"Proof?" Heiji smiled confidently and handed Director Ochiai's pen to Inspector Megure: "Inspector Megure, if I'm not mistaken, on this pen there should be the fingerprints of three people: the deceased owner Manaka, Director Ochiai, and also Kubota."
Inspector Megure took the pen with a perplexed look on his face: "Even if it had his prints, it wouldn't be strange. All these pens are the same, it's normal to pick up the wrong one by mistake."
Heiji shook his head and pointed to the other pen in his hand: "This pen was found at the crime scene, correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"But on this pen, I assure you, there are only Director Ochiai's fingerprints," Heiji said confidently.
"Even if that were so, what would it prove?" Inspector Megure asked, confused.
"Because the pen found at the scene is the one that really belongs to Director Ochiai, while the one we took from Director Ochiai belongs to Kubota. That explains why this pen has Kubota's fingerprints. In order to frame Director Ochiai, it's natural that his own prints would not appear on the pen left at the scene. That's why he surely used gloves so that his prints wouldn't be left on the pen found at the scene."
"But if his prints appeared on that pen, wouldn't that further prove he was being set up?" Inspector Megure asked with curiosity.
"When there's too much evidence, a setup might stop looking like a setup. That's what worried Kubota. I'm sure that if you hadn't checked for fingerprints, Kubota would have found an opportunity to mention it himself," Heiji said calmly.
"It's a setup! This is a setup! I didn't kill him! Inspector, I really didn't kill him!"
Kubota got nervous and began to shout his innocence.
"I remember you said you hadn't touched Director Ochiai's pen, right?"
"That's right! I haven't touched the director's pen, I can guarantee that," Kubota shouted.
"Very well. This pen was taken from Director Ochiai's pocket. If you haven't touched it, it logically shouldn't have your prints. Inspector Megure, go and check it. I assure you that, as I said before, you will find the fingerprints of three people."
"Take it for analysis quickly!"
A short while later, the officer in charge of the analysis returned with the pen and the report.
"Report for Inspector Megure: on this pen there are indeed fingerprints of three people, and one of them is Kubota's."
Boom~!!!
Kubota's mind went blank. When had he touched that pen?
"No, it wasn't me, it really wasn't me."
Inspector Megure, with a serious face and an icy gaze, fixed on Kubota: "Do you have anything else to say?"
"I didn't kill him! I really didn't kill him!" Kubota was completely bewildered and screaming like a madman.
"Inspector, this armor was found in Kubota's room."
A blood-stained suit of armor appeared before Inspector Megure's eyes, and his face turned completely icy: "Kubota, you are under arrest on suspicion of murder."
Takagi took Kubota away directly, ignoring his screams.
[This isn't right. Why does this case feel so strange to me? But Hattori's reasoning is correct. All the clues point to Kubota being the murderer. What doesn't fit?]
Conan's brain was about to explode.
Heiji glanced sideways at Conan and a malicious smile played on his lips: It's time for the finishing blow.
"Director Ochiai, you also wanted to kill owner Manaka, didn't you?"
Director Ochiai's body shuddered, and he looked at Heiji in shock: "How do you know?"
"It's very simple. You feel a very deep love for this museum, you consider these works of art as your own life. However, owner Manaka treated them like trash, insulting them in a thousand ways. It's understandable that you had murderous thoughts. But, I know there's an old saying in China: 'Lay down the butcher's knife and you will become a Buddha.' The matter is already resolved, you don't have to keep clinging to the past."
Director Ochiai snapped his head up, looking at Heiji in shock: This young man, why is he saying such things? Could he be...?
[Right, it's that feeling. Director Ochiai's previous attitude was very suspicious. He was also a suspect in Manaka's murder. But the evidence proves that Kubota is the final murderer. I guess I've overthought it.]
Conan sighed, feeling that he had thought too much.
"Young Hattori, thank you very much for this time. I'll treat you to tea later," Inspector Megure said, in a hurry to get back and take a statement.
Satō Miwako looked at Heiji. To be able to find the key to solving the case from small clues... this high school student really was anything but simple.
Everything was resolved. Due to the murder of owner Manaka, the museum was put up for sale at a low price.
Heiji and the others were having breakfast. It was their last day in Tokyo.
"Sonoko, Sonoko is on TV!"
The content on the television caught their attention. On the screen, Sonoko looked every bit a high-society lady, a huge contrast to her personality in real life.
"Excuse me, second miss Suzuki, why have you bought this medieval art museum?"
"Although the Suzuki Corporation has no related businesses, we want to make a small contribution to the art world. This museum is our first step."
In front of the camera, Sonoko was elegant and generous, with no trace of stage fright.
"Then, why buy this museum specifically? It's clear that it doesn't have the capacity to host large art exhibitions, nor the appropriate security measures."
"But this museum has a director who loves art with a passion. I am confident that Director Ochiai will be able to manage this museum perfectly," Sonoko said with an elegant smile.
"It is rumored that the second miss Suzuki bought this museum for a specific person. Is that person your boyfriend?"
Everyone suddenly looked at Heiji. Yesterday, Heiji seemed to have said that "this museum shouldn't disappear." Could Sonoko have bought it for that reason?
"Why are you looking at me?" Heiji asked, baffled.
On the screen, Sonoko's face blushed slightly, but she looked at the camera generously: "I bought this museum for my idol."
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