Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 63, The Grudge

Don't want to leave?!
Uesugi Sosetsu had already stretched out his hand as usual to pray for the soul to be reborn, but he was stunned when he heard what Hironaka Mariko said.

Something went wrong with the established procedure?!
[What a joke! I don't want to die! I'm getting married, I have family, I have friends, why should I be saved by you?! ] As Hironaka Mariko talked about this, her face gradually became distorted, her facial features were entangled like a whirlpool, spinning rapidly like a top, her body turned black in the distortion, her eyes became empty and void: [My wish has not been fulfilled yet! ]

[Are you still not satisfied?] Uesugi Sosetsu hesitated for a few seconds. He subconsciously wanted to refute Hironaka Mariko's words, but another instinct told him that Hironaka Mariko's dead soul was changing.

Her hatred for death and the living is gradually transforming her from a dead soul into something else.

Did Mariko Hironaka die unjustly?
It can be said that no one died more unjustly than her!

She had good intentions and was very thoughtful, but in the end, her kindness was not rewarded! She was killed by the person she had always cared for and helped just because of a misunderstanding. Even Uesugi Munen felt sorry for her!
Not to mention that it was already early morning and today was her wedding day.

In this situation, the strong hatred contained in Hironaka Mariko has caused her soul to mutate, like a swirling inky hurricane, blowing around Uesugi Sosetsu.

As for why she did not completely lose her mind, Uesugi Sosetsu guessed that it was probably because Hironaka Mariko was kind by nature and somewhat reasonable. She was very resentful, but she did not resent Uesugi Sosetsu who had nothing to do with the matter.

Could this be the—the Grudge?
According to legend, the curse cast by a person who died with resentment is called a "grudge". Resentment gathers in the deceased's residence before death. Anyone who touches it will die, and a new "grudge" will be created, spreading the horrific death. The "grudge" will forever guard the haunted house and curse every visitor.

According to the Dead Soul Contract, Uesugi Munen can certainly save her, but considering that the strange mutation in Hironaka Mariko might help him understand the other world... After careful consideration, he tentatively said: [It's not impossible, but how to do it? ]

Upon hearing that Uesugi Sosetsu agreed, Hironaka Mariko immediately restored her original soul form. The female anchor was very happy that her wish was fulfilled: [The contract says that the Vajrayana Myoko controls hundreds of ghosts, so let me stay under your Myoko throne. ]

[But you are not a holder of supernatural powers...] Uesugi Sosetsu said: [You cannot recover your soul power. One day, you will dissipate.]

[It doesn’t matter. By then, I may have had enough. It won’t be too late for you to save me.]

And just like that, the two sides reached a new agreement.

The moment the contract came into effect, mighty power as majestic as a giant peak and roaring as a river or sea rushed into Uesugi Sosetsu's body. The bluestone on his right hand exploded, spitting out wave after wave of energy vortex, and the mighty power that was beyond Uesugi Sosetsu's imagination almost filled him up. The golden body of Aizen Myooh was blood red all over, and the halo behind him rose slowly and was completely lit. In the bright red esoteric fire, Aizen Myooh's furious and evil expression also added a different flavor.

The hardened surface of Vajra Dharani was augmented with wisps of flames from the curse.

Rising Dragon brings fire?

Uesugi Sosetsu was surprised at the new ability he got from Hironaka Mariko. At the same time, Ikeda Erena and Watanabe Minami saw that Uesugi Sosetsu remained silent and observed his hands from time to time, and thought that Uesugi Sosetsu was also sad for Hironaka Mariko's unfortunate experience.

Well, encountering such a situation where good deeds are not rewarded, let alone the wicked Erina, even a favored girl like Watanabe Minami, looked at Fukushima Sosaburo with contempt.

The police from the Metropolitan Police Department had no good face for the prisoner who was lying on the ground crying, and they took him away.

Before leaving, Fukushima Sosaburo asked to personally apologize to Hironaka Mariko's family and fiancé.

But it was rejected by Mariko Hironaka's family.

In fact, the Metropolitan Police Department took great pains to separate Mariko Hironaka's father from Sosaburo Fukushima.

However, Uesugi Sosetsu noticed that Hironaka Mariko's fiancé, Shimakawa Ren, remained silent. He looked neither resentful nor angry, but he also did not show any joy.

