Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 274: Rice Flower Mystery
Not long after, the forensic police made a discovery - there was indeed some brown dyed hair found in Room 806, and it had been sent for identification.

After the six people learned about it, they seemed relieved and cooperated with the DNA sampling promptly. After all, this was to provide him with an alibi!

"If that's the case... the murderer was still on the eighth floor when Mr. Rokuninbe was taking the elevator! In that case... let's not wait any longer! Go to every household and knock on their doors, interview and inquire to see if there are any suspicious circumstances!" Otaki said to the detective on the scene.

Originally, it was the middle of the night, and if there were no clues, Otaki would not have started to visit at this time...

However, according to the current train of thought, if you want to stop the six-man team on the eighth floor, there is a necessary condition - someone pressed the elevator on the eighth floor and was not caught by the six-man team afterwards!
This person should be the murderer himself.

In this way, it was clear that the murderer was in front of the elevator on the eighth floor of the apartment at ten o'clock. Otaki could not wait until dawn and immediately began to visit and investigate!
Different from the so-called "famous reasoning", when the police solve cases, they rely on "legs" and "mouths" - visiting more often is a good way to solve cases.

and……

Fortunately, there are not many residents in this apartment.

Unfortunately, because there were so few residents, we were unable to obtain many clues about the murderer's movements.

At the same time, one thing was confirmed - the "message board" was indeed fake, and all the contents on it were fabricated. Many of the rooms mentioned had no one in them, and... the police even found the person who wrote the "message board" after questioning!
"It's Kato Ryo, the tenant of Room 202. He's unemployed. He received a commission online a day ago. He was asked to forge handwriting and write a message board like this, which would be posted in the elevator after nine o'clock. The other party claimed that it was for the purpose of shooting a short video and gave him a reward equivalent to 1000 yuan... It's an anonymous forum, and the transactions are in forum coins." The criminal police reported to Otaki helplessly.

It has also been confirmed that Kato Ryo has no connection with the victim at all and can basically be considered an unrelated person who was exploited.

In this case, the "handwriting" line is of little use.

……

At this time, Bai Shi was looking in another direction...

"Mr. Rokurinbu, there should have been three other people who went to Cape Beika with you two years ago, right? Among them, who is still in Osaka now?" Shiraishi asked Rokurinbu.

There were six people who traveled to Cape Mika that year, and one of them died on the spot. Now another person related to the trip, "Yamanouchi Yohei", has died, and another person related to the trip, "Rokuninbe Shiro", has been called to the scene...

Shiraishi felt that this case was most likely related to the "Mihua Cape Case". In this case, it was also necessary to pay attention to the other three people.

"The other three... Zhu Mei is very talented. She is a graduate student at the University of Tokyo. She should be in Tokyo now. Zhengming and his mother should still be in Osaka, but I haven't been in touch with him for a while. If he has gone out to travel, I'm not sure." The six-member department answered honestly.

"Tell me again about the relationship between the six people who went to Cape Mikasa that year." Shiraishi reminded him at this time. After all, Otaki was still in the dark at that time.

"Oh, it was actually the Munakata family that was going to travel to the Eastern Capital, and it was Masaaki who invited me to go with them..."

"Say your full name." Bai Shi reminded
"Munakata Masaaki invited me to go, and I was accompanied by his mother, Aunt Munakata Machi, and his cousin Takashima Akemi who lives in his house, his uncle Yamauchi Yohei who also lives with him, and his tutor Ono Yuuko...ah." He counted the six people one by one, sighing as he spoke.

After all, Ono Yuuko and Yamauchi Yohei are dead now.

"His cousin and uncle live together? What about his father?" Otaki confirmed at this time.

"Well, Zhu Mei's parents seemed to have passed away very early, so he has been living in his house. His uncle must have had some difficulties... As for Zhengming's father, he died in a fire six years ago... Well..." When the six people mentioned the fire, their expressions were obviously unnatural.

