Chapter 786

A sliver of fish-belly white began to appear on the horizon.

At twenty past five in the morning, in an unremarkable old office building in Naka-ku, Yokohama City.

The elevator stopped on the seventh floor, and Uesugi Muneyuki stepped out of the car with Kai Toru, Eirina, and Date Nagamune.

At the end of the hallway was a door with no markings, the doorplate bearing only a number: 702.

This place had once been the office of a trading company, and had remained vacant since it went bankrupt three months ago.

According to Minami's investigation on her end and Mikoto-nee's repeated cross-checking and review of surveillance footage on Setouchi Makoto's data, they believed Setouchi Makoto was most likely conducting Bitcoin transactions and tracking here.

Pushing open the door, a wave of stale air hit them in the face.

The room contained only a few pieces of simple furniture: a long conference table, several plastic chairs, a whiteboard hung on the wall, and several cardboard boxes stacked in the corner. The windows were covered with frosted film, making the outside indistinct, only allowing a vague view of the dawn beginning to redden the skyline.

Date Nagamune had already begun setting up equipment—laptop, encrypted router, satellite phone—one by one, this being the standard configuration of the Special Mission Division, ensuring they could securely receive information anywhere.

"When will Lieutenant Colonel Morante arrive?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked.

"He sent a message ten minutes ago saying he had already departed." Kai Toru replied: "Coming from Hōkō Base, if all goes well, he'll arrive in ten minutes." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded and walked to the window.

Outside, Yokohama's streets were still quiet, with only the occasional early bus passing by. In the distance, the outline of the port could be seen, those massive container piers faintly visible in the morning mist.

At that moment, his phone vibrated.

It was a message from Minami Ojou-sama: "Oh no, Muneyuki, Director Shinjo of Kanjou Public Security has come to the prefectural police headquarters to mobilize SAT! What should we do?!?"

SAT?!

Uesugi Muneyuki furrowed his brow.

Shinjo Shigetoki actually wanted to mobilize SAT?!

It meant he had already classified this matter as an "armed confrontation"-level crisis!

"Immediately find a way to stall them!" Uesugi Muneyuki messaged right away.

"Local police have high autonomy; reporting to superiors takes time, so the local headquarters can act first and report later!" Minami replied immediately: "But……this side is left to me and Okada! But Muneyuki, you must hurry—we don't have much time!"

"Understood, stay in contact!" Uesugi Muneyuki let out a breath of relief.

With Minami stalling them on her end, we here must hurry!

Then he turned to the people inside the room: "Shinjo has mobilized SAT. Move fast."

The atmosphere inside the room instantly tensed.

"We still need, some time!" Date Nagamune said with difficulty.

"Give you, but, hurry up!" Uesugi Muneyuki then turned his gaze to Kai Toru and Eirina: "Get ready!"

Uesugi Muneyuki didn't say what kind of preparation, but Kai Toru and Eirina instinctively glanced at their waists.

Gun.

Meanwhile, in the SAT assembly room on the second underground level of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters,

the piercing alarm echoed through the hallway.

Over twenty SAT members in black combat gear and face masks were rapidly assembling, checking equipment, and receiving ammunition. Before the command, a middle-aged commander was reviewing the operation plan.

Kanagawa Prefectural Police Public Security Director Shinjo Shigetoki stood to one side, his face ashen, his fists clenched tightly.

"Has the target location been confirmed?" he asked.

"Room 702, a certain office building in Naka-ku, Yokohama City." The commander replied: "Intelligence indicates at least four people inside, possibly armed. Operation plan: storm entry, control everyone, seize all electronic devices and documents."

Shinjo nodded.

"The operation must be swift—none of those people upstairs can escape."

The commander was about to give the order when the walkie-talkie suddenly crackled with urgent voices.

"Report! Personnel from the Metropolitan Police Department have arrived! They're blocking the entrance!"

Shinjo Shigetoki's expression froze.

He turned and rushed out of the command room, through the hallway, straight for the entrance.

At the entrance of the SAT assembly room, two groups faced off.

Uesugi Minami stood at the front, behind her were Kanjou Prosecutor, Okada Masayoshi, Nanxiang Yui, and Igarashi and others.

Opposite them were several SAT members holding rifles, barrels pointed downward but ready to be raised at any moment.

Minami Ojou-sama's Police Superintendent uniform was somewhat disheveled, sweat on her forehead, but her eyes were cold as ice: "What are you doing?"

"This is a SAT operational area—please leave immediately!" The SAT members' shouts echoed down the hallway.

But Minami did not move, she crossed her arms, puffed out her chest: "I am Uesugi Minami, Section Chief of the Special Mission Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. By special authorization from the Superintendent General, I order you to cease all operations."

The SAT members hesitated, glancing at the SAT squad leader beside them.

The squad leader's face was grave, about to speak when footsteps sounded.

Shinjo Shigetoki approached from deep in the hallway, his face even worse than before.

