Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 453, Lockdown of the Special Missions Unit!

Kai Kyou brought some explosive news.

News came from the Ota Ward Police Station that Miki Okada, the wife of Inspector Masayoshi Okada, the head of the Special Missions Division of the First Investigation Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, was found dead in her home. Ryosuke Koizumi, a bartender at the nearby nightclub "Percival," also died at the same time.
Masayoshi Okada was caught on the spot by the Koban patrol officers, where he lingered and resisted arrest before fleeing. He is suspected of committing a major crime!

Inspector Jin Kashiwagi of the Third Division of the First Investigation Division has been dispatched, and the news is spreading like wildfire!
As more information came in, the Special Missions Unit was on high alert, and even Erina Ikeda turned off her Solitaire game.

"Murder? How could that be?" Watanabe Minami, the Special Missions Division Commander, jumped up from her seat. Of the people in the Special Missions Division, she had known Okada the longest and had always treated him like an older brother.

"Well, it's said that the investigation at the scene revealed that bartender Ryosuke Koizumi and Miki Okada... maintained an improper relationship. The autopsy at their home found that Ryosuke Koizumi and Mrs. Okada had blood in their lower bodies, and there was also an unused Okamoto cigarette at the scene. So Inspector Kashiwagi deduced at the scene that when Mr. Okada returned home, he found his wife having an affair... and in a fit of rage, he killed her."

Kai Toru, sweat beading on his forehead, asked, "Manager, Chief Uesugi, what do we do?"

Uesugi Muneyuki immediately remembered the phone call he had just received. His expression turned serious, and he turned to Minami and asked, "Minami, do you think Okada is the kind of person who would do something like this?"

“…I, I can’t say.” Minami frowned, her sweet apple-shaped face full of distress and confusion.

Minami really can't understand why Miki...why would she cheat on her husband?
Okada almost fell out with his biological father because of her!

Okada-nii is now a national hero, a national idol, awarded the Purple Ribbon, and receives special allowances. His future is promising. So why is Miki-nee having an affair at this time?
I really don't understand.

"What do you mean by 'it's hard to say'? Does it mean that Okada wouldn't do this, or that the headquarters' investigation might be wrong? Or is it just a misunderstanding?" Uesugi Muneyuki pressed.

“I… I can’t say whether Okada-nii would kill someone because of this.” Miss Minami said with a bitter face, “If it were anything else, I could be sure that Okada-nii wouldn’t be the murderer, but this is the only one… everyone, you should know that Okada-nii had a falling out with his father in order to marry Miki, a supermarket saleswoman, and no one from the groom’s side attended the wedding.”

“I’ve heard about Okada-san’s situation too.” Kai Toru’s face was very ugly. Okada Masayoshi had always been the standard “other people’s child” in his father Kai Mineaki’s eyes since he was a child. He was an elite graduate of Tokyo University, passed the national civil service exam at the age of 25, and was an elite in the professional group. This guy was so perfect that his father used him to criticize and ridicule him all the time.

In a sense, he is another "older brother" of Kai Kyou.

I never imagined that I would one day follow in my brother's footsteps!
“Okada-nii sacrificed everything for this. If he really comes home and finds Miki-nee cheating on him with another man… I can’t say, I really can’t say,” Minami-sama muttered.

"So what do we do now?" Erena couldn't help but ask, "Although Section Chief Okada is currently recuperating, but..."

“But he’s still one of our Special Missions Clique members… Special Missions Clique, it’s over!” the defeatist strategist Date Chomune said dejectedly. “Freeze!”

As if in response, Superintendent Haruki Okouchi, Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police Department, immediately appeared at the entrance of the Special Missions Division.

"Special Missions Unit Administrator Watanabe Minami, and Chief Inspector Uesugi Muneyuki, Emergency Countermeasures Meeting of the Central Bureau!"

"The rest of you from the Special Missions Division! Stay where you are and do not move until... this is over!"

"Until this matter is resolved, I hereby announce on behalf of this agency that all activities of the Special Missions Division are temporarily suspended!"

Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters Building - Top Floor Emergency Countermeasures Room
Outside the thick, bulletproof glass windows, Tokyo's sky remained a clear, azure blue, but reflected on the faces of everyone inside the meeting room, it only revealed a cold, oppressive, deathly gray. The air was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it, a mixture of the acrid smell of premium tobacco and an atmosphere of despair.

Superintendent General Eiji Watanabe sat at the head of the long table, his usually meticulously combed hair now slightly disheveled. He rested his hands on his forehead, his knuckles white from the pressure. The emergency report spread out before him resembled a death sentence—"Double homicide at the residence of national hero Masayoshi Okada; Okada himself is suspected of being the murderer and is at large!"

