Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 503 Alibi

"Are you sure the Silver Dragon Society hasn't turned against us?" Shiraishi mainly wanted to confirm this.

If Hoshimiya Koichi switches allegiance to Representative Kobayakawa and distances himself from the Silver Dragon Society, with which he previously collaborated, then the Silver Dragon Society is undoubtedly the most suspicious party now.

"At least for now, the Silver Dragon Society's blacklisting website is still running, and the accounts are still being processed through Xinggong Furniture's overseas accounts," Takei said impatiently.

To be absolutely certain, he couldn't be completely sure, since he wasn't a spy for the Silver Dragon Society. However, based on the intelligence the team currently possessed, the fact that Hoshimiya was only transferring benefits to the Kobayakawa family and that the cooperation with the Silver Dragon Society was still ongoing made the situation entirely different.

The connection between Hoshimiya Furniture Company, a furniture store, and the Silver Dragon Society isn't due to their business, but rather because their young president, Koichi Hoshimiya, is colluding with the Silver Dragon Society...

They created an online platform to assist offline casinos and also used Xinggong Furniture's overseas business to help launder money.

However, due to a lack of concrete evidence, the team has not actually carried out any arrests, but has only been monitoring the situation from the shadows.

"Do you know anything else about the case?" Takei asked Shiraishi.

After obtaining the information he wanted from Takei, Shiraishi also told Takei about the discovery he made yesterday that "there seems to be a cow."

This was also meant for the officers at the Mihana Police Station...

"What? Could it be... like that time at the aquarium..." Fuji said, surprised and annoyed.

There was a scoundrel who used explicit videos to blackmail his ex-girlfriend and extort money from her multiple times.

As a result, he was stabbed to death by his ex-girlfriend, who was from Beika Town, in the aquarium.

Although Shiraishi was present and exposed the truth, preventing him from being acquitted, he was later given a lighter sentence of seven and a half years in court, taking into account the victim's actions and the defense attorney Eri Kisaki's claim that "the repeated threats caused the defendant to be mentally stressed and in a dazed state."

Fuji was also present at that case.

Now it's a man threatening a woman again, and she naturally thought of that incident, but...

“Impossible. Those two people didn’t seem to know each other well at the time. It’s unlikely that person would have her private videos,” Shiraishi said, shaking his head.

Upon hearing the term "private video," Takei understood what the female police officer suspected and sneered, "Even if it were obtained through other means, it's impossible... Young lady, as the daughter of a politician, would you be threatened by something like that, like an ordinary woman?"

"Regardless of how he threatened her, that person is likely connected to the case. After all, Miss Kobayakawa rejected his marriage proposal last night because she already has a fiancé, and her fiancé was killed that very night," Kuroki emphasized.

"Oh? Is that so? I don't think so." Takei looked at Kuroki and sneered.

As Kuroki shuddered, he suddenly noticed two detectives hurriedly leaving behind Takei.

Kuroki, realizing what was happening immediately, quickly pulled Kanzaki along, saying, "Chief, let's go to the Kobayakawa family for questioning!"

Kuroki then realized that Takei wasn't just "not thinking so"; he clearly wanted to get there first...

Since Hoshimiya was being secretly investigated by the group before, now that he's dead, the group will naturally get involved in the murder investigation; the two sides are even in competition.

Shiraishi didn't think that much about it, after all, the Third Division and Fourth Department were his old subordinates, and more importantly...

"We don't know who that guy is yet, so be careful. We're all colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Department, so it's not a bad thing for our officers to question him first," Shiraishi reminded them. The police stations in Tokyo are also under the Metropolitan Police Department.

"As expected of a superintendent, he speaks with such finesse," Takei said jokingly.

"If you can't pass the exam, study harder. Don't be sarcastic," Bai Shi reminded him.

Takei:…

Shiraishi glanced at his watch, then said, "It's getting late, I have to go to the police station. Talk to you next time." After a perfunctory exchange with Takei, Shiraishi left the scene.

After all, as the chief, Shiraishi still had a lot of paperwork to do, so he simply had Fuji drive the patrol car back to the police station.

On the way, Shiraishi called Ayako...

"Hey, are you busy? It's like this... Do you remember the person we saw at the restaurant entrance last night?"

Shiraishi asked Ayako about Nahoko Kobayakawa.

