Chapter 963

At the end of February in Tokyo, although the winter chill had not completely faded, the sunlight had already begun to show a slight change in temperature.

In the Special Mission Division office, the hydroponic plants on the windowsill had sprouted new buds, the air had lost some of its winter dryness and gained a hint of moisture, as if spring was seeping in from some unseen corner.

"Three months of leave, is the section chief serious about it?" Date Nagamune clicked his tongue.

Kai Toru applied for a three-month leave due to a serious fall and shoulder dislocation, and since he was injured off-duty, the Metropolitan Police Department only reimbursed half of his medical expenses, with the remainder to be self-covered, a piece of news that quickly spread throughout the Special Mission Division.

"Yes, three months of leave, he told us that, and when he fell, he immediately called us, we went to check on him, and it wasn't good," Minami Ojou-sama said, dressed in a standard police uniform pleated skirt, stockings, and heels, with a meaningful expression: "I went to see him with Muneyuki right away, and we took him to the hospital together with Eirina."

"That's really unfortunate, isn't his girlfriend pregnant already?" Igarashi said with a face full of regret: "Should we go visit him?"

"He's a bit embarrassed, let's wait until he recovers a bit more before saying anything!" Uesugi Muneyuki laughed: "Kai doesn't say it out loud, after all, he also wants to save face, he looks quite disheveled now, we should wait until his condition improves a bit before we all go see him together."

"Makes sense!" Nango Yui nodded: "It's just a pity, this way the April personnel reassignment—"

"We'll talk about the personnel reassignment later." Minami Ojou-sama interrupted everyone's discussion: "Alright, for the next period of time, Muneyuki needs to focus on completing his doctoral thesis at Tokyo University, so he'll be coming to the Special Mission Division less often, and the rest of the work will be up to us, everyone, cheer up! First, the Dark Knight case needs to be closed immediately, Muneyuki handled the earlier parts, and you guys need to finish writing the reports!"

"Hi!!!" A shout suddenly rang out in the Special Mission Division office.

Only Eirina had a strange expression on her face.

I'm writing the case report? You're serious?

But soon Eirina realized that in fact no one had asked her to write the report, just like sitting in the corner, silently facing the screen and actually doing nothing, merely checking the report typing of Yamada Nanase.

So Eirina silently opened a game of solitaire, played ten rounds in three minutes, and went over one round.

"Nanase, go deliver this leave document to the General Affairs Department." Minami Ojou-sama quickly instructed.

"Yes." Yamada Nanase replied softly.

The news of Kai Toru's three-month sick leave was formally conveyed to the General Affairs Department after his "fall," with the reason being "accidentally fell while cycling, resulting in fractured ribs, requiring rest."

His workstation was empty, the unfinished DC comic on his desk still lay in its original position, showing Batman versus the Joker, and his iPod and Sony headphones were also placed on the workstation.

The Metropolitan Police Department announced the case conclusion externally on the third day after Nakamura Makoto's arrest, following the referral for prosecution.

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Uchimura Kanji's speech was edited into a segment under three minutes, which was repeatedly played in the evening news for several days.

In his speech, he proudly stated: "The criminal suspect Nakamura Makoto has confessed without reservation to all five cases."

After joint review by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, it was confirmed that his statement highly matched the on-site evidence.

He did not say "Dark Knight apprehended," but instead used "the criminal suspect related to multiple violent cases has been arrested."

The police organization might have internal sympathy for such "vigilantes," but the entire system absolutely detests this situation, no one would truly like Batman, even if in American comics various superpower settings were added and the police fell into corruption and mind control, one would still need to add a "pre-apocalypse" environment to barely make it work.

But if the apocalypse truly arrived, then there would be no need for Batman, Spider-Man, and other "vigilantes" to do anything.

So, did this apocalypse actually come or not?

One can only answer "Thus Come One!"

Did it really come?

Thus Come One!

The prosecutors' office also simultaneously released a statement, the prosecution formally indicted Nakamura Makoto, charges including causing serious bodily harm, illegal residence intrusion, and murder, seeking a sentence of eighteen years imprisonment.

The entire press conference proceeded with clean efficiency, as if all procedures had been rehearsed many times over.

No one mentioned the discrepancies in those details anymore, no one pursued whether the first four cases' modus operandi and Nakamura's statement were completely consistent.

Those questions were drowned out in the official phrasing of "prosecution confirmation" and "evidence consistency."

