BWDC:SDDK Chapter 86: Ninja Batman
Ren Ichimonji directed a look of pure disapproval toward Kazunobu Chiba.
Shintama Ninja Art: Alibi Creation Technique.
Did I unconsciously travel to the world of Naruto at some point?
"Ninja Art"? Why don't you just go ahead and say you're from a Super Sentai squad?
Under normal circumstances, Ren Ichimonji wasn't an early riser.
Aside from occasional flexibility drills to ensure his sleight of hand wouldn't fail, he didn't exercise much. This was precisely why, despite being a brilliant magician, he never pursued the path of a "Grand Illusionist."
"Disappearing Acts" required too much physical hardware; his sub-health body simply couldn't support the configuration.
However, after being tempered by [Beginner Combat Mastery], Ren Ichimonji had successfully become an early bird. Not only was he waking up early, but he was actually exercising.
So, when he received the "Bat-Signal" from Commissioner Gordon—well, Inspector Megure—he rushed to the scene immediately.
Yet, the situation at the scene was still a bit too far beyond his expectations.
"Hey, hey, don't leave just yet!"
Inspector Megure affectionately threw an arm around Ren Ichimonji's shoulder. He pleaded hurriedly, "Let me explain, Brother Bat!"
Ren Ichimonji: "?"
Fine. For the sake of the title "Brother Bat," and for the sake of the Public Security mission points, I'll reluctantly stay and hear what "brilliant" insights you have!
While preparing to listen to Megure's explanation, Ren Ichimonji glanced at the system screen for the Public Security mission.
[Detection: A violent incident threatening the security of Gotham City has occurred nearby!]
[As Batman, you have the duty to maintain Gotham's peace. Please arrive at the incident point quickly. Capture the criminal before they flee, or stop them mid-crime!]
[Difficulty: Low. Completion Reward: 20 Points!]
This mission was clearly categorized as "Low" because the system deemed there was no further life-threatening danger to others. In Ren's mind, this was likely a random mugging-turned-murder. Since the killer usually flees after the act, there's no secondary crime at the scene.
However, Inspector Megure's description quickly changed his mind.
"After our investigation, we identified the deceased as Yuichi Kusaka," Megure stated. "He traveled all the way from Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture to Tokyo specifically to seek guidance from the Ninja Master, Ryutaro Tsukigata. We've already sent for his senior disciple, Masaru Saruhashi, and the teacher, Ryutaro Tsukigata."
"After looking into it, we feel this case is quite fishy." Megure's expression turned grave.
Ren Ichimonji, however, didn't look grave at all. He remained calm.
A Ninja Master? What, did you find Ra's al Ghul? Am I supposed to apprentice under him and evolve from Beika Batman into Ninja Batman? Do I then have to go fight a time-traveling Joker and Harley Quinn in feudal Japan to save the world?
Still, Ren patiently listened to Megure describe the case.
"We found a fountain pen near the deceased."
"This pen was a gift from Ryutaro Tsukigata to his student, Masaru Saruhashi. For some reason, it ended up next to Yuichi Kusaka. Naturally, we suspect the killer is Masaru Saruhashi."
"Brother Mouri shares our opinion."
Ren Ichimonji: "?"
So, you called me over just to prove that Ryutaro Tsukigata killed Yuichi Kusaka? I mean, there are only two suspects. If Mouri Kogoro says Saruhashi is the killer, then by the law of the "Mouri Curse," the killer must be the other guy, right?
Ren reached out to stop Megure and whispered, "Hold on. When is the forensics team arriving? If they're going to be a while, I'll take a look at the body first, alright?"
Megure blinked in surprise. Huh? Brother Ren knows how to examine a body? I've never seen him do that before.
Oh, right. Every other victim Brother Ren encountered before was already 'dead-dead.' Guess it makes sense.
Megure stepped aside to clear the path.
Walking past the Inspector, Ren Ichimonji crouched down, his gaze falling on the body of Yuichi Kusaka. He wasn't a forensic pathologist, but he understood hand-to-hand combat. As long as the victim didn't die from poison or disease, he could manage a makeshift autopsy.
—Yuichi Kusaka died from pressure to the neck.
Normally, Ren would assume someone strangled him to death with their bare hands. But given the "Ninja" context, he briefly wondered if the killer had used some absurd "Hand-Blade Continuous Slicer" or "Flaming Blade" technique.
Clearly, it was the former. There was only pressure on the neck; no other signs of struggle or strikes.
"Time of death... roughly between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM last night?" Ren raised an eyebrow and offered his conclusion.
Hearing this, Megure's eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement.
"Exactly! The victim most likely died during that window. According to a phone message left by Ryutaro Tsukigata, the deceased was still waiting for a train at Teito Station at 8:05 PM. The timetable shows that the train arrives at Beika Station at 8:40 PM. Therefore, the murder must have happened after 8:40 PM."
"But that's where the problem lies—" Megure's expression became incredibly serious.
"Masaru Saruhashi was drinking at an Izakaya at 8:30 PM. He simply had no time to commit the crime. Meanwhile, Ryutaro Tsukigata was away from home from noon until 9:00 PM and has no alibi. Theoretically, he could have done it, but... Ryutaro is an old man. It's unlikely he would use such a brute-force method to kill someone."
"So, we still feel the killer is Saruhashi. His alibi might have been manufactured... and this 'Alibi Creation Ninja Art' is actually documented in Ninja Master Ryutaro Tsukigata's book, The Extraordinary Centipede Ninja!"
So you guys really think his alibi was made using a "Ninja Art"?
Ren Ichimonji looked pained. Usually, if Mouri Kogoro points at someone, that person is innocent. But...
"That's not necessarily true, is it?"
Mouri Kogoro, suddenly perking up, chimed in. "Inspector, do you remember Director Ochiai from the Art Museum? He was in his late seventies, yet he threw on a heavy suit of medieval armor, lugged a massive broadsword, ran like the wind, and pinned the victim to a mural so hard we couldn't even pull the sword out!"
"Age doesn't prove someone isn't a killer!"
Mouri shook off his grogginess and added, "I think Ryutaro Tsukigata could definitely be the killer. Looking at it now, he's actually the prime suspect!"
Ren Ichimonji: "?"
Okay, I need to revise my previous thought. Since Mouri just shifted his suspicion to the old master... it looks like Saruhashi's alibi really was faked.
End of Chapter
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