Chapter 785

Morante, or rather Lieutenant Colonel Rigen (Japanese katakana reading), gestured for Uesugi Muneyuki to follow him to his Chevrolet sedan. Uesugi Muneyuki still has some reputation in the United States, his greatest fame coming from being repeatedly mentioned in Japanese cases involving international influence that triggered large-scale foreign media coverage over the years, and thanks to Professor Ken Tanaka of MIT (that is, Professor Ken), the upper echelons and academic circles in the United States also know of this person.

Japanese legendary forensic doctor (×)

Japan's only forensic doctor (√)

This makes it so that when the United States deals with such matters, the name that almost uniquely comes to mind is his.

Inside the Chevrolet, the heater was on full blast.

Morante handed Uesugi Muneyuki a tablet computer, the screen displaying a data analysis report.

"This is the dark web transaction record we tracked." He said, sliding his finger across the screen: "Look, these two IPs come from the living quarters of Hōkō Base, the users being civilian personnel on base. One account's chat log shows he claimed to have 'a stable Asian source,' and specifically mentioned 'fresh Caucasian goods need pre-ordering.'"

Uesugi Muneyuki took the tablet and examined the data carefully: "How long have these transactions been going on?"

"At least three years." Rigen's expression was grave: "The FBI checked the transfer records, using Bitcoin, totaling about two hundred thousand dollars. The buyers aren't just these two; there are several other IPs in the continental United States, the Middle East, and our FBI agents are pursuing them."

"Actually, it should be longer than three years—seven or eight years likely." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, looking at the virtual currency tracking records, he gave a wry smile: "You didn't know before?"

Virtual currency uses blockchain encryption, so without the private key and wallet, tracking is extremely difficult—this is inherently decentralized currency, specifically designed to oppose and bypass regulation, and precisely for this reason, it has gradually become the antique 'hard currency.'

However, heaven pity us, when Satoshi Nakamoto invented Bitcoin, he merely wanted a blockchain-based cryptocurrency transaction encryption system; he never imagined Bitcoin would end up like this.

"This is a problem." Lieutenant Colonel Rigen wore a helpless expression: "Doctor Uesugi, the dark web is vast, our manpower limited. Had it not been for this incident blowing up, with superiors ordering a thorough investigation, we wouldn't have dug up this data."

He took back the apple-bitten Huawei pollen tablet, swapped it for a document.

"And there's another interesting thing. Look at this."

It was a photo, blurry, as if taken from surveillance footage.

In the photo is an Asian man in a white coat, speaking with two people in U. S. military uniforms.

The background looks like a certain warehouse.

"Where is this?" Uesugi Muneyuki felt somewhat familiar with it.

"The warehouse area near Yokohama Port, our U. S. military-leased Japanese logistics center." Rigen said: "The timestamp is June six years ago; this white coat, we compared it with Setouchi Makoto's photo, similarity seventy-eight percent."

Uesugi Muneyuki stared at that photo.

Setouchi Makoto.

U. S. military warehouse.

"What were they meeting for?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked.

"Greek yogurt." Rigen put away the tablet: "But one can infer a transaction. Or more directly, delivery."

Uesugi Muneyuki fell silent for a few seconds: "In other words, it's highly likely that your United States or Middle Eastern buyers have a special preference for East Asian women, while Setouchi Makoto originally engaged in corpse theft and photography out of personal deviant niche fetish, but due to some reason or coincidence, he happened to come into contact with people in the U. S. military who share similar fetishes, thus beginning to form an industrial chain?"

This side of Kanagawa has U. S. military bases, and every year there are many base open days; even to some extent, the Kanagawa and Okinawa U. S. military bases count as local tourist attractions.

This year there's also a U. S. military concert to watch, a group of American soldiers singing and dancing rap on stage, the theme song being 'Ren' from 'It's Shameful but Useful to Escape,' everyone also doing finger dances together.

So Setouchi Makoto has ample opportunity to come into contact with U. S. military personnel; it's not strange that he occasionally sparked XP.

"Excalibur!" Rigen nodded excitedly: "No wonder you're Japan's only forensic doctor!"

In that case, the matter is explained coherently.

"Lieutenant Colonel Rigen, may I ask you a question?" Uesugi Muneyuki pondered, then asked: "Why are you helping me?" Rigen seemed to have anticipated Uesugi Muneyuki would ask this, he turned his gaze toward Kanagawa's pitch-black sky: "Heaven and Earth have righteous energy, mixed and assigned to form shapes. Below become rivers and mountains, above become sun and stars. In people it is called the浩然, overflowing to fill the azure darkness. The imperial road should be cleared and made smooth, containing harmony and spitting forth bright court. When the times exhaust their principles, then one by one they hang their vermilion!"

