Chapter 848

The hallway of the Personnel Division was much quieter than the fifth floor, but this quiet was not calm—it was the false stillness of the eye of a storm.

Everyone knew what had happened at the Metropolitan Police Department; everyone was waiting, everyone was doing their own work but with their ears perked up two inches higher than usual.

When Uesugi Muneyuki pushed open the door of the Personnel Division, the several clerks bent over their desks inside all lifted their heads at once, saw him, and then lowered them again in unison, their movements as synchronized as if rehearsed.

Kashiwagi Misa's workstation was at the far end, the door open; Uesugi Muneyuki knocked on the doorframe, and from inside came a low female voice, devoid of any extra emotion, like frosted glass on a winter morning.

"Come in."

The former face of the Metropolitan Police Department sat behind the desk, without rising.

The winter duty uniform for the assistant police inspector was a deep navy-blue suit, tailored to fit, with the police badge pinned at the collar, and the sleeves rolled up once to reveal a section of wrist.

Beneath the suit were gray silk stockings, the thick kind, not the sheer variety, yet on her legs they still traced a smooth line from ankle to knee.

On a pair of gray silk feet were black low-cut high-heeled shoes, the heels not particularly high—about five centimeters—and the uppers bore no decoration, clean as her face.

Kashiwagi Misa's hair was longer than when Uesugi Muneyuki had last seen her, dark brown, slightly curled, falling over her shoulders, which made her skin appear even more snow-white; her features were of the type that, when not smiling, resembled an iceberg, and when smiling, still resembled an iceberg but with a hint of sunlight on the peak.

Seeing Uesugi Muneyuki, she instinctively flashed a brilliant smile, but then she spotted Nango Yui and immediately retracted her relaxed expression, returning to the iceberg and solemnity.

Nango Yui: "?"

The high-achieving career-track graduate from Kyoto University glanced suspiciously at Kashiwagi Misa and Uesugi Muneyuki, thinking, How is this woman's expression the same as Nakamoto Suzuka's every time she finishes a concert, rests at home, and sees me arrive?

But now was not the time to focus on that.

Kashiwagi Misa's gaze swept from Uesugi Muneyuki's left shoulder to his right, as if checking him for wounds, a motion so quick that if Uesugi Muneyuki had not known her for four years, he would not have noticed it. Having confirmed, she leaned back slightly in her chair, and the backrest emitted a faint creak.

"Asahina Kyoko." Uesugi Muneyuki said without preamble: "Regarding this person."

Kashiwagi Misa did not respond, waiting for him to continue.

"Yaegaki Tetsuya was also brought in by her. She said they were police academy classmates, long out of touch, catching up. But we both know that in the Japanese Police System, there are thousands of police academy classmates—not every one is worth bringing to headquarters for a meal. What is between her and him? Where has she been these years in the Equipment Management Division, and before that?"

Kashiwagi Misa nodded; she had previously been the head of the Equipment Management Division and had worked with Asahina Kyoko for a long time. While other matters might be unclear to her, this one she knew well.

"Kyoko is—about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. She is several cohorts ahead of me. When she joined the Metropolitan Police Department, I was still at the police academy. She was first assigned to the Foreign Affairs Division of the Security Bureau, where she stayed for several years. Later she transferred to the Equipment Management Division, where she has remained until now." Kashiwagi Misa said this, then paused: "By the way, she counts as half a bereaved family member."

Uesugi Muneyuki's body leaned forward by less than a centimeter: "What does that mean? Explain in detail!"

"She had a fiancé, apparently ten years ago. His name was Isomura Eigo. He was in the Foreign Affairs Division of the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, and he was also her classmate. The two were already engaged, the wedding date set, the hotel booked, the invitations sent out. Then—"

Kashiwagi Misa's voice trailed off; she instinctively glanced at the nearby seat previously occupied by Yamada Nanase, but the pigeon had already picked up its bucket and fled.

She thought for a moment, then continued the story.

"Then an incident occurred. A secret operation by the Public Security Police collided with a criminal police investigation of a narcotics smuggling ring at the same pier; the criminal side was arresting people by rushing the pier, the Public Security side was also executing a mission, the two sides had not communicated, neither knew the other was on site. The violent gang took advantage of the chaos to detonate a bomb, and police officers died on the spot. Among them was Isomura Eigo."

"They were engaged but never married, so Asahina is not an official bereaved family member, cannot receive a bereaved pension, and does not enjoy many bereaved benefits. The Metropolitan Police Department's arrangement for her is 'Quasi-Bereaved Special Appointment,' which is one rank below Yamada Nanase's treatment."

Kashiwagi Misa's expression showed some sorrow; she still held basic sympathy for these matters.

"Secret operation? Clashing with the criminal police's pier assault?" Nango Yui frowned: "Could you elaborate?"

