BWDC:SDDK Chapter 89: Demo, Batman Desu!
"These are photos taken from the locker."
"You said this was your locker, so is that you in this photo?"
Ren Ichimonji asked, holding the photograph.
On the table nearby sat the luggage and parcels retrieved from the Beika Station locker. Inside were some daily necessities, a novel manuscript, and a change of clothes.
And then there was the photo in Ren Ichimonji's hand.
Staring at the photo, Saruhashi Masaru said earnestly, "It's me."
"Back then, I was still very thin."
Hearing this, Takagi Wataru, Inspector Megure, and Mouri Kogoro all turned their heads to look at the photo at the same time, then turned back to look at Saruhashi Masaru. They gave their evaluation in unison:
"That is absolutely not you!"
Saruhashi Masaru asked with a look of feigned uncertainty, "You're saying this isn't me?"
He leaned closer to the photo and took another look. He put on a face of utter disbelief.
Ren Ichimonji said in a low voice, "It isn't."
Suddenly, Saruhashi Masaru spun around and dashed to the window, glancing at the height. He then whirled back around, pointing at the photo and shouting:
"I'm telling you, this photo isn't me!"
"This damn thing isn't my photo, and this locker isn't my locker. I remembered it wrong!"
Saruhashi Masaru pointed at the luggage on the table and yelled, "Who... who put Kusaka's locker key in my room?"
"This is a frame-up! A pure frame-up!"
Hearing this, Ren Ichimonji let out a cold laugh, his eyes filled with disapproval.
"So, you're admitting that this is your room?"
A mere ninja dares to show off his petty tricks in front of Batman!
I'll have you know the depths of my Bat-Law!
Just as Ren Ichimonji was about to ask Saruhashi Masaru to step outside—intending to use the "Holy Sword of Physics" to help him restore his memory—Ryutaro Tsukigata, who was standing nearby, finally couldn't take it anymore. He sighed:
"Enough. I've seen through it all."
"Saruhashi, there is no need to keep hiding it. If you killed Kusaka, just admit it."
"If you do, you will still be my disciple, and I will still be your teacher!"
Upon hearing those words, Saruhashi Masaru finally let out a long sigh. He slumped into a chair as if his soul had been burnt out.
"Yes," he said in a low voice. "I killed Yuichi Kusaka."
Inspector Megure nodded. Then, he suddenly asked in confusion:
"You killed him?"
"But Yuichi Kusaka should have died before 8:30. At 8:10, he was still at Teido Station calling Mr. Ryutaro Tsukigata to report his progress. How did you manage to forge that phone message?"
"Do you really know Ninpo: Art of the Created Alibi?"
At the mention of this, the two detectives and the former detective in the room felt a chill run through the air.
Wait, Saruhashi Masaru wouldn't use a Flying Thunder God Technique followed by a Rasengan to wipe them all out and make a grand escape, would he?
Inspector Megure immediately took a step forward. He, along with Takagi Wataru and Mouri Kogoro, shielded Ren Ichimonji behind them.
At this point, only Batman could stand against a Fourth Hokage who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique for murder.
Ren Ichimonji: ?
Is there something wrong with your brains?
Where in the real world would you find a ninjutsu that allows you to travel between two places instantly? I studied ninjutsu during my training in the Batcave; how come I never heard of such a technique?
Ren Ichimonji shoved the three detectives aside. He snapped his fingers and spoke:
"I'm afraid Mr. Saruhashi didn't bring any ninjutsu, only karate—"
"And that is exactly why Mr. Saruhashi was able to kill Yuichi Kusaka in self-defense, remaining unscathed even when Kusaka was the one who initiated the murder and held the advantage."
Mouri Kogoro, Megure, Takagi, and Ryutaro Tsukigata: ?
What are you talking about?
Saruhashi Masaru was the intended murder victim, and Yuichi Kusaka was the attempted murderer who got killed instead?
Hearing this, Saruhashi Masaru looked up, staring at Ren Ichimonji in shock. He had thought he would be directly slapped with a murder charge and forced to perform a hundred-chapter legal drama in court.
"What... what's going on?"
Inspector Megure's eyes widened as he asked urgently, "Batman, didn't you say the killer was Saruhashi Masaru? Why has it suddenly changed to Yuichi Kusaka?"
"Is there some twist in this that I don't know about?"
In response, Ren Ichimonji simply swept the pile of messy clothes off the table. He pulled out a tape recorder that had been hidden underneath.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he pressed the play button.
[Walk slower, don't fall (The sound of a woman's voice in the distance, followed by children's laughter).]
The background noise from the message heard earlier on Ryutaro Tsukigata's phone now filled the room once again!
"The person who mastered the so-called Ninpo: Art of the Created Alibi was not Mr. Saruhashi."
"It was the deceased, Yuichi Kusaka!"
Ren Ichimonji's voice was certain. He didn't even need to enter "Batman mode." Relying on his peerless intellect was enough to quickly resolve this low-difficulty public safety incident.
He continued:
"In order to murder Mr. Saruhashi, Yuichi Kusaka arrived in Beika Town early. Even though he knew Ryutaro Tsukigata wouldn't be home at that time, he deliberately left a message and used a tape recorder to disguise it."
"His goal was to create an alibi for himself."
"However, Kusaka never expected that the alibi he prepared for his murder attempt would, at this moment, become the alibi for Mr. Saruhashi after the tables were turned!"
"You just need to reverse your thinking."
"Don't wonder how Saruhashi Masaru could create an impossible alibi. Simply ask why this alibi exists in the first place, and you will easily reach this conclusion!"
At this point, Ryutaro Tsukigata's eyes widened.
He never imagined that the classical ninjutsu he wrote about in his books would actually be manifested in reality by his disciples—used by one to attempt murder on the other, only to result in a fatal reversal where both disciples shared the same alibi!
—Namu Amida Butsu, what a lack of mercy.
Such behavior was like a manifestation of the Latter Day of the Law from the Records of Ancient Matters. Had even the Buddha closed his eyes?
"Mr. Saruhashi, if you had called the police and an ambulance immediately after fighting back, it would have only been excessive self-defense."
"But by moving the body and abandoning any attempt at medical help, you turned excessive self-defense into intentional homicide. Was it worth it?"
Ren Ichimonji shook his head and sighed.
Hearing this, Saruhashi Masaru lowered his head. At this stage, there was nothing left to defend.
However, before being arrested, Saruhashi Masaru looked up and asked:
"I've never seen a detective who walks around everywhere with a coffee cup like you."
"Who on earth are you?"
Ren Ichimonji took a sip of his coffee and replied:
"Demo, Batman desu!"
Since he was facing a ninja enthusiast, it was best to introduce himself with a ninja-style greeting!
[Low-difficulty public safety mission completed!]
[20 points reward has been credited, please check!]
[Assisted Commissioner Gordon in solving a difficult problem, 10 points reward has been issued!]
End of Chapter
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