Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Truth Revealed

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News kept arriving from the front, one report after another.

The deceased was named Daigo Matsubara, formerly an employee of the Tokyo Fujita Construction Company. He had worked as a construction laborer, but lost his job after the bubble burst. His wife divorced him, took most of their property, and left with their child. Matsubara had no choice but to live off his former savings.

The economy remained sluggish, and Matsubara’s habit of spending lavishly, formed in his younger days, soon exhausted what little money he had left. He became homeless, joining a group of down-and-out former construction workers who had built several makeshift shelters out of cardboard boxes and plastic sheeting in a corner near the station.

The station was thoroughly fed up with these vagrants, who mooched off others, slept wherever they pleased, rummaged through the garbage, and occasionally committed petty theft. Yet, because the law protected them, evicting the group was no easy matter. Tensions accumulated between the two sides, eventually erupting into open conflicts.

The stationmaster of Mitani Station and several employees had long since grown hostile toward the group. Then, two weeks earlier, according to the stationmaster’s statement, Daigo Matsubara was discovered dead beneath the train tracks, his body severed into several pieces.

The stationmaster, the employees, and the conductor who had climbed down to inspect the scene were all horrified. There was no doubt that this would be classified as a major safety incident, and everyone from the top to the bottom of the station would receive disciplinary action. For a moment, the people at the scene were overwhelmed by panic.

Then the stationmaster recognized Matsubara. He realized that the dead man was one of the homeless people living near the station.

An idea struck him.

Homeless people had always been marginalized figures whom no one took responsibility for—ignored by society and despised by it. No one would care when they died or disappeared. So the stationmaster came up with a plan. They concealed the incident, dumped the body into the river, and agreed that each of them would keep the secret.

They were confident it would work. Even if the body were discovered, it was only the corpse of a homeless man. What attention could it possibly attract? Tokyo was enormous. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for several hundred unnatural deaths to occur every year?

A few people had died. Their JR was responsible for the whole of Kanto.

If a fragment of the body had not remained stuck to the underside of the train, and if Uesugi Muneyuki himself had not come to investigate, the group might truly have gotten away with it.

However, after a large number of police officers arrived, and after Director Nanmo disclosed Uesugi Muneyuki’s conclusions to the higher-ups at JR East, the men led by the stationmaster immediately panicked. Before long, an ordinary platform attendant was the first to break under the pressure and surrender to the police, explaining everything that had happened.

At that point, the case of the dismembered body beneath the train was finally brought to light.

As the investigation proceeded, the entire truth surfaced. Every piece of evidence and every clue matched Uesugi Muneyuki’s deductions. The Metropolitan Police Department was already preparing divers to enter the river and recover the body at the location he had identified.

In the maintenance headquarters’ lounge, Director Nanmo silently lowered his phone. He was impressed, yet stubbornly shook his head.

“Young man, you win.”

“What did I win?”

Uesugi Muneyuki’s expression remained calm, but his unclenched fist proved that he had been somewhat tense after all.

The man had been dead for some time, so only a small remnant of his soul had awakened. Fortunately, Uesugi recognized the construction uniform, which allowed him to make a relatively accurate judgment.

“All right. This time, it was indeed a failure on the part of JR East, as well as a failure of supervision on my part. I apologize to you here and now.”

Director Nanmo had been unable to determine what Uesugi Muneyuki was thinking. Now that both witnesses and physical evidence were present, even a Fortune Global 500 company had no choice but to show a proper attitude.

The situation filled Director Nanmo with bitter resentment, yet he was so impressed by Uesugi’s abilities that he had nothing to say.

He disliked men like this, but he could not bring himself to hate them.

“There’s no need for you to apologize to me. If you truly want to apologize, you should apologize to Mr. Matsubara, who died,” Uesugi Muneyuki said indifferently. “I told you, I’m only a forensic pathologist. My job is to make the truth clear.”

“Director Nanmo, Inspector Moritsugu, you may think I’m targeting you, but all I want is to reconstruct what happened and tell everyone the truth—to tell the ordinary people outside, to tell the entire nation: this is what happened, nothing more.”

Uesugi Muneyuki remained completely composed. Then he suddenly asked, “Wait. Where’s my pork cutlet rice?”

“Right away! I’ll buy it now!”

Inspector Moritsugu hurriedly signaled one of his subordinates to go. He even pulled a ten-thousand-yen note from his pocket. The subordinate felt as though the money were burning his hand; it took him three attempts to grasp it properly before he hurried away in confusion.

“She wants one too.”

Uesugi Muneyuki pointed at Ikeda Erina, who stood beside him.

Naturally, the tall beauty responded with an exasperated roll of her eyes.

Her face displayed nothing but disdain, yet waves were crashing through Ikeda’s heart.

What an astonishingly commanding man!

Watching Uesugi Muneyuki’s stern, serious, and indifferent profile, Erina felt her heart pounding violently.

The pressure from both a Fortune Global 500 company and the police department had nearly suffocated her just moments ago. Yet how had Uesugi managed to remain completely calm, without even the slightest change in expression, while placing such absolute faith in his own judgment?

