Chapter 80: A Date at the Racetrack

Watanabe Eiji briefly told Uesugi Muneyuki about the undercurrents surging within the Metropolitan Police Department.

There has always been a confrontation between two forces within the Japan police, namely the Criminal Police and the Public Security Police; this point has already been mentioned previously.

When talking about the Japanese Public Security Police, perhaps the impression most people have is "Furuya Rei" from Detective Conan, also known as "Amuro Tooru." Detective Conan uses a large amount of space to shape an "anti-hero" image that is both righteous and evil, both enemy and friend, who can sacrifice everything for the country in his bones, prioritizing the country over the individual, caring more about the country's security and interests than the life and safety of the citizens, and everything that might threaten national security. His popularity is extremely high, his merchandise sells out, and it also makes fans naturally establish the tragic hero image of the Public Security Police organization as one that works for the country and the people, acting as the "eyes of the nation" and the "shield of the nation," enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens, caught in a dilemma between duty and sentiment.

Of course, it cannot be said that this image of Amuro Tooru is not real, but what is certain is that Public Security definitely exerted influence on the Detective Conan production team, because Detective Conan almost only shows the positive image of Public Security, and almost never mentions the negative.

It can be understood that Japanese Public Security equals national security, with the main duty being to work for national security and the maintenance of national interests, mainly conducting espionage, counter-terrorism, and other work. Although the Public Security Department of the Metropolitan Police Department is also under the jurisdiction of the Superintendent General, in reality, the Public Security Police are approximately an independent kingdom within the Metropolitan Police Department.

The predecessor of Japanese Public Security was the pre-war "Special Higher Police," which is the so-called "Special Higher Police." Because of some reasons it is not easy to state clearly, those interested can look it up themselves.

After the war, Five-Star MacArthur struck hard at the crime-ridden Metropolitan Police Department; the Special Higher Police were disbanded, the Metropolitan Police Department was dissolved and reorganized, and a large group of serious criminals were punished by GHQ.

However, certain parts of the Special Higher Police were intentionally preserved by MacArthur and transformed into the Public Security Police. As for the reason, everyone should be able to understand.

"The core position of the Public Security system is in the Security Department of the National Police Agency, and Security Department Chief Kudo Tsuyoshi is the current leader of the Public Security faction," Watanabe Eiji said in a deep voice. "For a period after the war, social order was turbulent, mass incidents emerged one after another, and extreme left and right-wing organizations sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain. The Metropolitan Police Department was exhausted, so the position of Superintendent General was mostly held by the Public Security faction."

"Until the 1980s, social order improved, the overall social situation stabilized, and in the external environment, relations between the Soviet Union and other countries and us improved. We, the Criminal faction, began to gain the upper hand, and the probability of the Public Security faction holding the position of Superintendent General decreased significantly."

"But in recent years, the Public Security faction has been trying to make a comeback," Watanabe Eiji said earnestly. "Because of the Fuji TV Case, which you handled beautifully, Uesugi-kun, it brought great face to our Criminal faction and also made my position unshakable, so Public Security must also take action to prove their own value. This is the reason why Public Security will intervene in this dismemberment murder case in Chiba Prefecture; they also want to handle a 'star case'."

"What is this, the counterattack of Public Security?" Uesugi Muneyuki understood completely at this moment, and he shook his head repeatedly. "Is there really no way to manage them?"

"No way," Criminal Investigation Department Chief Mouri also smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Unlike us criminal detectives, Public Security police can conduct illegal searches and arrest people without evidence. Do you know how Public Security arrests people when they suspect someone but have no evidence?"

"How so?" Uesugi Muneyuki was still very interested in this area, and he also wanted to understand a little more.

"The most common method is to send a police officer to rush toward the target, suddenly fall down in front of the target with a shout, and then say the target assaulted an officer," Department Manager Mouri couldn't help but laugh when saying this, but there was also a bit of envy in his expression. "If the target doesn't resist, then take them away directly; if the target resists, then it confirms obstruction of official duties and assaulting an officer, and they are also taken away directly."

"Once the person is brought into the secret facility of Public Security, there are naturally ways to make the target talk."

"Like the Seobinggo or Samcheong Education Center."

