Chapter 686: , how come even coming to pray for blessings can run into a murder case?

PS: Today I had something to attend to outside, and the case was hard to write, so I just made a super large chapter of 5000 words by combining two parts. The emperor still owes me two more chapters, I remember that!! Friends who are familiar with Three Kingdoms history all know that among the Three Kingdoms there is a famous allusion called "Qu You Wu, Zhou Lang Gu".

The meaning of "Qu You Wu, Zhou Lang Gu" is that when you play a piece of music with errors, Zhou Yu will show an expression of eagle-eyed and wolf-like gaze. Later it was extended to mean that whenever the ruler does something that goes against Zhou Yu's wishes, Zhou Yu will show a wolf-like gaze.

According to the new Three Kingdoms historical records: When Quan was discussing Jingzhou affairs, Yu disagreed, so he presented a general outline, but Quan did not approve. Yu often held resentment, which showed in his words and expression. Quan knew this, so he pointed at Yu and shouted loudly: "In Jiangdong, who is the lord—you or me?"

Yu felt wronged but could not speak, so he retreated.

Hence in Wu region there is a saying: "Qu You Wu, Zhou Lang Gu".

Zhou Yu also thus earned the elegant nickname "American Wolf".

Similarly, Uesugi Munetsugu in the Japanese police also has a similar reputation: "Case You Wu, Uesugi Gu", meaning that whenever a case has problems, Uesugi Munetsugu will find the issue in countless details through scientific and rational methods—sometimes even going beyond scientific rationality—and solve numerous cases. However, Uesugi Munetsugu's "Case You Wu, Uesugi Gu" does not always mean the situation is good.

Look at Uesugi Munetsugu this black guy—he doesn't always solve cases in the way the police hope!

Here I want to emphasize again: the police's main duty is to maintain existing order, not to uphold justice. Therefore, many cases assigned to Uesugi end up in utter failure.

For example, the previous case of the foreign minister's son's car bomb—when Uesugi Munetsugu was assigned to investigate, he indeed pursued it all the way until the foreign minister himself overturned his car and hanged himself, and even the Americans couldn't save him!

Another example: the earlier Ikebukuro ghost case—Uesugi Munetsugu investigated and investigated, and found a problem with the bulletproof vest. This turned out to be the largest corruption case since the Heisei era. The Tokyo Special Investigation Unit arrested so many people that the detention center was overcrowded. Originally, the Metropolitan Police Department, burdened with redundant staff and constantly troubled by how to streamline personnel, had to announce this year's recruitment of 300 additional officers.

Another example: even worse, it's said to be about the recent internal affairs of that Chikawa Restoration Army. Online rumors in Japan claim the leader escaped because the police department deliberately ordered his release—because he knew too much.

Deputy Chief Risuke Yamakawa and Detective Mikawa locked eyes for a good while.

Our Yamagata Prefecture should not have such instant or internal black police, nor government departments, nor local political-business Brahmin elites who enjoy doing such things, right?

Otherwise, if "Case You Wu, Uesugi Gu" applies, we can't just investigate everything—what if we actually find something?

Detective Mikawa remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

This is Yamagata Prefecture, not Kanagawa!

Although I cannot be 100% certain, are you sure? Deputy Chief Yamakawa? Don't forget, Uesugi Munetsugu's father, Uesugi Hiroken, is currently planning to establish the "Uesugi Development Foundation," whose headquarters is set in Yonezawa City. Moreover, you must seriously say: isn't the largest Brahmin family in Yonezawa City none other than the Yonezawa Uesugi clan, descendants of the former Yonezawa domain lord and the aristocracy?

Although they moved the whole family to Tokyo long ago.

Exactly, that makes sense!

Let the hero investigate the hero, let the good man investigate the good man!

Hero investigates hero, good man investigates good man, Brahmin investigates Brahmin!

Let Uesugi investigate Uesugi!

"Contact the hotel immediately! 'Not one'—Yamakawa glanced at his watch: 7:32 AM. 'Prepare the car, I'll go personally! Bring my credentials and the preliminary scene report!'"

This might be the only hope to break the deadlock.

A top-tier expert with extraordinary insight, and who himself is right at the center of this strange vortex.

Moreover, being able to drag him into this—he won't be able to avoid it anyway—why not?

In the hotel room where Uesugi Munetsugu is staying, heavy curtains block out the gradually brightening morning light.

