Chapter 87: The Uesugi Taming Plan

Miss Minami had gradually come to understand the temperament of Uesugi Muneyuki.

She knew Uesugi Muneyuki very much wanted to personally perform an autopsy and investigate this case; he asked about it every day and was extremely concerned about the progress, to the point that it even annoyed Miss Minami a little.

Given the dignity of her father, the Superintendent General, it was already a bit demeaning for him to take the initiative to request that the National Police Agency establish a joint Special Investigation Headquarters with Chiba Prefecture, yet the Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Kaneko Takuro, had even declined Watanabe Eiji's request on the grounds that "Public Security refuses Metropolitan Police Department intervention."

This truly made Watanabe Eiji feel he had lost face, and he raged impotently at home, cursing Commissioner Kaneko as a Kantei Puppet, an old senile fool, and a rubber stamp right in front of Miss Minami and his wife, Watanabe Michiko, which amused the mother and daughter.

Miss Minami understood what Uesugi Muneyuki meant; both of these people were incredibly clever and shared an inexplicable telepathic connection. Uesugi Muneyuki's meaning was to ask if she could have her father inquire again, while Miss Minami's meaning was that enough was enough—being rejected once was already humiliating enough.

Did Miss Minami not want to punish the criminal? No, of course she did! In fact, like her father, she was also very concerned about this matter and wanted to bring the cruel murderer to justice. Although Chiba Prefecture was not under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Department, did the police in Chiba Prefecture not wear the same Cherry Blossom Badge as those in the Metropolitan Police Department?

It was just that Miss Minami's threshold was different; she certainly wanted to, but the premise was that it had to be compliant and legal, or at least ensure it would be compliant and legal afterward. On the path of justice, Miss Minami had stepped out a little, just not very far; she would not risk any chance of falling.

On this point, Uesugi Muneyuki had walked a bit further than her. Uesugi Muneyuki also wanted to solve problems in a compliant and legal way, but if that could not solve them, he did not mind using some illegal means. Including that Kabukicho host incident and the subsequent Fuji TV Case, this guy had been walking on the edge of illegal investigation.

Illegal investigation could not stop Uesugi Muneyuki; he would stick his foot out, stick his body out to test the waters, but if he sensed danger, he would still pull back.

And Ikeda Erena, who had been assigned to him, had walked even further than Uesugi Muneyuki; in Ikeda's eyes, Uesugi was not extreme enough.

Tch...

Miss Minami secretly sneered in her heart.

Ikeda was dispensable; there were plenty of good-looking, tall female officers in the Non-Career Track within the Metropolitan Police Department. If Uesugi wanted one, then just replace her with another; what was difficult about that?

The problem was that this guy Uesugi had to be tied up firmly; it would be best to get a collar to tie him up tight!

This kind of man needed to be tamed!

Miss Minami calmly brought Uesugi Muneyuki into her own rhythm: "Information sent back from Chiba Prefecture shows that no suspicious person matching the criminal's profile has been found; they all have clear alibis."

"Afterward, the Chiba Prefecture police and Public Security also attempted to investigate the two cases separately."

Miss Minami took out a document: "But there were no results either. There are almost no surveillance cameras near the weather station, and the few images captured were just scenes of large groups of elementary and middle school students passing by on their way to and from school. After screening everyone else, no suspicious persons were found."

"Is that so?" Uesugi Muneyuki smiled slightly, and imitating Watanabe Minami, he propped up his chin and looked into her eyes: "Then I have an idea. Do you want to know, Watanabe?"

"If it makes you feel troubled, you don't have to say it." Watanabe Minami thought to herself, I am not going to follow your rhythm!

"Well, it would indeed trouble me a little, but since Watanabe wants to hear it, I am still willing to share it with you." Uesugi Muneyuki blinked: "Do you want to hear the professional analysis of Gourmet Uesugi?"

Tsk!

A new round of the battle for supremacy between Miss Minami and Uesugi Second Young Master had begun.

Both of these guys would instinctively try to control the initiative of the conversation.

It just so happened that the two were in charge of completely different fields; Miss Minami knew nothing about the professional field of autopsy, while Uesugi Muneyuki did not know much about the internal affairs of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Police Law. The two had their own victories and defeats, which was quite fun.

Minami was happy to see Uesugi Muneyuki show an expression of "I lost" or "Alright, I really don't understand," and how could Uesugi Muneyuki not enjoy seeing Miss Minami show an expression of "This is possible?" or "There is such knowledge?"

"I have a point of confusion." Uesugi Muneyuki said in a low voice: "Look, the modus operandi of the first case and the second case are different."

"Although both victims were elementary school students, the first case involved the victim being slashed to death in one go with almost no resistance or external injuries, and no suspicious clues were found on the body. However, in the second case, it is obvious from the autopsy report that the victim was knocked unconscious first and then killed."

Uesugi Muneyuki's analysis left Watanabe Minami thoughtful: "You mean, there are actually two criminals?"

"No, there is only one criminal." Uesugi Muneyuki was very confident about this: "Judging from the cuts, muscle memory cannot be wrong."

"Then what do you mean?" Watanabe Minami still did not understand; she tried to ask: "Is it that in the second case, someone passed by nearby, so the criminal had to resort to this?"

"Is that weather station a place where people often pass by?" Uesugi Muneyuki retorted: "The report says it is desolate; many locals don't even know such a place exists."

Miss Minami did not understand investigation.

That was true; for a young lady raised in a deep boudoir mansion since childhood who was also in the Career Track, it would be a miracle if she understood investigation.

"Then what do you mean?" Sure enough, the direction of the conversation was completely led by Uesugi Muneyuki; Miss Minami was both unwilling and expectant.

