Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 314: Impossible Crime?
Koizumi acted as if he had a very conscientious tone - after all, it was just a small amount of money, but it could cure their worries!

"And the 'Soul-Knocking Bell'... white candles and bells, please unify the style!" Bai Shi complained.

The methods are all very oriental, but Koizumi's personality is very western. At this moment, she is still sitting here like a lady, drinking black tea.

"You'd better think of a way to fool those police officers quickly, otherwise just treat it as a murder by a ghost," Koizumi urged.

Obviously, for Koizumi Akako, her first goal is to never show weakness - that is, she cannot admit that she was playing tricks, so she will not explain to the police that the candles had been replaced!

……

After confirming that this was a "murder case in which the murderer used trickery", Shiraishi found Uesugi again.

"Manager Uesugi, is it okay for me to go and take a look at the scene?" Shiraishi asked for Uesugi's opinion.

"Then I'll have to trouble Superintendent Shiraishi for guidance." Uesugi was very happy to have Shiraishi's assistance.

Although Uesugi was skeptical about the fact that "a senior police officer like Shiraishi" was rumored to be "very good at solving cases", but...

Even if Shiraishi is not good at solving cases, he would be happy to see him willing to get involved and take responsibility!
After all, if he gets involved, that witch won't be able to hide and refuse to cooperate anymore, right?
Uesugi also discovered that Officer Shiraishi did not behave like the "disciple" of the witch, which made him feel relieved - otherwise, if the superintendent was the "disciple", then the witch must have a powerful backer.

Uesugi invited Shiraishi to the door of the crime scene, which was a small storage room in the southwest corner of the villa...

"I won't go in..." Ayako said weakly at this time.

Although she didn't quite believe it, Ayako hadn't heard the "private chat" between Shiraishi and Koizumi before. She only heard Uesugi talk about the case on the way here, so she couldn't help but feel a little scared.

"Well, you wait for us outside." Shiraishi didn't want Ayako to enter the murder scene.

Originally, the doors in this villa were all the size of ordinary indoor doors, and the door of this small storage room was even smaller. After Bai Shi leaned sideways and bent his knees to crawl in, he felt that the room was much more "fuller"!

Shiraishi looked around and found that this small square room was still very "full" at this time. It was surrounded by shelves and sundries. However, the "candles", "armor" and other items related to the case had been taken away, leaving only number signs in their original places.

However, after seeing the photos of the on-site evidence, in Bai Shi's eyes, the number signs were naturally restored to their original appearance...

Including the position of the body of "No. 1", it has now turned back into a corpse lying on the table with a dagger stuck in the back.

And this dagger was actually already at the scene.

In the only vacant corner of the storage room, which is the southwest corner on the window side, there was a sign with the number "2". At this moment, in Bai Shi's eyes, the number plate disappeared and was replaced by a samurai armor!
If you look closely, you will find that the samurai sword that comes with the armor is still there, but only the scabbard of the short sword remains.

Apparently the murderer had used the short sword that came with the samurai armor to kill the victim.

This set of armor is the subject of the "haunted rumors" and last night's "spiritual ceremony" - according to legend, the Akabane family is inhabited by the spirit of this undead samurai, and some people have even seen the figure of the undead samurai...

According to Hongzi's instructions, the armor was placed here in advance and is now taken away as evidence.

Originally, Hongzi wanted Hasko to pretend to be a ghost and leave, but unfortunately, because something happened, Hasko is still wandering around and did not come over.

As Shiraishi looked around, the numbered signs were replaced with the evidence that was originally there. Uesugi had also "disappeared", and in his place were figures sitting on the chairs around the round table. The corpse also sat up at this time...

During the "spiritual communication ceremony", the Akabane family prepared a round table and spread the hexagram tablecloth on it according to the hexagram tablecloth arranged by Hongzi in advance, and then the six people sat in the corresponding position of one corner.

To the north, next to the door, was where Hongzi was sitting, and to the south, next to the window, was where the victim Akabane Tadao was sitting.

Also sitting on either side of Hongzi were her daughter Akaba Tsuruko and her aunt Akaba Miwa. On the left and right of the victim were her son Akaba Tadao and her good friend and winemaker Aotani Taichi.

Whether judging from other people's confessions or from what Hongzi just revealed to Shiraishi in private, the six people were holding hands and forming a circle at the time of the crime!

At this time, in Bai Shi's eyes, the six people had formed a circle, and then Hongzi began to mutter and act mysteriously.

Then the candle went out inexplicably, but...

The environment that should have been pitch black still seemed as bright as day in Bai Shi's eyes.

I saw Akaba Tsuruko trying to "transform into Kuro", but...

