Chapter 752: Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!

The matter was settled, and Uesugi Muneyuki and Kanjō Wataru were heading back to Sakuradamon.

Their steps were not fast; clearly, through this case they had come to understand each other, especially Kanjō Wataru — as mentioned earlier, the Ministry of Justice is known as the "Career Track Graveyard" precisely because this place offers bleak prospects; not only does it make enemies, but it also provides not a shred of sense of accomplishment, and its authority is very small, so no one is willing to come.

And unlike working cases with Uesugi Muneyuki, Kanjō Wataru not only found the case interesting, but also felt a strong sense of accomplishment; moreover, it was an opportunity to answer questions and display his knowledge, he felt very comfortable, and wanted to chat a few more sentences with Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Uesugi Chief." Kansei suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of casual chat: "You've been in this line of work for so long, have you noticed a phenomenon?"

Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at him: "What phenomenon?"

"The case-handling capability of the Japanese Police:" Kansei said, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly, "is actually severely restricted."

Uesugi Muneyuki did not respond, but did not refute either, merely nodding: "Mm."

Kanjō Wataru continued: "The authority is too small. Investigation, arrest, interrogation — every step depends on the Prosecutor's Office's mood, every step must follow procedure. Even we at the District Public Prosecutors Office sometimes find it troublesome, let alone frontline police. Think about it — a person with hands and feet bound, yet expected to run fast, how is that possible?"

Uesugi Muneyuki smiled.

Kanjō Wataru was not wrong; the Japanese Police's authority is indeed subject to extremely strict restrictions, the shooting restrictions mentioned repeatedly earlier are one example, and the Japanese Police lack independent arrest decision-making power, and can at most detain for 48 hours before they must hand over to the District Public Prosecutors Office.

Under the omnipresent warrant principle, any decision involving compulsory handling by powerful departments requires approval from the Public Prosecutors Office and the courts; moreover, in economic crimes, some countries' police can freeze your accounts directly in the name of "anti-fraud," but the Japanese Police cannot — they still need court approval.

Besides this, the Japanese Police are not allowed to forcibly question on the streets; they can only "request voluntary accompaniment" — meaning if the other party does not cooperate or refuses to answer, the Japanese Police cannot forcibly stop them, let alone demand "open the backpack" or "search the body," unless there is a clear reason or reasonable suspicion; similarly, the Japanese Police's communications surveillance is often subject to strict restrictions.

This cannot be helped; the former Special Higher Police's existence cast a huge shadow on the Japanese people, so this country from top to bottom strictly guards against the police. Many would say Japanese Public Security, Public Security Police indeed have greater permissions than normal police, and in reality there are not a few Japanese enterprises that have complained of being "extorted" by Japanese Public Security or forcibly demanded to "cooperate in intelligence gathering," especially multinational enterprises; there have also been not a few Japanese who have stated they were "wiretapped," "required to serve as Public Security informants," "gather intelligence for the country for free," or "entrapped and arrested."

But the Japanese Public Security's permissions are still strictly restricted; they simply cannot pull off "long-distance fishing," "entering detention centers under aliases," or "designated-location long-term surveillance residence" operations.

Germany's "long-distance fishing" has gone against heaven to the extent that wealthy cities such as Munich in Bavaria, Hamburg in Hamburg State, provide every private enterprise boss with a dedicated 24-hour emergency hotline, strictly admonishing them to report any situation immediately and never get in the car; and locally, once they monitor the appearance of official vehicles from inland such as Thuringia State and state troopers, they immediately heighten alert to the highest degree.

"So the Japanese Police learned a set of skills — using politeness to replace action."

The corner of Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth twitched slightly.

"Ask anything and it's 'Yes, sir,' 'Understood,' attitude incredibly good. But when it comes to actually moving? They don't move. Anyway, the procedure is done, responsibility fulfilled, what the result is — that's not my problem." Kanjō Wataru said, laughing at himself: "Bureaucratism, formalism — these are the two magic treasures of us Japanese Police."

Uesugi Muneyuki let out a light scoff: "The way you put it, it sounds like the Japanese Police are that bad."

"From our District Public Prosecutors Office's perspective, they indeed aren't much."

Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head: "You go look at South Korea."

Kansei froze for a moment.

"South Korean Police." Uesugi said, tone light: "World-famous trash."

"Oh?"

"But this isn't because South Koreans are incapable; mainly, South Korean Police authority is even smaller than ours. Warrants are hard to get, interrogation time is limited, suspect rights are protected watertight. The problem is, they haven't learned this set of 'politeness' skills." Uesugi Muneyuki paused, half-smiling: "The result is — cases can't be solved, criminals can't be caught, the public scolds, police muddle along. Muddling along, they've muddled into the world's most useless police. The first lesson for South Korean Police on the job is learning how to fob off the caller, confirm the situation, then come, and not write a case acceptance receipt."