Although they weren't very familiar with each other, and Ayako didn't even recognize the other person at first glance, after learning about Kobayakawa Nahomi's identity, Shiraishi guessed that Ayako must have actually met her before!

If that's the case, even if they don't have much of a personal relationship, the Suzuki family should know more about the Kobayakawa family.

"Ah! That's right, that's right, it's Kobayakawa Nahomi!" Ayako remembered the other's identity after Shiraishi reminded her.

"What's wrong? Is she involved in any incident?" Ayako asked, puzzled.

Judging from Ayako's tone, Shiraishi could tell that the senator Kobayakawa Taizo was nothing special—he certainly had more depth and influence than those mere "mascots," but he couldn't compare to the likes of Atsumori Ryuzō.

Otherwise, Ayako's tone wouldn't have been so relaxed; she was just curious, without any concern for Shiraishi.

“Her fiancé is dead. I found his body this morning when I was jogging, right on the long steps of the Tsutsumi River.” Shiraishi did not keep the incident a secret from the person involved.

"What? There again? Is it... that the steps are poorly constructed? Should we ask Koizumi to take a look?" Ayako asked worriedly.

After all, the fatality rate of these steps is almost as high as that of a handgun!
In an instant, Ayako considered all the factors, both "scientific" and "unscientific."

“No, he didn’t die from a fall this time… How much do you know about Kobayakawa? Has anything happened to their family recently?” Shiraishi asked.

"An unexpected turn of events... Ah, I remember now, her fiancé should be the president of Hoshimiya Furniture? Indeed, Mr. Kobayakawa Taizo was embroiled in a scandal last year for lobbying government departments on behalf of companies and profiting improperly from it."

"Although the situation calmed down before it escalated, the Kobayakawa family became more cautious afterward. A few months ago, when Kobayakawa Nahomi got engaged to President Hoshimiya, there were rumors that the Kobayakawa family was short of funds for operations." Ayako indeed knew some of the "gossip" about the higher-ups.

"I see." Bai Shi understood upon hearing this—it seemed the theory of power and money being combined was indeed true.

This reduces the suspicion surrounding the Silver Dragon Society...

Because the current situation is that the Kobayakawa family lacks a financial backer, the marriage between their daughter and the Hoshimiya family is for a powerful alliance, not to make the Hoshimiya family rich. Therefore, Hoshimiya Koichi has no reason to fall out with the Silver Dragon Society. "Actually, this is just gossip! The Kobayakawa family did choose to marry into the Hoshimiya family because they wanted to complement each other, but the Kobayakawa family isn't really struggling. We should look at the issue more positively..." Ayako suddenly remembered something and began to "recite scriptures."

"Ahem, I have another case to handle. We'll talk about it tonight," Shiraishi changed the subject.

"Ouch..." Kawai suddenly exclaimed from the passenger seat.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Ayako asked curiously after hearing this.

Shiraishi also turned his head and looked over, puzzled.

"Sorry..." Kawai gave an awkward smile.

The driver, Teng, explained, "Chief, you stepped on her hair."

Ayako:? ? ?
Fuji wasn't making things up—when Shiraishi was in the small patrol car, he usually sat in the middle of the back seat so that his upper body could lean forward and make more efficient use of the cramped space...

Before I was in a leadership position, I never realized how prestigious and comfortable it was.

Because of this posture, Shiraishi's shoulder just got caught in Kawai's hair between the front seat and the seat in front of him!

"Put your hair up properly when you're wearing your uniform!" Shiraishi scolded the two of them.

……

After arriving at the police station, Shiraishi carried out the duties of the police chief in an orderly manner.

The criminal investigation department has already formed an internal investigation team, and at the same time...

Perhaps because a group was taking the brunt of the criticism, or perhaps because the Kobayakawa family was also wary of Shiraishi, although they went to inquire about the death of their unmarried son-in-law, Shiraishi did not receive any complaints.

Instead, Takei received the complaint and was scolded by the head of the Third Division, who warned him not to harass Representative Kobayakawa.

In the end, it was Kuroki and Kanzaki who obtained the clue from Nahoko Kobayakawa.

Apparently...

Running fast is useless!
The other party is a powerful legislator who can "lobby government departments and help businesses profit." If you can't protect him, you won't even be able to get into his house.

Especially the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department...

My major was never relevant to my job!

