Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 148 Target Arima Town

"Could it be that... the crime scene was actually in Arima?" Sancheng reacted immediately.

After deducing through the "mixed iron salt crystals" and "stomach residues suspected to be horse meat" that the place where she was imprisoned during her lifetime was most likely Arima Town, Hyogo Prefecture, Misumi became even more anxious - in this way, the probability that the "Xiaohua" really existed and was Matsukura Hana also greatly increased.

After all, the Matsukura Hana family is located in Hyogo Prefecture, which can be regarded as evidence.

"If things are really as the worst guess is, the unidentified female corpse that day was asking for help for another person named [Xiaohua], and that [Xiaohua] is the missing Matsukura Hana from Arima Town, then it is very likely that the place where the two were held hostage is in Arima Town, Hyogo Prefecture!" Shiraishi nodded.

"That's right. After the time of death of the unknown female corpse was corrected, it is estimated that the time of death was two hours earlier than the other three corpses. The real murderer...probably killed her after knowing the suicide plan of the three!" Sancheng's tone became a little indignant.

Since the real murderer learned the news from a suicide forum, it is not surprising that he came all the way to Nishimuashino City in the eastern capital to dump the body.

After all, there is such a suitable place to dump bodies and cover up the crime, so why bother about the distance?
Arima Town, Hyogo Prefecture, is only about 500 kilometers away from Toudou, and it only takes five or six hours to drive there!
As Sancheng said, it is even possible that he knew about the mass suicide first and saw the opportunity, which led to the killing.

"As for Hyogo Prefecture... can we ask the local prefectural police to cooperate in the investigation? It's not going to work." Sancheng said halfway when he realized that this request was a bit ridiculous.

Although "Police Officer" is already a senior police rank, "Police Officer" and "Police Officer" are different...

Shiraishi is only the chief of a large police station in the Metropolitan Police Department. If he were an official of the National Police Agency, even if he was just a superintendent or a management officer of a bureau or department, there would be no problem for him to directly command the Hyogo Prefectural Police.

"Kuro! This weekend...how about we go to Arima Onsen?"

After hearing the conversation between forensic doctor Misumi and Xiao Hei, Ayako couldn't help but interrupt - although "Hyogo Prefecture" is no longer related to the "Yameka Police Station" or the "Metropolitan Police Department", in theory Shiraishi has no right to interfere, but... it's always okay to go to the hot spring as an individual, right?

When Misumi saw Ayako offering to go, he looked at Shiraishi expectantly.

Seeing Shiraishi nod, Sancheng quickly said, "I'll go too!"

Then Sancheng felt something was wrong and immediately changed his words: "Ah no, what I meant is... I will go to Arima Town with you. I can test the ingredients of the hot springs there, not to take a hot spring bath with you guys!"

"Well, okay... let's go take a look." Shiraishi was also worried about the possible "call for help".

"The Shinkansen has stopped running at this time... As for the plane, let me check the earliest flight to Kobe..." Ayako started checking on her phone.

"No, we saw the ticket to Osaka. We'll go from Osaka," Shiraishi corrected.

Arima Town is in Hyōgo Prefecture, which itself is adjacent to Osaka Prefecture and is part of the Osaka metropolitan area.

The prefectural capital of Hyōgo Prefecture is in Kobe, but the distance from Kobe to Arima is about the same as the distance from Osaka to Arima.

But the difference is...

Shiraishi didn't know anyone at the Hyogo Prefectural Police Headquarters, but he had acquaintances at the Osaka Prefectural Police.

The Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters is ranked second in the eastern island country, second only to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

Only the Touto Metropolitan Police Department, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, and Hokkaido Police Headquarters have the level of "area headquarters" under their jurisdiction. In addition to the Touto Metropolitan Police Department, only the Osaka Prefectural Police has a full-time "deputy chief", and his rank is the same as the deputy director of the Metropolitan Police Department, "Superintendent".

Although the Osaka Prefectural Police has moved to Hyogo Prefecture, which is also across its jurisdiction, the Osaka Prefectural Police has frequent contacts with the surrounding areas and they are in the same Kinki jurisdiction, so they can always be easier to talk to. It is much more legitimate than for a Metropolitan Police Department chief to go there!
……

"Hello, Inspector Otaki, it's me, Shiraishi.

"Are you free tomorrow? My girlfriend and I want to go to Arima Onsen tomorrow...

"That's great... Well, the flight tomorrow morning at 5am... will land at Osaka International Airport at 5am."

Shiraishi called Inspector Otaki of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters. Shiraishi had previously been to Sotenbori to investigate the "Omi Union" due to issues related to a violent organization, and met Goro Otaki at that time.

Otaki was also good-tempered. When Shiraishi called him late at night and asked him to host the trip, he actually agreed without hesitation. However, when he heard the time...

You call five o'clock morning?
"Are you going to the hot spring? Is there a case?" Otaki reacted immediately.

"Well...that's right, just investigate some things while you're at it, just treat it as a personal act! But if you know some police officers in Hyogo and can help you, that would be even better." Shiraishi said calmly at this time.

Otaki: ...

I knew you were up to no good!