Because he was being pulled by Hongzi, he failed to get up. The other three also tried one by one, but no one could get up under such circumstances!

After that, we see Tadao and Tsuruko both "transformed into black". Tsuruko lets go of her brother's hand, and her brother's range of movement expands. However, with one hand being held by his father, he can't reach the short sword on the armor in the corner...

Even if he had hidden the knife in his arms in advance, he could not use his left hand to get around behind his father and stab the knife when his right hand was held by his father - the angle at which the blade entered the body had been checked and was completely normal, and was the result of a straight stab!
What's more, the room was very crowded, and there was a shelf against the wall not far behind him, so there was not much room to move. If one of his hands was held, it would be almost impossible for him to get up quietly.

On the other side, Meiwa and Qinggu teamed up. Although they were closer to the armor, they were able to get the armor, but...

"What are you doing?" the victim couldn't help but ask at this time - the movement was so big that the victim who was holding his left hand would have noticed it long ago.

Not to mention, even if Qing Gu's movements were very skilled and completely undetectable, he still couldn't explain the problem of the angle of the blade's penetration!

"Could it be the murderer from outside?" the victim asked Bai Shi.

I saw a black man coming to the window, but...

Not only was the window locked, "Xiao Hei" couldn't open it after trying to force it open for a long time. Moreover, after he opened it violently, a cold wind immediately blew in. At once, all six people in the room turned their heads to look over!
Seeing this, "Xiao Hei" scratched his head awkwardly and backed away.

Then, Xiao Hei appeared outside the door, ready to sneak in through the door.

Although the door was not locked at that time, but...

creak-

A teeth-grinding sound was heard, and at the same time, a bright light shone in.

All six eyes were focused on the door. Xiao Hei at the door became even more embarrassed and hurriedly bowed and left...

Everything in Shiraishi's eyes returned to normal at this time, and only Uesugi was left looking at him with some confusion.

"It seems that it is difficult for the six people at the table to do this, even if two of them join forces." Bai Shi nodded.

Uesugi:……

That's it? Of course we know that!
"That's right, unless... Koizumi is also an accomplice, and the three people sitting next to him are all accomplices." Uesugi said as a matter of course.

Indeed, if Koizumi Akako was also an accomplice and the three of them joined forces, if people on both sides let go, then Tsuruko or Miwa would be able to move freely.

Although it is still difficult to move in such a crowded and dark environment, but... at least it is possible in theory!
However, Uesugi also shook his head and said, "But if three people join forces..." Obviously, this situation is unlikely!
Friends who often commit murder know that the more accomplices they have, the easier it is to be exposed, especially when the disparity between the crimes committed by the principal and the accomplice is too great - the principal wants to kill the person himself, while the accomplice just lets go and pretends not to know... this makes it easy for an experienced criminal policeman to pry open the accomplice's mouth!

After all, the charges for this kind of "complicity" are too different.

In planned murders, more than 90% are committed by lone wolves who will not let anyone else know.

"It's impossible for an outside attacker to do this. The windows are locked, and this door..." Bai Shi then opened the door.

Just now, Bai Shi discovered that the hinges of the door of this small storage room made a very loud noise, and it was impossible to conceal its opening and closing from others.

It is also said that the lights outside were on at the time. Once turned on, the light would shine in and be very conspicuous.

"If the crime was committed by a mechanism, the dagger should have been stabbed from the direction of the window... Obviously there is no mechanism." Bai Shi looked at the window behind the body - there was only a window here, unlike other directions where there were cabinets, shelves and so on. It looked messy and there was no place to place any mechanism.

As for shooting knives in from outside?
"Well, the curtains were drawn and the windows were locked. If they were opened, people in the room would be able to see it in the dark." Uesugi also added to the description of the situation at the scene.

"Hmm?" Bai Shi said as he pulled the curtains. "Wait, were the curtains drawn from the beginning? Is it possible that someone is hiding behind them?"

Uesugi was silent for a while after hearing this. Although he felt it was unlikely, after all, he couldn't get out after hiding someone, but he still said, "I'll go check with the witnesses again."

……

"Curtains? I didn't notice..."

"Impossible, I saw that the curtains were not closed when I entered the room. They were only closed later."

"It was my brother. He went over and pulled it up."

Although Tsuruko did not notice, Tadao still remembered that when he went in, he saw outside the window. Miwa also remembered that it was the deceased himself who pulled the curtains.

In this case, it is obviously unlikely that "there is someone hiding behind the curtains" or "there is a mechanism set on the window".

"Did you look inside the samurai armor?" Bai Shi asked at this time.

