Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 543, The Final Betrayal!

In the midsummer of July, at dusk, in front of the TNEC Plaza in the Minato district and the national screens.

The sun was setting, but its lingering heat still scorched the earth, evaporating and permeating the despair in the square. Time ticked by, like a dull knife cutting flesh, tormenting everyone present.

After the initial tension and professionalism in dealing with the crisis, the Metropolitan Police Department officers in suits at the scene were gradually replaced by a sense of powerless anxiety.

The SAT sniper remained on high ground, but his finger had long since left the trigger; the bomb disposal expert stared at the steady red light of the collar IED on the screen, his brow furrowed, at a loss for what to do.

The SWAT team members, their uniforms soaked with sweat, maintained the cordon, but their eyes were filled with confusion and unease—why was there no movement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? In the temporary command post, Sugishita Ukyo, the head of the First Investigation Division, had a face so gloomy it could drip water. He kept receiving urging from headquarters and contradictory instructions from his superiors to "wait patiently." This political stagnation made him angry but helpless.

The position of Section Chief may seem prestigious, but only Sugishita Ukyo who actually holds it knows what it's really like. It's a position with endless cases to solve, countless responsibilities to shoulder, and immense pressure.

However, Sugishita Ukyo persisted.

Because if he doesn't do it, who will?

As the saying goes, "I do not desire titles and honors, but only wish for calm seas." After spending twenty years on a deserted island, the old man still remains full of enthusiasm and strength.

Just then, Minami Watanabe led the Special Missions Unit in: "Chief of Section 1, we need your help!"

"Did you find anything, Uesugi-kun?" Sugishita Ukyo asked immediately, his eyes lighting up.

“We’ve made a great discovery, but it might not be good for our organization, so I need your help, Section Chief.” Uesugi Muneyuki’s eyes were somewhat unfathomable, but he still said, “Could you… fully assist us?”

"..." Seeing that the Special Missions Division members looked rather unwell, Sugishita Ukyo's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

As night fell, the live broadcasts by various television stations continued.

But the initial explosive news had begun to ferment into an agonizing wait for the verdict. The anchors and guests of various TV stations, from the initial analysis and speculation to the later repetition and emphasis, gradually ran out of words.

"With less than an hour left until the kidnappers' final deadline... we still haven't received any public response from Minister Akimoto..."

"Does this silence signify a difficult choice, or...?"

"This station will continue to follow this story. No matter what, Fuji TV will be with you until the very end!"

The female anchor, Remi Tsutsumi, spoke with a hint of uncertainty. The camera repeatedly switched between images of Shota Akimoto's lonely figure and the motionless Prime Minister's official residence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, creating a deathly stillness before a storm.

The public opinion on the internet has begun to subtly shift.

"Does the minister really not care about his son? How heartless!"

"As expected! He's hiding something! He's too afraid to come out and confront us!"

"Could it be that what those robbers said is true? Does this mean they're admitting it?"

“Shota-kun… looks so pitiful. It seems like he’s really waiting for his dad to come and save him.”

"Where's the Special Missions Unit? Special Missions Unit, please help! Chief Uesugi, we know you're a forensic pathologist, not a bomb disposal expert, but please do something to help, okay?"

Outside the police cordon, whispers grew louder among the onlookers. Many held up their phones, their faces a mixture of sympathy, curiosity, and a hint of anger at being deceived. Some of their initial fear of the kidnappers began to transform into skepticism towards the cold-bloodedness of the politicians.

Police, cabinet, ministers, you are wasting our lives!
At the same time, at the Metropolitan Police Department Command Center.

Eiji Watanabe stood in front of the large screen, arms crossed, like a statue. He watched as Shota Akimoto's desperate cries on the screen gradually turned into a blank, numb state, as if his soul had been ripped away.

His senior officials were extremely anxious.

"Director! We can't wait any longer! Minister Akimoto clearly has no intention of cooperating! We must take strong measures, try a raid or..." said Criminal Investigation Department Chief Kanji Uchimura.

"A raid?" Watanabe Eiji finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Did you see that collar clearly? Any slight stimulation could kill us all! And... this is no longer a simple police incident."

His sharp eyes had already sensed that this might be a strategic sacrifice in a political game, but the ruthlessness still sent a chill down his spine.

He felt that he and his tens of thousands of police officers had become mere supporting characters with their hands tied in this political performance.

"The cabinet hasn't responded yet, perhaps..." Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki stood next to Watanabe Eiji and said coldly, "Just in case, should we evacuate the crowd first?"

"Hmm." Watanabe Eiji nodded slowly. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I remember Minister Akimoto had three sons, right?"

“Four. He has Shota, his son with his ex, and three sons with his current partner,” Onoda Kimiaki said quietly.

"It's a pity I only had one daughter, but now I have a son." Watanabe Eiji looked at Akimoto Shota on the screen. Everyone was waiting.

