Chapter 711

The New Year holiday ended quickly, but for the Special Mission Unit it didn't feel quick, because they worked overtime during the New Year leave, and the Special Mission Unit didn't finish overtime and start vacation until January 3rd, and just after the New Year, a few impatient people had already come here to report for duty.

In the morning, the conference room of the Metropolitan Police Department's senior leadership.

Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji sat upright behind his rosewood desk, Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kanji stood by the window, and both of their gazes fell simultaneously on the young man before them, dressed in a dark gray high-end suit and holding a briefcase.

Kansei Watari, 32 years old, an elite bureaucrat of the Ministry of Justice, top graduate of the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law, formerly studied at Oxford.

At this moment he bowed slightly, his posture perfect as if from an etiquette textbook.

He is a trusted aide of Administrative Vice-Minister Kusakabe of the Ministry of Justice, and also the prosecutor appointed by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office to lead Investigation Division 1 of the Special Mission Division.

"Kansei-kun, welcome to the Metropolitan Police Department." Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji's voice was calm and steady, but his eyes carried scrutiny: "The Special Mission Division is our ace department, directly handling the most sensitive cases. Uchimura Management Official, no, soon to be Uchimura Minami Section Chief, she developed what was originally a 'Special Mission Unit' of just three plus one person into today's scale, which was no easy feat."

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura added: "The Special Mission Division will have four sections in the future, and the Investigation Division 1 of the Prosecutors Office that you will take charge of is the most special among them. Its main responsibility is coordination work with the Prosecutors Office, the Ministry of Justice, and other government departments."

Kansei Watari bowed again: "I am deeply honored. Minister Setouchi specially instructed that this personnel exchange aims to strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Metropolitan Police Department on major cases."

He immediately took out an envelope sealed with the Ministry of Justice seal from his briefcase and presented it with both hands: "This is the formal observation and intervention document from the Ministry of Justice and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, according to the newly revised Special Mission Division Special Cooperation Act, I will establish the 'Prosecutors Office Investigation Division 1' within the Special Mission Division and lead three Ministry of Justice investigators to work together."

Superintendent General Watanabe received the envelope but did not immediately open it.

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura's brow furrowed slightly—this document symbolized the Ministry of Justice's direct intervention and observation rights over internal affairs of the Metropolitan Police Department, and it was the most controversial clause in the Special Mission Division's establishment and reform.

"Kansei-kun." Superintendent General Watanabe gently placed the envelope on the desk: "Uchimura Muneyuki is still the Chief Medical Examiner of Investigation Division 1, but he will also serve as a special advisor to the Special Mission Division. You will often work with him. He... is a very unique person."

"I have studied all of Chief Uchimura's case records," Kansei Watari's eyes flashed behind his glasses: "I very much look forward to working with this legendary figure. The Ministry of Justice hopes to establish a more efficient judicial and investigative coordination mechanism."

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura walked up to Kansei Watari: "The Metropolitan Police Department welcomes cooperation, but we have our own investigative methods and traditions. We hope the Ministry of Justice's 'observation' will not turn into 'intervention'."

"Of course not," Kansei Watari smiled, but that smile did not reach his eyes: "We are all for judicial fairness, for justice!" In the brief silence, all three understood one thing—this cooperation was established from the start on a delicate balance of power.

"Really can't wait." Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji said to Uchimura Kanji beside him: "Just after the New Year, people have come, but the Special Mission Division's official establishment will still take at least two more months?"

"That's right, Superintendent General, the Ministry of Justice is probably afraid another big case will pop up during this time?" Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura chuckled obsequiously. Another big case?! Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji fumed and closed his eyes.

Don't come!

Wait! This Superintendent General suddenly had another little thought.

This is the final year of my term as Superintendent General.

If I don't stir up a big case, how can I finally push myself up to the clouds in my last push?

Ah, what a happy problem to have!

The same morning, 9:15 AM.

Maeda Toshihide, 24 years old, heir of the Kanazawa Maeda main line, was now nervously adjusting his ill-fitting new suit.

