Chapter Four: It Is the Nation That Is Ill

Under the guidance of Uesugi Sosetsu, the soul of Masao Endo was separated. The "Hun"—the symbolic essence of his soul's will—gradually dissipated, while the "Po"—the primordial force of his soul—was absorbed by Uesugi Sosetsu into the azure gemstone embedded in his right hand.

The elderly soul, having witnessed Uesugi Sosetsu clarify the facts, was filled with a sense of satisfaction. The old man seemed entirely indifferent to how many years his son might spend in prison or whether there would be anyone to look after his grandson. These things did not concern him; the only thing he harbored resentment for was that his son and daughter-in-law lived in his house, spent his national pension and welfare pension, and yet dared to disobey his commands—dared to rebel against their own father!

Before he began to lose his physical faculties, Masao Endo had always been the absolute master of his household.

However, as his body began to fail, the old man realized he could no longer control his son and daughter-in-law as he once had. From a trivial incident, Masao Endo had sensed a profound fear.

His daughter-in-law had started buying the vegetables she liked to eat!

Choosing vegetables that his son and daughter-in-law hated and commanding them to eat them as the head of the household was one of the few hobbies that allowed Masao Endo to show a genuine smile.

He feared losing control; he feared his status declining; he feared being treated as a burden.

The more he lost control, the more he craved to assert his presence, the more he had to show that he was still capable, still able.

In the end, everything spiraled toward an irreparable conclusion.

[So, in the end, you young people could never understand how much I suffered for this family, how much I endured to support them. When I was working a dozen hours a day to feed the family, my hands blistered over and over—wasn't it all for them?]

As his soul dissipated, the old man answered Uesugi Sosetsu’s question with utter disdain: [As children, offering everything to their father is paramount. If they cannot do that, then such children have no reason to exist!]

The old man was satisfied, leaving behind a silent Uesugi Sosetsu, who truly wanted to slap the old ghost across the face.

Without reaching this age and experiencing the pain of physical decline, it was hard for him to empathize with the mindset behind the old man's constant torment of his children, but undoubtedly, he was an old beast who thought only of himself.

As the energy of the "Po" poured in, the azure gemstone grew brighter, and a brief message transmitted into Uesugi Sosetsu’s mind.

This was a law similar to a contract: every soul with deep obsession would linger in the mortal world for a time. If Uesugi Sosetsu could grant them peace, he would receive the "Po" left behind by the deceased.

"Hun" and "Po"—the "Hun" represents a person's will, while the "Po" is the force the soul uses to drive the body's activities.

As for granting peace, it did not necessarily mean Uesugi Sosetsu had to fulfill the deceased’s wishes or demands. What he had to do was point out the facts through dialogue with the deceased and bring the truth to light. This was determined by the contractual law hidden within the gemstone; if the deceased had obsessions and wished to clarify them, they had no right to refuse Uesugi Sosetsu’s dialogue. Likewise, if the deceased provided information, Uesugi Sosetsu was obligated to grant them peace.

The male homeowner had confessed. With the civil case upgraded to a criminal one, the police now had grounds to request a judicial autopsy. Uesugi Sosetsu and Professor Okochi prepared to return.

As Uesugi Sosetsu was packing his things, Professor Okochi's raspy voice came from behind him: "During your first autopsy, how did you know the belt was the murder weapon?"

"Er..." Even with his back to Professor Okochi, Uesugi Sosetsu could still feel the old professor’s piercing, insightful gaze. "Actually... the shape of the ligature marks looked very much like a belt, Mr. Endo’s expression was always strange, and he kept reaching for his waist..."

Professor Okochi did not respond to Uesugi Sosetsu’s slightly clumsy answer. He looked at Uesugi Sosetsu deeply and said nothing more.

The old, sharp look hidden behind Professor Okochi’s drooping eyelids and heavy bags appeared for only a fleeting second before he returned to his usual, tranquil state.

Seeing the old professor remain silent, Uesugi Sosetsu thought for a moment and asked tentatively, "Professor, have you already discovered the root of the problem?"

"............" Upon hearing this, Professor Okochi looked up at Uesugi Sosetsu, but then silently lowered his head to continue packing. Once all the tools were stowed away, he said dryly, "You destroyed a family by doing this, do you know that? The husband will be sentenced to at least fifteen years for intentional homicide, and the wife will get at least five years as an accomplice. Have you considered these consequences?"

Hearing the professor say this, Uesugi Sosetsu felt a bit uneasy. He had asked the dead soul of Masao Endo this very question, and the old man had responded with fierce approval.