"Okay... I'll pick you and your sister-in-law up at the airport tomorrow morning and take you to Arima Town." Otaki said helplessly.

Although he was a little scared to investigate the case with Shiraishi, especially... it was cross-jurisdictional meddling, but based on Otaki's understanding of Shiraishi, if he didn't care about him, he didn't know how much trouble would be caused.

Otaki was about to call his section chief to ask for leave, since he didn't have any cases on hand, but at this moment...

"Inspector Otaki! Are you planning to go out and play secretly?"

Hattori Heiji happened to be nearby at the time and heard his phone call. "Hattori? Don't talk nonsense... I have something to do!" Otaki quickly explained.

"Hahaha, I heard it all! You haven't had a rest for a long time, it would be nice to go to Arima with your friends to relax." Hattori Heiji joked.

"Yes, there is a case... ahem, yes, I just want to relax!" Otaki quickly changed the topic.

But Hattori just kept holding on!

"Good of you, Inspector Otaki! How could you not call me to investigate a case in someone else's jurisdiction? What case? What case? Murder in a locked room? Or Snowstorm Manor?"

This really scratched Hattori Heiji's itch...

Hattori Heiji is the only son of Hattori Heizo, the chief of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters. Although he is only seventeen years old, he loves reasoning and investigating cases. He is a famous "high school detective" in Kansai!
Since he was always going to the police headquarters, especially Souichi, since he was a kid, Souichi's section chief specially arranged for someone to watch him... Otaki could be said to have watched him grow up.

If this was a case that happened in Osaka, Hattori would not have been so blatant in "disturbing" Otaki, but...

Arima Town is in Hyogo Prefecture!
It is obvious that you, Otaki, are going to someone else's jurisdiction to investigate a case as a personal act. Do you want to take me with you?
Otaki was helpless, knowing that it was impossible to ask him to give up at this time, so he said: "Then don't tell the director..."

"Don't worry! So what is the case?" Hattori asked hurriedly.

"I don't know either... It's Inspector Shiraishi from Toudou... No, it's Inspector Shiraishi. Don't expect too much from him if there's any case to be investigated in Arima. It's just a private investigation. Maybe... it's just a small matter and not a case at all!" Otaki emphasized.

Unfortunately, Hattori didn't believe it at all when he said this at this time.

……

Early the next morning, Otaki rented a jeep and waited outside the airport at five o'clock. Getting up early naturally could not extinguish Heiji's interest in the case, so he also sat in the co-pilot seat.

Shiraishi had landed at Osaka Airport before, and Otaki didn't go in to meet him, but just waited outside.

After the plane landed, Shiraishi suddenly remembered and asked Sancheng who had just taken a nap on the plane, "By the way, Sancheng, do you have any coupons or anything at UDI?"

Sancheng: ???
Looking at her expression, Shiraishi knew that she didn't have it. Just when he was worried, Ayako beside him said, "Don't worry, I'm ready."

Ayako said as she took out a small box.

Bai Shi's eyes lit up when he saw this, he slid open the lid and took a look, only to see...

A red cotton doll-shaped amulet from Beika-Machi.

Sancheng: ???
Misumi hadn't figured out what kind of equal replacement relationship this was, and Ayako saw this and explained with an awkward smile, "This is a gift for Officer Otaki."

Misumi: ...

That's right, when Shiraishi arrived at the place, he remembered that he was in a hurry to catch a flight overnight and did not prepare any souvenirs for Otaki.

But Ayako, who knows Shiraishi well, bought some souvenirs at the airport while she was waiting for her flight in Toudou—and very befitting of Shiraishi, they were not only a “specialty” of Toudou, but also a “specialty” of Beika-cho.

As soon as Shiraishi came out of the airport, he saw the car that Otaki rented.

After all, it was a little after five in the morning and there weren't many people at the airport.

Otaki saw Shiraishi right away...

Even when there are many people, you can still see it at a glance!

"Hmm? Could it be that? That..." Hattori was also shocked when he saw Shiraishi, who was "smaller than everyone else".

Seeing this, Otaki came out from the driver's seat and said, "Officer Shiraishi, long time no see. I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet!"

"Look at how fast we've improved," Shiraishi said proudly, taking out a gift and handing it to Otaki: "This is a local specialty of our Beika Town!"

"Ok?"

Otaki and Shiraishi were both stunned at this time.

Otaki discovered that Shiraishi actually came with two people, both of whom were women of marriageable age. He was confused for a moment, while Shiraishi discovered that Otaki also brought someone with him.

"These two..." Otaki didn't dare to recognize them for a moment - at the same time, he was a little envious. Are these senior police officers? Is this really the equipment for going to a hot spring?
Seeing this, Shiraishi quickly introduced: "Oh, this is my girlfriend, Suzuki Ayako. As for this one..." Shiraishi paused and motioned for her to introduce herself. After all, he and Misumi were not that familiar with each other, so he wanted to avoid Otaki's misunderstanding.

"Hello, Inspector Otaki, my name is Misumi Mikoto, it's..." Misumi then stretched out her hand and shook hands with Otaki.

At the same time, Hattori Heiji said, "Surgeon! Ms. Misumi, you are a surgeon, right?"

(End of this chapter)