"???" Uesugi Muneyuki was stunned.

You've studied Ming learning, learned it better than I have, ah!

You also read the《Ming History》? Oh no, is it the《Song History》?

"Just joking, because I also don't want such people in the U. S. military." Rigen said: "I've served fifteen years, been to Iraq, Afghanistan, seen too many dead people. When a person dies, they should have dignity. Those who treat corpses as commodities, no matter what uniform they wear, are scum!" He extended his hand: "So, shall we unite?"

"Two slices of bread with cheese!" Uesugi Muneyuki also extended his hand: "We unite!"

Japan-U. S. alliance, unbreakable!

When the two got out of the car, Shinjo Shigetoki was still waiting where he stood. The night wind blew his hair somewhat disheveled, his complexion worse than before. "Finished talking?" His voice carried sarcasm: "Doctor Uesugi, you can now follow me, can't you?"

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at him, smiled: "Director Shinjo, I have a question I'd like to ask you."

Shinjo Shigetoki frowned: "What?"

"You just said this matter involves U. S. military bases, involves international relations, so it falls under public security. How did you know it involves U. S. military bases?"

Shinjo Shigetoki's expression stiffened somewhat.

Uesugi Muneyuki, this person is too terrifying!

"I... naturally it's our public security having its own intelligence channels."

"What intelligence channels?"

"This is classified."

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded.

"Then good. I'll ask you again: why are you so eager to stop me from investigating? Are you afraid I'll discover something?"

Shinjo Shigetoki's complexion changed: "What do you mean?"

Uesugi Muneyuki stepped forward, voice calm, but each word like a nail:

"I just learned from one person that during Setouchi Makoto's time in Kanagawa, someone helped him cover up. From another person I learned that U. S. military personnel directly participated in the transaction. From Lieutenant Colonel Rigen I learned that the dark web buyers involve U. S. military bases. Now all evidence points to one direction"

He stared into Shinjo Shigetoki's eyes: "Within Kanagawa Prefectural Police, someone is shielding Setouchi Makoto. And this person's rank won't be low." Shinjo Shigetoki's pupils contracted slightly: "You... you're hinting at what?"

Uesugi Muneyuki did not answer, he turned and walked toward his own Toyota Camry: "Director Shinjo, if you want to stop me, draw your gun now. But if you still have a shred of police conscience, then don't block the way."

He opened the car door, gestured for everyone to get in; on the public security side, Ozawa Sumiko glanced at Shinjo a few times, also gestured for the three—Hikawa, Hojo, and Tsukawa—to get in, two black sedans started up and slowly drove off.

Shinjo Shigetoki stood in place, watching the taillights of the minivan disappear around the corner, his hand resting on the gun holster at his waist, knuckles whitening. "Director..." a subordinate cautiously approached: "Should we pursue?"

Shinjo Shigetoki said nothing.

After a long while, he loosened his grip: "It's not over yet, we can't just end it like this!"

His voice was very soft, as if he had exhausted all his strength.

"Pursue, we cannot let this fellow ruin the bigger picture of the Japan-U. S. alliance!"

"But…… the other side also has……" a subordinate said.

……go back, deploy SAT!" Shinjo Shigetoki gritted his teeth: "We must hold him off! At least until before seven in the morning!" "Otherwise, everything is over!"

On the other side, sitting in the passenger seat, Uesugi Muneyuki frowned tightly, while the other three looked very exhausted. After what just happened, Date Nagamune and Kai Toru were both somewhat fearful and uncertain.

Why did the public security police block them?

This is Japan's public security, not the real Cheka! Japan is not a police state; no matter how high the public security police rank, they cannot surpass the Cabinet and the National Police Agency itself! The public security police themselves serve the Cabinet and the government, and they are not the owners of the state!

What made the Kanagawa Prefecture local public security police, despite knowing this is a National Police Agency order and that Uesugi Muneyuki's side also has public security police present, still choose to come out and stop them?

Could it be?

Date Nagamune asked cautiously: "Uesugi Chief, that Shinjo Department Manager…… does he have a problem?"

Uesugi Muneyuki opened his eyes.

"There is a problem." He said: "But having a problem doesn't necessarily mean it's him."

"What do you mean?" Kai Toru also said in a low voice: "If it's not him, then who else could it be?"