This is also the terrifying aspect of Japan's legal and prosecutorial system—once it starts operating, it simply cannot be stopped!

Discussions on Japanese internet were completely another scene.

From the night of the press release onward, the topic of the Dark Knight continuously occupied the trending lists on major social platforms.

Since the specific personal information of the criminal suspect Nakamura Makoto had not yet been detailedly disclosed, netizens' discussion focus was not "who this person is," but "whether what he did was right or wrong."

In the comment section, the replies under each popular tweet were rapidly scrolling, as if someone were continuously injecting new hot air into an ever-growing container.

@Vladimir—Ulyanov—Yin: 【This is fundamentally not a crime. This is justice. What the law cannot do, he did for us. Those domestic violence men, lecherous teachers, fraudulent doctors—has anyone among them truly received punishment? No. The Dark Knight at least made them remember what pain feels like.】

This post received over fifty thousand likes.

@【IGN】《Bloodborne Curse 2》Sony Exclusive Lead Trailer: 【Have you ever thought, if he hadn't been caught, would he still continue doing this? Who would be the next self-labeled one? Maybe it's your hated neighbor, maybe it's your colleague whom you think did something wrong. You think he won't come after you, but how do you know you will never become his target?】

Someone replied below: 【Rest assured, he won't come after you. Because you are not the kind who abuses family, molests children, or defrauds insurance money.】

Netizens then replied below: 【How can you be sure? People's sensory perception of hatred differs! That day at work, someone bumped into me and knocked my golden spear fish rice ball out of my hand, I was furious, he already deserves death! But in the end I could only say it's fine, I'm furious! I thought at that moment, if I were the Dark Knight, I would definitely kill him! Kill Kill Kill!】

【Hey hey hey, is this————you what Asura reincarnation?】

【What was said upstairs also isn't without reason, human perception of pain is multiple times that of joy, possibly for another person it's just a small mistake, but for some people it's exactly the kind of thing that makes them want to kill!】

@Mongolian Celestial Master: 【Eighteen years. The Dark Knight will serve eighteen years in prison. Those he injured, those who escaped legal punishment, they can now live normally, without paying any price! Indeed, from today I will start training!

Hey! Million Magnetic Field! Sea Tiger Explosion Fist!!!】

@Stalin—Feng—Kaslana: 【I support him. But I won't say it out loud. Because I know speaking up will get me scolded.

But this society needs someone to do the things we dare not do. He did it, he bore it, now he has to go to prison. He is not a hero, who is? This world needs heroes!】

@Susu Lin: 【Hehe, your country's bad habits, a bunch of loudmouth strong ones, keyboard warriors, from this incident I already know what the result is, anyway the result is rice wins, Japan loses! Make you all understand completely!】

This tweet was retweeted over thirty thousand times.

Of course, there were also opposing voices.

A netizen called @Tang Person Angel wrote: 【Vigilantism is vigilantism. No matter what crime the other party committed, it should not be carried out by another person as punishment. If today you think he's guilty and go hit him, tomorrow I will also think you're guilty and come hit you. Then this society would not need laws.】

@Unicorn Kyubey Cat: 【You now support him because he beat people you dislike. But your list of disliked people」is constantly changing. Today he commits domestic violence, tomorrow she cuts in line, the day after he speaks too loudly. If everyone can use fists to carry out what they think is right」, who will still follow the rules?】

Online also appeared some more teasing-style discussions.

Someone posted on Twitter an edited meme: "If you see someone bullying others, don't be afraid, justice is right beside you—the Dark Knight will come to handle it."

The accompanying image is a blurry photo of a certain late-night street corner, a person shadow approaching another person.

However, behind him, is Uesugi Muneyuki wielding a 40-meter-long sword, with a line of text behind him: My sword is already hungry and thirsty.

In the gaps of those discussions, someone also seriously asked: "Will he continue after release from prison? If he continues, should we support or oppose?"

The replies below said: "By the time he comes out, it will already be over ten years later. By then we might have already forgotten who he is. But I think he will continue. That kind of person won't stop."

However, netizens' memories generally don't last more than two weeks, and after a few days the hype died down, with attention shifting to other matters.

Weekend afternoon, Fuchu City, Tokyo.

On the stands of the Tokyo Racecourse, there were fewer people than expected.

The racecourse at the end of February still carried the chill of late winter; although the sun wasn't weak, when the wind blew from the track direction it still felt somewhat biting on the face.