(I'll post a screenshot of the original work to help you understand the relationship.)
"Fire? In Osaka?" A cross appeared on Otaki's forehead.

My goodness, why is this family so complicated?

"That's right..."

After receiving a positive response from the six-member department, Otaki called the Arson Investigation Department office and checked the information from that year.

There is indeed a record - six years ago, the old house of the Munakata family outside the city caught fire, the male owner Munakata Shotaro died, and...

The cause of the fire is unknown and human factors have not been ruled out!

"It seems that we must visit the Munakata family after dawn... Shiraishi." Otaki looked at Shiraishi inquiringly.

Bai Shi also understood what he meant and nodded, "Well, I'll ask someone to confirm whether this Guidao Zhumei is in Dongdu."

"You... aren't suspecting Zhengming and Zhu Mei, are you? Zhengming is a very nice person, he's my best friend, and... I can vaguely feel that back then... Xi Yuzi must have liked Zhengming." The six people said this with a somewhat embarrassed tone, which made Bai Shi a little concerned.

"And Zhu Mei, she is also a very kind girl. Killing people... can't be associated with her at all." The six people said as a matter of course.

"Don't worry, it's just a routine investigation." Otaki comforted him with standard words.

Shiraishi asked curiously, "Do you know what major Takashima is studying?"

"Psychology...I think he's currently a graduate student in criminal psychology." The six-member department said confidently.

Shiraishi:……

"Well, we who study criminal psychology are generally very kind." When Bai Shi heard this, he realized that this was his own junior schoolmate - she must be kind. There are so many good people in our department, how could I not know?
"You just said that the murdered Ms. Oono liked Masaaki Munakata? Then how did Mr. Munakata feel about her?" Shiraishi asked another question at this time.

"We should treat them as ordinary friends... In fact, Zhengming told me that he likes Zhu Mei." The six-member group whispered.

Bai Shi understood what he said - the East Island Country had no restrictions on "cousin marriages" and this kind of "killing the familiar" behavior was widespread.

……

Shiraishi followed the Osaka Prefectural Police until morning, and as daybreak approached, Ayako called.

"Xiao Hei, why are you talking with Inspector Otaki until so late...will the train back to Toudou be delayed?" Ayako asked.

In fact, Ayako discovered last night that Shiraishi did not return to the hotel.

But she still resisted the urge to call, because Ayako was thinking...

What if Shiraishi asked Inspector Otaki to attend some "adult discussion"? If I made the call myself, wouldn't it seem like I was being immature and not giving Shiraishi face?
But after getting up in the morning, Ayako asked the front desk and found out that Shiraishi had not returned to the hotel, so she couldn't help but make a phone call.

"I'm sorry, the Osaka Prefectural Police have encountered a case that is somewhat related to Beika Town. We are conducting a joint investigation," Shiraishi said apologetically.

"I see!" Ayako heaved a sigh of relief and immediately asked, "What about the train ticket..."

"Wait a moment..." Shiraishi said, covering the receiver and looking at Otaki. Otaki exchanged glances with him and nodded.

After that, Shiraishi said tacitly: "No need to postpone, we will go back to Toudou at noon as planned...but Inspector Otaki will go back with me."

Because this case is likely related to the Misaki murder case two years ago, the Osaka Prefectural Police must also have a need to seek a "joint investigation."

So, there are two paths before us.

Either Heiji and Kazuha's fathers would have to contact the top brass at the Metropolitan Police Department, and then go through layers of approval before sending people over - just like what happened in Nagano Prefecture before.

However, due to the special relationship between the Osaka Prefectural Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, the process will be more difficult!

Or they could skip the formal process and use personal connections to have Otaki go directly to Toudou with Shiraishi - the case is within the jurisdiction of the Beika Police Station anyway.

They can search first and report later. Before the investigation is completed, they don't have to go through the Metropolitan Police Department. After the search has results, they can just send them to the inspection according to the script.

