Chapter 940

The main matter having been discussed, Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at Asō Kōta.

If Napoleon knew Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte was constantly waving his crutch and the pretense of restoring the monarchy, he would probably roll his eyes in exasperation.

Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte himself is a talentless man; his greatest skill might be espionage and clerical work, but he is very adept at stirring public opinion.

Toward the lower classes, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte knows well how to win over peasants; toward the upper classes, he knows equally well how to play the Napoleon card.

At that time, Napoleon had not been dead long, and after the French Revolution, traditional Catholic faith among the French was severely shaken; nationalism replaced tradition and became everyone's new reliance.

What could possibly be more legendary than Napoleon, who once blasted half of Europe to pieces?

Moreover, at that time, France had countless discharged soldiers, officers, and old Imperial Guards; after demobilization, they came to cities, towns, and villages, and when idle, they would puff on their pipes, sit beside high earthen mounds, and recount their adventures following the Emperor at Toulon, Austerlitz, Jena, and Borodino; soon, the Emperor replaced God as the spiritual reliance of that generation of Frenchmen, and played a decisive role when Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte engineered his election as emperor.

From a certain angle, Asō Kōta's analogy is quite apt.

This fellow simply wants to ride on his own pretense of being Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, borrowing that Napoleon's fame and prestige!

But Uesugi Muneyuki turned around and told him, if you want to borrow from me, fine, but I also want to borrow from you!

Deal!

The two reached agreement at lightning speed.

This caused the atmosphere between them to quickly loosen up.

Asō Kōta revealed a smile.

My ancestors' graves are all in Shu Kingdom; I never cease to miss them!

But if Uesugi-san needs it, then I can only say, in this world there is no undying dynasty, nor any grave left unexcavated! My ancestors' bone ash and resources are not mine—if you want them, take them!

Special Mission Division joy, no thought for Kyushu Fukuoka either!

"From now on, in my presence, you need not deliberately make yourself like this." Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at Asō Kōta's somewhat oversized uniform and casually remarked: "Enough already, wait a moment, then go to the General Affairs Department to change."

"Eh, yes." Asō Kōta lowered his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

He deliberately chose a standard 170-size police uniform, intentionally making it look loose.

This is full of Asō Kōta's little schemes.

That is, the most common "bullying" in Japanese culture.

Put plainly, this brat wants to seize the opportunity to shape an image of himself being "bullied."

He clearly knows the uniform does not fit, yet he makes no request or explanation—this conforms to the Japanese preference for "reading the air" and "not causing trouble for others."

He deliberately wears an ill-fitting uniform to report to the Special Mission Division, aiming to craft an image of "I was bullied by the General Affairs Department." He moves about in this uniform within the Special Mission Division, seeking to shape an image of "I am bullied within the Special Mission Division."

This brat, wearing ill-fitting police attire in public, aims to shape an image of "a pitiful brat bullied within the police force."

I am weak, I have been bullied, therefore I deserve to be treated gently by the whole world, so you all owe me, and although I am a connection-backed individual, I will openly and honorably meet Uesugi!

Japanese-style bullying, brat!

This fellow's thoughts are truly… Uesugi Muneyuki pondered carefully for a full cycle before finally understanding why Asō dressed in an ill-fitting uniform. Simply put.

Japanese people like bullying.

But Japanese people prefer "being bullied."

This is what was previously mentioned: the so-called Indian theory that the suffering of one universe has a limit—some bear more, some bear less, and as long as one has been bullied, one stands in a position of utter correctness, invincibility, and moral high ground.

But to speak frankly, the concept of "Japanese-style bullying" is too broad.

In Japanese culture, not playing with you is called bullying, not accepting your gift is called bullying, using your eraser is called bullying, and even not speaking to you is considered a form of bullying.

The imperial family's children have long been bullied at Tsukuba High School, and the investigation revealed that the bullying consisted merely of "no one voluntarily speaking to him"—nothing more.

"Fuan Desu" this kind of politically correct phrase everyone loves to hang on their lips—there is a reason for it.

If you substitute some countries, seeing blood and higher-degree property destruction, personal humiliation, would be required before bullying could be suspected; you cannot apply your own bullying to Japanese bullying.

Naruto has been milking the "bullying meme" for so many years—upon reflection, it's quite hilarious.

But this also illustrates the difference between early and later Naruto settings: early on, ninja villages were actually armies, each ninja a lifelong military household, and these people had just fought the Ninja World War and the Nine-Tails rampage, family members dying in basket after basket, to varying degrees all suffering war PTSD, so some nervousness and cold, terse speech are quite normal; the Third Hokage himself lost master, disciple, close kin, and countless comrades in war—being able to appear outwardly normal is already not bad.

Bullying of new recruits by veterans exists in militaries worldwide.

"From now on, don't play these tricks on me—just work properly." Uesugi Muneyuki said.