The room has sufficient heating, filled with a faint warm atmosphere and a trace of extremely faint perfume belonging to Tei Reiji.

Uesugi Munetsugu's sleeping posture remains upright, as if even his sleep maintains some kind of restraint.

The beautiful Tei Reiji is curled up beside him, one hand unconsciously resting on his chest, her face still showing a trace of peaceful calm after fatigue. A few hours earlier, the two had been at the "reception" outside the long-absent music house, temporarily dispelling the outside chill and unease.

The phone on the nightstand remains silent.

The hallway outside is also completely quiet.

Most people in the hotel are still asleep, unaware of the tragedy that occurred at the rest stop a few kilometers away, or of the police's gradually escalating actions. However, vehicles from the Yamagata Prefecture Police Headquarters have already driven out from the rest stop scene, speeding toward the hotel.

On the car, Deputy Chief Yamakawa's face is grim, his hand tightly gripping a folder containing scene photos and the preliminary report.

He knows that once he summons Uesugi Munetsugu, the investigation will enter a completely new—and perhaps even more unpredictable—phase. At the same time, he feels a faint, almost superstitious anticipation—perhaps only that man rumored to see "invisible clues" can unravel this case, which from the very beginning has been shrouded in contradiction and impossibility.

Outside the hotel, dawn is gradually breaking, and the streets of Yonezawa City are beginning to awaken.

Some early-rising citizens have already noticed the unusual nighttime police vehicle activity. On local social media, discussions about "rest stop blockade", "looks like a murder case happened", and "could it be related to the celebrity who filmed a show yesterday?" are quietly increasing.

A storm is brewing, and at the eye of the storm—the man who might be able to see the truth—still lingers on the edge of his warm dream. Yamakawa's car has stopped in front of the hotel.

Uesugi Munetsugu is still holding Tei Reiji. He and this Fuji TV beauty anchor don't meet often, so she was especially clingy last night, almost using all her strength. As everyone knows, compared to someone like Minami, a big lady, a female anchor does have physical demands. Moreover, Uesugi Munetsugu used the Dead Soul Contract to communicate with Uesugi Kenshin, so he was also especially energized.

But Tei Reiji is like Mai's senior sister in this regard—she just likes things a bit rough, though I don't know if it's because of her status.

【Hey! Kora! Shake it, Yaemai! Eight fangs! You little brat, order for time! Nini kid, kid, Jingjing, Longlong, Dongdong, major champion!】 At this moment, Hiroko Makoriko screamed: 【Uesugi, wake up, someone's here!】

【What's happening? Did Tenma Hu go south?】Uesugi Munetsugu was shouted awake by Hiroko Makoriko.

【Police are here! Shirogane is already downstairs!】Hiroko Makoriko shouted angrily: 【Look at what you've done! Making me, a former anchor, curse for you to guard the new anchor—why don't you just go die?】

【Shirogane? What's he here for?】Uesugi Munetsugu is now somewhat awake.

【I don't know, but based on your usual behavior, it's probably a murder case, right?】Hiroko Makoriko muttered: 【Hurry up! I saw them go to the front desk to inquire, they showed their IDs!】

【Impossible—how could a murder case happen even when coming to make a wish?】Uesugi Munetsugu said, really? I don't believe it.

As Deputy Chief Yamakawa's car just came to a stop at the hotel entrance, he stepped out with a detective and quickly entered the lobby, showed his credentials at the front desk, explained the emergency, and then learned Uesugi Munetsugu's room number.

Arriving at the room door, Yamakawa adjusted his collar, ruffled by the cold wind, took a deep breath, and prepared to invite this police legend in the most respectful way.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Dr. Uesugi, I am Deputy Chief Yamakawa of the Yamagata Prefecture Police Headquarters. I have an urgent case requiring your professional assistance!"

Inside, silence prevailed—but soon, Uesugi Munetsugu opened the door: "Any situation?"

He was fully dressed, his white shirt buttons fastened precisely to the collar, casually wearing a dark gray Ralph Lauren cardigan outside. His face showed no trace of just being woken up—only his usual calm.

However, the slightly messy bed behind him in the room, and the faint, elusive scent in the air—different from hotel toiletries—made the experienced Yamakawa instantly sense something.

This guy......

Immediately after, a figure in a hotel bathrobe, hair slightly damp, cheeks still bearing a suspicious flush, walked out from the bathroom side of the room—none other than Fuji TV's leading lady, Tei Reiji.

