Chapter 987

On the morning of the fourth day, the Asuka I slowly docked at the berth of Hakata Port in the morning mist.

The morning sunlight pierced through the thin mist of the Setouchi Sea, gilding the containers and cranes on the wharf with a faint golden outline.

The cruise ship's whistle blew long and loud, the mooring lines were thrown by the crew onto the bollards on shore, the sailors skillfully secured the hull, and when the gangway was slowly lowered, yellow police tape had already been raised at the entrance of the gangway bridge!

"What? What happened?" someone exclaimed.

On both sides of the wharf stood two full rows of personnel wearing dark blue uniforms and black suits, the Public Security Police action team dispatched by the Police Agency Security Bureau, the earpiece cords of their walkie-talkies visible beneath the suit collars, the bulging outlines at their waists clearly discernible through the fabric.

Their number was about twenty or more, the leader being a slender middle-aged man holding a document, followed by two deputies wearing the same uniform.

It was Ichijo Kaoru, Counselor of Public Security!

Beside them were several personnel from the Japan Coast Guard wearing white uniforms, with sidearms at their waists.

Passengers who should have been waiting at the wharf were guided to another passage to disembark, this gangway was blocked, allowing only specific personnel to pass.

"Up! Up!"

The large contingent of Public Security Police in suits surged onto the cruise ship like wolves and tigers.

"Public Security business! Idlers, clear out!"

"By imperial decree, investigate the case! Violators will be killed without mercy!"

Uesugi Muneyuki complained.

The first to be taken off the ship was Fang Tang Cheng Yi.

His hair was disheveled, that exquisite deep gray suit wrinkled, his hands were handcuffed behind his back, his mouth stuffed with a white cloth bundle—this was to prevent him from shouting in public and causing a disturbance.

He struggled a few times, trying to say something, but the cloth bundle blocked his words, only emitting muffled whimpers, his gaze fixed stubbornly on the crowd outside the police line, as if searching for someone.

The second brought down was the tall, thin man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

His expression was much calmer than Fang Tang Cheng Yi's, as if he had known this moment would come all along.

This guy kept his head down, his steps steady, escorted by two police officers across the gangway, his expression indiscernible.

Following behind were two secondary personnel and three temporarily detained crew members suspected of assisting the cult on board—a deputy head chef, a night shift security guard, and a crew member responsible for cargo hold management.

Captain Sato Hirofumi was also arrested, walking last with a pallid face, temporarily not handcuffed, but under the escort of two Public Security Police officers, clearly also being "invited" to disembark to assist the investigation.

This is Public Security's "voluntary accompaniment."

As he stepped onto the gangway, he glanced back at the white hull of the Asuka, his eyes holding both resentment and bewilderment.

What's going on? Uesugi-san didn't say that person died accidentally?

Is it this serious?!?

Uesugi-san, you schemed against me!!!

When Fang Tang Cheng Yi set foot on the ground, he finally seized an opportunity, taking advantage of the Public Security Police verifying his identity to spit out the cloth bundle, his voice hoarse and furious: "I want to complain about you! Those few are the murderers! They they killed our people! That forensic pathologist—Uesugi Muneyuki, he drowned our watchman! He is the killer! You've arrested the wrong person!

"

"I want to find my lawyer, I want————————"

The officer escorting him pressed a hand on his shoulder, firm pressure, forcing half his body to lower.

Counselor Ichijo Kaoru stepped forward, unhurriedly opening the file in his hand: "Fang Tang Cheng Yi, suspected of plotting to endanger vessel navigation safety, illegal detention, attempted murder, violating explosives control regulations. We don't know who your watchman is, but the scene inspection shows the body in the cold storage was originally an accidental occupational death, while your side's multiple testimonies and scene evidence are consistent with cult organization activities. Additionally one66

He closed the file, gesturing to the side: "We have evidence."

Eto Miyabi emerged from the shadow of the gangway bridge.

This NHK beauty anchor's steps were slower than usual, that pair of black-strapped high-heeled shoes swaying subtly with a floating sensation in the soles as she moved.

Her head of hair was not tied up, but loosely draped over her shoulders, the ends still slightly damp from not being fully blown dry.

Today, Eto Miyabi wore a cream-colored high-necked knitted sweater, the neckline covering below the collarbone, over which she donned a khaki short trench coat, belted at the waist, perfectly tightening her slender waistline.

Below was a pair of deep gray tight-fitting trousers, the cuffs tucked into black short boots, looking neat and capable.

Her state was very off, a faint blue-gray layer under her eyes, making her look as if she had cultivated immortality, her lips much redder and swollen than usual, her center of gravity slightly shifted to her left leg, her right knee slightly bent, one hand supporting her waist, her expression mixing a strange balance, fatigue and satisfaction intertwined, as if after staying up all night she had only drunk Sprite and eaten Chocolate before going to run a marathon, her bones scattered but feeling utterly comfortable.

Uesugi-san—truly like a wild ox!

Eto Miyabi last night endured wind and rain, spring and autumn, finally her entire mind was left with just two words.

Ox come!

"Miss Eto?" the Public Security Police said, seeing her not responding for a while.

"Oh, sorry, I've encountered many things these past few days, just this————"

Eto Miyabi held in her hand the already fully charged mobile phone, the screen lit, displaying a preview of a cloud document—she had secretly taken some photos with her phone throughout the process.

"The evidence the police need, I have a whole set in the cloud." Her voice was slightly lower and slightly hoarse than usual, but clear and forceful: "Including their plans to detonate explosives in the Kuroshio Strait, sacrificial procedures, personnel lists. Also some documents about the so-called 'evil god' they worship, not complete, but already enough to prove what they did, I—I almost became a victim.

