Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Until the next evening, the police finally arrived on the small island. However, the autopsy results similarly puzzled them. Just like Conan and the others, the coroner couldn’t determine the cause of death. In theory, whether these three met with an accident that caused them to fall into the water and hit their heads, or were struck dead by someone with a stone, their entire heads should have been smashed.

This kind of situation, where the external appearance remains intact but the internal bones are completely shattered, can be said to be unheard of. Of course, according to the coroner, if they were caught in the current and collided with rocks or something similar, it’s not impossible for similar injuries to occur. However, it’s difficult to ascertain that it’s man-made. After all, reasoning suggests that it’s nearly impossible to kill three people in this manner with similar causes of death.

This is why martial arts shouldn’t appear in detective novels, but Fang Zheng expressed, ”What does it have to do with me?”

The only gain is that all three deaths happened five days ago, which is the day Heiji Hattori received the letter and called Monshaku Saori. However, she didn’t pick up the call then, suggesting she was already a victim by that time.

So everyone speculated repeatedly, only to find that Kogoro’s accidental theory was the most convincing...

This resulted in Heiji Hattori and Conan returning to their room with gloomy expressions.

”Hey, any findings?”

Fang Zheng chuckled as he asked the two, who sighed helplessly and sat down.

”None. We asked the people on the island, and most of them believe the three died from some accident.”

”Some even say they were victims of the mermaid’s wrath...

”However, we can ascertain that all three deceased deeply believed in the existence of mermaids and the power of the Longevity Granny.”

Heiji Hattori furrowed his brows as he spoke.

”Yet I find it odd that she sent me that letter and then suddenly just died. There’s definitely something fishy here.”

”I have a thought, would you like to hear it?”

Fang Zheng silently took a sip of tea and looked at everyone.

”Eh? Brother Fang Zheng’s reasoning? I want to hear!”

Upon hearing this, Conan instantly became alert, and Ran looked over curiously. After all, they knew Fang Zheng rarely involved himself in reasoning. It was indeed surprising that he had an idea now.

”This is not reasoning, just an idea.”

Fang Zheng put down the teacup, grinning at the few people in front of him.

”It’s very simple, you see... the people on Mermaid Island all firmly believe in mermaids. Would they possibly do something to protect this secret? Didn’t the Shrine Maiden say losing this arrow would bring disaster? So maybe, Monshaku Saori lost the Dugong Arrow, violating the island’s taboo. Her two friends tried to help her escape, but were discovered by the residents. Then, using ancient and cruel methods, they killed the three ignorant violators, sinking their bodies somewhere on the island...”

Fang Zheng’s voice became much deeper as he spoke.

”As for why the Shrine Maiden didn’t go with them, the reason is simple: she was the one commanding those villagers to kill the three taboo violators...”

”Whoa...”

Upon hearing this, Ran and Kazuha hugged tightly, while Heiji Hattori and Conan also took a sharp breath. Indeed, if all the island’s residents were the culprits, it would explain why they found no clues.

However...

”Do you have evidence?”

”No.”

Fang Zheng picked up his teacup again.

”After all, it’s just a story I made up.”

”... Huh?”

”I’m planning to write a book based on this event. The plot would revolve around a murder on an isolated island, then the protagonist investigates. Eventually, they discover the Shrine Maiden is the mastermind, and all the village residents are the culprits. They murdered the victims because they uncovered the island’s biggest secret — that the island’s inhabitants aren’t human, but mermaids... How do you like the story?”

”Oh, it’s just a story...”

Hearing this, Heiji Hattori and Conan both rolled their eyes, while Ran and Kazuha seemed intrigued and nodded.

”It sounds quite interesting, Ran.”

”Yeah, Mr. Fang Zheng, are you really going to write a book?”

”During my free time when I’m bored, I’ll write a little.”

”Sigh...”

Heiji Hattori lazily stretched upon hearing this.

”In the end, there are still no clues.”

”Honestly, it’s just artistic creation. In reality, such circumstances would never occur. Like the mermaid legend—if obtaining the arrow truly grants immortality, then this island would already have been claimed by major financial syndicates and officials, not us. Besides, nowadays, people undergo physical exams and blood tests. If the island’s inhabitants were really transformed mermaids, they’d likely have been taken for dissection already.”

Fang Zheng shrugged.

”Ultimately, stories are created for convenience, not reality.”

Saying this, Fang Zheng looked at Conan and Heiji Hattori.

”Speaking of which, you did check their homes, right? Did you find any clues?”

”Nothing much.”

Facing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Heiji Hattori and Conan glanced at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

”At Monshaku Saori’s home, we found the bag she’d take when she ran away from home. Additionally, we learned the deceased Monshaku Saori, Naoko Kuroe, Urazoji Kazumi, Miss Kimi Shima, and Mr. Fukuyama Rokuro were all in the same college club. Mr. Fukuyama Rokuro and Miss Urazoji Kazumi were engaged, but it was arranged by their parents. In fact, Mr. Fukuyama Rokuro is fond of Miss Kimi Shima.”

”Could it be that Fukuyama Rokuro killed Monshaku Saori?”

Upon hearing this, Kazuha curiously asked.