"Yes..." Asō Kōta lowered his head.

Yet this fellow showed not the slightest dejection; on the contrary, the more he was scolded by Uesugi, the more excited he became.

Lord Uesugi, you understand me!

Hell yeah!!!

Not bad for being able to subdue Okada Kai, Nanxiang Date Wa, and Maeda!

Although you bully me, but I, Asō, will offer you loyalty!!!

Uesugi Muneyuki took Asō to the General Affairs Department and exchanged for a standard 165cm police uniform; now it fits much better.

After the terms were settled, Uesugi Muneyuki did not hastily activate Asō Kōta's connection.

He knows when to draw the blade and when to sheath the edge.

The Asō family's identity is a fine blade, but even a fine blade needs the right moment to be unsheathed.

He needs to wait, wait for the entertainment industry and the Unification Church to move first, exposing a weakness.

And just at this time, a new case arrived.

"Hachijo Island?" Uesugi Muneyuki stood before Watanabe Eiji, dazed, and said.

"Yes, on Hachijo Island, several sets of remains were discovered in a mountain cave, identities unknown, cause of death unknown." Watanabe Eiji tossed a document before Uesugi Muneyuki: "Hachijo Island requests you to go inspect."

"Although but, why must it be me specifically?" Uesugi Muneyuki tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Regardless, you're free—just make a special trip." Watanabe Eiji said naturally: "The state allocates 500 million yen annually to you, not for you to drink tea all day at the Special Mission Division, AAA nationwide flyable Uesugi! TMD Ishihara Mikoto's prenatal checkup fees and Minami's monthly Okamoto expenses are fully reimbursed by headquarters—do you mean to steal tax money?"

……So am I to go by plane or by ferry?" Uesugi Muneyuki could only say.

"Take the ferry." Watanabe Eiji said offhand: "Fair winds all the way!"

"The ferry will drift for twelve hours on the road, huh." Uesugi Muneyuki complained.

Hachijo Island, that's pretty far too.

"Yes, 12 hours." Watanabe Eiji said calmly: "Counted as work hours, actually there's no need to rush back—after all, Hachijo Island also falls under Tokyo's jurisdiction, all expenses along the way count as work hours and official duties, which is much better than you doing nothing on standby at the Special Mission Division and giving people the impression you're idle." Uesugi Muneyuki raised his eyebrows, understood, in short just don't let everyone think you're idle.

"Alright, then I'll go myself."

Uesugi Muneyuki decided to go himself, he had most of the Special Mission Division stay in Tokyo, only bringing Ikeda Erena, Maeda Toshihide, and Asō Kōta three people. The reason was simple: the newcomer Asō needed to see the world, Maeda needed to accumulate combat experience, and Ikeda Erena was his most trusted partner. On the morning of departure, the four people boarded the ferry to Hachijo Island at Tokyo's Takeshiba Pier, the sea surface in early February was calm and tranquil, when the ship left Tokyo the sky was still overcast, but when the ship entered the Pacific Ocean, the clouds split open a seam, sunlight leaked through the gap, spreading across the sea surface a golden, constantly swaying path.

Uesugi Muneyuki stood on the deck, facing the sea.

The sea breeze poured into his coat collar, blowing his neatly combed hair somewhat disheveled.

Ikeda Erena stood beside him, leaning on the railing, hands in her pockets, eyes on the sea surface, her face full of excited blush: "Out again? Muneyuki!"

Uesugi Muneyuki pursed his lips, noticing Eriringa Shīshō looking at him, thinking I'm suffering too!

During this period, because the Seishokurin had ruptured, for nearly ten days I hadn't touched her.

This time, a fierce battle was unavoidable.

"The several sets of remains on Hachijo Island, identities unknown, cause of death unknown, time unknown. But the arrangement of the remains doesn't look like natural death, nor like an accidental death. There are signs of processing." Uesugi Muneyuki immediately changed the subject.

Ikeda Erena's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Signs of processing? You mean someone tampered with those bones?"

"Specifics will be known at the scene. But one thing is certain—this is not an ordinary death scene."

Ikeda Erena didn't press further, stood beside him continuing to gaze at the sea surface.

Maeda Toshihide walked out from the cabin, holding four cups of hot coffee, paper cups steaming white vapor in the cold wind.

He walked to Uesugi Muneyuki's side, handed him a cup, then gave Ikeda Erena a cup, then himself held a cup leaning on the railing, eyes showing a light mixed with curiosity and confusion: "Mr. Uesugi, I read the materials on the Hachijo Island case, but still don't quite understand. Seven people, died in a cave, cause of death unknown, identities unknown, remains neatly arranged. If it's murder, why arrange the corpses like that? If it's a ritual, what kind of ritual? And why specifically Hachijo Island? That place isn't particularly big or small, nor is it an important transportation hub—who would go out of their way to do this there?"

