Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

Conan bought several kinds of food at the food stall, and when he felt that was enough, he prepared to go back to the infirmary to bring them to Ran.

Suddenly, screams and commotion were heard.

He froze, then quickly ran toward the source of the scream.

The screams came from behind the stadium building.

In that corner, a corpse is lying at this moment.

The body was female. Her face was unevenly bluish-purple due to lack of oxygen, her lips were a dark purplish-blue, and there was a ring-shaped ligature mark about 3.5cm wide on her neck.

It was clear that he had been strangled in this secluded corner.

The body was discovered by a student who was holding her phone and had come to this quiet corner to make a call. She collapsed to the side, terrified.

Conan quickly stepped forward to check and shouted for help.

Inspector Megure, a familiar face, arrived quickly, secured the area, and began checking on anyone who had been there.

Ran Mouri, who was wearing a blue fur coat and browsing a club exhibition, suddenly became a suspect.

Ran Mouri looked at Officer Takagi in front of her, somewhat bewildered.

"Is there a problem?"

"Police, there has been a murder at the school. Please come with us, sir."

"what?"

Ran Mouri was both bewildered and shocked.

A murder occurred, but what does it have to do with him?

She didn't do anything. Qingze isn't the type of person who would kill someone indiscriminately, much less kill someone at school.

So, did she become a suspect for some reason?

Ran Mouri remained calm and followed them to the crime scene while asking about the situation.

"What does this have to do with me?"

“Someone saw you at the crime scene half an hour ago. We need to verify this.”

"The crime scene, is that behind the stadium? I went there to answer a phone call."

“We are just asking about the situation routinely. If you are not involved in this case, there is no need to worry.”

"Ok."

The area behind the stadium was now cordoned off, and onlookers were being dispersed, but some unrelated individuals still voluntarily gathered around.

Amuro Tooru stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping over the two suspects who had been brought in.

Vermouth left, and when he saw the police arrive, he realized there was a case going on and approached them.

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the people Officer Takagi brought.

The estimated time of death for the deceased was within 10 minutes before the body was discovered.

The three suspects, two men and one woman, all visited this location during this time period.

The cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation, and the marks suggest that the person was strangled by a belt or backpack strap.

Ran Mouri had no backpack; her hands were empty.

"Brother, do you have a belt?"

Conan looked at the young man brought by Officer Takagi.

Ran Mouri lifted her shirt hem; Aoze was wearing a belt today.

So, the deceased was strangled by a belt or something similar?

Conan visually estimated the width of the belt to be 3.5 centimeters, matching the width of the mark on the deceased's neck.

Most men's belts are this width, and the belt worn by the other male suspect is also this width.

"Please remove your belt and backpack; we need to check them," Inspector Megure said to the three men who already understood the situation.

The two men were wearing belts, while the woman was carrying a shoulder bag with a strap that was also 3.5 centimeters long.

Ran Mouri felt a bit of a headache.

What incredible luck!

She can become a suspect just by answering a phone call.

He was wearing suit pants; hopefully, the pants won't fall down after he takes off his belt.

Without any hesitation, she reached out and unbuckled her belt, handing it over openly.

After unbuttoning, the pants were a little loose, but not to the point of falling down.

While the forensic team was conducting their investigation, Gao Mu began questioning them about basic information and the circumstances at the time.

Amuro Toru stood subtly to the side.

"My name is Maeda Hajime, and I came here alone today..."

Ran Mouri made up a name on the spot, glanced at her watch to check the time, and then continued:

"I received a phone call here at 9:43, and the call lasted six minutes. I was the only one here during that time; there was no one else here..."

"Please show me your identification," Amuro Tooru interjected.

Ran Mouri frowned as she looked at Tooru Amuro.

Is this a suspicion that he is the murderer? Or is it an attempt to uncover his identity?

Did her identity become questionable because she was holding "Ran Mouri"?

Chapter 288 Do you think I'm the murderer?

"Sorry, I didn't drive today and I didn't bring my documents."

Ran Mouri refused outright.

She's not the murderer. She can cooperate with the investigation if she wants, or refuse to cooperate if she doesn't.

Although refusing would raise suspicion, with Conan around, they'll probably find the real culprit soon.

Officer Takagi didn't say much about not having his identification with him.

Do you know the deceased?

Ran Mouri craned her neck to look at the deceased. "Never seen him before."