"Seoul's prices are even higher than Tokyo's; not to mention dining and housing are higher than Tokyo Metropolis, daily shopping prices in Seoul are also higher than Tokyo Metropolis; only transport, especially taxis, are much cheaper than Tokyo. Then take convenience stores as an example — Tokyo Metropolis convenience stores are generally 10%-20% cheaper than Seoul. And for South Korean Police, when they reach Police Inspector rank, annual salary is only about 4 million yen — how could that not attract a pile of trash?"

"No authority, no treatment, no status either — so no wonder in South Korean movies police are forever trash and villains; can't be helped, it's just like that."

Kanjō Wataru listened, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

"What about the United States?" he asked.

"United States?" Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment: "US Police authority is large, large enough to be frightening at times. But they face the world's most complex situations — guns, drugs, gangs, mental patients, homeless, everything. Annual salary 60,000 to 80,000 US dollars, doing work ten times more dangerous than Japanese Police. US Police patrol car trunks must hold rifles."

"So actually we Japan are the Land of the Imperial Way? Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss? Buddhist Kingdom on Earth?" Kanjō Wataru was amused: "Being a police officer in Japan, everyone should be satisfied and know gratitude?"

"Overthinking. Can only say in terms of comparing rottenness, Japan is ultimately a top-ten global public safety country, so it's slightly better, that's all. Actually 500,000 telecom fraud cases a year, police solve rate still under 18%." Uesugi Muneyuki complained.

Kansei fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"You put it like that, I've figured it out." He said: "This Japanese Police 'polite inaction' is actually survival wisdom. Authority too small to do big things; pressure too big to not do. So they can only use attitude to compensate for action, use procedure to conceal incompetence." "I really like a line from the movie *Alien* — life always finds a way out." Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help laughing: "Sometimes it's the back, sometimes it's the chest."

"Not *Alien*." Kanjō rolled his eyes.

When they were near the parking lot, Kanjō Wataru suddenly stopped.

"Uesugi Chief." He said, tone more serious than before: "Special Mission Division here, our Prosecutor's Liaison System does this." Uesugi Muneyuki looked at him.

"The warrant aspect." Kanjō Wataru said: "We can act first, report later."

"You know, ordinary police applying for a search warrant must write reports, wait for approval, run procedures — a whole set takes half a day. But Special Mission Division has our District Public Prosecutors Office people attached; in urgent situations, we can act first, supplement paperwork later." Kanjō Wataru's tone carried a touch of self-satisfaction: "This is also the meaning of our Prosecutor's Liaison System's existence."

"Much obliged." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded; actually, with this Prosecutor's Liaison System, the Special Mission Division's concrete authority only then counts as comparable to German Police. The two parted ways.

Uesugi Muneyuki walked to beside the Toyota Camry, pulled open the car door.

On the driver's seat, Ikeda Erena was cradling a milk tea; she casually placed the milk tea cup against her chest, one hand touching the steering wheel, one hand playing with her phone, straw in her mouth; seeing him enter, her eyes brightened.

This is a reality Asuka can never reach.

"You're back?"

Uesugi Muneyuki sat into the front passenger seat, fastened his seatbelt, glanced at the cup in her hand.

That cup was printed with several large characters — "Wukong Immortal Drink".

üの

Uesugi Muneyuki's movement paused: "Wukong Immortal Drink?"

Ikeda Erena followed his gaze, then looked at the cup in her hand, explaining with an innocent face:

"Just now I passed that shop, I saw second cup half price, also said purely natural pollution-free raw materials, and rich in traditional Chinese medicine health ingredients, so I went and bought a cup. Taste is pretty good!"

She took a sip, showing a satisfied expression.

"You want one too? That side is still doing the promotion, second cup half price."

Erena lifted another milk tea from under the seat.

Uesugi Muneyuki stared at that milk tea, stared for a full three seconds.

That's right, it's Wukong Immortal Drink.

Then he suddenly laughed.

Not a mocking laugh, not a bitter laugh, but an indescribable laugh, mixed with helplessness and absurdity.

"Wukong Immortal Drink." He repeated this name.

Erena blinked: "What's wrong? Does this brand have a problem?"

Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head.

"No problem." He said: "It's a pretty good brand."

True enough, everyone just talks big online, but in reality who wouldn't want a cup of pure natural pollution-free Wukong Immortal Drink milk tea, plus a German Traditional Chinese Medicine Burger?

"Let's go." Uesugi Muneyuki gestured: "Back to Sakuradamon."

"How is it? Is Mr. Tanaka All Right?" Eirina was interested in the matter over there.

"I'll Tell You on the Way."

"Good~"

The car slowly drove out of the Parking Lot, merging into Tokyo night's Emergency police traffic.

Eirina was still drinking her milk tea with single-minded devotion, occasionally letting out a satisfied soft sigh.

She didn't know that behind this cup of milk tea, there was a forty-eight-year-old old Detective, who because his wife lost 58 Million at this shop, walked onto a road of no return.

She just felt this milk tea was pretty tasty, Second Cup Half Price pretty good value.

Uesugi Muneyuki also didn't tell her.

He first felt this kind of matter might be a bit too complex for Eirina, secondly he felt Eirina appropriately maintaining a bit of innocence was still quite cute.

Moreover, Second Cup Half Price, if it were me I'd buy it too!