After a pause, Jiang Xia continued, "However, according to statistics, people with that kind of strength rarely use strangulation as a method of murder—though both involve strangling, there are significant differences in the details. We should examine the body first, determine exactly how President Shiraki died, and then use that to narrow down the culprit."
Inspector Megure nodded, understanding: the physical evidence the police had found was still insufficient, and they needed to uncover more clues.
He sighed and could only wait for his subordinates to speed up the forensic examination.
Testing for traces of specific drugs would take time.
And as busy Tokyo police officers, they naturally could not sit idle while waiting for the results.
Inspector Megure had heard about the "threatening letter" from Jiang Xia.
—Now that someone as significant as "Shiraki Daisuke" had died, that letter could no longer be treated as an ordinary letter. The threatener had emphasized its bizarre artistic flair and had not mentioned how many people he intended to kill tonight. Perhaps the matter was not over yet.
To be safe, Inspector Megure found Okano Rika and made a request:
"Please end tonight's Evening Banquet as soon as possible—the culprit has most likely already infiltrated the venue, and we still cannot determine whether he will make another move."
"End the Evening Banquet? On what grounds?" Okano Rika frowned angrily. "So many distinguished guests came tonight. If the banquet is suddenly canceled, do you know how much damage that would do to my reputation?!"
Even the police could not forcibly halt the banquet if the person concerned was unwilling.
Sato Miwako tried to persuade her. "Now is not the time to worry about that. You have encountered a premeditated Murder Case. Even if the banquet is canceled, the guests will understand."
"You