Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 406, The Hunt in the Abyss!
At that moment, as the Ghost disappeared into the ruins of the Toyota Motor Showroom, the outside world was in an uproar.

NHK's camera quickly switched to a panoramic view of the ruins. The anchor's tone became grave and somber: "The person has escaped into the ruins of the adjacent Toyota exhibition hall! The site is now completely surrounded by SAT personnel, armored vehicles, and helicopters!"

Fuji TV's camera followed closely behind NHK's, showing the dark, gaping entrance to the ruins, armored vehicles resembling steel behemoths, and armed helicopters hovering in the air like the eyes of death. The atmosphere shifted from extreme panic to a heavy, somber, and breathless anticipation of final expectation. The anchor, Tsutsumi, said softly, a resolute look in her eyes: "This is it, the final tower has opened!"

At that very moment, the Metropolitan Police Department's command center received a new message, a belated report from the SAT at the front lines: "Confirmed at the front, one more casualty has been added! Repeat, one more casualty has been added!"

"Inspector Yuki Yamada, subordinate of the Machiyama Police Station, has died in the line of duty!"

A hush fell over the Metropolitan Police Department.

Another police officer has been killed.

The price of justice is so heavy.

The grief in Eiji Watanabe's eyes (for the fallen Yamada, Kikuchi, and the seriously wounded Okada) was replaced by a cold resolve. He spoke into the microphone, his voice as cold as ice, giving the order: "The final stage. That ruin... will become the graveyard of the ghosts of Toshima Ward."

At this very moment, while the anxiety among the people had not subsided, the panic was gradually replaced by a complex emotion that blended anger, sorrow, and unwavering expectation. People stared intently at their screens, silent.

Soon after, news came that another police officer had died in the line of duty.

On social media, hashtags like "We must catch him" and "Consolation to the victims" have replaced prayers.

In cafes, on trams, and at home, people silently watched the live broadcast of the ruins, which resembled a lurking behemoth, awaiting the final outcome. A silent consensus permeated the air: the fifteen-year-old cold case, the pain of an entire family's murder, the lives of two police officers, the blood of a police inspector—all must find a complete end to this moment, amidst these ruins!

The noose had tightened, awaiting only the final, fatal pull. The entire nation held its breath in the morning light of the Holy Birthday, awaiting the thunderous strike of justice.

However, at that very moment, news came from the SAT ahead: "Manhole cover! The prisoner has crawled into the sewer!"

The shouts were filled with shock and apprehension. The SAT team members carefully opened the wellhead and shone their powerful flashlights down, only to see churning black sewage and bottomless pipes, along with the sounds of violent coughing and splashing water echoing in the empty pipes and fading into the distance.

Anger and suffocating fear enveloped the entire Metropolitan Police Department command center.

The message was transmitted back via radio.

"Report! Target escaped into the sewers! Repeat, target escaped into the sewers!"

"What?!" Watanabe Eiji's face turned ashen, his eyes burning with furious rage! From identifying the flower-laying site, the motorcycle chase, the shooting of a police officer, the intrusion into a kindergarten, the serious injury to a police inspector... each time he had caused the police to lose face, pushing the situation into an even more terrifying abyss! Now, this demon had actually burrowed into Tokyo's vast, complex, labyrinthine underground bloodline!

"Baka yarou!!!" Chief Detective Uchimura also burst out with suppressed rage.

The difficulty and risk of pursuing criminals in the sewers increase exponentially!

The sewers are extremely harsh environments, narrow, dark, foul-smelling, filled with toxic gases, complex branches, and rapid currents, posing a huge challenge to the physical and mental well-being of the searchers.

Furthermore, the sewers would negate the SAT's tactical advantages: armored vehicles, helicopters, and manpower would be virtually negated in the sewers. In the confined space, the Ghost's M1911s would pose a deadly threat, while the SAT's heavy equipment would become a burden.

Moreover, the most troublesome thing is that the Metropolitan Police Department is under immense time pressure. Every second that passes could allow the ghost to escape to a wider area through the extensive network of tunnels, or even infiltrate other buildings! If the news were to leak, the resulting citywide panic would be unimaginable! Tokyo, on the Emperor's birthday, cannot afford such a shadow!
Yes, the Metropolitan Police Department can deploy large numbers of police dogs, various special forces, and even thousands of police officers for a large-scale, carpet search. However, the longer the search drags on, the more devastating it will be to the Metropolitan Police Department's prestige and honor!

