Oda Ema returned a few minutes after Conan.
She walked over to Hota Yoshitoki with her head lowered and said, "Mr. Hota, I'd like to speak with you in private."
Hota Yoshitoki nodded. After receiving Megure Juzo's permission, the two went to talk alone.
After quite some time, Oda Ema returned first and approached Megure Juzo.
"Officer, I want to turn myself in."
"I am the one who killed Mr. Kosaka."
Oda Ema's words left everyone present shocked, except for Conan and Sera Masumi.
Megure Juzo's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the screenwriter, a name he'd heard but who had never been involved in the case.
"Wait… What?! How did this happen?!"
Megure Juzo felt completely baffled.
Oda Ema then recounted her hatred for Ohga Takao and explained how she had replaced the non-alcoholic beer with regular beer in the self-service beer machine, which had led to Tsunekazu Kosaka's sudden respiratory failure.
"I thought that once the police found the morphine in Mr. Kosaka's system, they would be able to arrest Ohga Takao.
"But I never expected that two more people would lose their lives because of this incident."
As Oda Ema finished speaking, she fell to the ground, covering her face and weeping.
'And yet another unfortunate artist nearly lost their life because of her,' Conan thought as he stood silently on the side, watching Oda Ema and Akikawa Kyousuke.
After hearing Oda Ema's confession, Megure Juzo sent officers to investigate the self-service beer machine in the banquet hall.
Sure enough, it was discovered that the non-alcoholic beer and the Shiga Kogen beer had been swapped.
Additionally, surveillance footage outside the banquet hall confirmed that, aside from hotel staff, only Oda Ema had entered the hall before the banquet started.
Oda Ema's fingerprints were also found inside the self-service beer machine, matching her confession.
With this evidence, the case was concluded.
Given Oda Ema's cooperative attitude, Megure Juzo refrained from handcuffing her immediately as a criminal. Instead, he called for more officers from the Third Criminal Investigation Division.
---
"You know, that movie this morning was probably born out of Ms. Oda's dreams," Sera Masumi whispered to Conan.
Hearing this, Conan recalled the film they had watched earlier, written by Oda Ema. He found its plot filled with bloody vengeance and love affairs.
Although the movie's themes had been hard to process, Oda Ema's willingness to kill to avenge Hota Yoshitoki—whose career had been destroyed by Ohga Takao—made Conan view it in a new light.
"It's a pity reality isn't as beautiful as the movies."
"Committing a crime to help someone only ends up hurting more people," Conan remarked as he turned to look at Mouri Ran.
He noticed that both Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were looking at Oda Ema with complicated expressions—shocked by her crime but also sympathetic to her story.
"Ms. Oda has to make amends for the mistakes she made," Sera Masumi said.
"But maybe we can help her in another way."
Sera Masumi got up and approached Megure Juzo, whispering something to him.
Afterward, Megure Juzo nodded, and Sera Masumi returned.
"What did you tell Inspector Megure?" Conan asked curiously.
"I asked him to verify the timeline of Mr. Hota's car accident," Sera replied.
"If it's been less than ten years, the person responsible for the accident could still be investigated. The statute of limitations for intentional harm hasn't run out yet."
"That's the least we can do to help."
---
Akikawa Kyousuke observed everything silently.
'You're truly a detective. It seems you even figured out Oda Ema's method.'
'That little elementary school Grim Reaper didn't expose Oda Ema to Mr. Hota directly but persuaded her to confess instead.'
'And now, that sharp detective has gone to push the fat one to reopen the case about Mr. Hota's accident from ten years ago.'
'Indeed, in a world ruled by detectives, they are full of wit and justice.'
Akikawa Kyousuke sighed inwardly. He then turned his attention to Megure Juzo.
'It's just a shame that not all detectives in the Metropolitan Police Department seem cooperative.'
Akikawa Kyousuke noticed that, as Megure Juzo listened to Sera Masumi's suggestion, his round nose twitched slightly, and the corners of his mouth tightened briefly.
These micro-expressions betrayed Megure Juzo's impatience and reluctance.
'After all, it's been ten years—perhaps even beyond the statute of limitations. And the victim himself isn't willing to pursue it further.'
'The police are naturally unwilling to take on thankless tasks.'
Akikawa Kyousuke thought about Hota Yoshitoki, his paralyzed face flashing in his mind.
'But to think that such a person exists in this world. Despite nearly losing everything because of another, he still places unwavering trust in them.'
---
As Akikawa Kyousuke pondered, a suited man approached the group.
Akikawa Kyousuke immediately recognized him as a criminal investigator summoned by Megure Juzo to escort Oda Ema.
The officer appeared to be in his forties, tall and robust, exuding a sense of professionalism.
What stood out most, however, was a striking scar near his right eye.
Surprisingly, this detective radiated a warm and approachable demeanor, entirely devoid of malice.
Of course, that was only for ordinary people.
'To think there's such a character in the Investigation Division. At first glance, I thought he was a combat detective.'
Akikawa Kyousuke's heart sighed.
This officer's aura was distinctly different from the usual detectives in the First Investigation Division.
Though outwardly amicable, Akikawa Kyousuke suspected that this man was tougher and more ruthless than anyone else underneath.
He surmised this officer specialized in taking down violent gangs, mobsters, and other dangerous criminals.
---
(End of Chapter)