Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 366, Crushing the Bunshun Cannon!

PS: This chapter has 5400 words, combining two chapters into one. I've decided to finish writing it all at once. Thank you for your support, readers. Orz.

Despite being a super gossip-focused newspaper, Weekly Bunshun is actually an excellent news reporter and information gatherer, and it won't easily make its move without proper preparation.

While Weekly Bunshun received instructions from certain individuals regarding Uesugi Muneyuki, it had also conducted its own detailed investigation. In fact, prior to the Kabukicho incident, Weekly Bunshun had already been secretly investigating Uesugi Muneyuki, including how many girlfriends he had and whether he had any improper relationships.

Naturally, the information that Weekly Bunshun found out was that Uesugi Muneyuki maintained close relationships with his fiancée Watanabe Minami, colleague Ikeda Erena, and colleague Ishihara Mikoto. Moreover, Uesugi Muneyuki had not tried to hide it too much before. For example, the three of them had gone to Hakone hot springs together. Even earlier, Weekly Bunshun had dug up some information.

However, this isn't explosive enough! And it's not illegal either!
"Bunshun Pao" (文春炮) literally means "Bunshun Pao" (文春炮), which means "explosive" or "explosive." Uesugi Muneyuki is an adult, and there are no "dating prohibition regulations" in the Metropolitan Police Department or the Forensic Department where he works. If we're being strict, he's not a public figure and has no reason to relinquish his privacy to the public.

Therefore, if you're going to explode, you have to explode thoroughly, and you have to explode completely!

Having found nothing with Mai Shirakawa, Weekly Bunshun shifted its investigation focus. After a period of observation, they finally found Asuka Saito in the vast sea of ​​people. There were two pieces of evidence to prove that Asuka Saito and Muneyuki Uesugi lived together. First, Muneyuki Uesugi had picked Asuka up from school with Mikoto Ishihara. Second, after repeated tracking and investigation, Weekly Bunshun learned that Asuka and Muneyuki Uesugi both lived in the Sakata Bridge Tower, and through some shady methods, they discovered that the two lived on the same floor.

Now we have it, don't we?

Weekly Bunshun was extremely excited when it learned of this news. Bunshun Cannon, prepare to fire!

Naturally, Weekly Bunshun had considered that someone as meticulous as Uesugi Muneyuki might have consulted a lawyer, and that the adoption process was not problematic. Weekly Bunshun had also considered that, although theoretically the possibility of a minor living-in housekeeper existing was extremely low, what if Uesugi Muneyuki had considered this and actually implemented the extremely troublesome regulations of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare?

It's best to hit it if you can, but it doesn't matter if you don't.

Because Weekly Bunshun holds a trump card!
Uesugi Muneyuki definitely had an affair with Saito Asuka! And that's the question he absolutely can't explain!

On this point, Weekly Bunshun has absolute confidence. After all, it is known that Uesugi Muneyuki himself is a "pervert." According to the investigation, he is the kind of person who cannot live without women. Moreover, according to the investigation of the veterans in Bunshun, the look in Saito Asuka's eyes when she looks at Uesugi Muneyuki is absolutely one of complete infatuation and absolute honesty.

If you throw this out at the crucial moment, although it may seem a bit underhanded, it will definitely be a fatal blow.

home run!
But Weekly Bunshun never expected that Uesugi Muneyuki had actually never touched Saito Asuka!
This is the only thing in the whole affair that greatly exceeded Weekly Bunshun's expectations!
How could this be? Uesugi Muneyuki, who'd even sleep with women right under his nose (referring to Ikeda and Ishihara), would actually let go of such a stunningly beautiful girl? Are you kidding me? Men are creatures whose minds are only filled with food and lust! Especially Uesugi Muneyuki, whom we've investigated, perfectly fits the stereotype—he loves all kinds of delicious food and women!

But... it's true!
But... that's impossible!
In a fleeting moment, Katsuto Takahashi, the on-site reporter for Weekly Bunshun, realized the dire consequences Weekly Bunshun would face if its accusations against Muneyuki Uesugi failed! This had already been mentioned earlier, and the publishing house would undoubtedly conduct a thorough internal investigation, holding the relevant reporters, editors, fact-checkers, and department heads accountable. The reporters and editors involved would almost certainly be dismissed, and the relevant management might resign or be demoted.