Seeing Yamakawa at the door in police uniform with a stern expression, she was clearly startled for a moment, but then, her professional training as an anchor kicked in, she quickly regained composure—even the corners of her mouth slightly lifted, forming a faintly tired yet extraordinarily radiant smile, even hinting at a barely noticeable pride. She didn't avoid him, but naturally walked to stand slightly behind Uesugi Munetsugu's side, as if declaring her presence.

"Good morning, Deputy Chief Yamakawa." Tei Reiji's voice was gentle, yet carried a slight morning hoarseness: "Is...... something urgent happened in Yonezawa?"

Her sharp gaze caught the fleeting flash of surprise and embarrassment in Yamakawa's eyes, and she felt inwardly pleased.

Uesugi, he— the person he named is me, it's me!

Inspector Yamanaka froze for a few seconds.

He never expected to stumble upon such a scene. Uesugi Muneyuki and Tei Reiji?

The leading lady of Fuji TV, and Uesugi Muneyuki actually have this kind of relationship in private?

Wait, isn't Uesugi Muneyuki married?

Wait a moment! Wasn't Tei Reiji at the wedding scene broadcast in the *Hand of God Wedding SP*? And he was happily consulting with Uesugi Minami! Wait wait wait wait°

Inspector Yamanaka's CPU is a bit overloaded.

This completely exceeded his expectations, and it instantly cast a subtle hue over what was originally a solemn official invitation.

The young detective behind him even subconsciously lowered his head, his ears slightly flushed.

"Uh...... Tei anchor, good morning." Inspector Yamanaka quickly adjusted his state, refocusing his gaze on Uesugi Muneyuki, ignoring the ambiguous atmosphere, and his tone regained the solemnity of official business.

His CPU has processed it.

Metropolitan Police Department Uesugi Muneyuki's official residence, Omitaidokoro Uesugi Minami, Gonenki Ikeda Erena, Koshō Saito Asuka, Ooku Superintendent兼任 Kamakura-dono Shirakawa Mai...... Fuji'in Tei Reiji.

Thinking about it this way, isn't it much more reasonable?

"Uesugi forensic doctor, I'm very sorry to disturb you so early. But the situation is urgent, an extremely heinous murder case occurred at a rest stop in the suburbs, the victim is suspected to be a member of an idol group participating in filming. The crime scene...... is highly abnormal, routine investigation has hit a dead end. We learned you are here, and earnestly request your assistance in the investigation!" Inspector Yamanaka said.

Uesugi Muneyuki listened, his face showing no embarrassment at having his private matters exposed, as if Tei Reiji appearing in his room was the most natural thing. He merely gave a slight nod, his gaze sharpening: "Has the victim's identity been confirmed?"

"Not yet finally confirmed, but the characteristics highly match, we are requesting the variety show operations team to send someone to the scene for identification." Inspector Yamanaka replied. "Understood." Uesugi Muneyuki turned around, extremely naturally saying to Tei Reiji: "Reiji, you rest first, temporarily avoid contact with media or others, wait for my message."

Uesugi Muneyuki's tone was calm, yet carried a hint of strangeness.

Tei Reiji lightly nodded, his fingers unconsciously adjusting the collar of his robe, his gaze toward Uesugi filled with trust and a hint of worry: "Be careful, I'll come over later too."

This scene falling into Inspector Yamanaka's eyes further confirmed that their relationship is indeed not ordinary.

But he currently has no time to delve into it, the pressure of solving the case overwhelms everything.

"Please give me ten minutes to prepare, I need to first understand the preliminary situation." Uesugi Muneyuki said to Inspector Yamanaka, then gestured: "If you don't mind, Inspector, you can first go downstairs to wait, and first organize the case details."

Uesugi Muneyuki's attitude was professional and composed, as if what the police had just caught him in wasn't a private matter, but an ordinary morning meeting. This kind of unreasonably calm demeanor, instead, slightly reassured Inspector Yamanaka—this or perhaps is exactly the psychological quality a legendary forensic doctor should have.

But for Uesugi Muneyuki, it's just habit.

Eighty percent of the murder case corpses in Tokyo are examined by him alone!

But why does encountering a case even happen when coming out to pray for blessings?

At the same time Uesugi Muneyuki was listening to Inspector Yamanaka's preliminary briefing, Sohō Hinata's dispatched agent Konno and a young assistant, unwillingly, arrived outside the police line.