It seemed that sometimes, the bond between father and son was not merely affection, but a cycle of mutual torment and exploitation—a union of mutual loathing.

"Does the professor think I did something wrong?" Uesugi Sosetsu asked, his own resolve wavering.

"No, Uesugi-kun, I support your actions," Professor Okochi replied, contradicting himself. "As you said, the specific circumstances, the hidden reasons for the crime, and the considerations of the verdict—these are not things we as forensic pathologists should consider. Once we introduce emotion, we deviate from our duties."

"As forensic pathologists, all we must do is clarify the facts." Professor Okochi paused for a long time before slowly adding, "Your autopsy destroyed a family, but that is not your fault."

"It is this country that is sick."

This country is sick.

There was a hint of confusion and numbness in Professor Okochi’s voice. He signaled to Uesugi Sosetsu that they were finished and that the police would take them back to the university.

After the old professor spoke, his face seemed to age even further; even the bright morning sun outside could not mask his weariness and frailty.

"Wait!" Just as Professor Okochi was about to leave, Uesugi Sosetsu hurried to catch up, walking alongside him. "Professor, you can determine the true cause of death just by looking at the wounds and post-mortem lividity on a body. With your expertise, why did you choose the Department of Forensic Pathology?"

"If I don’t do it, who else would?" The old professor stopped. "Treating every case with complete devotion—that is the fundamental attitude of medicine. Modern professors only chase funding and titles; they have forgotten the original purpose of medicine."

"A personality like yours, which likes to get to the truth and clarify everything, might be just right for a forensic pathologist, Uesugi-kun."

Back at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, the campus was bustling, but the Department of Forensic Pathology remained cold and lonely. The prosperity outside could not penetrate here; only the occasional broadcast sound could pass through the thick doors to the ears of the old man and the young student.

"Come here." Professor Okochi set aside the autopsy report and gestured for Uesugi Sosetsu to approach.

Uesugi Sosetsu, wearing his white lab coat, stood obediently before the professor.

"Today’s autopsy was brilliant. As an intern in surgery, the fact that you knew the difference between strangulation and hanging, and could provide a medical explanation through the victim's facial bruising and ligature marks—Uesugi, you might be a genius the likes of which I haven't seen in my decades of performing autopsies," Professor Okochi frowned. "But! Do not use deceptive tactics!"

"You couldn't be certain if Endo’s belt was the murder weapon, yet you rushed to voice your guess. Foolish! Absolutely foolish! Do you know that if I hadn't been there to provide evidence of the post-mortem lividity, those police officers would never have requested Mr. Endo to remove his belt for inspection? Have you considered what you, an intern, could have done if Mr. Endo had refused to confess?!"

"You kept saying that the professors' voices are the loudest in the hospital, yet in the end, you relied on such deception yourself? Our hospital already has too many politicians; everyone has forgotten the essence of medicine. Uesugi, if you want to walk this path, I think you should drop out now and run for city council in Yonezawa!"

"I'm sorry, Professor." Only then did Uesugi Sosetsu realize how reckless his behavior had been today. In a situation where he couldn't tell anyone that he could communicate with the dead, he had relied entirely on a burst of righteousness and a bluffing interrogation to make Mr. Endo confess.

But what if Professor Okochi hadn't supported him? What if Mr. Endo had stubbornly refused to admit guilt? What if no skin particles had been detected on the belt?

Although it was impossible for there to be no skin particles on the belt, in the eyes of others, he was nothing but a gambler!

Thinking of this, Uesugi Sosetsu broke into a cold sweat.

Possessing a powerful tool, the desire to use it arises naturally. Having discovered the wonders of his special ability for the first time, Uesugi Sosetsu couldn't help but try it out, couldn't help but want to showcase himself—this was only human nature.

"Alright, I'll handle the report. You worked hard performing an autopsy on your first day," seeing that Uesugi Sosetsu had taken his words to heart, Professor Okochi nodded. "Go home early today. We aren't the surgery department; we don't have that many issues here."

Uesugi Sosetsu did not refuse the professor’s kindness. He tucked two introductory forensic medicine books under his arm and left early. On the way, he received a call from Assistant Inspector Tanaka.

"Little brother Uesugi, the treat will have to be delayed for a couple of days. Since it’s become a criminal case, I have to go through the procedures and apply for a judicial autopsy," Assistant Inspector Tanaka’s voice was even more weary. "Oh my, you brat, you’ve increased my workload! And I still have to treat you to dinner. Good grief!"