Just as he was thinking about it, Shimagawa Ren walked straight towards Uesugi Sosetsu.

"Excuse me, can I take up a moment of your time?" Shimagawa Ren took the initiative to say to Uesugi Sosetsu and handed him a golden business card.

"Okay, I also want to take up some of your time." Uesugi Sosetsu apologized to Ikeda Erena and Watanabe Minami, then left with his fiancé.

Only Erena and Minami were left at the scene. After watching the figures of Uesugi Sosetsu and Shimakawa Ren disappear at the end of the corridor, Ikeda Erena turned her gaze to the face of the Metropolitan Police Department in front of her.

She vaguely remembered the time in the restaurant after she and Uesugi Sosetsu reported to the Metropolitan Police Department. It was this beautiful policewoman and Inspector Yanagisawa who sat more than ten meters away and pointed at her the entire time, and had no intention of coming up to greet her.

After she introduced herself in person this time, Erina realized that she was the "Face of the Metropolitan Police Department" rumored within the police community, the only daughter of the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner - Minami Watanabe.

It’s no wonder that Erina reacted slowly. She was already isolated in the police station, had few friends, and was slow to get updates.

Watanabe Minami is 22 years old this year and is already a police inspector. Ikeda Erena is 23 years old this year and is still a patrolman.

Between the two people are the ranks of Patrol Sergeant (an informal rank), Patrol Sergeant General, and Inspector General. If nothing unexpected happens, Watanabe Minami will be promoted to Superintendent before she turns 28, and even if everything goes well for Ikeda Erena, she will have to be over 35 years old to be promoted to Inspector General.

This is the difference between the professional group and the non-professional group. Although these two people are both wearing police uniforms, they are actually from different worlds.

Just like the love between Takagi Wataru and Sato Miwako in Detective Conan, the love between a non-professional group and a professional group is a true fairy tale. Even so, Takagi Wataru has thought that if he gets married, he will definitely quit his job and become a househusband, which is a small element of reality in the fairy tale.

The reason why local non-professional teams are so obsessed with entering the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters is because only in the headquarters can they work with professional and quasi-professional teams. Only in the headquarters can they break through the shackles of the inspector level and be promoted to superintendent before the age of 45.

But Erina doesn't care that much, and she doesn't become a police officer for promotion.

"Congratulations, Inspector Ikeda, you have a beautiful judo skill." Watanabe Minami said calmly, "Are you getting used to the new police station?"

"Huh?!" Ikeda Erina's brain hasn't come to her senses yet: "Alright, alright."

"Okay, let's go back and wait for notification." Watanabe Minami bowed her head slightly, her body no more than 15 degrees: "Well, goodbye."

After saying that, the Metropolitan Police Department's Yan really left without looking back.

"Ah?" Ikeda Erina had no idea what was going on, and she subconsciously shouted, "Wait!"

Watanabe Minami stopped and asked, "Anything else?"

The 1.70-meter-tall Erena seemed to be a head shorter than the 1.60-meter-tall Minami. In front of the other person's elegant temperament, Erena's cold and arrogant disguise was simply not worth mentioning: "Well, thank you."

She was referring to the issue of Watanabe Minami calling and communicating with the district prosecutor.

"You're welcome." Watanabe Minami looked calm. She accepted Erina's apology completely. "Well, bye then."

You really should thank me, Metropolitan Police Department Zhi Yan thought to himself.

Who is this? Is it great to be a professional team member? Is it great to be the only daughter of the Superintendent? Is it great to be a 22-year-old police inspector?

It was a rare occasion that Erina wanted to express her kindness and gratitude, but the other party didn't care at all. The tall beauty was so angry that she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, wishing she could give Watanabe Minami a "Matsuyama of Storms".

As expected, only Uesugi was different. Only he...

After once again deepening her stereotype of this system, Ikeda Erena didn't know what to do.

Let’s just wait for him to come back. The tall beauty found a place to sit down and waited quietly.

This performance was still valuable, as passing policemen and TV crews would greet her. However, Ikeda was still as cold as ever, and when someone came up to greet her, she just responded indifferently, and she also rejected the interview request from Fuji TV.

