Chapter 916

PS：Yesterday I went out for the Dragon Boat Festival, so no update, sorry everyone. Yesterday relatives came over and drank a lot, and they even finished my stored case of Kirin beer—how outrageous! As a result, I got so hungover I only woke up at noon today, and tomorrow I'll resume two chapters!

Kashiwagi Jin was sitting in a small temporary office lent to him by the Hyogo Prefecture Police Headquarters, with a complete roster of the Seibu Lions spread out in front of him. Kashiwagi Jin didn't need to read every name; he only needed to look at those related to medicine.

Trust your intuition!!

Follow your feelings!

The team doctor, trainer, and conditioning coach—each of these people has medical knowledge, dissection experience, strength, and physical fitness.

He quickly found that name.

Ken Ahiru, forty-eight, team doctor of the Seibu Lions. His résumé had a line in bold: "Former Olympic Champion, Judo Event." After retiring, he transitioned into sports medicine and joined the Seibu Lions as team doctor.

Olympic Champion?!

Ahiru? Former judo Olympic Champion?

Kashiwagi Jin's finger stopped on that name.

Olympic Champion, judo, medicine. These three words on one person seemed strange, and Lao Ren's mind immediately rang with an alarm. A judo champion transitioning to sports medicine isn't unprecedented, but usually they go to university as a coach or open their own dojo—why come to a professional baseball team as team doctor?

A baseball team needs a team doctor, but not an Olympic-level judoka to do it.

Unless he needs that identity to conceal something.

Or perhaps he encountered some trouble before.

There's a problem!

The brilliant detective Kashiwagi Jin immediately conceived a splendid orthodox reasoning line in his mind!

Kashiwagi Jin immediately called Uesugi Muneyuki: "Uesugi, I found a suspicious person! Ken Ahiru, team doctor of the Seibu Lions, former Olympic Champion, judo event."

"Olympic Champion?! Are you serious?" Uesugi Muneyuki gaped on the phone.

Ahiru? Then where is Kōji Anzu? Heart's Monster Door Team?

Recently, Joker's room seems to……

"I think it's him! His résumé says he transitioned to sports medicine after retiring, but actually he went to the Seibu Lions with a sports medicine certificate. One doesn't need an Olympic Champion title to be a team doctor. Unless his original path was blocked." Kashiwagi Jin said on the phone: "This makes him very suspicious, extremely suspicious!"

"Are you sure? Kashiwagi, you know, the status of an Olympic Champion in our country……" Uesugi Muneyuki sounded hesitant.

After all, Lao Ren's deductive style is simply hard to believe.

"It's him! I'm serious!" Seeing Uesugi Muneyuki not believe him, Kashiwagi Jin clutched his chest in anger: "I'm serious—think about it, how would a former Olympic Champion end up as a team doctor for a baseball team? Unless he committed something, but because he's an Olympic Champion, the matter was suppressed in the circle, but the price is he can't continue in judo circles, so he had no choice but to become a team doctor for the baseball team—does my reasoning make sense?"

"He went to the Seibu Lions. The Seibu Lions came to Kansai for a game. Nanami Yamada is in Kobe. Sosuke Souda is the Seibu Lions' shortstop. As team doctor, Ken Ahiru can always track Sosuke's schedule, follow him, imitate him. He has strength, medical knowledge, and sufficient capability to commit the crime." Footsteps came from the other end of the phone—Kashiwagi Jin flipping through documents: "Moreover, he also has connections with that relief organization. 'Cat's Investigation Team' in Osaka has had multiple close contacts with Ken Ahiru. He has channels, authority, and skills to enter Nanami Yamada's apartment under the guise of the animal protection organization. Nanami Yamada won't suspect him, because he's from the animal protection organization, coming to check on the cats. She'll let him in, and then he can control her, control the four children, and complete everything inside."

"But there's one thing that doesn't add up—what exactly does this guy want?" Kashiwagi Jin continued on the phone: "A team doctor's salary isn't high, but it's eight million yen a year, plus his own savings—does he really need to kill?"

Uesugi Muneyuki didn't respond, indicating he'd think about it first.

Japan, South Korea, Germany, and other East Asian and foreign countries differ: the Olympics hold immense weight, after all, it represents "bringing glory to the nation." If Uesugi Muneyuki had no evidence and rashly accused a former Olympic Champion of being a murderer, society would erupt in an uproar, and countless former Olympic Champions would come out to protect their own interests!

Uesugi Muneyuki can enjoy special privileges and get green lights all the way precisely because he leverages the system's power, but if he presses charges against Ken Ahiru, he's likely to face resistance from the entire system!

