Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 358 Empowerment Investigation
At this time, Kuroki and Kanzaki met Sakamoto Mikiya, who might have seen the deceased before the murder. He was also quite old, probably in his fifties.

In order to avoid the other party from getting in trouble, the two of them specially asked him to go to the rooftop to talk...

"What? Takahashi... died? Was he murdered?" Upon hearing this, Sakamoto sounded very shaken.

"That's right, but...how did Mr. Sakamoto think it was a homicide?" Kuroki asked at this time.

Sakamoto seemed to have calmed down a bit at this point, then shook his head and said, "He is a police officer after all, it's normal for people to hate him."

Kuroki believed this explanation for the time being, but then he took out the photo of the business card and asked, "Mr. Sakamoto, is this your business card? When was the last time you saw him?"

"The last time...it should be a week ago, um, last Tuesday." Sakamoto said after recalling.

"Last week? But when we found this business card, it was in his shirt pocket. It was neither in his wallet nor in his business card holder..." Kuroki questioned.

"Is that so? Then I think... he should contact me." Sakamoto speculated.

"What did you talk about last time you met?" Hei Mu asked directly.

"Actually... I wanted to poach Takahashi and bring him to our company." Sakamoto said a little embarrassedly.

Kanzaki was puzzled when he heard this: "Eh? Your main business is the transportation of artworks, right? Poaching police officers... are they for security?"

"Haha, newcomer?" Sakamoto pointed at Kanzaki and then raised his eyebrows at Kuroki.

Kanzaki was still a little unconvinced when he saw this, but Kuroki had already explained to him: "The theft detectives are generally very familiar with the pawnshops in their jurisdiction. This is an important channel for the operation of artworks...especially Iwasaki Transport is now expanding its antique trading business."

Sakamoto also said at this time: "So, in terms of grassroots criminal police, the theft detectives in the local police station are more competitive than the detectives in your head office."

Kuroki's expression changed slightly when he heard that, and Kanzaki quickly denied it, "We are not detectives from the main office... Excuse me, we are detectives from the third department of the Beika Police Department." Then he showed his police ID.

Because they had revealed their identities before in the company and Sakamoto hadn't questioned them, they hadn't formally introduced themselves yet.

"Eh? So you're the detectives from the branch? The Beihua Police Station is really different..." Sakaki sighed with a little surprise, and then said specifically: "If you weren't wearing the flower-shaped badges, I would have thought you were the detectives from the First Investigation Division. I was still wondering why you weren't from the First Investigation Division to handle the case."

In the Metropolitan Police Department, only the detectives of the Criminal Department's First Investigation Division wear cherry blossom badges. Therefore, the "First Investigation Division" is also called the Flower-shaped Deployment, and the detectives of the First Investigation Division are also called "Flower-shaped Detectives", who are the representatives of the absolute elite.

And the detective of the Beihua Police Station...

Especially the detectives in the violent criminal department who are often in charge of serious cases. On the one hand, because they are "experienced", their capable temperament and professional proficiency are far beyond the reach of detectives in other local police stations. On the other hand, because they have the support of the chief, they have a "confident" demeanor day after day.

If he is facing a detective who is searching for him, his behavior will be even more obvious, and he will not have the "consciousness" to assist others at all.

"You're too kind." Kanzaki said modestly.

However, Kuroki was puzzled at this time: "Mr. Sakamoto is familiar with police affairs?"

Not only did Sakamoto appear to be very familiar with police affairs, but he also used jargon like "head office" and "branch office"...

Upon hearing this, Sakamoto said with emotion: "Yes, in fact, I used to be a criminal police officer, and I only left the police force five years ago."

"Eh?" Kanzaki seemed a little confused when he heard that.

Sakamoto made a "rubbing fingers" gesture and said: "When I left the police force, my salary increased by half... I am also at this age, so I have to consider this."

Kanzaki smiled awkwardly, which was understandable.

However, Kuroki seemed to realize something and asked, "Did you know Detective Takahashi at that time?"

"Well, we were still partners at that time. In fact, I persuaded him to come out with me at that time... Alas." Sakamoto shook his head with emotion.

Then Kuroki said with a serious expression: "Since you are a senior, I think you should understand... May I ask where you were last night and what you did? Can anyone prove it?"

……

On the other side, Haitani and Zinaris also met Erika Kinoshita, the wife of the suspect who committed suicide that year.

