Chapter 712

The process of the Special Mission Unit transitioning into the Special Mission Division is proceeding extremely slowly and laboriously.

Even though Uesugi Muneyuki has already demonstrated his astonishing abilities, even though a series of cases have relied on the Special Mission Unit for resolution, even though it has been green lights all the way from the Cabinet to the Ministry of Justice to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office to the National Police Agency and the Metropolitan Police Department, the Special Mission Unit's upgrade to the Special Mission Division still requires a lengthy process. There's no helping it; this is Japan, as Takatsukasa Ii said.

The New Year holiday brought the Special Mission Unit not only cases and overtime, extended leave, but also a certain forensic assistant's extended vacation in the United States. As the plane taxied on the runway at Narita Airport, Shiyuan Mikoto gently lowered the window shade; the gray-blue light of Tokyo Bay in winter lingered briefly on her face.

The half-month trip to the US West Coast — the sunlight seemed to still cling to her skin, revealing a lazy honey-colored luster under the pale airport lights.

Yes, because Uesugi Muneyuki crashed during this period, Shiyuan Mikoto simply went to the US to play around for a circle; at the same time, because New Year overtime caused the Special Mission Unit to have to work overtime until January 3rd, Minami and the others took compensatory leave all the way until January 10th before starting work, and Mikoto's vacation was also extended to January 10th; she simply went to the US to play for nearly half a month before returning.

This trip could be considered thoroughly enjoyed, but it also used up pretty much all her savings of the past year-plus.

No problem! With Sōsetsu as this meal ticket, this old lady isn't afraid!

Mikoto was a bit smug; she stood up, took down that huge silver Rimowa suitcase from the overhead bin, and a bulging canvas travel bag — inside were stuffed gifts for Uesugi Muneyuki and the others: small bottles of red wine from Napa Valley, handmade chocolates from San Francisco, niche fragrances from Beverly Hills, and several hoodies printed with exaggerated logos, as souvenirs for Special Mission Unit colleagues.

She herself was also dressed casually yet meticulously: an oat-colored cashmere turtleneck, clinging to her slender, well-proportioned body curves, overlaid with a camel-colored MaMara teddy bear coat, its heavy texture making her face look startlingly small.

Under black skinny jeans were a pair of suede ankle boots stained with a bit of travel dust.

A head of chestnut-brown long hair, slightly curled, fell loosely on her shoulders; the tips were dyed a pale gold left by California sunlight, like honey casually smeared on. Mikoto wasn't wearing a mask, only a pair of Dior sunglasses that almost covered half her face, but even so, that unique atmosphere still seeped out bit by bit — not a girl's sweetness, but a lazy, precise, fox-like allure settled by time, knowing her own charm. Especially when she slightly curved her red lips, checking her passport, that arc of her mouth corners, both innocent and as if seeing through everything, like a fox spirit stretching its body in the sunlight, yet able to silently slip into the forest at any moment.

Whine whine whine, played out, have to go back to work!

If only I could have vacation all year round!

Mikoto got off the plane, let out a light sigh, followed the crowd toward the arrivals hall, suitcase wheels making a rhythmic rolling sound. Long-haul flight fatigue soaked into her bones, but thinking of returning to a familiar environment, a trace of dejected amusement still climbed to the corners of her eyes.

Passing the final customs check, stepping into the noisy heat wave of the meeting hall, she habitually lowered her head slightly, gaze behind the sunglasses quickly scanning the swaying heads ahead.

Then, she saw them.

Several familiar figures stood behind the railing, looking this way.

Watanabe Minami Ojou-sama, praised as the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department; Ikeda Erena, the tall, beautiful judo policewoman; Saito Asuka, excitedly hopping and waving at her, her features and bearing already clearly changed, having clearly passed her coming-of-age ceremony; and that "little man."

Uesugi Muneyuki just stood there, wearing a finely tailored black wool coat, posture straight, exceptionally conspicuous in the crowd. Although he was a few years younger than her, his handsome face carried a youth's unique sharp clarity, but the gaze he directed at her now was indescribably gentle, seemingly mixed with a thread of worry and impatience.

He didn't deliberately maintain distance like in usual public occasions, just looked straight at her like that, as if everything around had become a blurred background. A thread of genuine, completely unguarded surprise, like spring water breaking ice, instantly melted the habitual, slightly aloof perfect smile on her face.

The DIOR sunglasses were swiftly taken off by her, clipped at her collar. Those world-famous eyes were completely revealed — eye corners slightly upturned, pupils a clear brown, now curved into crescents from amusement, light flowing in them as if scattered with fine starlight; that innate, hook-like bewitching aura spilled out unintentionally. Mikoto quickened her pace, the suitcase almost unable to keep up with her speed.

"Sōsetsu?" Her voice was half a pitch higher than usual, carrying post-flight hoarseness and undisguised joy: "You guys? Came to pick me up?" "Well, Date is very worried about you; he's worried you went to the US and would run into homeless people or Mormon gangsters or some local private overlord on the street, and directly turn into a Gundam in the sewers!" Uesugi Muneyuki had already vaulted the railing, walked quickly to her front, very naturally taking the suitcase handle and heavy travel bag from her hands, saying with a laugh.

