Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 571 Suicide?

Narcissistic parked his car downstairs at the research institute, intending to wait for "Teacher Changjiang" to get off work—it was already almost 10 p.m.

However, after waiting for half an hour, the research institute's lights remained on and there was no movement. Instead, the narcissistic person got a "beep" from the phone...

The narcissist leaned out of the car window and yelled at the car behind him that was honking at him, "Why are you honking on such a wide road?"

Looking at the Porsche 356A in front of him, he felt a surge of narcissism and displeasure—does driving an antique car make you so great?
He then narrowed his eyes with a narcissistic grin and got out of the car...

"Oh no... Brother, the license plate looks like an undercover police car from the Mihana Police Station." Vodka realized this after beeping, and whispered to Gin in the passenger seat.

"Don't attract too much attention!" Gin warned with a dark expression.

dong dong dong-

The narcissist walked over, puzzled, and knocked on the car window, asking, "Sir, how can you see the road so late with sunglasses on?"

“I… am blind!” Vodka thought quickly.

Narcissism: ? ? ?
Gin:......

"A blind man?" The narcissist stared in shock at the steering wheel in front of him—a blind man driving?
"I'm sorry, my friend can't stand bright light... especially car headlights at night!" Gin said awkwardly.

Narcissistic looked at Gin in surprise. Although he didn't say anything, Gin could tell from his expression what he was going to say—it was a man after all…

"Is it illegal for me to wear sunglasses?" Vodka retorted, annoyed.

"Okay, okay, then be careful." Seeing that nothing was wrong, the narcissist just muttered "How did you apply for a driver's license?" and left.

……

Meanwhile, in the research lab, Shiraishi was arguing with James about suicide, asking, "How could it be suicide, James? You need to know there was no suicide note left at the scene..."

"According to the suicide prevention white paper released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, only about 30% of suicides leave a suicide note," James stubbornly retorted.

Bai Shi shook his head and said, "That's right, the data is like that, but you should know that this refers to the total probability of all suicides... Most suicides happen when people are emotionally agitated. Of course, these people don't leave suicide notes. However, this person drank coffee with cyanide in a hotel. This was definitely not a suicide on a whim."

"Moreover, no container containing cyanide was found on the deceased or in the room, which indicates that someone took the container away, and it was definitely not done by the deceased alone."

"The container could be rice paper, used to wrap the cyanide crystals," James said seriously.

Shiraishi:? ? ?
"What reason did he have to commit suicide like that?" Shiraishi was speechless—you're too stubborn.

[The Ministry of Justice's Criminal Investigation Bureau has recently... presumably been experiencing difficulties at work.] James seemed to be about to say something, but then changed his mind midway.

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi looked at Namiko Nagae.

“James’s deduction is somewhat arbitrary. Perhaps… it’s because I haven’t been doing well at work lately, which makes him think that the Criminal Investigation Bureau is under a lot of pressure,” Changjiang said calmly.

"I see... Professor Changjiang, have you encountered many objective difficulties in your recent research?" Bai Shi asked tentatively.

"It's just some of the worries that everyone has." Changjiang clearly didn't want to elaborate.

Seeing that Changjiang said so, Baishi had no choice but to give up for now...

Judging from James's performance and his previous narcissistic reaction... in Shiraishi's mind, Changjiang is already the prime suspect!
Tomorrow, Shiraishi plans to inform the investigation team to focus on the deceased's work situation.

As Changjiang previously stated, the deceased and Changjiang actually had professional dealings—Changjiang's research was a project of the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, and the Planning Office was responsible for approving these projects.

If there is a work-related relationship, this may lead to conflicts...

Around 10 p.m., Shiraishi left the research institute, and by then, Narcissism had also left.

but……

After Shiraishi's QX56 drove away, it quickly circled back!
After circling the research institute, they drove straight away.

“Strange…” Shiraishi muttered to himself.

[What's wrong?] Ayari appeared to Shiraishi's left, in the passenger seat.

"I felt like someone was watching me just now..." Shiraishi said with some confusion.

"Could it be that James is using surveillance cameras?" Aya speculated.

James's situation is very special...

No matter how long the lineage of the Kurin school is, the ancestors of the Ayari family never saw an AI!

Ayari was also unfamiliar with this new type of "spirit".

However, considering the nature of "spirit," it seems plausible that it could trigger Shiraishi's instincts and make him feel spied on when using the surveillance device.

