Chapter 45: Official Appointment?

Inspector Megure's full name was Sota Megure. He was not a career-track elite; after all, had he been on the career track, someone around forty years of age would have somehow managed to become a Superintendent, Inspectorate Official, or Councillor at the Metropolitan Police Department. In reality, a genuine career-track elite from the MPD should attain the rank of Senior Superintendent by around age forty-five, either holding a high-ranking position as a section chief or department head within the MPD, or being dispatched to head a major local police station as its Chief.

"Keep it up, Inspector Megure, I'm rooting for you!" Uesugi Muneyuki offered some vapid, routine words of encouragement. "Since you're already in the First Investigative Division, I'm sure you'll be wearing the Senior Superintendent's badge by the time you reach mandatory retirement!"

"I'll take your kind words for it," Inspector Megure chuckled inwardly upon hearing Uesugi's remarks.

As mentioned previously, the theoretical rank ceiling for non-career police officers was Superintendent, but in the interest of fairness, a tiny fraction of non-career officers were indeed deliberately promoted to senior management positions. The nine major departments of the MPD would occasionally appoint a non-career department head for a year or two before retirement.

He should just focus on making Superintendent first!

"And you too, Ikeda. You need to work hard on getting promoted as well!" Uesugi Muneyuki turned his attention to Erena Ikeda, speaking up. "If you don't get promoted soon, you'll be forced into a mandatory promotion to Assistant Inspector."

Erena Ikeda frowned. If they were alone in private, she wouldn't mind discussing this topic with Uesugi Muneyuki, but with outsiders present in the car, she could only nod. "Mm, I suppose so."

"What do you mean by 'I suppose so'?" Her non-committal answer left Uesugi Muneyuki somewhat dissatisfied. "Your primary job right now is assisting me, isn't it? Surely the fact that we've handled so many cases together is enough to earn you merit?"

"I'm not really clear on that." Erena Ikeda genuinely had little idea. Ever since she was transferred to the Otsuka Police Station, she had poured her heart and soul entirely into Uesugi Muneyuki's matters, remaining oblivious to the internal politics of the station and rarely interacting with superiors.

"Well, that can't be helped," Inspector Megure remarked casually. "Non-career officers are just like that. You just have to wait for your chance."

"That simply won't do. When the time comes, I'll go talk to Section Chief Sudo and Chief Kanazawa; they at least need to promote you to Assistant Inspector," Uesugi Muneyuki pressed on, growing enthusiastic.

"I don't mind," Erena listened in silence. Although it sounded like she disliked Uesugi Muneyuki meddling in her affairs, the fact that he would say such things still made her heart skip a beat. His gentle tone and firm demeanor were like poisonous honey, making her want to listen again and again, to taste it over and over. Suppressing her somewhat fluttering heartbeat, the tall beauty tried her best to appear indifferent.

If only I had met him when I first became a police officer, Erena thought, her pretty lips pursing in an imperceptible pout.

Fuji Television was located right within Minato Ward, and they soon arrived at their destination.

Japanese television stations are broadly divided into two categories: state-run and commercial. The prime representative of state-run broadcasting is NHK. Funded and operated by the state without commercials, this station relies entirely on national taxes and reception fees to sustain itself. There is a very famous running joke in Japan about NHK collection agents knocking on doors everywhere to collect money, but we can talk about that another time if the opportunity arises.

The five major commercial television stations are NTV, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, TBS, and TV Tokyo.

Among them, TV Asahi has long held the moniker of the "elderly station," with programming mostly targeted toward older audiences. NTV prides itself on being receptive to feedback, producing content based entirely on what viewers report wanting to watch. TBS focuses primarily on young people, favoring bold and aggressive workplace dramas. It is worth mentioning that tokusatsu series like Ultraman share a deeply intertwined historical relationship with TBS.

Tsuburaya Productions and TBS were once "comrades for life" (a massive exaggeration), but amid the general success of the Heisei Trilogy, both sides concluded that the other had shit for brains. Instead, their relationship deteriorated with each collaboration, eventually leading to a complete parting of ways.

We can touch upon this matter later if the chance arises.

TV Tokyo possesses a wonderfully eccentric vibe, built entirely around a sense of "relaxed detachment." While other stations broadcast dramas, they air cartoons; while every other network interrupts with major breaking news, they simply carry on with their programs. While competing broadcasters focus heavily on prime-time dramas, TV Tokyo specializes in anime, economic programs, and late-night shows. Notably, the immensely famous *The Solitary Gourmet* is a flagship production of TV Tokyo.

Fuji Television once achieved simultaneous success in variety shows and drama production, reigning supreme as the top commercial network after the turn of the millennium. Many of the early Japanese dramas familiar to audiences back in China were masterpieces by Fuji TV, giving rise to the saying, "Whatever the Monday 9 PM slot produces is bound to be a masterpiece."

However, perhaps blinded by past glories, Fuji TV remained relatively conservative and reluctant to change. In recent years, the station continued recycling production formulas from a decade or two ago, resulting in a noticeable decline.

