Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 512, Aftermath

P.S.: Yesterday's writing used up all my pent-up emotions, so I'll give the Emperor a break today! Let's combine two parts for now!
With the bomb finally removed from Horikawa Nen's body by the bomb disposal experts, the scene was finally filled with relief.

Soon, all eyes, whether on the scene or on the monitor screen, were focused on the young detective who had just pulled off an amazing comeback.

Kai Toru only then felt a sense of fear. Waves of soreness and weakness washed over him as he tried to get up, only to find that his arm wouldn't obey him!

Oh no, I've dislocated my shoulder!
Kai Toru thought with a wry smile.

Minami Watanabe was the first to rush to his side. Without saying a word, she slapped his arm hard and forcefully, her eyes filled with immense satisfaction and admiration: "Well done, Kai!"

"Amazing, Kai-kun!" Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but exclaim.

In his past life, he was a model student, and in this life, he comes from a privileged background, even somewhat noble. If you asked him to set up a battle formation and have a real one-on-one man-to-man battle with Horikawa Nen, Uesugi Muneyuki would do it without hesitation. If all else fails, he can even summon Mai-senpai to help. But facing a guy who is strapped with bombs and standing in the Imperial Palace, he can't think of any good solutions for the time being.

On the contrary, it was Kai, who, despite his good background, was abandoned in middle school, wandered the streets as a delinquent youth, often got into fights, and then faced real pursuit and capture when he was a patrolman at the local police station, who actually came up with a solution!
Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that there are indeed many things that one must experience firsthand to truly understand and grow from.

Like Lord Kagekatsu, as Uesugi Kenshin's nephew, he lost his father at a young age (and Uesugi Kenshin was also a suspect). He lived in a tense and turbulent environment for a long time, with multiple internal conflicts and endless chaos, and constant external wars. When Uesugi Kenshin suddenly died without a confirmed successor and faced the Otate Rebellion, Kagekatsu immediately seized Kasugayama Castle, decisively used the huge amount of gold and silver that Kenshin had stored to bribe Takeda to withdraw his troops, and finally defeated Uesugi Kagetora, who had the support of Uesugi Norikaze and the assistance of Hojo, but was slow to react, and became the lord of Echigo Province.

However, the situation was hopeless for Uesugi Kagekatsu after he became the lord of the country. The Hokuriku region, which Uesugi Kenshin had spent more than ten years conquering, had all fallen to Etsukuni, Noto, and Kaga. Kawada Nagachika, the general of Etsukuni, was killed in battle. Uozu Castle was quickly captured by Shibata Katsuie, and preparations were about to be made for the defense of Kasugayama Castle. The Niibata Rebellion in Echigo could not be quelled. And almost all of the territory of Kozuke Province was lost. The situation had changed from having roughly seven provinces before Uesugi Kenshin's death to not even having Echigo Province.

Moreover, the Uesugi and Oda families had a blood feud (the Uesugi and Oda families had once allied but then broke off the alliance, and Kenshin and Nobunaga had even mocked each other as traitors and enemies, and the two sides had fought repeatedly in Etsuchu). At that time, Uesugi Kagekatsu was already prepared to commit seppuku at any time.

Fortunately, the Honnoji BBQ broke out at this time. Hideyoshi, who succeeded Nobunaga, was eager to unify the country at least in form. Moreover, he had no grudge against Kagekatsu, so Kagekatsu was able to escape the disaster and become one of the five leaders.

The endless hardships and crises that Uesugi Kagekatsu experienced from childhood to adolescence shaped his resolute, unyielding, calm, and taciturn personality, as well as his flexible demeanor. Therefore, despite his inferior military abilities compared to Kenshin, his inferior diplomatic abilities compared to Hojo, and his less outstanding domestic affairs skills, he had the best ending among the three dragons, tigers, and lions.

If Uesugi Kagekatsu had been pampered and had everything go smoothly since childhood, he would absolutely not have been able to handle the series of life-and-death choices that followed Kenshin's sudden death and began with the Otate Rebellion.

