Chapter 262: Reversal

Mermaid Waterfall.

As the ceremony for bestowing the "Dugong Arrow" was about to begin, Senichi found everyone and successfully gathered together.

"Is everything done?" With an incredibly natural motion, Ayako looped her arm around Senichi's, casually asking.

"Well, you could say we've half finished it." Senichi replied casually with a smile.

"Half?"

"Yeah, we'll take care of the other half after the ceremony." Senichi smiled and continued, "Let's focus on this ceremony for now, and we'll go together afterward."

"Okay." Ayako smiled slightly at his words and nodded.

Meanwhile, at the Mermaid Waterfall, accompanied by the figure of a shrine maiden, Kimie Shimabukuro, the ceremony for bestowing the "Dugong Arrow" began.

"Hey, Senichi-san, where did you go?"

Hattori Heiji and Conan, seeing Senichi's return, also curiously approached, wanting to gather some information.

To this, Senichi cast a slightly sympathetic glance at the two who were destined to be defeated by him later, then pointed at the ceremony, implying something, "Watch this ceremony carefully, you might not get to see it again."

"Not see it again?"

"What do you mean?"

Conan and Hattori Heiji's gazes sharpened, then they exchanged a glance, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

"It's exactly what it sounds like. You'll find out after the ceremony ends." Senichi smiled and said.

"Could it be... Officer Senichi, did you..." Hattori Heiji's voice was somewhat dry, "discover something?"

"Is it about Miss Saori Kadowaki's whereabouts?" Conan couldn't sit still after hearing that.

"I've discovered even more." Senichi didn't deny it, he smiled, then looked at Conan and Hattori Heiji, hitting a sore spot, "You'll find out after the ceremony ends."

"!!!"

Upon hearing this statement, Conan and Hattori Heiji felt like their hearts were stabbed with knives, a piercing feeling of discomfort.

So, in the following period of time, the two of them racked their brains trying to find even the slightest clues. However, despite scratching their heads, they couldn't find any leads. They could only watch as the ceremony gradually came to an end.

Afterwards, their group followed Senichi to the shrine.

But when they arrived, they discovered that the residents of the island were continuously streaming into the shrine's main hall.

It was Kimie Shimabukuro, disguised as Elder Mikoto, who had gathered all the island's residents.

"Senichi, what on earth is going on?" Kogoro Mouri looked at the increasing crowd and couldn't help but wonder, "All the island's residents are here, is this for a meeting?"

"Yes, exactly." Senichi nodded.

"But why? Could it be that something happened to Miss Saori Kadowaki?" Conan, as "Grim Reaper," immediately jumped to a negative conclusion.

"No, take a look at the woman sitting together with Toshimi Ebihara and Naoko Kuroe over there. She's Miss Saori Kadowaki." Senichi pointed to the woman sitting in the first row against the right wall and explained with a smile.

"What!!? Miss Saori Kadowaki has been found!"

Upon hearing Senichi's words, everyone was shocked. However, just as Kogoro Mouri and the others were about to ask for the details, Elder Mikoto, who was standing nearby, slowly walked forward.

"Gathering everyone here today is not for any other reason." Elder Mikoto's aged voice slowly resonated, "It's simply to reveal the truth about everything, to present it before all of you as the witness!"

"Witness?"

"What is it?"

Upon hearing Elder Mikoto's words, the people present started discussing, their faces showing expressions of doubt.

"I know you're all very curious. So, what I'm about to say next is about what happened three years ago—how Saori Kadowaki, Toshimi Ebihara, and Naoko Kuroe trapped me in the warehouse and set it on fire, intending to burn me alive!"

Amidst the uproar of the crowd, the elderly voice slowly recounted the crimes committed by the trio of Saori Kadowaki three years ago, in the midst of that massive fire.

As expected, upon hearing Elder Mikoto's words, the three individuals' expressions changed, and they realized that something was amiss.

Although they blindly believed in Elder Mikoto's divine power,

In this situation, whether it was because of the fear of island residents' disdain or not wanting to be arrested by the police for charges of arson and attempted murder, the three of them started to deny the accusations one after another.

"Aren't you afraid of incurring Elder Mikoto's curse?" At that moment, Senichi slowly stood up and spoke, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Who are you? Outsiders, leave!" Toshimi Ebihara impatiently said as she looked at Senichi.

"Officer Senichi is my honored guest. If you're willing to confess your crimes to Officer Senichi, I won't hold it against you." Elder Mikoto's aged voice resounded once again, causing the three individuals' faces to change once more.

At this point, the three individuals realized that the situation was not going in their favor. Faced with Elder Mikoto's accusations, they started to counterattack.

"Elder Mikoto! You're afraid that we are greedy for your power of immortality, but you can't just spout nonsense like this!"

"Exactly! Elder Mikoto, aren't you just fine standing here?"

"Elder Mikoto, if you wanted to punish me for losing the "Dugong Arrow", there was no need to say such things!!"

With their synchronized responses, the trio aimed to create an impression among the onlookers that Elder Mikoto was retaliating against them for some other reason, while also attempting to shift the narrative in their favor.

"If that's how it is, then there's nothing more to say..."

Elder Mikoto's diminutive figure turned slowly with the support of a cane, and the aged voice took on an eerie tone, "Then... await the curse of the mermaids..."

Saying so, Elder Mikoto ignored the three individuals whose expressions were changing rapidly beside her and started walking towards the house.

"Is this really okay? Didn't you all commit crimes after all?"

Senichi stepped forward slowly and spoke, "Since you've all witnessed Elder Mikoto's power firsthand, aren't you afraid of retaliation?"

"Hmph!! It's you who's up to mischief, isn't it?"

Naoko Kuroe looked at Senichi with an unfriendly tone, "You want to investigate the arson case from three years ago, and Elder Mikoto is cooperating with you to scare us. However, unfortunately, if we didn't do it, then we didn't do it. I absolutely won't admit to it!!"

"That's right!" Toshimi Ebihara also looked at Senichi with an unfriendly tone and sneered, "Such tactics are too clumsy!"

When they heard Elder Mikoto introduce Senichi's identity, they realized that something was amiss. Their human nature of seeking benefits and avoiding harm allowed reason to outweigh blind superstition, making them wake up and staunchly deny their involvement.

However, this was already within Senichi's expectations.

If Elder Mikoto's threat was truly effective, it would naturally save himself the trouble and spare the need for props.

But that was, after all, a low-probability scenario. Most likely, they would continue to stubbornly deny, as they are doing now.

Therefore, Senichi, who was well-prepared, had the " Lie-Detecting Needle " in his right hand. He walked meaningfully toward Saori , and slowly squatted down in front of her.

As if exerting pressure, Senichi placed his right hand on her left shoulder, leaned forward, and whispered something into her left ear.

Following this, under the angry and surprised gazes of the other two, Saori reversed her stance!!

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