"Don't you think the criminal's modus operandi is gradually becoming rougher?" Uesugi Muneyuki said seriously: "The cut in the second case is not as smooth and flat as the one in the first case."

"This is the drawback of serial murder cases. One murder might achieve a perfect crime, but as long as they continue to commit crimes, they will uncontrollably reveal flaws." Uesugi Muneyuki said casually: "Friends who kill often know that the more precisely calculated and perfect a murder is, the more clues are left behind, and the more accidents are likely to occur. The hardest murder to solve is actually me holding a knife, encountering a passerby in a place without surveillance, thinking 'this is the one,' then finishing the job and dusting off my clothes to leave. The body is only discovered many days later, there are no witnesses, and no suspicious persons were found by surveillance on the road."

This guy!

What is meant by "friends who kill often"?

Miss Minami was rendered speechless by Uesugi Muneyuki. She pursed her small lips and said faintly: "Boring. Uesugi, is that all you have to tell me?"

"That is all." The corners of Uesugi Muneyuki's mouth curled up slightly.

"You have a new discovery, why don't you go and tell my father directly?" Watanabe Minami asked casually: "I am just a Police Inspector in the Personnel Division; I don't handle cases."

"Because you will go and tell the Director General." Uesugi Muneyuki said with a smile.

"I might not be able to fully convey your meaning." Miss Minami was a bit unconvinced; just because your professional ability is strong.

"I would be honored if Miss Minami is willing to convey it for me." Uesugi Muneyuki laughed inwardly, but still said seriously: "This is an opportunity to show yourself! I believe that Watanabe of the Personnel Division will definitely not be worse than Watanabe of Investigation Division 1!"

Boom—

Watanabe Minami only felt her expression daze for a moment; all her previous reserve, hesitation, and pride were completely crushed by this sentence from Uesugi Muneyuki.

A brilliant flush gradually spread over Miss Minami's pretty face. Although this red was very faint, it still made her unable to control it, because her skin was maintained extremely smoothly. The Face of the Metropolitan Police Department, who had a naturally good foundation, combined with her life as a young lady, made Uesugi Muneyuki clearly feel the blush on her face spreading bit by bit, just like applying rouge, beautiful beyond compare.

Miss Minami's whole heart was in chaos!

She felt a warm current surging inexplicably throughout her body. This strange feeling made her expression tense, and seeing the serious look on his cold face, a softness surged from the bottom of her heart again.

He was really considering things for her!

"That glory, I will not enjoy it alone."

This sentence echoed in Miss Minami's ears.

This man was serious! He meant what he said!

"Um, actually, it would be better if you went to say it yourself, right? After all, there are some professional things I don't really understand." Miss Minami's voice trembled a little this time. A bit shy and a bit flustered, she first refused, then changed the subject: "Of course, if you think the effect of me saying it is better, it is not impossible for me to convey it for you!"

"After all, our mothers knew each other before they were married, and it is said that we also... also met when we were young. Considering we are barely family friends, it is okay for me to help you!"

"Then I will leave it to you." Uesugi Muneyuki lowered his posture very seriously.

"Also, I have a premonition that the second case will not be the end. If the criminal still cannot be found, perhaps there will be new cases later." Uesugi Muneyuki continued: "Please convey this as well."

"Heh." Miss Minami was amused by Uesugi Muneyuki's speculation: "How is that possible? Are you joking? Uesugi?"

"Chiba Prefecture is now under martial law. Spontaneous patrol teams pass by on the streets from time to time, and some schools have temporarily suspended classes. Adult males aged 25-40 with a height of around 170-185 will be watched. Under these circumstances, how could the criminal commit a crime again?"

"That is indeed the case, but I have a strange premonition." Uesugi Muneyuki himself was not too sure: "In any case, just convey it for me! Do me a favor, okay?"

"Well, alright!" Watanabe Minami suppressed her shyness and agreed to Uesugi Muneyuki's request very earnestly.

I really do work well with Miss Minami!

Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself.

Uesugi Training Plan, initiate!

Watanabe Minami thought to herself.

The two looked at each other and smiled, both feeling that the future was bright!

…………

That evening, upon returning to the Villa located in Setagaya, Watanabe Minami told her father, Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji, about Uesugi Muneyuki's speculation.

Watanabe Eiji's first reaction upon hearing it was that this kid was talking nonsense. Chiba Prefecture was already under martial law, so where would a third case come from?

With Public Security working with such intensity, the so-called "strength in numbers" and "brute force" tactics—the Japanese police's ultimate tactic of human-wave warfare—had already been deployed; if something were to happen again, Commissioner Kaneko of the National Police Agency would have to apologize to the Cabinet tomorrow, which in the Edo period would very likely have meant committing ritual suicide.

Therefore, Watanabe Eiji listened very seriously to the first half of Uesugi Muneyuki's analysis and felt it made sense, but he just took Uesugi Muneyuki's prediction as a joke.

Nothing else will happen.

The problem now is, how to find a new excuse to intervene in this case?

Just at this moment, Watanabe Eiji's phone rang.

Picking up the phone to look, it was Criminal Investigation Department Chief Mouri Takayoshi.

"Hello, Daizaburo, what is it?"

"Director General! It's bad! An emergency has occurred! An emergency has occurred!" Department Manager Mouri on the phone was out of breath, speaking in the fastest tone possible, almost shouting: "A corpse has been discovered in a women's restroom in a park in Edogawa Ward! It's another elementary school student!"

"The serial killer has come to our Tokyo!"

Watanabe Eiji: "?"

"???"

"?????????"

(End of chapter)