""

Kashiwagi Misa shook her head: "Chief Uesugi, Inspector Nango, you are in the Special Mission Division—you should know better than I. How secret Public Security affairs are needs no telling from me. I only know what happened at the pier that night; I know no details. Those who know won't speak; those who speak don't know. That is Public Security's rule."

"Understood." Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at Kashiwagi Misa, then prepared to leave.

The deceased fiancé, a classmate.

The former hostage-taker who resigned, also a classmate.

What role did Asahina Kyoko play in all this?

At this moment, Hironaka Mariko also came to inform Uesugi Muneyuki that Yaegaki had been searching for the "Shadow Administrator," but no one at the scene acknowledged it or responded, and Yaegaki was growing increasingly anxious.

Perhaps that very Public Security Police secret operation is the key to cracking this entire case!

But there is no time to wait! More than a dozen superintendents and above are in imminent danger of losing their lives!

We must—

Uesugi Muneyuki had just stepped out of the inner room when his pupils contracted violently in an instant.

Outside the window, a police helicopter was flying in from the direction of Kasumigaseki.

National Police Agency!

The National Police Agency has arrived!

The sound of the rotors grew from distant to near, from small to large, like some giant insect beating its wings. The window glass trembled slightly in the sound waves, emitting a fine, teeth-grating hum.

Uesugi Muneyuki lunged toward the window, his chair sliding backward and striking the file cabinet behind him with a dull thud. He did not look at the chair, walked to the window, placed both hands on the windowsill, and tracked the helicopter's trajectory.

What is the National Police Agency doing here?

"Idiot, reckless action! Those inside will be in danger!" Uesugi Muneyuki cursed, then immediately turned and ran toward the Personnel Division with Nango Yui, leaving only Kashiwagi Misa behind.

Meanwhile, at the Command Center.

As Sugishita Ukyo and Uesugi Minami anxiously awaited Uesugi Muneyuki's investigation.

Hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway, the sound of leather shoes on the floor dense as drumbeats, flowing from the stairwell entrance toward the door of the Command Center.

—

Dark blue uniforms, black armbands, red identification badges on the chest, each person with a holstered pistol at the waist, no one speaking, no one making any extraneous sound, footsteps as uniform as an army's.

Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, Public Security Police!

Shinzou Kamiya, Director of the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency, Assistant Commissioner!

Approximately fifty-four or fifty-five years old, hair white but thick, combed into a meticulous pompadour, facial wrinkles as deep as knife cuts. He wore a deep navy-blue suit, not a uniform, yet walking among that group of fully armed Public Security Police, he resembled a commander more than anyone else.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow; facing the Metropolitan Police Department officers at the door, several officers from the Security Planning Division beside him flashed their credentials.

Public Security business, outsiders keep out!

"Director Shinzou?!" Inside the Command Center, Sugishita Ukyo and Uesugi Minami both rose to their feet, managing only to exchange a greeting before Shinzou Kamiya seized the microphone.

"Effective immediately, the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency assumes full control of the entire scene!"

"Not negotiating with terrorists is our nation's longstanding glorious tradition! We will allow no person or thing to place itself above national security and national honor!"

"Everyone, hear my command, prepare for a strong assault!"

Sugishita Ukyo and Uesugi Minami's expressions changed drastically: "Wait! Director Watanabe and the department heads are still inside!"

"Everyone, SAT, SIT, Special Mobile Unit, and Explosive Disposal Unit, stand by, prepare the breaching ram." Shinzou Kamiya said coldly.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute for me!" Minami Ojou-sama finally couldn't help shouting: "Uesugi has already gone to investigate! You at least need to hear Uesugi's report? Stop, stop!!!"

Upon mentioning Uesugi Muneyuki, Shinzou Kamiya's body froze, he glanced at Minami, his eyes solemn and filled with resolve, plus the unique gloom of Public Security Police.

He would not tell Minami that this was precisely the reason he appeared here.

Can't let Uesugi investigate everything? He can find out anything!

"Ready! Lights out! Power cut!" Shinzou Kamiya ignored Sugishita Ukyo and Uesugi Minami, immediately picking up the walkie-talkie.

"Yes!" A large group of Public Security Police had already taken over the scene at this moment, they heard the order and immediately flipped the switch.

"Boom!" In the large conference room, a dull sound rang out, the scene instantly plunged into darkness.

"What?!" Yaegaki Tetsuya hadn't reacted yet, he subconsciously looked out the window, the helicopter's rotor roared, the strong light instantly blinded him.

"Auntie big!" Shinzou Kamiya saw this scene through the camera on the helicopter, immediately gave the order.

"Strong assault! Strong assault!!!"

The breaching ram slammed into the conference room main gate with a thunderous roar!

"Strong assault!!!"

>