Uesugi Muneyuki rolled his eyes.

Watanabe Eiji, Mouri Takayoshi, Okada Masayoshi, and Watanabe Minami, who understood this joke, all laughed out loud together.

This member of the Peerage is quite humorous.

"In short, Uesugi-kun, you already know the situation. We will try our best to keep you from getting involved in our internal affairs, but I think I should tell you this. Even if I am a Superintendent General with real power, it does not mean I can decide everything," Watanabe Eiji saw that the groundwork had been laid and his attitude turned gentle. "You just need to do your job; leave other matters to us. In the future, please help us keep an eye on these kinds of things."

"Alright, looking at you, this is your first time at the racetrack, right? Minami, take Uesugi-kun for a walk." After finishing, Watanabe Eiji signaled for his daughter to take Uesugi Muneyuki out to play.

After Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami went out, Criminal Investigation Department Chief Mouri looked at the doorway. "Kudo managed to trick us this time. If even this guy says that Public Security's judgment is likely correct, then there is no chance."

Public Security has much greater search intensity and authority than criminal detectives, so solving the case this way is almost a certainty.

"Public Security probably wants to send Kudo up to be the next Superintendent General," Watanabe Eiji also nodded. "We must find a way to fight back... Perhaps the opportunity for our Criminal Investigation Department to fight back lies with Uesugi-kun."

…………

"Sorry, Uesugi-kun."

The young lady Minami who came out lost her usual arrogance and intelligence. She apologized to Uesugi Muneyuki with some embarrassment. "I've caused you trouble and even affected your day off."

"You're right," Uesugi Muneyuki nodded deeply. "Do you know why I don't want to be a police officer? It's because I don't want to touch these messy things, especially factional struggles. You really did cause me trouble, my young lady Minami."

"Hey!" This was obviously not the answer young lady Minami wanted. She pouted her little mouth, showing dissatisfaction. "You should have answered that it doesn't matter, and then I, the dignified Police Inspector Watanabe, would accompany you for a tour of the racetrack, and we'd be even!"

"Right, right, our young lady Minami always has endless ways to make others owe her favors, but when it's her turn, she always has various excuses and reasons to call it even!" Uesugi Muneyuki squinted his eyes. "I'm not falling for that. In the end, isn't it because I was arranged to be here by your Criminal faction? The brand you left on me is too obvious. If I say I'm not one of yours, will anyone believe me?"

"Hehe, you know that too," Watanabe Minami squinted and said softly. "Anyway, thank you for helping to look at the report. Let me arrange today! Don't think so much. You only need to do what you should do when you come to the Metropolitan Police Department; I and my father will handle the rest."

She bent down and leaned in front of Uesugi Muneyuki. "Consider it compensation for you. Activities at the racetrack can count as a date! You have to be fully committed."

The corners of Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth also curled into a playful arc. "Young lady Minami wants to go on a date with me? Then you owe me another favor! After all, I'm not just anyone. If you say you want to date me and I just come out, wouldn't I lose too much face?"

This guy! Is he trying to piss me off?!

Even someone with as good breeding as young lady Minami was rendered speechless by Uesugi Muneyuki's bluntness. She pursed her little lips, took a few deep breaths to calm her mood, tidied her dress, and said helplessly, "Then let's go."

"Mm."

The two walked one after the other, leaving the VIP room and heading toward the racetrack.

Along the way, Uesugi Muneyuki followed by Watanabe Minami's side as usual.

He did not lean too close, but maintained a certain distance, yet not so much as to be too distant.

Perhaps because it was already afternoon, there were not many guests at the racetrack, but from time to time, some guests and staff would appear. Without exception, they would notice Uesugi Muneyuki, the Fuji TV Forensic Pathologist who had exploded in popularity recently, but soon, their gazes would shift to the sweet, lovely, and stunning Face of the Metropolitan Police Department, and those gazes would be cast tightly upon her.

Watanabe Minami seemed not to care, but while maintaining a smile, she would secretly show off to Uesugi Muneyuki.

Uesugi Muneyuki did not refute anything. Among the women he had met, apart from senior Shirakawa Mai, young lady Minami was indeed the most beautiful.

