Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 425, Caught Red-Handed!
Unfortunately, while the underground secret facility was a place completely cut off from external communications, it also cut off its own communications as a result.

Yamato Armor and others recorded a video of Meisa Kashiwagi illegally firing a gun as "evidence," finally confirming that she had been brought into their fold and, as promised, showing who exactly were "their own people" within the Metropolitan Police Department.

Top-level cover-up: Inspector Sasaki (Superintendent) of the Police Department.

Intentionally ignoring audit irregularities: suppressing subordinates' reports, providing false "cleanliness reports" to the General Affairs Department, and receiving an annual bonus of ¥8000 million.

Decision-making manipulation level: Equipment Section Chief Ijuin (Police Superintendent): Assisted "Yamato" in winning the bid, tampered with technical specifications, instructed warehouse inspections to falsify data, and contributed 6000 million yen annually.

Chief Inspector (Police Inspector): Forged bidding documents, received/distributed kickbacks, threatened and questioned suppliers, and received 6000 million yen annually.

Warehouse Management Supervisor (Police Inspector): Falsely signing for compliant goods, switching samples submitted for testing, destroying problematic items reported in the complaint, annual contribution of 4000 million yen.

Technical collusion layer: Technical director (technician) of the appraisal department: issues "compliant with NIJ Level III" reports; falsifies X-ray detection data, annual contribution of 3000 million yen.

Local diffusion layer: The main local police station equipment officer: cooperates with Tokyo headquarters to cover up local complaints; coerces police to use substandard products, with annual contributions ranging from 500 million to 1000 million yen.

In addition, there is the Director of the Scientific Investigation Research Office, whose annual salary is approximately 3000 million.

The scene before her eyes shocked Kashiwagi Meisa. She never imagined that those seemingly friendly colleagues, those kind seniors who called her junior, those bosses who generously paid for the meals when they went out, and the head of the appraisal department who always made things convenient and provided technical support, were all taking money in this chain of interests.

But she herself knew nothing about it!
What terrifies Meisa Kashiwagi even more is how she and her husband will maintain their positions in the Metropolitan Police Department once these people are exposed.

At this moment, the icy, half-blooded housewife, the former Metropolitan Police Department's chief of staff, finally understood why Uesugi Muneyuki had chosen Kashiwagi Jin as the whistleblower.

I must say, Ren is the kind of person who would do this kind of thing, and... he's very suitable!

Because the underground facilities were very soundproof, President Yamamoto and the others did not even hear any noise from above.

"The price for the General Affairs Manager is about 100 million, which is too much money. So we haven't contacted the current General Affairs Manager yet. We'll wait until he finds out. As for Madam, please help us cover for her," President Yamamoto said with great interest.

"So... what's the typical price for a Superintendent General of Police?" Meisa Kashiwagi asked tentatively, her voice trembling.

"As for the Superintendent General... well, that's not entirely certain. The highest-ranking officer in our company is Commander Yuki of the Fire Department, who received a lump sum of 2 million yen from our company before he retired." President Yamamoto casually remarked, "So, Madam, do you know how outrageous a sum of 4000 million is? You probably have no concept of money, don't you? Does your husband manage all the money at home?"

Meisa Kashiwagi: "…………"

Just then, a loud explosion was heard outside.

Bang! Boom! Crack!
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat! —Bang! —Don't move! Police!
Deafening explosions, the rapid firing of assault rifles, the sound of bulletproof shields slamming against doorframes, the cracking of glass, screams of terror, and stern reprimands... all poured into the dimly lit basement from upstairs and through the corridor like a surging tide! The sounds came from afar, chaotic yet efficient.

Meisa Kashiwagi suddenly raised her head, her cloudy eyes flashing with disbelief.

coming!

Immediately afterwards, the heavy underground door was blasted open by some kind of explosive device! The blinding beam of a powerful flashlight shot in like a sharp sword, instantly dispelling the darkness.