It's not like the councilors are involved in a violent organization. A bunch of burly, menacing-looking guys came to the police station with criminal investigators. It would be strange if they didn't have a word with the leaders of the Metropolitan Police Department!
The detectives at the Miho Police Station were kind, spoke pleasantly, and the station chief was easy to get along with, so I didn't want to complain at all.

……

Before leaving get off work that evening, needless to say, Shiraishi also arrived at the investigation meeting. After all, Shiraishi was the "first discoverer," and he had personally provided a clue that had implicated a member of parliament.

When Shiraishi came in, he saw that, in addition to Kuroki and Kanzaki who had arrived at the scene initially, Shima, Kobe, and Haiya and Kobe—both "Kobe"—were all detectives in charge of the case!
This kind of work is usually arranged by Section Chief Munakata, and Shiraishi didn't ask about it. However, he was slightly surprised at this moment. Munakata had previously avoided having Daisuke Kobe and Miwako Kobe involved in the murder investigation, but this time he actually arranged for both of them to be included in the investigation team.
"Chief, is this the person you're looking for?" Kuroki then displayed a standard "front-facing photo" on the projector.

“Yes, that’s right.” Shiraishi nodded—it was the same person he had seen outside the restaurant last night.

"This person's name is Kensuke Uno. According to Ms. Kobayakawa, yesterday was the first time she met Kensuke Uno. She invited him to dinner as a thank you because he found her phone," Kuroki said after confirming that the person was indeed him.

"Just found a phone?" Shiraishi frowned upon hearing this.

“That’s right, we also found this Kensuke Uno… This guy has a criminal record. He was arrested three years ago for stealing from a convenience store. Because it was a minor offense, he wasn’t imprisoned at the time. However, he was imprisoned for various minor offenses, such as dining and dashing. The most recent offense was illegal soliciting of customers,” Kuroki explained.

It's illegal for shops in the eastern island nation to actively solicit customers on the street, and... it's mainly some shady shops that do this, so it seems this Uno isn't doing very well.

When Shiraishi first saw his photo, he knew he must have a criminal record—this photo was his prison photo!
However, throughout the entire process, there were no violent crimes, only minor incidents.

"Tell me about the situation on the ground first." Shiraishi then looked at Haiya and Miwako Kobe.

Because Kuroki and Kanzaki rushed to the Kobayakawa house, the scene was taken over by the detectives who arrived later.

Ash Valley then stood up and said, "The victim died from a ruptured abdominal artery caused by a dagger. There were no signs of a fall, and no signs of an argument were found at the scene. It is likely that he was approached by someone he knew and then stabbed to death."

"There were traces of blood splatter at the scene, but no signs of the body being moved, which is consistent with the characteristics of a primary crime scene."

“No cell phone was found on the victim, but we checked with the communications department and found that at 8 o’clock, Hoshimiya received a call from a public phone. Later, we also saw him drive away ten minutes later in the traffic surveillance footage near the Hoshimiya Furniture office building, heading towards Beika Town.”

"Considering the departure time, the distance to the location of the crime, and the autopsy results, the estimated time of death is between 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm last night."

"After interviewing people in the surrounding area, no one was found to have witnessed the deceased arriving at the scene or to have discovered any suspicious persons."

Shiraishi nodded and said, "You received a call at eight o'clock and arrived near the crime scene around eight-thirty... I saw Uno last night, around seven-thirty."

"Does finding a cell phone mean you can ask to get married? That's impossible..." Zhimo muttered to himself.

"Yes, we also asked the person involved later, but Ms. Kobayakawa only said that he was delusional. We also found this Kensuke Uno. He claimed that he thought that someone like him, who had suffered so much, was more worthy of Ms. Kobayakawa than Koichi Hoshimiya, who had been pampered since childhood." Kuroki shook his head as he spoke.

Of course, he didn't believe that either!

The problem was that Kobayakawa was only cooperating with the investigation, so they couldn't directly question him. Moreover, when they asked a little more probing questions, Kobayakawa Taizo came out and interrupted them.

As for Kensuke Uno, there's currently no evidence to prove his involvement in the case, and...

“By the way, we’ve verified Kensuke Uno’s alibi. Between 8:00 and 11:30, Uno was at a large bar… However, this alibi is a bit questionable.” Kuroki paused before explaining.

Uno's alibi was found in a large bar. After entering the bar, he asked the staff for the time, which was 8 PM. His departure time was confirmed by his membership card swipe record, which showed it was at midnight...

As for whether he left midway, it's impossible to be 100% certain!

(End of this chapter)