Perhaps this was what made him feel so different from everyone else.

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“All right. Give me the death certificate now. I’ll write the report.”

Uesugi Muneyuki paid no attention to Erina’s complicated gaze and indicated that the death certificate could now be rewritten.

“Mr. Uesugi, you jest.”

Director Nanmo immediately rose to his feet. “It would be terribly discourteous to continue here. Please come with me to JR East’s headquarters. The president has already prepared to apologize to you in person.”

With that, the others also rose voluntarily.

“What about my pork cutlet rice?” Uesugi Muneyuki blinked.

“The president has reserved premium boxed meals at the Imperial Hotel. We sincerely hope you will honor us with your presence.”

Director Nanmo thought to himself, Of all times, he’s still worrying about that pork cutlet rice?

By the time the group had gotten into the car and was preparing to leave, Inspector Moritsugu of the Shinagawa Police Station finally realized what had happened.

Hey! I was the one who paid for that pork cutlet rice!

Hey!!!

—A dividing line celebrating the deliciousness of pork cutlet rice—

The next day, the Asahi Shimbun, Daily Telegraph, Economic News, and Yomiuri Shimbun all gave the incident extensive coverage.

“Dismembered Body Found Beneath Train in Shinagawa Solved in One Day—New Forensic Pathologist Displays Godlike Judgment!”

“Stationmaster Conceals Death—JR East President and Directors Publicly Apologize!”

“Metropolitan Police Respond Swiftly—A Glimpse into the Daily Affairs of the Transportation Division, Its Core Department!”

“Super Rookie Forensic Pathologist Had Already Proven His Ability—Was He Also Responsible for the Recent Autopsy in Bunkyo Ward?”

“Beautiful Female Officer from Bunkyo Ward—The Hidden Truth About Her Private Life Revealed!”

On television, Fuji TV, NTV, and TBS all reported on the incident. Since Uesugi Muneyuki had conducted his examination and deductions almost entirely in front of the reporters, it was practically half a live broadcast. The journalists who had obtained the first-hand scoop immediately sent their reports back to the stations, which broadcast them in a frenzy.

Arranged by JR East, Uesugi Muneyuki gave an interview at the Imperial Hotel. Just as he had said, he merely repeated the facts of the case. After that, he wrote out the death certificate in full view of everyone, signed and stamped it, and officially announced that his duties were complete.

But that was simply how people were. The calmer and more indifferent Uesugi Muneyuki appeared, the greater the public’s interest in him became. Before long, the internet had bestowed upon him the nickname “the Cold-Faced Forensic Pathologist.”

Ikeda Erina, who had accompanied him, also received a small share of the attention, astonishing the people of Tokyo with the discovery that even a local precinct could have such a beautiful female officer.

Unfortunately, Ikeda detested interviews. She said not a word throughout, wearing the same stern, unapproachable expression from beginning to end.

At the same time, the living conditions of the former construction workers sparked heated debate throughout society. Many people believed that the homeless had begun interfering with public transportation and that forceful measures had to be taken.

Others argued that these construction workers had devoted their youth, sweat, and labor to building the nation. They should not be abandoned to wander the streets in their old age; the authorities ought to provide assistance and support.

Society erupted into a war of words, and various news outlets even produced special programs on the subject.

Every program began with Uesugi Muneyuki’s examination of the corpse.

As the controversy continued to spread, at Sakuradamon in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward stood the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Protecting the lives, bodies, and property of the entire population was the mission of every police officer. As the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, directly under the National Police Agency, it was responsible for the safety of Tokyo’s thirty million residents and gathered nearly all of Japan’s finest police officers under one roof.

One man was responsible for commanding this most advanced organization. He stood at the summit of the eighty thousand officers of the Metropolitan Police Department—the elite among the elite, the man seated atop the pyramid of power.

The newly appointed Commissioner General was Eiji Watanabe.

A thick stack of newspapers lay on an enormous wooden desk. Nearby, summer sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains and illuminated a newly installed aquarium, where fish swam leisurely between aquatic plants. The potted plants beloved by the former commissioner had all been removed. The new Commissioner Watanabe apparently had little fondness for them.

One headline in the newspaper read:

“Stationmaster, Conductor, and Workers Collectively Dismissed—JR East Decision Sparks Public Concern.”

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Eiji Watanabe was tall and powerfully built. His wheat-colored skin and simply parted short hair suggested that he had spent plenty of time in the field. Yet compared with the former chief of the First Investigative Division, who had personally led operations, Watanabe—who had served successively as Criminal Affairs Director of the Metropolitan Police Department, Criminal Affairs Director of the National Police Agency, and Deputy Commissioner of the National Police Agency—now bore a slight trace of middle-aged heaviness.

Like Uesugi Muneyuki, the new Commissioner General possessed a pair of exceptionally sharp eyes. Not only suspects, but even his subordinates both respected and feared him.

