Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 463, A Symphony of Astonishment from Major Media Outlets

Something is wrong.

Before Kashiwagi Jin could react, Uesugi Muneyuki outside the door had already discovered the problem.

Ryuji Kurosaki and Miki Okada were actually in a normal relationship. Although he was a scoundrel, a former motorcyclist and now a reckless biker, he had never committed a major crime but had at least three prior convictions, including gambling, fighting, extortion, and theft. But none of that mattered.

The important point is this: First, although the news coverage was extensive, Kurosaki only knew the address of Okada's apartment building. How did he know the room numbers? Did he go to each one by one? Are you kidding me? The Japanese would have called the police long ago.

Secondly, Kurosaki Ryuji never clearly explained how he opened the door to the Okada family's house. According to him, when he first came to extort money, Okada Miki recognized him. In order to prevent him from telling anyone, she gave him 200,000 yen and they had sex at home after a long separation. After that, he came to extort money many times and had sex with Okada Miki every time. Regardless of whether it was consensual or not, it would have been impossible for Okada Miki to open the door for Kurosaki when she was having an affair with Koizumi Ryosuke.

So how did he get in?
There seems to be more to this case than meets the eye.

After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Muneyuki took advantage of the temporary pause in the interrogation to indicate that he wanted to go in and ask a question.

"How did you find out the room number?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked.

"What room number? I don't understand what you're talking about." Kurosaki Ryuji naturally recognized Uesugi Muneyuki, and he turned his head away.

"I'm asking you, tell me the truth! How did you find out Okada-san's apartment room number! And how did you get into the apartment yesterday morning! Answer me truthfully!" Uesugi Muneyuki roared, grabbing Kurosaki Ryuji's collar and activating his ability without hesitation.

Aizen Myōō, Vajrayaksha Myōō, and Yamantaka Myōō appeared simultaneously.

Visualize yourself, with the central channel flowing within your body and a clear point in your heart.

Esoteric Buddhism, Vajra Heruka practice!

Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly drew his breath to his throat and unleashed a powerful, short, and explosive sound.

Hey!

At the same time, visualize sound waves like thunder or raging fire radiating out from every pore of your body, destroying all obstacles!
This sound is called "Vajra chant" or "wrathful mantra sound". Its function and meaning are very similar to "lion's roar". It is one of the fundamental mantra sounds of Vajra Heruka (the Blood-Drinking Deity, a wrathful deity). It symbolizes: destroying all demonic obstacles with the indestructible power of Vajra, just as the lion's roar can intimidate all beasts, cut off delusions and attachments, and awaken the practitioner's original Buddha-nature that is immersed in ignorance and illusion.

When Uesugi Muneyuki yelled at him like that, Kurosaki Ryuji felt as if his soul and body were on the verge of collapse. Finally, he instinctively said, "There is someone? There is someone!"

"Who?" Uesugi Muneyuki didn't want to kill anyone in the Metropolitan Police Department: "Speak quickly, or even if you die, I can still force you to talk."

"No, I don't know him! It was someone I met at the Sakura Mahjong Club. It was him, he was the one who told me Miki's apartment number, and he was the one who told me I could keep getting money from Miki!" Kurosaki Ryuji screamed. "It was all him, he taught me all of this! That day I was just... just bragging to others that I had slept with the hero inspector's wife, and then someone, a man in a black down jacket, said that to me."

"You don't know him?" Uesugi Muneyuki frowned.

"I know him, ah, I don't know him, oh no, I know him, well, how should I put it, we've met a few times and played mahjong together, but we're not close. We only met recently. I don't even know his name, I only know he's called Fuji-nii! Oh right, he's the one who taught me how to open the door with the hard card!" Kurosaki Ryuji started rambling: "Anyway, after I recognized Miki and was bragging to people that I and the Hero Inspector's wife were old acquaintances, Fuji-nii..."

"Oh right, by the way, I remember he had a brooch on the lining of his clothes..."

Ryuji Kurosaki described the brooch.

When Uesugi Muneyuki heard it, he felt that the style of the brooch sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it before, until the other person mentioned the special pattern on the brooch.

A lightning bolt of electricity flashed through Uesugi Muneyuki's mind.

