I Happen to Know a Few Forensic Pathologists / The Institute for the Study of Unnatural Deaths

If Higashida had discovered the body last night and called the police immediately, they would likely have been able to determine the exact time of death from the condition of the body, thus eliminating Higashida as a suspect and directly focusing on Kitagawa.

Unfortunately, everything Higashida did was within Kitagawa's expectations, and everything happened as expected.

After a night, when Ms. Muranishi had been dead for 12 to 15 hours, the temperature of her body was almost the same as the room temperature, the lividity was spreading, and the rigor mortis was at its peak.

Furthermore, the fact that the body is submerged in water also makes the determination of the time of death less accurate. Under such circumstances, the police are no longer able to accurately determine the time of death based on the condition of the body. An error of one or two hours is quite normal. To make a more accurate determination, an autopsy is the only option.

However, it is clear that after the police arrived at the scene and learned about the situation at the crime scene from the landlord and Kitagawa, and then found evidence pointing to Higashida from various places, and Higashida himself could not explain this evidence, many procedures were naturally simplified, so much so that the police were preparing to formally arrest Higashida this evening.

If it weren't for the accident in the police car that Miike Sato were escorting, which allowed Higashida to escape, and then the Detective Boys and Miike Sato's "momentary soft-heartedness" that gave Higashida a second chance, then Higashida, who was locked up in the detention center, would probably only be able to wait for a lawyer like Ryūichi Naruhodō to come and plead his case in court.

However, Naruhodo won't need to make an appearance this time. After all, as long as none of this is a fabrication staged by Higashida, Kitagawa is already doomed.

Proving Kitagawa's crimes is actually not that complicated.

First, there's the gray bedding and curtains. If these were recently purchased by Kitagawa, then the channels through which he bought them must have left relevant information, perhaps even surveillance footage.

Then there's the wire with Higashida's fingerprints. If Kitagawa's house is missing this wire, or if he recently bought a new one, that would also be evidence.

Furthermore, the autopsy report on Ms. Muranishi, which gave her the specific time of death, also provided Higashida with an alibi.

Of course, in addition to the three points mentioned above, there is also the relationship between the two as a motive for the crime. As long as evidence or records can be found that Kitagawa Muranishi were lovers, all of this can be put to rest.

Chapter 417: Chapter 413: I happen to know a few forensic doctors

After searching the homes of the victim, Muranishi, and the suspect, Higashida, Jiang Hang Miike Sato found enough evidence to reopen the police investigation.

Criminal cases are very serious matters, especially given the current operating model of the Japan police and legal system. In order to ensure a conviction rate of over 99.9% in criminal cases, every criminal case must undergo multiple verifications before being transferred to the Public Prosecutors Office before the court hearing.

If the police fail to find any suspicious points, and end up being proven wrong by the prosecutor in court, both the police officer and the prosecutor in charge of the case will have to write a self-criticism and be disciplined.

In fact, after searching Higashida's house with Eagle Eye and finding no useful clues, Jiang Hang directly suggested to Miike Sato that they tell Inspector Megure their investigation results so that Inspector Megure could use the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's authority to investigate the surveillance footage of the nearby supermarket.

In addition to reviewing the surveillance footage, it would be best to conduct an autopsy on the deceased tonight to completely rule out the possibility that Higashida was the perpetrator.

After all, Jiang Hang was quite cautious about the case and the suspect, knowing that his reasoning ability was definitely not as good as that of the main characters like Conan and Heiji.

The reason he can currently outmaneuver them is only because of his special methods that allow him to skip the deduction process and go straight to the truth. However, if he were to encounter a top-tier master criminal who leaves clues at the crime scene that are exactly what the criminal wants others to see, Jiang Hang would be more likely to be led into a mental dead end than Conan and Heiji Hattori.

Of course, to avoid such a situation, Jiang Hang might resort to even more underhanded methods.

For example, if Miike Sato hadn't been there for this case, Jiang Hang would probably have already used his stealth skills to infiltrate the Kitagawa family home to conduct a crime scene investigation and conduct a live interview.

However, since Miike Sato is right beside him now, it would be better to resolve the issue in a more official way, even if it might not be as efficient.

But there are still more than ten hours until noon tomorrow. As long as the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department doesn't dawdle too much, there's still plenty of time to work overtime.

Hearing Jiang Hang's suggestion, Miike Sato was initially hesitant, but considering that their investigation had progressed to this point, if they wanted to continue the investigation without using too many resources, it seemed that the only option was to confront Kitagawa face to face. If they wanted to clear Higashida's name as quickly as possible, they would definitely need the support of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

If she were still locked in the men's restroom, she might feel embarrassed, worried about leaving a dark history for herself. But since Jiang Hang has already unlocked her handcuffs, as long as Takagi Wataru and Jiang Hang don't tell anyone about it, no one will know this secret.

