Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 304, Ginza Flower Butterfly

When Uesugi Muneyuki got into the car with Kashiwagi Meisa, Ikeda Erena was stunned for a moment.

Is this Meisa Kashiwagi, the former head of the Metropolitan Police Department?

How beautiful! That was Erena's first thought.

How come she's also of mixed race like me? This was Erina's second thought.

Wasn't this supposed to be a meeting? Why did Muneyuki bring her along? Reina suddenly felt a bit hostile towards Meisa Kashiwagi. She thought to herself, "Mixed-race is my exclusive tag. What does Muneyuki Uesugi mean by bringing her here?"
Meisa Kashiwagi appeared very nervous. It was December, and Tokyo had just had a snowfall, making the air very cold. However, a layer of fine sweat had already formed on her forehead. The previous Metropolitan Police Department's "Face" had almost instinctively wanted to refuse Uesugi Muneyuki's request at first.

While the outside world is still unaware, rumors of Uesugi Muneyuki's gluttony and womanizing have been circulating within the Metropolitan Police Department for quite some time. Besides witnessing him frequently ordering two meals a day in the cafeteria and devouring them in a flash, she had also heard that he had turned the Special Missions Division into something akin to the Ooku. Putting aside everything else, just considering that Ikeda was always by his side and that she was engaged to Section Chief Minami, she could guess a thing or two.

However, she had no choice. Meisa Kashiwagi came from a single-parent family in Okinawa and joined the Metropolitan Police Department's General Affairs Department as a non-professional. She was mainly responsible for the internal affairs of the General Affairs Department and occasionally did some publicity work. Because she was very beautiful and had foreign blood, she was handpicked by Chief Inspector Hakuba to be the face of the Metropolitan Police Department. She was mainly a decorative figure. After getting married, she was given some real power. Her daily work consisted of signing reports, reviewing and inspecting equipment, managing resource allocation and purchasing other supplies.

Section Chief Mikasa has resigned, and Inspector Hakuba is now the chairman of the Japan Policy Research Foundation. What can a female police officer working in an office do? What can she possibly do to persuade Uesugi Muneyuki to help her?
She had no choice but to come along, nervously clutching the one million yen in cash in her bag, hoping that Uesugi Muneyuki would accept it. But if he didn't, she probably didn't have anything else to offer, unless…

“This must be your first time meeting,” said Uesugi Muneyuki, opening the trunk door of the Lexus. “But you should both have heard of each other’s names, like the former Metropolitan Police Department’s Face, or the beautiful judo policewoman… Mrs. Kashiwagi, please get in.”

"Yes..." Kashiwagi Meisa stepped into the back seat of the Lexus in despair, closed her eyes, and thought of her husband's face.

Ren, I... I will try my best!

However, Uesugi Muneyuki did not sit in the back seat with her, but instead sat in the passenger seat: "Let's go, Erena, to the address I gave you before."

"Hmm..." Erena glanced at Kashiwagi Meisa through the rearview mirror, and seeing that she was dressed neatly and had perfect makeup, she didn't say anything more.

The vehicle was moving slowly along the road in Chiyoda Ward.

"Um, where are we going?" On the way, Kashiwagi Meisa became more and more flustered and fearful. She gripped her small bag tightly with both hands and held her phone tightly in her hand.

“I want to thank you, Madam,” Uesugi Muneyuki said earnestly from the front seat. “You have brought me very important information… You heard it directly from Kashiwagi-san that Fujitsu and Mikasa’s former Section Chief had spoken, right?”

“Yes…” Kashiwagi Meisa nodded fearfully, her beautiful legs in brown pantyhose clenching tightly together.

“Very good.” Uesugi Muneyuki frowned in thought. “This will be very helpful for our next steps, and… Madam, are you sure you’re willing to do anything for your husband?”

As soon as Uesugi Muneyuki said this, the Lexus visibly swayed, and Ikeda Erena glared at Uesugi Muneyuki.

Similarly, this sentence also drove Kashiwagi Meisa to a dead end. The mixed-race wife turned pale, stammered a few times, and finally nodded desperately, saying, "Tell me, what do you want me to do, Uesugi-san? I just want my husband saved..."

"Do you know how to do a dogeza (a type of Buddhist prayer)?" Uesugi Muneyuki then asked.

"Huh?!" This answer was completely unexpected for Meisa Kashiwagi.

“To be honest, I’m very happy with our meeting.” Uesugi Muneyuki’s eyes darted around as he said meaningfully, “With your help, Madam, we have a better chance of winning.”

The Lexus quickly drove to a high-rise building on Chuo-dori Street in Ginza, Minato-ku, Tokyo. There was no sign at the entrance. When Uesugi Muneyuki got out of the car, Shimakawa Ren was already waiting in a suit. Seeing Uesugi Muneyuki get out, he happily came up and patted him on the shoulder: "You're here. Hey, let me ask you, how come you're on such good terms with Nomura's manager, Kamikawa?"

