Although it sounds exaggerated that a single subway malfunction could cause the entirework to grind to a halt, if the affected train had stopped at a critical point, and if at that moment this critical point could indeed impact the whole subwaywork...


    Like a row of dominoes, toppling one could lead to the fall of all. A malfunction in one train would inevitably affect the whole line, and the temporary stoppage would involve other intersecting routes. Under this chain reaction, impacting the entire Tokyo subwaywork, although it sounds exaggerated, was actually not impossible.


    For one of thergest cities in the world like Tokyo, a subway halt was a serious matter, so naturally Tokyo subway operators sought to resolve the issue immediately.


    But unfortunately, just as a building can copse in an instant while clearing the rubble takes a long time, restoring the entire subwaywork was not something that could be done right away.


    Fortunately, there were emergency measures in the subway system; the halted trains mostly stopped at the nearest stations to let passengers off. Even if it was not possible to stop immediately, there were branch lines for temporary transfers, waiting for the trains ahead to clear before the ones behind could enter the station.


    Everything was operating in an orderly fashion. Although it had caused great trouble, it was still within the manageable and bearable range.


    However, the train that had stopped due to the malfunction was somewhat troublesome - maintenance staff had arrived on the scene, but they were unable to repair the train on-site. It had to be towed back to the repair shop for servicing.


    And to arrange for a tow in the current situation, where all trains hade to a stop, clearing the tracks was a very difficult task.


    Obviously, the passengers on board couldn''t wait that long. In this situation, the only option was to open the doors and let the passengers alight and walk to the nearest station.


    With the guidance of staff, Tokairin Yūko also disembarked and followed the staff, walking ahead.


    Although the Tokyo subway was known for its punctuality, such halts had urred before, but it was usually just one line. This widespread stoppage, however, was a first.


    Luckily, the position where the halted subway had stopped was not too far from the station. After walking about a kilometer in the dark tunnels following the staff, everyone reached the subway station and sessfully got onto the tform.


    Seeing the brightly lit subway station, Tokairin Yūko, who had just been walking in the dark tunnel, couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief. Despite being a forensic pathologist, fear of dark underground tunnels was a natural instinct formon people. Returning to a bright ce obviously made her feel much more at ease.


    Pulling out her cellphone, Tokairin Yūko sent a message to Inomata Naoki, informing him she had escaped the situation but the subway had halted, so it might take her a long time to arrive.


    Learning that Tokairin Yūko had escaped the trouble, Inomata Naoki called her directly.


    "Miss Tokairin, are you okay?" Inomata Naoki''s first words expressed his concern for Tokairin Yūko.


    "I''m okay. It''s just a subway malfunction. I''m already out of danger and leaving the subway station now." Tokairin Yūko replied to Inomata Naoki assuring her safety while she made her way out of the subway station, almost being pushed forward by the crowds. "But there are so many people in the subway station, I don''t know if I can catch a taxi once outside. I just heard that today the entire Tokyo subway hase to a halt, so the city seems to be paralyzed. I don''t know if I can make it over.


    I''m really sorry, Mr. Naoki. You even specially booked a restaurant today, and now I can''t make it there, wasting all your effort. I truly feel bad!"


    Following the technique taught by Qingdai, Tokairin Yūko took the initiative to apologize, while also exining her reasons for beingte, so as not to leave a bad impression on Inomata Naoki.


    As expected, after hearing Tokairin Yūko''s exnation, Inomata Naoki quickly reassured her: "You can''t me yourself, Miss Tokairin. Who could have anticipated the subway halting? So what will you do now? If all of Tokyo''s subways are halted, there must be a lot of people on the streets, right? Even if you take a taxi, it will take a long time. How about Ie over to find you instead?"


    Inomata Naoki had no idea that his words were a significant shock to those who were eavesdropping on his phone call.


    Those who were monitoring him wished they could say, "Stay put; we''ll send a helicopter to pick up your girlfriend!"


    But such thoughts remained wishful thinking. At that moment, the members of the surveince team could only hope that Inomata Naoki wouldn''t truly go to find Tokairin Yūko, for if he did, they would be forced to create an ident to stop him.


    "It''s not necessary. You''d also have to take a taxi toe here, right? And it will take a long time for you toe from Tokyo Skytree. You better wait there for me." Tokairin Yūko, after pushing her way out of the subway station and standing on the street and seeing people crowding around the subway station exit, decided to reject the idea of Inomata Naokiing to find her. "I''ll see if I can catch a taxi. But if Ie over, it might be quitete, and I don''t know if the restaurant will still be open..."


    Tokairin Yūko''s voice carried some worry, but what she was actually considering was that it would not be good to return home toote. Although Tokyo''s streets are filled with inns and hotels, after the experience of waking up next to a dead body thest time, she instinctively opposed such an idea.


    Inomata Naoki didn''t consider this and simply said over the phone, "Then I''ll ask the staff. But when I arrived, I saw that the restaurant is open until 11 PM, and it''s only past 6 PM now, so there should be plenty of time."


    "That''s good. I''ll try to catch a taxi first, and then contact youter." After finishing her sentence, Tokairin Yūko hung up the phone and walked to the roadside to hail a cab.


    Although hailing a cab in Tokyo is a very luxurious thing to do, faced with such an unexpected situation, and desperate to make it to the date even if it meant bleeding money, Tokairin Yūko had no choice but to indulge just this once.


    However, as Tokairin Yūko did not expect yet it made sense, at that time it was nearly impossible to catch a cab on the streets.


    As Tokairin Yūko was beginning to worry, the members of the action team were wondering if they should arrange a cab to pick her up when a car stopped in front of her.


    "Doctor Tokairin, what are you doing here?" The man sitting in the car was someone Tokairin Yūko could not have imagined; it was Isshiki Kazumasu, a member of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.


    He had met Director Kamikura at a gathering and had previously toured the UDI, currently considering extending the UDI model nationwide. Because of his previous visit to the UDI, he also remembered Tokairin Yūko.