Needless to say, the entire area around Odaiba is now under complete traffic control, and the whole of Tokyo is in a state of panic. If the murderer is not shot or arrested within a minute, the money lost by Tokyo every minute is calculated in hundreds of millions!
The Metropolitan Police Department was like an ice cave. The previous grief and anger were replaced by a deeper, suffocating sense of fear and powerlessness. The dot representing the Ghost on the big screen had disappeared beneath the map, leaving only a huge gray shadow representing the unknown sewer area. Everyone understood that if the Ghost disappeared in the sewers or caused more casualties... the Metropolitan Police Department would be plunged into hell!
The air was so heavy it was hard to breathe.

Minami Watanabe stared intently at the big screen, biting her lip tightly. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of her injured brother Okada and the two police officers who had died in the line of duty. Uesugi Muneyuki had risked his life to identify the murderer. Didn't this mean that the Metropolitan Police Department's capabilities were not up to Muneyuki's ability to solve cases?
What will become of our...police organization...?
"Director, can we request the Self-Defense Forces to be deployed?" Section Chief Sugishita Ukyoichi immediately asked Watanabe Eiji.

"..." Watanabe Eiji's lips trembled, and he did not answer.

"Chief Cabinet Secretary?" Sugishita Ukyo had no choice but to ask Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda directly.

“That’s impossible.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda shook his head, his face pale. “To deploy the Self-Defense Forces, we need Cabinet approval, activation of the Diet’s emergency plan, and notification of the U.S. military base in Yokosuka. At the very least, the Americans won’t object… Even if we complete this process as quickly as possible, it will take at least several days. That’s just a living person, not Godzilla landing!”

"If this won't work and that won't work, then what's the point of the Self-Defense Forces?" Sugishita Ukyo was getting anxious.

"The Self-Defense Forces exist to reassure the public that the nation is protected," Onoda Kimiaki said coldly. "If you had truly witnessed the Self-Defense Forces' training and combat capabilities, you wouldn't have come up with such a foolish idea as deploying them, Ukyo. Or do you want tanks to roll into Tokyo?"

"..." Sugishita Ukyo remained silent.

Just as the command center fell silent, and Eiji Watanabe was about to order the risky deployment of the SAT team to storm the sewers, a slightly hurried but unusually firm voice broke in through a secondary channel:
"This is the Special Missions Unit! Special Missions Unit's forensic officer, Uesugi Muneyuki, and the rest of the Special Missions Unit have entered the sewers! Prepare for pursuit! Requesting approval!" Uesugi Muneyuki's resolute voice came through the radio to the Metropolitan Police Department command center: "I have a way to locate this guy! Request immediate approval from the headquarters!"

It's Uesugi!
It is him again!
Is he going to save our Metropolitan Police Department and our police organization again?
Eiji Watanabe suddenly shone with a glimmer of hope! Without the slightest hesitation: "Approved! Special Mission! Begin tracking immediately! Support is on its way! Safety first!"

"Understood!" Inside the sewers was another world.

Darkness, viscous substance, and a stench almost solidified. The beam of the flashlight could only penetrate a limited distance, illuminating the slippery pipe walls covered in moss and grease. The knee-deep sewage was icy cold, slowly flowing with an indescribable filth.

The air was foul, and the special mission personnel, who were not wearing gas masks, could not block out the nauseating smell. The pipes branched out in many directions, and the echoes were distorted.

The Special Missions Unit members cautiously followed behind Uesugi Muneyuki. For some reason, Uesugi Muneyuki seemed to possess superpowers, displaying astonishing professionalism! Ignoring the stench of the sewage, this guy's nose was like that of a military dog, steadfastly guiding the group through the maze-like sewers!
At this moment, Date, Igarashi, and Kai Toru were all confused by Uesugi Muneyuki's decision. They were only willing to obey his orders because of his incredibly amazing past and his superb autopsy skills. Only Erina had complete faith in Uesugi Muneyuki's orders.

