Chapter 739

"Your Eirina!"

"No, it's your Eirina!"

In this way, amidst the mutual deference between Miss Minami and Uesugi Muneyuki, Ikeda Eirina, who had just been promoted to Deputy Section Chief of the Criminal Investigation First Division in the Special Missions Division, was arranged by Uesugi Muneyuki to drive him to Tokyo University.

Eirina didn't say anything; she had already grown accustomed to following Uesugi Muneyuki in his daily activities, whereas recently Uesugi Muneyuki had been busy with various affairs and didn't always bring her along, making her feel her presence had diminished considerably.

Upon hearing there was work to do, Eirina became excited and immediately hurried toward Uesugi Muneyuki's office, trembling all the way as if the earth were shaking and mountains moving! Heaven collapsing and earth splitting!

Muneyuki needs me—I'm coming right away!

Inside the new office of the Special Missions Division, there are two inner rooms: one is Miss Minami's office as Superintendent of the Special Missions Division, and the other is Uesugi Muneyuki's office as Chief Medical Examiner; moreover, Uesugi Muneyuki's office is even larger, after all he not only handles paperwork but also prepares professional equipment and props.

"Muneyuki, when are we leaving?" Ikeda Eirina naturally pushed open the door: "Wait, Muneyuki……why are you staring blankly at the desktop?"……"Uesugi Muneyuki, upon seeing Eirina enter, almost instinctively closed the window he was browsing, facing a pile of shortcuts and a blue sky with white clouds on the desktop, dazed, and his expression rather stern: "Eirina Master! Can't you knock once?" "Alright, alright, I'll knock next time." Eirina pouted her little lips, quite displeased.

Bai Chuan Mai and Uesugi Minami never knock on your door—they just barge right in!

But as for timing, clearly I arrived first! Whether it's getting acquainted or solving cases together!

"Alright, let's go." Uesugi Muneyuki secretly put away his video chat software with Xiao Yinghua, then stood up.

Early March, Tokyo.

The morning light was clear and cold, the sky that typical winter blue with a faint metallic sheen.

A sleek Toyota sedan drove smoothly along the somewhat quiet streets of Bunkyo Ward, the interior warm as spring, insulated from the chill outside. Uesugi Muneyuki sat in the front passenger seat, wearing his most classic Armani……no, wait, Armani coat three-piece set, exuding the sharpness and tranquility unique to a young scholar, his fingers occasionally tapping lightly on the dashboard before the passenger seat, rhythm steady, as if pondering some complex formula. The red goldfinch should have been utterly crushed, with no apparent reaction from Kansai……After the establishment of the Special Missions Division, the next step is to take on cases nationwide, further strengthening one's influence and power—everything seems to be proceeding according to plan……Still, one must be cautious……The TV drama "Hand of God" is about to start filming; perhaps I can divert my attention a little.

While he pondered his next plan, Ikeda Eirina's mood was very good.

She drove while gazing out at the passing familiar streetscape, her eyes holding a hint of nostalgia.

She wore a standard winter professional outfit: a fitted navy wool suit skirt that perfectly outlined her alluring, fiery figure. Inside the suit was a crisp white silk shirt, the collar fastened with a delicate light blue silk scarf, the collar held high, occasionally trembling up and down with the wearer's movements, especially when passing over speed bumps.

Beneath the skirt, a pair of straight, beautiful legs wrapped in thick yet not opaque black silk stockings, the thick, cloud-forged sensation of the stockings outlining the delicacy of the ankles, at this moment the toes slightly raised, the feet clad in a standard pair of five-centimeter black velvet high heels, the heels slender, exuding efficiency.

Her medium-length hair was styled into an elegant yet vibrant low bun, a few strands of hair softly falling beside her neck, makeup refined, yet between her brows and eyes retained a natural, slightly innocent clarity—overflowing with the purity untouched by worldliness and the most primal bosom heave.

A bear, yet it is the mark of an emperor!

Especially after being with Uesugi Muneyuki, Eirina no longer needed to think with her brain, and thus in recent years she has become ever more "pure as at the beginning," needing only beauty and execution.

However, this time it's rare that Eirina took the initiative to bring up the topic.

