Detective Conan: I, with my magical powers, am going to destroy the world!

"It's Saturday today, so I brought a portable TV. Hehe, even though we have a timer set at home, I can't wait!"

Chi Chufeng ignored the unreliable policeman and examined the body after the officers collected evidence.

The fatal wound and time of death were just as the coroner stated.

In addition to the two wounds, the victim's hands were also covered in a lot of blood and showed signs of friction, which seemed to be related to the notebook found a hundred meters away.

In addition, there was fresh soil under the victim's fingernails and on her trouser legs, suggesting that she had dug in the soil with her hands somewhere, making one wonder what had happened in between.

It took Shan Cun Cao a while to get back to the main topic and ask Sonoko about the victims.

Sonoko asked, "Officer Yamamura, may I take a look at that notebook?"

"Oh, of course."

Yamamura Misao instinctively handed over the notebook.

In his mind, any woman who followed Chi Chufeng must be extraordinary.

Sonoko began to examine the case with some excitement; she was also very interested in solving it.

Yamamura Misao shook his head and said, "I've already looked at the notebook; there's nothing special about it."

“There’s blood on this,” Sonoko said, looking at the pages of itinerary records in her notebook. “It looks like someone pressed a bloodstained finger on ‘April 1st’.”

"April 1st?" Yamamura Misao asked, bewildered. "Isn't it April Fool's Day? April, fool... Could this person really be a fool?"

Akatsuka felt that the Gunma Prefectural Police Department was out of their minds for letting this guy lead the team, and even making him a police inspector.

“Officer Yamamura,” Sonoko couldn’t bear to watch any longer and reminded her, “this could be a death message left by the victim…”

Yamamura Misao froze for a moment, then laughed awkwardly, "If it's a death message, doesn't that mean the culprit is an idiot? I think we should call the crew of 'Winter Autumn Leaves' first. That should find out the identity of this advertiser, Mr. HOTUMI, and maybe we can find the suspect that way."

"Haven't we already identified a suspect?"

Sonoko returned the notebook to Yamamura Misaka. "It's the fan who arranged to meet HOTUMI at this filming location. Apparently, the fan checked into the Akagi Hotel this morning."

Chi Chufeng nodded.

Judging from the time of the victim's death, the murderer may have discovered Sonoko's message immediately, and after learning the content of the message, quickly left the Akagi Inn and went up the mountain.

It seems this case isn't entirely without leads; any experienced detective should be able to solve it. As for Yamamura Misao…

This definitely raises questions. This guy may have professional knowledge, but in other aspects, he's not even as good as his subordinates.

Chi Chufeng looked helplessly at Shan Cuncao, who was excitedly preparing to descend the mountain.

After at least several encounters, I felt that this guy was a good person, and had the determination and interest to become a good policeman, but his ability to solve cases was really worrying, and he was always particularly superstitious.

It was nearly 9 o'clock when they returned to the Akashu Hotel. Yamamura immediately went to ask the owner about the situation, while Akachu Feng's gaze fell on the TV in the lobby.

The drama "Winter Autumn Leaves" is about to air, and whether it's because of this case or because of Sonoko, he has become interested in this drama.

"53 people?!" Just as Akaso Kaze and Sonoko were waiting, Yamamura Misao had already ascertained the number of guests. "Are there really that many people staying here?"

Chapter 556 Focusing on spending time with the adorable Sonoko

The owner looked through the register and said, "It seems like only three people checked in this morning. Let me see... Yes, three people: Okuma Isamu, Watanuki Tatsuzo, and a foreigner."

Yamamura then asked the owner to call the three tenants to the scene.

They were quite unhappy when they were called out.

"What's wrong? It's so noisy!"

"Police? It's so late. What's wrong?"

The first to speak was Okuma Isamu, 25 years old, a thin, long-faced young man with long hair, wearing a nose ring and with an unfriendly expression.

The second one was a fat old man named Mian Guanchen, 63 years old, with silver-white hair and beard, wearing thick-rimmed reading glasses, and his eyes were still a little hard to open.

Finally, there's Hans Barkley, 41, with blond hair and a full beard.

29 “Ah, I see,” Yamamura Misao paused for a moment, then quickly explained, “I would like to ask, where were you all around 5 p.m. and what were you doing?”

The long-haired youth, with a fierce expression, looked at the utterly unimpressive Yamamura Misao and replied impatiently, "I'm sleeping in my room."

"I'm taking a shower."

“I’m taking a walk nearby.”

The other two also responded.

However, none of them could testify.

Mian Guanchen was taking a shower in his own bathroom, and the blond foreigner who was taking a walk did not encounter anyone else.

Sonoko whispered to Akatsuka, "That man with the nose ring looks the most suspicious. He probably doesn't know many Chinese characters, which is why he had someone sign his name in Roman letters."

