Chapter 38: The Killer Reveals Himself

By the time Kiyonaga Matsumoto arrived at the scene, he found only Toshihiko kneeling beside the bride in a state of bewilderment, while Masakazu stood nearby, watching with an expression devoid of either sorrow or joy.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Matsumoto shoved Toshihiko aside to check on his daughter.

Nagamune, the chief medical examiner, immediately pushed Matsumoto back. "Step aside. This is my professional domain; do not interfere with my work."

"Get out of my way! My daughter is not dead, she doesn't need a coroner!" Matsumoto roared, shoving Nagamune away like a lion ready to devour its prey.

Nagamune remained unperturbed, calmly retorting, "A medical examiner does more than just examine corpses. I am trying to save your daughter!"

"I don't need you for that!" Matsumoto shouted. He had no trust in this unscrupulous coroner.

Nagamune ignored him. Matsumoto was no longer the Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Department; he was simply a victim's relative, and it was common for emotional family members to obstruct police work. Nagamune saw no reason to argue; he turned his attention back to the bride.

He pried open her mouth, his eyes narrowing. "Based on the odor, it’s likely sodium hydroxide. The interior of her mouth is severely burned. However, she is still breathing. If treated immediately, she might survive."

Nagamune touched the lemon tea can; even now, it remained scalding hot.

After the ambulance arrived to take Sayuri away, Matsumoto could no longer contain his fury. He rushed over to Masakazu, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up. "You did this, didn't you?"

Masakazu gently pushed Matsumoto’s hands away, frowning. "Don't go framing innocent people. I know you've misunderstood me—otherwise, you wouldn't have been investigating me—but please, stop dumping all your grievances on my head."

He maintained his stance: he was pure as driven snow, someone who had never even killed a chicken in his life.

"You just threatened me, and now my daughter is in this state. Do you really think I’m stupid enough to believe this has nothing to do with you?" Matsumoto demanded.

"Why wouldn't it?" Masakazu replied calmly.

His arrogant demeanor only fueled Matsumoto’s rage. "I am not one of those people you’ve persecuted in the past who will just swallow their pride and suffer in silence."

Masakazu shrugged dismissively. "Whether you suffer in silence or not is none of my concern. All I know is that the Metropolitan Police Department is supposed to rely on evidence. Without proof, this is nothing but a smear campaign against me, and I will hold you legally accountable."

"Hmph!"

Matsumoto let out a cold snort. The groom, Kogoro Mouri, was not invited to this wedding. Without that lackey to run interference, he would see how Masakazu escaped justice this time. Even the Emperor had to abide by the law in public.

"I found a capsule in the lemon tea," the medical examiner, Nagamune, said, lifting a fragment with his tweezers.

Inspector Megure stepped forward and speculated, "The killer must have dropped the capsule into the tea. That way, by the time the poison dissolved, some time had passed, making it impossible to establish the exact time of the crime."

"So, the killer must be one of the people who had access to the tea."

Toshihiko frowned. "Does that make me a suspect as well?"

"That’s right," Megure confirmed.

Currently, there were four suspects. The best friend who bought the tea had a motive, as Sayuri’s fiancé was her first love. The male classmate who came to visit had no motive. Toshihiko had no motive. Superintendent Matsumoto also had no motive.

Masakazu was not among the four suspects. He sat leisurely, sipping his own lemon tea, seemingly indifferent to the case, though Matsumoto’s gaze lingered on him with intense suspicion.

Masakazu ignored the hostile stares. A clear conscience needs no defense; what was there to worry about? Seeing that Ai had been here for a while without drinking anything, he offered her some of his lemon tea. Ai held the cup, feeling its warmth, but didn't dare to drink it.

Noticing Matsumoto’s constant glare, Masakazu couldn't help but say, "Superintendent Matsumoto, Sayuri handled that bottle of tea herself. Perhaps she tried to commit suicide?"

"Hmph! Absolutely impossible!" Matsumoto glared at him viciously. *Every time it's 'suicide'—do they really take everyone for a fool?*

"Megure, seal off the scene. Everyone who was in the room is a suspect. Nobody leaves until we find the killer," the Superintendent ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Megure saluted, and the officers, who were dressed in formal wear, quickly changed into their investigative gear.

Masakazu sat in a chair, uninterested in talking to anyone. He smiled at Inspector Megure and said, "Shouldn't you call Kogoro Mouri? If it’s just you police, I’m afraid you won't solve the case by nightfall."

Hearing Mouri’s name made Megure tense. "Rest assured, even without a detective, we can find the killer ourselves," he declared. *You just want him here so you can be exonerated faster, don't you?* Everyone knew Mouri was his personal detective; with him around, Masakazu would surely remain 'innocent.'

"Inspector Megure, Sayuri attempted suicide," Nagamune interjected.

Megure frowned and looked at the coroner. *How can I get this guy transferred? Your boss's boss is standing right here, and the victim is his daughter! Can you at least pretend to hide your ambition for a moment?*

Masakazu clapped his hands, watching the drama with a smile.

Nagamune held up the capsule in a sealed bag. "I detected sodium hydroxide in the tea, meaning the capsule ruptured before Sayuri swallowed it. Sodium hydroxide releases intense heat when dissolved in water. When I pried her mouth open, I saw her throat was burned. If it weren't a suicide, only a fool would drink a liquid that hot. Therefore, it must be suicide."

"Clap, clap, clap."

Masakazu stood up and cheered for Nagamune. "As expected of the lead forensic examiner of the Metropolitan Police—your professional standards are rock solid. You reached the conclusion that it was suicide so quickly. Since it’s a suicide, can we go now? I’d like to go to the hospital with Toshihiko to see how the bride is doing."

"No! You cannot leave," Megure shouted.

*The killer has practically outed himself!* If this weren't directly related to Masakazu, why would Nagamune be so eager to claim it was suicide?

Masakazu glanced at Megure and gave him a light nudge.

Conan, who had been hiding behind the sofa, had aimed his tranquilizer watch at Sonoko, but due to Megure’s sudden movement, the needle flew straight and struck the Inspector instead.