Thinking of this, Miike Sato took out her phone, which had been switched off for a while, and called Inspector Megure to explain the current situation.

Upon receiving Miike Sato's call, Inspector Megure, who was still searching near the building, first breathed a sigh of relief. Then, after hearing the reason for Miike Sato Takagi Wataru's disappearance, he scratched his hat in a mixture of anger and helplessness.

What angered Inspector Megure was that Miike Sato and Takagi Wataru disappeared without a word, leaving half of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's officers busy for hours trying to find them. Inspector Megure couldn't help but worry about how his colleagues would react if he told them the truth now.

Unfortunately, while Miike Sato had good intentions—wanting to find clues in the case to help potentially innocent "suspects" —Inspector Megure was somewhat frustrated that they were actually thinking of secretly investigating behind his back. As Miike Sato Takagi Wataru's superior and mentors on their police careers, it was rather disheartening that they were doing this.

What frustrated him even more was Jiang Hang.

He was worried about his subordinates, which is why he swallowed his pride and asked Jiang Hang for help. Jiang Hang said he would investigate, but after discovering Miike Sato's whereabouts, he was "bought off" by her. Not only that, but in just over half an hour, Jiang Hang had already gone with Sato to the crime scene to search again, and actually found a lot of suspicious points in the case.

However, Inspector Megure knew the seriousness of the matter.

Hearing Miike Sato's seemingly logical and well-founded points about the case over the phone, he didn't say anything harsh. He simply emphasized to Miike Sato that no matter what, they should keep a close eye on Higashida, the current suspect, and wait for their people to arrive before discussing anything else.

"But where exactly is Wataru Takagi investigating right now? We've almost finished investigating the scene here, and they still haven't arrived. We can't get through to them on the phone either. He shouldn't be such an unreliable person, right?" While waiting anxiously for Inspector Megure to arrive, Miike Sato couldn't help but mutter this to herself about Takagi Wataru.

Jiang Hang knew, of course, that Takagi Wataru wouldn't mess things up under these circumstances, and besides, Conan was always with him. They were probably investigating somewhere else right now, and hadn't come here yet.

"Wataru Takagi is probably working hard elsewhere right now. Maybe when he comes over, he'll already have evidence of the criminal's crimes."

"If that's really the case, then we just need one decisive piece of evidence to prove Higashida's innocence," Miike Sato, glancing at the somewhat nervous Higashida beside her, while trying to calm him down with a gentler tone.

"Don't worry, we just searched the scene together. As long as the police confirm that what you said is true, there is a high chance that you are innocent. Even if I don't sleep all night, I will find a way to clear your name."

What Miike Sato is most worried about now is what irrational thing Higashida might do before Inspector Megure and the others arrive, otherwise all their efforts tonight will be wasted.

Jiang Hang and his group didn't have to wait long before Inspector Megure arrived at Higashida's house with several of his men.

"Are we really that untrustworthy? You should have told me about this from the beginning!" Upon arriving at the scene, Inspector Megure Miike Sato, and then made Miike Sato explain all the newly discovered clues in detail.

"Hmm... There are so many suspicious points that we didn't notice during the day..." Inspector Megure rubbed his head, looking a bit of a headache. "It's easy to go to the mall to investigate; we can go there now. But an autopsy might not be so easy."

Seeing the looks on Jiang Hang and Higashida's faces, Inspector Megure sighed, "Forensic pathologists are a scarce profession. Even in our Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, there are only a few forensic pathologists. And recently, as autumn gradually turns into winter, it is the season when fires are prone to occur. There have been several fire incidents in the past few days. The forensic pathologists are still busy examining those bodies and cannot spare any manpower to come here to help."

Not to mention the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, even in the whole of Japan, there are only about a hundred forensic doctors out of a population of over 100 million. Forensic doctors are in short supply everywhere.

Hearing Inspector Megure's words, Miike Sato glanced at Higashida, whose expression was starting to tense up, and quickly said to Inspector Megure, "Then let's investigate the surveillance footage of the surrounding shopping malls first. As long as we can find the record of Kitagawa buying the gray curtains and quilt, we can apply for a search of the Kitagawa family."

"If there's a problem with the relationship between Kitagawa and the victim, we're sure to find out a lot if we keep investigating!"

"Well, that's all we can do now," Inspector Megure said, not forgetting Higashida beside him. He said in a deep voice to the former "suspect", "Higashida, rest assured, our police will never wrongly accuse any innocent person. As long as you are innocent, we will do our best to clear your name."

Just then, Jiang Hang suddenly chimed in, "I happen to know a few forensic doctors. One of them has resigned, but his credentials are still valid. If they are available now, I should be able to get them to come and help."

