Chapter 7: , The Legendary Female Police Officer?

At the end of April, the weather in Tokyo was still cold. On a cloudy and rainy day in the new week, Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka once again arrived at the Forensic Pathology Department of Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

Tanaka Laodeng always seemed exhausted and as if he hadn't bathed in a long time. The continuous, gloomy drizzle outside reflected the dim and desolate environment of the forensic pathology lab, yet Tanaka's arrival brought a faint vitality to this isolated and reclusive place.

Professor Okochi could focus on his research for an entire day without saying a word. Uesugi Muneyuki had also been quite free during this period; leaving the Department of Surgery meant leaving frontline medicine, no longer having to wait for emergency calls, run around passionately for ward rounds every day, perform endless surgeries, see endless emergency patients, or be the endless scapegoat.

Especially in pediatrics. In fact, when he was rotating departments before, the hospital had indicated that if Uesugi Muneyuki were willing to transfer to pediatrics, he could stay in frontline medicine, and he wouldn't even need peer review to be hired as a permanent staff member. However, what Uesugi Muneyuki found most painful and detested most was children. Facing hundreds of emotionally unstable alien creatures every day, he felt it would be better to just die. Not to mention that pediatrics was a disaster zone for overtime; many pediatricians couldn't even finish seeing patients by daybreak. This department was the most bitter, the most exhausting, the easiest to encounter disputes, and the easiest to have medical accidents (as it is difficult to gauge the dosage and type of medication for children, and medical disputes are extremely common). Many large hospitals, unless there is an administrative order, would simply cancel pediatrics and only keep the emergency room.

Of course, leaving frontline medicine also meant leaving the fast track for doctors, which included rapid promotions, large research grants, and extra income from surgeries.

During this time, Uesugi Muneyuki had once again brought out the drive of a "small-town test-taker," desperately memorizing all kinds of forensic knowledge. He was very eager to try, and upon seeing Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka finally arrive, he was the first to stand up and greet him: "Got work?"

"I have to trouble Professor Okochi and little brother Uesugi again this time." Tanaka was draped in a suit coat, the usual look; people like criminal detectives might not wear their police uniforms even once a year. "We'll talk about the details on the way."

Professor Okochi did not move upon hearing this. He slowly continued writing another research report until the last line was finished, then took off his reading glasses and hung them on his chest, nodding at Uesugi Muneyuki: "Let's go."

Once in the police car, Uesugi Muneyuki was already feeling eager, and Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka began to describe the sequence of events.

"There are two deceased. The location of death is a residence in 1-chome, Yamabuki-cho. The husband's name is Ishibaka Masato, 79 years old, and the wife's name is Ishibaka Hiroko, 75 years old. The cause of death is currently unclear. According to the descriptions of surrounding neighbors, the couple usually had a very good relationship and there were no suspicious actions."

"Two days ago, the neighbors around the deceased began to smell a stench. They initially thought it was the smell of the sewer or garbage, but the stench persisted for a whole day without disappearing. So, someone called the police. The patrol officers from the local Koban came to handle it and discovered the couple dead inside the house. The situation is a bit strange, so I'm asking the Professor and little brother Uesugi to help take a look."

Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka's introduction was concise and to the point. Professor Okochi did not speak, so Uesugi Muneyuki had to take the initiative: "Is this a civil case or a criminal case this time?"

The implication was whether the police judged the deaths to be suicide or if there was a possibility of criminal involvement.

"It is possibly a criminal case." Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka concluded.

Uesugi Muneyuki became interested upon hearing this. He wanted to ask more, but Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka couldn't provide any specifics. The patrol officers from the Koban were the first to come into contact with the bodies at the scene, and some things would only be known after asking in person.

In Tokyo, police organizations are generally divided into three levels: Koban—Police Station—Metropolitan Police Department. This can be roughly understood as local police post—public security bureau—public security department, but this classification is a bit crude and not entirely accurate. Compared to a local police post, the Japanese police's Koban is arguably much inferior. So-called Kobans are mostly just small one- or two-story houses on the street, where three or five patrol officers are stationed to be responsible for patrolling the surrounding area. These patrol officers are often the lowest-ranking Patrol Officers and Police Sergeants, riding bicycles through the streets and alleys, and they possess absolutely no case-handling functions.

If one were to use a single sentence to describe the situation of a Koban, it would be "big help for small matters, small help for big matters." One can often see grassroots police officers from the Koban making a big fuss for an entire day to retrieve a pet cat or dog, or sweating profusely to help an old lady cross the street. For the vast majority of matters like asking for directions, inquiring about policies, or finding lost items, Koban police are often enthusiastic and hospitable, very willing to lend a helping hand.

However, when truly encountering a so-called "case," the only thing a Koban can do is report it upward; they can't do anything, and they aren't willing to do anything.

