Science: The Little Shota of the Maori Family

Ayumi wasn't sure: "Maybe."

Mitsuhiko had a helpless expression on his face: "No one should raise an elephant."

On the other side, Toru Watanabe, Ran, and Sonoko stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at Mount Fuji in the distance.

"It's so beautiful." Xiaolan exclaimed.

"Yeah." Sonoko put her hands on her chest and acted intoxicated. "If I can watch it with Shinichi, I'll do anything. Is that what you think, Xiaolan?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, Sonoko?" Xiaolan wrinkled her nose. "It's really a letdown to mention that guy at this time."

"Huh?" Sonoko was slightly taken aback. She had thought that after mentioning Kudo Shinichi, she would see Xiaolan's coquettish look. Who would have thought that Xiaolan was not shy at all, and even seemed reluctant to mention Kudo Shinichi. She couldn't help but ask tentatively: "Xiaolan, did you and Kudo have a fight?"

After all, the two have never met each other, so some minor friction is understandable.

Xiaolan shook her head: "No, we haven't been in touch for a long time."

"Yes, that's right." Although she didn't understand why Xiaolan's attitude towards Kudo Shinichi suddenly changed, she didn't continue to ask.

In her subconscious, she never felt that Kudo Shinichi was worthy of her best friend.

Watanabe Toru stood quietly beside the two of them, but his mood was not so calm.

Gin should be in place by now...

360: Death of a Schoolmate

Amidst the lively atmosphere, Tokiwa Mio, dressed in her finest attire, walked onto the stage. Facing the gazes of the guests below, she chuckled and said, "Thank you all so much for taking the time to attend the opening ceremony of the Tokiwa Group's twin towers."

"To celebrate the Tokiwa Group's 30th anniversary, I'd like to play a 30-second guessing game. If you guess perfectly, or if you guess closest, you'll receive this red limousine as a gift."

When the guests heard that the gift was actually a car, they all exclaimed in amazement.

Tokiwa Mio continued, "However, if two people guess correctly, we'll decide by rock-paper-scissors. The loser will just have to make do with this off-road mountain bike with a helmet next to it and go home."

There was a burst of laughter in the meeting hall.

"Alright, for those who would like to participate in the game "Zero Eight Zero", please deposit your watch first. We will later give you a gem of equal value based on the value of your watch."

"That's great, she said it was a gem." Xiaolan said in amazement.

Even Sonoko, who never lacked gems, couldn't help but sigh, "The Tokiwa Group is truly generous."

After all the guests had handed in their watches, Tokiwa Mio smiled and said, "Well, let's get ready to start. When my secretary says 'go,' everyone, please raise your flags after counting to thirty seconds."

Sawaguchi Chinami held the microphone and announced, "Ready, go," while pressing the stopwatch.

The scene instantly became quiet, everyone closed their eyes and whispered numbers.

After a few dozen seconds, Maori Kogoro was suddenly stuck because of the interruption of the baby next to him. He said helplessly, "Oh no, I forgot where I was counting."

At this time, Dr. Agasa on the side raised a small flag, and then the guests around him also raised theirs one after another.

Kogoro Mori hesitated for a moment and then also raised the flag.

"Time's up." Sawaguchi Chinami paused time.

Mio Tokiwa pointed at Kogoro Maori who was holding the flag and said with a smile, "Congratulations to the guest holding the blue flag over there."

"Eh?"

Kogoro Mouri looked confused, looked around, and when he confirmed that he was the winner, he immediately showed an ecstatic expression.

"It's Dad." Xiaolan looked delighted.

"Uncle is so lucky." Sonoko also had an expression of disbelief.

After Kogoro Mori came on stage, Mio Tokiwa solemnly introduced Kogoro Mori.

"Everyone, the winner is the famous detective Maori Kogoro. Let's ask him to say a few words."

Kogoro Mouri picked up the phone and scratched his head embarrassedly.

