Chapter 98: The Net of Heaven and Earth

It's just ridiculous.

The elite officers of Investigation Division 1 looked at the data on the table, and in their hearts, they had, to a greater or lesser extent, formed new opinions about this group of Public Security police.

Not to mention anything else, how did these Public Security officers manage to get so much internal information from inside Inage Junior High School when there was no search warrant, classes were suspended, and the school administration had explicitly refused police investigation?

Damn it, just how many channels do these Public Security people have behind them? If we in the Criminal Division could also have such... many cases would be much easier to handle!

"Good work." Uesugi Muneyuki briefly browsed through the documents.

It's almost certain; judging solely from all the current intelligence and evidence, it is her!

"You're welcome." What Superintendent Ichijo wanted was exactly these words from Uesugi Muneyuki.

The Public Security faction had initially believed that Uesugi Muneyuki was undoubtedly a member of the Criminal faction, because his ties to the Criminal faction were very heavy, he was recommended by the Criminal faction, he had close relations with the Criminal faction, and he was often seen together with the only daughter of Director General Watanabe.

But after the serial murder case, the Public Security faction examined him in detail and discovered that Uesugi Muneyuki himself actually had no factional color; his personality was such that he said what he had to say and admitted what was what.

Consequently, the Public Security faction immediately adjusted their strategy, which led to Superintendent Ichijo and Captain Godai taking the initiative to ask if he needed help.

We in Public Security are willing to help you; this is giving you face. Otherwise, even if these hammers from the Criminal faction took the initiative to ask for help, do you think we in Public Security would pay them any mind?

"That's great! If we can confirm the suspect's identity this way, the subsequent investigation will be much easier to handle!"

Kosaka Shinichiro, a Police Inspector from the First Division, excitedly gripped the intelligence that the Public Security officers had obtained through unknown means: "As long as we investigate her interpersonal relationships based on her activity trajectory..."

"Excellent! Let the Special Investigation Headquarters officially begin!" Police Inspector Shiratori Sho from the Second Division also stood up: "Apply for support from the Metropolitan Police Department immediately!"

"Yes!"

"Attention, this is illegal data." Beside Uesugi Muneyuki, Okada Keibu held up the data provided by Public Security: "What we are doing is a legal investigation. Advisor Uesugi hopes you will not be prejudiced. What we must do is find the evidence of Saijo Yasue's crimes!"

"Now, let's divide into groups!"

"Relationship Group, Police Inspector Kosaka of the First Division, you lead the team to investigate Saijo Yasue's interpersonal and family relationships."

"Murder Weapon Group..."

"Movement Tracking Group..."

Inside the conference room, large groups of men in suits stood up collectively, splitting into their respective groups. It was a sea of black; the brigades in black, gray, blue, and brown suits formed a murky landscape, solemn and oppressive amidst the rain curtain of Chiba Prefecture outside the window. The detectives were all determined.

A female junior high student has actually played us Japanese police like a bunch of fools!

If Advisor Uesugi hadn't turned the impossible into the possible, we police truly wouldn't know how much time we would have wasted on the Yakuza!

We must take back all the humiliation of the past!

"I'm counting on you all; you must find the evidence of Saijo Yasue's crimes! As representatives of the 80,000 police officers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, please investigate diligently and do not let a single clue slip by!"

Okada Keibu made a prompt decision: "I'm counting on you!"

"Yes!!!"

……………………

Two days later, Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters, the front line of the Chiba Prefecture Serial Murder Case Special Investigation Headquarters.

After two days of investigation, the elite members of Investigation Division 1 organized the gathered intelligence.

"Suspect, Saijo Yasue, a student in Class 1-C at Inage Junior High School in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture." On the stage, Police Inspector Shiratori Sho of the Second Division explained their findings to the two hundred or so detectives below and the Public Security police who were observing.

The large screen displayed a photo of Saijo Yasue. This first-year high school girl had short hair, large eyes, a broad forehead, a lot of white in her eyes with small pupils, a sturdy build that wasn't fat, and somewhat thin lips.

Next to Saijo Yasue's photo, the Special Investigation Headquarters compared it with a large number of surveillance images captured from security cameras. Although the footage was a bit blurry, after repeated comparisons, the police had confirmed that the person appearing in the footage with somewhat abnormal behavior, wearing the Inage Junior High female school uniform, was indeed Saijo Yasue herself.

Furthermore, according to the Shinkansen and subway records investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, it was confirmed that Saijo Yasue did indeed have a large number of records of traveling between Chiba Prefecture and Tokyo. Although this could not serve as direct evidence, it was enough to prove certain things.

The new progress in the case made the detectives present feel extremely excited.

Shiratori Sho continued.

"Saijo Yasue was born locally in Chiba Prefecture, in a family of four. Later, her parents divorced, and Saijo Yasue chose to live with her mother. However, her mother worked two jobs to support the family and had almost no time to take care of her daughter. Moreover, according to our interviews, Saijo Yasue was discovered by former neighbors more than once suffering from her mother's verbal abuse."

"According to the investigation, when she was in kindergarten, Saijo Yasue's mental state was already unstable, manifested by a lack of reaction to the outside world, strong aggression, and an inability to understand the kindness or malice of others. She was once advised to see a doctor."

"Later, because her mother truly had no time to raise the child, Saijo Yasue was sent to live with her grandparents. Her grandparents worked at a livestock farm and an aquaculture farm in the countryside. According to market vendors, during that period, Saijo Yasue often helped her grandparents slaughter chickens, ducks, and fish. Perhaps she was naturally gifted; at a young age, she had already developed excellent slaughtering techniques. Furthermore, according to witnesses at the vegetable market, Saijo Yasue was very calm when slaughtering livestock; she was neither afraid nor felt any sympathy. To her, slaughtering was as routine as tightening a screw in a factory."