Her appearance was already top-tier, and with careful dressing, the cute bun hairstyle and perfect face paired with British-style cashmere comfortable lifestyle attire made her look like someone who had walked out of a manga, dreamlike and illusory.

Of course, what Uesugi Muneyuki liked even more was that it seemed every time they were together, young lady Minami wore pantyhose. Today was also the dark aesthetic—80D pantyhose paired with comfortable brown loafers.

In terms of fashion sense, he had to give young lady Minami full marks.

Uesugi Muneyuki had always held a small regret regarding most of the girls he had been ambiguous with or had relations with.

That was that they didn't really wear pantyhose.

To be precise, it wasn't that they didn't wear them, but they rarely wore them because they wanted to. For example, Eirina hated wearing pantyhose and only wore them to cater to Uesugi Muneyuki's interests. Uesugi Muneyuki wasn't too sure about senior Mai; she rarely wore pantyhose in her dramas and variety shows. As for those Princess Connect friends in Tokyo, they either didn't wear them or only wore them when Uesugi Muneyuki specified.

I must find a girlfriend who likes wearing pantyhose!

Uesugi Muneyuki was firm and indomitable about this.

A person must have a dream!

Watanabe Minami didn't know how many thoughts had passed through Uesugi Muneyuki's mind behind her. She turned her head and asked Uesugi Muneyuki quite seriously, "Is this Uesugi-kun's first time at a racetrack?"

"Mm, my upbringing is very strict," Uesugi Muneyuki nodded. His upbringing in this regard was indeed very strict, not to mention that he carried the traditional brand of a Chinese person in his bones—I am incompatible with gambling and drugs!

"Horse racing isn't illegal," Watanabe Minami was dumbfounded.

"It's indeed not illegal, but it is indeed my first time here," Uesugi Muneyuki thought about it; at least in Japan, horse racing is legal.

"Then, I'll decide the afternoon's itinerary!" Young lady Minami became interested. "I'll treat you to a fun time, how about it?"

Uesugi Muneyuki was amused. "Do you really think you're a rich woman?"

"Why not?" Young lady Minami declared in a delicate yet strong manner. "This counts as the favor for disturbing your day off today, how about it?"

"Then... alright!"

Uesugi Muneyuki "reluctantly" agreed, and so the Face of the Metropolitan Police Department dragged Gourmet Uesugi along to thoroughly enjoy the activity facilities here.

Young Lady Minami first took Uesugi Muneyuki to experience the delicacies of the racetrack—a lobster battleship sushi platter and oyster seafood soup, with heaps of lobster meat covering the rice, tasting exceptionally delicious.

Afterward, the two of them tasted the racetrack's wine cellar—sake and fruit wine brewed since last year; the alcohol content was low, refreshing and crisp, and finding quiet amidst the noise in such a special environment had a unique charm, especially the sweet rice wine which felt particularly good to drink, especially with the company of Young Lady Minami.

The jokes and gags she told, he understood in a second; the memes and punchlines he threw out, she would catch.

Along the way, the two laughed and chatted non-stop, and in the end, Young Lady Minami personally instructed Uesugi Muneyuki on how to buy betting tickets and how to observe the horses, and then the two of them watched together as the jockeys rode the racehorses across the finish line.

It was indeed a thorough enjoyment, indeed a pleasant time.

For the first time in a long while, Uesugi Muneyuki felt relaxed and indulgent.

Getting along with Young Lady Minami was indeed very relaxing.

And just at this moment, Young Lady Minami suddenly said: "The boundary between light and dark is where the shadow resides, wouldn't you agree, Uesugi-kun?"

"We cannot deny the necessity of shadows, but things in the shadows should stay in the shadows and should not be let out again; that group's authority is too great, and we must lock them in a cage, otherwise they could do anything under the pretext of counter-terrorism."

"I feel that we are the same kind of people, we hold the same thoughts, Uesugi-kun, you will help me, won't you?"

Facing Young Lady Minami's earnest and expectant gaze, Uesugi Muneyuki did not intend to say anything against his heart; he very seriously lowered his head to meet her eyes, treating her with sincerity.

"Yes, our thoughts are in agreement."

If only the Public Security Police could really be like that group around Amuro Tooru in Detective Conan, but unfortunately, they are not.

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(End of chapter)