Inspector Megure inwardly grumbled, but his expression returned to normal.
This high school detective was like the Grim Reaper himself, bringing death wherever he went, and he was completely oblivious to it.
For the sake of his assistance in solving numerous cases, Megure decided to let it slide.
“Since the exit is blocked, it means the killer is still here…”
Before Bai Ye could finish, Conan Edogawa naturally picked up the conversation:
“That’s right. Although there are no witnesses, many people were taking pictures here. Please have someone collect all the phones and cameras from the visitors in this aquarium. If we go through them, we might find the process of the perpetrator’s crime.”
Suzuki Bai Ye rolled his eyes, his gaze shifting away from the woman with the red-glowing gloves.
This method of elimination would be incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive.
He took a step forward and offered a suggestion:
“No need to go through all that trouble. What if no one took pictures, right? Actually, I have a simpler method.”
“Oh?”
Hearing this, Inspector Megure looked over with a hopeful expression:
“Suzuki, tell me about it.”
He was calling him “Suzuki” instead of “Mr. Suzuki” earlier, but now that he needed him, he immediately changed his address.
This kind of “only when I need you” behavior lowered Bai Ye’s impression of the police.
Conan Edogawa was also interested and looked at Bai Ye with curiosity:
“Mr. Suzuki, what are you planning to do?”
In the previous case of the break-in murder, he wasn’t thorough enough and missed crucial evidence.
In the end, it was Bai Ye who found the diet pills, clearing himself of suspicion.
Conan was unwilling to accept defeat, feeling like he’d lost to Bai Ye, and wanted to get back at him.
Both of them were in the aquarium corridor when the victim was killed.
It could be said that they were starting from the same point.
Conan Edogawa was the first to come into contact with the body and had gathered quite a bit of information through his investigation.
To let the other party take the lead despite having the advantage was a gentlemanly act.
Come on, Suzuki!
Let’s settle this at the crime scene!
Bai Ye’s expression was calm, unaware of Conan Edogawa’s thoughts.
He had the Judgment Eye’s blessing, and he had already identified the suspect.
Simply pointing them out wasn’t enough, he needed to find evidence to convict them.
As long as the evidence was sufficient, he would make sure she couldn't refute it.
He would deal with this case as soon as possible so he could ask the aquarium manager if they were hiring, in case he needed a new job.
“The victim was killed in the corridor, meaning this is the primary crime scene.”
Conan Edogawa nodded in agreement, having no objections to this deduction.
Bai Ye looked at the crowd around him and continued:
“This murder was clearly premeditated, the killer must have been wearing gloves.”
Inspector Megure furrowed his brow, expressing doubt about this judgment:
“Suzuki, why are you so certain?”
Before Bai Ye could reply, Conan Edogawa stepped in:
“If the killer stabbed the victim through the plastic bag first, then the tear on the plastic bag should only be a single slit. But in reality, the tear is slightly larger, indicating multiple stab wounds. To prevent blood splatter, the killer slowly pulled the knife out through the plastic bag. If they weren't wearing anything, their hands would inevitably get stained with blood. Whether they used paper to wipe it or washed it, it would draw attention.”
Inspector Megure crouched down to examine the scene, shaking his head with a solemn expression:
“The victim’s heart was stabbed, they should have screamed in pain. Didn’t anyone see the killer’s appearance?”
Conan Edogawa put his hands in his pockets and stood beside the victim:
“Officer, look at the back of the victim’s neck.”
Seeing that Inspector Megure had begun to inspect, he added:
“The victim’s neck has traces of being electrocuted by a stun gun. If they were rendered unconscious by electric shock before they died, they wouldn’t have made a sound. I speculate that the killer lied and said there was a strange fish at the bottom of the tank, luring the victim to check it. When the victim leaned close to the edge of the tank and lowered their head, the killer pressed the stun gun on the victim from behind, causing them to faint…”
Even though they were asking Suzuki Bai Ye, Conan Edogawa had taken over the analysis process.
Bai Ye forcefully interrupted the spell, urging:
“Stop playing detective games, let’s call over the visitors wearing gloves first.”
The exit was closed, the killer was still on the scene.
To prevent them from becoming desperate and doing something reckless, it was necessary to control all the suspects.
Inspector Megure nodded in agreement and commanded:
“Hurry, call all the visitors wearing gloves to the corridor here.”
“Yes!”
The range of suspects was instantly narrowed.
This was much easier than collecting everyone's phones and checking them one by one.
Conan Edogawa narrowed his eyes, admitting that Suzuki Bai Ye’s method was better.
But… where was the evidence?
As if they were in sync, Inspector Megure asked:
“Suzuki, what if the killer hid the gloves?”
“There are many enclosed spaces in the aquarium, not many places to hide gloves. Either the restrooms or the trash bins. You can send someone to check. If they find them, then the visitors wearing gloves are safe for now. If not, we’ll still need to focus on those wearing gloves.”
Inspector Megure’s expression cleared up as he turned to Takagi Wataru beside him:
“You, and you, go check all the trash bins and restrooms in the aquarium.”
“Yes!”
Suzuki Bai Ye had just used the restroom and remembered there were no drying machines or similar equipment in there.
After stabbing the victim multiple times, the killer’s gloves must have been stained with blood.
It would be difficult to clean up the traces in the aquarium or flush the gloves down the drain.
Moreover, the red light on that woman’s gloves was too bright.
It was most likely she was wearing them backwards, using them to hide the bloodstains on the gloves.
Working backward from knowing the answer made the process incredibly easy.
Soon, officers reported in succession:
“The restrooms have been checked, nothing unusual!”
“The trash bins have been checked, nothing unusual!”
“All the visitors wearing gloves have been called in.”
Thirty-plus people lined up in the aquarium corridor.
This was much better than examining one or two hundred phones.
Bai Ye stopped pretending and went straight to the woman with the red-glowing gloves, grinning:
“Ma’am, would you mind taking off your gloves?”
As for why he chose her, Suzuki Bai Ye couldn’t explain, nor did he need to.
The woman questioned looked solemn, standing in place without moving.
Her gloves were stained with the victim’s blood.
Whether she took them off or not, she wouldn’t be able to clear her suspicions.
Seeing that the woman hadn't moved for a long time, Inspector Megure noticed something was off and urged her:
“Ma’am, please take off your gloves.”
A man with a white hat in the crowd also chimed in:
“Nao, just take off the gloves and let them see.”
In Japan, only those with close relationships would call each other by their last name.
He didn’t know that his girlfriend was the murderer.
Nao looked up at Suzuki Bai Ye.
Then she lowered her gaze, staring at her boyfriend, her lips tightly pressed together.
The next second, her body slumped as if drained of all energy:
“Sorry, Hiro, it… it was me who killed him.”
【The killer has been arrested!】
【Points earned: 100】
【Current remaining points: 200】
The capture of the killer should have been a happy occasion.
But Conan Edogawa’s face suddenly fell.
How did he find the real culprit out of dozens of people?
…
Today’s victory belonged to Suzuki Bai Ye, a complete defeat for Conan Edogawa.