I recognize the emblem on this brooch!
Akasaka, Hirate Sara! That manager! The brooch that manager showed off in front of the Fujidai building that Mai-senpai couldn't help but acknowledge!
Uesugi Muneyuki immediately informed Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji, Chief of Criminal Investigation Uchimura, and Section Chief Sugishita Ukyo.

Ryuji Kurosaki is indeed the main culprit, but there may be an instigator or even the mastermind behind him.

This case is not so simple and may require further investigation.

This time, however, both Watanabe Eiji and Uchimura Kanji remained silent. Watanabe Eiji, in particular, unusually did not agree with Uesugi Muneyuki's suggestion: "Muneyuki, it's not that we don't want to support you, it's just... Muneyuki, do you know? The case broke out yesterday morning, and we issued a full-scale arrest warrant yesterday noon! Right now, all the news media outside are reporting on this double homicide case and the escape of national hero Okada Masayoshi!"

“Now that the real culprit has been caught, what we need to do is immediately give the entire nation an explanation and, based on Kurosaki Ryuji’s confession, immediately withdraw all arrest warrants for Okada Masayoshi, clearing Okada of all suspicion. We must announce that the real culprit has been brought to justice as quickly as possible. If we continue to investigate now, wouldn’t Okada still be suspected of hiring someone to commit murder and instigating murder?” Watanabe Eiji said earnestly to Uesugi Muneyuki. “It’s not that I don’t want you to investigate, but we must immediately announce to the public that we have caught the culprit. As for the rest, we can investigate it quietly and slowly.”

“That’s what I think too, Uesugi-kun. Could you please consider this for the sake of the organization, the Special Missions Division, and Okada-san?” said Chief Detective Uchimura.

Uesugi Muneyuki was silent for a moment. He thought of poor Okada, of Minami, and of Kurosaki Ryuji—whether he had actively sought out that person to learn the tricks and methods, or had been tricked into becoming a hired gun without his knowledge. Investigating these things would take time, but Okada couldn't wait. He had already suffered a huge injustice; if he wasn't cleared up immediately, how much more trouble would he have to endure once the district prosecutor's office intervened and initiated legal proceedings after the 48-hour window for the case was closed?

Can his body handle it?

“Alright, I understand.” Uesugi Muneyuki said to Section Chief Sugishita Ukyo, “But please allow us free access to the information and documents related to this case.”

"No problem." Seeing that Uesugi Muneyuki had given his consent, Watanabe Eiji and Uchimura Kanji both breathed a sigh of relief.

Unbeknownst to many, Uesugi Muneyuki's power and influence had already put pressure on the Metropolitan Police Department's higher-ups.

“Count me in!” Kashiwagi Jin stepped forward, emphasizing with considerable pride, “I was there when Kurosaki was captured! I contributed to the investigation! Chief Uesugi, don’t even think about leaving me out to go it alone.”

Kashiwagi Jin did perform quite well this time (in everyone's eyes, including Uesugi Muneyuki's). His stubborn attitude of not giving up until he hit a wall made everyone laugh, especially Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Don't worry, Section Chief Kashiwagi, you'll be included in all the 'good things' in the future."

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

That morning, the Metropolitan Police Department suddenly released a new report on the double homicide case at the Okada apartment building.

This report shocked the entire nation who were concerned about this matter!
The series of astonishing reversals in the Okada Masayoshi case, like a suspenseful blockbuster with a series of climaxes and absurd plots, plunged the entire Japanese media into unprecedented chaos, excitement, and self-reflection.

The direction of news reporting has experienced a rollercoaster-like swing.

Yesterday afternoon's news still had this style:
NHK Evening News (previously): "...Inspector Masayoshi Okada, a young and valiant officer of the Metropolitan Police Department, displayed unparalleled courage and dedication during the nursery school attack. His recovery is on the minds of the nation..."

NTVNEWS24 (after the incident): "Breaking news! Double bodies found at the residence of national hero Inspector Okada! His wife and a man were murdered! Inspector Okada himself is a prime suspect and is at large! The Metropolitan Police Department has issued an arrest warrant!!" The footage shows flashing police lights outside the apartment and reporters reporting chaotically at the scene, with the anchor's face filled with shock and disbelief.