"Living with her grandparents for a short period seemed to stabilize Saijo Yasue's mental state, and she would occasionally show signs of joy. However, her mother soon remarried, and Saijo Yasue had to return to live with her mother and gained a new younger brother."

"Afterward, Saijo Yasue entered Inage Junior High School. She was naturally withdrawn and had no friends, and her grades were poor, but other than that, there were no other strange behaviors."

"It wasn't until last year, when Saijo Yasue's grandparents passed away one after another within the same year, that Saijo Yasue's behavior began to become abnormal."

The two hundred-plus police officers below listened to Police Inspector Shiratori's account, and expressions of realization gradually appeared on their faces.

The way the people around looked at Uesugi Muneyuki had changed completely.

Ghost of Uesugi! God Uesugi! Devil Uesugi! Angel Uesugi!

He really found her!

Bishamonten be praised!

If Uesugi Muneyuki hadn't provided a specific judgment and found the specific person, Investigation Division 1 would never have associated a high school girl with the perpetrator of three murder cases!

And Uesugi Muneyuki's unconventional way of solving cases—first providing a profile of the perpetrator and then working backward to find clues—changed everything.

Based on the past experiences of Saijo Yasue described by Shiratori Sho and the evaluations of those around her, the perpetrator was 99.99% this person!

But if Uesugi Muneyuki hadn't first provided the perpetrator's profile and the possible scope, the Metropolitan Police Department would never have thought in this direction, nor would they have searched for evidence based on the inference that "a high school girl is the serial killer."

Could this guy be Saijo Yasue's accomplice and mastermind?

Uesugi Muneyuki didn't really care about the surprised, worshipful, and suspicious gazes around him. He still frowned: "This intelligence is only corroborating evidence; it is not something that can serve as decisive evidence. Police Inspector Shiratori, has the investigation over these past few days found any decisive evidence?"

The elite members of Investigation Division 1 looked a bit ugly when they heard Uesugi Muneyuki ask this.

Shiratori Sho could only shake his head: "No, we have neither found the murder weapon Saijo Yasue used to commit the crimes, nor have we found any decisive evidence linking her to these murder cases."

"Then it's as good as useless." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head coldly: "How are you going to convict her based solely on past experiences and mental health records?"

The elite members of Investigation Division 1 on the stage remained silent.

The Investigation Division 1 of the Metropolitan Police Department is the face of the department. These people are either elite Career Track officers with bright futures or Non-Career Track "grinders" who have climbed their way up through internal competition and possess excellent professional skills; each one of them is arrogant.

Yet, Uesugi Muneyuki, sitting below the stage, had proven himself to be even more formidable than them. For a moment, the elite members of Investigation Division 1 were left speechless.

The second conference room was silent for a while, and Uesugi Muneyuki frowned and continued to ask: "Where does Saijo Yasue live?"

"She lives at XX Block, XX Building, Kanto Town, Inage Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture."

Investigation Division 1 had long been prepared.

"Is she still in Chiba?" Uesugi Muneyuki continued to press.

"Yes, according to our confirmation, she is at home," Police Inspector Shiratori nodded.

"Report to the Metropolitan Police Department and apply for a search warrant for the Saijo Residence to see if we can find more discoveries and key evidence," Okada Keibu, who was beside Uesugi Muneyuki, volunteered.

The people below nodded one after another.

Uesugi Muneyuki naturally also agreed with searching the residence directly.

However, they still lacked decisive evidence in their hands, and facing a minor, it was almost impossible to apply for a search warrant.

But there were no other methods at present, so the group discussed it and decided to report to the Joint Special Investigation Headquarters.

Thirty minutes later, Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, Kasai Police Station, Chiba Prefecture Serial Murder Case Joint Special Investigation Headquarters.

Good news from the front came one after another; after Uesugi Muneyuki and the others faxed over all the information from the front, even the female police officer from the General Affairs Section responsible for serving tea and water knew that the culprit was nine times out of ten this person.

However, there was no direct evidence!

Joint Special Investigation Headquarters Chief Mouri Takayoshi urgently summoned the high-ranking police officers of Police Superintendent rank and above present to discuss.

How could they search the Saijo Residence without violating regulations?

The senior police officers present discussed for a long time but could not find any special provisions to cite.

Until someone spoke up.

It was Counselor Kobe of the Public Security Department of the Metropolitan Police Department, a Police Superintendent.

"No need to be so troublesome, Headquarters Chief Mouri, look, the phone at the Joint Special Investigation Headquarters is ringing," the Public Security Counselor said very politely.

Everyone present stopped their discussion and looked at the landline on the table with confused expressions.

The phone wasn't ringing!

"Headquarters Chief Mouri, your phone is ringing; there is an anonymous tip from a resident in Inage Ward that the Saijo Residence at XX Block, XX Building, Kanto Town, Inage Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture is related to the current murder case," the Public Security Counselor Kobe repeated unhurriedly: "I heard it."

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Mouri listened to the Public Security officer, his expression changing constantly; looking at Counselor Kobe's arrogant appearance, he hesitated for a long time before picking up the landline that had not rung at all.

Picking up the receiver, Department Manager Mouri counted to five silently, then put the receiver back down.

"Received a report from the public that suspicious individuals have been spotted at the local Saijo Residence, possibly related to the recent murder cases."

"Our Joint Special Investigation Headquarters cannot ignore this."

"Investigation Headquarters, move out!!!"

(End of this chapter)