Inside the Odaiba building, Inspector Megure handed the temporary identification badges processed by the First Investigative Division at the reception desk to Uesugi Muneyuki and Erena Ikeda. "Alright, we're heading in to investigate. Uesugi-kun and... you two can just wear these badges and look around freely. They're valid for the entire day."

"Got it," Uesugi Muneyuki accepted his badge.

Just at that moment, several camera crews drifted through the main entrance of the television station, accompanied by a group of cheering girls running into the main lobby, all dressed in fluffy princess dresses adorned with colorful silk ribbon bows.

"Hello everyone, we are Yuzu Frappuccino!"

More than a dozen girls, all wearing matching round-toed leather shoes and laced short socks, crowded together in front of the cameras. Overflowing with youth and boundless energy, they cheerfully introduced themselves to the lens, striking various poses, winking, and creating a lively commotion.

"Are they filming a show?" Uesugi Muneyuki shrugged helplessly. "So noisy."

"That's quite normal around a TV station," Inspector Megure thought to himself that since he was a young man, liking this sort of thing was only natural. "Just enjoy the spectacle, and be careful not to interfere with the shooting."

"What kind of subpar rubbish are modern idols anyway?" Uesugi Muneyuki actually retained an interest in female idols, but after giving them a serious look, he couldn't help shaking his head repeatedly, casually complaining to Erena beside him, "Put them all together and they still don't measure up to you, Ikeda."

Hey!

Before Erena Ikeda could even react, Inspector Megure standing nearby experienced a drastic change in complexion.

This brat just dropped a forbidden phrase!

Does he have any idea that talking like this in a workplace is a massive taboo? If management wanted to be strict, a charge of sexual harassment would be entirely inescapable! And standing right in front of you is none other than the legendary superior-slayer Erena Ikeda—the woman who single-handedly ruined the career prospects of three supervisors, the very mention of whom meant you could start packing your bags for a rural posting!

Oh no, I need to stay far away from these two. If this woman blows up, I shouldn't let any blood splatter on me.

Inspector Megure and the First Investigative Division members behind him instinctively took a step back, all wearing grim expressions.

Throughout the entire journey, they had been trying their absolute hardest to avoid eye contact and verbal communication with Ikeda.

Yet they still stumbled into this situation.

Step aside, it's about to explode!

However, the scene that followed left these MPD elites from the First Investigative Division dumbfounded.

Far from exploding on the spot, the tall beauty merely offered a slightly petulant look and retorted in an impatient tone, "I am nothing like them. How can you possibly compare me to female idols?"

Wait, she didn't blow up?

Furthermore, despite those protesting words, a faint blush creeping up the tall beauty's cheeks was impossible to conceal. It was clear that Uesugi Muneyuki's words had landed rather well with her.

"I'm just stating facts," Uesugi Muneyuki said naturally, pondering for a moment. "Though indeed, you're not suited to be an idol."

Isn't that obvious? I'm a police officer! Erena Ikeda lifted her chin proudly.

"What I mean is, your facial features are rather sharp. When you're not smiling, you look severe and aggressive, which wouldn't appeal to the primary demographic of female idol fans: otaku," Uesugi Muneyuki continued airing his analysis. "Besides, you're way too tall. The ideal height for a female idol is around 155 to 160 centimeters. At 1.7 meters, you'd look like a giant standing in a group. With that sense of oppression combined with your aggressiveness, you'd probably attract more female fans than male ones."

The expression on the tall beauty's face froze as she glared at him irritably.

You really didn't need to say the rest.

"Uesugi-kun, are you an advocate of tall statures or short ones? Are you an older-women faction fan, or a younger-women faction fan?" Seeing that Ikeda's expression was turning sour, Inspector Megure hastily tossed out an assist.

"Well, naturally I prefer tall model-type beauties like Ikeda," Uesugi Muneyuki smiled, shaking his head. "Perhaps I'm not very traditional in that regard. Don't you think Ikeda's type possesses a distinct charm of its own, Megure-san...?"

"Oh-oh-oh-oh, investigation time!" The First Investigative Division bolted immediately; nobody dared touch that question.

Everyone scattered, leaving behind only a flushed Erena Ikeda—whose anger had swiftly transformed into delight—and Uesugi Muneyuki, who was still casually chatting away.

The pair began exploring the Odaiba building of Fuji TV. Because Erena Ikeda was dressed in full police uniform, she attracted quite a few gazes along the way, to which Erena responded with her signature piercing, indifferent stare.

"Actually, you really don't have to be like this," Uesugi Muneyuki spoke up at that moment.

"We've been partners for a while now, and I know your personality. You believe you're more of a police officer than anyone else, and you hate being compared to idols."

"And you certainly wouldn't want to be some decorative flower vase at a police station."

"For a girl as fiercely competitive as you, I imagine your experiences prior to this haven't been very pleasant."

Uesugi Muneyuki said softly to Erena.

Erena fell silent, her hands gripping tightly.

Honestly, if only this man had been the first one she encountered when she passed her exams and entered the force.