The group of people, armed with .38 caliber police revolvers, moved through the darkness in the sewers.

After moving some distance, at the intersection of a relatively wide main road, Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly stopped. He raised his hand to signal everyone to slow down and lie in wait!

Sure enough, less than two minutes later, a dark figure, half-submerged and half-floating in the sewage and coughing violently, appeared as it touched the wall!
Even in the darkness, Kai Date Igarashi stared at Uesugi Muneyuki in disbelief.

Amazing! Uesugi!
How could you find Ghost's trail like that? Haki Uesugi, you're practically Superman!
So the group waited patiently.

At this moment, the combined effect of stun grenades and tear gas is even more pronounced in the confined environment of the sewer!

The Ghost's vision and balance hadn't fully recovered; his lungs felt like they were on fire, each breath bringing a violent cough. He stumbled through the darkness, the foul water making him unsteady, and he could only grope his way forward, clinging to the cold pipe walls. Despair and suffocation, like the cold sewage, slowly engulfed him. One hand on the wall, the other gripping the M1911 pistol, just as he was about to round a corner, the Special Missions Unit made its grand entrance!
"Police! Don't move!"

Kai Kyou's flashlight beam instantly locked onto the disheveled figure—it was none other than the Ghost Guest from Ikebukuro!

The ghost was blinded by the bright light and trembled with fear at the sudden appearance of the ambush.

Despair and madness drove him to let out a hoarse roar as he struggled to his feet from the sewage, brandishing his pistol and staggering as he pointed it toward the direction where the Special Missions Unit had appeared!

"Auntie!" Taking advantage of the darkness, Uesugi Muneyuki silently fired a spirit bullet. The spirit bullet pierced through the line of fire like a silver bullet, and the powerful impact immediately knocked the pistol out of Ghost Guest's hand!

The ghost was already unsteady on his feet, and with this heavy impact, he fell backward and crashed into the murky water, splashing up a huge spray!
"Charge! Let's go!" Date yelled first, and pounced on him. Completely disregarding the filth, he used his body to pin down the struggling Ghost in the water, pressed his knee against Ghost's lower back, and grabbed Ghost's arm, twisting it backward with all his might!

Ghost cried out in pain, thrashing his body and instinctively elbowing Date. Date screamed and flew backward, crashing into a patch of mud. Just then, Kai and Igarashi pounced on him. Igarashi kicked Ghost's hand away as he tried to reach for his knife, sending the knife flying. Kai angrily pressed Ghost's head down and, filled with resentment, shoved his head into the sewage!
"Ugh...kuso!" Ghost choked on several mouthfuls of dirty water. The violent coughing completely rendered him unable to resist, and Igarashi held his other hand down firmly.

Ida clung tightly to one of Ghost's trouser legs to prevent him from kicking and struggling.

Finally, Erina lowered her shoulder and delivered a perfectly precise hook punch, after ample preparation and power, striking Ghost in the neck!

"Snapped!"

The power of this attack was so great that even Uesugi Muneyuki, who was not involved in the battle, felt its explosive destructive force.

In the darkness, only the sounds of heavy breathing, the ghost's painful coughing, the splashing of sewage, and Erena's menacing growl could be heard.

"Oh!"

A primitive yet effective struggle, fought in a stinking abyss, quickly came to a conclusion.

Kai pressed his knee firmly against the ghost's back, freeing one hand to fumble for the handcuffs.

"Crack! Crack!" Two crisp metallic sounds echoed clearly from the sewer.

With his hands firmly cuffed behind his back, the Ghost finally lost the ability to resist.

Kai Toru, panting heavily and covered in foul-smelling filth, yet his eyes shone brightly like stars. He pressed the button on the walkie-talkie on his shoulder, his voice trembling with excitement and exhaustion, yet possessing an unparalleled penetrating power that resonated through the deathly silent channel of the Metropolitan Police Department's command center:

"Headquarters! This is Kai Toru of the Special Missions Division!"

"The perpetrator... has been apprehended! Repeat! The ghost in Ikebukuro... has been captured!"

"All remaining Special Missions personnel are safe!"

boom--!
The declaration of victory came so quickly.

Enemy chieftain, I'm going to strip him naked!

(End of this chapter)