Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 249: Continuous Disappearance
"What does this guy do? He seems to have a strong desire to perform." Bai Shi looked at the "first discoverer" who was being questioned and asked curiously.

Most people would have trouble speaking in this kind of environment, but...

Not only did this guy answer fluently, but he also gave people the feeling of being "very camera-savvy"!
"Matsumiya Ryuwei used to be a member of an underground idol boy group. After the idol group disbanded, he went solo for a while... Although he has never been very popular, he is considered to have a relatively comfortable life among underground idols. He has regular fans, stable theater performances, and... well, he is very capable."

Shiratori then told him his basic situation.

"Underground idol?" Bai Shi suddenly realized what was going on.

In the East Island Country, "underground idols" are not illegal underground activities, but refer to folk idols who have no chance to appear on TV...

If you have a certain fan group, you can do well.

"But a year ago, he was blacklisted by various underground theaters because he repeatedly fell in love with fans and demanded money and property. After that, his income began to drop sharply..." Sato shook his head and said, obviously disdainful of such people, and also mentioned the "methods" that Shiratori didn't mention just now.

From underground female idols to compensated dating girls, from underground male idols to gigolos...these are all very smooth downward tracks!
"In other words, he has financial problems?" Bai Shi nodded when he heard that.

"Originally, he wanted to transform himself into an internet celebrity, but the transformation was not going smoothly until the last week, when his number of fans increased dramatically..." Sato said, showing Shiraishi her phone.

The above is the personal channel of this "Matsumiya Ryuwei". His recent videos are basically all outrageous content like "I saw a shadow man", "Teach you how to identify a shadow man", "Shadow man viewing glasses only sell for 20 yuan"... etc!

But judging by the clicks on these videos, this guy is really a bit popular, especially the recent number of views, which is a hundred times higher than before...

"So... this guy also benefited from this disappearance incident!" Shiraishi understood after hearing this: "No wonder Inspector Megure suspected him..."

He became the first person to discover three cases in a row, and also profited from them...

If he doesn't doubt this, who else can he doubt?

"Not only that, after investigation, the three murdered women were all related to him. They were all his fans when he was an idol and had joined his fan club. Two of them... may have had sexual relations with him." Shiratori said while shaking his head, with a tone of "young people nowadays are really indecent."

Shiraishi guessed that he wanted to appear to be very "decent".

Unfortunately, Sato didn't pay attention to his tone at all...

"By the way, what about the alibi?" Bai Shi asked at this time - it has come to this point, it would be a bit rude to say that he did not kill the person!

Sato and Shiratori were both hesitant when they heard this...

"What's wrong?" Bai Shi asked puzzledly when he saw this.

"This... the surveillance footage of the third case is also backed up in the Beihua Police Station. You will know when you take a look." Sato said helplessly at this time.

After hearing what Sato said about the suspense, and it seemed that they wouldn't be able to get anything useful out of Inspector Megure for the time being, Shiraishi and Sato returned to the Criminal Division's office - the Criminal Division's office, which was not far from the interrogation room.

Shiraishi had seen many detectives watching surveillance footage before, but because this was a necessary procedure after a case occurred, Shiraishi didn't pay much attention. At Sato's reminder, Shiraishi found a computer to borrow and looked at the surveillance footage...

"Look, here is the video from 6:55 in the morning... The murdered woman, Suruga Mitsuru, was captured by the surveillance camera in front of the Beika Central Building and entered this alley..." Sato said, and first rewound the key points for Shiraishi on the computer.

All I saw on the screen was a young woman in a white dress walking by.

Because it was not yet the morning rush hour, there were not many people around the building at this time.

And not long after...

"We're almost there... here!" Sato seemed to have waited for something and decisively clicked on the slow motion button.

Then, on the screen, a faintly black, almost translucent human-shaped shadow appeared, passing across the surveillance screen!

"This is..." Bai Shi was also stunned when he saw this - what the hell is this? Is there a magician passing by? He was even captured by the surveillance camera. Can he withstand the backlash?
"That's it. There are many similar videos on the Internet now." Bai Niao said helplessly at this time, but immediately corrected: "Of course, other surveillance footage and videos circulating on the Internet have been identified as fake videos that have been edited by humans."

This picture is also the source of the "Shadow Man" legend!

There are also many people on the Internet who rely on similar fake videos to attract traffic, making it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake.

"Manual editing? But this surveillance video should not have been edited manually, right?" Bai Shi asked suspiciously.

Logically speaking, this surveillance footage should have been copied by the police shortly after the incident.