Amidst the billowing smoke, several figures clad in jet-black combat uniforms, helmets equipped with night vision goggles, and wielding sophisticated assault rifles, surged in like phantoms! Their movements were as swift as cheetahs, their tactical maneuvers clean and efficient—the very special assault unit that the Metropolitan Police Department was so proud of!

"Safe!" "Target located!" "It's Inspector Kashiwagi!" A concise and powerful voice came through the helmet headset: "Protect the hostages! Authorization to shoot if necessary!"

Almost simultaneously, another group of people dressed in civilian clothes but with an equally imposing presence quickly entered the scene. Their eyes were sharp as hawks as they rapidly scanned the surroundings and took control of several business members who had been knocked down or surrendered. They were public security police officers specializing in counter-terrorism and organized crime.

"What?!" Before President Yamamoto could react, he was shoved to the ground by the fifth captain of SAT, with a gun pressed against his forehead!

At that very moment, the slides and bribery specifications on the wall hadn't even been changed.

Now they've caught them red-handed!

Upon seeing that reinforcements had finally arrived, Kashiwagi Meisa's legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground, her heart filled with lingering fear and panic.

She is safe.

Uesugi's guarantees and oaths do have some credibility.

But... that bastard, he's played me for fools again!

If it weren't for Ren, if it weren't for her husband...

Meisa Kashiwagi couldn't help but compare her husband to Muneyuki Uesugi again. Thinking of the man who always hid behind the scenes but could control the whole situation, and her own husband who made her wait outside but was captured, she could only smile bitterly and cover her burning lower abdomen.

It seems like we can't go back...

........................

Meanwhile, on the Earth's surface.

One SAT member quickly cut the ropes binding Kashiwagi, while another carefully helped him up: "Inspector Kashiwagi! Hang in there! The medical team is on their way!"

Kashiwagi leaned weakly against his teammates, his violent cough tugging at his neck, which was numb from the electric shock. He stared in astonishment at everything before him, his mind blank.

What happened? How could the SAT and the Public Security Bureau mobilize at the same time? And how could they find this place so precisely? This is on par with dealing with vicious terrorists! Amid the chaos, a police inspector from the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau, carrying a sniper rifle, strode up to Kashiwagi, his face showing a mixture of admiration, excitement, and relief. He patted Kashiwagi's shoulder forcefully, causing Kashiwagi to grimace and exclaim excitedly, "Inspector Kashiwagi! Well done! That was incredibly close! But you succeeded!"

“Success…?” Kashiwagi Ren’s voice was hoarse and dry, completely bewildered.

"Yes!" A police inspector's voice rose slightly with excitement. "This was a perfect plan! Your actions were crucial! So timely! You two have truly sacrificed so much for the Metropolitan Police Department! We've rescued the lady from the underground secret facility, and we've also collected the most detailed information on the flow of funds related to organized crime and bribery, the location of the weapons cache, the list of key members, and even audio recordings of their recent illegal transactions! The evidence is irrefutable! With this crucial evidence, the SAT and Public Security Bureau's swift and decisive action finally paid off! This time, we've caught the police organization red-handed! We've wiped out this cancerous growth parasitic on the police organization in one fell swoop!"

A police inspector pointed to several large boxes that were being closely guarded by public security police. Inside were long and short guns, bundles of cash, and a large number of documents.

On the other side, SAT team members were escorting a dejected president, Yamamoto, and a group of men in black suits.

"Huh?! I didn't, I just..." Kashiwagi Jin subconsciously wanted to explain, and he instinctively looked around.

The busy SAT team members and public security police around them, upon hearing their commander's words, all cast admiring glances at Kashiwagi. Their eyes were filled with reverence for this lone hero.

"Inspector Kashiwagi, you're putting yourself in this mess!"

"Incredible! They've infiltrated the lion's den and obtained crucial evidence!"

"They've practically won against fate! No wonder they're elite members of the professional group!"

"A national hero! He truly deserves it!"

Praise flooded Bai Mu like a tidal wave. Every word like "hero," "putting himself into the game," and "winning by half a move" was like a heavy hammer, striking his heart, which was unusually sensitive due to shame.

Kashiwagi was completely dumbfounded.

