Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 288, Special Missions Unit Takes Emergency Leave

"If you want Uesugi-kun to undergo a second evaluation and overturn the verdict, you should have told me beforehand!"

Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda, while sipping his wonton noodles, said with a mix of teasing and complaint, "Where did you get these files and documents?"

“I stole it.” Sugishita Ukyo, the head of the First Investigation Division, said calmly, “Some of the police officers who handled this case felt sympathy for the deceased’s family. They secretly obtained the information. Anyway, Kanagawa was already in a state of chaos. The previous leaders and organizers have all been dismissed. It’s not difficult to get a copy of the document.”

“You’re always like this, Ukyo. I often think that if it weren’t for me, you would have been finished long ago.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda smiled self-satisfiedly, then resumed his cold demeanor: “The South African government and our country do not have an extradition treaty. The crime in this case occurred in Japan, and both the suspect and the victim are Japanese. South Africa lacks direct jurisdiction, nor does it have universal jurisdiction. Ordinary murder cases do not trigger UN conventions. The evidence of the crime is in Japan, and the South African government also lacks the motivation and resources to investigate.”

“In this situation, the only option is for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to exert pressure,” Sugishita Ukyo said with a smile. “So, Chief Cabinet Secretary, you…”

"What, are you telling people we're serious?" Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda said expressionlessly, "Using the precious resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my connections? Let me tell you, Ukyo, in the cabinet, excluding the Prime Minister, there are four kings: the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Finance Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Defense Minister. It's true that my brother is the Chief Cabinet Secretary, but to go to the Foreign Minister for something like this... it's one thing to incur a huge favor, but a formal ultimatum between nations for something like this? Who is truly wasting the people's tax money?"

"Even if that's the case, as I said before, the deceased was Japanese, and the incident occurred in Japan. At most, South Africa will just deport him." It's another day of clashes between the cunning Chief Cabinet Secretary and the arrogant Section Chief.

"That's better than no punishment at all."

"Is there a difference? It's just about living in a different country. All those resources and connections were wasted just to make the murderer spend more money on airfare. Does it bring any solace to the victim's family?"

After Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda finished speaking, Sugishita Ukyo remained silent for a moment, then could only shake his head: "It's not fair. These kinds of transnational cases are often like this."

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs treats foreigners well and uses foreign forces to strengthen its political influence, while the public wants us to be tougher on foreigners. Unfortunately, from the perspective of the world situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dispensable. Everyone knows that we are just a US naval and air force base." Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda told a lame joke.

Both men, in their fifties, laughed.

“Of course, what I’m more worried about is that this will set a very bad precedent.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda ordered another basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings): “Once the trend of the Metropolitan Police Department being able to overturn cases takes hold… we all know how many problems the regional headquarters have. If the Metropolitan Police Department takes over, it will undoubtedly offend the entire police, prosecution, and judicial system. If the Metropolitan Police Department doesn’t take over, it will offend the entire nation. We’re caught between a rock and a hard place… Ukyo, you’re always so willful. It’s one thing if you don’t consider the organization, but don’t you even think about Uesugi-kun?”

"This was a miscarriage of justice from the start! For the sake of the organization and for Uesugi-kun, who will consider the fact that the deceased's family filed nine police reports and six appeals over five years? Who will consider their long-term suffering and how their family became destitute because of the Nikaido incident?" Sugishita Ukyo never bought into Onoda Kimiaki's act.

"Hmph~ But we don't need to worry about that. How to handle this matter is a headache for Director Watanabe." Onoda Kimiaki tacitly stopped the topic: "If Eiji needs my help later, we'll talk about it then."

At the same time, near the Sakurada Gate of the Metropolitan Police Department, in a booth at an English Victorian-themed cafe.

In the antique-style hall filled with the aroma of coffee, the television screen was playing the news, which happened to be about Sakikawa Nian's Holmes, Uesugi Muneyuki.

Japanese society generally reacted positively to the incident, but some people were not satisfied with Uesugi Muneyuki's performance, perhaps because they had become more discerning with his tastes or because their dissatisfaction with the Kanagawa police had affected his image.

What were you doing all this time? The suspect has already escaped, and you're still playing Sherlock Holmes?

It's just a matter of opposing the suicide ruling; it's nothing serious.

It turns out even Forensic Examiner Uesugi has times when he can't catch the culprit. Well, while this case is solved, there's a lingering sense of incompleteness, making it much less satisfying than the previous ones.
"Hehehe~ It's truly a case of being caught between a rock and a hard place... Zong Xue, did you see that?" Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji pointed at the screen and laughed, "So even Sakikawa Toshi's Sherlock Holmes isn't all that great after all, he still managed to let the criminal escape."

"It's quite remarkable that a five-year-old cold case can be solved to this extent, isn't it?" Uesugi Muneyuki said, his forehead creased with annoyance as he blew on his Darjeeling tea. "Moreover, this case was really lucky. The family investigated and found out the details of the case on their own when the police refused to file a case. One of the culprits, Kitano Yukari, was unable to adapt to life abroad and returned to Japan. Moreover, because she had been plagued by nightmares for many years, she easily confessed."

