Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 516, Success and Fame
After interrogating for a while longer, seeing that they couldn't extract any new information, the senior executives prepared to go and rest.

"Director Watanabe, please stay a moment." Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki gestured for Watanabe Eiji to stay as he was about to leave.

Onoda Kimiaki saw his brother's actions and a flash of disappointment crossed his eyes, but he said nothing, because he had nothing to say either. If it weren't for the Special Missions faction, this would have been the resignation of the entire cabinet!

Eiji Watanabe and Kimiaki Onoda arrived at a special reception room in the Imperial Household Agency. The Chief Cabinet Secretary first gestured for the Superintendent General of Police to sit down, then took out a cigar from his pocket: "Want a smoke?"

"No, sir."

"I see. Drinking can lead to trouble. Let me pour you a cup of tea then." Onoda Kimiaki smiled, loosened his tie, and showed a look of weariness relieved of a heavy burden and genuine gratitude on his face: "Please don't refuse!"

"Yes..." Watanabe Eiji was somewhat flattered, and he only dared to sit on half of his buttocks.

The man before you is the second or third most powerful person in Japan, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, who is known as the "Vice Minister"!

In his presence, I was merely a "high-ranking official"!

Onoda Kimiaki personally poured a cup of tea for Watanabe Eiji, and then once again spoke very earnestly in polite language:
"Watanabe-kun, this was truly... a close call. Without your decisive actions, and without Chief Uesugi and your daughter's, we wouldn't be sitting here having tea, but preparing for an apology press conference in front of the entire nation. This matter concerns the 'national polity,' and the entire cabinet, especially the Prime Minister and I, will forever remember this kindness!"

“No, this is just my duty, relying on the cabinet’s swift response and my superiors’ guidance…” Watanabe Eiji’s heart tightened, but his eyes shone.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda is expressing his deepest gratitude in a humble manner!

The change from "Director" to "Watanabe-kun" instantly bridged the gap, indicating that it was a conversation between "one of us".

The phrase "apology press conference" reveals the most terrible consequence of the incident, indicating that he was fully aware of the magnitude of the disaster the Special Mission had averted.

Mentioning "national system" is one of the most important terms in the Japanese political context, referring directly to the fundamental system of the country, indicating that the superior has elevated this matter to the highest political level.

"Gratitude" and "remembering in one's heart" are very weighty words. In Japanese political culture, especially at the top, "gratitude" needs to be repaid!

The Chief Cabinet Secretary's personal acknowledgment of this "favor" on behalf of the Cabinet is tantamount to issuing a political check with no upper limit!

As expected, Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda immediately offered his price.

"The Cabinet will fully support the Metropolitan Police Department's budget next year, especially in terms of special equipment and personnel expansion."

"Watanabe-kun, we believe your future extends beyond the Metropolitan Police Department. We will seriously consider your wishes in the next change."

"Chief Uesugi is truly a national treasure. His professional skills have saved us time and time again. Please be sure to convey my and Prime Minister Owada's personal gratitude. If he needs any government support, please don't hesitate to ask."

"We'll also put in a good word with the University of Tokyo. Someone as capable as him should at least be given an associate professor title once he's reached the required years of service!"

"I have to admit, I am deeply impressed by the leadership of Manager Watanabe. She was able to pick out a super forensic doctor like Uesugi from so many people and even manage to make him her fiancé. I am even a little jealous. Watanabe, it's a pity that your daughter is still in the promotion freeze period, right?" Onoda Kouaki said with a slightly teasing smile.

“Yes, that’s right…” Watanabe Eiji quickly lowered his head.

"Then let's get started on preparations." Onoda Kimiaki said meaningfully, "Regarding the promotion of the Special Missions Unit to the Special Missions Division, we'll promote the Special Missions Unit to the Special Missions Division as soon as the promotion freeze period ends!"

"Yes!" Watanabe Eiji couldn't contain his excitement and quickly accepted the order.

“I trust you to handle things.” Onoda Kouaki patted Watanabe Eiji on the shoulder, his expression slowly returning to calm: “There are only two things that Watanabe-kun should pay attention to.”

"First, your prospective son-in-law, Uesugi-kun, is indeed a bit unruly. Young people have tempers, which is understandable. You are responsible for disciplining him. As long as it doesn't involve any matters of principle, you can be more lenient with him. Geniuses are always special."

"Secondly, regarding the matter of Gongxian, we'll discuss it after your term ends..."

The private conversation in the secluded room lasted for quite a while.

That night, the storm within the Imperial Palace had subsided, but its ripples spread out in the most grand manner.

All members of the Special Missions Unit, including Kai Toru whose arm was in a sling, were "strongly advised" to stay overnight at the Akasaka Imperial Villa. Ostensibly, this was to "facilitate communication and rest for subsequent matters," but in reality, it was the most understated yet highest level of gratitude and gesture that the Imperial Family, the Cabinet, and the Imperial Household Agency could express. The banquet was held in a not-so-large but extremely luxurious Japanese-style banquet hall.