"Section Chief Uesugi," his voice was low, but each word carried suppressed anger: "Do you know what you're doing? Obstructing SAT operations is a serious crime."

Minami Ojou-sama glared at him, fury burning: "Director Shinjo, I should be asking you—do you know what you're doing? Using SAT against Metropolitan Police Department personnel conducting a special investigation—who gave you the authority?"

"I have the authority to mobilize any necessary force to safeguard national security!"

"National security?" Minami Ojou-sama snorted coldly: "Your so-called security is just stopping us from uncovering a police corruption case?" Shinjo Shigetoki took a step forward, nearly pressing his face against hers.

"You don't understand at all." His voice dropped even lower, carrying a strange tremor: "What you're investigating concerns the very survival of this nation. I cannot let you continue."

"Don't bother with these people—mobilize immediately!" Shinjo shouted.

"Who dares?!"

Okada Masayoshi stepped forward, his movements slow, unhurried, like walking in his own yard, he stepped sideways, blocking all SAT members' path.

"Who are you?!"

"I am Okada Masayoshi, Supervisor of the Special Mission Division!"

Okada Masayoshi today wore no police uniform, only a dark gray three-piece suit, he took off his coat in one motion, rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, walked up to the SAT members and stood firm, then reached out and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Everyone froze.

"What are you doing?" The SAT members instinctively took a step back.

Okada Masayoshi ignored them, he undid the third button, the fourth, the fifth, then pulled his shirt to the side, revealing his back!

Under the light, a ferocious scar appeared, the scar running from his shoulder all the way to his lower back, as if it had been sliced open by some sharp weapon, the sutures still clearly visible.

The edges of the scar were somewhat irregular, its color much lighter than the surrounding skin, glowing pallid under the light.

This was from the Toshima Ward Massacre Case pursuit, when he was wounded by the "Ghost Guest" Sakuma Kaito, to save the girl named Kawabata Kohna, he took a real blow to the back, leaving this scar.

"You, instead of going after the real criminals and murderers, dare to draw blades and guns on people like the Uesugi Chief, personally ordered by the National Police Agency and the Cabinet! Are you even police? Are you even the nation's guardians? If anyone has the guts, then step over me, Okada Masayoshi, step over this scar! Then you can act now!" Okada Masayoshi roared at this group of SAT: "Where is there any logic in police shooting police?!!" The hallway fell into dead silence.

The two sides stared at each other, neither yielding, Okada Masayoshi's face flushed with anger, Minami Ojou-sama's face sank like water, Nango Yui looked uneasy and anxious, Igarashi Hayato snarled like a small wolf dog or little lion, puffing and baring his teeth, while Ishihara Mikoto huddled in a corner, head in her hands.

How terrifying!

This salary is really too hard to earn! All day it's guns and cannons and motorcycles and pursuits, and now there's even internal police firefighting?

Is this the world of the strong?

Can I resign?

The two sides faced off for a full five minutes.

The SAT members' gun barrels, unbeknownst to when, had already been lowered.

The SAT team leader glanced at Okada Masayoshi, slowly nodded, with a hint of unwillingness, then shook his head, helpless and sighing: "Superintendent Okada, you are a hero, a true hero, the hero of us all." His voice was soft: "We... we understood... cancel the operation, now!"

"There is no logic in Japanese police shooting Japanese police, everyone, put down your weapons, operation canceled."

The SAT members did not respond, but they began to dismantle their equipment, each returning to their unit.

To have them shoot the national hero Okada Masayoshi, they could not do it.

Only then did Minami Ojou-sama breathe a sigh of relief, she bowed to the crowd: "Thank you, everyone, thank you..."

However, just as Minami raised her head intending to find Department Manager Shinjo to argue, she suddenly realized that the person who had been standing there, Department Manager Shinjo, had disappeared at some point.

"Oh no!!!"

At 5:40 a. m., seventh floor of a certain office building in Nakaku, Yokohama City.

There is still one hour and twenty minutes left.

Lieutenant Colonel Morante has already arrived, and is adjusting equipment together with Date Nagamune.

"Still need a while, can't be helped, network key encryption is just like this." Date Nagamune said helplessly to Uesugi Muneyuki: "And the wallet."

"As (Date's American pronunciation) said correctly, virtual currency transactions are just like this, if you can't get the key and the wallet, then it's very hard to obtain transaction information." Lieutenant Colonel Morante checked everything, said with a bitter smile: "Before it was Swiss banks, ever since Swiss banks accepted our country's request to allow tax inquiries on customer data, now these people all switched to virtual currency transactions."

"And going to the Middle East." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded with a smile: "UAE, Dubai, Qatar."

Swiss banks were once so famous precisely because they allowed anonymous accounts and absolute confidentiality of customer information, thus becoming the world's tax avoidance and wealth hiding financial center, but as the United States later successfully pressured Swiss banks through diplomacy to cooperate, now global elites have turned to banks in the Middle East or simply use virtual currency transactions.

Life always finds its own way out.

