Just as Senichi's team was aggressively searching upstairs for the culprit in the company.
Sonoko and Jodie were also discussing and preparing to go up to see the final results.
"It seems like it's been a while since Ran-san went to the bathroom, right? It's a bit late..." Jodie remarked, looking in the direction of the restroom.
"Oh, maybe Ran is on the phone with Shinichi(Kudo), asking him what '×' means?"
"Oh~?~~ That's really interesting~~" Jodie, upon hearing Sonoko's words, couldn't help but get excited, displaying a completely interested look as if a woman had encountered gossip.
"If that's really the case, then when Ran knows the answer..." Sonoko and Jodie glanced at each other, both seeing the word "interested" revealed in each other's eyes.
"I almost fell for it. So, '×' means this!!"
Just as the two locked eyes, Ran's embarrassed words came from the side, "I just asked Officer Takagi about the meaning of '×'!"
"Oh... is that so..." Sonoko, with a mischievous look, laughed and said, "Well, I thought this could help push forward your progress a bit..."
Upon hearing this, Ran, feeling a bit annoyed, said, "Even if I tell Shinichi(Kudo) that I want to give him my most important '×,' I don't think he would understand the meaning of that sentence and won't be able to respond to me!"
"Well, Ran, what you said makes sense..." Sonoko agreed with a smile, "After all, it's Shinichi. His understanding of such matters, despite being a detective maniac, is probably limited..."
"Okay, let's not talk about this."
Waving her hand, Ran chose to skip this topic. After scanning around and not seeing Conan, she couldn't help but ask, "By the way, where is Conan?"
"Oh, earlier, Brother-in-law solved the puzzle and took the detectives to the company on the eighth floor. Conan went up with them." Sonoko explained.
"Really, this kid is causing trouble for Detective Senichi again..." Ran, feeling a headache, said, "Every time there's a case..."
"Well, although this kid tends to run around whenever there's a case, Brother-in-law doesn't seem to think Conan would cause him trouble." Sonoko, with her index finger against her chin, said, "Is it because this kid is quite smart? Occasionally, he does come up with some useful discoveries..."
"Perhaps..." Ran thought for a moment and smiled, "But Detective Senichi and Conan have always had a good relationship."
"Well, since you're back, Ran, let's go up quickly." Sonoko, holding her hand, walked towards the elevator, "It feels uncomfortable to only see the beginning and the middle but not the end."
"It's not like it's a TV drama..." Ran, being pulled by Sonoko, responded with a somewhat speechless expression.
"Hehe, but actually, the cases Brother-in-law handles are really like detective dramas on TV!" Sonoko laughed, "Every case gets solved quickly, just like those detectives in movies and TV shows."
"Oh! I also think Detective Senichi is amazing!" Jodie chimed in, "Sharp insight, making many criminals shudder with fear of deduction."
"Right! It's really like a character from a TV show!" Sonoko, hearing Jodie-sensei agree with her point of view, enthusiastically discussed it with Jodie.
Chatting and laughing, the three of them quickly took the elevator to the company on the 8th floor of the mall.
Meanwhile, Senichi and the others, one step ahead, were currently explaining the situation to the person in charge of the company, seeking cooperation.
"Kuniyoshi! There's a detective looking for you!"
Hearing Senichi's purpose, the employees in the company shouted towards the room, and a man with a three-to-seven parted hairstyle and a rectangular face turned around from the computer desk, looking somewhat bewildered. "What's going on? Is something wrong?"
"It's you, right? The culprit who killed Mr. Chujo." Senichi, looking at the man in front of him, spoke directly.
"Huh?" Hearing Senichi's words, Bunta Kuniyoshi's face changed slightly, and then his eyes darkened. "What are you talking about!? Just because you're a detective doesn't mean you can say whatever you want!"
"Saying whatever?" Senichi stepped forward and stood in front of Bunta Kuniyoshi, saying, "I think you're quite audacious."
"Heh!! Do you have any evidence?!" Bunta Kuniyoshi angrily said, "If you have the guts, show me the evidence!!"
"Evidence is right here." Senichi took out the file bag, revealing the bloodstained "○×△" on it, then explained the rough reasoning.
"Heh, what can these four symbols '□○×△' prove!" Bunta Kuniyoshi sneered disdainfully, "Just because these symbols somewhat match the bottom half of my name, you guys are making a fuss over nothing!
Even if it's a death message left by the deceased, how can you prove that it's not the criminal who is misleading you guys by information he wrote with the victim's finger!
If he deliberately wanted to frame me, then catching me would be playing right into his hands, wouldn't it?"
Speaking, Bunta Kuniyoshi took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, picked one and placed it in his mouth, lighting it up. "So, if you want to take me away, find some evidence, like the documents in this file bag."
At this point, Bunta Kuniyoshi exhaled a puff of smoke, wearing a mocking smile. "But if I were the culprit, I wouldn't escape from the crime scene to the company. Wouldn't it be better to directly run outside and burn the documents?"
"You..." Hearing Bunta Kuniyoshi's words, Takagi and others behind Senichi showed expressions of anger. The provocative attitude of the other party was indeed infuriating. Moreover, the words spoken by him made people unable to help but consider whether he had already destroyed the evidence.
This smug demeanor made everyone angry but helpless.
"Don't bother with these psychological tricks," Senichi calmly said as he looked at Bunta Kuniyoshi, who was reveling in his perceived superiority. "Since I entered this company, the smell of blood has filled my nostrils. In other words, the evidence soaked in warm fresh blood hasn't been burned; it's right here in this company."
"What...?" Bunta Kuniyoshi's face instantly changed dramatically upon hearing Senichi's words. He immediately turned dark and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"The one talking nonsense is you, right? The smell of blood has been continuously emanating from this shredder!" Senichi directly pushed aside Bunta Kuniyoshi in front of him and walked straight to the shredder.
Looking at the terrified expression on the other's face, he smiled meaningfully and said, "You shredded the documents, didn't you? But it doesn't matter, after all..."
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