Konno's face was written with fatigue and irritability; he had dealt with various chaos until late last night, was woken by a phone call in the early morning, and now only wants to quickly confirm "which clueless idiot is running around again," then go back to catch up on sleep.

Receiving them were Mikawa forensic doctor and a female detective.

Mikawa forensic doctor's expression was very solemn, handing over several photos processed through temporary scene handling, with the most horrifying details obscured but clearly showing clothing and hairstyle, as well as a close-up of that heart-shaped water diamond hair clip.

"Please carefully identify, do these items belong to your team's members?" Mikawa's voice was calm and unperturbed.

Konno took the photos absentmindedly, still muttering: "Definitely a mistake, our kids are all professionally trained, although a bit slow-witted, but they wouldn't......"

His words cut off abruptly.

The light pink cardigan on the photo, soaked in blood over half yet still showing its style...... he remembered! That's the private clothes Nishino Miki changed into after finishing recording yesterday! He saw it with his own eyes! And the distressed style of those jeans...... as well as that hair clip! Nishino Miki has been wearing it frequently lately, saying it's a gift from fans!

Moreover, Nishino Miki was indeed missing yesterday......

Could it be......?

No, impossible! We...... our operations and idols are professionally trained......

Cold sweat instantly burst forth from Konno's forehead and back.

His hands began to uncontrollably tremble, the photos nearly slipping from his grasp. He abruptly lifted his head to look at Mikawa forensic doctor, his eyes filled with incredulous fear: "This...... this is...... Miki...... Nishino Miki's clothes and hair clip...... "How could......"

"Can you confirm it completely?" The female detective pressed, opening the voice recorder.

"Con...... confirm...... " Konno's voice was dry and hoarse, the young assistant beside him had already covered his mouth, tears welling up, his legs gone weak to the point of barely being able to stand.

Mikawa forensic doctor nodded, his tone still professional, but his eyes revealed a hint of pity: "Then, unfortunately...... we need one of you to cooperate with the final identification. Please prepare yourself mentally, the scene condition...... may cause you a strong shock." Konno's face turned ashen as paper, he knew what this meant.

Final confirmation usually requires facing the corpse or its most distinctive parts. He recalled the police saying over the phone "the situation is very serious," and looking at the glaring dark red on the photo in his hand, his stomach churned violently. But as the person in charge, he had no choice.

Accompanied by the female detective, Konno wore a mask, trembling as he walked into the temporarily set up identification area. Although police had done their best to set up shielding, that fleeting glimpse of the horrific state—one swollen, bruised cavity, disheveled black hair, and the horrifying defect at the neck—still left an indelible mark like a hot iron on his retina.

"Is...... is it Nishino Miki......" Konno almost squeezed this sentence out from his throat, then immediately couldn't hold back, rushing out to lean against a tree and violently vomit, from mouth to bile spraying out, his whole body shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"Call, call!" His voice sounded like he was crying.

The news returned at the fastest speed to the variety show team's command center at the inn, and also reached the operations side reporting to Inspector Yamanaka. Nishino Miki, confirmed dead!

Boom!

The entire inn was stirred.

"What, the information is fake?"

"Immediately notify all members to stay in rooms, prohibit going out, prohibit using SNS! Prohibit using YouTubeINS Twitter Facebook these fundamentally nonexistent foreign websites! Contact Sony Music headquarters! Contact Yoshimoto Kogyo emergency response room! Report to Fuji TV executives! Fast!! "Tokyo, Minato Ward, Odaiba Building, Fuji Television headquarters building, president's office.

The winter sunlight poured through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting cold light spots on the expensive Persian carpet.

President Kameyama Chihiro had just finished a breakfast meeting, slowly enjoying the second cup of coffee brought by the secretary. His hair was meticulously combed, the deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes hiding decades of shrewdness and fervor left from media battlefield struggles.

Hehe, next year the *Hand of God* TV drama version will be preparing to start filming! Shirakawa Mai is the lead, Uesugi Muneyuki is a fixed cameo, the Metropolitan Police Department does full on-location shooting, adapting various shocking real cases, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office provides professional guidance, all regional peerages promise full support, movie-level budget and visuals, unprecedented super high anticipation.

Fuji TV will dominate Japanese entertainment!

The internal extension phone on the desk suddenly rang, breaking the room's tranquility.

"Huh?" Kameyama Chihiro saw this red internal extension phone, raised his eyebrows, calling this private line at this time, could it be...... good news?!