water. In this process, you accidentally fail to lock the computer screen, and accidentally let the screen stop exactly on Nagase Arisu's medical record interface, and that interface happens to display her room number. This is merely a work oversight", isn't it? No one will know it was you who "said" it.

"We are public security police, you don't want to cause trouble, we don't want to cause trouble, our interests align—listen to us, and this matter will have nothing to do with you; don't listen to us, then it's hard to say."

The front desk man fell into a brief silence, his fingers unconsciously curling slightly.

He glanced at the group of clearly unfriendly "police" before him, then considered the possible trouble, and ultimately, he almost imperceptibly nodded, then silently and quickly tapped a few keys on the keyboard, stood up, and softly said, "Sorry, I'm going to get a refill of coffee," before turning and leaving the front desk.

At the moment he left, the gazes of the public security personnel instantly focused on the monitor screen that was slightly turning outward.

Patient: Nagase Arisu (NagaseArisu)

Room: 604, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Diagnosis: Severe corpus luteum rupture with massive hemoperitoneum, hemorrhagic shock, multi-organ dysfunction—

"Severe corpus luteum rupture?!" Even the well-traveled public security elites, upon seeing this diagnosis, couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

This is a condition that can only occur under extreme external force, especially during extremely brutal sexual activity, leading to a serious gynecological emergency, meaning the ovarian corpus luteum tears under violence, causing fatal internal bleeding. The cruelty and violence implied behind it make even those accustomed to darkness feel a pang in their hearts.

Without a moment's hesitation, everyone rushed toward the elevator, heading straight for the ICU on the sixth floor.

Outside room 604, through the glass window, they saw Nagase Arisu lying on the hospital bed. Her face was as pale as paper, devoid of vitality, like a fragile porcelain doll.

Tubes were inserted all over her body, monitoring electrodes were attached to her chest, a respirator covered her nose, and with the machine's regular rhythm, her chest rose and fell weakly. The jumping numbers and waveforms on the monitor showed that her vital signs remained extremely weak. She had clearly suffered inhuman torment, now hovering on the brink of life and death.

"Finally, finally found Arisu!" Looking at the girl on the bed, Ichijo Superintendent and Kino-shita Detective finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling their hearts weighed down immensely.

This is the girl that informant Nakamura Kenichi spoke of!

Arisu!

On her body lies a heaven-shattering secret sufficient to warrant immediate silencing!

But this girl has suffered severe corpus luteum rupture—

"Immediately notify Uesugi-san!" Ichijo Superintendent said: "We've found Arisu! But her condition is severe corpus luteum rupture, and she is currently in critical condition!"

"Yes, we will arrange immediately————or should we first consult with Uesugi Chief about whether transfer is possible in this situation?"

Just as everyone felt heavy-hearted, preparing to communicate with the attending physician or find a way into the room for further inspection, faint footsteps came from the other end of the hallway.

"？？？" Several public security police at the scene immediately reached out and gripped their guns!

The hospital room door opened slightly.

A girl appearing to be about sixteen or seventeen years old walked over, holding a bunch of slightly wilted fresh flowers and a small bag of care items, clearly coming to visit. The girl had an extremely pure and beautiful face, fair skin, large eyes holding a kind of fawn-like purity and fragility, black long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders, her demeanor so clean it clashed starkly with this oppressive hospital environment, like a lily of the valley in the early morning carrying dew—

However, when Shi Shi saw the group of men in dark suits outside the room, with stern and lethal auras, her worry instantly turned into extreme terror! The flowers and care items in her hands "popped" and fell onto the clean floor.

"Ah—!" She let out a short cry of shock, tears instantly welling up, filled with despair.

"Don't! Don't kill me! I haven't said anything! I know nothing! Please, please let my sister go!

Let us go!"

Without a doubt, she is Nagase Arisu's younger sister, Nagase Shishi.

She seemed to have seen the most terrifying sight in the world, babbling incoherently as she turned and fled down the hallway in panic, her high heels striking the floor with a sound especially sharp and grating in the silent ICU area.

This sudden turn of events left the public security personnel unprepared.

"Catch her! Don't let her get away!" Ichijo Kaoru immediately ordered.

Nagase Shishi's extreme reaction and her words "Don't kill me," "I haven't said anything," undoubtedly prove she knows the inside story, and moreover, she has mistaken the public security police for assassins come to "silence" her! This girl likely holds the key to unraveling the "Arisu" mystery, and even to connecting the Imperial Palace bombing case with the dark secrets of the idol's parent company!

A chase in the hospital hallway instantly unfolded!

In the hospital corridor, the girl's cries and running caused a small commotion.

No matter how Kino-shita Detective lowered his voice to identify himself, the girl in extreme terror could not hear him at all, like a startled rabbit, she only wanted to escape the pursuit of these "death gods."

Just as she was about to rush down the stairs, a figure swiftly and steadily stepped into her path, and as she bumped into his embrace, he gently yet firmly supported her shoulders.