"Time really flies," Eirina said softly, her voice sweet and soft: "It feels like yesterday I was still eating convenience store rice balls in the patrol car at Otaku Police Station. Back then, the winter uniform was much heavier and clumsier than now."

She said this, unconsciously tugging lightly at her finely textured skirt hem, the corner of her mouth carrying a hint of reflective smile.

"Besides at home, you only wear the police uniform on your monthly meeting day, right? And before meeting me, you supposedly liked wearing pantsuits?" Uesugi's lips curled slightly: "And then, on that morning when someone was transferred to Otaku Police Station, you encountered someone whose gaze 'didn't follow the rules' of a medical student?" "Muneyuki!" Eirina glared at him angrily, cheeks flushed, but within that annoyance lay clear sweetness: "Your not following rules isn't 'not following rules,' it's……keen observation and the courage to break conventions! Besides, if you hadn't insisted on that strange 'hanging suicide livor mortis' theory back then, Senior Tanaka's case might have……"

"Old Man Tanaka, I feel like I haven't seen him in ages." Uesugi responded naturally, a mischievous light flashing in his eyes: "I always thought he was about the same age as my grandfather, but my grandfather is 75, while Old Man Tanaka seems to be only around 50 this year?"

"Anyway, they're both old folks." Ikeda Eirina retorted: "Feels like they're about the same."

"No way!" Uesugi Muneyuki was amused by Eirina, feeling as if, to someone from a certain province, the whole country looks like "northerners": "The two of them differ by 25 years, a whole generation apart! ………Wait, let me check, what time is it now?"

The car's clock showed the time was still early.

Uesugi glanced at it, mentally calculating the distance and the start time of the ceremony.

"Master." He suddenly spoke, gesturing for Eirina to turn the steering wheel slightly to the right, veering onto a more familiar side road: "The ceremony starts at ten-thirty, so going now would just be waiting idly. Grandfather probably still is engaged in his final 'academic tug-of-war' with those old fossils. How about……we go somewhere first?"

"Huh? Where to?" Eirina blinked her eyes.

"Otaku Police Station. I haven't seen Old Man Tanaka in ages; he's finally 'attained enlightenment' lately—if I don't go give him a piece of my mind……if I don't go congratulate him in person, I really can't justify it." Uesugi's tone was light, carrying familiarity with an old friend: "TMD, if that old bastard hadn't relied on me……" Eirina's eyes lit up: "Oh right! Officer Tanaka……no, now he should be called 'Section Chief Tanaka'! Great! He's struggled for so many years……" Her voice brimmed with genuine joy.

Eirina is someone who can genuinely feel joy from the heart for others' success and gains, which in modern society, especially in East Asia's extreme involutionary environment, is truly rare.

In the original Doraemon, Shizuka's parents evaluated Nobita Nobi as: "He can feel joy from the heart for others' happiness, and sorrow for others' sadness—such a person is worthy of entrusting one's daughter to." This was considered an extremely high evaluation in previous Japanese society. Uesugi Muneyuki often thinks: Unfortunately, Eirina is not smart; fortunately, Eirina is not smart.

"Doubt breeds suspicion, suspicion breeds heresy."

Ministry of Truth of the Human Empire

Sakuradamon is not far from Otaku Police Station; the car soon stopped in front of the familiar Otaku Police Station gate.

Compared to the grandeur of the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, this place appears more plain and diligent, full of the vitality of daily life and the busy feeling unique to grassroots policing.

The two entered the station, familiar with the route, and walked toward the Criminal Investigation Division.

The door to the Section Chief's office stood open, and from within came a voice full of vigor, carrying an undisguisable laugh.

There stood Tanaka Naoki, fifty years old, who had just been officially promoted to Police Inspector and appointed Section Chief of the Criminal Investigation Division at Otaku Police Station, standing behind his desk, "pointing out the land and rivers" to a young Patrol Section Chief.

He wore a freshly pressed, crisp Police Inspector uniform, his shoulder boards shining brightly, his face, once slightly weathered from years of travel, now glowing with ruddy health, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and brows smoothed out, exuding a sense of high spirits and triumph. His back was straighter than ever, his gestures powerful, even that head of slightly graying short hair seemed to have risen a few degrees in spirit.