If this has also been photoshopped, it would be easier to find the murderer - only a few people have access to the video file!

but……

"There are no signs of artificial editing in the video, and...if nothing unexpected happens, I think mosaic spray was used."

Suddenly a voice came from behind them.

Sato and Shiratori turned around and were surprised to find that it was a boy who looked exceptionally young... no, exceptionally young!
It looks like...

About the same age as Kudo Shinichi!
Sato saw him moving freely in the office of the Criminal Division of the Beihua Police Department, so he guessed, "You are also... a high school detective?"

Shiraishi corrected him at this time: "No, this is Hayashida Yuuto, the special technical consultant of our Beihua Agency."

Well, for top hacker technology, only 1200 yuan in subsidies per month, plus yuan per hour in labor fees, a technical consultant with a very high cost-effectiveness!
Because of the "weirdness" of the video, when the Beihua Agency was analyzing it in the morning, Kunikida took the initiative to call consultant Hayashida over.

"That's right, I don't understand reasoning, but... at least I can be sure that this video has no signs of editing." Hayashida Yuto said confidently at this time.

"So the mosaic spray you just mentioned is..." Shiratori asked with some concern.

"Recently I heard that there is a new technology abroad that can interfere with the imaging of surveillance cameras by spraying a spray on the body. Although I haven't seen the real thing yet, it is very likely this technology." Yuto expressed his guess.

(Regarding the "mosaic spray", it was mentioned in the Japanese drama based on the case, but I searched it online but couldn't find it. I'm not sure if it's because of sensitive items, information control, or if it's just fiction... Anyway, let's assume that it exists in the world of this book. Anyway, the surveillance in "Detective Conan" always fails.)
Since the video has not been edited, and Yuto does not believe in any paranormal phenomena, then...

He also thought of this kind of item that he had never actually seen but had only heard of.

"Is there such a thing..." Shiratori was skeptical when he heard it. After all, this was not a popular product.

But at this moment, Conan, who had been "invisible", suddenly said: "Yes! I saw it in Hawaii before!"

Sato, Shiratori:? ? ?

The two were shocked. What on earth is this? Why didn't they see it just now? Is it Director Shiraishi's pendant?

"Conan? Why are you here?" Sato immediately recognized that this was the child from the Mori family.

"I...Brother Shiraishi asked me to help!" Conan decisively sold out Shiraishi.

"Eh?" Sato was stunned when he heard that - asking a child for help?

"Just look after him for a while." Bai Shi said calmly.

Sato immediately realized that Shiraishi was now the director, not a criminal policeman, and he was wearing casual clothes. It was obvious that he was spending the weekend and came to the police station because of something. So it was understandable that he brought a child with him.

"Conan, really? You just said that you have seen mosaic spray?" Shiratori was more concerned about what he said before.

Shiraishi didn't expect...

Hawaii really has it all!
"Well! Some thieves in Hawaii use this kind of thing. It's what they saw in the surveillance video. However... because it must be sprayed evenly to be effective and it is irritating to the skin, the perpetrators usually have to wear waterproof materials such as raincoats and be fully armed." Conan explained at this time.

Sato's expression changed when he heard this: "Raincoat? So, even though it can't be seen on the surveillance camera,...if someone saw it, it would definitely leave a deep impression!"

It's not raining today, so a person wrapped in a raincoat or cape would definitely stand out...

"Section Chief Kunikida..." Shiraishi said and looked at Kunikida.

Kunikida understood what he meant and said, "I will inform the detectives on the scene to change the direction of collecting eyewitness testimony."

Previously, because they didn't know what caused the "abnormality" in the surveillance video, the police officers from the Beihua Police Department could only vaguely ask questions such as "Did you see anything strange?" when questioning witnesses near the crime scene.

It is difficult to collect useful information by asking this question.

Normally, this is a way of asking questions that should be avoided, but...

The police didn't know what it was before, so they couldn't just ask if anyone had seen a dark shadow, right? That would cause panic!

Now we know it is "mosaic spray", and the person who used it must be wrapped in a raincoat, cloak or something like that, so we can ask more specifically, maybe someone can remember something...

"But in this way, Matsumiya's alibi becomes even clearer... At this time, he was in a coffee shop, and there is also surveillance evidence." Shiratori said, pointing to the time on the surveillance.

At first, when we didn’t know what this thing was, we could suspect it was a surveillance malfunction, but now we know it’s “mosaic spray”, so... at least someone really must have passed by here, right?
At the same time as this person appeared, Matsumiya had an alibi far away! The person who appeared at the scene after spraying the "mosaic spray" was definitely not him.

