Outlaws in the Conan World: Tokisaki Kurumi

Besides, Kurumi had disposed of the pen Manaka had discarded before his death, the note with Kubota's name written on it, and the armor Director Ochiai had worn during the murder. Now there was no evidence or clue left at all. No matter how hard Mouri Kogoro, whose true capabilities were impossible to gauge, and that supposedly brilliant Kudo Shinichi racked their brains, they probably would never find the real murderer.

Of course, this was also thanks to Director Ochiai's exceptionally deceptive appearance.

Damn it, is there really not even the slightest clue? Was the murderer's method really this simple, yet completely flawless? Conan's little face was practically twisted into a knot.

As someone who considered himself the greatest detective, he absolutely refused to believe that such a perfect cover-up could exist without a single flaw.

"Could the murderer really be Kubota?" Mouri Kogoro muttered as he stared hard at the corpse. "No way. That guy's way too timid." Recalling Kubota's embarrassing performance in the surveillance room, where he had looked ready to wet himself from fright, Mouri Kogoro began to wonder if he had overthought things.

"If he was simply terrified of having to pay an enormous compensation claim, then that would be enough motive for Kubota to rush into murder."

Based on his many years of experience, Mouri Kogoro knew that under extreme fear, people could indeed become enraged and do many things they would normally never dare to do.

But beside Mouri Kogoro, Conan did not agree with his guess.

Though Kubota is certainly suspicious because of this, Director Ochiai actually has a stronger motive for murder.

And...

Conan looked at the various paintings hanging on the surrounding walls, his brain racing.

If the goal was only to kill Manaka, then why are all the artworks still hanging on the walls, while the wall behind the corpse is completely bare? Looking at the marks on the wall, it was obvious that the painting originally hanging there had been removed before the murder.

Could it have been to protect the artwork? A flash of inspiration struck Conan, and he suddenly thought of that possibility.

That's right. Someone like Kubota, who secretly stole artworks to sell them, would never go out of his way to do something like this just to avoid damaging a piece of art! Conan increasingly felt that he might have found a clue.

If the nearby artwork was moved in order to protect it, then the murderer must be someone who deeply loved art. And he knows the museum's interior like the back of his hand... Director Ochiai...

With that line of reasoning, Conan became increasingly certain that Kubota was not the one who had killed Manaka.

Moreover, as Conan looked at Manaka's corpse, the sight of a sword piercing his throat was exactly like the painting they had seen earlier, the one called Divine Punishment.

A knight killed a demon.

If that's the case, then everything makes sense. Although Conan had identified the true culprit, he had no evidence to support his deduction yet.

Nearby, Kurumi noticed Conan's expression changing as if he had put on another face, especially the instant confidence and smile that had appeared on it. The gentle smile on her face immediately turned cold.

Her exposed crimson right eye watched the small figure icily.

Behind her, as if it had sensed its master's anger, King Crimson's muscular figure appeared beside Kurumi.

Interesting. Has Kudo Shinichi guessed that Director Ochiai is the culprit? In just an instant, the chill Kurumi radiated disappeared, and an even more mocking smile curled across her lips. As expected of a Great Detective. But even so, what evidence do you have to prove your deduction?

Kurumi knew perfectly well that relying solely on one person's analysis, especially that of a child—

No matter how reasonable his words sounded, without decisive evidence, he was merely telling a self-righteous story.

Besides... Conan figuring out the real culprit was exactly what she had wanted, wasn't it?

Big Sister Can Get Angry Too

Conan had managed to deduce so quickly, despite having no clues, that the one who killed Manaka was not Kubota but the elderly Director Ochiai. This made Kurumi feel that she had indeed underestimated this protagonist before.

However, even though Conan had guessed the true culprit, it was ultimately insignificant to Kurumi.

Because he had no evidence.

If the murderer is Director Ochiai, then the reason he imitated the method of the knight killing the demon in Divine Punishment is because Manaka wanted to turn the museum into a restaurant, making Director Ochiai see him as a demon stealing away the treasure he loved.

Otherwise, if the culprit were Kubota, there would be no need to kill Manaka using such a method. Wouldn't it have been much easier to just stab him to death?

As he drew closer and closer to the truth, Conan gradually worked out Director Ochiai's motive for murder.

Wait! Conan suddenly remembered that when Uncle Mouri had been asking the museum staff about their alibis, Director Ochiai had said that he had been in his office discussing that painting with Kurumi at the time.