"Uesugi! What are you thinking? Can't wait any longer—must strike hard! This isn't just some animal protection organization anymore; they've already caused a major casualty incident, and you're still hesitating? Strike now!" Kashiwagi Jin roared on the phone: "Ken Ahiru—it's him! Can't drag this on—if we delay, Sosuke Souda will confess, and we're done!"

"How many times have you said it was him before?" Uesugi Muneyuki said impatiently on the phone: "You were adamant in the Nanami case that I was the killer—what happened then?"

"Besides, these animal protection groups are typical NGOs—searches require warrants. Of course, our Special Mission Division with Cabinet Special Permission can act first and report later, but if we find nothing, what then?"

"That… that… nigga…… that time was a mistake, but this time is different! Uesugi, you gotta believe me!" Kashiwagi Jin said anxiously: "You've got connections everywhere, right? Use them! You won't go—I will!"

"How many times have you messed up, you bastard? Wait a sec." Uesugi Muneyuki hung up, frowning.

"What's wrong? Muneyuki?" Eriringa Shīshō, beside him, was driving.

"Lao Ren's guy found a very suspicious person—he's the Seibu Lions' team doctor, named Ken Ahiru, seems to be a former Olympic Champion in judo, Master, do you know this guy?" Uesugi Muneyuki said casually.

The Toyota Camry jerked violently, nearly throwing Uesugi Muneyuki from his seat.

"Master???" Uesugi Muneyuki, dazed and disoriented: "What's wrong?"

"Ahiru???" Eriringa Shīshō slammed the brakes again, immediately turned on the double flashing lights, pulled over to the roadside, and saw the lovely, sharp-featured Eriringa Shīshō's full lips trembling, her large eyes wide and round, filled with shock and fear: "Ahiru? Is it really Ahiru?"

"You know him?" Uesugi Muneyuki also startled, then relaxed: "Of course, Master, you were a professional judo practitioner—you must know the Olympic Champion, right?"

"No!" Eriringa Shīshō's sharp shout cut off Uesugi Muneyuki's thoughts.

"What?" Uesugi Muneyuki felt dazed, wondering what had happened to Master Eriringa Shīshō.

"I'm saying! Not!!!!!!!!" Eriringa Shīshō furiously yelled: "Is it him? Oh, no, not him!!!! No, Muneyuki, what I mean is, it's him!!!!!!!!"

Uesugi Muneyuki: "???????"

Seeming to realize she wasn't clear, Eriringa Shīshō gasped desperately, struggling to inhale and exhale, her chest heaving wildly, and after a few minutes gradually recovered, while Uesugi Muneyuki reached out to pat her back, signaling her to calm down: "Master, what exactly happened?" "Ahiru, Ahiru, Ahiru this person…… Muneyuki, you remember I told you before? I used to be a professional judo and karate practitioner, and I was determined to walk this path, a professional path, but I encountered two problems: first, after middle school, my body began developing, because…… because that area was too large, affecting all my technical movements, so my professional path ran into trouble; second…… my coach at the time sexually harassed me, repeatedly hinting I needed 'private coaching,' and many female athletes accepted it, but I didn't, so I offended him and couldn't stay in the circle anymore, so I went to Tokyo and became a police officer?" Eriringa Shīshō panted, looking at Uesugi Muneyuki: "Eh? Wait, wait……" The information overload left Uesugi Muneyuki stunned for a few seconds, then he immediately reacted: "Wait, could it be, that coach?"

"That coach, is Ahiru! My former judo coach!" Eriringa Shīshō gritted her teeth: "So you understand why I couldn't stay in the judo circle anymore? People are noble Olympic Champions, I'm just an ordinary cadet who once won a youth championship!" A sensation like ice water poured over the head instantly flooded Uesugi Muneyuki's skull.

Nailed it!! Nailed it!!

So the case is nailed!

If following Lao Ren's suspicion, then Ken Ahiru's oddities can be explained.

Why would a former Olympic Champion, after retiring and staying in judo for a while, inexplicably quit his job and become a team doctor for a baseball team?

Extremely likely, it's because he himself was reported!

Because, as Eriringa Shīshō said, he himself had long engaged in unspoken rules with many female trainees.

Such things can't stay hidden forever—indeed, Japanese people lack bloodlust, indeed they're used to following rules, but when things pile up, someone will inevitably refuse!

But he's an Olympic Champion!

In Japan, athletes are often called "sportsmen," and though Japan rarely mobilizes the whole nation to rigorously train for obscure Olympic events to win gold, once someone becomes an Olympic Champion, they become the nation's pride, its face! Someone like Lady Hana of Osaka needs dignity, and the nation needs dignity even more!