Political Official Kai Mineaki of the Ministry of Justice wore a dark gray casual jacket and held a racing ticket in his hand.

Watanabe Eiji sat beside him, wearing a navy blue lightweight down vest over a light-colored shirt.

On the railing in front of them sat two cups of steaming coffee.

"The matter concerning Akyo has caused you trouble," Kai Mineaki said in a low voice, as if uttering something that needed no embellishment.

This father lowered his gaze to the racing ticket in his hand, then lifted his head to glance at the horses preparing to enter the gate in the distance: "That child has never been particularly obedient since childhood. I placed him in the Metropolitan Police Department hoping he would take a steady path. I never expected him to go even further off course. If it weren't for Muneyuki and your daughter suppressing this matter, he might no longer be a police officer now."

Watanabe Eiji lifted his coffee cup and took a sip, without immediately responding: "His situation isn't just an individual matter. The Special Mission Division is a whole. If his case were made public, the entire line would be dug up and re-examined."

"Precisely because of the requests from Muneyuki and Minami, I ultimately decided to show leniency. This is not only for the Political Official Kai, but also for ourselves, so there's no need to dwell on it."

Kai Mineaki folded the racing ticket and put it in his pocket: "So, I came today to express my gratitude. Not just for you, but also for Muneyuki and your daughter. They let Akyo off the hook. Not the kind of 'closing the door and not pursuing,' but truly giving him a way out."

"You and I both know that achieving this step is not so easy."

"After all, Akyo is about to become a father. I hope he can settle down afterward and avoid causing trouble again. This matter, we have received your care, Commissioner Watanabe!"

Watanabe Eiji gazed at the accelerating herd of horses in the distance, waiting for these words: "On our side, the National Police Agency is the one being looked after by the Ministry of Justice. Your cooperation in budget review and judicial coordination carries more weight than any personal favor."

Shinbayashi Kensatsu-kan's mouth corner twitched slightly: "Then let's call it even. However, there is still one matter. Sugishita Ukyo is still investigating. He has taken no public action, but I heard he is still reviewing those old case files."

Watanabe Eiji did not immediately respond.

His gaze followed the horse herd on the track, watching them round the bend, sprint along the straight, then be blocked by the railings.

Is it Sugishita Ukyo?

Onoda is already dead, and his inheritance is nearly settled, right?

However, there is no need to act personally.

"I will handle Sugishita Ukyo's side. He has already served as Investigation Division 1 Chief for two years; it's time for a move. Director General Kamishiro has already drafted a plan, arranging his transfer to become an instructor at the Police University. His rank remains unchanged, with duties shifting to teaching and talent cultivation. He himself is nearly sixty, so a change of pace is not a bad thing."

Kai Mineaki's gaze lingered on Watanabe Eiji's profile for a moment: "Instructor? He doesn't seem like the type who would calmly sit down to lecture."

"He will. The Police University needs someone to pass on practical experience to the youth. His cases, those analytical methods, those judgment logics—these are exactly what the next generation needs. It's not about letting him retire, but about letting him continue to contribute in a different way."

The stands fell silent for a while.

In the distance, the horses were being led by riders to walk slowly around the course, their hooves producing a dull, rhythmic sound on the track.

Sunlight slipped through the gaps in the clouds, casting long, thin, slowly moving golden stripes across the lawn.

Kai Mineaki lifted his coffee cup, took a sip, then placed the empty cup on the railing: "Then let it be so. We each handle our own affairs."

Watanabe Eiji also lifted his cup and finished the last sip of coffee: "Good."

The two did not shake hands, nor did they say much more.

Sunlight fell from the edge of the clouds, stretching their shadows behind them long.

The wind on the stands continued to blow, and from the racecourse came the broadcast announcing the next race.

And following that, three unexpected guests arrived!

West River Noble Teaching, soon to be appointed Chief Prosecutor of the National Prosecutors Office; Kirekawa Ryoichi, soon to be appointed Tokyo Chief Prosecutor; and Shinbayashi Kensatsu-kan, soon to be appointed Leader of the Tokyo Prosecutor's Special Investigation Unit!

The core figures of the entire nation's police-prosecution-legal system are gathered here!

Even if it were Sugishita Ukyo, without Onoda's support, attempting to break through this iron curtain would be utterly impossible!

And the linchpin of the system painstakingly built by Watanabe Eiji over countless days is his adopted son-in-law, Uesugi Muneyuki!