Since there is a choice, from the perspective of front-line search, no one wants to go through that troublesome process!
After Shiraishi and Ayako finished talking, Ayako, under Otaki's repeated politeness, helped him book a ticket as well...

After Otaki and Shiraishi reached a "tacit understanding", he called Minister Toyama to ask for instructions. Of course, Toyama agreed, and gave Otaki full authority to be responsible for the "Touto-related part" of the "Orange Apartment Murder Case".

In addition...

"Otaki, Kazuha doesn't seem to be at the Hattori family and hasn't returned home. Do you have any clues?" Toyama asked in a deep voice.

"This..." Upon hearing this, Otaki looked at Heiji and Kazuha who were still flirting, and explained in a low voice with his hand covering his mouth.

After hearing this, Yuanshan said in a steady tone: "Okay, I understand."

Not long after, Bai Shi also received another reporting call from the Mihua Agency.

"Chief, I've confirmed that Takashima Akemi is indeed at Toudou University and did not leave the dormitory last night... In addition, I found that Takashima's current mentor is Professor Yamabuki who came to the police station before." Yuan was on duty last night and went to confirm after receiving instructions from Shiraishi.

"Professor Yamabuki? Okay, I get it. You got Takashima's contact information, right? Make an appointment with her in the afternoon, and then the Osaka police captain and I will visit her." Shiraishi said.

Because this cooperation was entirely mediated by Shiraishi's "personal relationship", it was difficult for Shiraishi to go through the agency's procedures, especially at this time - the "report letter and bone case" was still unresolved, and a body was found in an abandoned building yesterday, so the agency was short of staff.

To this end, Shiraishi specifically changed the time limit of the unmanned location inspection plan from "within one week" to "unlimited" and "daily tasks."

As for the "Professor Yamabuki" mentioned by Gen, he was the professor of psychology from the University of Tokyo who had come to the Beika Police Station before and conducted a preliminary assessment on Akiyoshi Kanako. Shiraishi certainly still remembered him.

Then Shiraishi said to Otaki, "Let's go meet the mother and son of the Munakata family this morning."

Otaki nodded and said, "But we have to meet separately... The Six-Man Division just said that this Munakata Masaaki is now living in an apartment in the city, and his mother and Mr. Yamauchi who was murdered are still living in an old house that was renovated after the fire."

Seeing that it was already past six o'clock, Shiraishi and Otaki rushed directly to Masaaki's current address, while other detectives also went to the Munakata family's old house.

……

In the car, besides Otaki driving and Shiraishi sitting on the passenger seat...

"Heiji, you really don't have to go home?" Otaki asked timidly on his behalf.

"Of course! How can I rest before the case is solved? Uncle Otaki, you can go to Toudou to investigate without any worries, and leave Osaka to me!" Heiji said righteously.

"No...there are also detectives in Osaka..." Otaki couldn't help but complain - there's no need to hand it over to you!
As for He Ye, he has been sent home by the police to rest.

At this time, Otaki's cell phone rang...

"Ah, Shiraishi, help me see who it is." Otaki thought about it and decided that he did not violate any traffic rules.

Shiraishi pulled out his phone, saw the incoming call and said, "It's...Mrs. Hattori."

Otaki is obviously doing well in the Osaka Prefectural Police, because he is usually responsible for "looking after Heiji", so he even has the number of the number one boss's wife's phone number! "Please help me answer it..."

"Don't answer it!"

Otaki and Heiji said at the same time.

Of course Shiraishi chose to listen to Otaki!

"Hello, Mrs. Hattori, I'm Shiraishi from the Metropolitan Police Department. Inspector Otaki is driving the car." Shiraishi picked up the phone and greeted.

"Is this Officer Shiraishi? How are you... Is my son with you?" Hattori Shizuka was stunned at first, but then she reacted immediately - it was obvious that she also knew Shiraishi.

