Just as he arrived at work in the morning, Toshiro Odagiri, the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division, received news that he had been summoned by Deputy Commissioner Moroboshi.
That's quite interesting, thought Minister Odagiri.
Everyone in the Metropolitan Police Department knows that the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner belong to different political camps and are both cultivating their own power within the department.
Odagiri was appointed to the position of Chief of Criminal Investigation by Director Hakuba, so he is definitely considered one of Director Hakuba's protégés.
Although he hasn't used his position to do anything to attack the deputy director's faction yet.
Minister Odagiri knew very well that the day of conflict between the factions would come sooner or later.
In that case, the sudden summons from Deputy Director Moroboshi seems rather strange.
That's what he thought, but when he actually met the deputy director, Department Head Odagiri still maintained good manners and humility.
Deputy Director Moroboshi, a shrewd old fox, greeted everyone with a cheerful smile and even invited Department Head Odagiri to taste the coffee he had just brewed.
Then we got to the main point.
"Any progress on the recent murder case, the one involving the congressional secretary?"
Sure enough, only high-level personnel like this could get the deputy director to personally intervene.
"Are you referring to that secretary, Masaaki Okakura?" Department Head Odagiri answered honestly. "He was controlled, moved to a different location, and then killed with a knife. It can be confirmed as premeditated murder, but other clues are still unclear."
"The only noteworthy point is that, similar to the two previous incidents in Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures, a mahjong tile was found next to the deceased, the meaning of which is unclear."
"Furthermore, the methods of murder were exactly the same."
Even if the deceased wasn't a member of parliament's secretary or something similar, the striking similarities in methods and clues are enough to indicate that this is a serial murder case.
Department Head Odagiri therefore took it very seriously and remembered the details very clearly.
Deputy Director Moroboshi nodded.
"So, you're saying the cases will be combined? We need to establish a joint investigation headquarters with Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures as soon as possible and deploy elite police forces to conduct a full investigation."
While it wasn't explicitly stated that the case of the legislator's secretary would be prioritized, the determination to investigate both cases together was clearly evident.
"The candidate for the head of this investigation headquarters..."
Department Head Odagiri's ears perked up instantly.
I told you the deputy director wouldn't bother chatting with me for no reason.
Is this an attempt to put pressure on him by planting his people in the investigation headquarters?
Who could it be? That rich young master, Shiratori? Or...?
But the cases in this class are different from the others. Without solid skills, simply being a professional who got in through an exam, or having a prestigious family background, is useless.
How could a seasoned detective who's seen countless life-or-death situations possibly take orders from a pampered young master who's never lifted a finger?
"Yes, the head of the First Investigation Division, Yukita, has already spoken with the relevant personnel, and he himself is quite proactive about it..."
Department Head Odagiri tried his best to phrase things tactfully.
"Inspector Kiyoshi Matsumoto, currently the superintendent of the First Investigation Division, is a veteran detective with decades of experience. The Third Division under his command has handled many difficult cases in recent years..."
There's no need to remind the deputy director anymore; Manager Matsumoto is exactly the candidate that Department Head Odagiri favors as the next head of the next division.
Sending him to take on this task of the investigation headquarters is partly because he is capable of handling such a great responsibility, and partly to add a brilliant stroke to Matsumoto's file before his promotion.
If the deputy director suddenly objects to something that everyone has already tacitly agreed to, then Department Head Odagiri really wouldn't know how to smooth things over.
But Deputy Director Moroboshi simply breathed a sigh of relief.
“Matsumoto Kiyonaga, I know this person. He is very reliable. Your choice is appropriate.”
"Then I'll be waiting for your good news."
To Department Head Odagiri's surprise, the Deputy Director's admonitions about "sincere cooperation" and "putting aside regional prejudices" simply drifted past his ears.
He also said some high-sounding words, and only after leaving the deputy director's office did Department Head Odagiri belatedly realize that something was amiss.
So, what exactly does it mean that Deputy Chief Inspector Moroboshi personally intervened in the investigation of a serial murder case?
...
Just as Yoruichi Toyama and Akemi were about to leave hand in hand, the doorbell rang.
As the door opened, a tall, handsome young man wearing glasses stood there, his naturally squinting smiling eyes giving off a friendly vibe at first glance.
However, the stew pot in his hand seemed rather out of place.
"Hello, are you Mr. Toyama and Ms. Hayashi?" the young man greeted them politely. "Our surname is Okiya, and we are the new residents who moved in next door."
"This is my first time away from home, so I came to visit my neighbors and hope they will take care of me in the future."
"By the way, I'm a great cook! This is my braised beef with potatoes. Please enjoy."
Yoruichi Toyama stood there quietly, waiting for him to finish his long opening remarks, thinking to herself, "I don't believe you for a second."
If you were good at cooking, I would be the Prime Minister of Japan.
I never imagined my ex-husband was so competitive!
Saying that Bourbon is the only one in the organization who can cook seems to have hurt his feelings.
"Thank you so much." Yoruichi Toyama took the stew pot without saying a word and turned to place it on the dining table.
"I'm sorry, but we can't invite you in. We have to go out right away."
"It's alright, I was the one who was too presumptuous in coming." The young man named Okiya bowed outside the door.
At Yoruichi Toyama's gesture, Taro darted in front of him in a flash.
[Host, what are you doing? Why don't you call him in? He's Akai...]
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