Conan: This repairman is not very knowledgeable

Even if Iron Sword hadn't checked the old man's cane, no one would have believed that this guy was some blind samurai like Zatoichi.

Okita is talking complete nonsense.

"Excuse me, Mr. Yokote, did anyone enter the restroom after you?"

Hattori asked the bespectacled man if he had heard anyone else, namely Judge Horimura, enter the restroom.

"I don't think so. I was very nervous at the time and busy deleting the photos I had taken without my consent."

"I didn't hear anyone enter the bathroom," Yokote Tsuneyuki said, shaking his head.

"So, it's very likely that Referee Horimura entered the restroom before Mr. Yokote?" Hattori looked at Referee Horimura.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I killed Mr. Butaya before this man arrived?!" Judge Fakumura shouted.

"I already said, I only put laxatives in the water because Mr. Buta refused to accept my love, so I wanted to make him suffer!"

On the other side, Ms. Sadamori, who was being questioned, also appeared quite agitated.

She had already disposed of the evidence in the bathroom and washed it many times.

"My girlfriend likes sailing, it has nothing to do with knives, how many times do I have to tell you before you understand..." Mr. Yokote, the bespectacled man, argued.

Because of the word "Cutter," his suspicion level has increased dramatically.

Furthermore, he doesn't seem to understand kendo, so it's quite possible that he wore the wrong kendo uniform.

"Would you like to try wearing protective gear?" Hattori smiled and called out to Yokote-san.

You'll know the truth once you put it on.

"Even if I was bragging before, I still watched the competition, so I can't be so clueless about how to wear this."

Mr. Yokote walked to the side, and under the watchful eyes of the police, put on white gloves, picked up the blood-stained groin guard, and quickly fastened his belt, looking quite neat.

but……

"I see. It seems you really are an outsider." Iron Sword, holding his katana, looked at Hattori, who had a slight smile on his face.

This confirms that the perpetrator deliberately wore the wrong kendo uniform and protective gear.

"What do you mean by this?" Yokote Tsuneyuki frowned as he looked at the boy whose head resembled a hedgehog.

Like a wandering samurai...

"It's a knot."

“It’s fine to wrap the rope around your back once, but the knot needs to be hidden under the protective gear.” Hattori stepped forward and helped hide the knot under the groin protector.

Everyone could see that this way, Mr. Yokogami, who only knew how to brag, could be cleared of suspicion.

"The murderer deliberately wore it inside out so that people would think he didn't know anything about swordsmanship."

"Of the three of you, you are the only one who needs to do this, Mr. Horimura, a professional referee for kendo matches."

Lin Feng smiled upon hearing this answer.

Since it was related to kendo, it was Hattori's special moment after all; he figured out who the murderer was even earlier than his younger brother Kudo.

"Wait, wait a minute, the murderer used a knife, didn't he? Didn't that old man hear it too? Mr. Bagu asked someone to bring the Cutter."

“I don’t have a knife or anything on me,” Judge Horimura said calmly to the dark-skinned boy from Osaka.

"Regarding this, the deceased Mr. Batani should have said this on the phone, right?"

"The cutter is dirty and needs to be replaced. Bring me a replacement," Hattori asked the old man on the bench.

"That seems to be correct." The old man nodded.

"Any questions?"

Sato and Takagi both looked at Hattori.

"It got dirty..." Conan was a little confused when he heard this.

The knife got dirty?
"Hehe, actually, in the Kansai region, the word 'cutter' can also refer to a shirt," Hattori explained with a smile.

In the Kansai dialect, the pronunciation of "cutter" is similar to the Japanese pronunciation of "shirt," making it a unique way of expressing the word that outsiders might not recognize.

“I understand. When we called to ask earlier, Mr. Bagu’s wife did say that she had brought a shirt over.”

"So that's what it means!" Takagi learned another lesson.

However, it seems that as soon as Hattori came to Tokyo, cases involving dialects started to appear...

The dog-headed detective was utterly speechless at this.

We lost on this again.

“I think even if the deceased hadn’t stained his shirt, you would have used the ink you always carry to help him.” Hattori nodded to Takagi and looked at Judge Homura.

Where is the murder weapon?

"I wasn't carrying any knives!" Judge Horimura clearly didn't want to plead guilty easily.

