Chapter Two: Can the Dead Speak?

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Bunkyo Ward, one of Tokyo's twenty-three special wards, is the academic heart of central Tokyo. Dozens of universities, including the main campus of the University of Tokyo, have established parts of their campuses here. This naturally includes Tokyo Medical and Dental University, where Muneyuki Uesugi is a student.

With numerous universities packed into this land of high real estate value, Bunkyo is dotted with many massive apartment buildings known as "tower blocks," though more common are single-family homes and low-rise campus buildings. The streets are congested, bustling with office workers and students alike, permeated by a distinctive scholarly atmosphere. Cherry blossoms bloom along the roadsides, yet the hurried Tokyoites barely have a moment to admire them, only stealing a quick glance while waiting at traffic lights before rushing back to their busy lives.

The road was short but interrupted by a dozen or so traffic lights. Chief Inspector Kuwahara was driving, while Assistant Inspector Tanaka chatted intermittently with Muneyuki Uesugi. Although Uesugi was somewhat aloof, Tanaka seemed unfazed and thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. Despite his evident fatigue, his mood appeared quite good.

Uesugi felt restless and displeased but dared not quarrel with the police. He responded reluctantly. Though Tanaka held little rank within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, as a detective in a local precinct, he was considered quite capable. If Uesugi continued on the path of forensic medicine, he would inevitably cross paths with this man again.

In Japan, the lowest police rank is "Patrolman," often considered a non-regular position akin to an auxiliary officer. It is the most arduous and lowest rank. Above that is "Senior Patrolman," a consolation rank for those who have failed to convert to full-time officers after five years, offering better benefits and status without an actual promotion.

Above is "Patrol Sergeant," the first official rank, held by characters like Wataru Takagi in Detective Conan. This level is still labor-intensive, with officers standing guard in the streets, chasing criminals by car, and managing crime scenes firsthand.

Above that is "Assistant Inspector," the rank at which officers gain authority to conduct independent investigations and law enforcement. Miwako Sato from Detective Conan holds this rank.

"So, Uesugi, little brother, why did you choose to become a forensic doctor?" Tanaka asked, munching on a rice ball. "You interns earn only about 220,000 yen a month, same as Kuwahara here. But we cops get seventeen months' salary a year. Honestly, if you tried being a host, you'd make more in a week."

Professor Okouchi said nothing, while Chief Inspector Kuwahara chuckled quietly. The police car was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

In this version of Japan, forensic doctors are extremely scarce. Only Tokyo and Osaka have dedicated forensic institutions, and due to cultural traditions, ethnic customs, religious beliefs, and frequent unexplained incidents, very few are willing to enter this field—especially young, handsome surgeons like Muneyuki Uesugi.

Uesugi sighed and decided to be frank: "Assistant Inspector Tanaka, the tuition at Tokyo Medical and Dental University is 1.3 million yen a year. Including club fees, equipment, and miscellaneous expenses, it costs around 2 million annually."

"Tuition can be paid twice a year. Student dormitories in Bunkyo Ward are somewhat cheaper, about 60,000 yen a month. Even with careful budgeting, living expenses like food, utilities, and daily costs easily reach 100,000 yen monthly. So over 60% of students work part-time to supplement their expenses."

"But I’m different. I haven’t worked a single day since I started university. My family paid my tuition and fees upfront for five years. I live in a single apartment provided by my family, worth about 120,000 yen a month. My father gives me 300,000 yen monthly for living expenses. As long as I work properly and live decently, they don’t care about the money," Uesugi raised an eyebrow. "But if I drop out or refuse the school's recommendation to transfer to forensic medicine, Assistant Inspector Tanaka, do you think my family would still support me? Would I still be allowed to live in that apartment?"

Each of Uesugi’s words made the smile on Tanaka’s face fade a little.

Damn! This little brother is rich!

Are you trying to brag? My take-home pay is just 350,000 yen a month!

Only when he heard the end did Tanaka’s smile return. The thought that even a wealthy young man like Uesugi had to work with corpses as a forensic doctor comforted him greatly.

Wait!

Tanaka suddenly realized something: "Uesugi? Bunkyo Ward? Could it be... young brother, are you from the Uesugi family of Kenshin fame?"

"Otherwise? You think I’m from the Uesugi family like Tatsuya Uesugi?" Uesugi’s words shut down the conversation. Tanaka fell silent, while Professor Okouchi glanced at Uesugi but quickly closed his eyes again.