Chapter 418: Chapter 414: Unnatural Death Investigation Laboratory

During his months as a detective, Jiang Hang did get to know quite a few forensic doctors.

To be precise, one is Asagi Mi, a graduate of the Department of Medicine at the University of Tokyo, who became a forensic Seiji Aso after her father was exonerated, believing that "forensic medicine is a job that exists for the future."

The other is Ikumi Soda, a former forensic pathologist who attended the banquet as a famous detective who received an invitation in the Twilight Mansion case.

Although Jiang Hang hadn't actively contacted them much after the Shadow Isle and Twilight Mansion cases, the friendship forged in those cases was far more solid than that of ordinary drinking buddies.

Even though Ikumi Soda had become a wealthy woman after resigning from her job as a forensic pathologist to become a detective, Jiang Hang felt that if he asked her for help, she would likely agree.

After all, as a currently popular detective, coupled with the identity and background he revealed at the Twilight Mansion, his favors are still quite valuable.

However, he first contacted Seiji Aso. He remembered that Ikumi Soda had mentioned to him that Seiji Aso had joined a research institute called UDI to work on forensic-related matters after the Moon Shadow Island incident.

After returning from the Twilight Mansion, Jiang Hang took some time to look up the UDI Research Institute. After learning that the institute's full name was "Unnatural Death Investigation Laboratory," he suddenly realized that this was the setting of the Japanese drama "Unnatural Death."

At the time, he was wondering if there was a female forensic doctor over there who looked exactly like Satomi Ishihara, and whether he should take some time to go and see her.

However, one thing after another happened to him, and he ended up putting the matter aside.

If it weren't for the sudden need for a forensic doctor to complete the autopsy and provide a more accurate autopsy report tonight, Jiang Hang would have almost completely forgotten about this matter.

Thinking this, Jiang Hang muttered to himself, with the talent of Seiji Aso Minoru, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, he should have become a capable forensic doctor by now after a few months.

If Seiji Aso is also unavailable, he will go find Ikumi Soda.

However, Seiji Aso clearly still remembered how Jiang Hang casually wiped out the drug trafficking gang that had killed his father on Moon Shadow Island.

It's fair to say that if Jiang Hang hadn't appeared, his life would probably have ended back then.

That's why, after hearing why Jiang Hang needed his help, Seiji Aso, who had just gotten home from work, nodded in agreement without hesitation and told him where he was working.

After Jiang Hang contacted Seiji Aso, Miike Sato, who was standing next to him, was still a little curious about the background of this UDI research institute. Inspector Megure, who was a police Inspector Megure, explained the background of UDI to her.

"I've heard of UDI. It's an official organization established in the last two years through cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Welfare and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. It's located in Jiang Hang. Its main business is to provide autopsy services to the public and investigate bodies with unusual causes of death. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's local branches occasionally commission that research institute. If your friend works there, then there shouldn't be any problem."

Although applying for an autopsy is not a simple matter that can be resolved in a few words, Inspector Megure was still able to demonstrate his decisiveness as a police inspector at this moment.

UDI is an official organization, and it's not against the rules to ask them for help when the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department can't spare any manpower. At most, they just need to submit a report later.

So at his command, Muranishi's body was quickly transported to the UDI Research Institute in Musashino.

Just as Jiang Hang and his group were preparing to head to UDI, Takagi Wataru and his group arrived, looking travel-worn.

To be more precise, a group of male police officers brought Takagi Wataru over like he was being escorted.

According to these police officers, they were on their way to check surveillance footage at a nearby shopping mall as instructed by Inspector Megure when they ran into Takagi Wataru and his group who were coming out of a nearby bar. They then brought Takagi Wataru over first.

Of course, Takagi Wataru was accompanied by the Detective Boys, a group of kids who loved to court death.

Conan's expression at this moment looked somewhat helpless.

They were rehearsing Teitan Elementary School's school festival program in that abandoned building this afternoon when a suspect suddenly broke in and kidnapped Ayumi.

The suspect continued to claim his innocence and gained the temporary trust of Ayumi and Officer Sato, so their rehearsal for today's program turned into assisting Takagi Wataru the case.

If it were just him and Takagi Wataru, it would be fine, but unfortunately they have a bunch of unruly kids around them who refuse to go home obediently.

Although Conan has gradually figured out how to deal with the kids in the Detective Boys, it is undeniable that he has spent a lot of time dealing with them.

Just solving the hunger problems of a few children caused Takagi Wataru to suffer a significant financial blow.

However, the subsequent investigation went relatively smoothly. In the bar that the suspect, Higashida, used to frequent, they found a lot of information about the deceased and the suspect.

After obtaining more detailed information than what they had gathered during the day, the group decided to go to the crime scene for further investigation.