As the on-site reporter and the main initiator of the questions, he will undoubtedly be severed by the Weekly Bunshun, no, not only the entire Weekly Bunshun, but also industry self-regulatory organizations such as the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Reporters Association will certainly put him on a major blacklist.

If I fail here today, my career will be over!
But how could that be? My judgment is absolutely correct!
Therefore, when Uesugi Muneyuki presented the test results from St. Mary's Hospital in the United States, a third-party institution responsible for the FBI warning, Weekly Bunshun knew that it had actually lost.

Weekly Bunshun might lose badly, but Takahashi Masato on the scene has no chance of losing at all; he'll be completely finished!
But how could that be? As a veteran reporter from Bunshun who has been covering gossip for a long time, Takahashi Katsutoshi absolutely believed in his experience; he couldn't possibly be wrong!

I cannot fail here! Absolutely not!
In a moment of desperation, those words finally slipped out.

"It's not like that's the only place where it can be used!"

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

In the Fuji TV conference room, President Kameyama watched this scene on live broadcast. His expression went from tense to stunned, from shocked to speechless. Behind him, the directors and production managers of Fuji TV had already erupted in earth-shattering cheers.

Wow! That's exactly what we want to see! That's the set of teeth!
It's even more amazing than the red, white and gold screen!
This ratings are going to explode again! President Kameyama, we respect you!
After Kameyama Chihiro finally understood what shocking statement Weekly Bunshun had made, his expression turned calm. The president, who had created countless ratings miracles in the past two years, slowly turned around, stared into the distance at a 45-degree angle, and put one hand inside his suit jacket.

I am Fuji TV!!!
At the same time, in Bunkyo Ward, at the Yonezawa Uesugi residence.

When Kuninori Uesugi heard what the representative of Weekly Bunshun said, the 74-year-old man was stunned.

Does this work too?
Weekly Bunshun is really shameless!
Upon hearing this, Uesugi Hironori popped open a bottle of champagne: "Yukimatsu won! Father! Sentokumaru! Yukimatsu won!!! Haha ...

Uesugi Sakenori, who was standing next to him, was speechless. He glanced at his own father, looked at the TV, and felt an infinite hatred for the Weekly Bunshun newspaper.

Even at this point, are you still throwing a tantrum and acting like a child?

It's absolutely disgusting!
This unparalleled sense of disgust not only spread to everyone at the Sakuradamon hearing, but also reached everyone in the Kanto region of Japan who were watching the live broadcast via Fuji TV!

After an eerie silence, Judge Tadokoro from the Tokyo District Court pounded his gavel at least ten times, roaring at the representative of Weekly Bunshun: "This reporter must immediately retract his statement! This is an insult and a psychological attack on a minor!"

After saying this, Judge Tadokoro shouted at the court clerk, "In accordance with Article 34 of the Child Welfare Law, the legitimate rights and interests of minors must be protected immediately. I hereby declare that all of Uesugi Muneyuki's evidence and third-party appraisal results are fully adopted, and declare the Weekly Bunshun's objections invalid!"

"Yes!" the court clerk replied immediately.

While the court reacted very strongly, the Metropolitan Police Department also couldn't sit still.

"Hey! Do you even know what you're saying? Kora!"

Several inspectors from the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division, who were present to listen to the testimony, couldn't hold back any longer. Among them, Kashiwagi Jin, the person involved, was so angry that his face turned ashen. Several police officers rushed forward, wanting to take down Takahashi Masato, a reporter from Weekly Bunshun. However, the police officers maintaining order at the scene stepped in to stop them, turning into a chaotic situation where one family was fighting against another.

The staff at the child counseling center were ashen-faced. One of them immediately picked up his briefcase and shielded the unresponsive Saito Asuka behind him, intending to take her away from the scene. As Japan's largest official child protection agency, encountering such a thing was an utter disgrace to them.

Another employee of the children's counseling center coldly stated to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office: "According to Article 33 of the Child Welfare Law, which governs the protection of witnesses, Weekly Bunshun's remarks have seriously violated the privacy and reputation rights of the parties involved and the witnesses appearing in court. We demand that the District Public Prosecutors Office immediately initiate criminal proceedings against Weekly Bunshun!"

"And we, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, will accept this proposal." The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's expression was also grim at this point. Weekly Bunshun's outrageous statement was simply too explosive: "We will collect all the evidence and on-site recordings, and then prepare for prosecution!"