“That old man was also suspicious, because Chinese characters have many strokes and are hard to read, so he asked to be written in Roman letters.”

"It might be this foreigner. Some foreigners can't even recognize Chinese characters; they can only read kana or romanization. Akachu-san, which one do you think is the criminal?"

Chi Chufeng thought to himself, "What you said is as good as nothing. There are still three suspects."

As the time approached 9 o'clock, the TV in the lobby did not broadcast "Winter Autumn Leaves," but instead showed the European Karate Championship Challenge, which had been advertised beforehand.

"Therefore, the 8th episode of 'Winter Autumn Leaves,' which was originally scheduled to air tonight, will be postponed by one week."

The news broadcast on TV also caught Yamamura Misao's attention. Devastated, Yamamura even threw himself in front of the TV and wailed, "Special live broadcast? Why did it suddenly change to a special live broadcast?"

“Hey, officer,” Okuma Isamu said irritably, “what exactly do you want to ask? We’re not here to watch TV with you.”

"Hug, sorry."

With tears in his eyes, Yamamura continued his questioning.

Akatsukaze wasn't really interested in karate, but then a picture of Makoto Kyogoku suddenly appeared on TV.

"Anyway," the commentator continued, "the only player who has garnered much attention in this tournament is him! Makoto Kyogoku, the kicking prince whom all of Japan is proud of! Now, let's watch a video introducing him."

"Standing at 184cm tall and weighing 79kg, he comes from Izu, Japan. At only 18 years old, he has already achieved a 400-fight winning streak and is known as the Lone Fist Saint."

The television screen flashed a picture of Makoto Kyogoku sitting calmly in the lounge, which immediately made Akatsuka Kaze's gaze tighten: "400 consecutive wins?"

This guy went to participate in a competition.

"Akachu-san," Sonoko said, shaking Akachu-fu's hand and acting coquettishly, "What time is it? How come you still have time to watch TV?! Aren't you not interested in karate?"

"Okay, okay, I won't watch TV. I'll focus on spending time with my lovely Sonoko."

Chi Chufeng embraced the garden in front of everyone.

The garden immediately turned into beady eyes.

Just then, a detective arrived and interrupted Yamamura Misao, who was still asking questions, saying, "Officer Yamamura, I just asked the production company of the TV series, and there is no advertiser named HOTUMI."

"What?" Yamamura exclaimed, his eyes wide. "How could there not be any?"

"Because most of the TV station staff have gone back, I asked the part-time staff, and they said that the name was not on the list of advertisers. Here is a copy of that list, and I asked them to send it to me."

The detective handed the list to Yamamura Misao. Although this Yamamura officer was not very reliable, he was still his superior, and he also had the help of the legendary Onmyoji.

There shouldn't be any problem, right?

"If the part-time worker's words are credible, then the victim lied, but it's unclear why they lied. Even if they didn't say it, it doesn't seem to have much of an impact."

“Maybe it’s just to get closer to Sonoko,” Yamamura Misao guessed. “Could it be related to April Fool’s Day, which is a day for lying and deceiving people?”

"this…"

Chi Chufeng was too lazy to complain about the mountain village anymore.

“Akazu-san,” Sonoko said, after hearing Yamamura Misao’s unreliable speculation, and then looked at Akazu-fu, “Is Mr. Hotsumi really lying?”

"He didn't lie."

Chi Chufeng calmly took the list of advertisers.

"The name HOTUMI might just be a designation, and it's normal for part-time staff not to know it. As for his identity, you can verify it with the local town government. Wasn't it said that this was his hometown that he was recommended to the playwright?"

Chapter 557 Sonoko is quite clever.

Upon hearing this, Sonoko glanced at the three suspects being questioned and activated her detective queen mode.

"We need to investigate the cause and effect of this incident further up the mountain. I wonder what Mr. Hotsumi is looking for?"

By looking beyond the surface to the essence, no matter the case, as long as you grasp the central point, you are not far from the truth.

The fan whom HOTUMI arranged to meet was likely one of the three travelers, and their vehement denial only further suggests that something is amiss.

Judging from the crime scene and the entire course of events, the murderer should be that movie fan. Therefore, the key to the case, and the central point of the problem, is what the fan asked HOTUMI to find.

Judging from the scene, it's highly likely the killer silenced the witnesses, so HOTUMI definitely discovered something they shouldn't have known.

Chi Chufeng couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

Sonoko is quite clever.

The two returned to the filming location of "Winter Red Leaves".

The body has been removed from the scene, but police officers remain to cordon off the area.

After Akatsuka revealed his identity, Sonoko checked the scene several times with a flashlight, including the place where the notebook was found, but didn't find anything of great value.