Chapter 23: What Are You Here For?

In the blink of an eye, the sun began to dip toward the horizon.

"But seven million is my absolute limit," said the sword owner, Yuji Suwa, clenching his fists.

"That's not my concern. Mr. Mollet has already offered nine million..." Maru Denjiro sighed with feigned regret. "Eight million is the friends-and-family rate I’m giving you."

"The name of the Shinsengumi, the legacy of your family, the honor of the samurai... do all of these things add up to less than a mere three million in liquid cash? If that's the case, I’ll have no choice but to sell your family heirloom to Mr. Mollet."

He stood up to count the money Suwa had brought, taking the opportunity to "advise" him: "These five million are the funds you borrowed from me, which you are now returning. In other words, the sword only costs three million yen... that’s a super bargain, isn't it?"

Those five million...

Weren't they already mine to begin with, given as collateral for the loan?

I have to pay an extra three million just to redeem my own property?

Yuji Suwa’s eye twitched.

"Oh my, perhaps you don't care about such things," Denjiro turned toward the cabinet, his tone unrelenting. "After all, someone who would casually pawn their own ancestor's blade has probably forgotten what Bushido even is. To bring these things up now, you’re probably mocking my ignorance in your heart..."

Yuji Suwa drew his sword.

Blood sprayed into the air.

...

"That old man... he really pushed his luck, didn't he?" Mollet recalled the layout of the Maru residence in his mind. "If he won't sell it, can't I just steal it? I can always put it back once I’m done with the synchronization..."

After such an unpleasant interaction with Maru Denjiro, Mollet decided to hell with buying the sword.

He only needed the "memory" within the blade; he didn't really care about the object itself. He had only been patient and haggled with Denjiro because he initially thought the price was reasonable and that it would make a nice collectible.

Unfortunately, the old man was ungrateful, repeatedly raising the price and speaking in such a snide, insufferable manner.

Tonight, he would play the role of a thief... Wait.

Mollet looked at the Maru residence ahead, now swarming with police cars, and a bad premonition washed over him.

With this many people around, how am I supposed to sneak in?

Wait a minute, with this many police officers, could it be...

Seeing that his plan to steal the sword was temporarily unfeasible, he prepared to head home. However, his sharp eyes caught sight of a grade-schooler weaving through the crowd. He turned back, reached out, and hoisted the boy up by the collar.

"Who’s that?!" Conan felt a sudden sense of weightlessness as his body lifted into the air. After flailing about for a moment, he found himself face-to-face with a handsome man.

"Ah, it’s Gin... I mean, Mr. Mollet! Haha, hahahaha..."

"Gin what?" Mollet asked with interest.

"Ah... Mr. Mollet, you're a detective, aren't you?" Conan chose to play dumb. "There’s been a murder inside. Aren't you going to take a look?"

"A murder? Who died?" Mollet didn't mind Conan's slight rudeness. "Don't tell me it was that Maru Denjiro?"

How does Mollet know who that is? Conan’s eyes narrowed.

"Mr. Suwa was there too, wasn't he? That means the prime suspect is likely that silver-haired detective kid who didn't show up," Kogoro Mouri’s voice drifted from inside the house.

Mollet dropped Conan, brushed off his hands, and walked inside.

"What about me? Mr. Mouri, you’d better explain yourself."

"M-Mr. Mollet?" Kogoro stumbled over his words.

"How did you like the wine I sent you last time?"

"Ah... ahahaha, it was truly excellent..." Kogoro scratched his head awkwardly.

The truth was, he hadn't even dared to drink it! It was the most expensive bottle in his house!

Seeing that the crime scene was threatening to turn into a casual chat, Inspector Megure intervened: "Enough. This is a crime scene, let’s not discuss irrelevant matters."

He turned to Mollet. "Mr. Mollet, why were you meeting with Mr. Maru this morning?"

"He intended to sell a Japanese sword, and I came to inquire about buying it." Mollet scanned the room, locking eyes with a squinty-eyed man. "Unfortunately, he said this Mr. Suwa was willing to pay a ransom of eight million yen for the blade. I didn't think it was worth it, so I gave up."

The squinty-eyed man, the sword owner Yuji Suwa, trembled with indignation. "He told me you were willing to pay nine million, and demanded I raise my offer to eight million... that scum... that villain..."

"In other words, Mr. Mollet wanted to buy the sword but was faced with a price hike, and Mr. Suwa wanted to redeem it but was also faced with a price hike... you both have sufficient motive to kill Mr. Maru, don't you?" Kogoro Mouri stroked his chin, a look of suspicion in his eyes. "It’s very possible you conspired together to kill him..."

"Nonsense!" Suwa forced himself to calm down, immediately refuting Kogoro. "I have never met this Mr. Mollet before today. How could we have conspired together?"

"Haha, never met? Unfortunately, Mr. Mollet, your lack of experience has exposed you," Kogoro laughed loudly, pointing a finger at Mollet. "If you hadn't met, how could he have recognized you as Mr. Suwa at a glance? And how could you have known he was Mr. Mollet?"

Isn't that obvious? Are you the only one who can't tell? Conan twitched.

"Isn't that simple?" Mollet interrupted. "Among everyone here, he’s the only one with signs of kendo training, isn't he?"

"He has a scar on the web of his left hand. People who practice kendo often get injured in that spot when sheathing their swords. Is it really that hard to deduce that he's the owner of the sword?"

"Then... then how did Mr. Suwa know at a glance..." Kogoro was still unwilling to let it go.

"Mollet... that's clearly a foreign name, isn't it?" Suwa looked at Mollet. "Among everyone here, there is only one foreigner, right?"

Kogoro was speechless.

"Then... it could still be one of you..."

Inspector Megure, feeling rather speechless himself, pushed Kogoro aside to take over.

"The time of the crime is between three and five o'clock. Where were each of you during that time?"

"As for me, I was meditating at my dojo, I suppose?" Suwa rubbed his chin.

"Is there anyone who can verify that?"

"Well... I don't think so." Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"And Mr. Mollet, where were you during that time?"

"Me? I was annoyed after the old man’s snide remarks, so after I got home, I went up to the rooftop of my apartment building to catch some air."

"Can anyone verify that?"

"No. I was by myself the whole time."

"This is getting difficult," Inspector Megure rubbed his temples. "And you, Mr. Akutsu, the artist, why are you here?"

Everyone turned toward the bearded man nearby.

"Ah... me?" He looked panicked. "I also borrowed money from Mr. Denjiro. Ten million yen."

"I came today to ask for an extension..."

"What about between three and five o'clock?"

"I was in my studio, sculpting by myself."

"So, you don't have an alibi either?" Kogoro leaned in.

His intrusion made Inspector Megure realize something he hadn't noticed before: Right, why is this guy here?

With that thought, he looked at Kogoro. "And what about you?"

"Me?" Kogoro was confused.

"Why did you come here? And what were you doing between three and five in the afternoon?"

"Are you serious? I just came to report back to the victim on the investigation he commissioned me for—it was about his wife’s affair..."

Mrs. Maru shrieked at these words, and Kogoro suddenly realized his mistake, but it was already too late.

"The wife is having an affair?!" The Maru family servants gasped in shock.