Erika Kinoshita is still very young, she looks to be in her thirties, and she looks weak. After all, Kinoshita Masayoshi, who committed suicide, was only in his twenties when he died, and was still a young man.

Looking at the old flyer handed over by Huitani, Kinoshita showed a look of nostalgia and said with some sarcasm: "I didn't expect to see this again..."

Huitani also knew that she was mocking the police officers like him, so he asked directly: "The person holding this flyer is a detective named Keisuke Takahashi. Do you remember him?"

"Takahashi...of course I know him. He's the one who forced my husband to commit suicide, right?" Erika Kinoshita's face turned cold at this time.

"Actually... he died last night." While saying this, Huitani was also observing Kinoshita's expression.

"Dead? How did he die?" Kinoshita was stunned when he heard this.

"I'm not sure yet, but when he died, he had this leaflet on him. Do you know why?" Huigu asked directly.

"I don't know." Kinoshita answered briefly.

"Have you seen him recently?" Huigu continued to ask.

"After the case five years ago was over, there has been no more." Kinoshita said with certainty.

"Then... where were you last night?" Huigu asked.

Kinoshita:……

Although Kinoshita showed even more dissatisfaction and sarcasm, he still said, "Do you doubt me? Sure, I was on duty at the store last night, but there weren't that many customers. In your words, this alibi might not be clear enough?"

Then, without waiting for Haidani and Zinars to say anything, Kinoshita added: "Even if you doubt me, I won't commit suicide."

"Excuse me." Huigu nodded and left.

Seeing that the other party was very resistant, Huigu and Zilian could not ask any more questions without further evidence. …

In the director's office of the Beika Police Station, Shiraishi once again received a call from Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda of the National Police Agency. Last time in Aomori Prefecture, although Shiraishi solved the case overnight, he "betrayed" him in front of Juro Horinouchi afterwards.

At that time, Shiraishi's attitude clearly showed that he did not want to get involved in the internal power struggle within the police force, so Shiraishi thought that Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda would not ask him to do anything again.

I didn't expect that he would contact me this time and brought up the matter of Tsukishima Police Station.

"Chief Cabinet Secretary Onoda, this is not our Beika Police Station's problem. It's entirely because the murderer is so cruel, and the deceased is a detective from Tsukishima Police Station... How about I ask my colleagues from the First Investigation Section to come for support!" Shiraishi said, retreating to advance.

Onoda didn't keep Shiraishi in suspense at this time, and said directly: "No, Director Shiraishi, there is no need to be modest. Since this case happened in Beika Town, I believe Beika Police Department is capable of solving it. Moreover, at this time, another detective was killed in Tsukishima Police Department. No one wants to have too much impact. I hope Beika Police Department can solve the case as soon as possible."

The murder of a simple detective may have a greater impact than the murder of an ordinary person, but it is not enough to shock the Metropolitan Police Department.

But the one who died was a detective from Tsukishima Police Station who was already at the center of the public opinion storm...

Soon after the Beika Police Department identified the deceased and reported the matter to the Metropolitan Police Department, both the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Police Agency conducted special research on countermeasures.

The Metropolitan Police Department, needless to say, mainly Director Hakuba, General Affairs Director Tanaka, and Criminal Affairs Director Odagiri...

Matters concerning public opinion should be dealt with by the Publicity Section of the General Affairs Department, while the case itself should be handled by the Criminal Affairs Department.

Director Bai Ma meant "trust in the power of the Mihua Agency", and to this...

It was rare for the two ministers, who were at odds with each other, to agree with each other - both chose to agree with the director's idea.

The National Police Agency also held a closed-door meeting for this reason, because the Metropolitan Police Department only had to consider how to quell the incident as quickly as possible, and the National Police Agency also had to consider how to criticize the Metropolitan Police Department...so the decision-making had to be much more grand.

However, even at the closed-door meeting of the National Police Agency, Onoda proposed the idea of ​​"leaving it to the Beika Police Department to resolve."

After all, from the perspective of influence, it is less likely to be the focus of the media if it is handled by the local police station. If the Beihua Police Station handles the case, it will be a big deal in two days. If it is the Investigation Division of the General Office, I am afraid that it will take over in the morning and the Publicity Division will have to hold a press conference in the afternoon...