Heiji kept gesturing to keep quiet, but Shiraishi said honestly, "Well, your son is also in the car. He said he wants to go with us to investigate the case. Like father, like son!"

"Really? I'm always troublesome to you, Inspector Otaki. I'm so sorry to have caused you trouble again this time." Although Jinghua spoke with an Osaka accent, she was very polite.

This made Shiraishi a little uncomfortable. After all, the Osaka accent that Shiraishi often heard was the kind where the tongue stuck to the upper teeth!
"No, no, your son also said that he would come to Mihua to learn from him next week, hahaha." Bai Shi said with a smile.

"Then I'll have to ask Superintendent Shiraishi to take care of me..."

Because it was an outsider who answered the phone, Jinghua couldn't get angry, and even didn't ask Heiji to answer the phone.

Hattori Shizuka was really angry this time!
I found out my son was missing late at night, and...

The daughter of the Yuanshan family is missing too?

At that moment, Jinghua even suspected... her son had finally grown up.

Why are you taking me out? Mom, I can pretend to be asleep...

As a result, not long ago, Hattori Shizuka received a call from her husband - Toyama had come to complain, and this guy had taken the girl... and had been investigating the case for a whole night!

……

After exchanging greetings with Shizuka Hattori, Shiraishi and his party came to the apartment where Masaaki Munakata currently lives.

After ringing the doorbell, Zhengming, still in his pajamas and half asleep, opened the door and asked, "Who is this?"

"Hello, this is Mr. Munakata, right? I'm a detective from the Osaka Prefectural Police's First Investigation Division... Can I ask you something?" Otaki said, showing his police ID.

"Eh? Police officer?" Zhengming was stunned when he heard that.

Zhengming looked honest. After Otaki showed his police ID, he invited all three of them in.

Shiraishi:……

Seeing him still yawning and going to pour water, Otaki quickly said, "Don't bother... We're just asking some questions."

"Oh...is there any progress in Xi Yuzi's case?" Zhengming asked curiously.

Although she is the "tutor" who teaches his mother piano, Xi Yuzi is of the same age as him and Zhu Mei. Zhengming is obviously very familiar with her and calls her by her name.

"Sorry, it's not... Mr. Yamauchi Yohei." Otaki said apologetically - although it was the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police Department, in the eyes of the public, it must be "the police's responsibility."

"Eh? What's wrong with uncle?" Zhengming was stunned when he heard that.

Otaki said, and told the story of the Orange Apartment...

"What? Uncle...how could this happen..." Zhengming couldn't help feeling sad when he heard Otaki talk about his uncle's death.

This is consistent with what the Six-Man Department said - Zhengming and his uncle have always had a good relationship.

"Mr. Munakata... Where were you from 9 to 12 last night?" Otaki asked directly.

"Eh? Are you going to suspect me again?" Zhengming complained impatiently, "You police officers are always like this... It obviously has nothing to do with us!"

"No, this is just a routine inquiry to relevant parties." Otaki comforted.

"I... am at home! And I live alone, no one can prove it!" Zhengming said, pouring himself some water unhappily.

Otaki didn't have any doubts about this - he was alone at home at night, so what was wrong with that?

only……

In this way, he has no alibi and there is a possibility that he has committed the crime!

"Mr. Munakata, as far as you know, does your uncle have any enemies?" Otaki asked in an enlightening way.

"Probably not... My uncle rarely has conflicts with others. But I haven't lived at home in the past two years, so we have had less contact. I don't know the specific details of my uncle's friendships." Zhengming said, shaking his head.

Seeing this, Otaki couldn't help scratching his head. It was clear that there were too few clues here...

Shiraishi then interjected, "Then let's talk about Ms. Ohno... Oh, by the way, I'm the director of the Mika Police Station, and I'm here for the Mika Cape case."

"Xi Yuzi...it's even more impossible for her to have any enemies. Maybe...it was just an accident." Zhengming said as he shook his head.