Silence returned to the car. Uesugi rubbed his eyes.

If he refused the recommendation, he would have to drop out of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Once he dropped out, his family would surely cut off all support, and his only option would be to find work at a local clinic.

Uesugi knew he would never do that. In this day and age, even in his previous life, he knew that without family backing, life would be rough. But to think he could rely solely on family and not work hard—that would be pure foolishness.

His father promised 300,000 yen monthly for five years of university, so by Uesugi’s calculation, that would last until April next year at most. It was already May now, so he had at most one more year.

In truth, Uesugi knew that if he softened his stance, his father would likely continue providing support. But having already cost the family 25 million yen over five years of university, and then asking for living expenses after starting work—that was something his pride simply wouldn’t allow.

Now, unable to care for the living and forced to care for the dead, he could no longer be the brilliant surgeon he once dreamed of but must become a forensic doctor.

So be it. In this life, Muneyuki Uesugi’s worldly ties are severed, his fortunes exhausted.

—End of section by Jin Haijin—

Endo’s residence lies in a rather secluded residential area of Bunkyo Ward, filled with old single-family homes from the 1980s and 1990s—detached houses like those seen in classic anime such as Doraemon or Crayon Shin-chan. Though standalone, the living space is cramped, only about 60 square meters over two floors, housing three generations under one roof.

Japanese architectural style leads to many single-family homes, unlike the dense pigeon-cage apartments and massive high-rises of mainland China. However, in Tokyo and Osaka, due to high land prices, many high-rise residences exist. The upscale ones are called "tower blocks," the average ones "apartments," and the poorer ones "housing complexes."

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"Sorry to bother you," Assistant Inspector Tanaka showed his police badge at the door.

The deceased’s son, Akisaku Endo, appeared around forty, with a complicated expression and a disheveled appearance, looking as if he hadn’t bathed in days. He barely acknowledged the police’s arrival. His wife, Matsu Endo, struggled to maintain her composure while holding their young grandson in her arms.

“We’re here to issue the death certificate,” Tanaka said, adopting a serious tone.

“We’re sorry for the trouble,” Akisaku bowed and stepped aside.

The house was a typical Japanese-style home with tatami mats, wooden stairs, and an old sliding screen door that creaked with every step. A worn chandelier cast a dim light. The body lay in the elderly man’s room, covered with a white cloth over the face, eerie in the low light.

“Uesugi, this is your first time. You handle it,” Professor Okouchi said calmly. “Determining suicide is straightforward. Since you have a surgical background, it should be easy. Just verify the cause of death and sign the death report to complete the process.”

“Exactly, it’s that simple, little brother Uesugi. I’m rooting for you,” Tanaka patted Uesugi’s shoulder. “Just finish quickly. It’s common for the older generation, who can no longer care for themselves, to end their lives to reduce the family’s burden.”

Uesugi nodded. It was a cultural tradition in this small society. He took a deep breath and, trembling, reached out to lift the white cloth off the corpse’s face.

Just as he grasped the cloth, the elderly man’s body twitched suddenly.

The twitch terrified Uesugi, who broke out in a cold sweat and jumped back, hitting a cabinet behind him with a thud.

The doll on the cabinet fell to the floor, accompanied by Uesugi’s uncertain breaths. “The... the corpse moved? Professor!”

Laughter erupted around him. The old professor said nothing. The two detectives laughed heartily. Uesugi noticed Akisaku Endo’s complex expression, while Matsu Endo laughed but immediately stopped, covering her grandson’s eyes with her hands.

“That’s rigor mortis,” Professor Okouchi explained without surprise. “The deceased has been dead for more than 20 hours. As the body’s proteins break down, rigor mortis fades, and slight movements upon external stimulus are normal knowledge.”

I lost my composure! So why did I come to study medicine again?

Oh right, it was because she told me she graduated from the medical faculty of Osaka Naniwa University with top honors.

Uesugi regained his composure and told himself he had to get used to it before beginning the autopsy.

The deceased, Masao Endo, was 72 years old and semi-disabled since age 70. Lifting the cloth, Uesugi noticed a towel wrapped around the neck, with ulceration and bruising near the lips, eyes tightly closed.

“Why the towel around the neck?” Uesugi asked, puzzled.