"Now I can finally say goodbye to my car rental career."

There was a laugh from below.

After Kogoro Mouri stepped down from the stage, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went out, and then a beam of light hit the host.

"Ladies and gentlemen, next I would like to introduce the works of our most important guest of honor tonight, Mr. Ruyue Fengshui, a national treasure-level painter."

Following the host's guidance, everyone's attention shifted to the paintings on display nearby.

"Mr. Kisaragi deeply loves Mount Fuji. He has spent over thirty years depicting its majestic beauty. This time, to celebrate the completion of his student Mio Tokiwa's twin skyscrapers, he specially gifted you a new painting. Let me introduce it to you: 'Fuji in Spring Snow.'"

As the host finished speaking, the stage curtain slowly opened, and under the expectant gaze of the crowd, the lights came on. However, the scene before them made everyone's faces change in an instant, and then screams resounded throughout the banquet hall.

As the host of the banquet, Mio Tokiwa was hung high up, and from a distance, she split Mount Fuji behind her into two.

"hateful."

Kogoro Mouri was the first to react. He rushed onto the stage, asked Sawaguchi Chinami to draw the curtain again, and let Tokiwa Mio down.

But it was too late, Mio Tokiwa had no signs of life.

"Dad, look at this." Xiaolan pointed to the small wine glass next to Mio Tokiwa's body.

Maori Kogoro's expression changed slightly: "Could it be that this incident is..."

……

Sensing that something unexpected would happen today, Inspector Megure, who had been guarding outside, immediately led his team to the banquet hall upon hearing that Tokiwa Mio had been killed, and cordoned off the scene...

"Officer Megure."

Maori Kogoro held the piano wire in his hand and analyzed, "In other words, Mio's necklace was caught by the piano wire with a hook. The piano wire passed through the passage at the back and pulled Mio up when the painting was lowered."

"I see." Inspector Megure rubbed his chin. "Who was on the stage at that time?"

Kazama Hidehiko spoke up: "It's just me and Mr. Kisaragi."

"Then please stand over there," Officer Megure said, then looked at Officer Chiba. "Chiba, please stand where Tokiwa is."

"Yes."

In accordance with Inspector Megure's request, the three stood in the designated positions.

Officer Shiratori looked at Sawaguchi Chinami and asked, "Ms. Sawaguchi was at the side of the stage at that time, right?"

Sawaguchi Chinami nodded: "Yes, I operate the elevator there."

"And the pearl necklace?"

"She said it was a gift from someone, but she didn't know who it was."

“When was the painting delivered?”

"It was last night. We moved in together under Mr. Kisaragi's supervision."

Officer Shiratori turned his gaze towards Rugetsu Minemizu: "In other words, the person with the best chance of pulling off this piano wire trick is..."

Ruyue Fengshui said calmly, "It's a pity, I don't know anything."

Maori Kogoro suddenly thought of something and looked at him 1.3 and said, "Mr. Kisaragi, I heard that you are very angry because Mio bought your painting and then sold it at a high price?"

Ruyue Fengshui glanced at him and said calmly, "I wouldn't kill someone for something like this. And judging from what you just said, this should be a serial murder case. If that's the case, then I have an alibi for Mr. Yuan's murder. Doesn't that mean I'm not the murderer?"

Kogoro Mori was speechless.

At this moment, Kazama Hidehiko spoke up: "When the scene became dark, I felt like someone ran up to Mio and said something to her."

"Really?" Inspector Megure asked quickly, "Is it a man or a woman?"

361. Escape

Kazama Hidehiko thought for a moment and said, "I only smell a faint scent of perfume."

"perfume scent?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Sawaguchi Chinami.

Knowing she couldn't hide it any longer, Sawaguchi Chinami had to tell the truth: "Yes, that person was me. However, I went there to confirm the next procedures with the chairman."

This statement has no persuasive power at all.