"That's how the people are. They think that since they pay taxes, the police should serve them from beginning to end, solving every case, punishing every crime, and arresting every offender. If it's my business, they'd like to mobilize all 80,000 police officers in the Metropolitan Police Department just to find a dog. If it's not my business, they'll curse the police as incompetent, wasteful of resources, and thieves." Watanabe Eiji laughed. "Little do they know that solving cases often depends on luck. Hard work, luck, and experience are all indispensable. It's not that easy. Moreover, the budget is always limited, and the number of rank-and-file police officers can never meet the needs of the people... Zong Xue, your actions are like putting yourself on the fire."

"What's foreseeable next is that requests for second appraisals from across the country will flood the Special Missions Department. For you, accepting them is one thing, refusing them is another. If you accept them, you'll offend your colleagues, other departments, and the district prosecutor's office and court. And can you solve every backlog case? Even if you do, many of these cases are from thirty or forty years ago. What good will it do? The people will still be dissatisfied." "If you don't accept them, you'll offend the entire nation. The people will feel that their tax money isn't being spent properly. Once the Tower of Babel collapses, you could easily go from being the center of attention and anticipation to being universally reviled."

"Now you know how difficult it is to get anything done?" Watanabe Eiji said, sounding somewhat disheartened.

When Watanabe Eiji asked Uesugi Muneyuki to consider backlog cases, he intended to do so secretly, hoping to solve them if possible but not if not, rather than in a public manner.

"Then why did you still let me take this case?" Uesugi Muneyuki thought it made some sense. There was no way around it; it was the inherent flaw in human nature. Humans liked to erect idols and worship them, and then watch them fall down and trample on them.

Showing off is a basic human need, and following the crowd in praising or criticizing is the cheapest and least cost-effective way to do so.

“Because I am also a policeman!” Watanabe Eiji nodded with his eyes closed, then opened his steady and dignified eyes: “Maintaining order, upholding justice, and protecting the lives, property, and physical safety of the people are my duty as a policeman! I have been a policeman for thirty years and have never forgotten my duty for a single day... Although I haven’t personally handled a case for more than ten years, this case is obviously problematic. If I were to pretend to be deaf and dumb at this point, I would not be worthy of being a policeman!”

“Father, your annual salary of 1500 million yen isn’t entirely free.” Uesugi Muneyuki frowned. Having been in the organization for a long time, he had also sensed many problems. The interests of the people, the organization, and the individual were not always aligned, and order and justice were not always overlapping. Fortunately, his adoptive father did not completely see him as a bureaucrat or politician and still remembered that he was a policeman.

"Alright, you don't need to flatter me. I won't take what I shouldn't, and I never skimp on what I'm entitled to." Watanabe Eiji laughed and scolded, "You should think about how to deal with the trouble ahead!"

“Well then, didn’t I just resign from Tokyo Medical and Dental University?” Uesugi Muneyuki nodded. “Without a position at the hospital, I naturally lost my eligibility for a second assessment. So I’ll announce that I’ve lost my eligibility for a second assessment. By the time I officially join the University of Tokyo next year, this controversy overturning the verdict should be over.”

"Hmm... By the way, Muneyuki, how long have you accumulated your time off?" Watanabe Eiji had heard about Uesugi Muneyuki's resignation from the Medical and Dental University. Of course, he didn't like Uesugi Muneyuki's decision, but considering that Uesugi Muneyuki was already his own son (adopted son-in-law) and he had also found the University of Tokyo as a fallback plan, he didn't say anything.

"That's almost 28 days in total," Uesugi Muneyuki complained. "I can take a six-week break straight into the New Year holiday."

"Six weeks of leave is too long... How about this, I'll grant you special missions 10 days of leave. Go out and relax for a week, and get your engagement done with Minami in another week." Watanabe Eiji nodded: "You can also lay low for a while. Weddings, funerals, and birthdays are big events, and everyone will understand."

“I have no objection to taking two weeks off, but what about inside Sakuradamon?” Uesugi Muneyuki laughed. “Without me, wouldn’t the First Investigation Division be in chaos?”

“It’s okay, sometimes you can be a little willful.” Watanabe Eiji didn’t seem to mind. He casually used his fork to flip through the thick omelet in the breakfast on the table. “Our East Asian system is all about bullying honest, hardworking, and obedient kids. It’s actually a good thing if you’re a little unruly. How can a star player not have a temper?”

"You don't even have to only consider the Metropolitan Police Department. You can also try to contact the District Public Prosecutors Office and the Insurance Bureau for help." Watanabe Eiji said meaningfully, "Only when the department and Onoda feel that they can't completely control you can you and Minami's Special Missions Division receive more funding and resources, and you'll be more confident in upgrading the Special Missions Division in the future."

This is the value of united front work... Uesugi Muneyuki nodded helplessly; he understood it all too well in his previous life.

“Even my godfather’s future depends on you… I’m not satisfied with 1500 million a year, I want 2000 million, 2500 million a year…”

After breakfast, the Metropolitan Police Department suddenly released an important announcement that day.

Due to the overnight search in the Kanagawa case, coupled with months of overtime work leading to poor health and handling personal matters, Special Missions Division forensic officer Uesugi Muneyuki voluntarily applied for a two-week break. With the approval of the Criminal Investigation Department and the Superintendent General himself, the Special Missions Division has temporarily entered a state of suspension of operations!
Upon hearing the news, Miss Minami cheered, "Yay!"

"Muneyuki, Ikeda, let's go to Hakone for a hot spring together!" Minami-sama exclaimed excitedly, her face flushed, after receiving her leave slip. She revealed her long-planned idea.

"A two-night, three-day Hakone itinerary!"

(End of this chapter)