Uesugi Muneyuki took a sip of coffee, the rim of the paper cup cooled by the sea breeze: "What you actually want to ask is how this case differs from the ones we've handled before."

Maeda Toshihide nodded: "The Kobe case, the killer's motive was clear, method regular, target selected. But the Hachijo Island case seems unclear in everything. I've read the files several times, still can't find a clue to latch onto."

Uesugi Muneyuki fell silent for a moment: "Often, the less clear a case is, the more worth investigating it is. Because that very 'unclarity' itself is a kind of information. Why would the killer make everything unclear? Is it because he doesn't want people to know? Or because he wants certain people to see, but not everyone?"

Asō Kōta walked out from the cabin, holding a small booklet, apparently taken from the ship's reading room—a Hachijo Island travel guide. He walked to the three, first bowed slightly to Uesugi Muneyuki, then turned to Ikeda Erena and Maeda Toshihide, also nodded, he didn't speak, just stood quietly beside them.

Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at him: "About Hachijo Island, do you know anything?"

Asō Kōta froze for a moment, obviously didn't expect Uesugi Muneyuki to initiate conversation with him.

His gaze withdrew from the sea surface: "Hachijo Island……is a place of exile. In the Edo Period, many political criminals were exiled there. The most famous is Ukita Hideie. After Sekigahara, he was exiled to Hachijo Island by Tokugawa Ieyasu, spending the rest of his life there. He was Toyotomi Hideyoshi's adopted son, once one of the Five Great Elders, originally had the chance to choose surrender or submission in exchange for Tokugawa pardon, but he didn't. On Hachijo Island he upheld loyalty for decades, always guarding the Toyotomi clan's righteousness."

"Hey, you're quite cultured, Asō-san!" Maeda Toshihide laughed: "Lord Hideie. Defeated and exiled to Hachijo Island, lived over eighty years, died on the island. He never surrendered, never yielded, never bowed his head to the Tokugawa. In that era when everyone knew the Toyotomi clan was finished, he alone guarded an island, guarded a belief no one else believed in anymore, the main family every year crosses the sea to send Lord Hideie large quantities of year-end goods, guaranteeing his quality of life, and every year regularly exchanges at least two documents, guaranteeing Lord Hideie knows about the outside world, Ieyasu appreciates Lord Hideie's loyalty, thus turns a blind eye, Ieyasu really is a decent fellow!"

"Actually, back then the Kanazawa Maeda clan, that is the main family, had already fully exerted effort to obtain a pardon for him, but he just wouldn't come back." "The main family even proposed, could take 100,000 koku from the Kanazawa Maeda domain's 970,000 koku territory and give it to him personally as a private estate, but Ukita Hideie still refused, he thanked the main family's kindness, but he absolutely would not submit to the Tokugawa inner court prince."

"Inner court prince?" Asō Kōta nodded, Ukita Hideie until death refused to acknowledge Tokugawa Ieyasu's position as Seii Taishōgun, head of the Minamoto clan, and Tokugawa court, only calling him inner court prince, this was Ieyasu's position before Hideyoshi's death.

"Truly speaking openly before the Taikō." Uesugi Muneyuki laughed.

Ikeda Erena leaned on the railing, holding the cup of coffee that had begun to cool: "Speaking openly before the Taikō. What does that mean?" Uesugi Muneyuki withdrew his gaze from the horizon: "Taikō is Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Ukita Hideie is Hideyoshi's adopted son, Hideyoshi had kindness toward him, he devoted his entire life to the Toyotomi clan. After Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu became master of the realm, the Toyotomi clan fell, Hideyoshi's era ended. But Ukita Hideie did not change his stance with the times. He was exiled to Hachijo Island, on that remote sea island lived until old age, until death, never bowed his head to the Tokugawa. He felt, this way to meet Hideyoshi, he could openly say— I have not betrayed you, I have always followed your path, upheld the immovable Great State Bright Deity."

Maeda Toshihide's hand holding the coffee cup paused: "One person guarding an island, guarding a belief no one else believes in anymore. What for?"

"To avoid betraying oneself." Uesugi Muneyuki finished the last sip of coffee, crumpled the paper cup, held it in his palm: "Some things are more important than victory or defeat. Not just for others, but also for oneself. Having held fast, one can openly go meet those who have already passed, actually, if Ukita Hideie during the Siege of Osaka..."

Saying this, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly and abruptly closed his mouth.

Guardian?! Secret?!

Wait!

Wait!!!

Ukita Hideie always firmly refused to return to the home country, until death wanted to stay on Hachijo Island, besides loyalty to Toyotomi Taikō, could there be other reasons???

He suddenly recalled the new god bone ash of Uesugi Kenshin in his hand!

Could it be???