Since Weekly Bunshun likes to give us credit, we have no reason not to accept it.

At the scene, prosecutor Shinbayashi couldn't help but glance at Uesugi Muneyuki.

Uesugi... he really pushed Bunshun to the brink. After DNA and medical reports both denied the sexual assault allegations, the Bunshun reporter actually threw out the sophistry that "non-penetration also counts as sexual behavior" in court. This is simply a suicidal defense strategy.

From a legal perspective, the reporter from Bunshun has completely abandoned professional ethics at this moment. Article 328 of Japan's Code of Criminal Procedure explicitly prohibits such additional charges in court without evidence, let alone when it comes to minors!

The child counselor's act of covering himself with his body demonstrates a clear understanding of the "right to accompany witnesses" stipulated in Article 33 of Japan's Child Welfare Law, and the Bunshun reporter's remarks have crossed the line under Article 171 of the Criminal Code. Furthermore, Article 18 of the Ordinance for the Protection and Development of Youth states that "the media shall not induce minors to testify."

The scene was in complete chaos. An enraged Kashiwagi Jin, leading detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department, stormed the police station guards, cursing Bunshun for being shameless. Reporters standing with Bunshun quickly moved away from him, fearing any association with him and hoping he might reveal something even more outrageous. District prosecutors had already begun requesting audio and video footage from Fuji TV as evidence. Officials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare covered their faces, unsure of what to say.

The children's counseling center, already furious, led Saito Asuka away to avoid further harm, while Ishihara Mikoto launched into a tirade in court: "Is your Weekly Bunshun even speaking human language? Is your Weekly Bunshun's brain only filled with AV sets? You beasts! Even the eighteenth level of hell wouldn't tolerate beasts like you!"

"According to you, does that mean all evidence is invalid? As long as you point it out, a fisherman from Hokkaido can sexually assault a girl from Shikoku across time and space? Since this is unacceptable and that is unacceptable, why not just stop holding hearings altogether and sentence someone based on your own opinion?"

Uesugi Muneyuki coldly stared at the pale-faced reporter from Weekly Bunshun. The reporter's unreasonable behavior and act of lying on the ground to avoid trouble had crossed his bottom line. He calmly said to the lawyer, Kunihira, from Nishimura Asahi Office behind him, "I'll leave the lawsuit to you."

"Regarding this case, our firm estimates a 99.999% chance of success. Unless the opposing party can produce irrefutable, conclusive evidence proving that you and Ms. Saito Asuka engaged in other borderline sexual acts, there is absolutely no way you will lose." Attorney Guoping calmly pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his cold eyes filled with mockery and disdain: "How do you plan to fight this case? Primarily criminal or primarily damages?"

"Weekly Bunshun will issue a front-page apology for three consecutive weeks, cover all legal fees and litigation costs incurred by hiring your firm, dismiss all editors, reporters, and paparazzi involved, and demand a public apology from the editor-in-chief of Weekly Bunshun, Manabu Shintani." Uesugi Muneyuki said coldly, "In addition, we will compensate for the direct economic losses caused by the false report, the immense mental anguish suffered as a result of the false report, the decline in social standing, and the strain on family relationships."

"So you mean civil cases?" Attorney Guoping nodded.

If Uesugi Muneyuki insists on pursuing criminal charges, the person directly responsible for Weekly Bunshun could be sentenced to 3-7 years in prison, but the compensation would be much less, around 800-1000 million yen. If Uesugi Muneyuki pursues civil charges, the compensation could rise to over 3500 million yen.

Nishimura Asahi Office naturally wanted to take the lead in the civil lawsuit because, according to their rules, they would receive a share of the compensation, typically a maximum of 25%. However, considering Uesugi Muneyuki's special status and Shirakawa Mai's introduction, they offered a 15% discount. Incidentally, the total cost of the lawsuit was as high as 1000-1500 million yen, which Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't afford at the moment. Mai-senpai advanced 800 million yen, which they would have to wait to get back after winning the lawsuit.

“I suggest including the parent company of Weekly Bunshun, Bungei Shunju, in the compensation. This way, the total compensation could reach 5000 million, and we would definitely win. It just might take a long time, or the other party might be willing to accept our terms for an out-of-court settlement, such as paying money, publishing a notice, firing the defendant, and issuing a public apology. But in that case, no one in our lawsuit would go to jail.”

