Chapter 161: "False Accusation"

Motoki Mayumi and Matsutani Shoichi looked utterly bewildered as they listened to Akikawa Kyousuke's statement.

They had never discussed anything like that!

What on earth was this guy talking about?!

While the two suspects were still confused, the police officers and the Detective Boys present began to eye them with suspicion after hearing Akikawa Kyousuke's words.

It was common for suspects to incriminate and distrust one another in attempts to prove their innocence.

The police weren't inclined to believe them so easily.

However, if Akikawa Kyousuke had made a direct statement as if identifying the killer, it was unlikely to be a lie.

After all, if Akikawa Kyousuke lied, it could be easily exposed.

Once exposed, Akikawa Kyousuke would face charges of filing a false report.

Thus, under normal logic, Akikawa Kyousuke had no motive to provide false information about a crime at this moment.

As a result, everyone present became suspicious of Mayumi Motoki and Shoichi Matsutani.

After all, according to "Dr. Agasa's" assessment, Takeshi Furusawa had died due to hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

Shoichi Matsutani glanced at the police officers, who were now looking at him with suspicious expressions.

Then he turned to Akikawa Kyousuke, an actor he had only met three days ago.

Shoichi Matsutani observed the slightly innocent and bewildered expression on Akikawa Kyousuke's face, which also showed hints of confusion and doubt.

It dawned on him quickly:

Akikawa Kyousuke was "shifting suspicion" onto others to clear himself.

---

"No, officer! I hadn't even met Miss Motoki before today, let alone chatted with her!"

After Matsutani Shoichi finished speaking, he turned back to Akikawa Kyousuke.

"Akikawa Kyousuke, are you joking?!"

"You must be the murderer!"

"You were jealous that Mr. Furusawa got the role of Masked Superman, so you killed him, didn't you?"

"This lie of yours is way too sloppy. You're just arbitrarily incriminating others to clear your own name!"

---

Motoki Mayumi chimed in as well:

"That's right! Officer, this Akikawa is making a false accusation!"

"I didn't even know this gentleman before today!"

"Besides, I have no interest in your play at all. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have even known that the person who just died was an actor for Masked Superman!"

---

Her voice was louder than before, filled with agitation.

---

"What?!"

Akikawa Kyousuke seemed taken aback by such a fierce reaction from Mayumi Motoki and Shoichi Matsutani, and his expression suddenly appeared a bit overwhelmed.

"But I clearly saw the two of you chatting, and I also heard Mr. Matsutani mention taking advantage of Mr. Furusawa's nap!"

"It was yesterday afternoon, in the hallway on the second floor of the guest area."

---

Motoki Mayumi and Shoichi Matsutani: "????"

Upon hearing Akikawa Kyousuke's words, Mayumi Motoki and Shoichi Matsutani were utterly confused, as if a barrage of question marks appeared in their minds.

They had no idea what Akikawa Kyousuke was talking about.

Yet, from Akikawa Kyousuke's current expression, it seemed as though they truly had conspired together to murder Takeshi Furusawa.

---

"You're spouting nonsense!"

"That never happened!"

Motoki Mayumi and Shoichi Matsutani were so enraged that their cheeks turned red in an instant.

They both shouted at Akikawa Kyousuke almost in unison.

---

However—

To the police officers surrounding them, the scene seemed as if the two suspects were furious after being exposed as the killers.

---

"I'm not lying."

Akikawa Kyousuke appeared slightly angry as well, as though he was the one being falsely accused.

He turned to the police officer beside him and said:

"Officer, if you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance footage. You'll see that I'm telling the truth."

---

"Surveillance footage? In the hallway?"

Mayumi Motoki couldn't bear to hear more of Akikawa Kyousuke's words and shouted at him.

"Miss Motoki, have you specifically confirmed that there are no surveillance cameras in the hallway?"

At that moment, Dr. Agasa's voice rang out from the side.

---

Motoki Mayumi was startled upon hearing this. Realizing her mistake, she quickly responded:

"I only glanced briefly. What does that mean?"

"Compared to this, isn't it more important that this actor, Akikawa Kyousuke, falsely accused Mr. Matsutani and me without any evidence? How can you stay so indifferent?"

---

Conan didn't reply to Mayumi Motoki.

At that moment, he was pondering Akikawa Kyousuke's statement.

---

'There's no doubt that Takeshi Furusawa died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

The killers must have tried to use the hydrogen sulfide naturally present in the air near Hakone's hot springs to cover up their method of murder.

Based on the concentration of hydrogen sulfide at the scene, the crime wasn't committed in the hot spring area but rather inside a room.

And since there were no signs of struggle on Takeshi Furusawa's body, the killer likely attacked when he couldn't resist.

The location and timing of the murder are "specific details" that only the perpetrator and the police would know.

Since Akikawa Kyousuke, who wasn't involved in the on-site investigation, could state this precisely, he's either the perpetrator or telling the truth.

If so, then Motoki Mayumi and Shoichi Matsutani, who supposedly didn't know each other, conspired to kill Takeshi Furusawa.'

---

While Conan considered Akikawa Kyousuke's words, he found it somewhat unreasonable for Mayumi Motoki and Shoichi Matsutani to openly discuss how to murder Takeshi Furusawa in public.

But Akikawa Kyousuke's statement also convinced Conan that the killer had to be among these three individuals.

Thus, thoroughly investigating Akikawa Kyousuke, Motoki Mayumi, and Shoichi Matsutani would certainly reveal the truth.

---

'If Akikawa Kyousuke is the culprit, he has no reason to use real crime details to falsely accuse the other two suspects. That behavior would be incredibly foolish.

Moreover, the fact that Mayumi Motoki specifically confirmed there were no cameras in the hallway is suspicious as well.'

---

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Conan used his voice-changing bowtie and said:

"Officer, it's best to search all three suspects and inspect Mr. Furusawa's house right now."

"You should be able to find some clues in their rooms."

---

"Speaking of which, wouldn't it be sufficient to check the reception's surveillance footage for the suitcase the killer used to dump the body?"

A police officer chimed in.

After all, everyone had seen in the surveillance footage that the killer had been dragging a black suitcase while disposing of the body.

Thus, confirming which guest had checked in with a similar black suitcase would likely identify the killer.

---

"That's certainly one way to do it," Conan agreed.

"However, since the killer thought to conceal their identity while disposing of the body, I doubt they'd make the foolish mistake of exposing the suitcase to the camera.

Given that this was a premeditated murder, it's likely the killer completely hid the suitcase they used to transport the body from the start."

"Perhaps it's hidden inside a larger suitcase."

--

(End of Chapter)