Seeing this headline, Takato felt a sense of familiarity, so he temporarily put down the railway transit guide he was about to buy and picked up the newspaper to read.
This was a Shikoku regional newspaper, and the content first recounted the beginning and end of the "Lavender Villa Locked-Room Murder Case" that occurred half a year ago.
The crime scene was a locked room with sealed doors and windows. The victim was the young lady of the villa, suspected of having committed suicide by hanging.
The report detailed how the Police, after extensive investigation, were ultimately unable to find any possibility other than suicide, and were almost ready to close the case as a suicide. However, things recently took a turn. A High School Detective, a high school student traveling through, discovered the method used to create the locked room and solved the locked-room scene that had troubled the Police for half a year.
This matter was then reported by the High School Detective to the Police and the media, leading to this article.
The report used extremely sarcastic language to criticize the local Police's incompetence in handling the case, allowing the potential murderer to remain at large for a full half year. At the same time, it launched an unprovoked condemnation, using almost every word the editor could muster, against the only suspect in the case who was in the villa with the victim at the time of the incident—the maid employed by the family. It fiercely denounced her act of harming her employer as exceptionally malicious and condemned her as utterly worthless for showing no remorse for her actions over the past six months.
At the end of the article, it further praised the abilities of this Detective who wished to remain anonymous, stating that it was precisely because of his existence that this seemingly suicidal murder case saw a turning point. It also explained that the Police, due to the emergence of new evidence and media follow-up reports, were currently conducting an intensive interrogation of the suspect, finally emphasizing that lawbreakers would inevitably face justice and highlighting the positive influence of the media in this regard.
After reading the entire page-long report, Takato quickly understood why he was so drawn to it.
As someone who had watched all the released storylines of "detective conan" Takato simply couldn't forget this case, because it involved a highly popular character in the Conan storyline—Natsuki Koshimizu!
It was precisely because of the Detective Junya Tokitsu's incorrect judgment in this "Lavender Locked-Room Murder Case" that atsuki Koshimizu's friend, Kana Mizuguchi, was driven to her death, leading atsuki Koshimizu to plan the "Detective Koshimizu" incident for her friend's revenge, ultimately ending in tragedy.
Wait a minute, did this case happen in Shikoku? I thought Natsuki Koshimizu was from Fukuoka?
No, that's not what I should be thinking about right now. If I let it go, Kana Mizuguchi will be driven to jump into the sea, just as the plot dictates, but I've transmigrated precisely into this time period and have the ability to prevent this tragedy from happening!
Moreover, if I go to solve the case, I'll likely receive the reward from the "Bounty Detective" case-closing panel—this is my only reliance right now! Besides, solving a case for which I already know the standard answer and getting an "S" rating will be a piece of cake!
However, if I want to stop it, I might not have much time.
The report has already been published, which means Kana Mizuguchi should already be undergoing high-pressure interrogation by the Police. If I don't hurry, I might not make it in time to clarify the truth for her before she jumps into the sea!
Thinking this, he put down the newspaper, bought the railway transit guide, and prepared to rush to Lavender Villa overnight—seriously, this place is quite far from where I am now!
Takato immediately took action, determining his travel route by studying the railway transit guide.
But upon arriving at the train station, he found he was too early; the next train wouldn't arrive for several hours.
Takato had considered taking a taxi directly, but considering the price of taxis in Japan and his remaining cash, he sighed and reluctantly gave up on that option—Darn it, why didn't the main reward, "Bounty," from the "Bounty Detective" game get settled as money during yesterday's settlement? There wasn't even a bounty data point in yesterday's settlement. Does my "cheat" only grant extra rewards after achieving an "S" rating?
Sigh, it seems after I resolve the Lavender Villa incident, I'll have to find a way to make money first.
Takato thought this, sitting in the station's waiting area, watching the station clock. He could only wait quietly, not even daring to take a nap, fearing he might miss the train. After all, it wasn't like before he transmigrated, where he had a phone alarm to remind him of the time, so he just had to sit there and wait.
It was only now that Takato felt utterly exhausted, realizing he hadn't slept since yesterday. Perhaps the shock of transmigrating was too great, or yesterday's discovery was too frightening, but his nerves had been tense until now. He thought of his family and friends from before the transmigration, wondering what his original self was doing now.
Feeling this world that was both familiar and strange, and recalling the various stories from "detective conan" in his memory, Takato finally felt a hint of relaxation. It wasn't until he boarded the train that he slowly fell asleep.
The next day, Takato was woken by the attendant. He arrived at his destination station, transferred several times on the subway, and finally reached Lavender Villa around noon.
It was a two-story villa with lavender planted all around it. If the sloped roof counted, it was barely three stories. Most of the paint on the exterior walls had peeled off, making it look like a very old building.
Arriving at the iron gate of the villa's fence, Takato pressed the doorbell. After a moment, an elderly man in a black suit and tie, with a square face and glasses, came out and opened the door.
Looking at this somewhat familiar figure, Takato knew he was the butler of Lavender Villa. It was he who, knowing the truth about the young lady's suicide, chose to remain silent to protect her reputation, allowing Kana Mizuguchi to be suspected. He was also a crucial figure leading to the entire tragedy. What was his name again?
"Hello, who are you looking for?"
The old man asked, looking at the young man at the door.
"Excuse me for bothering you, but is Miss Mizuguchi here? I'm her friend."
Takato asked tentatively.
"Oh, you're looking for Kana Mizuguchi . She was taken away by the Police early yesterday morning."
Hearing Takato's words, the old man was clearly a bit impatient.
"Early yesterday morning?"
Hearing the old man's words, Takato began to ponder. Police interrogation of a suspect typically lasts about 24 hours. If no results are obtained or no decisive evidence is found, they must release the person after 24 hours. If she was taken away early yesterday morning, and it's already noon now, the time has long passed—no way!
"Then, excuse me, where is the nearest coast around here?"
"Why are you asking that?"
The old man, annoyed by Takato's inexplicable question, was about to turn and leave when Takato grabbed his arm.
"Please answer me, this is very important!"
Takato said in an extremely serious tone.
Seeing Takato like this, the old man seemed to be intimidated by his demeanor. He paused for a moment, then pointed in a direction, "If you're looking for the coast, it's that way, but that's not a beach, it's a cliff."
Hearing this answer, Takato immediately let go of his hand, muttered a quick thank you, and turned to run in that direction—I hope I'm wrong! Takato told himself.
Running swiftly, after covering a few kilometers, Takato caught the scent of the sea. Even though his unexercised body was already somewhat exhausted, Takato gritted his teeth and persevered, showing even more determination than during his college physical tests.
Soon, Takato saw it: a figure standing on the edge of a cliff! Without a doubt, it was a young girl dressed in a maid's outfit.
The clear sea breeze rustled her shoulder-length hair tied in two ponytails, and the hem of her knee-length maid's dress danced in the wind, her slender figure seemingly on the verge of toppling.
Her eyes were filled with the ash of despair. She gazed at the vast, turbulent sea below the cliff, seemed to have finally made up her mind, closed her eyes, and jumped.
But at the moment her body tilted forward, a hand grabbed her.
"Don't die! An innocent person has no reason to give up their life for someone else's mistake!"
Turning her head, Kana Mizuguchi saw a panting man looking at her with eyes full of unwavering determination.