Indeed, Shiraishi also remembered that the case could not be completely determined to be "homicide" because...

Xi Yuzi was sitting under the cliff at the time, and there was a possibility that rocks fell naturally. The reason why the case was filed as "homicide" was because there were eyewitnesses who claimed that a rock had disappeared from the flat ground on the cliff. Therefore, the police felt that it was unlikely that it was a rock that fell naturally from the mountain wall!

However, as the case reached a stalemate, the people present had alibis and no motive for committing the crime, so the witnesses' testimony became less credible...

"Does Ms. Ohno like you?" Shiraishi suddenly asked.

"Eh? Well... I think Xi Yuzi is a very good friend... This has nothing to do with the case, right?" Zhengming seemed like he didn't want to say more.

Just then, there was a noise outside the door.

"I'm coming to my son's apartment, what's wrong with that?"

"What are you following? You tax thieves are always trying to make things difficult for us law-abiding citizens!"

"My brother has passed away, and you are still suspecting me and my son? Do you want to detain me and force me to confess?"

A fierce middle-aged female voice came in...

This is the Osaka accent that Shiraishi is familiar with.

"Oh, excuse me." Zhengming said, and quickly got up to open the door.

"Wow, Zhengming! Your uncle has been murdered! Instead of solving the case, these police officers come to harass us, the family members!"

A middle-aged leopard-print woman rushed in at this time, and then turned to Zhengming and started crying...

Otaki suddenly felt very uneasy, and the detective who came with Munakata Machi also came over and reported the situation in a low voice.

Machikata Munakata also had no alibi - she originally lived in the old house with her brother, but... it was her brother who died, so of course she had no alibi.

In addition...

According to her, Yamauchi Yohei went out at around 8 o'clock last night because he had an appointment with someone, but Munakata Machika was not sure who he was going to see.

Later, when she heard that the police had come to her son's place, she wanted to rush over immediately. The police did not have an arrest warrant, so they had to come with her.

But Munakata Machi also mentioned one thing...

"Mrs. Munakata said that Mr. Yamauchi seemed to be worried recently, as if... it started because he saw some legal program. But when she asked about it, Mr. Yamauchi didn't say anything." The detective whispered to Otaki.

Munakata Machi heard this and immediately stopped crying and interrupted, "That's right! I remember now, it's that program on the Rice Flower TV station! This rice flower is really weird, I think it's this rice flower that conflicts with our family!"

Shiraishi:……

"Mihua?" Upon hearing this, Otaki looked at Shiraishi in surprise, and then said, "It seems... this case is really likely to be a continuation of the Mihua Cape case."

"what!"

Following Otaki's gaze, Munakata Machi realized that there was another person in the room, and he was shocked - not only was the person too small to be easily discovered, but if he was too big... it would also be easy to ignore!

"Why does Osaka have such a large police force? Really, aren't they afraid of scaring us law-abiding citizens?" Munakata Machi complained in a low voice.

Even though she was a shrew, she was still a little scared when she saw Bai Shi, so she spoke in a low voice.

"This person is not the Osaka Prefectural Police, but Chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Beika Police Station, Inspector Shiraishi Masaru." Heiji found an opportunity to retaliate and immediately introduced them.

Munakata Machi: …

When she heard that Bai Shi was from Mihua, she became embarrassed and stopped talking.

At this time, Bai Shi showed a thoughtful look...

----

Dongdong: The prototype of the case comes from "Hamura Eiichi's Mystery", but this kind of "original" case only has a prototype, and many things will actually be changed, so there is no need to spoil it, and even if you do, it may not be correct...

Generally, the cases in "Detective Conan" and "Kid" are revealed casually, and readers are assumed to know the original situation. Spoilers of other cases will be deleted. Don't worry if you see spoilers, because most of the cases have been changed, so it's useless to reveal them.

(End of this chapter)