Even at the Police Station level, passing the buck is very common. For example, if the deceased's registered domicile, the location of the incident, and their temporary residence are different, it leads to different jurisdictions, causing Police Stations to pass the buck to each other. It is especially common for them to tell the reporter to go to another Police Station to report the case; none of them want to get involved.

In other words, there will also be Koban police and other police from the Police Station at the scene investigation this time?

Uesugi Muneyuki became interested. He wondered if he could see the legendary female police officer?

"Then who is at the scene?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked.

"There's Ito, the Koban Chief; Kuwabara, whom you know; and another Patrol Sergeant named Naito. Oh, Miss Takasaka is there too." Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka, not suspecting anything, said casually.

There really is a female police officer!

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded inwardly. Although he had no intention of having anything to do with public officials, it was good to have a female officer at the scene.

Uesugi Muneyuki harbored a deep secret in his heart—he was a heavy uniform fetishist and a heavy stocking fetishist.

However, apart from the few temporary girlfriends he had had, no one should know about this secret; he had always hidden it very deeply.

…………

At the end of the residential area on the street in 2-chome, Yamabuki-cho, Bunkyo Ward, the yellow line symbolizing danger had already been pulled up. The police car stopped at the entrance of an apartment building, and several police officers were talking.

"Is everything okay on Tanaka's side?" Koban Chief Ito was already fifty years old, with white hair at his temples, middle-aged weight gain, and sagging cheeks. He held a police baton in his hand.

"Yes, Tanaka-san has already gone to find Professor Okochi and Uesugi-san." Patrol Sergeant Kuwabara was the busiest; he had to maintain the scene, face questions from surrounding neighbors, and talk to the Koban Chief. "Uesugi-san is the one we mentioned to you last time, the super amazing Peerage rookie forensic pathologist!"

"Oh? He's actually from the Peerage? But why would someone from the Peerage come to be a forensic pathologist?" The Patrol Sergeant Naito, who had messy hair and a slender figure, said. He was under thirty years old and counted as fresh blood among the police. "They say medical school is for the children of the rich to attend, but would a rich person's child be a forensic pathologist? It's smelly, the income is low, and it's exhausting. It's a typical 7k profession... Isn't that the same as us police?"

"Naito?" Koban Chief Ito narrowed his eyes with a face full of smiles: "We are still at work right now!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry!" Patrol Sergeant Naito apologized quickly but unconvinced, thinking to himself that this old guy would just be like this for his whole life, while he still planned to be promoted a level or two!

Don't let anything go wrong, don't let anything go wrong, just close the case normally.

"Hey, hey, hey, Kuwabara-san, have you met that forensic pathologist gentleman? What kind of person is he?" At this time, the only female police officer at the scene, Patrol Officer Takasaka, said.

There were already few female police officers in Japan, and even fewer who were active on the front lines, especially in a Koban. In this situation, women were naturally taken care of. Patrol Sergeant Kuwabara quickly gestured exaggeratedly: "He's super handsome and stylish, okay? He's young, steady, and born into a Noble family—a Noble, a Noble! He's very handsome and tall, and he's also very professional~"

"Hey, really, really?" Sure enough, Kuwabara's words instantly aroused the interest of those around him. Seeing this, he simply recounted the whole thing: "Let me tell you, that guy Tanaka-san insisted at first that it was suicide because there are too many such cases, and he almost got tricked by that family. As a result, the righteous Uesugi-san gave a shout, saying it was homicide. Tanaka didn't believe it, so both sides made a bet..."

Patrol Sergeant Kuwabara vividly retold the scene at the time. When he mentioned that Tanaka Laodeng had his "gold coins" exploded by little Uesugi, several police officers, including the Koban Chief, let out satisfied gasps and couldn't help but hum softly.

There are still many good people in this world!

Just as he said this, the car arrived. The few police officers who were whispering immediately shut their mouths. Patrol Sergeant Kuwabara quickly went up to open the door for Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka and said very enthusiastically: "Thank you for your hard work!"

"Professor Okochi, Mr. Uesugi, I have to trouble you again this time." Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka took the initiative to open the car door for Professor Okochi.

"Solitary death?" Professor Okochi got out of the car, and just by taking one look, he understood everything.

At this time, another young man in a white coat also got out of the car. With a cold and handsome face, a tall figure, eyes as sharp as knives, and that aura that seemed as clean and surging as a mountain waterfall, Uesugi Muneyuki's figure shone brightly under the dim sky, impossible to look at directly.

So handsome!

Handsome! The guy in the white coat! Handsome!

Among the large crowd of onlookers, the middle-aged and elderly women were the first to start screaming, and then it was the turn of the only female police officer, Takasaka.

Is this a Peerage member? So handsome!

Compared to these stinky middle-aged uncles, he's countless times better!

She was already thinking in her mind about how to get Uesugi's phone number.

However, Uesugi, who was opposite, saw this only female police officer at the scene and felt deeply disappointed.

