Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 506, Night at the Imperial Palace

When Uesugi Muneyuki returned to the front-line command post after receiving the news, the atmosphere was already tense, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The Imperial Household Agency Commissioner Toshiyuki Maeda and Vice-Minister Nakajima, the Imperial Palace Police Chief Gondo, and the Imperial Palace Attendant-in-Chief Takeuchi were all seated. On the other side, the Special Missions Unit, led by Miss Minami, were also seated.

Near the Imperial Palace are many special facilities of the Imperial Household Agency. These facilities look like ordinary old-style mansions, Imperial Household Agency dormitories or even small office buildings from the outside, but their interiors have undergone special renovations. The architectural style is understated and full of a rustic atmosphere, but many details highlight a very luxurious connotation.

This place served as both the temporary command center for the front lines and the temporary lodging for the Special Missions Unit. As the most distinguished members, Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami enjoyed a large suite arranged by the Imperial Household Agency, including a bedroom, living room, and small office. The other members of the Special Missions Unit, including Nango Yui as the acting unit leader, had a single room, while everyone else had double rooms. As for Ikeda Erena, she was arranged to share a double room with Ishihara Mikoto, but she had no intention of staying there at all. Why? Everyone knows.

"What?" Uesugi Muneyuki seemed thoughtful after hearing the news about Minami.

There really was a mole?
No, it should be said that this case may involve more than just external intruders and internal traitors; it could even be... a case of collusion between insiders and outsiders!
Are the people in the underworld and the Imperial Palace working together from the inside?

What exactly are they trying to do?
The Special Missions Division members were also taken aback by this news. Among them, Date Chomune said incredulously, "If that's the case, won't our high-profile actions lead to...?"

"Could this cause the potential intruder to take advantage of the chaos?" Igarashi Hayato, as simple-minded as ever, exclaimed, "Oh no! Everyone's attention is focused on Kitanomaru. Has the intruder escaped?"

"Pfft~ If the infiltrator really manages to escape, that would be absolutely great news for us right now." Miss Minami put her hands on her hips, her standard Metropolitan Police Department female inspector uniform looking dignified on her petite frame, exuding a unique air of superiority. Having received special permission from the Cabinet, she was finally able to command the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Palace Police Headquarters as the head of the Special Investigations Headquarters.

Minami, being Minami after all, came from a family of officials and skillfully grasped the trait of acting expediently in times of crisis while maintaining respect for the high-ranking officials (the Director-General of the Imperial Household Agency actually wielded more power than the Commissioner of the National Police Agency; in a sense, the Imperial Household Agency was like a 'mini-cabinet.' The Vice-Minister of the Imperial Household Agency, Nakajima, was also higher in rank than the Superintendent General of Police. The Chief of the Imperial Palace Police Headquarters was the Superintendent General of Police, and although the Chief Chamberlain Takeuchi theoretically had no power, he was, in a sense, the embodiment of the Imperial Palace's will). She pondered for a moment and then addressed the officials in the Imperial Household Agency: "Who in the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Palace Police Headquarters has the authority to review and modify patrol records?"

"This..." Imperial Household Agency Commissioner Toshiyuki Maeda hesitated for a moment, exchanged a glance with Chief Secretary Gondo, and said in a low voice, "Theoretically, there are only seven or eight people... but..."

"But?" Uesugi Muneyuki instantly realized what Commander Maeda had left unsaid.

“But… in reality, there has been some laxity in management…” Maeda Risuke painfully admitted.

Vice Minister Nakajima of the Imperial Household Agency lowered his head in shame, while Chief Chamberlain Takeuchi of the Imperial Palace awkwardly looked away.

The Imperial Household Agency is normally very strictly managed, and theoretically only a few key personnel are authorized to review and modify patrol records.

However, as peace prevails for a long time, rules and restrictions will inevitably become increasingly lax unless a major incident occurs.

Therefore, Maeda Risuke had to admit that, in reality, the heads, vice ministers, and even vice minister assistants of various departments of the Imperial Household Agency were all qualified to review and modify patrol records, and this number instantly expanded from a few people to as many as twenty or thirty.

When Minister Gondo heard what Commander Maeda said, his facial muscles twitched for a moment, and the gloating expression that had just appeared vanished like smoke.

