Chapter 889

Kashiwagi Jin is determined to succeed.

But the complaints came much faster than Kashiwagi Jin had anticipated.

The legal team of LesProsEntertainment submitted a formal protest to the Metropolitan Police Department the afternoon of the day after Kashiwagi Jin interrogated Aragaki Yui, with harsh wording, catching them off guard.

The core of the protest was not saying "You shouldn't suspect Aragaki Yui," but rather "You treated a victim like a suspect without evidence, detaining and interrogating her for over a day, severely violating the artist's human rights and legitimate interests."

Togasaki Tomonobu, section chief of the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Relations Division, had a splitting headache, cursing Kashiwagi Jin as an SB, but not knowing how to handle it, as public relations pressure surged like an avalanche from all directions, with social media opinion splitting into two factions: one saying "Police investigations should naturally be thorough; celebrities have no privileges," and the other saying "Eight-hour interrogation without lawyer presence—this isn't investigation, it's torture! Are you trying to revive the Special Higher Police?"

The two factions argued incessantly, the hot search topped the list all day, yet this method diverted public attention, and the matter of over a hundred disabled lives in Aomori Prefecture began to seem less concerning.

This is the public—their attention is actually limited; complex issues are far less eye-catching than simple sensational points.

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office secretly rejoiced, thinking, "Thank you, GAKKI-san!"

Next time we catch you evading taxes, we'll give you a lighter sentence!

Meanwhile, Kashiwagi Jin was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department Chief's office, where Uchimura Kanji did not scold him, merely saying: "Kashiwagi-kun, your investigative approach is fine. But your communication style has problems."

"I merely raised reasonable suspicions!"

"Suspicions require evidence!" Uchimura Kanji waved his hand, speaking impatiently: "You are the section chief of Division 1 System; set an example for me! If every Metropolitan Police Department officer acted like you? How would we conduct work???"

Watanabe Eiji, on the other hand, remained noncommittal; the Police Commissioner thought, "Just wait and see—Kashiwagi Jin has always been like this!"

In the end, his decision was mutual concessions.

The Metropolitan Police Department announced externally: Detective Kashiwagi Jin "violated no laws or Metropolitan Police Department regulations" during the questioning, so no disciplinary action would be taken. Simultaneously, considering Aragaki Yui's "mental and physical fatigue," the Metropolitan Police Department decided to "temporarily cease arranging questioning," to show respect for the parties' rights and interests.

LesPros' side also saw fit to drop it, pursuing no further action.

After all, if they really tore faces apart, it would benefit them nothing; if the Police Commissioner's Metropolitan Police Department such powerful departments turned hostile, there would be plenty of local trouble for you—needless to say, just over the Aragaki Yui matter, people would occasionally come to inquire, or discover demands for Aragaki Yui to give a statement at the Metropolitan Police Department, which would be a major hassle.

Aragaki Yui herself could indeed not explain those supernatural phenomena, and the Public Security Police still held the "possible Inner World connection" clue provided by the little traitor, little insider 48 System Sima Yi Sakura, ready to be pulled out at any time.

In fact, Metropolitan Police Department Director General Shinzou Kamiya had already begun paying attention to Aragaki Yui.

Aragaki Yui also realized this matter had exposed her to risk of exposure; on the afternoon of her release, she firmly demanded immediate return to Tokyo.

Aragaki Yui sat in the back seat of the nanny car, the window curtains drawn tightly shut, the agent sitting in the passenger seat turned to glance at her, wanting to speak but holding back, while Hoshino Gen sat beside her, holding his phone, the screen showing he was checking the Shinkansen timetable from Aomori to Tokyo.

The car was very quiet, only the engine's low hum and the warm air fan's buzzing.

Aragaki Yui leaned against the seat, eyes closed, eyelashes trembling slightly.

Recalling this trip to Aomori Prefecture, our GAKKI-san failed at every single goal!

Failed to discover why Shirakawa Mai's energy is always abundant!

Failed to uncover the Inner World secret on Uesugi Muneyuki!

Even failed to ride the "Hand of God" hype to regain popularity!

Damn! Water retrograde, begone! Water retrograde, begone!!!!