Sure enough, Maori Kogoro clapped his hands and said to Inspector Megure: "Inspector Megure, I know who the murderer is."

"Eh?"

Without waiting for Inspector Megure to ask, Maori Kogoro pointed at Sawaguchi Chinami and shouted, "The murderer is Miss Sawaguchi!"

Hearing that she was identified as the murderer, Sawaguchi Chinami's face changed drastically and she quickly said, "No, no, why me?"

Maori Kogoro said with a serious face: "Ms. Sawaguchi, I heard that your father is a journalist with a strong sense of justice and often exposes the illegal behavior of some politicians, right?"

Sawaguchi Chinami bit her lip and remained silent.

Maori Kogoro continued, "After your father's death, you joined the Tokiwa Group as secretary to the chairman. However, during the construction of the twin skyscrapers, illegal activities occurred. Mio discussed with Mr. Hara and decided to bribe Mr. Oki, a city council member, to revise the municipal law. Naturally, you, having inherited your father's character, could not tolerate such behavior, so you killed all three of them."

Watanabe Toru: “…”

Only this confused detective could come up with the idea of ​​suspecting the target because he inherited his father's personality.

Inspector Megure questioned: "But brother Maori, the small wine glass left by the murderer at the scene has nothing to do with Miss Sawaguchi."

"No," Maori Kogoro swore. "Another way to write the small wine glass is 'pig mouth.' Miss Sawaguchi's Chinese zodiac sign is pig, and her last name contains the character 'kou.' Together, they form 'pig mouth.' In other words, she smashed the small wine glass that represented her identity, inheriting her father's body-tearing rage and leaving a message at the scene."

"I see." Inspector Megure was convinced.

"But this time the wine glass was not broken." Watanabe Toru said speechlessly.

"Well..." Maori Kogoro choked, thought hard for a moment, and guessed: "Maybe she was in too much of a hurry at the time and didn't have time to smash the small wine glass."

Watanabe Toru: “…”

At this moment, Sawaguchi Chinami, who was the most suspicious, could only put her hope on Kazama Hidehiko and asked for help: "Mr. Kazama, you should know that I didn't do anything, right?"

Feng Jianying waved his hand: "I'm sorry, it was dark at the time, so I don't know what happened."

"How could this happen..." Sawaguchi Chinami looked desperate.

"What do you think, Detective?"

Huiyuan, who was standing next to Watanabe Toru, asked him in a low voice: "Is Miss Sawaguchi really the murderer?"

Watanabe Toru chuckled, "Based on my understanding of that uncle, as long as he identifies the murderer, then he can't be the murderer."

"Then the murderer is among Mr. Kazama and Mr. Kisaragi?"

Watanabe Toru nodded slightly: "The murderer is Mr. Ruzuki."

"How did you..."

Just as Huibara was about to ask, the building suddenly shook, and then the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went out, plunging it into darkness.

"what happened?"

"Is it an earthquake?"

"..."

The sudden accident caught the guests off guard and they all whispered about it.

Gin took action.

Watanabe Toru focused his mind and hurried to Xiaolan and Sonoko to prevent any accidents.

Xiaolan thought Watanabe Toru was just scared, so she comforted him, "It's okay, Toru, dad and sister are here."

"Yeah." Watanabe Toru responded absentmindedly.

"What! Explosion?"

At this moment, Kazama Hidehiko suddenly received a call, and his tone was terrified and urgent: "There was an explosion in the computer room?"

His words immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Sawaguchi Chinami quickly reminded him, "Mr. Kazama, the Tokiwa Group's main computer is there. If there's an explosion, all the data will be lost."

Feng Jianying frowned: "Now is not the time to think about these things, officer, it is better to evacuate quickly."

"Okay." Inspector Megure nodded.

"But the motor room and generator room have been blown up, and even the backup power supply is gone. How are we going to evacuate?" asked Officer Shiratori.