Chapter Twenty: The Problem Section Chief
September 25th, Sunday.
Baishi once again participated in the arrest technique training and, as usual, encountered the infamous "paid leave towel" trial...
However...
It didn’t take long before these officers began to question their very existence!
They desperately wanted to ask the legendary young patrol officer who succeeded yesterday—how exactly did he manage it?
Could it be that the chief was going easy on female officers?
But there were even more female officers in this group!
Since almost all the traffic division patrol officers were present today!
Yet they were still being thrown around everywhere!
The traffic division’s frustration level increased by one...
After training...
“The chief really knows what he’s doing. If it were me, even if I managed to beat those brats up, I wouldn’t be able to make them truly realize the necessity of arrest techniques like this. They’d just think I’m simply stronger,” Ziyuan confided to Baishi privately.
“My method is just a clumsy workaround; it doesn’t solve the underlying problem,” Baishi modestly replied.
Indeed, this “clumsy workaround” Baishi devised relied on his own formidable physical power to provide precise positive feedback whenever officers applied the arrest techniques, thereby effectively motivating everyone to learn and use these skills.
At least when facing Chief Baishi, everyone realized...
No matter how much they lost, using standard cautious techniques was far more efficient than recklessly throwing wild punches like a fool.
Though this still depended on individual ability, it was at least effective in training.
The real underlying issues—insufficient training time and a shortage of personnel—remained unchanged.
“The chief’s done a lot already; it’s only his first week in office, and he’s already working full days without a break,” Ziyuan joked.
By “full days,” of course, he meant working seven days a week without rest.
“I’m about to take a break, half a day off at least,” Baishi sighed—he was already accustomed to “full attendance” from his time in the Metropolitan Police Department.
...
Later, Baishi took a shower at the station, changed into his regular clothes, and just as he was about to leave, he happened to see Section Chief Shirai from the Criminal Investigations Division.
Remembering Shirai’s background, Baishi felt uneasy and called out to him: “Chief Shirai.”
“Hm? Chief,” Shirai turned around and greeted Baishi, adding with admiration, “Chief, you were truly impressive just now.”
Shirai had also come to training on his day off...
But at fifty-six years old, he obviously didn’t push himself against Baishi during training!
...
“You’ve only been at Mihua Precinct for three months too, right? Come on, the two of us transferred here—let’s have a drink,” Baishi invited directly.
If he had invited younger officers, they might have been intimidated by the title “Chief” and felt awkward, even if they wouldn’t outright refuse...
But Shirai, like Baishi three months ago, was formerly a section chief in the Metropolitan Police Department, and at his age and rank, inviting someone out after work was very normal—so he accepted graciously.
Of course, Baishi’s invitation wasn’t merely to commiserate with a fellow transferee; he was genuinely concerned about Shirai’s condition.
[Shirai Takeshi (Chief of Mihua Precinct Criminal Investigations Division):
Age: 56.
Overall Rating: SR (X)
Mind: Justice (81), Principle (37), Gentleness (39), Subjectivity (77), Passion (65), Tenacity (70).
Body: Health, Stress, Aging...
Skills: Interrogation (SR [X]), Evidence Collection (SR), Reasoning (R)...
Potential: Difficult to improve any area; interrogation skills partially sealed.]
...
Shirai Takeshi was exactly the “half” of the precinct’s “four-and-a-half” SR officers.
Although Baishi didn’t fully understand the meaning of these attributes, it was obvious Shirai had “issues” at a glance!
His overwhelming sense of Justice contrasted sharply with low Principle, and his interrogation ability was “sealed”...
After first meeting Shirai a few days ago, Baishi had asked Iwata from the Police Affairs Department’s Documentation Section to look into his records.
Sure enough, this former elite of the First Investigation Division had been underperforming in recent years. Six months ago, during a case, there was an irregularity in the interrogation process. Although no wrongful convictions resulted and the Metropolitan Police’s files lacked a detailed record, his subsequent transfer revealed the situation...
Once a top investigator, Shirai was demoted three months ago to head the criminal division at Mihua Precinct—a lateral transfer.
Even without explicit records, Baishi could guess the problem.
Though not well acquainted with the First Investigation Division, Baishi had met Shirai and knew he was once a top investigator there; otherwise, he wouldn’t have become section chief, a rank equal to Inspector Megure.
The First Investigation Division’s sections one and two handled desk work, but from section three onward, officers were elite, and section chiefs were true frontline pillars.
Over the past two decades, Shirai had cracked countless major cases, especially excelling in interrogation. But now, he struggled...
Because interrogation rooms were now equipped with surveillance!
Baishi could understand this; with limited technology and investigative techniques in the past, it was unfair to judge by today’s standards, or the case-solving rate would plummet.
Of course, Baishi supported progress.
And he understood that progress rarely lifts everyone simultaneously; instead, those unable to adapt to the times must be ruthlessly swept aside to make way.
Thus, this once-elite investigator became increasingly out of place and was finally transferred to a local precinct to lead the criminal investigations division.
...
For an older man just a few years from retirement, this wasn’t a bad arrangement, except...
Shirai’s health also included a “stress” factor.
If Baishi’s guess was correct, Shirai was deeply dissatisfied with his current situation and likely felt humiliated, which made him even more desperate to achieve results.
“Young officers these days are getting harder to manage. If you speak harshly, there’s even the risk of accusations of abuse of authority...”
“But we must adapt to the times! Technology has advanced, and solving cases is much easier now.”
“Hey, Shirai, I hear you’ve got a grandson now?”
“Ha ha ha, your grandson’s not scared of you either, so stop scowling so much! You look too stern.”
“Don’t be too busy; spend more time with your grandson. Give the younger officers a chance. If the criminal division has any difficulties, just let me know...”
...
Slightly tipsy, Baishi chatted with Shirai, mainly trying to convey indirectly the importance of “Principle,” and ease his stress to prevent any future mishaps.
In his position as criminal division chief, Baishi truly worried about Shirai’s state.
He also grumbled internally—why assign such a stressful role at a local precinct? Why not place him in a less demanding office job? Those idiots at the Metropolitan Police Department!
But...
Shirai was already under great pressure, hadn’t made mistakes at Mihua Precinct, and Baishi feared that transferring him again might cause a complete mental breakdown.
...
They drank together all afternoon...
Although Baishi was young, both had been transferred from the Metropolitan Police Department not long ago, and Baishi’s communication skills were excellent, so the conversation was lively.
By the time they parted, Baishi noticed Shirai’s “Principle” had risen to 39—two points higher than before!
Clearly, these attributes could change!
“It seems regular talks and presentations are necessary... Even if they aren’t as effective as one-on-one interactions, they still have a subtle influence,” Baishi silently added more work to his own plate.
Having found a way to guide improvement in the “Mind” attributes, Baishi felt somewhat relieved.
But he was premature in his confidence!
In Baishi’s second week in office, a bolt from the blue struck, forcing the precinct’s top brass to convene an emergency meeting!