Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 597, What can relieve sorrow? Only Uesugi!

It was late at night, and it was raining heavily outside. Inside a secret police facility.

The room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like you could wring water out of it.

Inspector Toru Kinoshita sat at one side of the long table, opposite his two stern-faced superiors—Muneo Hasegawa, head of the Security Planning Division, and Superintendent Kaoru Ichijo.

Hasegawa was older, with eyes as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well, and his buzz cut was already gray. Ichijo, on the other hand, was relatively younger, sharp and imposing, with long hair, and his fingertips rhythmically tapped the table.

"So," Hasegawa began slowly, his voice low, "are you sure that you retrieved all of Nakamura's belongings immediately after he collapsed?"

“Yes, Section Chief Hasegawa,” Kinoshita replied confidently. “A notebook, a disposable cell phone, and some loose change and identification in his wallet. Nothing else.”

“Technical team report,” Kaoru Ichijo interjected, her voice laced with suppressed anger, “There’s nothing in the notebook, and the disposable cell phone only contains records of our one-on-one communications. What we’ve recovered after investing significant resources and risking exposure is just an ‘empty shell.’”

Hasegawa took a deep drag on his cigarette and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke: "Nakamura was shrewd, but also greedy. He probably had a backup plan, wanting to hold onto the most crucial information and sell it for a better price. In the end... he lost his life before the price was agreed upon." There was no regret in his tone, only displeasure at the loss of control and indifference towards his pawns for disobeying orders.

Kinoshita felt a sense of powerlessness; the informant's ulterior motives ultimately led to utter failure.

“The key point is the attack itself,” Kaoru Ichijo looked at Kinoshita. “Touya-kun, recall again any details—the sounds, the light, the smells, or Nakamura’s unusual behavior before he died?”

Kinoshita meticulously recounted the bizarre scene: the rainy night, the vague sensation of impact, Nakamura's rapid reaction to pain, foaming at the mouth, and his dying words, "Arisu."

“Arisu… Arisu…” Hasegawa chewed on the word repeatedly, “A name? A code name? An organization? Or was it just his delirious ramblings when he was already in a daze?”

“It could be the name of a property or company, or even a place name, like Arisugawa,” Inspector Ichijo said hesitantly.

“There’s so much to cover here. There are at least 20,000 to 30,000 people in Japan named Arisu, and at least 300 streets, companies, and places with that name,” Sumiko Ozawa added from the side.

"Did you find anything on the body?" Section Chief Hasegawa had no choice but to ask.

"The forensic team said the cause of death was an acute myocardial infarction accompanied by severe coronary artery spasm. Under high stress (the rendezvous) and harsh conditions (a cold, rainy night), it triggered a latent, undetected heart condition." Sumiko Ozawa was somewhat embarrassed: "But... but that's actually impossible!"

"why?"

“Because Nakamura has no history of heart disease, and both sides agreed that the meeting wouldn't be a shock, he appeared normal when I saw him.” Inspector Kinoshita's expression was extremely grim: “I think it's highly likely, no, it's absolutely the impact that Nakamura seemed to have been hit by, absolutely!”

However, this is incredible!
Because Inspector Kinoshita didn't see anyone at all!

In other words, the murderer committed the crime in the pitch-black rainy night with extremely low visibility, in a place where Kinoshita and Nakamura could not detect it!
This...this is not human!
“I think Kinoshita has a point, but... there’s no evidence to prove it right now,” said Inspector Ichijo.

The discussion reached a stalemate.

The opponent's methods were too sophisticated, leaving almost no clues.

A routine autopsy is unlikely to reveal the truth.

After a long silence, Hasegawa stubbed out his cigarette and made a decision: "The conventional forensic approach won't work. We need eyes that can see through the 'disguise'."

Kaoru Ichijo immediately understood: "You mean... Dr. Uesugi?"

“That’s right.” Hasegawa nodded. “He is the country’s top forensic authority, especially skilled at deciphering unconventional poisons and causes of death. Only he could possibly read the invisible ‘signature’ left by the murderer on Nakamura’s body.”

We need Uesugi's strength!

What can dispel sorrow? Only Uesugi!
“However,” Kinoshita couldn’t help but remind him, “Dr. Uesugi has a special background. His request for the Special Missions Unit to intervene in a sensitive Public Security case…”

“Risk and reward go hand in hand.” Hasegawa interrupted him. “We must know who our opponent is and what methods they will use. I will personally apply to and coordinate this matter with my superiors.”

"It's time to put Sakura Miyawaki to use!" Section Chief Hasegawa stared coldly at Inspector Kinoshita: "We've been training her for a thousand days, now it's time to use her for one. Let Sakura Miyawaki lead the charge! ... Kinoshita, have you informed Miyawaki that she might be in danger?"

"I've notified her." Kinoshita Toruya clasped his hands together. "I've informed her that she might be in danger and to evacuate her immediately!"

After saying that, the police officer gave a meaningful smile: "Given her connections, in this crisis, the only people she can turn to for help are Shirakawa Mai and Uesugi Muneyuki."

"Mai Shirakawa is backed by the Kanto Shrine Alliance, and as for Muneyuki Uesugi... well, as long as Sakura Miyawaki wants to live, she will definitely ask for help. Wouldn't that be a perfect way for us to drag Muneyuki Uesugi into this?"

In the dimly lit, smoke-filled room, the elite police officers wore strange smiles.

This is where Miyawaki Sakura's value lies!
Pay attention! This is how you use the character "编" (biān).
........................

Let's rewind to an hour earlier.

Sakura Miyawaki dragged her tired body back to her apartment building after recording a late-night program.