"It's fine, GAKKl, life has its peaks and valleys." Hoshino Gen comforted: "I've experienced it too."

Aragaki Yui opened her eyes, gazing at the car roof, voice not loud, but tone carrying a "I never want to experience this again in my lifetime" exhaustion: "I want to apply to convene the Kuril Great Assembly, to find Khorchin Tumed Khan, Khagan of Khagans Little John Khan and file a complaint!"

"???" Hoshino Gen blinked, thinking: Am I not Khorchin Tumed Khan Hoshino Gen?

The agent also leaned forward from the front seat, expression complex: "GAKKI, actually we're not chasing every bit of hype…" "Sue him for illegal detention," Aragaki Yui continued, voice still not loud but speech quickened, gritting her teeth: "Sue him for abuse of power, sue him for mental abuse. I want the whole world to know how Japanese police treat a woman who's done nothing wrong."

Hoshino Gen fell silent for a moment, then softly said: "Little John Khan doesn't handle Japanese cases. He handles political struggles in Third World Small Countries, doesn't take civil disputes, and his biggest advantage is actually that nobody understands the history, culture, and background of those Third World Small Countries; using foreign history to tell your own story, 99.99999% of people have never been there, but Japan is different—everyone understands too well, too many people come, and you'll give yourself away…" "Then I'll immigrate to a Third World Small Country." Aragaki Yui said this, the corner of her mouth already slightly curved: "I'll immigrate to a Third World Small Country; he will definitely come personally, chase after me, and then he'll be willing to speak up for me!"

"He definitely will." The agent added: "I believe as long as we propose it, he will absolutely be willing to do an episode with you." "But I don't want to……then I'd still have to wipe my hands……" Aragaki Yui said this, unable to help laughing: "If this guy had a good model, he'd have shown his face long ago; his reluctance to show his face can only be for one reason……"

"Hahahaha ahahahahahahahahahaha~" Happy laughter came from inside the car.

"It's fine, GAKKl, he still has Suzuki Airi, and Aragaki Yui, and South Korea's Son Ye-jin, the Four Great Consorts of Tongliao!" "Four Great Consorts of Tongliao……how come they all seem to have male masters now?" The driver casually remarked: "Does he know?"

"Hahahaha ahahahahahahahahahaha~" The car erupted in laughter.

Indeed, for example, Suzuki Airi and Tanaka Ao, Son Ye-jin and Xuan Bin……

Aragaki Yui finally managed to show a smile again.

This point of hers is excellent—that as an Inner World Biology entity, she has always maintained a transcendent mindset; these entertainment industry matters she doesn't particularly care about. Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Department, Management Officer Office.

Investigation Division 1 Management Officer Kouka Shinichirou did not knock, but pushed the door open and entered directly.

Kashiwagi Jin sat behind the desk, with Aragaki Yui's interrogation transcript spread before him, currently reading it.

The ashtray on the desk was piled full of cigarette butts, the room's air stale as if a basement window hadn't been opened in three years.

Kouka Shinichirou pushed open the window, cold air rushed in, Kashiwagi Jin raised his head, saw it was him, then lowered his head again to continue reading the transcript.

"Kashiwagi-kun!!!" Kouka Shinichirou sat opposite him, no pleasantries, got straight to the point, tone both weary and helpless: "Do you think you did the right thing?"

Kashiwagi Jin did not raise his head: "I only did what I should do."

"What you should do?" Kouka Shinichirou's voice was not loud, but each word sounded as if sandpaper had been rubbed over it in pain, obviously Lao Ren is a very difficult person to communicate with: "What you should do is investigate the case, not torture witnesses! Aragaki Yui is not a suspect; you have no right to lock her in that room for eight hours. You aren't unaware—you just don't want to admit it!"

Kashiwagi Jin abruptly raised his head, staring at Kouka Shinichirou.

Lao Ren's eyes had bloodshot, lips chapped, his whole appearance looked like it was he who had spent eight hours in that interrogation room, not Aragaki Yui; he is a pure person, a dedicated person.

Previously, failing to catch the biker gangster Kondo Fumihiko had caused him great pain, so he must strive harder to prove himself.

