When the officers from the First Division arrived at the exhibition hall, the scene had already been cordoned off. A few officers were gesturing around the body, discussing how to remove the deceased, who had been stabbed into the wall.
Kazawa looked up at the corpse silently.
"Kazawa-kun, are you okay?" Realizing that Kazawa was from out of town and hadn't experienced a real crime scene before, Mōri Ran gently patted his back, worried he might be traumatized by the gruesome body.
"Hmm?" Kazawa snapped out of it. "Oh, I'm fine. Just thinking, the killer is pretty impressive."
"Eh?" Ran was stunned.
"That's an ornamental sword, right?" Kazawa pointed at the two-handed sword stuck in the wall. "It's not that sharp, and it's a heavy iron sword. The killer used that to lift such a fat old man and nail him to the wall. That's some serious strength..."
Conan twitched at the corner of his mouth. Considering his current identity, he held back from roasting him.
Is that really the point?
Kazawa glanced at Conan. What else would it be?
He quietly looked toward the art gallery staff being questioned by the officers. The long-browed, long-bearded curator was calmly answering questions.
He couldn't just turn around and point him out now—"The killer is him!"—that'd be like spoiling the mystery novel on the first page.
Besides, he really did think the killer was impressive. Even when he used to read manga, he thought so. Now, seeing it in real life, he couldn't help but be amazed. That old man with a full beard—just being able to swing an iron sword would mean he's in great shape. But to wear armor, lift a living person with one hand, and even stab them into a wall…
Criminals in the Conan universe really are gifted beyond reason.
"Were these the ones who discovered the body?" A chubby detective walked over with a notepad. He froze when he saw the group. "Isn't this Mōri's daughter...?"
Also seems to be Kudō's classmate… A high school girl who's almost a regular at crime scenes...
Ran gave a bitter smile. "Inspector Megure, we meet again."
She didn't want this either. Who wants to go to an art exhibition and end up at a murder scene?
She skillfully reported the process of discovering the body, while Kazawa finished observing the famous detective and went back to watching the officers set up two ladders, preparing to take down the photographed corpse.
Seeing Kazawa looking elsewhere, Conan moved closer and asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"
A kid who talks without addressing people or using polite speech—seriously, not even pretending anymore. With acting like this, can his cover really last even a round against those two undercover agents?
Kazawa silently roasted for a bit, planning to speed up the detective's process. Just as he was about to speak, he squatted down and measured distances with his eyes. "Look at that wall where the body is hanging. There are several exhibit labels stuck there, but not a single painting. Also, the victim's right hand—is he holding something?"
"Oh, you're right. That's weird. It's like the space was cleared in advance for the corpse..." Suzuki Sonoko, following closely behind Kazawa, nodded.
Conan narrowed his eyes and entered his thinking mode. Meanwhile, behind him, Inspector Megure had already spotted a surveillance camera pointed directly at the body and was instructing someone to retrieve the footage.
Kazawa thought for a bit. He figured he'd already given enough clues for now. Once the surveillance footage came up, he'd feed Conan a few more hints.
Good luck, little detective.
By the way, this case was one of those rare ones where Mōri Kogorō actually solved it without being "asleep." But now there were four high school students at the scene. The chance of the tranquilizer needle appearing just went up.
According to the usual order of getting tranquilized, when Mōri Kogorō isn't present, the second in line is Suzuki Sonoko.
Kazawa glanced at Sonoko, who was following him step for step.
Feels like this could be "manipulated" a bit...
Half an hour later.
"Sir! We found this in Kuwata's locker!"
An officer entered the exhibition hall and unwrapped a cloth bundle in his hands—inside was the helmet stained with blood from when the victim was struck in the surveillance footage.
Inspector Megure frowned and stared at the nervous museum staff. "The note in the victim's hand had your name on it. The murder weapon was found in your locker. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Kuwata looked at the officers subtly moving to surround him, panic showing on his face. "I didn't kill him! I'm innocent!"
"You were secretly selling the exhibits, and the victim found out. He even sent emails demanding massive compensation. You had plenty of motive." Inspector Megure motioned for his subordinates to arrest him. "If you have anything to say, do it at the station."
"I…" Kuwata broke out in cold sweat, looking around helplessly.
He really wasn't the killer. Conan frowned deeply. This won't do. If he didn't speak up now, Kuwata would become a scapegoat.
He flipped his wrist and opened the face of his watch.
Watching from the side, arms crossed, Kazawa: ...
What is going on with the investigation process in this world? They act like getting taken to the station means you're already guilty. If you didn't do it, why panic? Just defend yourself at the station, no?
Of course, Conan couldn't hear Kazawa's silent complaints. He was trying to decide who should do the deduction.
Ran had wandered off to another part of the exhibition out of boredom. Among the familiar faces in suitable positions, only Sonoko and Kazawa were left.
Truthfully, Kazawa was the better choice. He had observed everything closely and provided several key clues… But Conan had only just met this new classmate and didn't know his personality or speech patterns. Imitating him could easily mess things up.
Thinking this, Conan set his sights on Sonoko, who was resting her chin in her hand, waiting for the criminal to be caught.
He pressed the button, and the tranquilizer dart shot out.
But unexpectedly, Kazawa shook his head as if to stop the officers from making the arrest.
Conan's eyes widened. Crap, they were standing too close together!
Sure enough, just as Kazawa stepped forward, the needle meant for Sonoko's neck hit Kazawa's arm instead.
Kazawa's movement paused, then he staggered two steps back and slumped onto the ladder the officers had used to move the body. He lowered his head and didn't move.
Wrong target!
Conan gritted his teeth and had no choice but to go with the flow. He hid behind the ladder, pulled out his bowtie voice-changer, and adjusted the dial to Kazawa's voice.
"Kazawa-kun?" Seeing the person beside her suddenly collapse, Sonoko turned around. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"I'm fine, Sonoko-san. I just wanted to sit down and think through the doubts carefully." Kazawa's voice came out clearly, stopping Sonoko from stepping closer. "It's too early to identify the culprit just yet, Inspector Megure."
"Oh?" The puzzled Inspector Megure turned around and looked at the suddenly seated Kazawa. Several high school detectives flashed through his mind. His eyes gradually lit up. "Do you have a different opinion, young man?"
Several famous high school detectives flashed through his mind, and he got excited.
Could it be… Tokyo is about to welcome another outstanding high school detective? When they were examining the scene earlier, he already felt this kid had potential!
Having long since gotten used to brains-on-legs pointing fingers at crime scenes, Inspector Megure skillfully gave up thinking.