Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 35, Bunkyo District Fire Murder Case
After the rain, thick smoke billowed in the Bunkyo District. Thick smoke rose from a two-story single-family building under the sky after the rain. The surrounding people fled in fear, while Uesugi Sosetsu and others quickly rushed to the scene.

To be precise, it was Ikeda Erena who pulled Uesugi Sosetsu and rushed all the way. This woman was wearing stockings and high heels but she ran faster than Uesugi Sosetsu. They quickly arrived at the scene.

At this point the fire was already very large, with flames visible to the naked eye and thick smoke billowing from the roof from time to time.

"There may be someone in the house! Uesugi, let's go and save him!" Ikeda Erina was about to rush in eagerly.

"Wait." Uesugi Sosetsu grabbed her and said, "Don't be impulsive. Wait for the Fire Department to come."

"Why?" Ikeda Erena looked at Uesugi Sosetsu with an incredulous look. She thought they were on the same side: "Uesugi?"

"Times have changed, Ms. Ikeda." Uesugi Sosetsu frowned, and he pulled Erina's sleeve tightly to stop her from rushing forward. He looked at the fire rising in the house and said, "In the past, houses were mainly made of wood and paper, but now, a lot of chemical fibers are added to the construction of houses, Ikeda!"

"Ah?" Ikeda Erina didn't understand: "What do you mean?"

"I mean, it's dangerous for you to rush in like this!" Seeing that the tall beauty didn't understand, Uesugi Sosetsu had to explain it more clearly: "If it's just wood and paper burning, there will only be carbon monoxide at the fire scene. A small amount of breathing will not immediately combine with hemoglobin. As long as we hurry up, we can go in and save people. But modern buildings have many new building materials such as PVC. PVC will produce a lot of chloride when it burns. Other chemical materials will also produce gases such as potassium cyanate when they burn. If you breathe a little bit, you will feel dizzy and then burn to death!"

"Let's wait for the Fire Department to handle it." Uesugi Munen looked at the burning house and whispered, "Don't be reckless!"

"But...what if there's someone in the house?" Ikeda Erena finally understood. She stopped, still feeling a little unwilling.

"Then more people will die if we go in." Uesugi Sosetsu shook his head, and he also signaled to others not to go in for rescue.

"But, policeman, Mr. Oyama is still inside!" But two neighbors nearby were already preparing to rush in with wet clothes on. Hearing what Uesugi Sosetsu said, an elderly neighbor said unwillingly.

"What? Are you sure the owner is inside?" Uesugi Sosetsu narrowed his eyes, and his pupils dilated as he thought about it.

When Sudo and others arrived, Tanaka Laodeng heard that there was someone inside and immediately called the Metropolitan Police Department.

Otsuka Branch needs support!
........................

Unexpectedly, the fire department arrived very quickly with several fire trucks. Upon learning that there were people in the house, the firefighters in fire suits immediately put on their equipment and rushed into the fire scene without hesitation. Outside, fire trucks began spraying water to put out the fire.

At this time, the area was already filled with people watching the fun and residents from nearby blocks, and Uesugi Hironori and his wife were also watching from afar.

The fire department soon found a charred body on the second floor of the house. The man was seen curled up on his side in the bedroom on the second floor. His body had been burned in many places, and no other external injuries were visible. Several firefighters immediately tried to carry his body out. At first, the man still had vital signs, but he had died during the rescue process.

At this time, support from the Metropolitan Police Department had arrived.

"Is this the only person at the scene?" At this time, Sudo Butsu, Tanaka Ryouto and Kuwahara Asako were confirming what happened with the firefighters from the Fire Department.

After Chief Kanazawa called the Fire Department, he went straight home. This was also his usual practice. As a superintendent, he would never go to the scene in person unless his superiors personally requested him to do so.

"Yes, he was the only one we found at the fire scene." Several brave firefighters slowly carried the body out.

"The deceased, Kengo Koyama, 38 years old, was a regular employee of a small supermarket in Bunkyo Ward." Tanaka Laodeng reported the results of his investigation among the neighbors: "Koyama lived alone. He was married before, but had no children. According to the eyewitness reports of the neighbors, many people today..."

Halfway through his words, a hand grabbed Tanaka Laodeng's shoulder from behind, and on his wrist was an exquisite Lenya leather strap mechanical watch.

"What are the people in the local bureau doing?"

Turning around, I saw police lights on and a row of police cars parked along the street. Groups of officers wearing standard black suits, ties, badges and neatly styled hairstyles stood in a group. They had blocked the nearby streets and prohibited all outsiders from entering, and more police cars were on the way.

