Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 553, All-Out Battle!
The atmosphere in the command center was tense due to the interruption of the "repairman" lead. Faced with the stalemate, Uesugi Muneyuki stood before the huge clue map, his gaze sharp. He turned abruptly to Chief Inspector Watanabe and Chief Detective Uchimura, saying, "Chief Inspector, Chief Detective, the routine investigation has reached a bottleneck. We need to go back to basics and use more cutting-edge science to break through the physical evidence itself! I request that all available resources be used to conduct an unprecedented in-depth analysis of the ANFO explosives and the physical evidence at the scene!"

"Approved!" Watanabe Eiji said without hesitation. "Whatever you need, the entire Metropolitan Police Department's resources are at your disposal!"

Without hesitation, Uesugi Muneyuki acted immediately, and the first thing he did was make a phone call.

A phone call from overseas.

The call went directly to one of the world's top universities in Massachusetts, USA.

Kenji Tanaka, a third-generation Japanese professor.

This refers to the "real forensic expert" who provided sufficient assistance in the Yamaguchi Maho case.

This person is actually the real master of forensic medicine. Uesugi Muneyuki knows that he is more of a necromancer than a master of forensic medicine! His real name is Sandro, also known as Kel'Thuzad.

Since that's the case, I'll stop pretending!
Followers, servants, and soldiers from the dark winter, heed the call of Uesugi Muneyuki!

The call connected, and the background noise was the distinctive hum of instruments in MIT laboratories.

The other person answered the phone, and you could almost hear him chewing something as he spoke fluent American English: "Gute mo ning~, you idiot~ Uesugi boy, say the code, arigato saqisei~"

"Ken, I'm in trouble..." Uesugi Muneyuki said patiently.

"Say the code, otherwise how will I know it's you?" the other person muttered.

“Uh… Nini Haihai Jingjing Major champion!” Uesugi Muneyuki had no choice but to utter the code with a dark face.

"Ouch! Uesugi boy, it really is you!" Tanaka Kenji feigned surprise: "I was wondering why the corn chips this morning were so delicious. I swear on my ancestors, it turns out that Kenshin was spanking my butt with his folding fan! Oh God, this is truly a blessing from the Virgin Mary... So, what's up?"

“I’ve run into trouble with my case in Tokyo, and I need your wisdom,” Uesugi Muneyuki asked. “Have you seen the news? The one about the Foreign Minister’s son being blown up?”

“Ah, I see.” Kenji Tanaka glanced at the screen, which was displaying an Associated Press news article: “Why is everything in Japan always so bad? If you hadn’t told me, I would have thought you were in Chicago or Detroit.”

"Enough with the small talk, business is business. Your consultation fee will be due." Uesugi Muneyuki quickly explained the situation, especially the ANFO explosives, the few remaining physical evidences at the scene, and the predicament of not being able to investigate the suspect.

"Wait a moment." As expected, Tanaka Kenji was a businessman. After hearing that Uesugi Muneyuki was willing to pay a high consultation fee, he immediately gathered the elites from MIT and observed the various physical evidence and leftover explosive fragments presented by Uesugi Muneyuki through a screen.

MIT was the first to observe the ANFO explosive.

"Zong Xue, ANFO is essentially a homemade explosive made from ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil. Anyone with the technical skills can make it as long as there are enough raw materials. The isotope composition of ammonium nitrate in fertilizers from different sources may vary slightly. Japan's forensic chemistry does need improvement in traceability. Listen, two directions: First, perform high-precision isotope ratio analysis (IRMS) on ammonium nitrate crystals—this is like its 'geological fingerprint,' tracing the unique regional characteristics of its nitrogen and oxygen sources!"

Tanaka Kenji said calmly.

"Understood!" Behind Uesugi Muneyuki, a large group of Metropolitan Police Department office staff were writing furiously!

"Secondly, you've done a good job by analyzing 'clean layer,' 'pollen,' and 'parking lot particles,' but that's not enough. Japanese forensic technology is truly... Anyway, we noticed that you extracted trace amounts of wood chips at the scene, confirmed to be from explosives, right?" Kenji Tanaka continued, "Don't just look at the type of wood chips; I noticed they contain wood preservatives! Analyze the chemical composition and age of the wood preservatives! This is very likely an ingredient that was mixed in from the surrounding environment when the other party assembled and manufactured the explosives!"

"The formulas from different periods and different manufacturers in Japan are all unique 'time capsules'!"

"If we can identify what kind of wood preservative it is..."

His words were like the clouds parting to reveal the sun!

A fire rekindled in Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes: "Understood, Ken! Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Cash on delivery. Oh, and remember to transfer the money to my overseas account, otherwise you're just working for the Federation for nothing!" Tanaka Kenji rattled on. "Now it's up to you, Uesugi boy~ see you again~"

The video call ended, and it was already late at night.

Uesugi Muneyuki hung up the call, and when he turned around, he was met with hundreds of eyes staring at him.

Kakashi Uesugi, please give the order!
Uesugi Muneyuki did not refuse and immediately began assigning tasks.

"Okada!"

“Here!” Masayoshi Okada straightened his back.

