Chapter 651

The crime scene in Nozaki 3-chome, Mitaka City, has been tightly sealed off, with yellow-and-black police tape fluttering in the bleak autumn wind. Forensic Identification Division vehicles and officers from Investigation Division 1 are still conducting a carpet search.

When the Special Mission Unit team (Unit Chief Okada Masayoshi, Nango Yui, Kai Toru, Date Nagamune, Ikeda Erena, and several assisting patrol officers) arrived, Police Inspector Kashiwagi Jin was listening to a report from the on-site supervisor.

He gave Okada and the others a slight nod as a greeting, his expression still stern.

The air still carried a faint smell of blood and automobile oil. The black Toyota Century sedan remained parked in its original spot, like a silent steel coffin.

Another Toyota Century!

The bullet holes in the side window were shocking.

Ikeda Erena put on gloves and was the first to approach the vehicle. Her sharp gaze swept over the body, the ground, and the surrounding environment: "Inspector Kashiwagi, has Deputy Minister Akiyama's detailed schedule been confirmed? It's strange—why would a former deputy minister appear at this remote road at five in the morning?"

Kashiwagi Jin gestured for his subordinate to hand over a preliminary investigation report: "According to testimony from his family and secretary, Deputy Minister Akiyama only sleeps five or six hours a day. He usually goes to bed at ten p. m. and wakes up at four or five a. m., so he's accustomed to having his driver take him to a specific private shrine nearby for morning worship and meditation in the pre-dawn darkness to seek inner peace. Of course, aside from Tuesdays and Thursdays, he normally drives to a fixed soba noodle shop or other breakfast place for breakfast in the early morning."

"This road is one of his usual routes—relatively quiet. Today, the driver had to take sudden leave due to a family emergency, so Deputy Minister Akiyama decided to drive himself. This is his first solo pre-dawn outing in about six months, and unfortunately, that's when the incident occurred." Kashiwagi Jin paused, his expression grave: "It looks like a coincidence, but the killer's ability to precisely grasp his travel habits and route clearly indicates long-term surveillance and intelligence gathering."

"Long-term surveillance——" Okada Masayoshi looked around. The roadsides were lined with sparse residences and a piece of undeveloped vacant land, offering relatively open visibility, but there were also several green belts and derelict small structures that could serve as concealed observation points: "Nango, send people to check all possible long-term stakeout locations in the vicinity—high ground or hiding spots—for any traces of observation, cigarette butts, food packaging, etc."

"Understood." Nango Yui immediately led her team into action.

Kai Toru crouched on the road surface, pointing to several not-so-fresh brake marks and tire friction impressions on the ground: "Look here, and here too. Deputy Minister Akiyama's car shows signs of sudden braking and slight skidding. Combined with the bullet hole positions and the vehicle's final stopped state——the killer likely used a vehicle to deliberately create a roadblock" or a "fake accident", forcing Akiyama to slow down and stop, possibly even get out to check."

Date Nagamune stood a bit farther away by the roadside, where there was an area of exposed soil. He pointed to several blurred traces that the Forensic Identification Division had marked with markers: "Here are tire prints not belonging to Deputy Minister Akiyama's vehicle—the tread is newer, and the width matches a light cargo truck. Nearby are several deeper footprints, pointing toward where Akiyama's vehicle was parked. The killer likely parked the cargo truck here in advance, disguising it as a breakdown or obstruction, then got out to attack when the target approached."

Kashiwagi Jin nodded, then added: "Based on preliminary ballistic assessment, the shooting distance was extremely close—possibly only two or three meters. The killer needed an extremely calm mindset and skilled marksmanship to fire the fatal shot the moment Deputy Minister Akiyama rolled down his car window (possibly to inquire or shout at the obstruction), then quickly get in the vehicle and flee."

He mimicked the motion: "The whole process probably took no more than a minute. Well-trained."

"This is not the psychological quality and skill that an ordinary angry youth could possess." Okada Masayoshi said in a deep voice: "This further confirms it was the work of the Sakikawa Restoration Army"—an organized, ideologically driven extremist group.

3

The investigation continues, but leads from public channels seem to have hit a bottleneck.

Vehicle tracking lost the target at several intersections—the killer clearly knows the surveillance blind spots. Image enhancement also failed to yield more valuable details.