From the perspective of crime-solving efficiency, the strength of the Mihua Police Department is obvious to all. No one dares to say that if the "Flower-shaped Deployment" takes over, it will definitely do a better job than the Mihua Police Department!
The only thing that requires hesitation is the issue of "Director Mihua"!
Judging from past experience, Shiraishi Kuro probably doesn't understand what "solve it as soon as possible" means...

However, as the Chief Cabinet Secretary, when the Commissioner and Vice Minister of the National Police Agency did not speak directly, Onoda strongly recommended the Beika Agency, or rather, he strongly recommended Shiraishi Kuro.

Although Shiraishi Kuro will not commit fraud in order to "close the case as quickly as possible", this is not entirely a defect, it may also be an advantage. After all, it means that Shiraishi will not "lay mines" for the sake of momentary pleasure.

At the same time, Chief Inspector Horinouchi Juro, whose job is most closely related to the "dirty affairs within the police", did not contradict Onoda this time...

As a result, the opinions "above" were quickly reached a consensus this time.

Even Bai Shi was a little surprised...

Originally, after Shiraishi found out that the dead person was a detective from Tsukishima Police Station, he was already prepared to set up an investigation headquarters in Beika Police Station. But who knew that it would be the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the National Police Agency who would call him directly and ask him to delegate his authority directly?

"Well... How can I, the director of the Rice Flower Bureau, take on such an important responsibility? I think it's better to..."

"Director Shiraishi, there's no need to be so modest. The National Police Agency and the Metropolitan Police Department have already made their decision. The case at Tsukishima Police Station will not be handled by two different people. You will be in charge!"

Shiraishi didn't expect that what he was waiting for was not a call to set up a "search headquarters", but a call to empower him.

However, since the "superiors" all had this attitude, Bai Shi had nothing to say. He put away his pen, ink, paper and inkstone as they would not be needed this time. Instead, he called Section Chief Sohkata over.

The logic from "the top" is to hand the case over to Shiraishi - at most they will consider the step of "local director" and it is impossible to think about anything lower.

Similarly, in their view, the achievements of the Mihua Police Department are all based on facts, and they will not delve into how capable a particular criminal police officer is.

For them, the matter was handed over to "Shiraishi Kuro" rather than a detective.

And then what Shiraishi has to consider is the things at the lower level, even more deeply than the average director...

For an ordinary director, what he can do at this time is to coordinate cooperation with section chiefs and provide convenience for case investigation.

But Shiraishi directly proposed that he would personally attend the search meeting in the afternoon!

Munakata is obviously not as "easy to bully" as Kunikida...

If I say 9 to 5, it means 9 to 5!
Zongfang scheduled the search meeting at 3:30.

At this time, the various criminal police teams had indeed completed their preliminary investigations and returned...

In the conference room, Bai Shi had already taken his seat early.

When every group of detectives came in and saw this scene, they knew that the case had to be treated more urgently!

At the beginning of the meeting, Zongfang did not let any group speak, but directly said: "The restoration results of the surveillance footage have come out, everyone take a look first."

Thanks to Youdou's efforts, the quasi-mosaic image has become quite clear!
The person who was following Takahashi was holding a knife. When the knife was magnified, the saw teeth on the back could be seen...

"The autopsy results are out. The murder weapon that caused the victim's wounds is consistent with the characteristics of this murder weapon." Zongfang said as he released the autopsy results of the murder weapon, which was roughly the same as the enlarged appearance of the murder weapon in the surveillance video.

Now it is basically certain that this person is the murderer!

His identity cannot be confirmed based on the surveillance footage alone, and further investigation is needed.

Afterwards, each group of detectives talked about the results of their previous investigations...

Yamada was the first to speak, and he also mentioned the "Tsukishima Police Station case five years ago." However, because he was not sure whether it was related to the case, he did not explain further. But then Haitani mentioned that the poster on the deceased was also from a case five years ago!

"Detective Yamada, please tell us in detail about the case from five years ago." Seeing this, Shiraishi spoke directly.

"Yes... five years ago, in Tsukishima, the wealthy Washimiya Ryutaro invited his friends to his house for a party, so he hired Kinoshita Masayoshi to provide home cooking services. When Kinoshita finished the preparations and went into the house to check the dishes with Mr. Washimiya, he found that Mr. Washimiya had a stab wound in his back and was dead in his own home..."

(End of this chapter)