Hmph, we're all the same!
Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami exchanged a glance, realizing that the real battle had only just begun. The killer's identity was gradually becoming clearer, while the deeper mole, like a venomous snake, still lurked in the shadows.

Minami Watanabe smiled helplessly upon seeing this.

Uesugi Muneyuki was only half a member of the system, and he still had a vague understanding of it, but as the daughter of the Superintendent General of Police, she knew everything.

Isn't this a common problem within the system?

To give a similar example, in the Japanese police system, below the Superintendent General of Police is the Superintendent Inspector General, and below the Superintendent General is the Superintendent Chief of Police.

When the rank of Superintendent of Police was first established, it was a very prestigious position. After Shigeru Yoshida's comprehensive reforms, the Japanese Police Law stipulated that there were only 20 Superintendents of Police in the whole of Japan. In smaller prefectural police headquarters, the chief of police only had the position of Superintendent of Police and did not have the rank of Superintendent of Police. In the National Police Agency, only the Chief of Criminal Investigation and the Chief of Security were at the rank of Superintendent of Police.

However, as time went on, the Metropolitan Police Department began to become "watered down".

Firstly, within the National Police Agency, in addition to the Minister of Criminal Investigation and the Minister of Security, other ministers such as the Minister of General Affairs, the Minister of Public Security, and the Minister of Police Affairs also began to enjoy and gradually become Superintendents of Police. Subsequently, the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Auditor of the National Police Agency also became Superintendents of Police. Even the Deputy Secretary-General and the Chief Inspector began to be appointed as Superintendents of Police.

The National Police Agency has 10 regional headquarters, which divide the prefectures other than the Metropolitan Police Department into ten regions. The head of each regional headquarters has also become a Superintendent of Police.

Finally, the Metropolitan Police Department originally only had one Superintendent (Deputy Superintendent), but now the four important positions of Criminal Investigation Department Chief, Police Affairs Department Chief, Public Security Department Chief, and Security Department Chief can all wear the Superintendent badge a year before their retirement.

Therefore, there are now actually as many as 51 Superintendents of Police in Japan.

Here's a famous British joke.

"How many capital ships do we have now?" "Seven."

"So how many fleet admirals do we have now?" "Thirty."

Another typical example is the title of "General". In fact, before the Eastern Han Dynasty, let alone "General", even "Colonel" was a very prestigious title.

However, starting from the Western Han Dynasty, there were generals with titles and generals with miscellaneous titles. Starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty, generals with miscellaneous titles became rampant. By the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the title of general had completely become worthless roadside trash, which is the same reason.

Bureaucratic systems will always try to expand and become increasingly redundant.

"Please provide us with the complete list, and then please be sure to assist us in checking each one!" Miss Minami said calmly.

“Understood. The Imperial Household Agency will fully assist the Metropolitan Police Department in conducting a comprehensive investigation. However…” Imperial Household Agency Commissioner Maeda Toshiyuki hesitated for a moment, but said in a low voice, “Individual actions cannot ultimately represent all the hardworking members of this agency. Please have Supervisor Watanabe make a careful assessment.”

“Of course.” Miss Minami nodded repeatedly, and with permission from the Imperial Household Agency, Minami officially began her preparations!

"Zongxue! Ishihara!"

“Here!” Uesugi Muneyuki and Ishihara Mikoto replied.

"You two continue the testing and identification. Be sure to carefully examine the traces left on the deceased and all the fibrous plastics to see if there are any new discoveries!" "Yes, sir!"

"Ikeda, Igarashi, Nango!"

"To!"

"You will form the first group and work with Commander Maeda and the others to investigate the movements of every suspicious person!"

"Yes!"

"Kafi, Date!"

"To!"

"You two form the second team and screen all the suspects' official and private communication records!"

"Yes!"

"Special Missions Unit, deploy!"

Under Minami's arrangement, the Special Missions Unit, with the assistance of the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Palace Police, immediately conducted a comprehensive investigation of suspicious individuals.

At this time, the Grand Dining Class also began to prepare dinner for everyone. Today's dinner was simple, with delicious salmon rice served with salt-grilled silver cod and grilled eel, accompanied by sweet and fresh Chikuzen-ni, as well as delicate thick omelet, crab meat with vinegar and cucumber, and cold spinach with sesame. Kyoto pickled radish (senmaizuke) was also served to everyone, and each person was served a 120g slice of pan-fried Matsusaka beef.

Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but glance thoughtfully at the Matsusaka steak, which was clearly served with extra toppings.

He had only privately complained during the imperial meal that the duck meat was not good and that the main course should have some Matsusaka beef or Kobe beef, but the main course actually prepared it that evening.

This also illustrates one thing: within the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Household Agency's spies and eavesdroppers are everywhere!
After a quick dinner, the Special Missions team worked until after 11 p.m.

Uesugi Muneyuki re-examined the "bright blue plastic debris" found at the killer's infiltration point. Through electron microscopy and spectral analysis, he confirmed that it was a coating fragment of a specific type of high-strength nylon rope used in fishing, commonly used in sea fishing, and readily available in ordinary stores, making it difficult to trace.

With the assistance of the Imperial Household Agency, Kai and Date screened all the suspects' official and private communications records and found nothing unusual.

Nango and the others had far too many surveillance records to watch, and even with a group of them watching together, they only managed to see a very short portion, which made them dizzy.

As the clock struck twelve, the group still hadn't found anything.

Immense pressure, along with the deepening night, weighed heavily on everyone.

Just then, Minami's phone rang.

It was Eiji Watanabe calling. She sighed and answered the phone: "Director?"

In such a serious situation, Eiji Watanabe, as the Superintendent General of Police, was still a bit too low-ranking to be eligible to join the Cabinet's emergency crisis meeting; he could only call to inquire about the situation.

Minami briefly explained the situation, and Watanabe Eiji told her not to rush, to think it over slowly and thoroughly, and then asked about Uesugi Muneyuki's discovery before hanging up the phone.

“Father is still in his office.” Minami put down the phone and teased Uesugi Muneyuki, “This call was made from his office landline. Sigh, Father clearly has a cell phone, but he just prefers to make calls from the landline with the fax machine.”

“That’s typical of a Matsushita person, a Matsushita mindset, a Matsushita logic, Matsushita Electric Appliances,” Uesugi Muneyuki chuckled casually. “The older generation, it’s normal… Wait! Minami! What did you just say?”

“Huh? I mean, Father is still in his office.” Minami was taken aback.

"No, the second sentence!" Uesugi Muneyuki suddenly realized that he had overlooked something.

"The next sentence, 'Father clearly has a cell phone, but he prefers to make calls using a landline with fax capabilities,'" Minami said instinctively. "Is there a problem with that?"

After Uesugi Muneyuki shouted that, everyone present turned to look at the legendary forensic doctor.

"Director Watanabe is 52 years old this year... Nango, tell me, what is the average age of all the suspects?" Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes darted around faster and faster, realizing that he had overlooked something very important!

"The average age of all the suspects combined... well, 54.8 years old. If we exclude the deputy officials and secretaries, the average age is 57.7 years old!" Nango Yui quickly calculated in her mind and immediately said.

“54.8 years old, 57.7 years old, 54.8 years old, 57.7 years old…” Uesugi Muneyuki muttered these two numbers.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him!
Eiji Watanabe was already considered progressive and open-minded among the older generation, but he still preferred to make phone calls using a landline because it seemed more formal and created a working atmosphere. So, if someone were even older and more conservative, is there a possibility? Is there a particular possibility that reflects the inherently conservative nature of the Japanese?

That means that, for absolute safety and control, the mole doesn't use telephones at all, but instead uses the most primitive method—letters or physical objects—to communicate?
"Abandon the screening of telephone and internet communications, and immediately retrieve all recent entry and exit records and internal surveillance footage of Imperial Household Agency and Imperial Palace Police personnel! Focus on investigating suspicious individuals who frequently enter and leave the Imperial Palace area, and who have a history of loitering in Kitanomaru Park, forests, near water bodies, and outside the Imperial Palace!" Uesugi Muneyuki shouted, "Now!"

"Yes!!!" The crowd didn't understand for a moment, but out of their instinctive trust in Uesugi Muneyuki, they immediately changed direction.

As the clock struck twelve and the clock struck three in the morning, the Special Missions Unit finally made a discovery!

There's a Vice-Minister position in the Imperial Household Agency that's highly suspicious!

(End of this chapter)