"Mr. Maeda doesn't seem afraid of corpses at all." Amuro Tooru stared at him intently.

Ran Mouri is certain that Tooru Amuro has become suspicious of his identity.

Qingze was right to tell her not to get close; she only hugged him briefly, and he was already watching her.

"It's alright, it's not scary. And you're not scared either, are you?"

Conan noticed Amuro Tooru's unusual behavior.

After examining Maeda Hajime's belt twice, he was certain that this person was not the murderer; he didn't believe that Amuro Tooru couldn't tell.

So why did he ask that question?

Because he went to get Ran's coat, Conan didn't witness Ran spraining her ankle and was completely unaware of what the person in front of him was doing.

He carefully examined Maeda Hajime in front of him.

At first glance, he looks ordinary, but upon closer inspection, you'll find that his facial features are quite handsome, he's very tall, and has an excellent physique. If you don't look at his face, you'd think he's a handsome guy; he's the kind of guy who's stunning from behind.

Ran Mouri didn't notice Conan's scrutiny.

Qingze only wore a disguise mask and changed into clothes he doesn't usually wear today; his physique didn't change much.

Even with the voice changer on, she didn't think Conan would recognize her.

"What evidence does Mr. Maeda have to prove that he is not the murderer?" Amuro Tooru asked again.

Ran Mouri frowned. "Are you a police officer?"

"My name is Amuro Tooru, and I am a detective."

Ran Mouri scoffed, "Oh, a third-rate, lousy detective."

She quickly tried to guess Amuro Tooru's intentions.

First, Amuro Tooru learned that Koniak was "dating" her, Ran Mouri, and reminded her father.

Then he suspected that he was Koniak in disguise.

What will happen when Amuro Tooru's speculation is confirmed?

Using the police to get her to the police station, and then using the issue of his unclear identity to temporarily trap him there, like catching a turtle in a jar?

It's possible, and quite likely.

Therefore, she absolutely cannot get involved in this case, and she cannot go to the police station!

She stopped paying attention to Amuro and began observing the other two suspects.

Amuro Tooru can only disguise himself by indirectly using the police; even if he internalizes his true identity, it doesn't matter.

As long as you don't go to the police station, it's not a big problem.

This face can no longer be used.

No problem, she can make more once she masters the art of disguise.

The two suspects, a man and a woman, did not know each other and were very nervous in front of the police, unlike him who was completely at ease.

Amuro Tooru did not react to the taunts of the person in front of him.

He suspected the person in front of him was Koniak, and he wanted to test whether it was true.

If possible, he also wanted to use the police here to do something.

"Mr. Maeda, aren't you going to answer my question?"

Ran Mouri turned her head, slightly raised her chin, and looked at him casually.

"Do you think I'm the murderer?"

"It's just a suspicion. You said you were on the phone, so could you show me your call log?"

As he spoke, Amuro Tooru looked at Inspector Takagi and suggested with a smile:

"Couldn't the police verify the call through the contact person on the other end and dispel any suspicions about Mr. Maeda?"

"That's true. Mr. Maeda, could you please show me the call log?"

Ran Mouri's heart sank slightly.

Once the call log is shown to them, Amuro Tooru and Inspector Takagi will immediately know from the notes that she called "Ran Mouri," and might even be surprised to say it out loud, which will lead Conan to find out as well, thus creating a series of connections.

However, if he takes out another phone and there are no call records on it, it will confirm that he is lying.

Ugh.

I originally just wanted to try to deduce the murderer, but now it seems I really have to do it myself.

Once the murderer is found, there's no need to look at his call logs or go to the police station with the police.

As for taking a statement, just make up an excuse.

"There's no need for that. If you, a third-rate detective, can't find the murderer, then I'll do it myself."

As she spoke, she stepped across the cordon and walked two steps to the body to examine it.

Having studied under Qingze for so long, and with her father being a detective who had encountered so many cases, she refused to believe she couldn't solve this case!

Megure was already used to the presence of detectives at crime scenes, so he didn't pay much attention to Takagi keeping an eye on him and telling him not to disturb the crime scene.

The body was female, estimated to be around 25 years old.

There were obvious marks on his neck, as well as the distinctive diamond-patterned leather texture of the belt.

It looked like someone was strangling him to death by pulling on both ends of a belt.

The deceased had struggled violently before his death; one of his earrings had fallen off, several nail clips had fallen off his fingernails, and there were scratch marks on his neck from his attempt to save himself.