Chapter 63: Cursed Grudge

Not wanting to leave?!

Uesugi Muneyuki had already habitually reached out his hand to perform a deliverance, but upon hearing Hironaka Mariko's words, he wore a look of utter astonishment.

A deviation in the established procedure?!

【What kind of joke is this! I didn't want to die! I was about to get married, I have family, I have friends, why should I be delivered by you?!】 As Hironaka Mariko spoke of this, her face gradually twisted; her features tangled like a spinning top caught in a whirlpool, rotating rapidly, while her body turned black amidst the distortion, and her eyes became hollow and void: 【My wish has not yet been fulfilled!】

【You're still not satisfied?】 Uesugi Muneyuki hesitated for a few seconds; subconsciously, he wanted to refute Hironaka Mariko's words, but another instinct told him that Hironaka Mariko's Dead Soul was undergoing a change.

Her resentment toward death and her resentment toward the living were causing her to gradually transform from a Dead Soul into something else.

Was Hironaka Mariko's death unjust?

It could be said that no one had died more unjustly than her!

She had been kind-hearted, running around helping others, yet the final outcome was that no good deed goes unpunished! She was killed by the very person she had always cared for and helped, simply because of a misunderstanding; even Uesugi Muneyuki felt it was undeserved for her!

Not to mention that it was already the early hours of the morning, and today was her wedding day.

Under these circumstances, the intense resentment contained within Hironaka Mariko had caused her soul to mutate, resembling a swirling ink-colored hurricane, whistling as it blew around Uesugi Muneyuki.

As for why she hadn't completely lost her sanity, Uesugi Muneyuki guessed it was likely because Hironaka Mariko was kind by nature and somewhat reasonable; she was filled with resentment, but she did not resent Uesugi Muneyuki, who had nothing to do with this matter.

Could it be that this is—a Cursed Grudge?

Legend has it that the curse cast by those who die with a grievance is a Cursed Grudge; it gathers sky-high resentment in the residence where the deceased lived, killing anyone who touches it and creating a new "Cursed Grudge," spreading horrific death continuously, while the "Cursed Grudge" remains forever guarding the haunted house, cursing every visitor.

According to the Death Soul Contract, Uesugi Muneyuki could certainly deliver her, but considering that the strange mutation occurring in Hironaka Mariko might help him understand the Inner World... after thinking cautiously for a moment, he probed: 【It's not impossible, but how should I do it?】

Upon hearing that Uesugi Muneyuki agreed, Hironaka Mariko immediately returned to her original soul form; the anchorwoman was very happy that her wish was being fulfilled: 【The Contract mentions the Esoteric Buddhism Wisdom King's method of controlling the hundred ghosts; just let me reside under your Wisdom King throne.】

【But you are not a holder of supernatural abilities...】 Uesugi Muneyuki said: 【You cannot recover Soul Power, and one day, you will dissipate.】

【It doesn't matter; by then, perhaps I will have stayed long enough, and it won't be too late for you to deliver me then.】

Just like that, both parties reached a new agreement.

The moment the Contract took effect, a Courage as towering as a giant peak and as roaring as a river and sea rushed into Uesugi Muneyuki's body; the Qinghui Stone on his right hand burst with light, spitting out wave after wave of energy vortexes. The Courage, of a magnitude far beyond what Uesugi Muneyuki could imagine, almost completely filled him. The Aizen Myoo Dharma Body turned entirely blood-red, and the halo of light behind it rose slowly, becoming fully illuminated. Amidst the bright red fire of Esoteric Buddhism, the furious and wrathful expression of Aizen Myoo also added a different flavor.

The Hardening of 【The Vajra】 was superficially increased by wisps of flames from the Cursed Grudge.

Rising Dragon with Fire?

Uesugi Muneyuki was surprised by the new ability obtained from Hironaka Mariko, while at the same time, Ikeda Erena and Watanabe Minami, seeing Uesugi Muneyuki remain silent and occasionally observing his own hands, thought that Uesugi Muneyuki was also feeling sad for Hironaka Mariko's unfortunate encounter.

Indeed, encountering such a case where no good deed goes unpunished—let alone the justice-loving Erena, even a heaven-favored daughter like Watanabe Minami looked at Fukushima Sozaburo with nothing but contempt.

The police from the Metropolitan Police Department had even less patience for this criminal who was kneeling and crying, and they hauled him away.

Before leaving, Fukushima Sozaburo requested to personally apologize to Hironaka Mariko's family and fiancé.