Could there be something wrong with Director Ochiai's alibi? Conan recalled the time of Manaka's death. At around four, Ran, Uncle Mouri, and I saw the "No Entry" sign in the corridor. By around five, it had already disappeared.

The murder occurred between four and five, yet Director Ochiai said that he was meeting with Kurumi at that time. Conan was puzzled. Inspector Megure had already confirmed Director Ochiai's alibi with Kurumi. If neither of them had lied and they had truly been in the office during that period, then the director must have left sometime within that hour in order to commit the murder.

In other words, if Director Ochiai wanted to kill him during that time, he would have needed to leave for at least fifteen to twenty minutes and complete the crime within that window. Judging from the bloodstains on the victim and the floor, if Director Ochiai was the murderer, then blood splattered from Manaka would inevitably have gotten on him when he killed him.

Thinking of that, Conan remembered another crucial detail.

Director Ochiai's clothes were exactly the same as when they had first met him during the day.

If he had truly changed out of bloodstained clothes during that period, why had the police not found any bloodstained clothing while searching the museum and every room and office in it?

Or perhaps... had he covered himself while committing the murder?

Wait! Conan looked at the sword in the victim's throat and suddenly thought of a possibility.

The knight killed the demon with his own sword. If Director Ochiai was wearing some kind of outfit... then he really could have avoided leaving fingerprints on the hilt. Conan recalled the helmet of a suit of Western armor they had seen when they first arrived.

Yes, if that's the case, then it explains why the victim didn't flee or resist after suffering the first attack. After racking his brains, Conan finally reached a conclusion.

If that's the case, then everything makes sense. A confident smile appeared on Conan's face once more.

The evidence I need now is Kurumi's answer and that bloodstained suit of armor.

Just as Conan confirmed the murderer's method, Mouri Kogoro, who had become so irritated and frustrated that he had messed up his hair, voiced his own conclusion.

"The murderer is definitely Kubota!"

He had a motive, no alibi, and he was an employee of this museum.

Those three points ultimately convinced Mouri Kogoro that Kubota was the murderer.

No! That's not right! That's not it! Hearing Mouri Kogoro's unreliable conclusion, Conan hurriedly wanted to tell him his analysis and let him know that while Kubota had a motive, he was not the killer.

"Uncle, wait! The murderer isn't Kubota, it's Director Ochiai!"

Mouri Kogoro had just turned around to return to the surveillance room and identify the culprit when Conan's words made him stop mid-step.

Turning around, he looked down at the mischievous brat before him and scolded him irritably. "Kid, Director Ochiai is an old man. How could he possibly have the strength to lift a fat guy weighing over two hundred pounds with one hand?"

"And what evidence do you have?" Just thinking about how the officer at the entrance had complained that the brat from his household had slipped inside while he was not looking and could not be caught made Mouri Kogoro's head ache.

This guy was far too good at causing trouble.

And he looked exactly like that brat from the Kudo family when he was little.

Thinking of that guy who had stolen his livelihood and his relationship with his daughter, flames of anger rose in Mouri Kogoro's heart.

Unaware of the anger radiating from Mouri Kogoro, Conan hurriedly said, "It's true! And Director Ochiai definitely left for a while while he was meeting with Miss Tokisaki. Uncle, you just need to ask Miss Tokisaki!"

As Conan's words fell, Mouri Kogoro, who had just been about to teach the brat a lesson with his fist, heard Kurumi's voice from behind him.

As for how Mouri Kogoro recognized it?

That charming, pleasant voice had nearly made his bones melt the first time he heard it.

And she was so beautiful, too.

It was just a shame that Kurumi was probably about the same age as his daughter...

Mouri Kogoro, an old lecher, had plenty of experience in such matters.

"Little Conan, even if you're a child, you can't casually suspect such a kind old man! Big sister can get angry too!" Kurumi, who had been watching the show from the side, walked over and said.

At that moment, Kurumi looked at Conan with an angry expression, as though his words had truly upset her.

"What!" Kurumi's words shocked Conan.

"See? I told you, you brat are always talking nonsense." After verbally scolding the stunned Conan, Mouri Kogoro turned to Kurumi apologetically. "Sorry, Miss Tokisaki. This brat..."

Mouri Kogoro had just been about to apologize when Conan suddenly asked in disbelief, "Big Sister Tokisaki, are you saying Director Ochiai really never left the office... Ow!"

Before Conan could finish speaking, Mouri Kogoro's furious fist had already landed on his head.