Criminal Investigation Department Chief Kanji Uchimura sat to Watanabe's left, his face ashen, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic. He slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing in the deathly silent conference room:

"Disgrace! This is the greatest disgrace since the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Department! A professional inspector, a hero we have painstakingly cultivated, has suddenly become a demon who murdered his wife and husband?! The media will devour us! The public will despise us! Those old men in Congress will take this opportunity to trample us into the mud!"

He surveyed the crowd, his tone resolute: "Director Watanabe! Now is not the time for hesitation! We must immediately and thoroughly sever ties! Hold an emergency press conference, announce Okada Masayoshi as a prime suspect, remove him from all positions, and strip him of all honors! At the same time, mobilize the SAT! Block off all major roads in Tokyo! Issue the highest-level arrest warrant! At all costs, bring him back as quickly as possible! We must bring him back alive or dead! Only in this way can we demonstrate to the public, to the cabinet, and to Director Okada Masayoshi our determination to clean house and show no leniency! Self-preservation is the only way out!"

His words were like hailstones, striking everyone's hearts.

The faces of everyone present couldn't help but show a hint of disdain.

This old man cuts off justice way too quickly!

Moreover, the information relayed by Inspector Kashiwagi from the front lines confirms that Masayoshi Okada had a strong motive, sufficient physical evidence, and corresponding witness testimonies. However, it is not yet possible to confirm whether he had sufficient time to commit the crime. In other words, Kashiwagi believes that at present, it can only be determined that Okada is a prime suspect, but it cannot be confirmed with 100% certainty that he is the murderer.

However, in such a short time, Minister Uchimura has already figured out a way to justify the division of power.

As expected, sitting opposite Uchimura was Sugishita Ukyo, the head of the First Investigation Division, who was very displeased with this.

This renowned detective, known for his calm, insightful wisdom, and meticulous logic, now wore a furrowed brow, his gaze behind his glasses deep and worried. He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet carrying a power that pierced through the chaos:

"Minister Uchimura, I agree that cutting off and arresting are necessary procedures. However, before 'at all costs' and 'bringing them back as quickly as possible,' shouldn't we first ask: Is all of this really as simple as the report suggests?"

Sugishita Ukyo picked up a copy of the preliminary report. “The initial physical evidence at the scene points to Okada, and his escape is extremely suspicious, that’s undeniable. However, Inspector Kashiwagi’s preliminary objection report is also here—the students preparing for the exam upstairs heard the noise and fighting downstairs between 9:48 and 9:50, while Okada appeared at the apartment door at 9:55. This seems to contradict the time of the incident. More importantly, Okada Masayoshi…” Sugishita Ukyo paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, “He just risked his life to save two children, sustaining serious injuries. Could such a person, within just a few days, completely lose his mind due to public pressure and possible emotional disputes, becoming a demon who murders his wife and a stranger? There’s a huge logical leap. I suggest that while pursuing him, we must deploy the most elite forces for a parallel investigation! We cannot abandon the exploration of other possibilities for the truth because of panic and pressure! The golden 48 hours should not only be used for the manhunt, but also for uncovering any clues that may be covered up!”

Sitting next to Sugishita were Okada Masayoshi's direct superiors—Watanabe Minami, the Special Missions Officer of the First Investigation Division, and Uesugi Muneyuki, the Chief Inspector of the First Investigation Division.

Minami's face was pale, her eyes filled with shock, pain and disbelief, and her clenched fists on the table trembled slightly.

As soon as Sugishita finished speaking, she almost immediately replied, her voice filled with suppressed excitement and a hint of hoarseness: "Section Chief Sugishita is right! I... I can't believe Inspector Okada would do such a thing! We all watched him risk his life for justice! Just a few days ago, he shielded a knife with his body at the nursery school gate! How could someone like that... how could he turn into a cold-blooded killer in the blink of an eye?!"

She looked at Director Watanabe and Department Head Uchimura, her eyes pleading, "Public pressure? Relationship troubles? Yes! These pressures are immense! But Yoshikawa... he's an extremely resilient and responsible person at heart! He knows how to control himself! He would never... he would never..."

Minami's voice choked. He couldn't find any stronger evidence to refute the overwhelming proof before him. Overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, he lowered his head in anguish: "Uesugi, say something!"

Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly stood up, his posture still upright, but his eyes were equally complicated: "Just as Supervisor Watanabe said... I also feel that Masayoshi-kun... is not that kind of person. There must be... something we don't know about!"

"I request permission to go to the scene to perform an autopsy!"

Uesugi's words were full of contradictions. He knew that someone with a strong sense of justice like Kashiwagi Jin would not frame someone, yet he still retained the last bit of trust in his comrade. He wanted to see for himself whether Okada was innocent!
Watanabe Eiji slowly raised his head, his face showing unprecedented caution and solemnity. Uchimura's radical disassociation, Sugishita's cautious questioning, Minami and Uesugi's explanations based on personal relationships... every voice brought immense pressure as it crashed down on him.

He knew that Uchimura was right; cutting ties and making swift arrests were the most direct ways to quell the public outcry and save face for the Metropolitan Police Department.

