Ding
[Option 2 completed.]
[Reward issued: Temporary Feature Card x1, Specific Card x1]
[Option 3 completed.]
[Reward issued: Physical +3, Recovery Card x1]
A crisp mechanical sound rang in Akikawa Kyousuke's mind, and a translucent blue mechanical interface appeared before his eyes.
'Option 3 is complete. It seems Toda Kyouji has truly been deemed a criminal.'
Akikawa Kyousuke, who had been sent to the hospital at that moment, heard the mechanical sound in his mind and made a judgment about the current situation.
'This system is quite convenient. This way, I don't need to personally confirm Toda Kyouji's situation.'
Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for Akikawa Kyousuke to know what was happening with Toda Kyouji unless he had connections within the Metropolitan Police Department.
Now, with the system's reminders about completed options, it proved that his plan had been implemented very successfully.
This was a great help to Akikawa Kyousuke, who lacked the means to gather intelligence.
---
'Speaking of which, it was probably Takuto Nakajima who broke into my house.'
Akikawa Kyousuke recalled that when he was confronting Toda Kyouji not long ago, he noticed a notification pop up on his phone.
At the time, Toda Kyouji paid little attention to Akikawa Kyousuke's phone.
But Akikawa Kyousuke knew better.
That was an alert from the camera he had installed in his house.
This also meant that his assumption was correct. As expected, Toda Kyouji had sent someone to his home to fabricate evidence.
---
After realizing this, Akikawa Kyousuke deliberately left his phone at the crime scene.
Whenever the police or detectives saw his phone, they would undoubtedly notice the previous alerts from the software.
The person who broke into his house would also face repercussions.
---
'If the person who entered my house was indeed Nakajima Takuto, then Toda Kyouji's operations will end up implicating everyone who knows the details about me.'
According to Akikawa Kyousuke's judgment, aside from Koichi Nishihara and Ohga Takao, the only two detectives who knew about his situation were Toda Kyouji and Takuto Nakajima.
Koichi Nishihara and Ohga Takao had already been eliminated by Toda Kyouji, and now Toda himself had become a criminal.
In the end, Takuto Nakajima, who also knew his situation, would become a criminal just like Toda Kyouji because he followed his "good boss's" orders.
Thus, the confessions of everyone who knew his secrets would lose their legal validity.
---
"What a 'good cop.' Not only did he help me eliminate hidden threats, but he also proved my innocence in the car accident. In the end, he even voluntarily handed me both the knife and his neck."
Akikawa Kyousuke sighed inwardly.
---
Port Area, Film Festival Exhibition Zone
A man in a suit, appearing to be in his 30s, with neatly cut hair and black-rimmed glasses, hid among the crowd, observing Toda Kyouji being escorted into a Metropolitan Police Department vehicle.
Around him, the spectators were constantly murmuring.
---
"What's going on? What's happening? Why is there another incident at the film exhibition today?!"
"I don't know! There can't be another murder! I just saw an ambulance leaving the exhibition area!"
"Oh my god! This film exhibition is cursed! I need to leave and never come back!"
"Wow, look at the man in handcuffs. That scar over his eye is huge! He must be from the underworld!"
---
The man listened quietly.
Then he saw a handsome "young man" in a hat rushing through the crowd.
The man recognized him.
It was the high school detective who had recently gained fame: Masumi Sera.
---
The man watched as Sera Masumi exchanged a few words with Megure Juzo of the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigative Section.
After receiving a nod from Megure, Sera quickly left the exhibition area.
Once Sera Masumi was gone, the officers from the Metropolitan Police Department also got into their vehicles and departed.
At that moment, the crowd dispersed.
---
The man took out his phone and made a call.
---
"Hey, Kazami, it's so noisy there. Where are you?"
Another male voice came from the other end of the call.
"I'm at the Minato Film Festival."
Kazami replied.
---
"The same film festival where the shooting happened two days ago? Are you here to see Miss Yoko during work hours?"
"I remember you're a huge fan of Miss Yoko."
The voice on the other end joked, and Kazami's expression turned awkward.
"How could I do that?!"
Kazami retorted loudly.
---
Realizing that passersby were now staring at him due to his sudden outburst, he quickly lowered his voice.
"I'm here investigating Toda Kyouji under orders from Mr. Furuya. Don't be ridiculous."
---
"So, what did you find?"
"I saw Toda Kyouji being handcuffed and then escorted by people from the Metropolitan Police Department."
"Was it detectives from the First Investigative Division?"
The voice on the other end, identified as "Jiang Gu," turned serious after hearing Kazami's words.
"Yes, I saw Inspector Megure, Detective Takagi, and others."
"If the First Division is involved, it must be a murder case."
Jiang Gu's voice grew somber.
---
"Kazami, what else did you see?"
Kazami then told the other man about someone being taken away in an ambulance earlier and described the interaction between Sera Masumi and Megure Juzo.
---
"Oh~? Miss Sera is here too."
Jiang Gu's voice sounded intrigued.
---
"Mr. Furuya, should I return now?"
Kazami asked from the other end.
---
"No. I want you to stay and figure out what happened at today's film exhibition in Minato City."
---
"But, Mr. Furuya, the Metropolitan Police have already taken Toda away. How should I investigate? Are you asking me to inquire with the Metropolitan Police?"
"No need to go through the police. Since Miss Sera is here, there's a high probability that Miss Mouri and Conan-kun are also present."
---
"Based on your description, Miss Sera seemed anxious when she left. She likely hurried off to investigate something."
"Kazami, wait there for a while to see if you can spot Conan-kun and Miss Mouri. Then, quietly follow them."
"They might reveal what happened today on their own."
---
"But what if Miss Sera is acting alone?"
Kazami was about to counter when he spotted a young girl with bangs covering her forehead, another girl wearing a headband, and an elementary school boy dressed in a suit with only a shirt underneath.
---
The man on the phone chuckled after a brief pause.
"Looks like I was right. Remember, don't expose yourself."
"Oh, and make sure to find out the name of the victim in this case for me."
"I understand."
Kazami replied slowly and hung up the phone.
---
"My boss, who's younger than me, always gives me such troublesome tasks."
---
Simultaneously
In an office of the Planning Section of the Police Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Public Security, a man with blond hair and wheat-colored skin hung up the phone.
The computer screen in front of him displayed news about Ohga Takao, the shooter from the Minato Film Festival two days ago, attacking the police.
---
"This is really interesting. Just as the police were about to confiscate evidence, Toda's car overturned."
"And it happened on the day news broke about the shooter attacking the police."
"I wonder—did Toda get this 'fatal' information from Ohga Takao himself?"
The man pressed his fist against his cheek and smiled.
(End of Chapter)