The entire nation was waiting. NHK and the four major private broadcasters were broadcasting live television footage. Even if there were other programs, a small window would be kept in the lower right corner. The Metropolitan Police Department was waiting, waiting for the Cabinet and Foreign Minister Akimoto to make a final decision. The entire nation was waiting. They were waiting for Minister Akimoto to publicly reveal his crimes, or for the moment of the explosion. As time continued to pass, everyone held their breath.

The time to seven o'clock was getting closer and closer. One hour, half an hour, twenty minutes, ten minutes, but the minister I had imagined still hadn't appeared.

At this time, TV Tokyo reported: The newly born emperor penguin chick at the Taipei Momoyuan Zoo has been named "tomorin" after an online vote! The public hopes it will shine like a light for others! Many fans are celebrating and have made plans to buy annual passes to see the penguins for a lifetime!
As the clock relentlessly approached 7 p.m., with only a few minutes left, the phone strapped to Shota Akimoto's wrist lit up again.

This time, the call vibrated.

Like a drowning man grabbing onto a piece of driftwood, Shota Akimoto practically lunged forward and swiped the phone with trembling fingers to answer it.

"Dad... Dad?!" His voice was filled with his last hope.

Shinichiro Akimoto's voice came through the receiver: "Shota..."

Upon hearing his father's voice, Shota Akimoto's face lit up. His expression was as if he were bathed in sunlight, and under the illumination of the large searchlights beside him, he was immersed in a sea of ​​light!
I'm saved! I'm safe!!!
However, as Shinichiro Akimoto spoke with a slight sob, the hope on Shota Akimoto's face froze instantly, then crumbled like shattered porcelain. He opened his mouth, but could not make a sound, only a strange "hoarse" sound like a broken bellows coming from his throat.

He couldn't believe his ears!

"I...I..." He wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. All the grievances, fear, despair, and guilt towards his father finally turned into a heart-wrenching cry, like the howl of a wild beast!
"Ah ah ah ah ah--!!!"

He recalled his foolishness over the years, how he had repeatedly made his father clean up his messes and tarnished his father's reputation for "integrity" time and time again... A huge sense of guilt overwhelmed him like a tsunami.

He threw his phone away and frantically pounded his chest with both hands, striking the explosives strapped to his body. He staggered and almost collapsed to the ground.

The devastating, unrestrained sobs, transmitted clearly through the still-connected phone and the live broadcast microphone, echoed throughout the square and to every corner of the country.

He stopped cursing and pleading; all that remained was pure despair and self-destructive grief at being utterly abandoned by the person he trusted most.

Time seems to freeze at this moment.

Everyone at the scene, everyone watching the live broadcast, including the Metropolitan Police Department and those following the incident, understood something from Shota Akimoto's reaction.

Inside the command center, Watanabe Eiji sighed. As expected, Onoda Kimiaki's expression was complicated. He immediately ordered, "Immediately evacuate the surrounding crowd, create a containment zone, and prepare to detonate!"

"Yes!!!"

At the scene, the second hand mercilessly ticked towards the final number. The air in the square seemed to freeze; even the whispers of the distant onlookers vanished, leaving only Akimoto Shota's heart-wrenching, utterly desperate cries echoing across the empty space, tormenting everyone's nerves: "Daddy! Mommy! Andy! Ahhh, I don't want to die, I don't want to die!!!"

The police officers held their breath; all contingency plans seemed meaningless. One inspector gripped the walkie-talkie tightly, his knuckles white. He knew the worst was likely to happen.

The nation's television cameras were all focused on that figure, pounding his chest in despair, awaiting the earth-shattering ending that might arrive at 7:00 PM.

At this critical moment——

About fifty meters away from Shota Akimoto, a young female patrol chief named Kumiko Ishihara, who was on the police's internal control line, had lost her usual drive and energy. Instead, her face showed an unusual calm that was a mixture of determination and distortion.

No, nothing.

There was no apology, no public statement, and not even a confession.

Nothing at all!
No! ! !

She watched Shota Akimoto break down, listened to his useless wailing, and felt no pity, only long-suppressed hatred and a twisted sense of justice masquerading as "acting on behalf of heaven." When Shinichiro Akimoto's hypocritical farewell phone call came, her last shred of hesitation vanished. This system was rotten to the core from the very top.

Now, I alone will carry out true justice!
With countless colleagues watching Shota Akimoto intently, awaiting his uncertain fate, she silently slipped her right hand into the side pocket of her uniform, using the police car in front of her as cover.

Only death is fair! Let the flames purify everything!

Die, you insects!!!
You scum! Use your death to atone for the lives you ruined and to sound the alarm for this rotten world!

Her thumb, firm and without hesitation, pressed the only scarlet button on the detonator!
burst!!!
Time seems to be stretched infinitely.

However, the expected explosion did not occur.

Just before her thumb was about to press the button, several dark figures pounced out from her sides and behind like cheetahs!

Who is this visitor?!

(End of this chapter)