52: Chapter 52: The Case of the Vanished Corpse

After some back and forth, Hiratsuka Shizuka finally agreed to Fujino's request. She even promised, "I'll go to the school nurse's office tomorrow and get you approved for sick leave."

Poor Araide Tomoaki, Fujino thought wryly. Probably going to get strong-armed by a certain 'approachable' violent beauty into issuing another fraudulent sick note.

After hanging up, Fujino couldn't help but reflect. He didn't know Shizuka that well, mostly just that she was beautiful and prone to violence. Sometimes fierce, sometimes surprisingly gentle... Whether it was out of pity, guilt, or something else, she was one of the few people in this world who genuinely seemed concerned about his safety.

[New Detective Profession Task detected. Please check.]

A system notification interrupted his thoughts.

"Again?!" Fujino exclaimed, surprised. He looked up. Several police cars blocked the road ahead, lights flashing – clearly a crime scene.

He opened the system task interface:

[Detective Profession Task: Vanished Corpse Murder Case]

Objective: Solve the Vanished Corpse Murder Case.

Reward: 500,000 Yen, +50 Detective Reputation.

Location: Residential house 50 meters from Host's current position.

"Ah, the Vanished Corpse Case."

Fujino recognized the name. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then pulled the Taurus over to the side of the road.

Getting out, he walked straight towards Inspector Megure, who was standing outside the cordoned-off house.

"Inspector Megure," Fujino asked, "another murder case?"

"These kids claim they saw a dead body in the bathroom of this house. We were just about to go inside and search."

"I see."

Fujino glanced over. Sure enough, it was the Beika Death Squad: Conan, Mitsuhiko, Genta, and Ayumi.

He turned back to Megure.

"Mind if I join you? Perhaps I can be of assistance."

"That would be excellent, Fujino-kun!" Megure beamed, clapping Fujino warmly on the shoulder. He then led Fujino and the forensics team towards the front door.

"What's all the noise?! What do you people want?!"

A man in his thirties, hair messy, wearing a bathrobe as if he'd just showered, opened the door belligerently.

"Police," Megure stated firmly, gesturing towards the kids. "These children reported seeing a dead body inside your house..."

Before Megure could finish, the Detective Boys interrupted, talking over each other:

"It's true!"

"There was a man dead in the bathroom!"

"And he was covered in blood!"

"A dead body?" The man blinked, then pointed down the hallway.

"The bathroom's at the end of the hall. Go look if you want!"

"Very well. Excuse us, then." Megure stepped inside.

Conan and the others tried to follow.

But Fujino blocked their path.

"Children shouldn't enter a potential crime scene."

"But we're the ones who found the body!"

"Yeah! Big brother Fujino probably just wants to steal our credit!"

Blocked by Fujino, the Detective Boys ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠started complaining loudly.

"Fujino-kun is right!" Inspector Megure called back from inside. "It's inappropriate for children to be at a crime scene."

"You wait outside for now. If there really is a body, you'll certainly get credit for finding it."

"Okay..." Grumbling, but overruled by the Inspector, the Detective Boys had no choice but to wait outside.

Conan, however, frowned, staring suspiciously at Fujino. This is the second time... Why does this guy always interfere with me?¹ So annoying.

"See! What body?!" The man from the house stood indignantly by the bathroom door as Fujino and Megure entered.

"I told you those kids were just playing a prank!"

"That's strange. The children were quite specific about the bathroom," Megure murmured, ignoring the man's complaints. He turned to Fujino.

"Fujino-kun, what do you think?"

"To get here... let me see." Megure checked his watch. "From receiving the call to arriving on scene... about fifteen minutes."

"So, Fujino-kun, you think he moved the body?"

"That seems likely," Fujino nodded. "Besides, Inspector, haven't you noticed the foul odor in this bathroom?"

"Foul odor?" Megure sniffed the air. "You're right! There is a nasty smell!"

"Exactly."

"If I'm not mistaken, that's the lingering smell of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blood. Fifteen minutes."

"Enough time to clean visible stains, perhaps, but the smell... it permeates the air and takes time to dissipate. A luminol test should confirm blood residue."

"Is that so?" Megure's eyes lit up with understanding. He called out to the forensics officers outside. "Did any of you bring luminol?"

A moment later, an officer in blue overalls appeared at the doorway.

"Reporting, Inspector! Due to the sudden nature of the call, we didn't bring any luminol reagents..."

"Then go back and get some!" Megure snapped, his face darkening.

"Yes, sir!" The officer scurried away.

Megure sighed once the officer left. "Looks like until the luminol gets here, we'll just have to search for the body."

Fujino watched this exchange, silently facepalming. The forensics team responds to a potential murder scene without luminol? Only in the Conan-verse.

"Hmph!" The man by the door snorted derisively.

"If you want to search, then search all you want! I'm going upstairs to sleep!"

"You're really just letting us search freely?" Megure asked, surprised by his nonchalance.

"I couldn't care less what you do..." the man retorted, turning away with a sneer.

"You police actually take kids' pranks seriously? It's a wonder you ever solve any crimes!"

"Search! Search everywhere!" Now thoroughly annoyed, Megure barked orders at the forensics team.

"Turn this house upside down if you have to! Find me that body!"

The team immediately began a systematic search of the premises.

1. Foreshadowing.