The appearance went without saying; the small eyes, wide forehead, big face, and round chin could only be described as a level he would never look at a second time on his own initiative. And the police uniform, narrow skirt, stockings, and high heels that Uesugi Muneyuki had imagined were completely non-existent. The field female police officer was wearing a standard field police uniform with trousers and leather shoes, a tight blue shirt, and a thick field vest. Inside the thick vest with four pockets were her notebook (police ID), radio transceiver, police baton, and police whistle.

At least the police cap on her head had a bit of a uniform vibe.

So disappointed.

In short, there was neither a strong uniform style nor enough "feminine charm," which made Uesugi Muneyuki feel deeply disappointed.

Tanaka Laodeng immediately read something from Uesugi Muneyuki's expression. Laodeng pressed his hand on little Deng's shoulder: "Disappointed, right? You kid, being able to meet a female police officer in the field is already a stroke of great luck. Namu San!"

"Didn't I hear that there are many beauties in your ranks?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked very naturally.

"There are many beauties, but they are all in administrative roles. And we are the Field Unit; it's already amazing to have a woman at all. Do you really think this is a Japanese drama?" Tanaka Laodeng smirked with an oily face: "There are really quite a few beauties inside Sakuradamon (Metropolitan Police Department headquarters), but it's really sorry for you that they are with us, little brother Uesugi. And I advise you, it's best not to really make a move on a female police officer, okay? Looking at you, you shouldn't have any plans to get married anytime soon, right?"

Japanese police are divided into two types based on their functions: one is the Field Unit, and the other is the Administrative Unit. The former truly participates in frontline patrol, case handling, tracking, investigation, surveillance, and other specific detective affairs, while the latter can be understood as belonging to administrative bureaucrats who do not directly participate in frontline case handling but only participate in management and clerical work, indirectly providing services for the former.

The Field Unit accounts for less than 40% of the 380,000 police officers in all of Japan (the scale of police in this world seems to be larger), while the total number of the Administrative Unit exceeds 50%. Besides these two types, there are also pure civilian staff; naturally, these people are even more completely insulated from detective work.

"Marriage is hell; if I could, I would rather never marry for the rest of my life." Uesugi Muneyuki felt that he might not be able to explain it clearly to Tanaka Laodeng, so he added, "Marriage is such a thing, it's too heavy; I still want to fly freely."

"Then you had better not make a move on a female Detective!" Tanaka Laodeng laughed, "You wouldn't want to be forced into marriage by the Police Station, would you?"

"Forced into marriage?" Uesugi Muneyuki was stunned.

Seeing that there was still time and that the firefighters inside were preparing equipment, Tanaka Laodeng chatted with Uesugi Muneyuki for a few moments.

Female Detectives in the Field Unit (specifically those participating in frontline investigation or patrol) have always been particularly difficult to marry off; the reason is naturally self-evident, and one can understand it just by thinking about it. Therefore, when many female Detectives in the Field Unit attend social gatherings or mixers, they either say they are administrative staff or simply say they are a Public Servant (this point is not exactly a lie).

At such times, in order to help their subordinates get married, the entire local Police Station will exert effort together. Once a female Detective's relationship is relatively stable, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Police Station will collectively mobilize, call the man over, and a group of Detectives who have fought on the front lines of investigation for a long time will bring out the momentum of interrogating criminals, saying things like "I heard you are dating our station's XXX?", "This matter cannot end simply," or "Take responsibility for it, you guy," to force the marriage.

There is almost no such forced marriage that does not succeed.

And if the man dares to dump his girlfriend, then this matter will become a big deal; the Police Station will not let it rest, and it is very likely that they will make a scene at the man's company and his family home.

"That is why I never touch public officials." Uesugi Muneyuki squinted, "As expected, it is very troublesome."

"You had better not touch them." Tanaka Laodeng looked with full malice at the little brat who had extorted twenty thousand yen from him for a meal and who, after being scolded by his wife at home, had made him eat soy sauce and seaweed over rice for three days: "I see that you, little brother Uesugi, have changed women quite often, haven't you? When the time comes, count me in for the forced marriage!"

The old brat and the little brat looked at each other, both seeing the overflowing malice in the other's eyes.

Go to hell, you little brat.

You'll definitely die before me, you stinking old brat!

"Hehehehe~" "Hmph-hmph-hmph-hmph~"

The first Wheel of confrontation, Tanaka Laodeng and little brat Uesugi fought to a draw.

The small talk ended, and as the firefighters finished preparing the protective clothing and tools, Tanaka Laodeng signaled that they could begin.

As they approached the apartment scene, an indescribable odor rushed into Uesugi Muneyuki's nasal cavity. Little brat Uesugi instantly frowned; a very, very strong, mixed stench of rotten eggs, internal organs, feces, and a sweet, fishy smell mixed with the scent of decay hit his face.

Corpse stench!

Because I was interested, I looked up a lot of information on Japanese police, but the situation in the Koban and local branches is really hard to bear; I can only say that it is not easy to work at the grassroots level.

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(End of this chapter)