"No fingerprints were found on either gun." Inspector Otaki handed the report to Jiang Xia. "Also, just as you previously deduced—the Revolver Recardis used to kill the American reporter was the one found in the room at the lower right corner of the building."
So the question was: who had left the other, more advanced handgun at the scene, and why had they left it there?
Under Vodka's anxious gaze, the police conducted another round of searches.
Then, with mixed feelings, he discovered that because he was "Mr. Yamada, Jiang Xia's fan and temporary assistant," the police had not searched him too thoroughly and had treated him quite well.
Vodka was flattered at first, then immediately reminded himself to stay vigilant.
Although Calvados had become a prime suspect, his fake identity had fortunately been convincing enough. Though he had been caught up in the shooting scene last night, he had appeared there as "a victim who had nearly been shot."
—Besides, compared with the other celebrities in the banquet hall, whose relationships were tangled and riddled with grudges and conflicts, "Mr. Yamaguchi" had no real motive at all. Calvados promptly became an irrelevant bystander and left after registering his information.
Conan and Hattori Heiji gritted their teeth in frustration, but they did not dare forcibly detain him.
After all, according to Conan, Vodka was an extremely cautious and cunning man. If Inspector Otaki's attitude toward "Mr. Yamaguchi" changed dramatically, it would be hard not to arouse Vodka's suspicions. If a member of that evil Organization exposed himself at the banquet...
In the end, after paying the price of one handgun, the two Organization Cadres made a smooth exit.
Half an hour later.
Inside a temporary base in Osaka.
With a loud bang, Calvados slammed his fist onto the