But Sugishita and Minami's words were like a thorn in his heart—what if…what if they were wrong? What if Okada was really framed, and the Metropolitan Police Department was pushing him into the abyss? That would be an even greater disaster than what he was facing now!

However, time is of the essence. The incessant wailing of sirens outside symbolizes the unfolding manhunt. The media's phones are likely ringing off the hook for the propaganda department. Commander Okada Masahiro's wrath could strike at any moment.

Eiji Watanabe took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and finally made his decision. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying an undeniable authority, yet also revealing a deep sense of helplessness and sorrow:
"enough!"

The conference room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on him.

"Minister Uchimura, you are fully responsible for issuing the arrest warrant, temporarily suspending Okada's duties, and coordinating the SAT's surveillance operation! Act swiftly! But be mindful of the methods!" Watanabe Eiji emphasized the last few words, "The primary objective of the arrest operation is control. Do not use lethal force unless absolutely necessary! Understand?" This was a weak response to Sugishita and Minami's opinions.

“Section Chief Sugishita!” Watanabe Eiji turned to Sugishita Ukyo: “Immediately select your most core and reliable elite personnel to form an independent investigation team! You will personally lead it! I’m giving you 48 hours! I want you to set aside all preconceived notions and thoroughly investigate the crime scene, the victim’s network of relationships, Okada Kazuki’s entire background, including that deceased lover, leaving no stone unturned! I want to see groundbreaking evidence, or… irrefutable proof! Remember, your investigation is top secret, and you will be directly responsible to me!”

“Commander Watanabe, Chief Uesugi.” Watanabe Eiji’s gaze finally settled on the two of them, a complex expression on his face. “I know how you feel. But now, for the sake of judicial and procedural justice! I hereby declare the Special Missions Unit frozen! All members of the Special Missions Unit must remain in place and await questioning. Use your knowledge of Okada to provide all possible clues and assist in analyzing his escape route and psychological state! But remember, emotions cannot replace discipline! Until the truth comes out, he… is a suspect!”

Eiji Watanabe stood up, slammed his hands heavily on the table, leaned forward slightly, and surveyed the assembled executives with an unprecedented sense of pressure and resolve in his eyes:

"Gentlemen! The Okada Masayoshi case is no longer a simple criminal case! It concerns the century-old reputation of the Metropolitan Police Department and the dignity of 100,000 police officers! Before things get completely out of control, we must bring Okada Masayoshi under control! Whether he is a hero or a murderer, we cannot allow him to continue roaming outside! Otherwise, the wrath of public opinion will burn us all to ashes! The Metropolitan Police Department... will truly be finished! Let's act!"

The order was given, and the atmosphere in the conference room grew even more tense. Uchimura Kanji immediately picked up the phone, his voice cold as he began to deploy the wanted notices and arrests.

Sugishita Ukyo silently stood up, his eyes sharp, and began to devise a starting point for his independent investigation.

The Metropolitan Police Department inspectors at the scene immediately placed Minami, the Special Missions Unit administrator, under their supervision. Only Uesugi Muneyuki stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the police inspectors surrounding him, indicating that they had no right to interfere with him.

Oh right, Chief Uesugi is essentially a member of the University of Tokyo!
Several police officers subconsciously glanced at Watanabe Eiji. Seeing that the Superintendent General of Police said nothing, they had no choice but to let Uesugi Muneyuki leave. However, before Uesugi Muneyuki left, the Deputy Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department, Oyama Ren, specifically reminded him: "Uesugi-kun, you are a student of Tokyo University, so this department can't interfere with you. But as a member of the Special Missions Unit, you must avoid suspicion, so you can't go to the scene!"

"I understand." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded and slowly left the conference room, pausing for a moment in front of the Sakuradamon building.

A life-or-death race against time, concerning the survival of the Metropolitan Police Department, individual fates, and the truth, officially began under the clear skies of Tokyo.

Is Okada really innocent?
He didn't know, but he was determined to find out the truth.

However, he had to avoid suspicion, so he couldn't go to the scene to participate in the investigation! Even if he secretly went to the scene, based on the principle that "a poisonous tree cannot bear non-poisonous fruit," even if he could draw a conclusion, it would not be adopted and would have no legal effect.

What should I do?
Uesugi Muneyuki pondered deeply for a while, and suddenly, he remembered something.

The person in charge of investigating this case at the Metropolitan Police Department's front line is that guy, Jin Kashiwagi!
This guy has definitely already prejudicially identified Okada as the prime suspect.

However, if I could exert enough influence over him...

Got it!

Meisa Kashiwagi, Acting Head of the Third Personnel Division under the Personnel Section of the Metropolitan Police Department!
However, before that... Uesugi Muneyuki immediately dialed his grandfather, Uesugi Kuninori's, phone.

"Hello, Grandpa, this is Zong Xue. I need your help with something!"

(End of this chapter)