Chapter 799

Uesugi Muneyuki arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department after seven in the evening.

The conference room was full of people.

On both sides of the long table sat Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners, high-ranking officials whose shoulder boards bore cherry blossom and star insignia—figures usually only seen together at promotion ceremonies.

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kanji wore a grim expression, Traffic Department Chief Tsuruoka Kotarō looked stormy, and both men's faces were as heavy as rain clouds in the plum season. Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji sat in the main seat, a stack of documents spread before him.

When Uesugi Muneyuki pushed open the door, everyone's gaze turned to him, filled with undisguised anticipation and enthusiasm.

You're here! Uesugi Chief!

"You came?" Uesugi Muneyuki approached the end of the long table, where Minami Ojou-sama sat.

Minami Ojou-sama had already changed into a police uniform, her shoulder boards bearing the insignia of a Police Superintendent, but seated in this room she was still in the lowest position; even though the Special Mission Division was special, before this assembly of Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners, she could only take the lowest seat.

"Where did you go? I heard your show wrapped up around three this afternoon?" Minami murmured, a hint of complaint in her voice, and she sniffed him: "What's that smell on you? Lilac? I remember Shirakawa Mai doesn't wear this perfume." "Afterward I filmed some bloopers and read some scripts, together with Tobu Television's anchor." Uesugi Muneyuki said quietly.

"Oh? No wonder Fuji's side switched the live broadcast host to Hisaka Akiko." Minami Ojou-sama snorted softly, gesturing for him to sit, the meeting was about to begin.

Watanabe Eiji lowered his hand, scanned the room, and spoke in a low voice: "Let's begin."

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kanji spoke first.

He stood up, pressed the remote, and the wall's projection screen lit up, displaying the vault door of the Mitsubishi UFJ Bank branch in front of Tokyo Station—said to be able to withstand explosives blast—now ajar and crooked, inside the safes like peeled pomegranates, rows of drawers pulled out, empty.

"Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Tokyo Station branch, alarm raised at 5:15 p. m. Vault forced, cash loss 520 million yen, gold about 3800 ounces—at current gold price, roughly 1.2 billion yen. Adding other precious metals and securities, total loss exceeds 2 billion yen." A suppressed intake of breath sounded in the conference room.

Two billion.

Not twenty million, but two hundred million, is twenty hundred million!

Uchimura Kanji's voice continued without pause: "The method was extremely professional. The vault's electronic lock was bypassed, the mechanical lock opened technically, no signs of violent forced entry. The surveillance system was cut at 4:38; before the cut, footage showed three people wearing hoods and construction company uniforms entering through the bank's back door, using violence, threats, and technical means to complete the robbery."

He switched slides. The screen showed the black Cadillac abandoned under the elevated bridge, doors open, hood still steaming.

"At the same time, starting at 4:40 p. m., this vehicle conducted a frenzied escape lasting over an hour within Tokyo Metropolis. "The route passed through Adachi Ward, Katsushika Ward, Edogawa River Ward, Chuo Ward, Chiyoda Ward—first National Route 4, then the Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route, the Metropolitan Area Loop Line, the Shoreline Route, and over thirty-odd city streets. Top speed exceeded 200 km/h, causing eleven traffic accidents along the way, seven injured, two seriously. The Traffic Mobile Unit deployed all available forces, headquarters' helicopters tailed the whole way, but never managed to stop it. At 5:58 p. m., the vehicle was abandoned beneath the Keiyo Line Elevated Bridge, the suspects fled."

Traffic Department Chief Tsuruoka Kotarō took over, his gaunt, monkey-like face tight with suppressed anger: "From route planning and driving skill, this speed demon had professional training. His 180 km/h inertia drift on the expressway, pendulum lane changes on the Metropolitan Area Loop Line, and precise car control in Kyobashi alleyways—none of this is within an ordinary criminal's reach. We checked databases of professional racers and stunt drivers; no match yet. But his goal wasn't escape—it was performance. He used an hour and a half of driving to draw all of Tokyo's police forces onto himself."

"He wore sunglasses and a mask; currently impossible to identify him."

Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji's voice was low, but each word seemed squeezed from his teeth: "The bank was breached starting at 4:38, the speeding began at 4:40. That is, when this car first hit the expressway, those three were already inside the bank. By the time the bank reported the crime, everyone's eyes were on that car—no police could be diverted to chase the bank robbers. By the time we reacted, they were gone, the car dumped. Two billion, carried right out from under our noses."

Uesugi Muneyuki narrowed his eyes, thinking this indeed looked like a joint operation, and very skillfully executed.

A speeding gang drew all of Tokyo's attention, while the remaining accomplices took the chance to strike.

Watanabe Eiji stood, hands braced on the table, his gaze sweeping over every face: "These two cases, investigate jointly. Led by Criminal Investigation Department, with Traffic Department cooperation, Investigation Division 1, Mobile Unit, and Scientific Investigation Research Laboratory all involved. Within seven days, I want to know who these people are, where they came from, where they're going, and where the money and gold bars are now!"

"The media's already exploded, online chatter you've all seen—all of Japan is laughing at us. An hour and a half, hundreds of police cars, one helicopter, chasing an empty car across Tokyo, while the real thieves emptied the bank elsewhere. This isn't embarrassment—it's disgrace!"

Everyone helplessly showed a wry smile.

Only two or so months have passed, and the Metropolitan Police Department must prove itself again.

Equip, act, perfect!

Thinking this, nearly everyone unconsciously turned their gaze to the far end of the long table.

No worries, we have Japan's police ultimate weapon—Uesugi Muneyuki is here!

The Deputy Commissioners and Commissioners present looked over, eyes holding anticipation, probing, and also a kind of "this time it's your turn again, right?" matter-of-factness.

Uesugi Muneyuki, Tokyo University's legendary forensic doctor! Japan's police ultimate weapon, crime-solving god, Sakuradamon's sorcerer, alas—there's no case he can't solve, no mystery he can't unravel—he is the Metropolitan Police Department's last line of defense!

Yet, facing everyone's gaze, Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head.

"I can't help with this case."

The air in the conference room froze for an instant.

"No corpse!" Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head helplessly: "No victim, no injury, nothing requiring a forensic pathologist's involvement. What I excel at—cause of death analysis, trauma patterns, trace evidence, toxicology—none of it applies here. I don't understand speeding techniques, I don't understand bank vault mechanical locks, I don't understand criminal teams' wiring and division of labor."

"You know, even for commuting, we usually have Eriringa Shīshō drive; when we go out, it's often Minami who drives; I never drive unless necessary." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head repeatedly: "You're not expecting me to be some hidden Akina Mountain driving god, are you?" Someone couldn't help but chuckle softly, but quickly suppressed it.

Watanabe Eiji looked at his son, silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

Indeed, this case, Uesugi Muneyuki truly can't contribute.

Uesugi Muneyuki's refusal was expected by all—he's a forensic doctor, not a gentleman thief racing driver.

But he must attend this meeting, because everyone wants to know if he has any forensic-angle leads, even if none now, maybe later they'll be useful.

Disappointment was written on every face, but that disappointment carried understanding.

Just as you can't ask an ordinary reporter to play Superman—wrong profession, no way.

Uchimura Kanji cleared his throat, steering the topic back: "So then, this case goes to Investigation Division 1?"

"Let Kashiwagi Jin handle it." Watanabe Eiji suddenly said.

Kashiwagi Jin, thirty-two, Section Chief of Investigation Division 1 Section One, one of the Metropolitan Police Department's youngest star inspectors.

Everyone at the meeting nodded; Kashiwagi Jin may not match Uesugi Muneyuki, but he's better at this.

Everyone also had no objections—you Kashiwagi Jin aren't you the one claiming to be the Metropolitan Police Department's Absolute Dual Pride? Since Uesugi Muneyuki can't contribute, then you take responsibility.

And among those present, only the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau Director Haruko Yoshikazu had a consistently unpleasant expression.

Because from traces left at the scene's vault and the modus operandi, plus those figures seen in the surveillance.

There's a bit…

There's a bit…

There's a bit like… the Self-Defense Forces' style…

The nation's three great taboos are chrysanthemum, crane, and star!

If Uesugi took it, his background covers all three, nothing to fear, but Old Ren's words…

What Kashiwagi Jin must take over is, after all, a red-hot potato!