"Metropolitan Police Department..." Tanaka Laodeng immediately understood.

"Since you have already reported it to your superiors, the people from the local branch will just stay by and watch. From now on, everything here will be taken over by our Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division." The man was about 40 years old, with short hair parted in the middle and a stubble. He was tall and fat, and he swung the police notebook in his hand.

Chief of the First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, Inspector Higurashi Souta.

Behind him, more than a dozen investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department were in place. Uesugi Sosetsu noticed that these people had a common characteristic, which was that they were as serious and neat as machines. They all wore very well-fitting suits and uniforms, and their leather shoes were polished to a shine. Everyone's expression was meticulous, and their eyes were filled with toughness and arrogance. With an order from Inspector Higurashi, this group of people dispersed like mercury pouring out of the ground, each controlling an area.

"Metropolitan Police Department, Investigation Division 1." Ikeda Erina, who was next to Uesugi Sosetsu, also whispered, her expression mixed with a hint of obvious envy and instinctive disgust.

The envy is obvious. The ultimate goal of any policeman is to work in the Metropolitan Police Department. Only there does it symbolize the true elite. There are the most resources, the worst cases, and the best prospects. It would be a lie to say that Ikeda does not want to go to the Metropolitan Police Department.

As for the disgust, it is also easy to understand.

"Is this the Metropolitan Police Department?" Uesugi Sosetsu put his hands behind his back and raised his eyebrows with interest.

"Yes, the next routine procedure is that we hand over all the evidence and intelligence and do the odd jobs obediently." Kuwahara Asako appeared nearby with a wry smile. He was about to communicate with Uesugi Sosetsu when he found that Erina was looking at him with unfriendly eyes. He immediately turned his head away and hid far away: "Anyway, now that they are here, we can pack up. Anyway, they will not let our branch continue to interfere."

It was the first time for Uesugi Munen to come into contact with the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division. It was said that this group of people was the real elite gathering place of the entire Japanese police force. He wanted to see it for himself, and...

He raised his right hand, and the azurite lit up.

However, before Uesugi Sosetsu could step forward, the suit brigade immediately approached at a rapid speed. The leading Inspector Kusata Higurashi communicated with the Fire Department about how long it would take to put out the fire. After receiving an accurate answer, he walked straight towards Uesugi Sosetsu and others.

"That's strange, Sudo Rizo, as far as I know, there is no search operation in Bunkyo District today." Inspector Higurashi put his hands in his pockets and stared at Section Chief Sudo with his lower eyes: "What's the matter with you conducting a search without authorization?"

"Ah, that..." Kuwahara Mako quickly responded, "We happened to be eating nearby."

"Did I ask you?" The police captain from the Metropolitan Police Department didn't even look at Kuwabara, indicating that you are not qualified to talk to me.

"We were having dinner nearby with the director and we happened to see the fire. The director was responsible for notifying the Fire Department, so we rushed over to take a look. After all, this is our jurisdiction." Tanaka Laodeng answered with a stiff upper lip.

"Oh, the jurisdiction." Inspector Higurashi snorted, "Oh, eating."

He stretched out his hand and pinched a part of Tanaka Laodeng's collar: "What is this? The smell of alcohol!" "Is this the local police station? If you participate in the search with the smell of alcohol on you, if you don't explain it clearly, the people will think that the people in the search section like to drink enough before starting the search!"

"Investigation relies on technology and scientific theory, not alcohol, guys from the precinct." Inspector Higurashi released his hands and said, "Okay, we will leave this to the Investigation Division. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Now, you can go back."

"let's go!"

"Yes!"

The team of suits turned around and followed Inspector Higurashi, leaving only Sudo and the others with their neat backs.

Sudo and the other two cursed in their hearts.

I knew it would turn out like this!
Inspector Higurashi and the others turned and left, and every police officer in the Metropolitan Police Department stood up straight.

There are 102 local police stations in Tokyo. When a police station encounters a serious case that it cannot handle, the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division will take over the case. In other words, they are the last line of defense to protect the safety of the citizens of Tokyo.

As expected, hearing about someone is believing. He saw with his own eyes that Sudo and the other two were directly driven out of the investigation by the people from the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters. Before Uesugi Sosetsu could say anything, he saw Inspector Higurashi and a few others coming to him.

"You must be Uesugi Sosetsu, the forensic doctor at Tokyo Medical and Dental University?" Inspector Higurashi looked up. "I'm busy with the Forensic Science Department, so I'll trouble you to do the autopsy. Please let the First Investigation Division see your ability as a forensic doctor."

