Chapter 245: A Special Finale
"Finally, there is suspect number three," Natsume continued, her gaze shifting to another profile. "Barbara, also a contestant in the competition."
"She has no known conflicts with Nilou, but she is noteworthy for a different reason: her sheer talent. Barbara's singing voice is exceptionally pleasant and melodious, a sound some might describe as divine. Her vocal mastery is on par with Nilou's command of dance, making her one of the most formidable competitors on Nilou's path to the championship."
Natsume paused, letting the information sink in. "More, for reasons yet unknown, she entered this dance practice room—a place she had no business being—sometime between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. That fact alone makes her a key suspect."
"I have a question," Okiya Subaru interjected, his voice calm and measured. "How was it determined that there are only these three suspects? What if someone is lying about their whereabouts? Wouldn't that mean we might be overlooking the real culprit?"
Just then, the door opened, and Kamisato Ayaka walked over, having finished her own interview with the police. She had intended to join Natsume, but she overheard Okiya's question and a faint smile touched her lips as she approached.
"To ensure the smooth operation of the event, we installed hidden cameras throughout the hallways," she explained, her voice carrying a gentle authority. "They captured these three contestants entering this practice room alone during the lunch break."
She offered a graceful, almost apologetic bow. "It is a pity, however, that we did not install cameras inside the practice rooms themselves. We felt it would be an invasion of privacy and could stifle the artists' creative process. Therefore, we cannot know for certain which of the three is responsible."
Hearing Ayaka's explanation, Okiya Subaru's eyelids twitched. A flicker of genuine surprise crossed his mind. He was certain he hadn't noticed any surveillance equipment in the hallway when he'd walked through earlier. He subconsciously glanced toward the corners of the ceiling, searching for a lens, before recalling that Miss Kamisato had just stated there were none inside the room.
Okiya frowned slightly, his mind racing. If what Kamisato Ayaka said was true, the surveillance equipment must have been installed with incredible stealth, perhaps even using some special technology to evade detection. The thought sent a faint, unfamiliar current of unease through him.
"Eh?! Really?!" the Detective Boys exclaimed in unison. "We didn't notice anything at all!"
Fueled by curiosity, they scrambled out of the room and began scanning the hallway, their heads swiveling as they searched for any sign of a hidden camera. However, no matter how hard they looked, they couldn't find a single clue.
Defeated, they ran back inside, their excitement undiminished. "Big Sister Kamisato, there really isn't a trace of them! How did you do it?"
A hint of apology softened Ayaka's eyes. She lowered her head slightly, addressing the children with a gentle warmth. "I'm sorry, but I don't know the specifics myself. This event is a joint venture between our Kamisato Clan and the Jade Chamber. The devices were provided by their company, so I'm not privy to the technical details."
At the mention of the Jade Chamber, Conan's eyes widened in surprise. But then his gaze fell upon the glowing Vision hanging at Ayaka's side, and a look of sudden understanding dawned on his face.
"The Jade Chamber? You mean Miss Ningguang's Jade Chamber?" Sonoko asked, her voice filled with pleasant surprise. "Is she here? Is she nearby?"
She began craning her neck, eagerly looking left and right, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elegant and mature woman she so admired.
"That is not the case, I'm afraid," Ayaka replied. Seeing Sonoko's shoulders slump in disappointment, she felt a pang of sympathy and quickly added, "However, Miss Ningguang will be attending the finale."
Sonoko's head snapped back up.
"At that time," Ayaka continued, a confident smile gracing her lips, "the Jade Chamber will provide a batch of special equipment. When combined with our newly designed venue, it will bring a truly unique final performance to the audience."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her smile growing. Bending down to gently pat Ayumi's head, she addressed the children before her. "Big Sister can guarantee that the effects at the finale will absolutely astonish everyone."
Conan couldn't help but feel a jolt as he processed her words. He recalled the news he'd heard earlier—that the original venue for the Kamisato Clan's finale had been burned down. A series of questions began to form in his mind.
'Special final equipment and stage effects...'Conan muttered to himself, his thoughts churning.'Could this be the real reason the venue was targeted by an arsonist?'
If there truly was such advanced technology and spectacular stagecraft planned, it would certainly become a prime target for anyone determined to sabotage the event. And if the culprit was trying to prevent a potentially legendary finale from taking place, it strongly implied two things: the saboteur was likely connected to one of the Kamisato Clan's competitors, and crucial details about the competition had been leaked. Otherwise, how would an outsider know that the finale was being held in a different location from the preliminary rounds?
"So mysterious?" Sonoko exclaimed, her curiosity thoroughly piqued by Ayaka's tantalizing description.
Unable to restrain herself, she leaned over to Natsume and whispered, "Natsume, isn't Miss Ningguang your friend, too? Do you have any inside information?"
Under the expectant gazes of both Sonoko and Ran, who had leaned in to listen, Natsume first nodded, then slowly shook her head.
Sonoko blinked in confusion. "So, do you know or not?"
Natsume explained, "I know a little." She then raised a single index finger and wagged it playfully. "But I'm not telling. If I spoil it for you now, Sonoko, there won't be any surprise left when you watch the finale."
"Alright then," Sonoko sighed, a little disappointed but respecting her friend's decision. She knew Natsume was right; the anticipation was part of the fun.
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