They had barely stepped out of the tavern when they were spotted by several passing police officers.

Takagi Wataru immediately "controlled" by the police. He thought the matter was over, but in the blink of an eye, he learned from the police their original purpose and the shocking fact that Miike Sato had been discovered by the police.

At that time, Conan was wondering who had found Miike Sato. When he arrived at the crime scene and saw Jiang Hang and his group preparing to leave, Conan's doubts were completely resolved.

"I should have thought of that long ago. Inspector Megure is so worried about the safety of his subordinates, and Jiang Hang is an advisor to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. He's also very close to Inspector Megure. It's normal for Inspector Megure to ask him for help after this happened," Conan muttered to himself.

With Jiang Hang's abilities, finding out the whereabouts of Miike Sato wouldn't be difficult at all.

It's even possible that Jiang Hang has already uncovered the whole truth of the case during this period?

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to them, Conan secretly ran up to Jiang Hang and asked him about the current progress of the case.

Seeing Conan approach, Jiang Hang couldn't help but complain to Conan, "You can just wander around in an abandoned building and still run into a case. Plus that gun threat incident a few days ago, have your skills recovered recently?"

To be honest, most of the cases Jiang Hang has encountered recently have been passively delivered to him.

The cases in Kyoto and Osaka were brought to him by Heiji Hattori. After returning to Tokyo, two of the cases involved Conan, while only the Spider Mansion case was one where the client forced him to accept the job by sending him money.

.

Compared to that, it's like Conan's skills have returned to their peak.

Conan gave Jiang Hang a speechless look. "What can I do? We just stayed there rehearsing the show, and then the case just came knocking on our door. Anyway, let's not talk about this for now. You should tell me what happened at the crime scene as soon as possible."

After venting his frustrations, Jiang Hang briefly explained the current progress of the case.

Listening to the suspicious points left at the crime scene, Conan naturally immediately placed his suspicions on Kitagawa.

Just then, while they were questioning the tavern owner, Kitagawa sat there drinking alone.

Although when Takagi Wataru questioned him, he gave a perfunctory attitude, as if his superior and colleague had committed a heinous crime and been murdered, and he didn't want to say anything now.

But Conan had noticed the other person's expression at the time, and in short, he couldn't discern any complex emotions from his face.

At that time, Conan already had some suspicions about that man. He didn't expect that Jiang Hang's visit to the crime scene would greatly increase the suspicion surrounding Kitagawa.

"The mall's surveillance footage and the autopsy report—once we have these two pieces of evidence, Higashida's innocence will naturally be proven." Conan made this judgment after hearing Jiang Hang's findings.

Of course, going directly to Kitagawa now and using these clues pointing to him to make him waver, and then using some rhetoric to lure him into a trap, is also an option. However, this approach seems too aggressive. Although it may be effective, if Kitagawa doesn't take the bait, all the previous efforts will be wasted.

In comparison, Jiang Hang's method is easier to implement.

Conan then looked at Jiang Hang and asked, "Are you going to wait for the autopsy results?"

Jiang Hang nodded. "It's a good opportunity to meet up with that friend I haven't contacted in a while and see how he's been doing. What about you?"

"If you go over there, then I'll stay and go to the mall. That way, we can communicate with each other promptly if we discover any new information."

Although Jiang Hang does give Conan a sense of security when he's a teammate, Conan also has the pride of a famous detective. If he always has to rely on Jiang Hang to solve cases, he would feel ashamed.

It's rare that this case has two breakthrough directions. Now that Jiang Hang has chosen one, perhaps if he chooses the other direction to investigate further, he can solve the case more quickly and thoroughly than Jiang Hang.

Chapter 419: Chapter 415: Seiji Aso into the Brotherhood?

Although Musashino is not one of the 23 core wards of Tokyo, it is located in the center of the Tokyo metropolitan area if viewed on a map.

Of course, for most Japan, when they talk about Tokyo, they are actually referring to the area included in the 23 wards. Although the areas outside are nominally under the jurisdiction of Tokyo, not many people would specifically add the prefix "Tokyo" when mentioning Musashino.

Jiang Hang was already very familiar with Musashino before he traveled through time.

After all, there was Musashino Milk, which appeared in A Certain Scientific Railgun, and Musashino Animation, which directly used Musashino as the animation company name in Shirobako. After getting to know Shizuka Sakaki, he also visited Musashino Animation once and even reached some cooperation with Musashino, asking them to help complete some chibi Ultraman promotional PVs.

Jiang Hang recalled that Musashino Animation had only recently announced its new project, and in the anime timeline, it was still at least half a year before the beginning of the first episode.

Given the treatment in the Japan animation industry, Miyamori Aoi and the others are probably still working overtime there.