66

The Public Security Police took the phone, flipped through several preview pages, then looked up at Eto Miyabi.

He noticed the blue-gray under her eyes, and noticed her speaking while slightly leaning sideways, shifting her weight, but as an experienced police officer, he merely interpreted this as "aftermath of encountering major life safety."

He nodded, returned the phone to Eto: "Thank you for your assistance. Follow-up will require your cooperation in giving a complete statement."

"Okay." Eto Miyabi took the phone, her fingers pausing slightly, then nonchalantly slipped it into her pocket: "But not today. I have other arrangements this afternoon.

66

Counselor Ichijo Kaoru quickly approached Uesugi Muneyuki, slightly bowing: "Uesugi Chief, this time we've troubled you. We've already received the report on your emergency handling last night, Mr. Okada of the Special Mission Division also confirmed the situation with us. The bomb on the ship has been safely dismantled by the explosive ordnance disposal team of the Japan Coast Guard, persons and goods both obtained. Subsequent investigation will be handled by the Security Bureau, you just continue your vacation."

Uesugi Muneyuki stood at the edge of the gangway bridge, he nodded: "Hard work. Just tell me the ship captain's review results later. Don't forget to follow up on the work injury compensation for the cold storage worker."

"Understood." The Public Security Police collectively saluted, bowed again, then turned and led the team away.

The police cordon on the wharf was completely lifted within half an hour, passengers were finally allowed to disembark normally.

"Eh, what happened?" Shimura Sayuri looked dazed at this moment, turning to Shirakawa Mai beside her: "Mai-sama, what's going on, how was Fang Tang taken away?"

"None of your business, Matsumura, you might just need to change your boyfriend, Fang Tang this guy is a bad person, he secretly smuggled organs, Muneyuki's investigation later found out, that cold storage corpse might be related to this group!" Shirakawa Mai, the senior student, said.

"Eh?!?" Shimura Sayuri belatedly realized: "This serious?"

"Well, don't worry about those details, just keep playing." Shirakawa Mai hugged Shimura Sayuri: "I'll treat you!"

Let's go drink, eat meat, and soak in the hot springs together!

"Great!" Indeed, as soon as she heard there was meat to eat, Matsumura Sayuri tossed her boyfriend to the back of her mind.

After the four of them left the jetty, they dropped off their luggage at a hotel near Hakata Station and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Miyawaki Sakura's condition had already recovered largely; aside from occasionally unconsciously touching her own wrist, her expression was now about the same as usual, except she still felt a bit strange, as if the world on the water's surface wasn't quite real.

—

Asuka remained stubborn and tsundere, telling Sakura along the way things like "You scared me to death last night" and "You're not allowed to go adventuring on your own from now on," but her hand never let go of Little Sakura's arm the entire way.

Sakura-nee is gone; from now on, who will cosplay Electric General and Fibichu with me?

Mai Xuejie walked in front; today she changed into a light gray long trench coat and black tight pants, with low-heeled short boots on her feet, making her look sharp and energetic—completely unlike someone who stayed up all night dealing with an entire ship's worth of heresy cult incidents.

Uesugi Muneyuki walked at the back.

At this point, going to North Kyushu Women's Prison again wouldn't mean much—he had already learned a lot from Chi Rui An.

He glanced sideways and noticed a row of banners hanging on the utility poles on both sides of the street, printed with the "EVOJapan

20XX" logo and the large text "World Fighting Game Championship."

"Oh?" He stopped walking, staring at the banners: "Is EVO being held in Fukuoka this year?"

Mai Xuejie turned her head to look at him: "How so, are you interested?"

"

The venue was set inside a large exhibition center, with long queues at the entrance; many young people carried gamepad bags and wore T-shirts printed with various character designs, communicating with each other in Japanese and English.

The air was filled with the smell of fried chicken bites and convenience store rice balls, mixed with the hot wind blown out by electronic equipment's cooling fans.

On the venue's giant screen, the final stage of King of Fighters XV was being played; seated in the player seats were two competitors, on the left a Japanese youth in his early twenties with fiery eyes.

On the right sat a man with a bulky build, wearing a dark loose T-shirt, with an ordinary appearance and a large double-door belly, a man from Guangdong.

When giving the interview, he spoke calmly in Chinese: "If I come to Lai Lai Ben, then I just take the championship, eh!"

The venue echoed with a mix of admiring applause and wailing.

Some clapped, some covered their faces, some furiously typed on their mobile social platforms.

Here he comes, that man, here he comes!

Uesugi stood behind the crowd, hands in his pockets, smiling slightly at the name on the screen.

He knew that guy was an old veteran from Guangdong, with no sponsorship, no training team, competing mainly by eating noodles, and saying "My luck is good" after winning matches.

Meanwhile, his performance in this match was like a table tennis player facing a group of opponents wielding spoons.

They watched two more rounds. The results were astonishing: among the top 32, 30% of players couldn't knock out his first character; in the quarterfinals, only 40% of players could even see his final character.

By the finals, the opposing Japanese youth player sat in his chair after the match, covering his face with a towel, his shoulders trembling.

He had already performed at the peak of his professional career, but facing that near-inhuman stability and suppressing power, everything he did seemed inadequate.

Uesugi Muneyuki smiled and thought, Indeed, the King of Fighters tournament is just this: you do everything you can, unleash all your strength, then reach the finals and lose to that man.

Interesting~

>