Chapter 30: Based on my professional analysis, he committed suicide.

"Look, Ran, that guy over there looks like Haibara’s mentally unstable brother," Sonoko said, pointing toward Masakazu in the distance.

"Hmm," Ran nodded.

She had encountered Masakazu many times, and her feelings about him were quite complex. Mostly, it was because her father’s opinion of him was so erratic; one moment he considered him a villain capable of any atrocity, and the next, a harmless, unlucky fellow. Ran found it difficult to tell what kind of person he really was.

"I feel like he looks so familiar," Sonoko said.

Ran looked at her helplessly. "Every handsome guy you see looks familiar to you."

"It’s different this time! He really is familiar!" Sonoko insisted, hands on her hips, before pulling Ran toward Masakazu.

"Masakazu-nii?" Sonoko asked tentatively.

Masakazu turned his head, saw Sonoko, and smiled. "Oh, it’s Sonoko. Do you go to school around here too?"

"Yeah! Masakazu-nii, when did you return to the country?" Sonoko asked with pleasant surprise.

"It’s been a while," Masakazu replied.

Sonoko then looked at Haibara and asked, puzzled, "Masakazu-nii, when did you get a little sister?" Could she be Uncle Sumitomo’s illegitimate daughter?

"I picked her up," Masakazu said, stating the truth.

Haibara curled her lip, as if she were something one could just find lying around anywhere.

Masakazu patted Haibara’s head and said, "My driver will be here in a moment. Let her give you a ride."

"That’s too much trouble..."

"Sure, that sounds great!" Sonoko interrupted Ran.

Ran gave an apologetic smile, while Haibara rolled her eyes violently. *This guy... since when did Officer Sato become your driver?*

After talking for a moment, Officer Sato pulled up in a patrol car. Masakazu and Haibara climbed in with practiced ease. Ran looked at Sato in surprise and asked, "Officer Sato, when did you resign from the Metropolitan Police Department?"

"Resign? What are you talking about?" Sato asked, looking bewildered.

Sonoko said bluntly, "Masakazu-nii said you’re his driver now." *Though, for a driver, you’re certainly driving a police car. Is this what they call using public resources for private matters?*

Sato glared at Masakazu.

"I have not resigned, and I am not this guy’s driver. Don't listen to his nonsense," Sato said, restraining her temper.

Sonoko’s eyes darted between Masakazu and Sato, then she looked at Sato with a pitiful expression. "Can you give us a lift? Masakazu-nii already promised."

*What he promised you has nothing to do with me!* Sato said, "Mr. Masakazu is linked to a homicide case, which is why I’m here to pick him up for questioning. I don’t have time to give you a ride."

Sonoko suggested, "A homicide case? Then let’s go too. Ran, who knows, you might run into that guy Shinichi Kudo."

At the mention of that name, Ran’s eyes lit up. Both of them looked at Sato with hopeful expressions.

Sato maintained a smile and said, "The scene might be quite gruesome, so it’s best you don’t come. And that little girl—she shouldn't come either."

Unlike Ran and Sonoko, who ignored the advice, Haibara was very obedient. As soon as Sato finished speaking, she reached for the door handle to get out.

A large hand grabbed Haibara’s arm. "Haibara needs to be toughened up. A true warrior must dare to face the sight of blood," Masakazu said.

*I am not a warrior; I am just a child,* Haibara thought.

Sato sighed in defeat and let them all into the car.

Upon arriving at the park by the lake, the group stepped out. Inspector Megure looked at the crowd, momentarily stunned. *Didn't I just tell Sato to pick up Masakazu? Why did she bring so many people along?*

"Dad? You’re here too? And Conan?" Ran looked at Conan in confusion; he should have just finished school.

Masakazu walked up to Inspector Megure and asked, "Have I become a suspect again? Which of my enemies died this time?"

As a man of culture, Masakazu offered a handshake. When he extended his hand, Inspector Megure didn't know what to do. There were many reporters nearby. If he shook Masakazu’s hand, nobody knew what the press might write in the papers.

"Hideki Fujiwara. You had a business dispute with him yesterday, and today he was found dead in the lake." Megure hesitated, but still shook Masakazu’s hand. After all, the man had offered his hand so politely; it wouldn't do to leave him hanging.

*Click!*

As expected, the sordid handshake between Masakazu and the police inspector was captured by the reporters. Tomorrow’s headlines were already set.

Inspector Megure glanced toward the camera flashes with a look of resignation. *The police have never shielded Masakazu, so why can’t we ever shake off this reputation?*

Officer Takagi walked over to report, "There are three suspects: Mr. Masakazu, who had business disagreements with the deceased; Mrs. Fujiwara, who wanted a divorce; and Mr. Kujo, who lent the deceased a large sum of money."

The three suspects stood together, none of them showing any signs of panic. They exchanged glances—they had nothing to hide.

Inspector Megure rubbed his temples in frustration. It was another troublesome case; all three suspects seemed calm, making it impossible to tell who the killer was.

"Mouri, what do you think?" Megure turned his gaze toward Kogoro Mouri.

Kogoro stroked his mustache and said, "The killer is definitely Mrs. Fujiwara!"

"Huh? Me?" Mrs. Fujiwara said, incredulous.

Kogoro said confidently, "It must be because you wanted to get your hands on Mr. Fujiwara’s inheritance, so you killed him!"

"Are you kidding me?" Mrs. Fujiwara said indignantly. "That man was drowning in debt; there is no inheritance for me to claim. I only wanted a divorce because I didn't want to be saddled with his debts."

Kogoro paused, then continued his "deduction." "Then it must be because Mr. Fujiwara didn't want to divorce you, so you killed him!"

"We were already divorced."

Kogoro was left speechless and turned to the next target: "It must be you, Mr. Kujo, right?"

"If he’s dead, who am I supposed to collect my money from?"

In the end, Kogoro could only look at Masakazu. Masakazu was busy playing Tetris on his phone, seemingly oblivious to his status as a suspect.

"Inspector Megure, the autopsy results are in," the medical examiner, Chief Choso, suddenly announced. Everyone turned their attention to the steadfast examiner. He had spoken at this exact moment—the guy was definitely doing it on purpose.

"What are the results?" Megure asked with a stony face.

"Based on the bloating of the body, we can roughly conclude that he jumped into the water around noon today."

"Jumped?"

"That’s right. According to my professional analysis, Mr. Fujiwara committed suicide."