Beyond the Truth: Mouri's Odyssey

Chapter 0004: Idol Ikezawa Yuko

"How does Okino-san explain the fact that the deceased was found in her room?" Inspector Megure asked, pressing her step by step.

"Ah, I... I don't know," Yoko stammered, trembling slightly under Inspector Megure's interrogation.

"Okino-san, is the key to this room in your possession? Is there a spare key anywhere else?" Inspector Megure advanced toward Yoko, his gaze locked on her.

"In my opinion, the murderer who killed this man is none other than Okino-san. You hired Kogoro to create an alibi for yourself, didn't you?" As expected, Inspector Megure's reasoning soared to dramatic heights.

Kogoro stepped forward hastily, holding Yoko's trembling shoulders. "Inspector Megure, with Okino-san's petite frame, how could she possibly kill such a strong man?"

Feeling the solid chest behind her, Yoko felt slightly reassured. She caught a whiff of the strong male scent, her cheeks flushing red.

"Inspector Megure, I happen to have made a discovery."

Inspector Megure's round face grew serious. "Please elaborate."

Before Inspector Megure's arrival, Kogoro had already scoured the room thoroughly. He remembered the prompt from System V-chan, noting that these cases differed from those in the anime. The investigation results indeed reflected this.

"I had mentioned earlier that the temperature in this room seemed unusually high. The air conditioner remote was set to over thirty degrees. It's possible someone wanted to confuse the time of death by manipulating the temperature. Moreover, I found an earring under the sofa. I asked Okino-san about it, and she confirmed it wasn't hers. This means someone else entered this room. Incidentally, I've seen someone wearing this earring before."

A nearby officer bent down to pick up the earring.

"I've been following recent music programs. During the Golden Music Festival, Ikezawa-san, who is in competition with Okino-san, wore this earring during her performance. I think Inspector Megure should bring Ikezawa-san in for questioning."

Yoko's face lit up in surprise as she looked at the earring. "It really is Yuko-san's earring!"

Her manager, Yamagishi-san, chimed in, "Right! I remember losing a set of keys backstage during last week's recording, which included a spare key to the apartment. I didn't expect Yuko-san to have taken it."

"Why would Ikezawa-san steal Okino-san's key?" Inspector Megure asked, stroking his chin.

Yamagishi-san became animated. "Obviously, she wanted to steal our young idol's original songs! Yoko has been advancing in the competition with her original music, steadily making her way to the finals. Yuko-san wanted to steal our songs to sabotage us, singing them first so we'd have nothing left to perform. How malicious!"

Inspector Megure held back the agitated manager, glancing at Kogoro with mild reproach. "If you had this information, why didn't you say so earlier? Alright, call Ikezawa-san and have her come over."

Before long, a stylishly dressed woman entered the apartment. It was Ikezawa Yuko, a contemporary of Yoko, known for her charming voice but often overshadowed by Yoko. She wore a spotted white coat, leather pants highlighting her long legs and curvaceous figure, high heels, and a cold, imposing expression. To Kogoro, with his connoisseur's eye, she had the ideal figure.

Yuko, the type of woman more in line with Kogoro's preferences, didn't align with Japan's taste for innocent young idols, which allowed Yoko to outshine her.

Yuko exuded confidence, pointing at Inspector Megure with a commanding presence. "I've never seen any spare keys. Are you joking? Calling me here over an earring? I'm exhausted from rehearsing. Are you even serious?"

Beads of sweat formed on Inspector Megure's forehead. This case had become highly challenging. Both individuals involved were rising stars in the Golden Music Festival, with countless fans. A mistake in the investigation could lead to an uproar.

Inspector Megure turned his gaze toward Kogoro, who seemed deep in thought. This guy had made significant progress recently. Thinking this, Inspector Megure smiled slightly. "Kogoro, do you have any discoveries?"

Kogoro glanced at Inspector Megure. "I do have something, but we'll need to wait a bit."

Yuko noticed Inspector Megure's hesitance and smiled slightly. Picking up a sculpted lighter from the table, she lit a cigarette. "I'm done talking. I haven't even used the restroom since coming here. Excuse me." She turned and headed toward the bathroom.

A smile spread across Kogoro's face. With a thought, he pulled out a Beginner Hypnosis Card from the system space. The card, glass-like in texture, shattered instantly as he activated it. An invisible green mist enveloped everyone in the apartment. The group briefly froze before returning to normal.

Kogoro followed Yuko. As she was about to close the bathroom door, he blocked it with his hand.

"What do you want?" Yuko's brows furrowed. "You perverted old man! The police are right there. You've got some nerve!"

"Strange, isn't it? Ikezawa-san claims never to have entered this room, yet she knew the sculpted object on the table was a lighter and also knew where the bathroom was. Ikezawa-san, I suggest you start being honest." Kogoro's face displayed a catlike grin. He had her cornered.

Yuko's expression changed drastically, panic flickering in her eyes. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, she pulled Kogoro into the bathroom.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand. Is it wrong to recognize a lighter design? And isn't it obvious where the bathroom is in such a small room? You can't convict me with this nonsense." Yuko, a rising star known for both her singing and acting skills, regained her composure quickly and refuted each point.

"Oh, really? Ikezawa-san, do you think I can't convict you? Remember, I'm a detective. Nothing escapes my eyes."