You're giving me face by letting me perform an autopsy, right?
Uesugi Sosetsu still nodded because he needed more spirit.

"Is this... your girlfriend?" Inspector Higurashi then noticed Ikeda Erena next to Uesugi Sosetsu. The moment he saw the tall beauty's face, the elite operator of the Investigation Division turned pale and took several steps back: "Yes, it's you?"

"…………" Ikeda Erena had regained her indifferent and arrogant expression and simply greeted her.

Just this one greeting frightened a group of Metropolitan Police Department elites and made them retreat one after another. No one dared to look at her directly.

"As expected of a police station, it's like a zoo." Inspector Higurashi muttered to himself, and said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear: "Okay, you should also pack up."

Erina's face became even uglier. She wanted to say something but couldn't open her mouth.

The orders from superiors are absolute, especially when the other party is an elite from the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division.

"I need Ms. Ikeda to assist me." Fortunately, she has Uesugi Sosetsu.

"...Okay." Inspector Higurashi originally wanted to say, "You're a forensic doctor, a marginal person without even a rank, so what right do you have to bargain with me here?"

However, Inspector Higurashi immediately realized that it was precisely because Uesugi Sosetsu had no rank that he was unable to give him orders.

There is no need to ruin the relationship over a trivial matter. Instead, we should give Uesugi Sosetsu some face at this time.

This person is different from the local branch, he is still useful!
It took the Fire Department almost 40 minutes to put out the fire, but due to the high-pressure water gun and the fire, the scene was severely damaged.

"The victim, Kengo Koyama, 38 years old, worked in a small supermarket nearby. He was once married, had no children, and lived alone. Because he was a supermarket employee, he had complicated social relationships. Many people came and went in his home today."

The charred body was placed on the ground. Uesugi Sosetsu motioned for Erina to come over and check it out, while the poor Sudo trio could only be stopped outside the yellow line and watch.

The Metropolitan Police Department was really swift and resolute in its work. During the time they were putting out the fire, they had already investigated all of the deceased's social relationships. Inspector Higurashi stood nearby and said to Uesugi Sosetsu and Ikeda Erena, "Today is the victim's day off. A neighbor saw him throwing out the trash in his pajamas this morning. Uesugi-san, did you find anything?"

"The estimated time of death is just now." Uesugi Sosetsu briefly examined the body and found that the deceased was wearing a shirt and shorts, which meant that the deceased had changed his clothes.

"Was he burned to death?" Ikeda Erena asked immediately.

Hearing what Erina said, Inspector Higurashi rolled his eyes subconsciously.

What an amateur woman!

"Generally speaking, being burned to death in a fire is only an indirect cause of death, not a direct cause of death." As expected, Uesugi Sosetsu smiled and shook his head. Looking at him like this, Erina always felt that he deserved a beating.

It’s okay, I’ll have plenty of opportunities to beat him up in the future!

She motioned for Uesugi Sosetsu to continue.

"The cause of death in a fire is usually suffocation. Please note that bodies found at the scene of a fire are not necessarily burned to death, and bodies found in a swimming pool are not necessarily drowned. Sometimes you must not jump to conclusions..." Uesugi Munen asked: "Inspector Higurashi, has the Fire Department found the cause of the fire?"

"Ah, we found out that there were two fire points, one was the tatami on the first floor, and the other was in the room on the second floor. They thought it might be caused by the deceased's cigarette butt." Inspector Higurashi nodded seriously: "The victim may not have noticed the fire, and after discovering it, he could no longer escape from the first floor. He ran to the second floor to seek help, but the fire had already spread."

"I see. I understand." Uesugi Munen checked the body again: "There is no doubt about it. It was murder!"

"What?" Inspector Higurashi opened his mouth in surprise: "You think he murdered her? But... where is the evidence?"

"Evidence? I'll give it to you right now."

After saying that, Uesugi Sosetsu took out the scalpel he carried with him for dissection, inserted it into the corpse, cut open the chest, and exposed the trachea and internal organs!

"There is no soot in the trachea, the blood is dark red, there is no soot attached to the alveoli in the lungs, and there is no attachment on the tongue."

"This is a murder. After killing the victim, the murderer set fire to the scene." Uesugi Sosetsu bared his teeth.

"That's right, he was murdered!"

　I would also like to say here that if you encounter a fire, do not rush in to save people out of impulse. The combustion of modern building structures will produce a large amount of toxic gases. It is too dangerous to rush in rashly. It is better to wait for professional firefighters to handle the situation.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)