"It's alright, let it be like this." Uesugi Muneyuki turned to look at Mai-senpai, whose eyes were wide open, all the light had been lost in her bright eyes, and dark energy filled the air. She unconsciously crushed the pen in her hand into pieces.

Mai Shirakawa has disappeared! Now Mai Kuroishi has appeared!

She is really angry!
There's no need for jail time. Criminal cases are protracted, and it's possible that the trial will be held two or three years later, with appeals still pending.

For people like us from the underworld, if we have a grudge, we must take revenge immediately!

Tokyo District Public Prosecutor Nishikawa personally signed the arrest warrant for "suspected insult of a minor" on the spot. Bunshun reporter Masato Takahashi immediately knew he was in trouble. Faced with the crowd of prosecutors and police officers, he hesitated for a moment and then rushed towards the police.

"Hey!!!" The district attorney was so angry at what he saw that his nose almost twisted: "Don't run away!"

"Excuse me, the suspect has been arrested by our Metropolitan Police Department. Please go back now." Kashiwagi Jin said with a cold smile, blocking Prosecutor Shinbayashi's way.

"It was our prosecutor's office that issued the arrest warrant!!!" Prosecutor Shinbayashi, seeing Takahashi Katsuto being taken away by the Metropolitan Police Department officers, turned red with anger on the spot: "How dare you, the Metropolitan Police Department?"

"Sorry, according to current laws, the 48 hours following an arrest are at our discretion. If you want the person back, please come back after 48 hours," Kashiwagi said with a smile, a hint of smugness in his voice.

I know the law!

This scene was captured by Fuji TV, and Abiru, the production director on set, burst into laughter.

What?! A conflict broke out between the police and prosecutors at the scene? Oh ho ho ho, another big news! This is outrageous!
More! Let's start arguing! Let's start arguing!
Unfortunately, the district prosecutor was a respectable person. Prosecutor Shinbayashi glared at Kashiwagi Jin a few times, thinking that the law really did stipulate this, and he could only go to Fuji TV to ask for on-site audio evidence.

Prosecute! We must prosecute! Prosecute as soon as we get back!!!
"Chief!" Just then, the people at the scene gestured for Abiru to pay attention to Uesugi Muneyuki's side.

The reporter from Weekly Bunshun was arrested, and Uesugi Muneyuki slowly walked to the remaining group of reporters. Facing the more than two hundred media outlets present, Uesugi Muneyuki put his hands behind his back and slowly said, "This should be the last time I prove my innocence, everyone in Japan."

"As I said before, the burden of proof lies with the person making the claim, not with the person making the claim proving their innocence. Out of necessity, and also to make everyone understand my firm commitment to the law and the special relationship between myself and the parties involved, I have chosen to prove my innocence this time."

"As for the result, you've all seen it." Uesugi Muneyuki glanced at the Bunshun reporter being led away by the police in the distance: "Next time, if there are any more baseless accusations like this, I will not hold a hearing to answer them, but rather..."

"Our firm has taken on this case and will soon initiate formal litigation. If a similar incident occurs again, our firm will personally deliver a lawyer's letter." Attorney Guoping stepped forward: "and initiate litigation."

The numerous media personnel present fell silent, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Uesugi Muneyuki.

This man utterly crushed Wen Chun's cannon!
He is now telling the entire news industry that if they continue to make a fuss about his private life, they will suffer the same fate as Weekly Bunshun!

Moreover, Uesugi Muneyuki's composure and understanding of the law today, along with the support and connections of various organizations behind him, left a very deep impression on all the reporters and media present.

Haki Uesugi's powerful influence is engulfing the entire Kanto region!

The journalists meekly agreed. From today onward, they knew that without solid evidence, they should refrain from reporting on Uesugi Muneyuki's private life.

Thus, the Sakurada Gate hearing, which shocked the entire nation and was broadcast live on a weekday afternoon outside of prime time, with an average viewership rating of 38% and a peak rating of 45%, has officially come to an end.

Everyone had a premonition that this historic hearing would trigger a media frenzy that would shake up the entire media industry.

And why is it Uesugi Muneyuki again?

At the same time, the headquarters of Weekly Bunshun.

"The editor-in-chief has fainted! Editor-in-chief Shintani has fainted!"

"Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!"

"Something terrible has happened! Director Ueto has also fainted!"

"Director Sugihara! Why isn't Director Sugihara responding either?"

"Special Secretary Xinjin, wake up!"

(End of this chapter)