But he was refused by Hironaka Mariko's family.

In fact, the Metropolitan Police Department had spent a great deal of effort to keep Hironaka Mariko's father and Fukushima Sozaburo separated.

Yet Uesugi Muneyuki noticed that Hironaka Mariko's fiancé, Shimakawa Ren, remained silent throughout; he looked neither resentful nor angry, but there was no joy either.

Just as he was thinking this, Shimakawa Ren walked straight toward Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Excuse me, could I take a moment of your time?" Shimakawa Ren took the initiative to say to Uesugi Muneyuki, and handed over a golden business card.

"Very well, I also wanted to take a moment of your time." Uesugi Muneyuki apologized to Ikeda Erena and Watanabe Minami, and followed this fiancé away.

The scene was left with Erena and Minami; after watching the figures of Uesugi Muneyuki and Shimakawa Ren disappear at the end of the corridor, Ikeda Erena cast her gaze toward the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department before her.

She vaguely remembered that in the restaurant after reporting to the Metropolitan Police Department with Uesugi Muneyuki that time, it was this beautiful policewoman and that Inspector Yanagisawa who had sat more than ten meters away pointing at her the whole time, and they had no intention of coming over to get acquainted.

Only after she introduced herself this time did Erena learn that she was the one rumored within the police force as the "Face of the Metropolitan Police Department," the only daughter of the new Superintendent General—Watanabe Minami.

It was no wonder Erena was slow to react; she was already isolated in the Police Station and had no friends, so her information was blocked and sluggish.

Watanabe Minami was 22 years old this year and was already a Police Inspector; Ikeda Erena was 23 years old this year, and her rank was still Patrol Officer.

Between the two of them were Patrol Sergeant (unofficial rank), Police Sergeant, and Assistant Police Inspector; and if nothing went wrong, Watanabe Minami would be promoted to Superintendent before the age of 28, while even if Ikeda Erena were the most successful, she would be over 35 before reaching Police Inspector.

This was the gap between the Career Track and the Non-Career Track; although both wore police uniforms, they were actually people from different worlds.

Just like the romance between Takagi Wataru and Sato Miwako in Detective Conan, the love between a Non-Career Track and a Career Track is a true fairy tale; even so, Takagi Wataru had considered that if they married, he would definitely be the one to resign and become a househusband, which counts as a small realistic element in a fairy tale.

The reason why local Non-Career Track officers are so obsessed with entering the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters is precisely because only at headquarters can one work with Career Track and Associate Career Track officers, and only at headquarters is it possible to break through the shackles of the Police Inspector rank and be promoted to Superintendent before the age of 45.

However, Erena didn't care about that much; she didn't become a Detective for the sake of promotion.

"Congratulations, Patrol Officer Ikeda, that was a beautiful Judo technique." Watanabe Minami said indifferently: "Are you getting used to staying at the new branch?"

"Huh?!" Ikeda Erena's brain hadn't caught up yet: "It's, alright."

"Fine, go back and wait for notification." Watanabe Minami lowered her head slightly, bowing no more than fifteen degrees: "Then, goodbye."

After saying this, the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department really walked away without looking back.

"Ah?" Ikeda Erena didn't understand what was going on at all, and she subconsciously shouted: "Wait!"

Watanabe Minami stopped in her tracks: "Is there anything else?"

The 1.7-meter-tall Erena seemed to have her aura automatically shrink in front of the 1.6-meter-tall Minami; under the other party's high-and-aloof temperament, Erena's indifferent and cold disguise was simply not worth mentioning: "That, thank you."

She was referring to the matter of Watanabe Minami calling to communicate with the District Public Prosecutors Office.

"You're welcome." Watanabe Minami's expression was calm; she accepted Erena's apology completely: "Then, goodbye."

You really should thank me, the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department thought to herself.

What kind of person is this? Is being on the Career Track so great? Is the Superintendent General's only daughter so great? Is a 22-year-old Police Inspector so great?

Erena had rarely wanted to express her goodwill and gratitude, but the other party didn't care at all, which made the tall beauty grit her silver teeth and clench her fists, wishing she could also land an "Arashi no Yama" on Watanabe Minami.

Sure enough, only Uesugi is different, only he...

After deepening her stereotype of this system once again, Ikeda Erena didn't know what she should do.

Better wait for him to come back, the tall beauty found a place to sit down and waited quietly.

This performance was still valuable; passing police officers and TV station staff would greet her.