Kai Mineaki, the Vice Minister of Justice, probably never imagined that his eldest son, whom he had been cultivating with great care and who was expected to have a smooth and successful career as a second-generation bureaucrat, would suffer a major setback in his promotion and then, upon returning home, discover that he had been cheated on and, in despair, choose to end his life (like Uesugi Kagetora). Meanwhile, his second son, whom he had completely abandoned, seized the opportunity when it came due to his rich practical experience and became a national hero.
The world is truly unpredictable, and fortune and misfortune are hard to foresee!

"Don't touch him, Minami, he dislocated his shoulder." Rena Ikeda immediately noticed that Kai Tsuyoshi wasn't in good shape, and the tall beauty suddenly smiled, "But... thank you, Kai!"

"Kai-san! You're so cool!!!" Igarashi hugged Kai Tatsumi's other arm, tears welling up in his eyes. "How did you do that?"

"What a remarkable Kai-san! What a remarkable Special Missions Class!" Nango Yui, who was sitting on the ground next to him, was the first to collapse from exhaustion. As a professional, his physical fitness was not good, but he was the first to realize what doing this job well could bring to the Special Missions Class.

Straight! Reach! Heaven! Listen!
"Oh dear, it seems I'll be formally invited to the Kagakure clan conference next year." Date Chomune realized what was going on and chuckled sheepishly, "Kai-san! I'm truly impressed!"

Immediately, Imperial Household Agency staff, bomb disposal experts from the Security Department, and Imperial Police officers, regardless of rank, spontaneously gathered around him. There were no cheers, but the silent gazes, solemn nods, and standard, respectful salutes spoke volumes. He was no longer just an insignificant patrolman; he was a hero who had stepped forward in the darkest hour and saved everyone!
At the heart of the cabinet crisis, Prime Minister Owada slowly closed his eyes, signaling to Onoda Kimiaki to take charge.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda spoke into the microphone, his voice still a little hoarse, but filled with unprecedented strength: "To everyone on the scene, thank you for your hard work! Especially... Detective Kai Takayuki of the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Missions Division, on behalf of the Cabinet, I thank you for your bravery and decisiveness!"

These words were clearly transmitted to everyone present via radio.

We have won!

Soon, a group of top-ranking officials from the Imperial Household Agency and the Imperial Palace Police, led by Commissioner Maeda, arrived at the scene almost at a jog.

Commander Maeda had long since abandoned any pretense of bureaucratic decorum. He rushed straight to Kai Takeru and, amidst all the astonished gazes, gave Kai Takeru, as well as Watanabe Minami, Uesugi Muneyuki, and the others behind him, a deep, solemn salute that was more than ninety degrees.

"Thank you so much! I really... I'm so grateful to you all!" His voice was trembling and choked with emotion, filled with lingering fear and immense gratitude: "It was all because of our mistakes that such a disaster occurred... yet you all have performed an inexpressible feat in saving the nation from crisis!"

The other high-ranking officials behind him also bowed in unison, and the scene resembled an apology ceremony.

This almost collapsing, undisguised gratitude and apology completely overturned their usual aloof image, but it also realistically reflected the immense psychological pressure they had just endured at that moment.

Uesugi Muneyuki calmly nodded, while Watanabe Minami, representing the Metropolitan Police Department, responded, "It is our duty."

But her tone also softened and relaxed considerably.

Kai Kyou seemed somewhat flustered; he wasn't used to this kind of occasion and simply returned the courtesy repeatedly, saying, "I just did what I was supposed to do..."

The crisis has finally been resolved.

The sirens above the Imperial Palace stopped, but what remained after the suffocating pressure dissipated was a scene of utter chaos, an unconscious criminal, a dangerous piece of evidence, and a group of people who were exhausted but filled with a sense of triumphant relief.

At this moment, the members of the Special Missions Corps, especially Kai Toru, became true national heroes, and their names were etched with indelible marks of merit in the highest circles of the Japanese ruling class.