As soon as Bai Shi spoke, everyone couldn't help but look at him a few more times - although they already knew that he was a "police officer from Dongdu", but... in the countryside, it seemed that the impact was even greater!

Apart from anything else, the armor that ordinary people can't wear, I'm afraid this person can't wear it either...

Ordinary people felt uncomfortable wearing the armor because it was too big, while Bai Shi felt uncomfortable wearing the armor because it was too small and he couldn't put it on at all!

"Impossible, after I entered, I kicked it, and it was empty... and it was very inconvenient to move after putting that thing on." Zhongfu said at this time.

Because he was disdainful of the rumors of "haunting", Zhongfu did not have a good attitude towards this armor.

"Was the dagger on the armor at that time?" Bai Shi asked immediately.

However, Zhongfu shook his head and said, "I didn't look closely, it seems... not here?"

The tone was too uncertain to be considered valid testimony.

But at least it is certain that the murderer did not hide in the armor in advance - after all, this kind of fully complex armor, which is arranged in a sitting position, is suitable for hiding people.

"Then think about it again. Did any of you close your eyes when Koizumi was singing?" Shiraishi suddenly asked. The three aunts and nephews looked at each other and shook their heads.

"No."

"Neither does Uncle Qinggu."

Upon hearing this, Bai Shi nodded slowly - it really didn't look like they did it.

After all, according to the confession, the crime occurred shortly after the candle was extinguished!
In the darkness, no one else saw anything, but the murderer was able to stab the victim to death. It was only after the victim fell that Tsuruko vaguely saw the blade behind him... It can be seen that the murderer had a vision advantage at the time.

The reason for this advantage is either that he closed his eyes in advance to adapt to the darkness, or that he wore some kind of technological assistance...

If someone closed his eyes in advance, even if Shiraishi didn't understand how he was able to kill people later, at least he would have a direction of suspicion.

However, except for Hongzi and the victim, the other four people were basically sitting face to face. They did not notice each other closing their eyes, which shows that no one should have "adapted to the darkness in advance."

The only one who does not need to adapt to the darkness in advance and does not need the assistance of technology is Koizumi Akako - she can directly turn on "night vision".

But because she was playing tricks at the time, she deliberately avoided using magic.

Although she noticed that the candles had been replaced, she was not overly alert, or rather... because it did not threaten her own safety, she did not take it seriously.

Judging from the current situation, the four suspected "internal criminals" do not have the conditions to commit the crime, and it seems that the "external criminals" cannot enter the house without being noticed...

Bai Shi was a little confused for a moment, but he was not completely clueless - candles!
Regardless of whether the murderer was one of the four or someone other than the four, at least the person who blew out the candle must have been someone at the table - it was just because Hongzi was chanting at the time and everyone's attention was on Hongzi, so no one noticed anything unusual.

That is to say, if the murderer was someone who had happened before, there must have been someone sitting at the table who cooperated with him!

In addition, we can also know that the murderer must have planned it in advance, and even replaced Koizumi Hongzi's "performance candle"...

From this, it can also be inferred that the murderer and his accomplices did not know that even if they did not blow out the candles, Koizumi Akako would find a way to extinguish the candles later.

……

Just then, a detective came over and whispered something in Uesugi's ear. When Shiraishi heard it, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Although the case is confusing judging by the evidence at the scene, but...

Police officers have another "weapon" - visits!
If the truth cannot be inferred from the scene, then step out and look for the motive first. This is also a common tactic used by the police.

After the visit, the Aomori Prefectural Police learned some things about the suspects and the deceased!

"Officer Shiraishi, let's question these people separately later." Uesugi asked Shiraishi.

Although this is a case of the Aomori Prefectural Police and has nothing to do with Shiraishi, since a superintendent Shiraishi is here, they can't pretend not to see it!

"Okay." Bai Shi nodded.

At this time, Zhongfu showed some impatience and said, "We have already told you everything we know. Do you still want to find the murderer among us? If you have the time, you might as well do some useful investigation!"

"Mr. Akabane, please don't be anxious... Your father has scolded you many times because you are always so impatient, right?" Uesugi said meaningfully.

"I...what do you mean?" Zhongfu asked angrily.

"It's nothing. Please be sure to talk to us... Some things require targeted inquiries in order to be recalled. This is also for your father to rest in peace." Uesugi stared at him and said.

Tadao had no choice but to be the first one invited by Uesugi to the temporary study room.

In addition to Uesugi, there was another detective from Aomori and Shiraishi who was listening in in the study.

"Mr. Akabane, we visited the workers on the farm before. Recently, you and the deceased had a lot of conflicts over the management of the farm. The deceased even decided to revoke your management rights, right?" Uesugi asked directly.