However, Ikeda was as cold as ever; when someone came up to greet her, she only responded indifferently, and she also rejected the interview request proposed by Fuji TV.

What kind of person is this? Is a mere Patrol Officer so great? Is a Judo expert so great? Is being so tall so great?

The people around them were slandering them in their hearts.

After Watanabe Minami walked a distance away, the Superintendent's personal driver, Okada, walked over: "It seems that just as the rumors say, her temper is not very good."

"Heh, is it only 'not very good'?" The corners of Watanabe Minami's mouth lifted into a cold, sharp smile: "But it doesn't matter; she is just a tool."

"A tool?"

"A tool I am using to test the true ability of Uesugi Muneyuki." The Face of the Metropolitan Police Department glanced at the Police Superintendent badge on the chest of Investigation Division 1 Division Chief Mikasa, who was describing the entire case to the Live Broadcast camera, and sneered: "She has done well, and it is time to spit out a reward for her; there must be rewards to have punishments."

"You mean?" Police Inspector Okada smiled slightly, not denying it.

"Promote her. She performed quite well today and preserved the face of the headquarters." Watanabe Minami took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and her eyes shimmered: "Since Uesugi and she get along so well, then future cooperation between the Metropolitan Police Department and him will be easy to handle."

Police Inspector Okada looked at this only daughter of the Superintendent General and could not help but feel a chill in his heart.

Ikeda Erena was the tool Watanabe Minami used to test Uesugi Muneyuki.

The first was to test whether Uesugi Muneyuki's talent was just blind luck or if he had true ability.

The second was to test whether Uesugi Muneyuki could adapt to the police system and possess the foundation for long-term cooperation.

The third was to probe Uesugi Muneyuki's hobbies and needs, so the Metropolitan Police Department could cater to them.

Judging from the previous Q&A, Uesugi Muneyuki already knew, while only Ikeda Erena remained completely in the dark.

Watanabe Minami had even hoped that if something really happened between these two, the Metropolitan Police Department could take advantage of the situation to bind Uesugi Muneyuki under the control of Sakuradamon.

As it turned out, nothing happened.

Police Inspector Okada did not know if this was a good thing or not; the former would cause Watanabe Minami to drop her evaluation of Uesugi Muneyuki by a large margin, while the latter would make Minami feel that Uesugi Muneyuki was difficult to control.

But regardless, Ikeda Erena's value as a tool ended here.

It was a pity; although Ikeda Erena was also very beautiful, and Bai Chuan Mai was an even bigger super beauty, the temperament Watanabe Minami exuded was different.

That kind of arrogance and cold beauty, uncontrollably making one produce a desire to conquer like an iceberg, and then immediately feeling inferior and admiring due to status, was the unique attribute of this Face of the Metropolitan Police Department.

However, this was none of Police Inspector Okada's business; he was already married.

……………………

On the third-floor terrace, the night wind surged wildly, all things wailed, and the brilliant lights of the Minato Ward combined with the scene of Odaiba still being crowded even in the early morning; Uesugi Muneyuki and Shimakawa Ren were each leaning against the railing.

Shimakawa Ren was wearing heavy Ralph Lauren clothing, every corner of his body filled with matte and warm dark tones, only the Vacheron Constantin gold watch on his wrist appearing slightly bright, warm, comfortable, and slightly indulgent.

Old Money, Uesugi Muneyuki evaluated in his heart.

"I am very sorry to bother you." The fiancé thanked Uesugi Muneyuki: "In any case, if it weren't for you, those police officers would still be suspecting me of being the murderer."

"In cases like this, the police's logic of deduction is all about the same." Uesugi Muneyuki looked out at the night view of the Minato Ward, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over this fiancé.

Hironaka Mariko is watching you!

Buddy, be careful; you wouldn't want to get stained by a Cursed Grudge, would you?

"How is it? The night view of the Minato Ward, not bad, right?" Seeing Uesugi Muneyuki staring outside, Shimakawa Ren laughed: "I am a native Minato Ward Person; I am used to seeing it. I went to school in the Minato Ward, and my family and friends are all Minato Ward People. My grandfather's generation often came to Fuji TV to play."

"Is that so?" Uesugi Muneyuki showed a smile, while Hironaka Mariko on the side complained: 【How many times has this guy said 'Minato Ward' in one sentence? Minato Ward Boy?】

As if having a premonition, Shimakawa Ren laughed: "Uesugi-kun, you don't mind me calling you that, do you? Just now, were you thinking, 'How come this person keeps bringing up the Minato Ward'?"