"I'm sorry for analyzing you like that earlier, but since we're partners and friends, I believe we should be honest with each other. You can take it as me caring about you."

"You must be harboring a strong sense of confidence, right? Although I don't know why you gave up martial arts, I can tell you genuinely love the police profession. When someone is doing work they love, they don't tire easily."

"I only hope you'll remember that whenever you need me, I will always stand by your side. After all... what I said just now was the truth; Erena-shifu, you truly are stronger than all of them (referring to martial arts)!" Uesugi Muneyuki gave a thumbs-up, offering a gentle smile to the tall beauty before gesturing for them to check out the next spot.

"Well, you promised!" Erena Ikeda involuntarily clenched the ID badge in her hand.

This man is simply too arrogant!

She gazed blankly at Uesugi Muneyuki before her, seeing the utter sincerity on his face while a devil roared in her heart.

Since you put it that way, I'm done pretending to be a gentle lady.

Didn't you say you liked my type?

Erena suddenly grabbed Uesugi Muneyuki's arm, pulling him forward directly. "I want to see the observation tower!"

Uesugi Muneyuki felt a wave of substantial strength from the woman, dragging him forward helplessly.

"Ikeda-shifu, go easy, it hurts!"

"Hey hey hey, I'll go with you, stop pulling so hard!"

"Ikeda, are you listening? Ow ow ow ow~"

Listening to Uesugi Muneyuki's distressed cries, an imperceptible smile bloomed across the tall beauty's face.

Is this considered an official work date?

Even though she was still wearing her police uniform, and their relationship felt rather bizarre.

As long as she was with this man, she felt genuinely happy!

She found herself less and less inclined to exercise restraint.

She wanted to obtain more, to extract more from him.

And she felt entirely justified—after all, he gave her permission!

Tugging and following one another, the two spent the afternoon touring the Odaiba building of Fuji TV. The television station was bustling with dense crowds, and due to various ongoing productions, people of all sorts were present, making the tall beauty in her police uniform slightly less conspicuous. Armed with their ID badges, the pair had a marvelous time exploring from the first floor upward.

They watched variety show recordings, observed the production departments at work, and browsed souvenir shops to buy mascots and gifts, while casually critiquing the female idols participating in the recordings.

Of course, there was one must-see attraction for Uesugi Muneyuki.

His Mai-senpai was appearing on a Fuji TV program today for promotional rounds.

He might as well go drop by for a look.

Presenting their badges, Uesugi Muneyuki and Erena Ikeda smoothly entered the vicinity of the variety show studio, where recording was currently underway.

"Uesugi, is that the Mai-senpai you mentioned?"

Erena Ikeda asked softly.

Without shifting his gaze, Uesugi Muneyuki nodded slightly. "Yes, that's her."

"Mmm... I knew she was famous, but seeing her in person makes me realize just why she's *that* famous." Erena Ikeda's voice began to lose its confidence.

Uesugi Muneyuki turned his head in mild surprise. "You know her too?"

"How could anyone *not* know her?" Erena sighed helplessly as she peered forward. "Seeing her in the flesh today is quite something."

"Indeed," Uesugi Muneyuki returned his gaze to Mai Shiraishi.

He watched calmly, unmoving, his expression complex, while the tall beauty behind him let out a quiet, inward sigh.

This was someone she truly could not compete with.

The woman sitting inside the studio possessed an absolutely flawless figure. Though not as tall as Erena herself, every single dimension hit the golden ratio with pinpoint precision. Judging purely by the naked eye, Erena estimated Mai Shiraishi to be just a shade over 160 centimeters, falling short of 165.

When it came to looks, however, she knew she simply had no match.

Even though the woman was wearing a deceptively simple violet-vine-and-princess-feather strapless long gown, it failed to conceal her miraculous facial features and gracefully curved silhouette.

A vision of moving purity met the eye: her perfectly harmonious, exquisite facial features paired with long, straight black hair and a rabbit-ear hair accessory cast her entirely in the mold of a goddess.

Perhaps stemming from her background as a shrine maiden, her overall temperament possessed the tranquil and mysterious aura of an ancient mountain temple, absorbing all surrounding light and making everyone else forget anyone else existed.

Noble, magnificent, refined, and enigmatic.

Her bright, luminous eyes resembled mountain springs—both pure and sweet, reminiscent of an endless song or a lingering classical monologue.

Ordinary men stood zero chance against a woman of this type, instinctively conquered by her charm, while even women would be reduced to humble admirers.

If the police uniform-clad beauty seen in the MPD cafeteria that day exuded a confidence rooted deep in her bones, then the woman before her radiated a brilliance as dazzling as a diamond.

She required no disguise; her mere appearance and demeanor alone were enough to inspire adoration and infatuation.

In truth, she was a nationally renowned top actress throughout Japan, a great beauty who had claimed the top spot in beauty rankings for years running, and the ultimate crown jewel of the Soul System Talent Agency.

Uesugi Muneyuki's senpai—Mai Shiraishi.