Therefore, Bai Shi stopped worrying about it...

……

Meanwhile, Gin and Vodka appeared downstairs at the research institute.

“That guy is really sharp…” Vodka said bitterly—he was almost discovered by Shiraishi.

"Once you find him, be sure not to observe him intentionally!" Gin warned.

"Yes, brother," Vodka replied obediently.

Gin then took vodka and entered the research institute.

At the gate, Gin spoke into the video intercom: "Ms. Changjiang, I think you've encountered some trouble. The transfer of James can be carried out ahead of schedule."

click-

The door then opened.

……

October 8th, Thursday.

After arriving at the police station, Shiraishi immediately summoned Munakata and gave him guidance on the direction of the investigation, focusing more on the work related to the deceased...

It's not easy to do this—after all, the deceased worked for the Ministry of Justice and was a section chief!
However, once the investigation began, the Mikasa Police Department was quite efficient in obtaining leads.

In the afternoon, Shiraishi learned that "Chief Fujii" was actually on the verge of resigning...

At first, the head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Hiroichi Sakamoto, was not honest. Not only were it difficult for the detectives to see him, but even when they did, they were subjected to a barrage of lies!

It wasn't until Yuan's "grassroots approach" took effect that he learned an important point from other ordinary employees.

Just last week, Chief Fujii had an argument with Director Sakamoto in front of many people!

Although no one knew why, Fujii said things like, "I will not resign voluntarily. If you fire me, none of us will have a good time."

After receiving this testimony, Chief Sakamoto no longer dared to pretend to be ignorant...

Even if the Metropolitan Police Department's Second Investigation Division came, as the director of the Ministry of Justice, he wouldn't be intimidated by them—although the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division's Second Investigation Division often cooperates with the District Public Prosecutors Office to conduct investigations into government departments for duty-related crimes, and even a director-level official would usually tremble with fear, this is, after all, the "Ministry of Justice"!
We can even say without any shame that the right to interpret the laws of the Eastern Island Nation lies here!

However... if it were a detective from the Beika Police Station, especially one involved in such a serious criminal case, Sakamoto would have to be a little hesitant—otherwise, he might not have time to "explain" before being arrested for murder.

……

"Embezzlement?" Shiraishi looked at Zongfang without much surprise.

“That’s right. It was discovered before the deceased died that he had solicited kickbacks from his partners. Director Sakamoto advised him to resign a week ago,” Munakata reported.

"Just resigning? Looks like there's a lot going on at the Ministry of Justice." Shiraishi scoffed upon hearing this.

Zongfang chuckled upon hearing this, but didn't respond—the fact that he was only asked to resign after being caught taking bribes was all too clear…

It's obvious that there are more than just one or two people in the Ministry of Justice who are "generating revenue," and there are probably quite a few just in cases that Fujii can implicate. Therefore, Sakamoto also has to consider Fujii's "face."

Unfortunately, what Fujii wanted was not dignity, but Sakamoto to protect him, even threatening to "reveal everything."

As for the specifics of Fujii's job-related crimes, and what he wanted to reveal... these are things that the Beika Police Department has no authority to investigate and cannot interfere with at all.

“However, while this gives us a new approach to the investigation, it also provides a motive for ‘suicide’,” Munakata said at this point.

That's right. Generally speaking, you can search for "jobs" at this point.

After all, the deceased faced such a "threat" before his death, but such appalling working conditions certainly gave him reason to commit suicide, even...

The method of suicide, which involves wrapping poison in glutinous rice paper and offers no benefit whatsoever to others, now has a reason: it's simply to cause trouble for others!

even……

Although it cannot be said aloud, this way, committing suicide at the Suzuki Hotel can be said to have a reason—this is the jurisdiction of the Beika Police Department, and perhaps it was to get the Beika Police Department involved and guide them to investigate the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Just then, the phone on Shiraishi's desk rang.

Upon seeing this, Shiraishi frowned, as if he already had a premonition.

"Hello, this is Shiraishi..." Shiraishi said.

"Inspector Shiraishi, the First Investigation Division is ready to close the case involving the Ministry of Justice. The Beika Police Station no longer needs to investigate," Odagiri's voice rang out.

"Closed? Minister, it can't be a suicide case, can it?" Shiraishi frowned.

"First of all, we have no superior-subordinate relationship, please address me by my rank!"

"Yes, Manager Odagiri."