Shiraishi was just watching and didn't interrupt, but he was thinking, "As expected of a police officer from a small town, the information he used is really powerful" - if Kunikida saw such an obvious leading question in the Beika Police Station, let alone other places, he would have taken up arms immediately...

"I... am right, but that's just because my father doesn't understand how times have changed and he just couldn't think straight at the moment..." Tadao retorted indignantly, obviously dissatisfied with the suspicion of himself.

"But as the young master of a farm, you would definitely lose face if your management rights were really revoked, right?" Uesugi said relentlessly.

"So what? If you want to say that I killed my father, then produce the evidence!" Zhongfu became furious.

"Don't get so excited, we're just asking... Also, how much do you know about your sister's boyfriend?" Seeing that the excitement was almost over, Uesugi turned to ask other questions.

"The baseball player? I've only seen him a few times." Tadao said casually.

"What's your father's impression of him?" Uesugi asked.

"Impression? At most, you know there is such a person, but he is just your boyfriend in college. There is no need to meet his parents right away, right?" Zhongfu frowned as he spoke, and immediately asked, "Does this have anything to do with him?"

"Nothing, you should go and rest first. Please call your sister in." Uesugi did not answer.

Zhongfu glared at him angrily and stood up to leave.

But just then, Shiraishi interrupted, "Wait a minute, I have another question... What do you think of Koizumi Hongzi, the witch who came?"

Zhongfu frowned when he heard this and said, "Witch? Playing tricks..."

"Then what do you think would have happened to the spiritual ceremony if the current accident had not occurred?" Bai Shi asked further.

"Probably... he will play tricks on us and then ask us for the exorcism fee, right?" This is what Zhongfu thought before.

"You don't believe in the legend of the dead warriors?" Shiraishi confirmed.

"Of course I don't believe it." Zhongfu said as a matter of course.

"Okay, you can go out." Bai Shi nodded.

……

After he left, Uesugi said quickly: "I did this to observe his reaction..."

Uesugi also didn't want "Police Officer Shi Zheng from Toudou" to misunderstand him...

"It's understandable. This reaction seems relatively normal." Bai Shi said calmly.

Soon Akaba Tsuruko came in, and compared to her brother, she behaved more rebelliously.

She is just 20 years old and is still in college. She is just returning home temporarily.

As soon as Hezi came in, she sat down with her legs crossed impatiently.

"Sato Wataru from Aomori University is your boyfriend, right?" Uesugi asked directly.

When she saw Sato Wataru's name, Tsuruko's expression changed noticeably and her attitude became more restrained, as if she had... guessed something.

"That's right." Hezi nodded.

"Three days ago, your father went to the bank in the city and withdrew 5 million yen. On the same day, 5 million yen was deposited into Sato Wataru's account in the same bank... Why do you think this is the case?" Uesugi asked knowingly.

In the police's view, this fully meets the characteristics of "extortion".

He transferred money without telling his family, and even took it out first and then deposited it anonymously...

But originally Uesugi thought that this was most likely Sato Wataru's personal behavior, and she might have got some leverage over the Akabane family. But now looking at Akabane Tsuruko's reaction, she seemed to know about it!

After a moment of silence, Akaba Tsuruko stood up without saying much. Instead, she skillfully removed the drawer from a locked drawer in the study and took out something from it...

Snapped--

Akabane Tsuruko placed a pile of letters on the table.

“This is…” Uesugi was stunned when he saw this.

"The correspondence between him and his lover!" Akabane Tsuruko said dissatisfiedly.

"Um... you're talking about... your father, right?" Shangshan understood what he said, and just picked it up and looked at it and said, "Huh? This was more than ten years ago, right?"

"That's right, if it happened in recent years, I wouldn't be angry...my mother would still be alive at that time!" Hezi said with great concern.

"So... you used this to blackmail your father?" Uesugi looked at this filial daughter strangely.

Originally, Uesugi thought that the boy must have blackmailed her behind her back.

"Blackmail? If you say so, then so be it... But I don't care about the money at all. I just want to know if it's true. So I sent him the disgusting words and A'Du's account number via text message, and he immediately transferred the money!"

Hezi has been in a bad mood these days, not because of what happened with her boyfriend, but because of her father's cheating.

Upon hearing this, Uesugi felt helpless about Tsuruko's behavior.

"Did you confront Mr. Akabane afterwards?" Uesugi confirmed.

"No, I haven't figured out what to say, and the result is..." Hezi's expression darkened when she heard that - although she was obviously dissatisfied, she also had feelings about her father's death.

(End of this chapter)