Weekly Shincho (Online Edition Exclusive): "The Mask of 'Young Lion' Collapses! Heroic Inspector's Murder of Wife and Husband Suspicion! Exclusive Reveal of His Wife Miki's 'Cold-Blooded' Remarks and Inspector Okada's Unknown Pressure!"

By late last night, the situation had changed to this:

Asahi Shimbun: "The perplexing double homicide case: Although initial evidence points to Inspector Okada, the Metropolitan Police Department has urgently adjusted its pursuit strategy, emphasizing 'safe apprehension,' sparking speculation about the complexity of the case..." (The tone begins to become more cautious.)
TBS News: "Exclusive Insider: Legendary forensic pathologist Muneyuki Uesugi secretly intervenes in the investigation by the Special Missions Unit! It is reported that groundbreaking evidence has been found at the scene, potentially pointing to a different culprit! Special Missions Unit unfrozen = Special Missions Unit Chief Okada cleared of suspicion?" (Beginning to release a reversal signal)
The online discourse shifted from overwhelming condemnation of "you can know a person's face but not their heart" and "a disgrace to the police force" to a few faint voices asking, "Could there be a miscarriage of justice?" and "waiting for the official conclusion." However, the majority of the online discourse remained one of confusion and waiting.

When the Metropolitan Police Department officially released its announcement this morning, all media and online opinions took a complete 180-degree turn:

Fuji Television finally makes its dazzling appearance (urgent interruption): "'National Hero' Brutally Wrongfully Accused!! The Real Culprit Arrested! Metropolitan Police Department Announces Complete Withdrawal of All Charges Against Inspector Masayoshi Okada! Framing Plot Exposed!! The Entire Nation Owes the Special Missions Unit an Apology!"

Mainichi Shimbun: "From Hero to 'Murderer' and Back to Hero: Inspector Masayoshi Okada's 24-Hour Hellish Journey! The Power of Science Ultimately Clears His Name and Exposes the Despicable Crimes of His Ex-Boyfriend, Ryuji Kurosaki."

Bunshun Online: "Exclusive complete retrospective: How heroes are tormented in purgatory - a detailed explanation of Ryuji Kurosaki's framing methods, Mrs. Miki's greedy betrayal, and the Metropolitan Police Department's initial misjudgment."

Social media exploded! Hashtags like "#MasayoshiOkadaIsSorry", "#MetropolitanPoliceDepartmentOwesHimAnApology", and "#RyujiKurosakiGoToHell" dominated the trending topics.

Netizens' emotions shifted instantly from anger and condemnation to immense sympathy, guilt, and extreme anger towards the real culprit. The media's previous "fanning the flames" was also brought up for criticism, with many media professionals jokingly saying they had been "slapped in the face."

An editorial in the Tokyo Shimbun stated: "The labeling game of 'hero' and 'criminal': The Okada Masayoshi case exposed the impetuousness and cruelty of the media and the public in their pursuit of 'fast-food truth.' We are eager to create heroes, and even more eager to destroy them, but we often ignore the complex texture of the facts themselves. Uesugi Muneyuki's rigor and Kashiwagi Jin's relentless struggle ultimately saved their reputations, but the trauma left to the parties involved and the lessons left to society are extremely profound."

The top comment below is: "Caused by long-term fast food diet."

An ANN news anchor, looking embarrassed and emotional during his summary, said: "...The bizarre turn of events exceeded the imagination of any screenwriter. It forces us to reflect on how to remain cautious and rational in this age of information overload. At the same time, we express our deepest apologies and respect to Inspector Masayoshi Okada for the injustice and immense suffering he endured. He is a true hero who withstood the cruelest test."

That afternoon, the Metropolitan Police Department released a second case report, which was carefully crafted to portray Masayoshi Okada as the "perfect victim" throughout, while cleverly concealing or downplaying certain details that were not so friendly to the Metropolitan Police Department and Masayoshi Okada.

At the same time, Eiji Watanabe also dialed the phone number of Masahiro Okada, the Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency.

Although the case has been "perfectly" resolved, the officer's mind is far from clear; he needs to confirm whether his "answer sheet" has truly received a perfect score.

"Commander Okada, this is Eiji Watanabe. I am here to give you a final report on the follow-up matters concerning your son Masayoshi's case and the Metropolitan Police Department's public statement."

(End of this chapter)