Hattori Heiji glanced at everyone's expressions, then proudly offered an explanation.
"After a person dies, their heart stops beating, so even if an artery is cut, the blood loss is limited.
Therefore, all the significant blood loss at the scene occurred before the victim died. And now, judging by the coagulation of the victim's blood at the scene, the victim's time of death is not far from now. When I entered, I noticed that there was surveillance at the entrance of this shop. For the killer to leave the scene in such a short time would be too conspicuous. So, to avoid suspicion, the killer must still be hidden among you people at the scene!"
"But the killer didn't necessarily have to use the front door to enter or leave."
Takato said, somewhat speechless.
"But Akechi, you should know that besides the front door, our shop's back door is always locked from the inside. If the killer didn't use the front door, there would be no other exit."
The shop manager, Kinoshita Kawashi, explained.
"That's right, when I just arrived, I specifically went to check the back of this shop and found that the door was indeed locked from the inside. If the killer really left from there, then it could only be that the killer had an accomplice still hiding in the shop. But no matter what, all of you at the scene are suspects, either the real killer or an accomplice!"
Hattori Heiji said excitedly, seeming even more pleased after hearing Takato's earlier narration.
Takato sighed, "There's actually something very strange about the scene. There's so much blood, but the killer didn't step in it and leave footprints. As you said, all this significant blood loss occurred before the victim died. Considering the victim's cause of death, the killer must have still been at the scene until the victim died. So, it's very strange that the killer left this blood-soaked scene without stepping in the blood."
"What's so strange about that? The killer just needed to be a little careful. Look, Officer Otaki went in and didn't step in it."
Hattori Heiji said nonchalantly, "Besides, when the killer left, the blood might not have spread out as it is now."
Takato knew he hadn't made his point clear, so he continued to explain.
"Don't you think it would be very suspicious for the killer to cautiously leave the private room through the door? If you were the killer and wanted to leave the scene without being discovered, what would you do?"
"That goes without saying, of course, you'd make sure the hallway was empty before..."
As Hattori Heiji spoke, he suddenly realized what Takato was trying to say.
If the killer left the private room through the door, then to ensure they weren't discovered, the best thing would be to confirm that there was no one in the corridor, but to do that, they would have to get close to the door to listen for movement outside, or even better, be able to see the situation outside with their own eyes. However, the entire private room's space is only so small, and to make such a movement, they would inevitably have to get close to the door. At that time, the bloodstains in the private room should have already spread near the door. In such a situation, it would be too difficult for the killer to confirm that no one was outside.
Unless the killer didn't confirm at all and just opened the door and left. But would the killer really be that bold, not afraid of being seen?
Looking at Takato, Hattori Heiji understood that Takato had already thought of this point, which was why he said what he did earlier. But if that was the case, how did the killer leave?
Looking at the situation inside the private room again, Hattori Heiji noticed the vent on the ceiling.
"You mean the killer entered the scene through that ventilation duct? No way, this type of vent is fixed with screws. Even if the killer entered through it, they would have to remove the screws, and the victim couldn't possibly not notice the noise! Unless the killer and the victim knew each other and the killer's appearance was not unexpected... But that's not right either, the killer should clearly have a deep grudge against the victim!"
After thinking for a long time, Hattori Heiji felt his head spinning, feeling like he was getting confused.
"It's not necessarily that complicated, but the truth will depend on checking the situation of the vent. Officer Otaki, please go up and see if there are any traces of glue or similar substances on the edge of the vent."
Takato said.
"You suspect that this vent was removed beforehand and then fixed with glue or something, and the killer just had to push it open to get in? And then fixed it back with screws when leaving so it wouldn't be discovered?"
Hearing the word "glue" in Takato's words, Hattori Heiji understood.
Takato responded with an "Mhm," making Hattori Heiji feel that he had underestimated this young man who called himself a Detective.
Of course, thinking of this point wasn't a remarkable feat; it was simply because a similar method had appeared in the previous Lavender Villa Incident. So when Takato thought that the killer might have come and gone through the vent, this suspicion naturally arose.
Officer Otaki immediately took action, stepping onto the table and carefully feeling the edge of the vent. Sure enough, he felt a sticky sensation and gave a definitive answer.
"If that's the case, the killer obviously tampered with this private room beforehand, but how could the killer be sure that the victim would come to this private room?" Hattori Heiji asked, puzzled.
"Before that, I have a question I'd like to ask."
Takato looked at the employee who had just returned from the front desk with the registration materials.
"Did our shop's network problem only occur after the victim came to the shop?"
At this question, the employee suddenly seemed to remember something, "It seems so. I remember that day the victim first came to our shop to use the internet, and soon after, we received complaints from customers that the shop's network was very bad. And the victim was one of the few customers who didn't complain that day, so I have some impression."
And hearing this, the shop manager, Kinoshita Kawashi, looked at Takato, seemingly understanding something.
"Akechi, what do you mean by asking that?"
"Well, I've been managing the shop's network these past few days, and I found that the culprit behind the network fluctuations came from within the shop. I suppose someone installed malicious software on the shop's computers after coming to use the internet, thereby affecting the entire shop's network. And the victim has been coming every day these past few days, which makes me a bit suspicious."
The shop manager's questioning for confirmation received Takato's affirmative answer.
"But why would he do that?"
Kinoshita Kawashi asked, puzzled, while Hattori Heiji, hearing the unexpected clue, also perked up his ears and listened.
Takato hadn't really thought deeply about this question. After a brief moment of thought, Takato suddenly asked, "Did the network problem only occur after that employee took leave?"
At Takato's question, the shop employees suddenly seemed to realize something, and all agreed that it was indeed the case.
Hattori Heiji, who had been listening to their discussion from the side, also said, "Speaking of which, for this killer to tamper with the shop beforehand, it means he is very familiar with the structure of this internet cafe. So, the employee you mentioned who took leave is very suspicious!"
Just then, police sirens sounded outside. The Police Officer who had received the alarm arrived at the scene, but it seemed they were all Officer Otaki's subordinates. The deployment at the scene was quickly arranged by Officer Otaki. In addition to protecting the scene and collecting evidence, he also specifically dispatched Police Officers to investigate the ventilation ducts, and then, considering Hattori Heiji's words, planned to investigate the home of the employee who took leave.
"How about it? Do you want to go to that employee's house together?"
Hattori Heiji invited Takato.
Takato was about to readily agree when an employee suddenly ran over in a panic and said to Kinoshita Kawashi, "Manager! This is bad! The shop's server..."
Hearing this, Takato's expression changed slightly, and he ran towards the main computer that managed the server in the shop. The manager and Hattori Heiji also followed closely. Seeing Hattori in such a hurry, Kazuha and Officer Otaki also quickly followed.
Arriving in front of the main computer, they saw that the data in the server was being completely deleted by an unknown program!
A virus program had bypassed the firewall he had written! And the emergency program hadn't even triggered!
Takato made several urgent attempts but it was already too late!
Night Baron!
Takato subconsciously thought of this name!