The guests at tonight's dinner were primarily prominent figures in Japan's entertainment industry.
Most of them recognized Takao Ohga, a renowned plastic surgeon in the field, now sitting pale-faced on the floor.
Their gazes shifted from him to Masumi Sera, who had just been performing chest compressions with exceptional skill. Now she stood nearby, exuding a heavy air of disappointment.
Everyone understood—the man on the ground was dead.
Many of the guests turned pale and covered their mouths.
The once cheerful atmosphere of the banquet was utterly shattered.
---
Sera Masumi let out a heavy sigh, visibly dispirited by her failure to save the man's life.
She approached the deceased man's body, knelt, and carefully tilted up his plump chin. Clear crescent-shaped pinch marks were visible on his neck.
It was evident he hadn't been strangled in public.
Sera had also noticed earlier that when the man collapsed onto the table, he had clutched at his neck with both hands.
These marks, then, must have been self-inflicted.
Sera turned to the woman sitting at the same table as the deceased.
She was the only woman at the table, so Sera assumed she was the one who had screamed.
"Were you the one who screamed earlier? May I ask your name?"
The woman, Souma Miho, responded hesitantly, "Yes, I did. My name is Souma Miho. And you are?"
"My name is Sera Masumi. I'm a detective."
Sera introduced herself in a tone reminiscent of Conan's.
The surrounding guests seemed taken aback upon hearing her declare herself a detective.
Even Takao Ohga, still seated on the floor, looked slightly surprised.
"Detective Sera, are you asking for my name because you suspect me of being the killer?"
Miho, a well-known director in the industry, quickly deduced Sera's intent. The surprise on her face swiftly turned into a displeased frown.
"Does this mean you believe Mr. Kousaka was murdered?"
"No, I'm merely curious about your name, Ms. Souma. After all, you were likely the first person to witness Mr. Kousaka's collapse," Sera replied smoothly, gleaning the deceased's last name from Miho's words.
She added, "Could you describe what happened?"
"We were eating together as usual, and suddenly, for some reason, Mr. Kousaka seemed unwell. He clutched his neck tightly with both hands.
"At first, we were all stunned, thinking he might have choked on something.
"Before we could react, he slumped over the table with a thud."
Sera listened closely to Miho's account, which matched what she had seen upon arriving at the scene.
"Do you know if Mr. Kousaka had a heart condition?"
"Heart condition?" Miho appeared taken aback. "I've never heard of that, nor have I seen him take medication."
She added, "Although I knew Mr. Kousaka, we weren't close enough for me to know about any illnesses."
"Understood," Sera nodded and then turned her attention to Takao Ohga.
She had learned his name earlier during the resuscitation efforts.
"Mr. Ohga, you examined Mr. Kousaka's airway before performing artificial respiration, correct? There were no blockages, right?"
"Correct," Ohga confirmed, shaking his head slightly without meeting Sera's gaze.
Sera noticed deep scratches on the back of Ohga's left hand.
Blood had begun to seep from the wounds, standing out against his pale skin.
'Could it be from the force he exerted during chest compressions, scraping his hand against a wristwatch?'
'It seems he put his all into trying to save Kousaka's life.'
This observation temporarily reduced Sera's suspicion of Ohga as the killer.
She cupped her hand to her lips, deep in thought.
---
'Kousaka clutched his neck before he died. There are six potential causes of death that fit this behavior:
1. Respiratory issues.
2. Cardiac arrest.
3. Poisoning.
4. Nervous system disorders.
5. Neck injuries.
6. Psychological factors.'
'The last three can be ruled out immediately.
'Additionally, based on Ms. Souma's account, a heart attack seems unlikely.
'Since Kousaka's airway wasn't obstructed, choking or suffocation caused by food or a foreign object can also be dismissed.'
'This leaves asphyxia and poisoning as the two most probable causes.'
'While the former could be accidental, the latter strongly suggests foul play.'
Having just returned to Japan, Sera was unaccustomed to accidental deaths.
She leaned toward the worst-case scenario: Kousaka's death was no accident.
---
Sera approached the body again and opened Kousaka's mouth.
Using her phone's flashlight, she inspected the inside of his mouth.
'No injuries to the oral tissue, tongue, or throat lining.'
Turning to Conan, she asked, "Boy, was there any sign of Kousaka vomiting on the table?"
"No," Conan replied.
'In that case, a corrosive toxin is unlikely.'
Sera leaned closer and sniffed Kousaka's breath.
She caught a strong odor of alcohol mixed with foul breath.
Although she furrowed her brow, she could not detect any familiar scent of poison.
(End of Chapter)