At this moment, footsteps came from outside the door.

First the sound of the elevator door opening, then footsteps drawing ever closer!

Who?!

When the door was pushed open, everyone saw Shinjo Shigetoki.

His appearance was completely different from a few hours ago.

His tie was askew, his shirt collar open, his hair a mess, his eyes bloodshot, he stood in the doorway, panting heavily, as if he had run all the way up.

He saw the people inside the room, Uesugi Muneyuki and Eirina, Kai Toru standing together, Morante and Date Nagamune fiddling with the computer. His gaze swept over each person, finally landing on the laptop on the desk.

The screen was lit.

On it was the program cracking the virtual currency key and wallet.

Department Manager Shinjo's pupils contracted slightly.

His right hand moved.

The next second, a handgun appeared in his hand—one one SIG Sauer P220, the standard sidearm of the Japanese Public Security Police. The muzzle rose, pointing at the people in the room.

"Don't move!"

His voice was hoarse, trembling with near madness.

Eirina and Kai Toru immediately wanted to draw their guns, but Deputy Chief Shinjo's movement was faster, he fiercely fired a shot at the floor beside Eirina, the bullet striking the ground and sending up a spark: "Don't move!!!"

This made everyone jump.

Deputy Chief Shinjo told everyone he had a gun, and with his action told everyone he had the intention to use it!!

Everyone in the room raised their hands.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at him, his gaze unusually calm: "Department Manager Shinjo! Don't go further down this wrong path!"

"Shut up!" Shinjo's gun pointed at him, his hand shaking: "No talking! No moving!"

He took two steps forward, the muzzle sweeping back and forth over each person.

"Do you know what you're investigating? Do you know what these things involve?" His voice rose higher and sharper: "This is national security! This is the Japan-U. S. alliance! This is the survival of this nation!"

"You understand nothing, you know nothing, you will destroy this nation!"

"I must stop you, stop you!!"

Kai Toru looked at him, slowly speaking: "Department Manager Shinjo, calm down"

"Shut up! You shut up!" Shinjo pointed his gun at Kai Toru: "What does a little princeling from the Ministry of Justice like you know? You only care about your own interests! When trouble comes, you lot from the upper crust just pat your backsides and walk away, leaving us to clean up the mess!"

His breathing grew more and more rapid, his eyes more and more wild.

"I cannot let you continue investigating...... cannot...... you will destroy this nation...... destroy everything, people......"

He turned toward the laptop on the desk: "The only way...... is to delete everything...... delete all of it......" He took a step forward, then another, the muzzle always pointing at the people in the room.

"Don't move...... no one may move...... otherwise I will shoot......"

His finger rested on the trigger, the joints whitening.

"Now, take off all your guns, put them on the ground, all of you step back, immediately, step back!" he gestured.

"Department Manager Shinjo!" Uesugi Muneyuki gestured for him to calm down: "Listen to me!"

"Shut up shut up shut up! Don't come any closer! Immediately put down your guns, now!!!" Department Manager Shinjo shouted frantically.

Eirina and Kai Toru voluntarily put down their guns, Date Nagamune hesitated for a moment, then also placed his M9 on the ground, only Lieutenant Colonel Morante did not move, the US Army lieutenant colonel's expression anxious: "Calm down, we just want to find the culprit!"

"Put down your guns, immediately stop decrypting, delete the data! Otherwise I will shoot, I really will shoot!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" Department Manager Shinjo saw Lieutenant Colonel Morante still not moving, let out a hysterical roar, his finger suddenly pulled the trigger: "Don't come over, don't come over tooth sound!!!"

"Bang!"

A sharp gunshot pierced the night sky.

The gun fired.

Someone fired!

Who?!

Department Manager Shinjo's chest had a string of blood blossoms enter and exit, he fell face up.

This scene stunned everyone at the scene, Kai Toru, Eirina, and Date Nagamune all stared dumbfounded at what lay before them. Nani???

"Department Manager Shinjo!" Uesugi Muneyuki immediately ran over and knelt down to check the situation.

Department Manager Shinjo was shot in the chest, blood quickly stained his chest red, but this shot was not fatal, it only wounded his lung, causing him to spit blood, making a gurgling sound.

"Don't be afraid, it's fine." Lieutenant Colonel Morante gestured for everyone not to panic, he held up his M17 pistol in hand: "I didn't aim for a vital point……" saying that, he slowly approached, looking like he wanted to wrestle the SIG Sauer tightly gripped in Department Manager Shinjo's hand: "Let me handle it, Uesugi Chief, let me handle……

However, just as Lieutenant Colonel Morante approached Department Manager Shinjo, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly thrust his shoulder upward!

The shoulder struck squarely the wrist of Lieutenant Colonel Morante holding the gun behind him!

The M17 muzzle jerked sideways.

"Bang!" The bullet almost grazed Department Manager Shinjo's ear, scraping past and leaving a small hole and a trail of sparks on the ground!

"What?"