Detective Conan: Is Miss Haibara planning to assault a police officer again today?

"My cold got worse, so I went home."

Higashino Ning nodded, indicating that he had understood the basic situation, and then said in a gentle tone, "Wait here, and we'll go home together after the case is solved."

"Yes!!" The little girl nodded vigorously.

Perhaps it's because of shyness, or perhaps it's because they're not used to it.

She felt a little uncomfortable talking and exchanging ideas with Higashino Ning in front of so many people.

There's nothing we can do; that's how people with guilty consciences are. Just try to understand.

"Inspector Higashino, although you are ruthless and tough when dealing with criminals, you are quite close and easy-going with your family."

Kogoro Mouri didn't think Higashino Ning was wasting time at all, and immediately offered his compliments.

His flattery was really sophisticated.

Higashino Ning could tell it was flattery, but he found it very pleasant and was willing to accept it.

All I can say is that the bumbling detective has become a cunning old fox after decades of ups and downs in the world.

That's true. Someone like Higashino Ning, who became a police inspector at the age of 22, would be flattered and have his connections built by everyone. Only a complete idiot would go against him and cause trouble.

Higashino Ning immediately returned the favor, saying, "Hahaha, Mr. Mori, today we'll rely on your brilliant detective skills to solve the case as soon as possible."

The two exchanged pleasantries as they walked, and soon arrived at the body.

The forensic team members are very dedicated. They immediately got to work as soon as they arrived, and they are already taking pictures of the body and various traces at the scene.

Well... his work attitude is excellent, but his work ability... sigh.

Fortunately, this time it wasn't a locked room, but a public environment, so there's probably no chance of missing any clues.

Moreover, even if there are omissions, they can be addressed later. Right now, Higashino Ning still has the work of standardizing the rules to do.

He looked at the three people standing next to the corpse... well, three people, one man and two women.

"Let's start with some simple questions: the deceased's basic personal information, your relationship with the deceased, what the deceased was doing before death, what you were doing, and any details that are worth noting."

"Choose someone to present these questions, supplement each other's points, and make sure nothing is left out. Let's begin. Who wants to go first?"

The three looked at each other, and finally, the woman with wavy hair wearing a burgundy dress stepped forward.

She is very beautiful, but her hairstyle and clothing make her look like a married woman.

Higashino Ning took out his police handbook, held it horizontally in his hand, and prepared to start taking notes.

The woman with wavy hair is named Noda Yumemi, the other chubby man is named Mitani Yota, and the remaining girl is named Kougami Mai.

All three, including the deceased, were around 27 years old and had already entered the workforce.

During their school years, the four of them were members of the Teitan Junior High School Drama Club.

After graduation, the four of them went to work together at Mihana General Hospital.

Yes, it's the hospital where Conan was hospitalized a while ago.

The deceased was a doctor, Noda Yumemi was a nurse, and the remaining two were a security guard and an office worker.

This group of people really do share the same goals.

After hearing the general account, Higashino Ning asked, "Can you pinpoint roughly when he collapsed?"

Yumemi Noda shook her head. "I was watching the performance intently at the time, so... I'm not sure."

At this moment, Ran Mouri, dressed as a princess, stepped forward and said, "It should be around 2:40, because I heard the scream right at the climax of the plot."

2:40? ??

Higashino Ning glanced at his watch.

Okay, okay, other people's electricity meters and water meters run backwards, but in the world of Ke Xue, watches run backwards.

I used to finish get off work around 5 PM, but now I end up working over two hours every day.

He recorded the time and recounted the case from the police manual.

"The performance starts promptly at 2 p.m., so please take your seats together about 15 minutes in advance."

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"During this time, Ms. Hong Shangwu went to buy you drinks alone, and went to the toilet one minute before the performance started, and did not return until after the performance started."

"Around 2:40 p.m., the deceased, Kohei Kamata, suddenly collapsed and died."

Higashino Ning calmly looked at the three of them, "Is there anything to add or correct?"

It has to be said that since becoming a police inspector, his demeanor has quickly caught up, making him even more dignified than Inspector Megure.

Kou Shang Mai quickly spoke up, "Actually, Kamata did accompany me to buy drinks at first, but his expression changed drastically after he saw Ms. Ninagawa at the stall and he left."

"Ms. Ninagawa?" Higashino Ning quickly made a new note. "Who is she? Is she here now?"

Just then, a petite girl with glasses and freckles raised her hand, "I...I am..."

Hong Shangwu continued to add, "She is the daughter of our hospital director, and she is engaged to Putian. Today, she is working part-time here selling drinks."

Higashino Ning glanced at Kou Shang Wuyi and said, "Miss, you're a little too eager to show off."

