Chapter 33: Chapter 0033: Display of Abilities

Chapter 0033: Display of Abilities

Inspector Megure rushed to the scene, shouting, "Who are you? What are you doing so close to the body?"

Kudo Yusaku adjusted his glasses and stood up. "Based on the coagulation of the blood, this man, Kang Shin-cheol, likely died between 2 and 3 a.m. last night. The victim shows signs of struggle before death, with multiple techniques employed against him. The fatal wound is a self-inflicted stab wound to the abdomen with a small knife."

He continued, "I am Kudo Yusaku, an individual with a knack for criminal deduction. I can assist in solving this case."

Toyama Ginshiro stood up as well. "Given Kang Shin-cheol's upright posture, his grimacing expression yet pristine appearance suggests he was knocked unconscious and later arranged in the ceremonial samurai death position. This proves the assailant vastly outclassed him in skill. Kang Shin-cheol was a Taekwondo champion, which means the primary suspects are likely among the participants in this martial arts tournament."

He gestured to himself and another. "I am Toyama Ginshiro, and this is Hattori Heizō. We are fourth-year students at the Osaka Police Academy and contestants in this martial arts tournament."

Hattori Heizō chimed in, "Furthermore, this knife in Kang Shin-cheol's hand is no ordinary blade. If I'm not mistaken, it's a standard weapon used by dual-wielding swordsmen from the Miyamoto Dojo. Isn't that right, Miyamoto Shinbu?"

At this, Miyamoto Shinbu's face turned pale, and sweat dripped profusely from his forehead. "It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" he shouted before attempting to flee the gymnasium.

However, Kuroba Ichi swiftly intercepted him with a well-placed kick, causing Miyamoto Shinbu to lose balance. He then executed a powerful shoulder throw, slamming Miyamoto onto the cement floor. Miyamoto groaned in pain.

Inspector Megure immediately ordered the officers, "Handcuff Miyamoto Shinbu."

As Hattori Heizō, Toyama Ginshiro, and Kudo Yusaku stood upright, their gazes clashed, and tension filled the air.

Mouri Kogoro observed their reasoning skills and acknowledged their expertise. Kisaki Eri adjusted her glasses thoughtfully, while Yukiko Fujimine seemed overly excited. "Wow, Kogoro! A deduction showdown! Not that a musclehead like you would get it."

Hearing this, Kogoro felt a sharp pang in his head. 'What does she mean by "musclehead"?'

Realizing the others had started making progress, Kogoro felt a sense of urgency. He rushed toward the martial arts venue, hoping to gather clues.

"Hey, hey, who are you? You can't go in there!" Megure shouted, grabbing Kogoro.

"Why can they enter, but not me?"

"They're skilled in deduction, and two of them are trainee officers. They can contribute to the case. What can you do? Stay put and wait outside." Megure, still fiery in his youth, shoved Kogoro toward the group of onlookers.

"Damn it," Kogoro muttered. If not for their years of camaraderie, he might have cursed Megure on the spot.

Left with no choice, Kogoro decided to approach the situation from another angle.

---

As the investigation commenced, Kogoro overheard fragments of conversations. It turned out that the person who discovered the body was Sumiko Kobayashi, a judge for the martial arts tournament. She had found the body early in the morning when she unlocked the venue and immediately reported it.

Kogoro doubted that Miyamoto Shinbu was the killer. With his long blade shattered and much of his martial ability lost, he was unlikely to overpower Kang Shin-cheol and arrange the scene as it was. The crime seemed beyond his capability.

If not Miyamoto Shinbu, then the culprit must be among the remaining four suspects. Hattori Heizō and Toyama Ginshiro would later rise to prominent positions in law enforcement, making them unlikely perpetrators. This left Oki Saddle and Kuroba Ichi as the main suspects.

'No, there's one more person,' Kogoro thought, turning to Sumiko Kobayashi.

As a judge, she had the authority to intervene in matches at any time. Hired by the Suzuki conglomerate for her renowned expertise in multiple martial arts, Kobayashi, despite her advanced age, could feasibly commit the crime.

Just as Kogoro reached this conclusion, Kudo Yusaku approached after speaking with the university staff. "The student responsible for arranging your accommodations confirmed that Judge Kobayashi stayed at the university last night. Is that true?"

Sumiko Kobayashi frowned deeply. "Yes. After handling the arrangements, it was already late, so I stayed overnight, knowing I'd need to be at the gym early today."

Kudo Yusaku pressed further. "If my memory serves, Judge Kobayashi, you are proficient in multiple martial arts styles. Twelve years ago, you had a match against Kang Shin-cheol's father, Kang Gwang-ho, and suffered a severe defeat, requiring six months of recovery. Isn't that correct?"

Kobayashi hesitated but eventually nodded in agreement.

Kogoro frowned. 'Missed another step,' he thought.

Yukiko Fujimine quipped, "Who would've thought this seemingly clueless guy is actually so sharp?"

Kobayashi defended herself, "That was an event from years ago. No matter how much I struggled, I wouldn't harm my opponent's son, let alone kill someone."

The trail of clues seemed to end here. Inspector Megure waved his hand. "Judge Kobayashi, please cooperate with our investigation." He directed officers to question her further.

Miyamoto Shinbu shouted, "I've already told you, it wasn't me! Why don't you believe me? Last night, I was drinking alone in my room and passed out. The knife—this knife went missing days ago! How would I know how it ended up here? Someone must be framing me! What rotten luck!"

Meanwhile, Kogoro closely observed Oki Saddle and Kuroba Ichi. Both appeared calm, but something about them unsettled him.

"Why would such a bizarre incident happen? Kang Shin-cheol died such a miserable death."

Oki Saddle maintained a nonchalant demeanor, seemingly entertained. Seizing the opportunity, Kogoro pretended to twist his ankle and fell toward Oki Saddle. Instantly, he felt Oki's body tense, his eyes sharp, and his right hand reflexively reaching behind him.

Oki quickly masked his reaction, offering an innocent smile and helping Kogoro up.