He entered through the lowest passing score of the civil service exam, his family used up their last connections to place him in the Metropolitan Police Department's hottest Special Mission Division (soon to be), and right after the New Year holiday, he was forced by his family to come report for duty, saying "just get familiar with the environment"! "Damn, I can't tie this tie properly." Maeda muttered, holding his appointment notice, searching for the Special Mission Unit office. At the corner, he bumped into a hard shoulder.

"Watch where you're going." The voice was cold.

Maeda looked up and saw a young man slightly taller than him, ramrod straight, wearing a neat patrol uniform, with an air of old nobility in his brow.

The nameplate on the other's chest read: Date Nagamune, Special Mission Unit Patrol Officer.

Date Nagamune did not continue his vacation; he voluntarily chose to work overtime.

The Special Mission Unit guarantees overtime pay! He wants to earn a lot, so he can save up to go on a date with the Second Young Lady!

At the moment they locked eyes, some intuition made Maeda blurt out: "Uwajima Date?"

Date Nagamune narrowed his eyes: "Kanazawa Maeda?"

The air suddenly froze.

Two descendants of the old nobility met in the corridors of the Metropolitan Police Department in the 21st century, and the memories sleeping in their blood suddenly awakened.

Maeda Toshihide reflexively straightened his back—family photos showed his lineage was not lacking in figures wearing naval officers' dress uniforms! And Kanazawa University and other local institutions were indeed the cradle of the modern navy, with many famous naval commanders hailing from there!

And on Date Nagamune's person, he immediately smelled a foul odor!

This person must be from the Army?!

Right, the documents say he is a former Self-Defense Official of the Ground Self-Defense Force!

And at the same time, Date Nagamune felt exactly the same!

So weak, so rash, so... disgusting!

This guy, he reeks of the Navy!

"I heard you Kanazawa Maeda types are best at 'sailing' in the office?" Date Nagamune curled the corner of his mouth in a mocking arc: "After all, you lack real combat experience, so weak and so rude, you must be from the Navy!"

Maeda Toshihide's face instantly flushed red: "At least our Navy won't be like the Army, unable to read maps and getting lost in the mountains!" "Idiot." Date said coldly.

"What did you say?!"

"Navy idiot." Date Nagamune said each word distinctly, a mischievous light flashing in his eyes.

Maeda Toshihide nearly jumped up: "You Army idiots are the ones! All you know is brute force!"

"Oh? Then how about a competition—who will first make a name for themselves in this 'Special Mission Division'?" Date Nagamune provoked: "We of Army origin are best at field investigation."

"Our Navy excels in strategy and intelligence analysis!" Maeda Toshihide refused to back down: "You will see!"

As the two were at swords' point, footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.

Kansei Watari walked over with three equally sharp-suited Ministry of Justice bureaucrats, saw the scene, and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"It seems the Special Mission Division is especially full of vitality." Kansei Watari said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the two young men: "I am the incoming Prosecutors Office Investigation Division 1 Section Chief, Kansei Watari. You are?"

Maeda and Date instantly separated, bowing awkwardly.

"Maeda Toshihide, reporting for duty today!"

"Date Nagamune, Special Mission Unit Patrol Officer!"

Kansei Watari nodded: "Perfect, I need to go to the Special Mission Unit office. Let's go together."

"Uchimura Minami Management Official is not on duty today, I am in charge." Date Nagamune immediately explained.

"Then let's take a look first." Kansei Watari gave a noncommittal response; he wanted to first familiarize himself with the situation.

The three walked side by side toward the Special Mission Unit office, the two young men glaring at each other, but dared not act out of line with the new superior present.

Navy idiot!

Shoukan Rikugun Baka!

Outside the hallway window, Tokyo's sky was gradually clearing from the morning mist. Inside this vast bureaucratic machine of the Metropolitan Police Department, new gears had already been set in place—the elite observers from the Ministry of Justice, the noble descendants of the old peerage, and countless unspoken histories and power struggles—all were about to collide and intertwine in this Special Mission Division known as the "Ace Department."

Meanwhile, in the Search Division One Chief Office upstairs, Sugishita Ukyo had just finished brewing a pot of red tea and was gazing out the window.

He had just received a document regarding the new personnel arrangement; at the rim of his teacup, the corner of his mouth curled into a meaningful smile. "Special Mission Division, huh... really getting more and more interesting."

"Tonight, I'll keep going to Flower Village... done, didn't open the door!"