“I helped him avoid a loss of at least 200 million yen.” Uesugi Muneyuki raised an eyebrow. “You know what? His wife died while having an affair in Hakone hot springs. He was suspected of being the murderer, and I proved his innocence.”

"I see. No wonder he went straight to Ginza to find hostesses after returning from Hakone, and even ordered two at once." Shimagawa Ren understood immediately. The port manager didn't say much, and then extended his hand to Ikeda Erena: "Ms. Ikeda, it's been a long time!"

"Hello, Mr. Shimakawa." Ikeda Erena hesitated for a moment, but still took the initiative to shake hands with Shimakawa.

She disliked playboys like Shimakawa Ren, but Uesugi Muneyuki's friends were her friends.

"Oh, and who is this?" Shimakawa Ren looked at Kashiwagi Meisa again.

“This is Mrs. Kashiwagi Meisa, the wife of Kashiwagi Jin,” Uesugi Muneyuki said.

"Oh, oh, oh~" Shimakawa Ren's expression remained unchanged. He gave a casual greeting and then whispered to Uesugi Muneyuki, "The good news is that I managed to get Odagiri to come."

"And what's the bad news?" Uesugi Muneyuki could sense the apology from Shimakawa Ren.

"The bad news is that Ryuji's father, Kazumasa Odagiri, is also here. He heard you were coming and wants to see you..."

The four people entered the building. As soon as they entered, a waiter closed the outer door. Shimakawa Ren showed a black card with a butterfly pattern. The waiter checked it several times before letting them through the inner door.

The corridor was pitch black, with no signs or markings, and a waiter followed behind. When they entered the elevator and Shimakawa Ren swiped his card to press a floor button, Kashiwagi Meisa's fear finally reached its peak: "Um... excuse me, where are we going, and what are we going to do?"

"Doesn't Madam know?" Shimakawa Ren asked with interest. "Have you heard of the 'Ginza Flower and Butterfly'?"

Meisa Kashiwagi shook her head repeatedly.

"Ginza Flower and Butterfly Club was established in the late Showa era. Initially, it served wealthy families and high-ranking politicians. Later, it gradually developed into one of the most exclusive members-only clubs in Ginza. It only accepts member referrals. New members need to be endorsed by at least two existing members and undergo a rigorous background check. The membership fee is 8 million yen upfront, and the annual fee is 3 million yen. There is no sign at the entrance; you need to swipe a card to enter the floor via a specific elevator." Shimakawa Ren waved the card in his hand: "Non-members can only be brought in by current members."

“We are here today to meet with Kazumasa Odagiri and Ryuji Odagiri.” Muneyuki Uesugi appeared calm as he turned to Meisa Kashiwagi, “that is, the director of the board of directors and the head of the second department of the technology development division of the Fujitsu Group, whom your husband offended.”

He wants to meet the Odagiri father and son in person?!

Amidst the ringing in her ears as the elevator ascended, Meisa Kashiwagi counted the red numbers flashing on the floor display screen, feeling only despair and suffocation. She felt as if the elevator was an exquisite prison from which she had nowhere to escape.

It was the right decision to approach Uesugi Muneyuki! He definitely has the resources to get direct access to Odagiri himself!

But... "Hi~ Welcome!" When the elevator doors opened, a completely different world appeared before them. The luxurious decor, a blend of classic Japanese and Italian styles, was greeted by two rows of waiters bowing in unison. Then, a madam dressed in a brightly colored kimono came forward and said, "Welcome~ Mr. Odagiri and the others are waiting for you."

The madam was in her early thirties, with short hair that snugly covered her ears, a prominent nose, a cool and friendly demeanor, and a slender figure.

According to Shimakawa Ren, this madam is named Shinoda Mariko. She used to be a fashion brand designer and was quite popular for a while. Later, she left the company and married an IT company president worth two to three billion yen. Two years after the marriage, she divorced him because he cheated on her. She earned a lot of child support by having children, and then, not wanting to be lonely, she went out to work and became a madam of Ginza Kacho. She is best at introducing young women in the entertainment and fashion industries, and she doesn't mind having a fling with a member if he buys her a drink that costs 10 yen.

For example, Shimakawa Ren said he wanted to treat Shinoda Mama-san to a drink, and then walked away with his arm around her.

The door to the Maple Room opened, revealing a small space of 50 square meters. Antique Edo-era screens were mixed with Italian handcrafted furniture, and Odagiri Kazumasa and Odagiri Ryuji were already seated there.

Kazumasa Odagiri is about 60 years old, with graying hair, and is wearing a dark blue three-piece suit. Ryuji Odagiri is about 30 years old, with a 7/3 parted hairstyle dyed brown, covering his face, and is also wearing a dark blue three-piece suit.

"I've heard so much about you, your name is legendary." Odagiri Kazumasa said slowly, "Uesugi Muneyuki, a descendant of Kenshin, and the grandson of Kunihiro-san, I've wanted to meet you for a long time."

"No, no... It's an honor that you two would be willing to come out and meet us." Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena bowed, "It is an honor indeed."