"That's enough!"

With a pained expression, Conan clutched the top of his head and squatted on the ground.

Wait, I Know You

Conan felt incredibly wronged after getting hit on the head.

Mouri Kogoro's fist was hard and vicious. Tears welled in Conan's eyes from the pain as he rubbed the swelling bump on his head, feeling utterly aggrieved.

But compared to the pain in his head, Kurumi's words concerned Conan even more.

"Big Sister Tokisaki, are you saying Director Ochiai never left at all?"

"Hey, you brat!" Seeing Conan refuse to give up, Mouri Kogoro raised his fist again, ready to hit him once more.

Conan closed his eyes when he saw that he was about to get hit again.

"Wait, Uncle Mouri."

Kurumi's "Uncle Mouri" nearly made Mouri Kogoro's legs go weak, and he withdrew his fist.

"H-Heh, don't be angry, Miss Tokisaki. This kid just needs a good lesson." Mouri Kogoro's expression instantly shifted from fury to fawning, and he looked a little embarrassed.

"It's fine. It's normal for children to be a little mischievous." From Kurumi's words, Conan knew he had finally avoided another beating.

But what she said next made his heart tighten.

"However, children must have manners!" Kurumi walked in front of Conan and looked down at him. "Grandpa Director is an elder. Conan, you must respect your elders, understand?"

Kurumi's imposing manner immediately made Conan shrink back.

"I understand, Big Sister Tokisaki."

Conan felt terribly awkward saying those words!

Director Ochiai was an elder, but he was Kudo Shinichi.

And yet this girl standing in front of him was obviously about the same age as him, while this Great Detective now had to call her big sister.

And he could not refuse!

Forget it. A true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. I'll endure it! Conan gritted his teeth and indicated that he knew he was wrong.

Kurumi was very satisfied with Conan's attitude after he admitted his mistake. "Very good. Children should act like children. This is the right way!"

Kurumi rubbed Conan's little head and smiled.

"Alright, Conan, we need to go back to Inspector Megure now." Seeing that it was getting late, Mouri Kogoro, eager to close the case and go home, urged him on.

"But..."

Conan still wanted to argue, but when he saw Mouri Kogoro raise his fist again, he obediently shut his mouth and looked eagerly at Kurumi beside him.

Now that no one believed the words of a child, Conan hoped that Kurumi would help him.

So, on the way back—

Walking beside Kurumi on his short little legs, Conan quietly asked, "Big Sister Tokisaki, did Grandpa Director really stay in the office the whole time without leaving?"

Hearing Conan's question, Kurumi thought for a moment before saying, "Grandpa Director seemed to leave for a little while at around four thirty."

"Oh?" Kurumi's answer immediately delighted Conan. He hurriedly asked, "Then how long was Grandpa Director gone?"

To Conan, Kurumi's words indirectly confirmed that Ochiai had left his office during the time of the murder.

However, Kurumi's next words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over Conan's head, extinguishing his burning enthusiasm for solving the case.

"About two or three minutes, I think. Grandpa Director said he went to the restroom," Kurumi answered.

"Two or three minutes? Really?"

Conan's repeated questions clearly made Kurumi somewhat unhappy. Looking straight ahead, she casually said, "Yes. I was drinking tea at the time, how could I not know? Besides..." At that point, Kurumi stopped walking and looked at Conan beside her.

Gazing into Conan's watery eyes, Kurumi earnestly said, "I don't know why, but I always feel like you don't really seem like a child, Conan."

*!*

Kurumi's seemingly casual remark made Conan freeze.

"Why would a child like you not be afraid of a corpse, but instead keep finding ways to get closer to it? You know, I already wanted to go home."

Under Kurumi's wine-red right eye, Conan's expression stiffened.

"And besides, you're clearly a child, yet you don't respect your elders at all. That's very bad!" Kurumi said as she lightly tapped Conan's forehead with a finger. "Although your parents are no longer around, since you're staying with the Mouri family, you absolutely must not cause them trouble, understand, Conan?"

If someone who did not know the truth heard those words, they would probably assume that Conan lived with Mouri Kogoro because his parents were already dead.

That was the art of language!

"Uh... ah!" Conan stared back at Kurumi as she watched him.

However, Conan now felt as though those beautiful wine-red eyes before him had seen through everything about him. Beneath Conan's appearance, his true nature as the high school student Kudo Shinichi seemed to have been laid completely bare before her.