"Secondly, trace amounts of cyanide were detected on the deceased's suit, consistent with the characteristics of being wrapped in rice paper," Odagiri explained.

Shiraishi:……

"Minister Odagiri, the so-called trace amount of cyanide on the suit... shouldn't we be considering it as a leak from the rice paper, but rather as coffee spilled on it?" Shiraishi was speechless at this point.

Odagiri did not answer Shiraishi, but instead emphasized directly: "The deceased's family has accepted this, and the Ministry of Justice has also issued an obituary."

It's no wonder the family wouldn't accept it...

The two parties were already at odds, and now it's clear that the Ministry of Justice wants to close the case quickly. Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Justice will definitely swallow its pride and admit that "the pressure is too great" and "it's a pity that such a good person died." This will actually protect the deceased's reputation, and the family can receive more compensation than the insurance company could!
As for any previous job-related crimes, they certainly won't be investigated anymore.

That's why we have the term "obituary"...

The Ministry of Justice and the deceased's family now hope for a swift resolution to the case, and the AI ​​Research Institute's conclusion undoubtedly provides them with the best possible reason.

At the same time, the Metropolitan Police Department was inevitably influenced by the Ministry of Justice...

“Minister Odagiri, I’m not interested in the dirty dealings within the Ministry of Justice, but Fujii may not have committed suicide,” Shiraishi said earnestly.

Shiraishi understood that the Ministry of Justice had intervened because the Beika Police Station had already investigated the Criminal Investigation Bureau and found that Fujii was suspected of committing a crime related to his official duties...

In this situation, whether Fujii committed suicide or was murdered is completely unimportant, and catching the murderer is even less important. The only important thing is to resolve the case as soon as possible!

Shiraishi also wanted to convey that he didn't intend to expose the Ministry of Justice's "black box," but...

"Heh, why don't you go and talk to the Ministry of Justice yourself?" Odagiri said with a sneer.

Shiraishi:……

Well, I doubt the Ministry of Justice will believe that.

After all, just a year ago, Shiraishi had dethroned the previous man who sat at the top of the Ministry of Justice.

Shiraishi estimates that the Ministry of Justice's swift response this time is partly due to this reason—it's likely not just the head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau exerting influence; it's very likely that Minister Takamori personally intervened.

Otherwise, Takamori was afraid that Shiraishi might use this case to infiltrate the Ministry of Justice again!

"The case report has already been issued, so you can disband the investigation headquarters yourself!" Odagiri clearly had no intention of negotiating.

Odagiri finally reminded Shiraishi, "This is completely different from before..." before hanging up the phone.

A year ago, although Shiraishi had a lower rank and was weaker, he still managed to capture the kingpin and strike at the heart of the matter, heading straight for the Minister of Justice.

Once successful, the opponent will have no chance to fight back, since it's like starting from the "hilltop" and clearing it out.

But this time...

Even if Shiraishi discovers something, it's just a "small hole." Minister Takamori certainly doesn't want his great cause to collapse because of a small hole, but he can't really be scared to death by a small hole. If he then launches a counterattack, even if Shiraishi comes... it won't be of any use!

After hanging up the phone, Shiraishi shrugged at Munakata and said, "This Minister Takamori is really decisive."

Indeed, it must be said that Gao Sen's reaction... could even be described as radical!
If that Inukai had been this decisive back then, Shiraishi wouldn't have been able to find any fault with him.

“That man has always been like this, and… he can be even more decisive in his actions… the kind of despicable decisiveness!” Zongfang revealed a little about it.

Judging from the slight twitching of his face due to his underlying anger, the two had quite a grudge.

Shiraishi disbanded the "Investigation Headquarters," which relieved many people. Even Chief Sakamoto called personally after receiving the news, wanting to invite Shiraishi to dinner that evening...

However, Shiraishi did not go.

Because Shiraishi really has something to do...

Although the Beika Police Station's investigation headquarters has been disbanded, ... even narcissism is on holiday today!

If he were to investigate something in secret, Shiraishi would be completely unaware...

Shiraishi took Odagiri's words to heart.

Without the opportunity to capture the kingpin and strike at the heart of the enemy, one should not act rashly.

Same reason...

If they can't hurt Shiraishi, probably no one would want to go to war with a police inspector, right?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Dongdong: Today is October 23rd. 157 years ago today, the island nation changed its era name to Meiji, becoming the first country in Asia to "turn around." Please vote for me! Please vote for me! Please vote for me!
(End of this chapter)