"Calm down a bit, child. Look at who I am?" Uesugi Muneyuki's voice was not loud, yet carried a strange, comforting penetrating power. He had just arrived, perfectly intercepting the fleeing Shi Shi.

Shi Shi trembled so violently her body nearly fainted, still babbling incoherently: "Don't kill me! Really, it wasn't me who leaked it! I'll be very good, I won't look anymore————"

Uesugi Muneyuki did not release her, but instead slightly raised his volume, clearly stating his name and identity: "I am Uesugi Muneyuki of Tokyo University, look carefully—we are not here to harm you, we are here to find out what happened to your sister and to protect you."

"Uesugi————Muneyuki?" This name seemed to possess some kind of power; Shi Shi's confused thoughts were like grabbing a piece of driftwood. She lifted her tear-filled eyes, carefully examining the face before her—often seen in academic journals and even television news, handsome and intelligent. That belonging to an academic authority, undeniable credibility, was completely different from the image of a brutal killer she had imagined. The ice of fear began to show cracks.

"————Truly, truly Uesugi Doctor?" The girl asked, trembling, her tense body slightly relaxing.

"It is me. This place is dangerous, come with us to your sister's room—it's relatively safe there." Uesugi Muneyuki's tone allowed no refusal, yet carried a reassuring steadiness.

Several people quickly retreated back to room 604, locked the door from inside.

The ICU held only the rhythmic "beep" of instruments and the faint hiss of the oxygen mask, creating an oppressive atmosphere of isolation from the world.

Shi Shi leaned against the cold wall, watching her sister clinging to life on the hospital bed, and tears burst forth again.

Under the encouraging and soothing gazes of everyone, she finally recounted that night's terrifying experience in halting fragments.

"My sister and I came to Tokyo from Shizuoka Prefecture — she worked as a hostess at a high-end bar nearby to support us — later, we were targeted by an organization called N Network — they half-threatened, half-enticed my sister —"

"To sell her body for money. That detached house was the 'work' location they arranged, and also our temporary residence —"

She took a deep breath, her face showing extreme fear and humiliation: "The night before last — a special guest came — not long after my sister went in, I heard her very painful cries and screams from inside — I, I was terribly worried, so I wanted to peek through the door crack to see what was going on —"

At this moment, Shi Shi provided a crucial detail: "That room's curtains — weren't fully drawn, leaving a gap. And facing that gap was that old apartment building across the river — later I learned, Mr. Nakamura was there —"

"Then? What did you see?" Inspector Kino asked urgently.

"I saw — that man — he went crazy — extremely violent — my sister curled up in pain, bleeding a lot — he seemed to panic too, stopped to make a call — just as he turned around and shouted anxiously into the phone, his face — happened to be lit up for a moment by a faint light flashing from the distant apartment rooftop across the river — I, I recognized him! It's the one often seen on TV — the Cabinet Foreign Minister, Akimoto Shin'ichiro!"

This name exploded like a thunderclap in the ward! Everyone froze.

Foreign Minister?!!

Cabinet Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister? Akimoto Shin'ichiro???

"After he finished the call, he turned back and happened to see my terrified face through the door crack —" Shi Shi's voice was full of despair, "His eyes at that moment — so terrifying — he must have thought I deliberately set it up, or that I leaked his presence there — he thought I was an internal spy!"

"So, he called an ambulance, and at the same time immediately sent people to clean up that house, destroy all evidence." Management Officer Ichijo Kaoru continued in a cold voice: "And Nakamura Kenichi, most likely at that moment, accidentally photographed Akimoto the Foreign Minister's face, or confirmed his identity, and thus brought death upon himself."

Shi Shi fell to her knees with a "thud," clutching the trouser leg of Uesugi Muneyuki nearest to her, weeping: "Please! Save us! The Foreign Minister — he'll definitely kill us to silence us! My sister is already like this — please, we don't want to die!"

The ward fell dead silent.

Only the heart monitor's beeping marked the passage of time. The case's nature had completely changed, from investigating dark forces and a mysterious killer, suddenly escalating into a political scandal and murder involving the nation's highest power echelon.

The public security police were silently speechless, Superintendent Ichijo and Inspector Kino both swallowed hard.

We public security are the state bulwark!

But however we investigate, in the end we investigate our own country's high-level officials?

The other party is a Minister! Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister! The Foreign Minister ranked third or fourth in the Cabinet!

If we continue investigating, what they face is no longer just enemies in the dark, but a massive political power capable of crushing them!

And this incident won't just overturn the entire police organization, the entire political world, even this whole country of Japan!

Protecting these sisters means making an enemy of the Foreign Minister — undoubtedly a mantis-trying-to-shake-a-tree reckless gamble.

But the clues and truth are right now in the hands of these sisters, one clinging to life and one terrified out of her wits!

Investigate? Or not investigate?

Protect? Or not protect?

And just as everyone at the scene fell into hesitation, footsteps sounded again from the hallway.

Someone else is coming!!!

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