Who is this person? Is it a big deal that a cricket is a patrolman? Is it a big deal that a judo master is a judo master? Is it a big deal that he is so tall?

The people around were secretly complaining in their hearts.

After Watanabe Minami walked a distance away, Okada, the director's personal driver, came over and said, "It seems that she has a bad temper, just as the rumors say."

"Haha, it's just not very good?" Watanabe Minami raised a cold smile at the corner of her mouth: "But it doesn't matter, she is just a tool."

"tool?"

"It's a tool I use to test Uesugi Sosetsu's true ability." The face of the Metropolitan Police Department glanced at the badge of the police inspector on the chest of Mikasa, the head of the First Investigation Division, who was describing the whole case to the live broadcast camera, and sneered, "She did a good job, and it's time to give her the reward. There is a reward and there is a punishment."

"What do you mean?" Inspector Okada smiled slightly and did not deny it.

"Promote her. She performed well today and saved the reputation of our department." Watanabe Minami took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and her eyes sparkled: "Since Uesugi and her get along so well, the cooperation between the Metropolitan Police Department and him will be easier in the future."

Inspector Okada looked at the only daughter of the Superintendent General and couldn't help feeling a chill in his heart.

Ikeda Erena is the tool used by Watanabe Minami to test Uesugi Sosetsu.

One is to test whether Uesugi Sosetsu's talent is just luck or he has real talent and knowledge.

The second is to test whether Uesugi Sosetsu can adapt to the police system and have the foundation for long-term cooperation.

The third is to explore Uesugi Sosetsu's hobbies and needs so that the Metropolitan Police Department can cater to his needs.

Judging from the previous questions and answers, Uesugi Sosetsu already knew about it, and only Ikeda Erena was kept in the dark throughout the whole process.

Even Watanabe Minami had hoped that if something really happened between these two people, the Metropolitan Police Department could take advantage of the situation to tie Uesugi Sosetsu under the control of Sakuradamon.

It turned out not to be.

Inspector Okada didn't know whether this was a good thing or not. The former would make Watanabe Minami's evaluation of Uesugi Sosetsu drop significantly, while the latter would make Minami feel that Uesugi Sosetsu was difficult to control.

But in any case, this is the limit of Erina Ikeda's value as a tool.

Unfortunately, although Ikeda Erena is also very beautiful and Shirakawa Mai is an even greater beauty, the temperament exuded by Watanabe Minami is different.

That kind of arrogance and coldness, like an iceberg, irresistibly arouses the desire to conquer, but then causes inferiority and admiration due to his status. These are the unique attributes of the face of the Metropolitan Police Department.

But this is none of Inspector Okada's business, he is already married.

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

On the third-floor terrace, the night wind was raging, everything was wailing, the brilliant lights of the port area matched the crowded scene outside Odaiba in the early morning. Uesugi Sosetsu and Shimakawa Ren were leaning on the railings.

Shimagawa Ren was wearing a heavy Ralph Lauren outfit, with every corner of her body filled with matte and warm dark colors, only the Vacheron Constantin gold watch on her wrist was slightly bright, warm, comfortable and slightly indulgent.

Old Qian Feng, Uesugi Sosetsu commented in his heart.

"I'm so sorry to bother you." My fiancé thanked Uesugi Sosetsu, "Anyway, if it weren't for you, those policemen would still suspect me of being the murderer."

"In cases like this, the police's reasoning logic is similar." Uesugi Sosetsu looked at the night view of the port area from afar, his eyes inadvertently passing over his fiancé.

Mariko Hironaka is watching you!

Buddy, be careful, you don’t want to be involved in the curse, right?

"How is it? The night view of Minato, isn't it nice?" Shimagawa Ren saw Uesugi Sosetsu staring outside and smiled, "I was born and raised in Minato, so I'm used to seeing it. I go to school in Minato, and my family and friends are all from Minato. My grandfather often came to Fujitai to play in his time."

"Really?" Uesugi Sosetsu smiled, and Hironaka Mariko next to him complained: [How many Minato-ku did this guy mention in one sentence? Minato-ku boy? ]

As if he had a premonition, Shimagawa Ren smiled and said, "Uesugi-kun, you don't mind me calling you that, do you? Were you wondering just now why this person kept mentioning Minato?"