"He's too hasty." Uesugi Muneyuki said softly: "If there really is a problem, one should pretend nothing is wrong, let us investigate, and then secretly destroy evidence. But he directly jumped out to stop—either he's stupid, or he's been forced into a hurry, or…"

He paused: "Or he wants to take a bullet for someone else."

Date Nagamune somewhat understood: "You mean, there's someone behind him?"

Uesugi Muneyuki did not answer.

He looked out the window. The night was still deep, but the eastern horizon had already begun to show a faint glimmer of grayish-white.

Until dawn, there were less than two hours left.

He closed his eyes, began to organize all the information in his mind.

Onodera's testimony: Setouchi has accomplices, a group chat, someone took money to stay silent.

Tanabe's testimony: There are US military personnel who came directly to the funeral home, driving the base's vehicle.

Morante's data: Base IP, years of transactions, two hundred thousand dollars, with buyers specifically seeking "white goods."

Other additions: Setouchi once casually mentioned having "major clients."

And that photo—Setouchi at the US military warehouse.

A clear chain began to emerge:

Within the Kanagawa Prefectural Police, someone is responsible for filming and providing the "source," Setouchi Makoto is the core executor, but he is not alone. Someone helps him cover up, someone helps him contact buyers, and even someone helps him handle "special orders."

Buyers fall into two categories: domestic Japanese deviants, and the dregs among the US Forces Japan. US military buyers offer higher prices, with more specific demands—they want photos of "East Asian women," while domestic Japanese buyers prefer "Caucasian women," perhaps due to some distorted desire, or perhaps a more deviant collection.

Transactions occur via the dark web, settled with cryptocurrency; after funds flow back, those involved in the split keep silent.

And all this has continued for years, even longer.

Why hasn't anyone discovered it?

Because someone is pressing down from above.

Who?

Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a long time, he made two calls in the car, one was to Ken.

Coincidentally, it was afternoon in the US.

"Nyaah, Uesugi boy, Gut Afu dragging! Arigatou three Qieie thought-devotion! Speak the secret code quickly!"

"Nini kid kid king king dragon dragon hole hole Major Champion…… Ken, I want to ask you something……" Uesugi Muneyuki said on the phone: "Do you know anything about……"

"Oh, of course……" Professor Ken said after listening with interest: "I understand what you mean, here in the US there indeed are such preferences, no mistake, after all human interests are free! Lust lust lust~ all things are void, all things are permitted!"

"Pervert!" Eirina couldn't help but retort.

After asking a few questions, Uesugi Muneyuki hung up, then sent several messages to different people, and then called again. "Hello, Uesugi Chief, what's the matter?" The other end was Ozawa Sumiko, her voice very cold.

"What on earth are you guys doing as public security police?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked: "Why did the public security here come to stop us?" "How would I know?" Ozawa Sumiko's voice was full of doubt and impatience: "We were sent by the National Police Agency to assist you, we from start to finish have not received any order from the Security Department or even the National Public Safety Commission to obstruct your investigation, Chief Uesugi, and we weren't just now already stopping them?"

"Are you sure this isn't a performance?" Uesugi Muneyuki said with a hint of mockery.

"Uesugi Chief…… what do you mean? What are you hinting at?" Ozawa Sumiko's voice changed: "We are here to help you! If you don't need our help, then we'll just go back to Tokyo now!"

"So you're saying you're not acting?" Uesugi Muneyuki said on the phone.

…," Ozawa Sumiko already couldn't be bothered with him: "Anything else?"

"What I mean is, can I trust you guys?" Uesugi Muneyuki continued.

"I said, if you don't trust us, I'll now take the Glacier Hojo and them back to Tokyo!" Ozawa Sumiko was already somewhat angry: "Besides, now there are only two hours left, do you still have time to play riddles with me here? Last time the Cabinet entrusted you with a task, you almost messed it up—are you serious?"

"I am serious, if you guys guarantee there's no problem……" Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes turned cold: "Alright, I know now, thank you, Inspector Ozawa, I've always trusted you."

The problematic one is him.

"Is that so? Then should I say thanks to you?" Ozawa Sumiko coldly laughed and replied: "You…… if it's nothing, I'm hanging up!" After hanging up, Uesugi Muneyuki received another message.

It's Minami's side investigation, they found Setouchi Makoto's "secret base," located in an inconspicuous old office building in Yokohama City "Mikoto believes Setouchi Makoto might be conducting virtual currency transactions and transmissions there." BY Minami Ojou-sama.

"Very good." Uesugi Muneyuki pulled up the address, set the navigation.

"Eirina, we're going here."

"Alright!"