“Oh, father often couldn’t control his saliva and would drool while eating, so he needed a towel to wipe his mouth constantly. Sorry, my wife has been busy with the children and sometimes delayed changing the towel, causing some ulceration,” Akisaku apologized with a bow. “Yesterday morning, she was too tired and didn’t call him when he didn’t get up; then at noon…”

Uesugi removed the towel to find a deep ligature mark on the neck.

“Well, Uesugi, are you sure? No doubts? There’s a ligature mark, the deceased was semi-disabled and unable to leave home, no suspicious circumstances nearby—this is unquestionably a hanging suicide,” Tanaka said with arms crossed. “If you agree, just sign the death certificate.”

But Uesugi did not respond.

When he touched the corpse, something was triggered.

His right hand began to glow! And only he could see the radiant light from his right hand!

What is this? Why?

Wait, what kind of world is this?

“I…”

Uesugi couldn’t finish his sentence before he was forced to swallow hard, clearly distressed, dry-heaving and coughing violently.

Is this rookie even reliable?

Tanaka’s eyes questioned Professor Okouchi.

The professor sighed softly. It’s normal for a first-timer to react this way, but this is not a qualified forensic doctor.

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“I’ll take over,” the old professor said as he pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.

“Wait... wait!” Uesugi gagged, clutching his throat, struggling to speak. “I have doubts about Mr. Endo’s death!”

His earth-shattering words echoed through the wooden house.

Everyone present was stunned.

“What kind of joke is this, little brother Uesugi?” Tanaka was the first to react, hands on hips, exasperated and speechless. “Don’t cause trouble, okay?”

“Look, the deceased has a ligature mark on his neck, rigor mortis present, no suspicious persons nearby. If this isn’t suicide, then what is it?” Tanaka’s wrinkles nearly merged. “This is such an obvious suicide. What else could it be? Murder?”

“That... I can’t say for sure yet,” Uesugi wiped his nose fiercely, eyes full of doubt as he looked at his glowing right hand. Despite his uncertainty, he insisted, “I believe the cause of death cannot be determined. I demand an administrative autopsy!”

Tanaka’s face darkened immediately.

According to Japan’s corpse dissection and preservation law, if a forensic doctor cannot determine the cause of death, a further autopsy must be conducted. This is done to protect the deceased’s human rights. Even if unrelated to a crime, the forensic doctor can request an autopsy—this is called an administrative autopsy.

If the death is suspected to be criminal, a judicial autopsy is conducted under the prosecutor’s direction.

Upon hearing “administrative autopsy,” the Endo family’s faces turned pale. Seeing this, Tanaka pulled Uesugi aside for a word.

In the dim hallway, the middle-aged policeman placed both hands on Uesugi’s shoulders: “Newbie! Forensic newbie! Don’t cause trouble like this, okay?”

“This is an obvious suicide! I’ve handled countless such cases in Bunkyo Ward over the past twenty years. Elderly semi-disabled people who can no longer care for themselves sometimes choose to end their lives to avoid burdening their families. Isn’t this normal?”

“We checked; there are rope marks on the beam, ligature marks on the neck, and the family’s account matches. Just sign the certificate and be done with it. I’ve been busy since last night. Please, have some pity on me, alright?”

But Uesugi shook his head firmly: “No. The cause of death is still uncertain. An administrative autopsy is necessary.”

“Are you... crazy?” Tanaka was speechless at the young man.

Just then, the deceased’s son, Akisaku Endo, quietly approached, his expression anxious and displeased. “Doctor, is the autopsy really necessary? Father wished for a dignified burial.”

“It is necessary,” Uesugi said coldly, his sharp gaze fixed on Akisaku. Suddenly, he smiled: “Mr. Endo, it must be hard to have personally killed your own father, isn’t it?”

The young forensic doctor’s eyes were like needles, like a sharp scalpel cutting through the deepest secrets of Akisaku’s heart.

Akisaku’s face turned ashen. Under Uesugi’s piercing gaze, he was stunned: “Doctor, what are you saying? He’s my father, why would I...”

It was true!

Uesugi saw the expression and confirmed the truth.

The deceased’s son had conspired with his wife to strangle his own father!

He raised his right hand. Beneath the skin, a sky-blue gemstone glowed.

Just a moment ago, when he touched the corpse, the sky-blue gem’s aura reacted mysteriously with the corpse’s dark green death spirit.

The deceased spoke!

Masao Endo’s death spirit told Uesugi this was not a suicide but a murder!

A corpse that can speak?