There were no reporters or other people present, only a handful of people including members of the Special Missions Committee, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Imperial Household Agency Commissioner Maeda, the National Police Agency Commissioner Tamaru Jusaburo, the Superintendent General of Police Eiji Watanabe, and the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the National Police Agency, Onoda Kimiaki.

The meal was not a Western-style state banquet, but a true "Imperial Cuisine" prepared by the Imperial Household Agency's Grand Cuisine Division. Each dish was exquisitely crafted like a work of art, using the finest seasonal ingredients: scalloped sea bream, teppanyaki Matsusaka beef, golden dumplings made from Tanba chestnuts, and salt-grilled sweetfish freshly caught from the pond within the Imperial Palace grounds… Even the seemingly ordinary white rice exuded an indescribable sweet aroma. The sake was a specially aged vintage provided by the Imperial Household Agency's keeper, Kuramoto.

The atmosphere at the banquet was both solemn and warm. The senior members rose one after another to toast the Special Missions Division members, especially Kai Toru, their words filled with undisguised praise and gratitude.

Kai Toru seemed somewhat at a loss, while Watanabe Minami and Uesugi Muneyuki handled the situation calmly and appropriately.

The most inexplicable guest was Kai Minamoto, the Vice-Minister of Justice.

God knows what really happened; he was forcibly "kidnapped" here by several public security police officers from the Ministry of Justice!

When he heard that it might be related to Kai Kyou, Kai Minamoto was already in despair, thinking that his son was finished! He quickly tried to distance himself from the situation, saying that he was adopted!
However, when he finally learned the inside story, Kai Mineaki was stunned. In the blink of an eye, he found himself at the banquet in the detached palace without knowing why.

He maintained the composure and seriousness befitting an elite member of the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo.

At this moment, the Chief Cabinet Secretary walked over with a smile and deliberately stopped in front of Kai Mineaki, drawing the attention of several important figures around him.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone at the small banquet to hear:
"Kai-san, I'm truly envious. I heard that the young talent who made such a great contribution to the Metropolitan Police Department this time is your son?"

For a fleeting moment, Kai Mineaki's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. Almost reflexively, he immediately adopted that well-known stern father's expression, one of deep frustration with his wayward son, his brow furrowed, accompanied by an exaggerated wave of his hand, brimming with deep helplessness and apology:

"Oh dear, sir, please don't say that!"

He quickened his pace, his tone filled with standard "humility" and "belittling": "That good-for-nothing kid was just lucky to be there. It was entirely due to the excellent guidance of the Metropolitan Police Department's superiors and the joint efforts of his colleagues. He himself was merely fulfilling the most basic duties of a policeman, and may even have caused a lot of trouble. He really doesn't deserve such praise from you, it's truly embarrassing!"

His wording was flawless, perfectly matching the "humble" attitude a high-ranking official should have when his children are praised by his superiors. He even deliberately diluted his son's credit to the collective, placing himself in a position of "apologizing on behalf of his unworthy son."

However, the old man couldn't completely suppress the corners of his mouth. At the edge of his mouth, which he was trying to pull down to make a stern and displeased expression, a tiny muscle seemed to want to pull upward uncontrollably, forming an extremely brief and tiny smug arc, which he quickly covered up with a cough.

His back was straighter than usual, and his chin was unconsciously raised a few millimeters. This was a subconscious sense of pride and enjoyment, which formed a subtle contrast with his words about "losing face."

When Tamaru Juzaburo, Watanabe Eiji, Maeda Risuke, Onoda Kimiaki, and even Watanabe Minami all cast teasing remarks and sincere congratulations like "Like father, like son" and "Kai-san, you've been keeping this a secret for a long time," a glint of extremely quick light would flash in Kai Mineaki's originally stern eyes. It was an irrepressible joy and a sense of satisfaction that "made me proud."

He quickly said with a bitter face, "Oh, no, no, you flatter me. He's far from good enough!"

But that fleeting brilliance cannot be hidden from a shrewd person.

This "rebellious son" who had brought him shame for years actually brought honor to his father this time, earning him unparalleled glory in front of the highest levels of the cabinet and his colleagues.

He absolutely loved it!
Everyone present could see the conflict between the father and son; they hadn't exchanged a single word from beginning to end.

However, where Kai Kyou wasn't looking, Kai Mineaki was hiding in a corner, glaring at his son with a fierce sideways look, muttering to himself with a belly full of complaints.

"Hmph! This brat... gave me a fright!"

"I didn't cause any trouble, thank goodness... At least I learned something. The Special Missions Department... did play a role after all!"

"He's too reckless. He doesn't know how to be cautious at all. It really worries his mother and me a lot."

"This guy still needs more practice!"

"Just follow Chief Uesugi and Manager Watanabe and learn properly!"

(End of this chapter)