"Is it the same in the first two cases?" Shiraishi confirmed with Sato.

"That's right, and there is surveillance evidence." Sato nodded.

Shiraishi:……

It's getting more suspicious!
Too many alibis and too detailed ones are also suspicious, not to mention that it happened three times.

"So the main direction of investigation now should be that there are accomplices assisting in the crime, right?" Bai Shi understood after hearing this.

After all, this is not a detective novel. The criminal does not have to come up with any conspiracy or create a false alibi. Instead, there is the simplest way - multiple people working together to commit the crime!
"That's right, that's also the focus of the investigation right now." Shiratori nodded, then glanced at his watch and said, "Ah, we also have to talk to his agent. We've already made an appointment. Sorry for the rudeness."

Shiratori apologized and left with Sato. It seemed that they were going to visit the people around Matsumiya at the appointed time - not only to understand the situation, but also... to consider that the people around him might be accomplices in the crime!

At this moment, Conan used a "tactical shoelace" technique, leaned over, and stuck a mini eavesdropping device on the side of Shiratori's leather shoes...

Shiraishi:……

After this thing becomes smaller, the only thing missing is “psychological invisibility”!

If Bai Shi's perspective wasn't high enough, and his [Insight] and [Spirit] were maxed out, he wouldn't be able to lock onto him!
"Don't hide too well." Shiraishi emphasized to Conan after Sato and Shiratori left.

Conan:?
"I'm afraid that if I'm not careful, I'll step on you to death." Bai Shi reminded seriously.

Conan: ...

"But now it seems that the matter has nothing to do with the Black Organization. Not only does the most suspicious Matsumiya not look like a member of any secret organization, but also... if it was the Black Organization that took action, it would not have caused such a stir." Shiraishi judged at this time.

After a pause, Bai Shi also guessed: "In fact, the medicine they gave you to drink should not cause bleeding, but should be able to dissolve more thoroughly, otherwise there will be no confusing effect."

For example, in this series of disappearances, at least two liters of blood were found at the crime scene each time...

Even if you haven't seen the body, you know the person is definitely dead!
Half a year ago, in the parking lot of a hotel in Hengbin, Bai Shi's blood loss was only about two and a half liters. Even for Bai Shi, losing two liters of blood would cause obvious discomfort. Most people would have died long ago after losing so much blood...

Leaving this amount of blood at the scene will not achieve the effect of "hidden murder" at all!

"Then why are you using red paint..." Conan rolled his eyes.

"Hehe, to deal with those guys, only a mix of truth and falsehood will be effective." Bai Shi said frankly.

Conan also accepted this statement at this time, but...

Even if these brutal criminals were not the ones who made him smaller, his detective soul would not allow him to sit idly by!

"But...if the victim is really dead, where did the body go? The first case occurred on the rooftop of a building, and the second and third cases were in alleys connected to busy streets. And was there really time for so much blood to be shed?" Conan asked doubtfully.

Indeed, even in the last two cases, although the alley itself is remote, it leads to a busy area, and the crime did not occur in the middle of the night, so how were the bodies transported out?

No vehicles entered or exited the scene, and no traces such as wheel marks on a suitcase were found.

And to release two liters of blood, even if the artery is cut accurately, it will take a long time...

The blood volume of an average adult woman is less than four liters, and once a certain amount of blood is lost, it is difficult for it to flow out naturally. A few hundred milliliters of blood can be easily released, and it will come out quickly by cutting an artery, but two liters...

"Indeed, with only two liters of blood, the person would have died long ago. Even if the artery was cut, the blood would not be able to flow out." Bai Shi also echoed at this time.

Just then, Inspector Megure came over with a helpless look on his face - because there was no evidence, and the other person even had a clear alibi, Megure could only let him go for the time being.

otherwise……

Regardless of whether Megure Mamoru abides by the rules or not, I'm afraid Kunikida will have to remind him first - if you want to illegally detain me, go back to the Metropolitan Police Department and don't mess around in the Beika Police Station!

Megure also knew Kunikida and his affairs. Kunikida was even a senior who was several years older than him. Even if he really scolded him, he wouldn't be able to say anything...

"Sorry for keeping you busy for so long again...As for Matsumiya, if you don't have any questions, just sign and let him go." Megure said helplessly after seeing Shiraishi coming.

"Well, we don't know much about the case, so we cooperated with Souichi to operate in Beika Town." Shiraishi had not taken on too much responsibility at this time. After all, only one case was found in Beika Town, and the body had not even been seen yet.