I see. That’s fine, too.

Uesugi Sosetsu hung up the phone, feeling a weary sense of excitement.

For some reason, ever since he communicated with the soul of the deceased, Uesugi Sosetsu found that he was more eager for a "romantic connection" than ever before.

Since getting into Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Uesugi Sosetsu had changed sexual partners quite rapidly, updating them every three to five months. He was tireless in this pursuit, and with his hidden identity as a handsome, wealthy scion of the nobility, he naturally never lacked for girls willing to connect with him.

Walking for five minutes from the university, he arrived at the high-end apartment where he currently lived.

This twenty-story high-end apartment was a typical studio, with a total area of about twenty-eight square meters. To the left of the door was a shoe cabinet; to the right were the toilet and bathroom. Entering through the entryway, one could see the simple, bright kitchen and a small living area at a glance. A game controller lay on a plush sofa, a Sony PS4 was plugged into the wall-mounted 32-inch TV, and the coffee table was cluttered with medical books. Further inside was the bedroom, where a bookshelf, computer desk, and bed completed the view of this exquisite, Western-style student studio.

This apartment was provided by his family, rent-free, with all utilities and maintenance fees covered. In Bunkyo Ward, such an apartment would normally cost at least 100,000 yen per month in rent.

An intern's monthly salary was 220,000 yen, and his family gave him an additional 300,000 yen per month for living expenses. With no rent to pay, Uesugi Sosetsu was temporarily living the life of a wealthy noble.

But one must think of danger in times of peace. Uesugi Sosetsu wasn't sure if his family would continue to pay his utility bills and living expenses after he graduated.

There’s no helping it; second sons have no human rights. The family business is inherited by the eldest brother, and as the younger one, he has to be self-reliant.

After washing his face in the bathroom, Uesugi Sosetsu looked at himself in the mirror.

His parents had given him a good face. In the mirror, Uesugi Sosetsu looked calm and refined, with high, broad brows and handsome features—his face cool and sharp like a winter night sky. No wonder Assistant Inspector Tanaka had suggested he could become a host; even working two days a week, he would earn more than a forensic pathologist in a month.

That old rascal!

Thinking of this, Uesugi Sosetsu raised his right hand. He could feel that the gemstone on the back of his hand had become much brighter after being infused with the "Po" for the first time. At the same time, both his subconscious and the faint call emanating from the gemstone told him that it needed more "Po." Only by absorbing more could it continue to grow and truly open the gates to a new world.

Perhaps the secret of how he had transmigrated was hidden within this gemstone.

He needed more energy, more "Po," to activate its power.

So, how could he legally come into contact with a large number of dead souls to collect more "Po" and complete more contracts?

It seemed that he really had no choice but to be a forensic pathologist!

Uesugi Sosetsu scrubbed his face vigorously with water. He found that he couldn't control his excitement.

With this power, even in a "Tier 7" profession like forensic pathology, he would definitely be able to make a name for himself! And it was through this profession that he could take the opportunity to collect enough "Po" to further enhance his abilities and explore the truth behind his transmigration!

Let's do it!

Uesugi Sosetsu clasped his left hand over his right.

I have lived two lives, my worldly ties severed, the golden sea dried up.

If I do not don this monk's robe, how will the sentient beings know I have severed my worldly ties and the golden sea has dried up?

If I do not take this opportunity to achieve something great, how can I be worthy of this journey?

Life is fifty years, like a dream and an illusion; since there is life, there is death—why should a hero have any regrets?

Since I have transmigrated here, let it be one grand dream!

He dialed the phone; the other person might have been working, as it took a while before they answered.

"Let's meet up tonight. My treat," Uesugi Sosetsu said casually. "I know a nice place."

If he didn't offer to pay, she would never come out.

Just as he told Assistant Inspector Tanaka, Uesugi Sosetsu had met a student from Musashino University who had come to Tokyo from Hokkaido. She had long legs and a slender waist, and a unique "snow country" charm; he should be able to see her a few more times.

After receiving her confirmation, Uesugi Sosetsu grabbed a black permanent marker and wrote the scheduled date on the calendar hanging on the wall.

"7:00 PM, Date, Ichinotani Japanese Restaurant, Yushima Hotel."

After thinking for a moment, he added a note at the bottom to make sure he wouldn't forget.

"Two pairs of Atsugi-brand stockings from the convenience store downstairs."

He absolutely could not forget that!