"There are doubts about her." Kashiwagi Jin also spoke impatiently: "Her account of supernatural phenomena, her reactions, her strange relationship with Uesugi Muneyuki—all need to be clarified. I cannot let her go just because she's famous."

"Delayed justice is not justice!" Kashiwagi Jin truly did not want to admit he too was intrigued by Aragaki Yui's midnight visit to Uesugi's door, TMD according to post-investigation, his room had several women!

I really want to know everything about Uesugi!

My arch-enemy! My bosom friend! My ambition!

Kouka Shinichirou laughed furiously: "Kashiwagi-kun, do you think your past achievements in Tokyo—solving those major cases, shocking the nation—were due to your own ability?"

Kashiwagi Jin's face darkened: "What do you mean by that, Management Officer?"

"I tell you, Kashiwagi! Your ability to shock the nation is because someone wants to use your name and the Star Inspector's status to shock the nation!" Kouka Shinichirou emphasized each word, like explaining a simple arithmetic problem to a slow student: "The case you were assigned to solve, you solved it—that's your ability! But you and Uesugi are different! Uesugi Muneyuki succeeded because he had the Police Department behind him, local gangsters, the Cabinet, even the Imperial Household Agency! Those people aren't supporting you; they're supporting him! He is a National Heavy Implement, while you? You only hold yourself—who can you cut down?"

Kashiwagi Jin sprang to his feet, the chair sliding backward and slamming into the wall with a loud bang: "Delayed justice is not justice!" His voice boomed, loud enough for people in the hallway to hear: "Just because there's no one behind me, should I not do what I should do? Just because there's no one above, should I just watch doubts be ignored? I, Kashiwagi Jin, investigate cases, never looking at who's behind me. In Tokyo I was like this, in Aomori I was like this. What should be investigated, investigate; what should be asked, ask; what should be caught, catch. Whoever blocks me, I investigate them!"

Kouka Shinichirou stared at him, silent—this was not the first time they had argued over this matter.

"You say those—the Police Department, local gangsters, Cabinet, Imperial Household Agency—what do they have to do with me?" Kashiwagi Jin's voice shifted from agitation to a certain repressed, self-directed murmur: "I investigate cases, not for whoever's behind me, but for the case itself. Aragaki Yui has doubts, so I question her. The ranch has corpses, so I dig. The culprit is guilty, so I arrest. As for how others see me, whether superiors support me—I can't control that, nor do I want to."

The office fell silent.

The sound of water flowing in the radiator became especially clear in the silence, like an invisible river flowing through the walls.

Kouka Shinichirou leaned against the chair back, staring at Kashiwagi Jin for a long time.

Finally he stood up, walked to the window, and closed it.

"Kashiwagi-kun, I didn't say you did anything wrong." His voice dropped, low enough that only the two of them could hear: "I'm saying that the way you handled this matter will make things difficult later. Aragaki Yui is not a suspect, yet you interrogated her as one for eight hours. LesPros filed a complaint against you; the Metropolitan Police Department can help you suppress it once, but not a second time. Next time, if you encounter another public figure with doubts, what do you plan to do? Or will you still interrogate them for eight hours like this?"

Kashiwagi Jin did not answer.

"I've realized we really can't communicate!" Kouka Shinichirou gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "Forget it, if we keep talking, we'll just end up fighting."

"You don't believe you can beat me?" Kashiwagi Jin clenched his fists.

"I do……so we understand each other, but we don't need to reconcile." Kouka Shinichirou turned around, looking at him: "Fine, you handle the case your way, and I'll protect you my way. If I can protect you, keep going. If I can't, you bear it yourself."

He patted Kashiwagi Jin on the shoulder and walked out of the office.

The door closed softly behind him.

Kashiwagi Jin stood in place, staring at the closed door, standing there for a long time, then walked back to the chair, sat down, picked up the record, and continued reading. I still feel Aragaki Yui has a problem!

Kashiwagi Jin lightly bit his lip, thought for a moment, then sent a message to Kashiwagi Misa.

"I won't go out to eat dinner tonight."

Kashiwagi Misa replied quickly.

"Good."