In the afternoon, back at the Metropolitan Police Department's temporarily used conference room for case command, the atmosphere was somewhat gloomy.

Kashiwagi Jin's side has made no breakthrough progress in monitoring and screening core members of the Sakikawa Restoration Army; this organization is more concealed than expected.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, over the street shooting of the former Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Cabinet is extremely displeased. Originally shaken by Minister Akimoto's incident, the Cabinet was already teetering, but now this has happened, and Prime Minister Yamada immediately sensed an opportunity. He immediately convened a press conference, announcing responsibility for this matter (great fog), declaring that the Cabinet will never forget or forgive such terrorists, and must fight them to the end!

This quickly shifted public attention, with all major media immediately reporting on the matter, thereby easing pressure on the Yamada Cabinet while simultaneously transferring it to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Pressure on the Metropolitan Police Department side immediately maxed out, but there's nothing to be done—police are naturally professionals at taking the fall.

Without Uesugi Muneyuki, the police investigation has begun to stall.

The Special Mission Unit and the Third Division formed a joint investigation team, but have yielded nothing so far.

Everyone had no choice but to readjust their thinking, focusing their attention on Date Nagamune's side.

That Glock 19.

Even without Uesugi Shou——————we can still do it!

Everyone steeled their resolve.

The next day, Date Nagamune of the Uwajima Date Family, in a relatively quiet corner of the Special Mission Unit, dialed a number.

The phone rang for a long time before being answered, and a hoarse voice came from the other end, still heavy with hangover and impatience: "Hello? Who is it?"

"It's me, Nagamune, Date Nagamune."

The other end fell silent for a few seconds, then came a rustling sound, as if the person had sat up, and the tone changed, carrying a hint of surprise and complex emotion: "Date————Young Master? Really a rare guest. What made you think of calling someone like me?"

"Asano, I have a matter I'd like to consult you on. Regarding—————things not easily obtained." Date Nagamune's voice was very low.

The man referred to as Asano, full name Asano Shingo, was once an elite reconnaissance soldier in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and he met Date Nagamune during a joint training exercise.

Later, Asano was forced to retire due to disciplinary issues and alcoholism, his life went downhill, and now he drifts in Tokyo's gray zones on the outskirts, making a living by reselling "special items" (from military gear to certain contraband) and providing information.

Date Nagamune once helped him when he was at his lowest, so Asano owes him a favor.

"Oh? I saw the news—Date Young Master now eats state meals, is this for a case?" Asano's voice carried amusement and a hint of wariness: "First, let's agree—if it's too specific and could get you killed, I don't know anything."

"It won't put you in a difficult position. I just want to ask: recently on the market, or with certain specific collectors" in hand, what's the circulation situation for Glock series firearms? Especially the 19 model." Date Nagamune cut straight to the point.

On the other end of the phone came the sound of Asano lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag, then a long exhale: "Glock 19———recently there's been some tension. Public security and criminal police are watching closely. But———if you're asking about sources, within Tokyo Metropolis, there are only a few places where you can get stable channels for genuine articles, and in good condition."

"One of them is related to the Kurashi Group"——the head of the Kurashi Group seems to have a fondness for collecting Glocks.

"Kurashi Group?"

Date Nagamune probed based on some scattered prior information.

The Kurashi Group is a designated violent group in the Kanto Region, not small in size, known for its "militant faction."

"Hehehe~" Asano chuckled lowly in the phone, his laughter somewhat dry: "No wonder you're Date Young Master—you're well-informed. The chairman of the Kurashi Group, Kurashiki Tetsuya, is a fervent firearms enthusiast, especially fond of collecting various handguns. He has a secret collection room" in Saitama, and it's said there are many good things inside. He has Glock 17 and 19, and reportedly some are genuine factory-made goods obtained through special channels from overseas, not domestic imitations. Some senior executives in his group might also obtain firearms through his channels.

"Have you heard recently of the Kurashi Group having contact or transactions with certain———politically extreme-leaning groups?" Date Nagamune pursued.

Asano fell silent for a moment, as if weighing: "This———I'm not entirely clear on, but recently the Kurashi Group did have internal changes, and the chairman seems to have also tried to continue importing Glocks from Southeast Asia———I can only say this much."

