On the exhibition stage, Takato leaned against a pillar, deep in thought, while Inspector Megure began to interrogate the others. Meanwhile, Yukiko, who was nearby, went to the side and made a phone call.
After a while, Yukiko came over to Takato and whispered,
"I just called Yusaku and told him what happened. He listened and then told me to think carefully about the 'time of poisoning' and I would understand the method used this time."
"Oh? Is that what Yusaku-sensei said?"
Takato said, a little surprised, but then he began to ponder.
The time of poisoning, huh?
For cyanide, ingesting even a very small dose can cause immediate sudden death. In that regard, Miss Yamahara Akisato's poisoning speed was very strange.
Could it be like the previous "Superpower Live Broadcast Murder," where the act was committed after Miss Yamahara Akisato had already collapsed?
But that's not right either, after all, the "Superpower Live Broadcast Murder" had a script, and the victim's initial collapse was pre-designed.
Hmm? Script?
Thinking of this, Takato seemed to understand something.
But a problem arose: after Miss Yamahara Akisato collapsed, the first person to touch her was himself. This means that the possibility of using a script to commit the act amidst the chaos is not valid.
So, how should I think about the time of poisoning? Is there some way to delay the onset of cyanide poisoning? But what's the point of delaying it for such a short time?
Wait! Delay? And a script!
Suddenly, Takato revealed a knowing smile, which Yukiko, standing nearby, noticed.
Seeing this, Yukiko immediately leaned in.
"Hey! Little Takato! You've completely understood what happened, haven't you! Why don't you tell me!"
"Yes. I understand now."
Takato said, leaning close to Yukiko's ear and quietly telling her his deduction.
Below the exhibition stage, the brown-haired girl was keeping an eye on the time — only two minutes left until 10:30!
Seeing this, the girl's gaze turned to the door of the nearby "Fusae" specialty store, where she saw an employee already inside, preparing to open.
Seeing this, the girl intended to pull Hirota Masami towards the specialty store.
Suddenly, the lights in the venue dimmed, and the spotlights near the stage began to illuminate Yukiko on the stage.
"Some say I am one of Japan's most legendary beautiful actresses... some say I am the wife of a world-renowned mystery writer... in fact, I am... the female Detective with gray brain cells... the Dark Night Baroness!"
Striking a pose, Yukiko let down her pinned-up long hair, which flowed gracefully behind her as the lights brightened.
This scene captivated everyone present. The reporters at the scene began frantically photographing this moment, and even the girl, who had intended to leave, couldn't help but stop.
"This... could it be, Ms. Yukiko, that you know the truth of the case!"
Inspector Megure exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this.
"That's right! Inspector! This incident, I, the Dark Night Baroness, shall make the deduction!"
Yukiko said, like an actress on a stage, using her superb acting skills to attract everyone's attention, anticipating the unfolding events.
"Then, how did the culprit get the victim to take that poisoned wine?"
Inspector Megure asked at the opportune moment.
"The poison wasn't mixed into the wine, Inspector. The culprit was waiting for the wine glass to fall!"
Yukiko stated.
"What does that mean?"
Inspector Megure asked, puzzled.
"Since it's impossible for someone to induce Miss Yamahara to choose the wine glass, and it couldn't have been a random killing. Then there's only one answer! The wine the victim drank had no poison in it at all!"
Yukiko explained.
Hearing this, the short brown-haired girl couldn't help but smile: "So that's what happened!"
"Oh? Shiho, you know?"
Hirota Masami, who was beside her, was surprised to hear what the girl said.
The girl simply gave a short "Mm."
"But, she's really amazing, this female Detective."
Looking at Yukiko, who was stealing the show on the exhibition stage, Hirota Masami praised.
"It's not her who's amazing."
The girl whispered, turning her gaze to the man in the blue trench coat standing in a corner of the exhibition stage. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on the corner of the girl's mouth. However, her gaze only lingered on the man for a moment before the girl walked with Hirota Masami towards the "Fusae" specialty store, which was now open.
On the exhibition stage, Yukiko continued her deduction.
"Actually, the poison was ingested by the victim before she went on stage! Before going on stage, the victim had taken two capsule medications!"
Saying this, Yukiko looked at Atsuko, who was nearby.
"That's right. But those were just health supplements that Miss Yamahara regularly took."
Atsuko explained.
"They only looked like health supplements."
Yukiko smiled and continued: "The culprit had already replaced the capsules in that medicine! They looked just like the health supplement capsules. In reality, they were highly toxic substances wrapped in edible plastic! Miss Akisato had already ingested the poison before going on stage, and when she was on stage, her stomach acid dissolved the edible plastic, allowing the poison to naturally leak out and kill Miss Akisato!"
"But, according to this explanation, how do you explain the actual detection of toxins in the champagne!"
Inspector Megure asked.
"That's very simple, Inspector Megure."
Yukiko said, "Because the toxin was already applied to the carpet on the exhibition stage beforehand!"
"What!"
Inspector Megure exclaimed in shock.
"That's right. The culprit only needed to apply the toxin to the exhibition stage beforehand. Then, when Miss Akisato collapsed due to the poisoning and dropped the unfinished wine glass onto the floor, the toxin could naturally be detected in the wine on the floor during the subsequent examination!"
Yukiko said.
"But, can it really be that smooth?"
Inspector Megure expressed doubt.
"It's very simple, Inspector Megure."
Yukiko put her hands behind her back, feigning profundity, "As long as the time of poisoning is calculated beforehand, and Miss Akisato acts according to the pre-arranged script!"
Saying this, Yukiko looked towards Horii Ryosuke, who was nearby.
"Am I right, Mr. Horii Ryosuke!"
Yukiko then extended her right hand, pointing at Horii Ryosuke, and said in a resonant tone.
"The culprit! Is you!"
"Miss Akisato took the medicine only after you brought the mineral water into the office, and the entire new product launch process was hosted and controlled by you. Moreover, the only person who could arrange the script for this event and apply the poison to the exhibition stage beforehand is you! Besides that, there's no one else!"
Yukiko said solemnly.
At this moment, the camera flashes at the scene went off one after another. The reporters present, from various angles, captured the legendary actress's demeanor at this moment!