"Yes, I recognize this lady. She's the beautiful judo policewoman I met in both the Fujitsu case and the Yoshimoto case. It's an honor to meet you." Fujitsu director Kazumasa Odagiri nodded slowly, then shifted his gaze to Meisa Kashiwagi.

The other person was clearly not dressed formally, which was somewhat impolite, and judging from her nervous and uneasy expression and unfamiliar look, she was obviously not prepared to appear here at all: "And who is this?"

A beautiful, icy, mixed-race housewife, now the former Metropolitan Police Department official, stood anxiously at the door.

"This is Mrs. Meisa Kashiwagi, the head of the Equipment Management Division of the General Affairs Department of the Metropolitan Police Department," Uesugi Muneyuki briefly introduced. "She is also the wife of Jin Kashiwagi."

Upon hearing the name Kashiwagi Jin, the Fujitsu director and the head of Fujitsu's Technical Development Department II both turned their fierce gazes toward the former Metropolitan Police Department's leader.

"No, I'm so sorry! Darling... my husband has been very offensive, and I... I apologize to both of you here!"

As soon as Kashiwagi Meisa recalled Uesugi Muneyuki's words, she immediately did a deep bow, the fabric of her pantyhose making a soft rustling sound as she lay prostrate on the ground, begging for forgiveness.

Ryuji Odagiri looked guilty and muttered a few words, but he didn't show whether he accepted or rejected the offer.

Odagiri Kazumasa's reaction was much harsher. After a few seconds of silence, he slammed his teacup down on the table, leaned back in his chair, and stared directly at the beautiful, kneeling married woman.

“Even if you kneel down and apologize, the reputation of Fujitsu and my father and I cannot be salvaged.”

"Your husband's 'efforts' in investigating the case are truly moving."

"However, I have a question, Madam. Why is it you who came, and not your husband who came to apologize to us personally?"

“I…” Kashiwagi Meisa’s forehead touched the soft tatami mat. The mixed-race, icy wife thought of her husband, his personality, and his coldness over the past six months. She really didn’t know how to start the conversation and could only say bitterly, “I… I’m here on behalf of my husband.”

"Please forgive me..." The voice crashed back to the ground, making eardrums ache. Ankles encased in dark brown stockings pressed together, the back of the skirt placket stuck to the skin with cold sweat, and the spine began to freeze vertebra by vertebra with each word: "I'll do anything if you can forgive me..."

After saying that, Meisa Kashiwagi tremblingly took out one million yen from her bag: "Please, please accept this..."

However, the million only earned him a sneer: "Money? I have plenty. But madam, are you really willing to do anything?"

Two pairs of hungry wolf-like eyes began to scan the beautiful, fleshy woman on the ground, something that Meisa Kashiwagi sensed.

"Ren! Save me!" she cried out desperately in her heart, almost instinctively.

Oh, no, now it's my turn to save him!

Someone, someone, please save me...

Just as Kashiwagi Meisa's prostration went unanswered and she was on the verge of despair, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly spoke up: "That's enough, you two. Mrs. Kashiwagi has already apologized with a prostration, so just accept it! I propose that both sides reconcile here."

"This isn't about being rude or not!" Director Odagiri was very dissatisfied with Uesugi Muneyuki's contemptuous attitude: "If apologies were enough, what would we need the police for?!"

“Of course, I understand your positions, and I know that Inspector Kashiwagi of this agency did do something wrong... Of course, you can refuse to accept the settlement.” Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, looking very serious about considering the Odagiri father and son: “In that case, this agency will also have to take this seriously.”

"In order to seriously address your company's complaint, I will personally take charge and reopen the investigation into the case concerning Kazama Yumi, to give you both justice, and also to give justice to the deceased Kazama Yumi. What do you say?" Uesugi Muneyuki said with a smile.

The Odagiri father and son were initially quite arrogant, but upon hearing Uesugi Muneyuki's words, they both gasped in shock.

If there is no reconciliation, Uesugi Muneyuki will investigate personally?
This...this isn't right, is it?!
We can't investigate everything, can we? What if he finds out something? That would be a problem.
Although they had discussed that case beforehand... who would dare to gamble?
As expected, Uesugi Muneyuki's words immediately dampened the momentum of the Odagiri father and son, and they exchanged a glance.

“Uesugi-kun, we understand your concern and sincerity, but this matter has had a very negative impact on Fujitsu. The ‘traditional apology method’ will not solve the problem!”

Despite their continued hardline stance, even Ikeda Erena understood the unspoken meaning behind the father and son's words.

They are willing to talk about how to resolve this matter.

Masato, who was kneeling on the ground, almost collapsed with relief. At the same time, she looked at Uesugi Muneyuki with gratitude in her eyes, which were filled with emotion and the joy of surviving a disaster.

He still helped, even though Jin had mistakenly arrested Uesugi before, and even though my request was quite rude, he still helped.

Uesugi Muneyuki... is so strong!
Ren, you're probably salvageable...

(End of this chapter)