The investigation headquarters is at Yotsuya Police Station, and the jurisdiction of Beika Police Station is just "the place where one of the cases occurred"...

Later, Conan heard Shiratori and Sato visiting his agent on the monitor. Matsumiya, an underground idol, certainly didn't have a contract with a regular entertainment company, and his agent was just an individual agent, and...

"Eh? You and Mr. Matsumiya... are a couple?" Sato looked at the woman in front of him in surprise.

"Well, we have already become joint citizens, but it has not been made public... Please do not leak this matter." Hiyori begged.

"We will not disclose any privacy that is not related to the case, but... as far as I know, Mr. Matsumiya's fans probably don't know that he is married, right?" Shiratori asked.

"Of course, otherwise I might be killed?" Hiyori said casually.

However, idols' secret marriages are not uncommon in the Eastern Island Country, not to mention that they are just "underground idols."

"You guys have made a lot of money from online videos and... these glasses, right?" Shiratori looked at the "Shadow Man Revealing Glasses" placed on the cabinets and tables at home.

Matsumiya sells this kind of stuff on his own channel, and there are even some ridiculous props like "spices to avoid shadow people" and "talismans that shadow people fear the most"!

and……

They are also very expensive!

"No, no..." Hiyori said a little embarrassedly.

"Ms. Hiyori, since you are Matsumiya's wife, you should understand better what he is doing, right?" Sato asked seriously.

After a moment of silence, Hiyori said, "No, I know you don't believe him, but... I believe he really saw it! In the past few days, he has been sleeping restlessly and often wakes up!"

……

Conan couldn't help but curl his lips when he heard Matsumiya's wife still being stubborn - even if this phenomenon really existed, it was because he had lied so many times that he started to have hallucinations, right?
After that, Shiratori directly started asking about Hiyori's alibi!

"Eh? Are you... doubting me?" Hiyori was stunned when she heard that.

"Please give a direct answer." Shiratori was obviously the bad guy and asked directly.

"I...this morning, I went to the yoga studio...What time were the previous two cases?" Hiyori sounded a little aggrieved, but still answered honestly.

……

Conan was sharing information with Shiraishi at this time: "There are three cases, two of which involved Hiyori, and she has a definite alibi. It seems that the accomplice is not her."

At this time, Shiratori seemed to have seen the photos and asked bluntly, "Mrs. Hiyori, your husband usually hangs out with female fans... can you accept that?"

"Detective Shiratori." Sato reminded him in a low voice, as if wanting him not to ask such questions.

Hiyori nodded and said, "Yes! I was also an underground idol before, I understand... the job of an idol is to be liked by others, but later... compared to being supported by others, I wanted to support Matsumiya more, so I retired and became Matsumiya's manager, choosing to support him behind the scenes!"

Then Hiyori was silent for a while before continuing to ask, "So... Officer, are you suspicious of my husband?"

Sato said noncommittally: "If you, Mrs. Hiyori, believe that Mr. Matsumiya is innocent, whether he really saw something or... he was targeted by the murderer, you'd better clarify it as soon as possible instead of continuing to use this traffic, otherwise Mr. Matsumiya might be in danger."

Sato persuaded him with the reason of "for Matsumiya's own sake" - of course, the premise that Matsumiya would be in danger is... that he himself is not the source of danger!
Not long after, Matsumiya, who was released, returned home, and Sato and Shiratori's visits came to an end. Of course, Matsumiya himself still insisted that he saw the "shadow man".

"Shadow man? If that's true... there are so many people in Dongdu, and the shadow man appeared three times and killed people related to you each time. Why is that?" Bai Niao couldn't help but ask directly.

Facing Shiratori's question, Matsumiya gave a very reasonable answer...

"I guess... the shadow man might also be my fan! It likes me! So... just kill all the other people who like me!" Matsumiya whispered to Shiratori.

Not to mention that Sato and Shiratori who were present at the scene were filled with disgust, even Conan who heard it through the monitor curled his lips at this moment - is this even a reason?

At this time, Shiraishi said to Conan: "Well, it seems that there is nothing to do in the Beihua Agency. Do you want to go back to the Maori Detective Agency or go to Dr. Agasa?"

"I..." Conan's eyes turned and stared at Takagi who followed Megure away, as if he had found a suitable "jinchūriki".

Obviously, no matter whether this case is related to the "Black Organization" or not, Conan does not want to withdraw from the case investigation just like that!
(End of this chapter)