"You, along with Ikeda, Administrator Watanabe, and I'll head to the University of Tokyo. We need the University of Tokyo's assistance. Director, please inform the University of Tokyo immediately. We need the University of Tokyo to assemble a team of top professors and graduate students in the fields of chemistry, geology, and materials science. We need to utilize the university's most advanced mass spectrometer and isotope analysis equipment to conduct isotope ratio analysis on the explosive residues day and night, under the guidance of Professor Tanaka!"

"Yes!" Masayoshi Okada couldn't help but excitedly shout in agreement, and Eiji Watanabe also nodded to indicate that he understood.

"South Township!"

“Here!” Nanxiang Wei immediately stepped forward.

"You and Kai will be responsible for mobilizing all the experts in the scientific research team to conduct ultra-trace composition analysis on the wood chips, removing any preservatives, adhesives, or even contaminants that may be present. Note that every microgram-level finding must be repeatedly verified and compared." "Yes!" Nango Yui responded loudly.

“Igarashi, and Date!” Uesugi Muneyuki continued.

“Yes!” Igarashi Hayabusa and Date Chomune stepped forward.

"The key to a breakthrough lies in the timber! Igarashi, please contact your father, Igarashi Masataka, immediately. I will also call and request assistance from Sato, the executive director of the Mitsui Sumitomo Group! To investigate timber, preservatives, and the members involved in the dating and chemistry, we must obtain the support of the Timber and Forestry Association. In this regard, the cooperation of Sumitomo Forestry is indispensable!" Uesugi Muneyuki said in a deep voice, "We must obtain the full support and cooperation of Sumitomo Forestry for the vast database of timber from various regions, especially historical preservative formulas. Date, you assist Igarashi!"

"Yes!" Igarashi Hayabusa and Date Chomune couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.

"Very well, everyone, take your positions and prepare for battle!" Uesugi Muneyuki straightened up, then bowed: "I'm counting on you all, I'm counting on you!"

"Brave men of the Metropolitan Police Department, fight for honor!"

"This belongs to us! Fight with all your might!!!"

"Oh oh oh oh!!!"

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

Let's rewind to the evening of that day.

As dusk fell in Shizuoka, the sky was tinged with a warm orange-red, and the distant silhouette of Mount Fuji appeared exceptionally serene. However, for Representative Tetsuro Kurokawa, this tranquility was shattered at exactly seven o'clock in the evening.

His daughter, Yukiko, who took her husband's surname Uno after marriage, usually returns to her high-rise apartment in Shizuoka City before 6:30 p.m. She works at a well-known design company and leads a regular life.

Today, as she failed to answer her husband's third phone call, an ominous premonition began to loom over the Kurokawa family.

At this time, Representative Kurokawa had already learned about the bombing in Tokyo, which made him even more panicked. Therefore, he returned home immediately and kept sending people to investigate what had happened.

At 7:15, the doorbell rang at the Kurokawa family mansion. It wasn't Yukiko, but a stern-faced deliveryman who handed over a hard cardboard box without any sender information, asking "To be opened by Tetsuro Kurokawa personally."

In the study, Representative Kurokawa and his chief secretary, Miyajima, carefully unwrapped the package. What they found inside instantly froze their blood:
A light blue silk scarf, a birthday gift Kurokawa gave to Yukiko last year, was still on her when she went out this morning.

Her company access card and an earring.

A black USB flash drive without any brand logo.

An old-fashioned flip phone that can only make basic calls.

Almost simultaneously, the old-fashioned cell phone emitted a shrill, monotonous ringtone.

Representative Kurokawa took a deep breath, pressed the answer button, and turned on speakerphone. A cold, obviously electronically processed voice came through, devoid of any human emotion:
"Tetsuro Kurokawa".

"It's me! Where is my daughter?" Kurokawa tried to remain calm, but the uncontrollable tremor at the end of his voice betrayed him.

"The items have been received. Proof." The electronic voice interrupted him.

Miyajima immediately plugged the USB drive into the computer. A short video popped up on the screen. The scene was dimly lit, showing Yukiko blindfolded, tied to a chair, and her mouth taped shut. She seemed to be crying loudly, her shoulders trembling violently. The video was only ten seconds long, but it felt like a dull knife cutting into her heart.

"Yukiko!" Kurokawa shouted into the phone, "What did you do to her?! Let go of my daughter!"

The electronic voice ignored his screams and announced the conditions in a flat, emotionless tone:
"Listen. There are two requirements."

"First, prepare 1 billion yen in cash, old banknotes, not consecutively numbered. Await further instructions."

"Second, the National Security Enhancement Act you pushed through Congress must be postponed indefinitely and acknowledged as a mistake within three days at a press conference."

Tetsuro Kurokawa's face turned deathly pale. This bill was a core proposal of his political career, involving sensitive left-wing policies and making him many enemies.

"This...this will take time..."

"You have three days," the electronic voice coldly interrupted. "If you call the police, if you try to track me down, if you try anything..."

A slight, processed audio noise suddenly came through the receiver, followed by a short, suppressed sob from Yukiko Uno, filled with fear.

"...You will receive a part of her body. Remember, this is just the beginning."

"Remember our name, we are—Red Canaries!"

(End of this chapter)