Yes, under this year's personnel reshuffle at the Metropolitan Police Department, Otaku Police Station's Old Man Tanaka, after suffering countless years as an Assistant Police Inspector, relied on having met Uesugi Muneyuki at age 47 and subsequently receiving continuous help from Uesugi Muneyuki to leave an impression at the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, finally succeeded in being promoted to Police Inspector at age fifty! Don't underestimate the rank of Police Inspector—this is actually the practical rank ceiling for non-professional officers in these local bureaus, although theoretically the ceiling for non-professional officers is Police Superintendent (Chief of Investigation Division 1), but in practice, even at the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, where promotion opportunities are most abundant, those who rise from non-professional origins to Police Superintendent are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

………Therefore, the first impression at the scene is crucial! Do not overlook any incongruous detail; we non-professional officers rely precisely on this conscientiousness and perseverance!" Old Man Tanaka's voice rang out, carrying the teachings and pride of one who has been through it all.

The young Patrol Section Chief respectfully nodded: "Yes! Section Chief! Understood!"

"Yes! Inspector Tanaka!" someone shouted along.

Upon raising his head, Tanaka saw the two smiling at the door, first startled, then his face's smile expanded like a rising tide, nearly overflowing.

Xiao Deng has arrived!

Is the returning Uesugi enough Ultraman?

"Uesugi-kun! Ikeda!" he strode around the desk to meet them, his voice full of delight: "Long time no see! What wind blew you two 'promoted' big shots back to our little temple?"

He slapped Uesugi's shoulder hard and then punched it with his fist, then instinctively wanted to do the same to Eirina, but quickly withdrew his hand when, as Old Man Tanaka's gaze swept over her shoulder boards for Assistant Police Inspector, his expression of relief and lament grew stronger.

TMD, this woman became an Assistant Police Inspector at just 27! For non-professional officers, that age is practically rocket-speed! Even if a quasi-professional officer reaches Assistant Police Inspector at 27, that's considered fast!

Indeed, choice outweighs effort!

"I heard some old bastard……senior finally climbed to the Section Chief position, so we specially came to pay respects to the 'Inspector Sir's' demeanor, and by the way, see if there's any wedding candy to snag." Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth showed no mercy, but his eyes held genuine amusement.

"What are you talking about, Uesugi Chief!" Tanaka laughed heartily, in excellent spirits: "I could have reached today only thanks to your help back then. Especially you, Muneyuki-kun, that brain of yours is more useful than all our section's equipment! Eirina too—she was a capable assistant here at Otaku Police Station, and now, having gone to the Special Missions Division, her future is limitless!"

He gazed at this outstanding young pair before him, feeling myriad emotions.

Eirina felt a little embarrassed and lowered her head slightly.

"What, you two have free time today to come here? Is there a case?" Old Man Tanaka looked toward Uesugi, noticing he was dressed more formally than usual: "Dressed so formally?"

"My grandfather's retirement ceremony at Tokyo University today." Uesugi explained: "Just passing by, I thought the time was still early, so I came up to see you. How about it, Section Chief Tanaka, newly appointed, won't you treat us to a meal? All promoted to Section Chief—shouldn't we be dining somewhere fancier than the old Xu Xu Yuan?"

Eirina pursed her lips and gave a light laugh.

Tanaka Laodeng froze for a moment, then laughed and scolded: "Well done, Uesugi Muneyuki! As soon as you arrive, you're eyeing my wallet! You've only been a police inspector for a day, and you're already trying to sponge off me!"

Though he said that, there was not a hint of displeasure on his face; instead, he felt the ease of reuniting with an old friend: "Please! I must treat you! Not to mention dinner, I'll even cover lunch! I'll treat you two to a super-sized triple beef bowl with egg at Yoshinoya! Then tonight, I'll treat you to sukiyaki! But... is your schedule okay over there?"

"I'll have lunch at the University of Tokyo area, and dinner tonight." Uesugi Muneyuki laughed, giving Eirina a wink.

Another meal saved!

Eirina rolled her eyes, not knowing why, but the tall, beautiful female police officer subconsciously felt that wherever Uesugi Muneyuki went, he left traces of "karma," and perhaps this meal would lead to a new case.

Hopefully it's just my imagination.

Hopefully...