"Haven't you been carrying it around all this time?" Hattori smiled.

“There are only bamboo knives in there.” Judge Horimura’s expression became somewhat flustered.

“A pre-assembled bamboo knife won’t work, of course, but if you take it apart and sharpen one of the bamboo strips, it shouldn’t be difficult to cut a vulnerable area like the throat,” Hattori continued.

“Indeed, some people will be cut by the bamboo strips and bleed profusely.” Okita thought for a moment, then sharpened it slightly and acted more decisively; killing would be absolutely no problem.

“Well, after committing the crime, the bamboo strips need to be cleaned and smoothed a bit before being reassembled. There will be some noise involved.” Hattori looked at the other two suspects, Mr. Yokote and Ms. Sadamori.

"movement?"

"It sounded like something hard rubbing against a wall, maybe a little bit," Mr. Yokote said after recalling carefully.

He didn't pay much attention at the time, thinking it was just someone rubbing something with their shoe.

"Then that's it. Just look for the marks on the toilet wall and test Mr. Fumura's body with luminol."

Hattori looked at Officer Sato and his group.

You can't possibly clean the bloodstains on the murder weapon to the point that they're undetectable by luminol in a short period of time.

He saw the police approaching to take his bamboo knife bag.

Judge Horimura closed his eyes, sighed slightly, and said, "Bloodstains can't be washed away with water, can they?"

“I know that too.”

These words undoubtedly admit to his crimes.

"Why would you choose to use a bamboo sword to kill someone?" Officer Sato asked curiously.

This idea is a bit far-fetched.

Moreover, it leaves quite a few traces, and is even less convenient than a real knife. As long as you don't leave fingerprints, you can just throw it somewhere and no one will know which of the three it belongs to.

"Actually, this bamboo knife belongs to my son."

"Two years ago, he was driven to suicide by Mr. Butaku."

"Two years ago, in the team competition of the Kendo tournament, it was a very important match, when we won a crucial point."

"The child unconsciously made a victory gesture, therefore the point was disallowed."

"His high school failed to win the championship as a result."

"After that came endless self-blame. Finally, unable to bear the pressure in his heart, he hanged himself."

"The referee for that match was Mr. Bagu!"

As the referee spoke, he clenched his fist, his eyes filled with hatred.

“However, as you just said, it’s not allowed to make a victory pose. That’s the rule of the game, and Mr. Butani is just following the rules,” Officer Sato said, frowning.

It sounds like the victim bore no responsibility, and the verdict was very fair.

"I think so too. For the past two years, I have believed that Mr. Batgut's rulings have been correct and fair."

"However, during the previous team match, the second forward from Kyoto Izumi High School also made a victory gesture after scoring."

"Mr. But he ignored it, not only did he not invalidate the score, but he even seemed to be smiling and encouraging the student."

"Just because they're all from Kansai!"

Judge Fakumura said this while shedding tears.

That's why she chose to use her son's bamboo knife to carry out her revenge herself.

"He was probably holding this amulet at the time."

As a fellow player from Izumi High School, Okita picked up the amulet hanging around his neck and said, "A... amulet?" Referee Horimura looked over, puzzled.

"Because that second forward from the first year of high school said he wanted to win no matter what, I lent him the amulet."

"This is a talisman from one of the eight great shrines in my family, passed down through generations. I have never lost while wearing it."

"After the second striker scored, the amulet came out from under his robe. When he put it back, he couldn't help but cry. I think I even heard him thanking the gods."

“You probably see this as a victory celebration pose,” Okita said, shaking his head.

When the referee saw the contestant crying while holding the amulet, he would smile and say, "That's normal."

Unexpectedly, this action plunged him into the abyss.

It was all a matter of chance.

If the two referees weren't both on the field, if they were closer together, they could hear each other clearly, if...

"Impossible, impossible..." Judge Horimura stared blankly, muttering to himself.

"It's true. The referee even warned him not to cry during the match," Okita said with a smile, holding the amulet.

It's true!

Lin Feng looked at the referee, Fumura.

Sure enough, he couldn't suppress his anger and was on the verge of a breakdown.

The emotions suppressed for two years finally erupted when he felt that Mr. Batani's refereeing was unfair.