After saying that, without waiting for Uesugi Sosetsu to answer, Shimagawa Ren continued, "Because people from Minato District basically only make friends with people from Minato District, only people born in Minato District can enter the small groups in Minato District. The fathers and grandfathers of our small circle are all from Minato District. It's a bit exaggerated to say that they have been around for eight generations, but you should understand what I mean."

"Don't you also like to talk about your identity as a Chinese?" Shima Kawanalen said, "We are the same kind of people."

Uesugi Sosetsu understood what Shima Kawanren meant. He leaned on the railing like his fiancé and smiled helplessly: "Yes, we are the same kind of people."

Under the cover of night, the Chinese and the Minato lords were enjoying the breeze together, a meeting between old money and old kazoku.

"So you can understand me, you must understand me." Shima Kawanalen lit a cigarette and blew out smoke rings: "The Metropolitan Police Department's suspicion is actually correct. I don't feel sad about Hongzhong's death."

"As someone who comes from the Chinese ethnic group, you must understand that wives are sometimes meant to be shown off to others." Shimagawa Ren said slowly, "Fuji TV's female anchors are always a face-saving thing when they are taken outside or to small gatherings in the port area. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Uesugi Sosetsu nodded slowly. The same was true of his mother, Uesugi Tomoko. She came from a prominent family and was proficient in flower arrangement, tea ceremony, hanafuda and poetry. She made the family look good when she went out to meet guests and communicate.

This kind of wife is shown to outsiders. In fact, the relationship between her parents was average when they just got married. It's just that Uesugi Tomoko became pregnant and gave birth to a boy after marriage. Her father, who was under great pressure to be a single child, was overjoyed. Since then, the relationship between the couple has become very harmonious and continued to heat up. Then she was born, and her father and mother became a loving couple.

"Yes, you should understand that marrying a female anchor of Fuji TV will make me look good, so I don't care. I don't care what she was like before marriage. I thought that if she and I don't get along, we can just be a fake couple and have our own fun. If we get along, then I am willing to settle down and live a good life with her."

"I didn't have any feelings for her in the first place. I didn't love her. When I heard the news of her disappearance, I thought she regretted it. It didn't matter. It was just that the engagement was terminated and she got a new partner. So I didn't feel sad. I couldn't shed a single tear. Those useless police officers would naturally regard me as a suspect, but they don't understand! They don't understand Hong Kong at all, and they don't understand people like us!"

"We are born to marry people we don't like! Even if the wedding date is approaching, or we are married, there is no need for us to break up with the mama-san in Ginza!" Shimagawa Ren was so angry that he punched the railing. "That greedy idiot from the Metropolitan Police Department who is eager to solve the case! He actually pressed me on the table. I must pay him back tenfold... no, a hundredfold!"

"I can't say for sure what kind of person I will marry in the future." Uesugi Muneyuki could feel his fiancé's pride and anger at being offended. He expressed his understanding and was about to comfort Shima Kawanalen, but he was shocked to find that his fiancé was crying.

"But, but..." Shimagawa Ren wiped the tears from her face with her hands: "Why did it turn out like this? Why did I get to know her only after she died? Why did I understand her kindness only after she died? She would write a recommendation letter for a temporary employee and chat with him privately. How great would it be if such a kind and good woman could become my wife?"

"Why did I have to wait until she died to find out, why did I..." Shimagawa Ren slammed the railing, feeling angry and sad: "I finally got ready to get married, but God wants her to leave?!"

"Woo~~" My fiancé hung his head, sniffed, and was extremely frustrated: "Why am I thinking of crying now?"

"Because Mr. Shimagawa, your tears are not for love. You just regret that you lost a beautifully packaged blind box before you had the chance to open it. And you didn't realize that the things in the box were worth the money until they were broken. You just cried for your loss." Uesugi Munen shook his head and patted the fiancé on the shoulder: "Not getting and losing are the eternal pains of human beings. Just because you are willing to cry for her, it is enough."

"We are indeed the same kind of people." Shima Kawanalen sniffed and took the initiative to reach out to Uesugi Sosetsu: "Let's be friends, Uesugi-kun."

"agree."

　This update has 5200 words. Is that considered quite sincere?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)