After speaking, without waiting for Uesugi Muneyuki to answer, Shimakawa Ren continued on his own: "Because Minato Ward People basically only make friends with Minato Ward People. Only those born in the Minato Ward can enter the small circles of the Minato Ward. The fathers and grandfathers of our small circle are all Minato Ward People. Saying 'eight generations of ancestors' is a bit exaggerated, but you should understand what I mean."

"Don't you also like to keep the identity of Peerage on your lips?" Shimakawa Ren said: "We are the same kind of people."

Uesugi Muneyuki understood what Shimakawa Ren meant. He leaned on the railing just like this fiancé and smiled helplessly: "That's right, we are the same kind of people."

Under the night sky, the Old Kazoku and the Minato Ward master blew in the wind, a meeting of Old Money and Old Kazoku.

"So you can understand me; you must be able to understand me." Shimakawa Ren lit a cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring: "The Metropolitan Police Department's suspicion is actually not wrong; I don't feel sad about Hironaka's death."

"As someone born into the Peerage, you must understand that a wife is something that is sometimes meant to be shown to others." Shimakawa Ren said slowly: "Whether it is bringing a Fuji TV anchor out or taking her to a small circle gathering in the Minato Ward, it is a face-saving matter, isn't it? Can you understand?"

"I understand." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded slowly. His mother, Uesugi Tomoko, was the same; born into a Noble family, she was proficient in flower arranging, tea ceremony, flower cards, and waka poetry, which made the main family have face when going out to meet guests and socialize.

This kind of wife is just to be shown to outsiders. In fact, when they first got married, the relationship between his parents was also average. It was just that Uesugi Tomoko became pregnant after marriage and gave birth to a son, which made his father, who was under immense pressure as the only heir, overjoyed. The husband-and-wife relationship became very harmonious and continued to heat up from then on, and then they had him, so his father and mother became a loving couple.

"That's right, you should understand. Marrying a Fuji TV anchor can give me a lot of face, so I don't care. I don't care what she was like before marriage. I thought, if I couldn't get along with her, then we would just be a masked couple, each playing our own games. If we could get along, then I would be willing to settle down and live a good life with her."

"I didn't have any feelings for her to begin with. I didn't love her. When I heard the news of her disappearance, I thought she had regretted it, and that didn't matter either—it would just be the termination of the engagement and changing to someone else. So I couldn't feel sad; I couldn't shed a single tear. Those trash police officers would naturally regard me as a suspect, but they don't understand at all! They don't understand the Minato Ward at all, they don't understand us people!"

"We are born to marry people we don't like! Even if the wedding date is near, even if we are married, we don't have to break up with the mama-san in Ginza!" Shimakawa Ren was so angry that he punched the railing: "That pig in the Metropolitan Police Department who is blinded by greed and anxious to solve the case! He actually pinned me to the table. I must pay him back tenfold... no, a hundredfold!"

"I also can't say what kind of person I will marry in the future." Uesugi Muneyuki could feel the fiancé's pride and the anger of being offended. He expressed understanding and was about to comfort Shimakawa Ren, but Uesugi Muneyuki was stunned to find that the fiancé was crying.

"But, but..." Shimakawa Ren wiped the tears from his face with his hand: "Why did it turn out like this? Why is it that only after she died did I understand her? Why is it that after she died, I understood her kindness? She would specifically write a recommendation letter for a temporary employee and specifically find him for a private chat. Such a kind and good woman, how good would it be if she could become my wife?"

"Why did it have to be after she died, after she died that I knew? Why did I..." Shimakawa Ren patted the railing with a thud, both annoyed and sad: "I finally prepared to get married, but Heaven had to let her leave?!"

"Woo~~" The fiancé hung his head, sniffing, extremely frustrated: "Why am I only thinking of crying now?"

"Because, Mr. Shimakawa, your tears are not shed for love. You are just regretting that a beautifully packaged blind box was lost before you had time to open it, and it was only after the thing inside was shattered that you confirmed it was worth more than the price. You are just crying for your own loss." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head and patted the fiancé on the shoulder: "What is not yet obtained and what is already lost are people's eternal pains. Just the fact that you are willing to shed tears for her is enough."

"We really are the same kind of people." Shimakawa Ren sniffed and took the initiative to reach out to Uesugi Muneyuki: "Let's be friends, Uesugi-kun."

"Agreed."

This update is 5200 words; that counts as quite sincere, right?

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(End of this chapter)