"I understand. Thank you, Asano." Date Nagamune said softly.

"Wait, Date Young Master," Asano called him back, lowering his voice: "Kurashiki Tetsuya is suspicious by nature and uses ruthless methods. His connections aren't just limited to the underworld—you should be careful when investigating him. Also, the favor you owe me, this time counts as repaid."

After hanging up, Date Nagamune walked back to the conference room. Everyone looked at him.

"We have a lead." Date Nagamune spoke concisely: "According to a reliable informant's information, Kurashiki Tetsuya, chairman of the Kurashi Group, may possess a collection of multiple handguns including the Glock 19, and the group recently seems to have undergone some changes. The firearms' source——perhaps we can try tracing it from this lead."

Kashiwagi Jin's eyes flashed: "Kurashi Group? Involvement of a violent group in political assassination? What's the motive?"

"Not necessarily direct instigation—it could be uncontrolled weapons distribution channels, or some members of the Kurashi Group privately colluding with the Sakikawa Restoration Army." Okada Masayoshi analyzed: "Either way, this is an important lead. Inspector Kashiwagi, should we have the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department conduct a secret investigation into the Kurashi Group, especially Kurashiki Tetsuya and his close associates? The focus would be their arsenals and recent abnormal fund flows, personnel contacts."

Kashiwagi Jin thought briefly, then firmly said: "No."

"No?!" Nango Yui frowned.

"No!" Kashiwagi Jin continued, shaking his head, his tone sharp: "If you always think this way—having unlimited resources to handle complex cases—then what do we need your Special Mission Unit for?"

"When problems arise, you can't just keep thinking about waiting, relying on, needing—we need to figure out how to get this done under limited resources!" Old Ren said domineeringly: "Send one person—just you, come with me. Tonight, the two of us will go meet that Kurashiki Tetsuya!"

"Of course, if the reasoning truly doesn't hold, we might have to resort to some means——after all, the other party is a violent group member; in such a situation, using a bit of force afterward, the department won't blame us."

"You guys, who's coming with me?"

The direction of the investigation finally pointed, however vaguely, from a fog of confusion toward a concrete and dangerous target — the Designated Organized Crime Group Kurashi Group, which dominates the Kantou region.

And the violent gang shadows that may exist behind the "Sakikawa Restoration Army," hidden beneath the students' radical exterior, caused the complexity and danger of the case to escalate sharply.

Hearing Old Ren say this, the entire Special Mission Unit fell silent.

Just two cops, going to meet a violent gang chairman?

This — this is way too dangerous, isn't it?!

Okada Masayoshi and Nango Yui made eye contact; these two Career Track elites both saw caution in the other's gaze, and temporarily did not respond, while Eirina, eager to try, was stopped by Okada Masayoshi's glare.

You can't! A policewoman cannot participate in this kind of operation!

Do you really want to be a Female Investigator? What a joke!

Mmph — Eirina pouted, but Okada just wouldn't allow it.

Kai Toru and Igarashi were unfamiliar with violent gangs; although they wanted to go, faced with this kind of thing, they were truly at a loss.

"I'll go with you." At this moment, Date Nagamune spoke: "It can only be me."

"Good, guts!" Kashiwagi Jin was very satisfied with this; he rarely looked at Date Nagamune with high regard: "Then it's the two of us."

Date Nagamune sat back in his seat, expression calm, but in his heart he knew clearly that Asano's words "be careful" were by no means empty talk.

What they are prying open may be a Pandora's box connecting the underworld, extremist thought, and even deeper darkness.

And their strongest Forensic Pathologist trump card and most skilled Management Officer are still on marriage leave.

Pressure, unprecedentedly heavy, weighed down.

At a time like this, someone like me needs to step forward!

Date Nagamune steeled himself inwardly.

After all, I am the Sendai One Million Koku Feudal Lord Daimyo, the Vice Shogun, the Tōhoku Hegemon, the descendant of the One-Eyed Dragon Masamune who would have unified the realm had he been born twenty years earlier — tooth sound! Before there was no chance; now that there is a chance, I too must become a man like Lord Masamune — benevolent father and filial son, harmonious brothers, true to his word, possessing benevolence and righteousness — tooth sound!

This world needs a Hero!