So even if he committed misconduct, the circle would find ways to suppress it, so Ken Ahiru ultimately just left the judo circle, still hiding as a white lotus flower, beautiful and unseen.

However, for such a person, having gone through this, he must feel unwilling, angry, resentful!

And as an Olympic Champion, he himself must have access to deeper societal channels.

So he chose…… the Inside World Path?

Right, Osaka—isn't that exactly the headquarters of the Unification Church?

It matches, it matches—then all of this makes sense!

"So... Kashiwada is now our biggest suspect. He has physical strength, medical knowledge, access to and contact with the animal protection organization, and the conditions to follow Souda Sosuke. He was expelled from the judo world, not because he actively transitioned, but because he could no longer endure it. Now, as an Olympic champion, he has become the team doctor, and under his protection, he can continue to manipulate, control, and exploit those around him." Uesugi Muneyuki said solemnly. Ikeda Erena's breath hitched at that moment.

Just once—so fast that if Uesugi Muneyuki hadn't been staring at her face, she wouldn't have noticed: "Those four children... if he really disposed of them..."

Her voice faltered slightly on the word "disposed": "I know Kashiwada's character. Back then, as long as you didn't accept his arrangements, he would immediately abandon anyone, no matter how talented they were, and make sure they couldn't get by in the judo world. He wouldn't have had the chance to keep those children until today. If he's the killer, he would have disposed of them long ago."

Uesugi Muneyuki reached out and gently grasped her wrist: "I understand!"

"I will catch him! For Souda Sosuke, for the honor of the Japanese police, for justice and righteousness, and more so for you. For my master Ikeda Erena, the original Olympic champion!"

"Pupu!" Ikeda Erena had been gloomy, but hearing Uesugi Muneyuki say that, she still couldn't help but snort-laugh: "What Olympic champion? Because of my health, I wasn't likely to continue anyway, let alone become an Olympic champion."

But Erena didn't pull her wrist from his hand. She sat there, leaned forward, her eyelashes drooping slightly, as if gazing at the warmth on her wrist that wasn't hers, and lightly kissed Uesugi Muneyuki's lips: "Thank you, Muneyuki. I have you now. The past is past."

Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, then dialed a number.

Tokyo Supreme Public Prosecutors Office.

The phone rang three times, then connected: "Nishikawa Souchou, I am Uesugi Muneyuki. I need your help."

Nishikawa Takahisa's voice came from the handset, low and steady, like an immovable mountain: "Speak."

Uesugi Muneyuki said solemnly: "In the Kobe case, the killer has been identified. Kashiwada Ken, team doctor of the Seibu Lions, former Olympic champion, judo athlete."

"He has medical knowledge, physical strength, access, and close ties with an extreme animal rescue organization called 'Cat's Wall Outside Investigation Corps.' He used the identity of the animal protection organization to enter Yanaka Reika's apartment, killing her and her four children. The disposal of the bodies involved a pet crematorium. We need to search that organization's Osaka base and related pet disposal facilities. I don't have enough evidence to apply for a search warrant, but I need to break through this legal obstacle."

The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds.

Nishikawa Takahisa's voice came from the handset, still steady, but now with an added layer of inquiry: "Are you sure it's him? How certain are you? That's an Olympic champion!"

Uesugi Muneyuki's fingers gripping the phone tightened slightly: "I'm not 100% certain. But Kashiwagi Jin's investigation points to him, and Erena's testimony corroborates his method. I'm certain this man is problematic."

Nishikawa Takahisa's voice finally came from the handset, still steady, but each word carried weight: "I understand. I'll handle coordinating the search warrant. You mean that animal protection organization, called 'Cat's Investigation Team,' right? The Supreme Prosecutors Office here has people who can cooperate with your operation. But only one chance—don't startle the snake. If the search fails and you startle the snake, catching him afterward will be even harder."

"I'll have the court issue the search warrant first. As for the Olympic champion matter... let's not make a fuss for now. Wait until you have the evidence, then speak." "Good." Uesugi Muneyuki took the phone from his ear, looked at the screen showing "Call ended" in four characters.

Indeed, even Nishikawa Takahisa doesn't want to touch the Olympic champion, but a few small animal protection organizations are still manageable!

"Nishikawa Souchou agreed. The search warrant will come. We'll go together." Ikeda Erena's gaze swept across his face: "For Yanaka Reika and her four children, for Souda Sosuke, for Eto Miyabi."

"And more so for you, master." Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "When we catch Kashiwada, let it be for me, master—could you do something to him for me?"

"?" Erena's eyes widened roundly, not knowing what Uesugi Muneyuki intended.

"Let him feel the Blazing Fist!"