The sky is still blue, and the imperial palace remains solemn, but everyone knows that some things have changed forever.

"Call an ambulance." As Horikawa Nian was taken away, and the fully armed SATs arrived one after another, Uesugi Muneyuki said to the staff of the Imperial Household Agency, "Kai has dislocated his shoulder. Arrange surgery immediately."

"Yes!" The Imperial Household Agency employee immediately went to do it. "Dislocated? What's the big deal? I'll just put it back in place." Ikeda Erena didn't seem to care, the tall beauty implying that this kind of thing couldn't be fixed with just a push.
"Oh dear, you're so silly!" Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head helplessly and laughed, "Master! If you don't want Kai-kun to keep dislocating his shoulder, then you should go to the hospital and have a proper minor surgery!"

The bone-setting technique used by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners wasn't necessarily bad, but Uesugi Muneyuki, a former surgeon, knew that this so-called "pushing to set bones" could easily lead to habitual shoulder dislocation.

"Hmm!" Reina Ikeda pouted, while Muneyuki Uesugi patted her shoulder with a smile, immediately calming everyone down.

He turned his gaze back to the Imperial Palace.

Although the case has been resolved, many questions remain unanswered.

What is that otherworldly being looking for? Why is Horikawa Nen so extreme as to come out wearing a bomb and detonate it? What secrets are hidden inside the Imperial Palace?
Uesugi Muneyuki was very curious, but what troubled him even more was whether the Cabinet, the Imperial Household Agency, and the Imperial Palace Police Headquarters could get Horikawa to confess. Would the Special Missions Unit be allowed to get involved? And would he even be allowed to continue investigating this matter?

Interesting. Let's see what happens next.
As expected, after congratulating Uesugi Muneyuki and immediately calling an ambulance, the Grand Chamberlain of the Imperial Household Agency, Maeda Toshiyuki, immediately turned around, his smile vanished, and he turned to the Grand Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace, Gondo, with a cold expression: "You, resign!"

"Chief Minister Gondo, you know how to write the report afterward, right?" Vice Minister Nakajima's face also turned cold. "Take full responsibility!"

"Yes, sir!" After a brief moment of joy, Department Head Gondo immediately wiped the sweat from his brow. "I'll go write my resignation right now! Right away!"

It's obvious that the fact that this matter has escalated to this point is, in a sense, entirely his overreaching act. Now, before any major consequences occur, he should resign voluntarily, which might allow him to have a peaceful end.

This is already the best possible ending!
"This matter is not over yet. Arrange for His Majesty to move elsewhere immediately! We need to conduct a thorough inspection of the entire Imperial Palace!" Maeda Toshiyuki continued, "Also, immediately contact the Metropolitan Police Department! The outside world must have already discovered that a large number of police officers and bomb disposal units have entered the Imperial Palace! No one will let this kind of news slip by!"

"How to selectively and appropriately disclose some information to the outside world? I need Superintendent General Eiji Watanabe to come and discuss this with me immediately! Also, we need to come up with a plan as soon as possible on how to reward the Special Missions Unit! It should be substantial, after all, they not only saved all of our lives, but also the entire country."

"Yes!" Takeuchi, the chief attendant, and Nakajima, the vice minister, immediately went to make arrangements, leaving only Maeda Risuke behind.

The head of the Kanazawa Maeda family, who was in his seventies, was born before the war and had experienced countless hardships, gazed into the distance in the direction of the Imperial Palace Honmaru and let out a long sigh.

Bangxian, you have a fine grandson!

This time, the Cabinet, the Imperial Household Agency, and the Imperial Family all owe a debt of gratitude to your grandson.

Later, although the air raid sirens over the Imperial Palace were lifted, the commotion outside was just beginning.

Like sharks smelling blood, countless reporters flocked to the vicinity of the Imperial Palace. Although the Imperial Palace police had set up multiple security cordons, the sight of the security forces' bomb disposal experts' convoy, armored vehicles, and even ambulances speeding in had already been captured by numerous cameras, sparking explosive speculation online.