Now they're saying it's fake? Mr. Bagu is a fair judge, and he can't accept that.

Okita's expression, in particular, is so infuriating...

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Sure enough, the next moment, the referee from the village went completely mad. He took out his son's bamboo sword from the bamboo sword bag next to him and angrily rushed towards the smiling boy.

"What a powerful presence!"

Okita and Hattori, standing together, changed their expressions, becoming focused and serious.

You don't always get the chance to face off against the referee!
"Shh!"

In the blink of an eye, a samurai sword was pressed against the neck of referee Horimura.

This is a real, incredibly sharp knife.

However, the iron sword uses the back of the blade.

"Is this considered a sword-drawing technique?" Lin Feng asked with a smile.

It was incredibly fast, hitting the nail on the head, just like it had been practiced countless times.

This is the power of a top-tier expert!
Even Hattori and Okita were caught off guard.

"You, you..." Referee Horimura felt a chill on his neck and instantly sobered up, his arm hanging limply at his sides.

What happened to me...

"You two, the match is about to begin." Iron Sword sheathed his treasured sword and glanced at Hattori Okita, reminding him.

"Oops!"

Hattori shouted and turned to run.

"Hey, don't even think about escaping!" Okita followed behind.

"There are only two games left, it should be over soon."

Conan smiled and said to Officer Takagi and the others.

The four semifinals will be held simultaneously, and then only the final will remain.

"I understand. After the match, please tell Hattori to help me take a statement." Takagi nodded.

Everyone agreed and hurried towards the competition venue. The police still needed to investigate the murder scene, and the procedures had to be followed.

"We haven't eaten yet," Lin Feng suddenly remembered.

It was because Xiaolan and her friends needed to find a place to use the restroom.

This toilet has been causing trouble lately.

They'll die wherever they go.

No, it's all because of Kudo-kun. It was because he went to the toilet that things turned out this way.

"Wait a moment, Hattori is about to go on stage!" Kazuha called to the crowd as they entered.

What time is it? Let's eat after the game is over.

Let's see what Hattori has to say.

Kazuha had a premonition, and her face turned red.

"How could we possibly win..." Conan muttered to himself.

I really hope my friend can win, but the opponent is that high school student who is like a demon.

That bald guy is too fierce.

"Hattori versus an unknown passerby."

"Okita's opponent is Onimaru Takeshi."

"Drawn the worst possible draw." Lin Feng looked at the match schedule and silently mourned for Okita for three seconds.

Onimaru Takeshi's strength is definitely not as good as Tetsuken's, but he is still far ahead of Okita, and the aura he exudes is completely different.

"I hadn't seen you all, and I thought you had deserted your posts."

The two sides were acquaintances, and Onimaru Takeshi looked at Hattori and Okita, who had arrived late, and said.

His serious expression contrasted sharply with Okita's.

"Please, I'm more afraid you'll run away first." Okita snorted. He wouldn't lose in this pre-battle dialogue.

"Okita, don't die."

Hattori glanced at Onimaru, then turned to Okita and gave him instructions.

"You should worry about yourself. I'm wearing a protective charm, so I won't lose..." Okita said, reaching into his robes.

Gone? !
Where's my lucky charm?!
Having already put on his protective gear, this guy suddenly couldn't reach his amulet.

"Please enter the arena, all contestants."

The referee glanced at the group and offered a reminder.

It seems something unexpected has happened.

"Go, Okita!"

Students from Quanxin High School shouted encouragement.

"Come on, unleash your most powerful moves and show us everything you've got!"

Before the match began, Onimaru Takeshi made sure to remind his opponent to be at his best.

He stayed until now just to fight these people.

Okita's eyes hardened.

Come on!

Even without a talisman, I...

"The outcome is decided! Onimaru has won decisively!"

The referee raised his flag and announced the winner.

In Lin Feng and Tie Jian's view, Okita did not perform poorly because of the loss of the amulet; his five consecutive thrusts were still fierce and swift.

However, Onimaru Takeshi's strength and skills were superior, so his defeat was not unjust.

"The outcome is decided; Hattori Heiji wins!"

On the other side, Hattori defeated the random passerby and advanced to the finals.

He looked at Onimaru Takeshi with a solemn expression.

Okita, why didn't you stop this guy...? (End of Chapter)