What plan? What involving getting involved? What crucial evidence?
What?!

I... succeeded? I became a hero?
A tremendous sense of absurdity and intense shame overwhelmed him instantly. He clearly remembered how he had fallen into a trap because of his sense of justice when a woman nearby had her bag snatched, and how he had been captured in such a disheveled state.

The plea for help and the deployment of SAT police had nothing to do with him! Not only did he fail to achieve any merit, he also made a major mistake that could end his proud career—he was captured.

But... now everyone is convinced that he did it.

The arrival of the support was so "just right," so "perfectly" explaining his reasons for "infiltrating alone" and the "successful" outcome.

He opened his mouth as if to say that they had made a mistake, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

To admit the truth about being captured? To be knocked unconscious on the spot by a simple trick?
That would nail him to the pillar of shame, his career would collapse instantly, and he would become a laughingstock in the entire police force—worse than death. His glory as a star inspector of the First Inspectorate, his carefully cultivated elite image of many years, would be utterly shattered.

Face, reputation, and the pride of the professional group are the cornerstones upon which he relies for survival, even more important to him than life itself.

Under the intense, expectant, and respectful gazes of the crowd, Kashiwagi Jin's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. He could feel his cheeks burning, not from his injuries, but from an immense, indescribable embarrassment and guilt. The glory he so desperately craved now felt like a stolen, overly heavy robe draped over his battered body. He wanted to deny it, but his throat felt as if it were being choked by an invisible hand.

Finally, with difficulty and extreme slowness, he avoided the eager gazes of the inspector and others, and nodded very slightly. The movement was so small as to be almost imperceptible, more like a swaying motion due to weakness.

But to those around him, this was undoubtedly tacit approval! It was the hero's humility in the face of immense achievements and risks!
"Look! Inspector Kashiwagi has admitted it!"

"That's really low-key!"

"Amazing!" "Spartacus!" "Kaku-i!" "Sko-i!" "Yabai-i diesini~"

Even more enthusiastic praise rang out.

Bai Muren felt a burning pain on his face, even more intense than the wounds on his body. He lowered his head, his heart filled with unprecedented shame and a joy of being immersed in glory. He dared not look at his colleagues who sincerely admired him, and could only let the burning halo of "hero" that did not belong to him scorch him until he felt ashamed. He became the most pathetic prisoner under the shackles of his own honor, a "hero" about to be swallowed up by a huge lie.

But he couldn't refuse! He couldn't refuse in any way!

Isn't this exactly what he's been dreaming of?
"Inspector Kashiwagi, take good care of your injuries! Leave the rest to us." Seeing his face lighten and darken, Superintendent Ichijo quickly added, assuming he was seriously injured. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes again, but it was quickly overshadowed by the busy scene and the joy of success: "We need to rush back to the Metropolitan Police Department. The situation here is too serious. We need to take all those involved into custody immediately! Someone else will arrange for you and your wife to go to the hospital."

"Yes." Kashiwagi could only squeeze out a hoarse, insincere voice from deep in his throat: "...Yes...Thank you all for your hard work."

What exactly happened? Why...?

Kashiwagi Jin was filled with questions, but when he saw the entire SAT and all the public security police officers lined up to salute him, those questions and confusions were temporarily put aside.

An indescribable surge of heat suddenly erupted from the deepest recesses of his heart, from the core of his carefully cultivated and intensely craving vanity as a "professional elite"! It was so swift and so intense that it instantly swept through his entire body and rushed straight to the top of his head.

These praises, which had previously made him feel ashamed, now echoed in his heart, but with a completely different, intoxicating tone. He seemed to truly see himself as a heroic figure who had "infiltrated the tiger's den," "outwitted the enemy to obtain evidence," and "turned the tide."

The corners of his mouth, from an angle unnoticed by anyone, curled upwards in an extremely subtle and uncontrollable way.

See that? Uesugi, you're not fighting alone. I'm with you in the police force!

You will never walk alone!
I deserve it! I am worthy of it!

Of course I deserve it!!!

(End of this chapter)