"Imperial Palace attacked by terrorists?"

"Mysterious death of an Imperial Household Agency employee?"

Various sensational headlines were rampant, and public pressure reached its peak.

Faced with a situation that could not be completely covered up, the Imperial Household Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department, and even the Chief Cabinet Secretary's Office held emergency consultations and finally reached a consensus: selective disclosure, control of the narrative, and highlighting key achievements.

Soon, an emergency press conference was held, led by a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department and attended by officials from the Imperial Household Agency. The spokesperson's expression was solemn but slightly tired.
"Dear media friends, regarding the sudden incident at the Imperial Palace today, we would like to make the following statement: A staff member of the Imperial Household Agency recently went missing. After investigation, his body has been found in the water within the Imperial Palace, and the preliminary judgment is that he drowned accidentally. During the subsequent internal investigation, a staff member of the Imperial Household Agency who had a personal grudge against the staff member became extremely agitated and committed the extreme act of carrying suspicious items and storming internal facilities."

"Thanks to the members of the Special Missions Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, especially Chief Inspector Uesugi, Superintendent Watanabe, and Inspector Kai for their bravery, and to the Imperial Palace Police for their swift, decisive, and professional handling of the situation. The person has been apprehended on the spot, the suspicious items have been safely removed, and no further casualties have been reported. All members of the Imperial Family and staff of the Imperial Household Agency are safe and sound."

"For safety reasons, His Majesty has temporarily moved elsewhere. Please do not worry, people!"

"Currently, the Metropolitan Police Department is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident on suspicion of negligent homicide, obstruction of official duties, and threats to public safety. We are deeply grateful for everyone's concern, but out of consideration for the investigation and out of respect for the deceased, we urge everyone not to engage in excessive speculation or reporting."

This statement, a mix of truth and falsehood, cleverly replaced "attempted terrorist attack involving external infiltration and internal collusion" with "extreme behavior by internal personnel," shifting the focus from the security loopholes of the Royal Family to the Metropolitan Police Department's "successful handling," and emphasizing the Special Missions Unit's contribution.

Just then, Superintendent General Eiji Watanabe finally arrived at the Imperial Palace. With a look of relief on his face, he found Uesugi Muneyuki, Watanabe Minami, and the other Special Missions Unit members who were resting: "You guys! You really scared me to death!"

"If it weren't for us, it wouldn't have been a matter of being scared to death." Uesugi Muneyuki and the others quickly stood up, knowing that Watanabe Eiji had come specifically to handle the aftermath: "What did the cabinet say?"

"The Cabinet sent me to tell you that this matter is closed. The case of Ishimuro Akio, who is already dead, is closed on the grounds that he discovered the inside story and intended to expose it from within, but was murdered. He has been posthumously awarded two ranks to the position of Vice Minister of the Imperial Archives. Horikawa himself has been transferred to the Cabinet Intelligence Office and the Central Bureau for joint investigation." Watanabe Eiji sighed and said, "This matter has had a very bad impact, and the Cabinet hopes to keep a low profile... Even the US ambassador is asking what exactly happened."

Oh? Ambassador of the United States?
This surprised Yubang. Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself, if it really exploded, then it wouldn't just be a question.

Whether it's better to fry it or not, that is the question.

Putting aside whether it exploded or not, if it did explode, the Imperial Palace Police and the Imperial Household Agency would certainly be primarily responsible, but the Special Missions Clique would also be held accountable. Uesugi Muneyuki's future in Japan would be affected, and at the very least, the Special Missions Clique might be frozen or reorganized again.

"In any case, thank you for your hard work, everyone. Uesugi, Minami, please come with me." After confirming that his daughter and son-in-law were alright and that Kai Toru had been taken to the hospital, Watanabe Eiji said gently, "The Prime Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and... His Majesty wish to see you!"

Oh open?

You want to see me?
(End of this chapter)