”It’s not impossible, given Mr. Fukuyama Rokuro is a fisherman and quite strong. But we can’t find any suspicious points. He confessed to having once confessed to Miss Kimi Shima but got rejected.”

Heiji Hattori expressed his frustration.

”Moreover, on the day of the trio’s disappearance, Fukuyama Rokuro was at home, with a clear alibi. He doesn’t seem like the type to kill over such matters.”

”We’ve also investigated Monshaku Saori’s father. The arrow in her possession wasn’t lost but was taken by her father to sell to tourists from outside. He openly admitted this, saying there’s nothing wrong with selling off his daughter’s belongings...”

”So he’s a suspect too?”

”While that’s possible, the truth is, he was holed up at the tavern those days. If it were after the festival and Monshaku Saori won the Dugong Arrow again, killing for its snatch would make sense. But Monshaku Saori and the two others died before the festival, and judging by her father’s disregard, he doesn’t care if the matter becomes public. He’s not like someone who’d kill to keep a secret...”

This is the detective’s limit.

Watching Heiji Hattori and Conan, who were frustrated and scratching their heads, Fang Zheng chuckled and poured himself another cup of tea. For detectives, solving a case usually involves answering three questions.

Who is the murderer?

How did the murder happen?

Why was the murder committed?

These Three Rings are typically interconnected, but for Fang Zheng, these questions are practically unsolvable. At least, it seems that way to them.

Fang Zheng was unacquainted with the victim, never having met them, and his methods of murder were beyond the ordinary, making them virtually undetectable—forget Iron Sand Palm, next time if Fang Zheng uses North Star Hundred Crack Fist to kill someone in front of Conan, he would be equally baffled.

Regarding Fang Zheng’s motive, it was to enhance his aura of death and BOSS characteristics; such unconventional reasons are naturally beyond Conan’s comprehension, effectively rendering all three questions unsolvable for him. Hence, Fang Zheng doesn’t need to do anything, he can just quietly watch them perform.

As for the outcome of this performance... Fang Zheng already has some thoughts.

”Brother Fang Zheng, don’t you have any thoughts?”

At this moment, Conan had to consult Fang Zheng. Ordinarily, they were reluctant to get the standard answer from Fang Zheng, as it made them feel less accomplished, but given the situation, they decided to solve the case first.

”I have thoughts, but they probably have little to do with the murder case.”

Fang Zheng took a sip of tea.

”In fact, I heard a local resident say something interesting before... ’Good thing Kimie is okay, otherwise next year’s festival might not happen.’”

Saying this, Fang Zheng’s lips slightly curled as he looked at the two.

”Interesting, isn’t it?”

”.........?”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s words, Ran and Kazuha exchanged glances, showing a puzzled expression. Meanwhile, Heiji Hattori and Conan furrowed their brows, starting to ponder the meaning of this sentence, and suddenly, Conan’s expression changed.

”Wait, could it be...!”

”I understand now!”

At that moment, Heiji Hattori also clapped his hands forcefully, revealing an excited expression.

”Huh? What? What did you guys understand?”

Seeing the excited expressions of Heiji Hattori and Conan, the two girls were completely confused. However, the two did not answer, instead, they exchanged an excited look.

”Let’s go!”

”Yes, that’s definitely it!”

With those words, the two eagerly left, leaving Ran and Kazuha staring at each other in bewilderment.

With a case, you ignore the girls; how do you keep from being single?

Fang Zheng glanced at the silhouettes of the two, quietly withdrawing his gaze.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, what did you tell Heiji earlier?”

”Better wait for them to come back and tell you.”

Hearing Kazuha’s inquiry, Fang Zheng chuckled.

”If I spoil it, wouldn’t that be boring?”

”..........”

That’s not the problem, right?

”Idle hands are the devil’s playground.”

Fang Zheng said as he took out a deck of playing cards.

”Why not play a game? Whoever loses, takes off a piece of clothing, how about that?”

”Eh—————!?”

At this moment, Heiji Hattori and Conan were completely unaware that someone was digging into their territory with an excavator; on the contrary, they were still immersed in the joy of discovering a new clue.

”Hattori, do you remember?”

”Yes, I clearly remember.”

Upon hearing Conan’s question, Hattori nodded.

”Yesterday during the ceremony, Longevity Granny appeared, but Miss Kimie did not!”

”And when Miss Kimie appeared, Longevity Granny was nowhere to be found!”

”Although when we tried to find Longevity Granny last night, Miss Kimie called her to take a bath.”

”But we didn’t see Miss Kimie, only heard her voice!”

Saying this, the two became increasingly excited.

”So the truth can only be one: Longevity Granny is actually Miss Kimi Shima in disguise!”

Conan suddenly hit his hand, while Hattori excitedly nodded.

”We also know that the three deceased were very superstitious about Longevity Granny, genuinely believing in her existence. So they must have discovered Miss Kimie’s secret of disguising as Longevity Granny, leading to a confrontation, and then Miss Kimie killed them!”

”But the problem is... Miss Kimie, a weak young woman, how did she kill three people?”

Conan began to ponder once more.

”Perhaps she lured them out one by one? Then killed them individually?”

”But... how did Miss Kimie disguise as Longevity Granny?”

”That’s not the problem.”

Hearing Heiji’s question, Conan also had an idea.

”I think the residents here should be able to provide us with an answer.”