Standing before him now, trembling with unease, were the chief of the Shinagawa Police Station and Inspector Moritsugu, who had been responsible for investigating the case. Since Shinagawa was a major station, its chief held the rank of superintendent general and was already considered part of the senior management. Even so, he did not dare breathe too loudly before Eiji Watanabe as he awaited his fate. Inspector Moritsugu was even more nervous, his hair soaked with sweat.

“So this is what they call a refreshing new beginning,” Commissioner Watanabe said with a chuckle after glancing over the newspapers again. The large screen in the office was also showing footage of Uesugi Muneyuki’s interview. “The Shinagawa Station really has given me quite a welcome gift. I’ve only occupied this position for three days, and the president of JR East has already come to see me in person.”

After he finished laughing, neither the station chief nor Inspector Moritsugu dared respond. Watanabe frowned.

“What is it? Is there a problem?”

“Regarding the way the case was handled the other day, our station unanimously feels that compared with the forensic pathologists of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Identification Division, Mr. Uesugi is still rather unconventional,” Inspector Moritsugu said hesitantly. “The case was resolved successfully only because so many circumstances happened to coincide.”

“What do you mean, ‘happened to coincide’?”

Watanabe’s brows drew together. He did not need to raise his voice to inspire fear.

Inspector Moritsugu immediately fell silent.

“I watched his interview. Which of his statements lacked a scientific basis? Which of his conclusions was wrong? Or do you believe he was merely guessing blindly and happened to guess correctly?”

“You’re right, sir.”

Inspector Moritsugu immediately lowered his head.

“And you too, Aonuma. If you still want to rise higher, stop colluding with corporations all day long.”

Watanabe’s eyes fixed on the chief of Shinagawa Station.

“Don’t be afraid of trouble. Hasn’t this incident simply earned the Metropolitan Police Department a major favor from JR? Constantly bowing and scraping is not the way of the Metropolitan Police Department.”

“You’re right, sir!”

The chief of Shinagawa Station hurriedly lowered his head as well.

“In this age of highly specialized and professionalized fields, we cannot rely solely on personal connections and experience. This incident should also serve as a warning to the Identification Division. A twenty-two-year-old forensic pathologist who has only just become a permanent employee is vastly superior to them—not by a little, but by an enormous margin.”

Watanabe interlaced his fingers.

“Criminal techniques and abilities are constantly advancing. We must keep pace. What we need now is precisely this kind of extraordinary talent. You made the right choice this time.”

“You’re right, sir!” they said together.

Yet the chief of Shinagawa Station still voiced his concern.

“But Uesugi Muneyuki is not directly under our command. Could his personality cause trouble?”

“What? Didn’t Uesugi himself say that his job was simply to make the truth clear? Do you mean to say that the dignified Metropolitan Police Department lacks the confidence to control and make use of him? You’re underestimating Sakuradamon.”

Watanabe continued smiling as he shook his head.

“Whether a sword wounds its wielder does not depend on how sharp the sword is, but on the person who wields it.”

“For us, efficiency is what matters most. Every year, the Diet allocates us such a large budget. Is it meant for you to spend all day reporting suicides and missing persons? The way this case was handled was not elegant? Solved in one day, with witnesses and physical evidence all in place. Even the district prosecutors’ office will have nothing to say about that.”

The Commissioner General remained relaxed.

“In fact, I just received a rather special phone call.”

“In every one of those shelters where Daigo Matsubara lived, the occupants are fighting to confess and turn themselves in. They want to admit to negligent homicide. After all, for homeless people, being sent to prison means food and medical care. Isn’t that far better than living on the streets?”

Watanabe’s words were laden with meaning.

“As for how the Metropolitan Police Department handles the rest of the matter, Uesugi won’t interfere. From now on, feel free to seek his help boldly.”

The chief of Shinagawa Station and Inspector Moritsugu both shuddered.

“So you chose correctly. Not only did you choose correctly—you should seek him out more often. True gold will always shine.”

Watanabe smiled.

“Come to think of it, my wife and his mother are riichi mahjong companions. How did Hirofumi manage to hide a son like that? I’d never heard of him before. Ha ha ha!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the telephone on the desk suddenly rang.

The chief of Shinagawa Station and Inspector Moritsugu hurriedly excused themselves and left.

“Yes, I’ll handle it properly. I’m deeply grateful for your praise,” Eiji Watanabe said respectfully into the receiver. “Yes, I arranged for the matter to be handled. Everything will be resolved appropriately.”

“All right. I look forward to your continued guidance.”

After setting down the receiver, Eiji Watanabe contentedly ran a hand over the chair beneath him. He patted the armrest twice and straightened himself. Behind him, the Metropolitan Police Department’s golden cherry-blossom emblem shone with magnificent brilliance.

He slowly leaned back in the chair, eyes half closed and mouth slightly open. Only after his back had settled firmly against the backrest did he open his eyes with a smile at the corners of his mouth. Then he gently shifted his body to the left, turning the chair forty-five degrees.

At last, he had taken his seat at Sakuradamon.

It was a good beginning.