Chapter 0020: Nationwide Spotlight
Miyamoto Takeichi immediately erupted in anger.
"You despicable person! How dare you slander the golden planner of Kyoto Television! You're courting death! How could Matsuo-sensei possibly be the culprit in this case? Tell me, who instructed you to make such an accusation?"
The elderly man brandished his cane, attempting to strike Kogoro Mouri, but Kogoro caught it effortlessly and gave a casual push, sending the old man stumbling backward.
Kogoro adjusted his sleeves calmly. "Only the truth commands Kogoro Mouri."
This statement, broadcast live on television, immediately caused Boa and Yoko-san's eyes to light up with admiration.
Miyamoto Takeichi refused to believe that Matsuo Takashi was the culprit. Moreover, given that this was a live broadcast, he naturally didn't want Matsuo to come down to the scene. Inspector Megure spoke from the side,
"President Miyamoto, please cooperate."
The old man, stubborn as ever, ignored Megure completely, even as he leaned heavily on his cane.
At that moment, a middle-aged man clad in a black suit, resembling a butler, appeared. Miyamoto Takeichi's demeanor changed drastically upon seeing him, becoming exceedingly respectful.
"Sato-san! Why have you come down here?"
The man addressed as Sato responded with a calm yet indifferent tone. "What is happening here? Her Highness the Princess has been waiting for over half an hour, yet the challenger has not appeared. President Miyamoto, care to explain?"
Cold sweat immediately formed on Miyamoto's forehead.
"My apologies, Sato-san. There was an accident during the live broadcast. It seems the challenger's match cannot proceed. Please convey my sincerest apologies to Her Highness."
Sato lightly touched his earpiece, as if communicating with someone. Everyone present dared not disturb him. After a moment, Sato finished his call and turned to Miyamoto with a chilling glance.
"Her Highness has spoken. Deceiving the royal family carries consequences. You know what they are."
With that, Sato ignored everyone and left the room. Miyamoto's expression darkened, and his face contorted with unease. He glanced at Kogoro Mouri, who remained composed.
"Very well. If you insist on seeing Matsuo, I shall oblige."
He turned to his vice president.
"Cut this detective's broadcast into the live feed of our Golden Music Festival. Let's see what shocking truth this obscure detective has to reveal."
The vice president hesitated but quickly carried out the order. Miyamoto muttered under his breath, leaning heavily on his cane as he left the room.
'This stubborn fool... Don't blame me for ruining your reputation and using you to appease Her Highness's wrath.'
Watching this sudden turn of events, Kogoro Mouri felt an internal surge of joy.
'How convenient! I was just wondering how to complete the second task of making my name known across Kyoto. What perfect timing. I should thank that butler later.'
Inspector Megure, however, frowned at Kogoro. He was well aware of who Sato was and the terrifying power backing him. If Kogoro made even the slightest mistake today, he would face utter destruction.
Meanwhile, on the 11th floor of the Golden Music Festival's live hall, Girls' Generation had just finished performing five songs when the music abruptly stopped. The massive screen on stage suddenly displayed a live feed of Kogoro Mouri, and the broadcast instantly went out to millions of households, appearing on giant screens in shopping malls and plazas across the nation.
"Nani?"
Millions of viewers were stunned. They had been enjoying Girls' Generation's performance, only to be abruptly interrupted by a middle-aged yet strikingly charismatic man. The accident at the festival was already known, but no one expected another mishap to follow so soon.
The raspy voice of Miyamoto Takeichi came through the microphone.
"To all viewers watching Kyoto Television, I am Miyamoto Takeichi, the president of this station. I apologize for the unexpected events during today's broadcast. Earlier tonight, the challenger, Kwon Ji-yong, was found dead in the third-floor mixing room, shot in the head. The man before you, Kogoro Mouri, claims to have uncovered the truth. The floor is now his."
This announcement caused an uproar. The nation's most popular music program had turned into a murder investigation. Paparazzi rushed to the television station, viewers locked their screens on Kyoto TV, and even pedestrians halted their steps in bustling city squares. Taxi drivers parked their cars to watch.
For the first time in history, a live broadcast was being used to unveil the truth of a murder case.
Kwon Ji-yong's fans were in disbelief until footage of his bloodied corpse was shown on screen. It was a grim reality they could no longer deny, plunging them into grief.
Girls' Generation members stood on stage, frozen in shock, unsure how to react. From behind the curtain, Matsuo Takashi sighed deeply.
'What must happen will happen.'
He walked onto the stage, dismissing Girls' Generation and stepping forward to handle the situation.
Kogoro Mouri took the microphone and began speaking.
"Earlier tonight, during the Golden Music Festival's live broadcast, at approximately 8 p.m., Kwon Ji-yong was shot in the third-floor mixing room, his head obliterated by a single bullet."
"What's shocking is that the mixing room had only one key, which remained with the sound engineer, Suwa Michihiko, throughout the night. Suwa-san was present in the live hall on the 11th floor until after 9 p.m., with the key always in his possession. This makes the case seemingly impossible."
Kogoro's eloquence captivated the audience, drawing them into the mystery.
"After my investigation, I concluded that the murderer is present here at the Golden Music Festival."
The audience stirred, both in the hall and across the nation.
"Yes, the murderer is none other than the person currently standing on stage—Matsuo Takashi. Matsuo-san, the culprit is you."
This declaration caused a nationwide commotion. Although Matsuo Takashi was widely disliked, the idea of him committing murder was unthinkable. Known for his controversial antics on weekly broadcasts, seeing him accused of such a crime was surreal.
"Mouri-san, are you joking? I've been hosting the program all evening, making announcements nonstop. My voice has been heard nationwide. Everyone can vouch for me."
The broadcast cut to a split screen, showing both Kogoro and Matsuo in heated debate. The editors worked swiftly, piecing together their live confrontation for the nation to witness.
50 Advance Chapters on my Patreon: patreon.com/UltimateHaremfan