Upon hearing this, Hong Shangwu's expression instantly turned ugly. "Officer, what do you mean? Is it wrong to cooperate with the police investigation?!"

Higashino Ning shook his head. "That's right, I also encourage this kind of behavior, but..."

He stared into Hong Shangwu's eyes and said calmly, "As it stands, you are the one with the most information and are very willing to cooperate."

"In that case, the person who stepped forward to explain the case to me just now should not have been Ms. Noda, but you."

"What do you think?"

Chapter 164 Solving a Simple Case Today

Hong Shangwu gritted her teeth and hesitated, but quickly spoke again, "I was just recalling and organizing what I knew!"

“That would be best.” Higashino Ning shrugged and turned to look at Ninagawa Ayako, who was very socially awkward. “Could you explain in detail about your engagement? It would be best to explain why the deceased’s expression changed drastically and he walked away after seeing you.”

"Um......"

Ayako Ninagawa nodded and began her presentation.

There were no doubts about their relationship, but a new clue emerged regarding the drinks.

In order to bring back the deceased who had simply walked away, Ayako Ninagawa deliberately replaced the black coffee the deceased had bought with cola.

She thought that this would make the deceased come to her to argue, and she would then have a chance to talk to him about the engagement.

However, both the deceased and Mai Ninagawa chose black coffee, so Ayako Ninagawa had to change both cups to cola.

"Inspector, there is indeed a smell of cola in the deceased's cup."

At this moment, Takagi Wataru, who was squatting on the ground, spoke seriously, "The cola has been almost completely drunk, leaving only some normal liquid residue."

In formal settings, he would never directly call him "Higashino".

The forensic doctor, who rarely has time to come on this mission, also gave his assessment: "Inspector, the deceased died from potassium cyanide poisoning. Considering the speed of the drug's onset and the actual circumstances, the poison should have been put in the beverage."

Higashino Ning directly pointed the finger at Kou Shang Mai, saying, "It's perfectly normal for the deceased to know that his fiancée might have been behind this, and to choose to ignore it."

"how about you?"

"You ordered black coffee but it turned into cola, and you didn't even react?"

Mai Hongshang paused for a moment, then quickly explained, "Because...because I also guessed why the coffee turned into cola. Whether Kamata remains unmoved or chooses to see Ms. Ninagawa, I will remain silent on this matter."

Higashino Ning raised an eyebrow. "You're quite quick-witted and have a sharp mind. You must be a very intelligent person."

Everyone: "???"

No, one second they're at loggerheads, the next they're praising each other?

Hattori Heiji, who had planned to quietly watch Higashino Ning solve the case, was completely dumbfounded, thinking to himself, "I can't understand your thought process at all; it's a bit unreliable."

Hong Shangwu herself was also at a loss for words due to Higashino Ning's antics.

Should she politely say thank you now?

Before she could figure out how to respond, Higashino Ning changed the subject and continued to target her.

"Since you've already said that, then I'll assume you drank what was in the cup first, and then realized it was cola."

"Does Miss Hongshang have any objections to this?"

Hong Shangwu tensed up, quickly thought for a moment, and shook her head. "That's the truth, there's no need for me to argue."

Now that the police have confirmed that the drinks were poisoned, if she had opened the lids of the drinks beforehand and brought back four bottles with her, she would be a prime suspect!

This absolutely cannot be accepted.

Higashino Ning nodded in satisfaction, "Very good, you are still a very serious and determined person."

He originally wanted to call for Sato Miwako, but when he turned around he realized she wasn't there, so he had to speak directly, "Ms. Kougami, I need you to take the things out of your pockets now, can you do that?"

Forced body searches are not allowed.

Hong Shangwu was a little angry. "Officer, there are so many people here, why are you targeting only me?!"

Higashino Ning offered no explanation, instead pointing to the creamer and syrup boxes not far from the corpse. "I'll be frank, I want to find those two things on you."

“Since you and the deceased both ordered coffee, and Ms. Ninagawa only changed the liquid in the cups and didn’t change anything else, you should have these two items in your possession.”

"Of course, you can say you've lost it, but please specify when you lost it, and don't let me find it on you."

Hong Shangwu was not clever; she simply did not understand why Dong Ye Ning wanted these two items.

She pulled out creamer and syrup from her pocket. "These things are on me, what's wrong?"

Hong Shangwu's tone was aggressive, "Are you going to say that I poisoned this and switched the things in Kamata?"

"Please take a good look. There are two people between me and him. How am I supposed to do this?!"

At this moment, Higashino Ning suddenly clapped his hands, "Indeed, you're quick-witted! Even to the point of being somewhat prescient."

"Miss Hongshang, you shouldn't mind creamer and syrup, right?"

"Yes, I don't object, so what exactly are you trying to say?!" Hong Shangwu's expression was filled with anger.