"Hahahaha! That guy Date, hasn't been overseas in his life, right? Quite an imagination too." Shiyuan Mikoto giggled at those words. "Mikoto-nee, the Special Mission Unit has been waiting for you!" Minami Ojou-sama beaming with smile, a trace of delight on her sweet, cute apple face: "So-called all things ready, only the east wind is missing!"

"Shiyuan, no need to buy so many things, too wasteful." Erena appeared quite serious; because of the large knowledge gap, she and Mikoto weren't actually that close, but everyone were also pole-sisters who had "wheel-battled" together many times, so it wasn't that awkward either.

"Mikoto-san." Asuka called out the neither-here-nor-there address, little butt twisting, linking arms with Uesugi Muneyuki, dying to make Mikoto aware that she had already become an adult!

This guy, you think I can't tell? Shiyuan Mikoto saw this scene, fingertips unconsciously twining around a strand of her own hair ends — a little gesture she only had when relaxed or even acting spoiled.

However, right at the edge of this warm, noisy reunion, only a dozen or so meters away at the international arrivals exit diversion point, a figure froze abruptly like a cold reef.

It was a man of about sixty, thin build, wrapped in an overly large, seemingly not-of-this-season dark gray heavy winter coat, collar turned up high, covering his jaw. On his face sat a pair of old-style sunglasses with extremely dark lenses, almost covering the upper half of his face. Gray-white hair revealed edges from under an old black felt hat.

He glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki, face showing shock, then abruptly averted his gaze, quickly turning around.

His movements were agile in a way unbefitting his age; the heavy coat hem drew a decisive arc. He lingered not a moment more, like a dark-colored fish, unhesitatingly sliding into a side passage next to him leading to the Airport Express Line entrance.

To actually run into him here…… truly…… should I say it's good luck? Or bad luck?

The man then ducked into another passage, squeezed into an elevator, let out a breath.

This return to the country, should be without doubt the last time……

It's time to put a final settlement on some things!

Just at this moment, an advertisement started playing inside the elevator, and in this special environment, almost everyone directed their gaze toward the advertisement inside the elevator.

One look at this advertisement, and the man couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, half mockery, half resignation.

Turned out this was a Metropolitan Police Department recruitment advertisement.

He had heard that because of the bulletproof vest scandal, the Metropolitan Police Department and even the National Police Agency had conducted a major reorganization of police equipment nationwide; countless police fell from grace; the Metropolitan Police Department, always famous for bloated personnel, actually had to recruit on a large scale.

As expected, no matter how many years pass, this bunch of Japanese bureaucrats never change.

The advertisement screen flickered, instantly cutting to a bird's-eye view of Tokyo.

"Super Tokyo! Our Home!"

"Prosperity! Freedom! Democracy!!!"

Then the famous Metropolitan Police Department Star Inspector, Kashiwagi Jin, spread his arms, welcoming his wife, former Face of the Metropolitan Police Department Kashiwagi Misa, home from work, displaying their perfect golden-boy-jade-girl marriage and unbreakable conjugal affection.

(Hi, hello, haha~)

"But freedom, also has a price!"

In an instant, clips of various sensational terrifying cases in Tokyo these past years flashed by one after another: Fuji TV Building Siege Night, Chiba Serial Killer Case, Tokyo University Professor Spouse Murder Case, Ikebukuro Family Extermination Case, and the Odaiba Building pursuit, Foreign Minister's Son Car Bombing Case, and so on and so forth.

Kashiwagi Jin shocked, dropped to both knees: "No, our cause of justice? No!!!!"

INVASION!

Subsequently, Kashiwagi Jin appeared again in proper police uniform, handsome, dashing, cool, a total player face.

"Haha, feel familiar?"

"Scenes like this, right now are playing out in Tokyo and even all across Japan!"

"The next one could be you!"

"Unless, you can make the most important decision of your life!"

"Prove to everyone that you have the power and courage to pursue freedom!" Kashiwagi Jin put on his police cap.

"Join...... the ranks of the Absolute Secret Undercover Police!"

(A round of powerful music starts!)

"Become the Metropolitan Police Department's law enforcement elite!"

"Witness bizarre crime scenes! Protect every national citizen!"

"Let the strongest tunnel, front eight enter sand cover the whole Tokyo!"

(Bang! Come on, brother, fight shoulder to shoulder with me, Kashiwagi Jin, and Uesugi Chief!)

"Become a Hero!"

"Become a Legend!"

"Become... Police Elite!!!"

The people in the elevator looked at the advertisement above, feeling fired up!

So becoming a police officer is such a blood-boiling thing?

What a pity, Japanese people who take entry and exit flights generally wouldn't want to become police officers, unless... it's to join the Special Mission Unit!

"Still so chuunibyou, huh." The Middle-aged Man smiled, stepping out of the elevator. He alone came to the Chika Shako, holding his Mobile Phone, comparing it against the Shabanbango.

Soon, he stopped before a Nissan.

Mhm, correct, it's this one. The Middle-aged Man got in the Vehicle. The Car Door wasn't locked, a Car Key inserted above. He turned the key to start the engine, glanced at the rearview mirror, let out a long exhale. His eyes held some desolation, yet also brimmed with determination, as if he had made a certain decision.

From when he was forced to leave Japan until now, thirty years have already passed.

Thirty years. A full thirty years!

Japan! I, Honda Atsuhito, have come back!