Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Chapter 11 Chemical Knowledge
It was obvious that Kogoro Mouri saw that Hayashi Shuichi found the murderer of the swimming pool murder case during the day and was appreciated by Inspector Samezaki of the Investigation Division, so he wanted to follow suit.

After all, his dream has always been to join the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division and become a criminal policeman.

"Tell me about it," Inspector Samezaki encouraged with a smile.

"All three of them had injuries on their hands, but among them, only Kawamura Keiko's hand was injured before she arrived at the apartment, and the injury was on the palm of her hand."

Maori Kogoro said proudly,

"When she opened the box containing the ring, the wound on her palm must have touched the box. As long as we can detect blood on the surface of the box, wouldn't that prove that she was the one who stole the ring?"

After saying this, Kogoro Mouri noticed that everyone was staring at him in silence.

"Well, are you all shocked by my intelligence?"

"I'm really shocked," said Hibiki Eri unhappily, "I used to think you were stupid, but I didn't expect you to be this stupid."

"If you really want to be a police officer in the future," Inspector Samezaki whispered, "I hope you won't be assigned to the Investigation Division."

"Did I say something wrong?" Kogoro Mouri scratched his head.

"We've already checked the box," Officer Megure said, "and there's no blood on the box."

"Is that so?" Maori Kogoro smiled awkwardly, "But what I said was of some use. At least it proves that Miss Kawamura Keiko is not the thief who stole the ring."

"First of all, it was only her left hand that was injured," Officer Matsumoto said impatiently. "Secondly, that box can be opened with one hand! Do you understand?"

"That's it..."

Maori Kogoro was embarrassed, and as a good friend, Lin Xiuyi could only speak up to help him change the subject.
"The white talisman paper on the box has turned yellow. Has it been used for a long time?"

"It's been more than forty years," Rina Hase said uncertainly.

"What are you using to stick the talisman paper to the box?"

"Paste, weren't all the talismans in the past sticky like this?"

"Paste..." Lin Xiuyi's heart moved, and he hurriedly asked, "After you showed them the ring, did you immediately use glue to stick the talisman paper on?"

"Of course I did. I made the glue myself," Rina Hase nodded confidently. "There's a curse on the ring. If I don't stick the talisman on it, I'll definitely be cursed."

Lin Xiuyi carefully checked the talisman paper on the box and found that the paste underneath had not yet completely dried.
"Ms. Hase, did you mix the paste by yourself, or did you have someone to help you?"

"I did it alone," Hase Rina said. "I also did it by myself in my bedroom when I applied the talisman."

At this moment, Kawamura Keiko suddenly said in a sinister tone, "You almost fell to your death from the balcony just now. Doesn't this mean that you've been cursed?"

"If you ask me, the thief might be you. That's why the curse of the ring is haunting you!"

"Curse..." Rina Hase was startled and retorted in shock and anger, "What nonsense are you talking about! Why would I steal my own ring?!"

"You were alone in the bedroom at the time. You could have hidden the ring yourself and then framed us for blackmail!"

"You three are all broke now. Even if I frame you, can I still extort money from you?"

"Who are you calling poor? Bitch!"

Seeing that the three women were about to quarrel again, Officers Matsumoto and Morimura rushed forward to separate them.

"Inspector Samezaki, I have a way that might help us identify the thief," Lin Xiuyi said. "I mean 'I can', what do you mean 'maybe'?" Officer Matsumoto said unhappily.

"No matter what, it's always a good idea to give it a try," Inspector Samezaki looked at the four women, "I'm sure you're all willing to cooperate, right?"

At this time, anyone who does not cooperate will obviously be in big trouble.

None of the four women refused and nodded together.

"Please stretch your hands forward," Lin Xiuyi picked up the iodine from the table. "Eri, apply the iodine to their fingers."

"Iodine..." Hibari was stunned for a moment, then a look of sudden enlightenment appeared on her face, "Shuiyi, I understand what you mean."

"Let's apply it first," Lin Xiuyi said, "I don't know if this method will work yet."

"What are you two talking about?" Maori Kogoro wondered, "Can't you just say it directly?"

"Don't be impatient, you'll know in a moment," Lin Xiuyi smiled and didn't rush to explain.

Kisaki Eri dipped a tissue in iodine and applied it to the fingers of the four women in turn.

"What's the point of this?" Rina Hase frowned. "My finger isn't injured."

"Wait a minute, why did the iodine on your fingers turn blue?" Saki Imagawa asked in surprise.

"The iodine turned blue, probably from contact with starch," Kawamura Keiko said uncertainly. "It's been so many years since I graduated, I've almost forgotten everything I learned."

"That's right, reddish-brown iodine turns blue when it comes into contact with starch. This is chemistry knowledge from middle school."

Lin Xiu nodded and looked at Hirata Mika, who had a very low presence and had been very quiet.
"Ms. Hirata, please don't curl your fingers. Please open your hands so that everyone can see the color of your fingers."

"I..." Mika Hirata became noticeably nervous, her hands clenched into fists.

There was clearly something wrong with her reaction.

"Ms. Hirata, please cooperate," Inspector Samezaki urged in a deep voice.

"Mei Xiang, there's nothing to be afraid of. It's impossible that you took the ring."

As Rina Hase spoke, she stepped forward and pulled open Mika Hirata's clenched fist. The index finger and thumb of her right hand, where the iodine was applied, also turned blue.

"The main ingredient of the paste is starch," Lin Xiuyi said slowly, "Ms. Hase said before that she was the only one who made the paste and applied the talismans."

"The talisman paper is old and wrinkled. When Ms. Hase was sticking it on, her fingers inevitably got stained with glue, which is why it turned blue."

"What about you? Miss Mika, when did you come into contact with starch?"

"You mean, Mika stole my ring?" Hase Rina said in disbelief, "But, but that's not right. Mika doesn't need money."

"Is this a mistake?" Imagawa Saki also said, "Mika is so honest and well-behaved, how could she do such a thing."

"Meika, say something!" Kawamura Keiko urged, "You didn't take the ring, did you?"

The three women who were arguing just now were now speaking up for Mika Hirata.

Under the gaze of the three people, Hirata Mika said softly: "...No, he is not mistaken. I was indeed the one who stole the ring."

(End of this chapter)