The rain was still falling, and the atmosphere wasn't exactly harmonious.

The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow on the wet ground.

Sakura sighed, feeling a little down.

After weathering the severe crisis of the Financial Services Agency's sanctions at the beginning of the year, with the return of Masayoshi Okada, Financial Services Agency Commissioner Masayoshi Okada finally let YKC48 go, allowing the theater to reopen and the idols to appear in front of their fans again.

However, the huge blow this ban dealt to 48 was beyond words. Top members such as Shimazaki Haruka jumped ship and graduated. With 48 absent, Hirate and her Akashirosaka finally made a comeback and seized the title of the number one idol girl group.

However, while the group was flopping, Sakura herself became very popular. By choosing to stay and weather the storm with the group during its most critical time, Sakura not only defeated Jurina Matsui to become the center for the first time, but also secured a stable position on Fuji TV and even got a guest appearance in a Fuji TV Monday night drama! Although it was a guest appearance, it was a Monday night drama!
Although she only had a few minutes of screen time and appeared as a background girl (referring to the outermost one in the trio of hot girls from the female lead's school), it was still a Monday night drama!

Even more exciting is that Fuji TV's "God's Hand" has finally been approved, and Sakura has naturally been given a role, and will appear as a regular female police officer every few episodes!

Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly along the predetermined path. The glory, opportunities, and the favor of a heavyweight figure made her almost forget the ever-present coercion and danger.

However, tiny cracks began to appear unexpectedly.

What first alerted her was the unusual activity downstairs in the apartment building.

Several times when she returned home late at night, she noticed a black van she had never seen before parked downstairs. The windows were covered with dark tint, making it impossible to see the interior.

As she approaches, the car starts silently and drives away slowly, as if it had just happened to stop there.

On another occasion, when she looked down at the street from her balcony, she seemed to see a man in a gray jacket standing on the street corner for a long time. He didn't seem to be waiting for someone or making a phone call; he was just quietly "waiting".

What alarmed her most was a subtle, unspeakable shift in the atmosphere within the team.

A stylist who usually had a decent relationship with her suddenly whispered, seemingly unintentionally, while helping her adjust her performance outfit, "Sakura-chan, lately... have you been too tired? Don't push yourself too hard." Her eyes held a worried look that seemed to want to say something but couldn't.

These fragmented pieces of information, like cold needles, pierced the protective shield she had woven with glamour and busyness.

The parent company became suspicious.

They were unsure of the source of the stolen documents and leaked intelligence, but clearly, an internal cleanup and investigation had been quietly launched.

And she, this "lucky one" who has recently had unusually good resources and has been too close to important figures outside the circle, has undoubtedly been placed somewhere on the suspect list.

Panic overwhelmed her instantly; she could almost hear her heart pounding wildly. She knew better than anyone what exposure meant—it would be a fate a thousand times worse than becoming an informant.

But she couldn't panic.

You absolutely cannot run away.

If anything unusual is displayed, it's tantamount to admitting guilt without being asked.

As expected of Black Sakura, she put on a good show, pretending to be completely oblivious to everything.

She still rushes to various gigs every day with boundless energy, showing her most perfect smile in front of the camera, and still carefully and subtly maintains her connection with Uesugi Muneyuki, playing the role of Shirakawa Mai's fervently admired junior.

Reaching her apartment floor, the hallway was silent except for the echo of her high heels clicking on the floor. Everything seemed normal, but just as she took out her key, preparing to insert it into the lock, her movement abruptly stopped.

There was a very fine, almost invisible watermark on the doorknob.

She was certain her door was dry when she left. The building's cleaning staff usually only clean in the morning. This water stain...did someone touch her doorknob just before she returned?

Her heart clenched suddenly, and a chill crept up her spine. She immediately thought of the subtle anomalies she had noticed in the past few days—the unfamiliar car downstairs, the suspicious "repairman" from her neighbor, and now this fatal detail on the doorknob.

Just then, the encrypted phone in her bag suddenly vibrated, like a thunderclap in the silent corridor.

The caller was from "Agasa's on-site plumbing and electrical repair service in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo".

It's Inspector Kinoshita's phone call!
She answered the call almost tremblingly, lowering her voice: "Moshi Moshi?"

"Miyawaki! Now! Leave your current residence immediately!" Kinoshita Touya's voice had never sounded so urgent, even tinged with panic: "The situation is extremely dangerous, don't go home! Go to a crowded place, or... find a place you can trust that is absolutely safe! Hurry!"

Kinoshita's warning was like a bucket of ice water poured over her head, instantly confirming her deepest fears!

She suppressed the urge to scream, her eyes rapidly scanning the quiet corridor. Should she run downstairs now? What if the other party was waiting in the stairwell or lobby? Alone, she would be walking right into a trap.

In a flash, she made her decision.

Mai-sama saved my mouth and teeth!
However, just as she was thinking about it, Miyawaki Sakura suddenly remembered that Mai had an important announcement to make today!

With such an important announcement, the agent would definitely take away the phone!

No!

Then, there is only one answer!

What can relieve my sorrow? Only Uesugi!
Instead of turning and running away, she immediately used her everyday cell phone to dial Uesugi Muneyuki's number, her voice trembling with fear and tears:
"Hello, is this Mr. Uesugi? This is Sakura! I... I think I saw a man in a hat trying to break into my neighbor's door in the hallway! He thinks he saw me! I'm so scared!!!"

Soyuki Uesugi: "?"

"???"

"??????"

If you see anyone suspicious, call the police!
I'm not a police officer!

(End of this chapter)