Kogoro Mouri didn't have to wait long.
A few minutes later.
Amid hurried footsteps, Luo Shu, Sayuri Sawamura and even Eriri arrived at the scene.
When she saw the corpse before the statue, Sayuri Sawamura froze instantly:
"Robert?"
"Dad?"
Eriri instinctively tried to enter the prayer room but was stopped by Kogoro Mouri's outstretched arm:
"Young miss, though it's presumptuous, please don't disturb the crime scene."
At that moment, Luo Shu pulled Eriri behind him to shield her from further emotional distress from seeing the corpse, then asked Kogoro Mouri:
"What happened?"
Seeing Luo Shu, Kogoro instinctively saluted before explaining the situation, particularly emphasising the time between his parting with Robert and returning to the reception room.
"So, within ten minutes of you separating from Mr Robert and returning to the reception room, he was killed in the prayer room?"
As he spoke, Luo Shu scanned the corpse not far ahead, his gaze lingering on the dried crimson head and the clearly visible pool of blood originating from it:
"Blunt force trauma to the head?"
"The weapon doesn't seem to be nearby, meaning it was taken away?"
"From current observations, that appears to be the case, but we'll need the coroner's report for specifics."
Kogoro added as he spoke:
"I've already had Ran notify Inspector Megure about the situation. They should bring a coroner."
"You notified the Metropolitan Police Department?"
Luo Shu frowned, then glanced at Sayuri Sawamura, who was covering her mouth to suppress her tears, and sighed:
"Fine that you notified them. Having it on record will make it easier for me to take over."
"You're actually planning to take this on? Isn't that going a bit too far..." Kogoro Mouri paused, his expression showing clear surprise.
The murder of a British diplomat at home was already a sensitive matter. If the SDS got involved, things were likely to escalate further.
After all, the intervention of organisations like the SDS or Bujin-shū would imply suspicions that the victim's death involved factors from the mystic side.
One had to understand that the sensitivity level differed greatly between a diplomat being killed by a regular person versus being killed by a sorcerer.
"Whether it's going too far is another matter."
As he spoke, Luo Shu glanced sideways at the dazed-looking Eriri behind him and sighed:
"As Director, I must give my subordinate an explanation."
Hearing this, Kogoro Mouri gave Eriri a startled look.
'Such a young girl was actually an SDS member? And Luo Shu's subordinate at that?'
'Could it be that she's one of those geniuses the mystic side loves to recruit?'
'Hiss!! Things seem to be getting more serious by the minute.'
Just then, Conan's childish voice rang out:
"Uncle Mouri, Inspector Megure and the others have arrived. They'll be here any moment."
As soon as Conan finished reporting, he noticed Luo Shu standing beside Kogoro Mouri, staring at him with an extremely peculiar expression.
'What the hell... This guy's gaze...' Conan couldn't help but shiver, his steps faltering as he tried to avoid Luo Shu's scrutiny.
At that moment, Luo Shu spoke up: "Is this boy with you, Mouri?"
Still unaware of the gravity of the situation, Kogoro Mouri replied casually:
"He's a relative's child. Kept insisting on coming along today, so I had no choice but to bring him."
"Which relative?" Luo Shu immediately pressed further.
Hearing this, Kogoro's expression changed slightly as he tensed up:
"Director Luo, he's just a child!"
Kogoro thought Luo Shu was suspecting Conan of being the murderer and was utterly shocked.
That makes no sense whatsoever?!
Instead of answering directly, Luo Shu kept staring at Conan with an inscrutable expression:
"Children aren't necessarily impossible."
"Don't let your common sense limit your thinking, Mouri."
Luo Shu's condescending tone instantly put Kogoro on high alert. He studied Conan seriously:
"Conan, from now on, you're not to leave my sight for even a minute. Understood?"
"...Y-yes," Conan replied with visible discomfort, though internally he was fuming.
'Shinichi Kudo being suspected as a murderer? Is this Director Luo an even worse detective than Uncle Mouri? And this is supposed to be secret service personnel?'
'This is absolutely infuriating!'
As a seething Conan was dragged aside by Kogoro for a time-out, Juzo Megure arrived with seven or eight officers, led by Kochiyo Rurukawa.
"Mouri, what exactly is going on? Ran called saying there's been a murder, and the victim is a diplomat? What in the... Director Luo? You're here too?"
Megure froze momentarily upon seeing Luo Shu before hastily saluting.
"Megure Juzo from Violent Crimes Division 3 reporting for duty. Awaiting instructions!"
Seeing Megure's actions, the accompanying officers immediately followed suit with nervous salutes.
After glancing at the now-composed Sayuri Sawamura, Luo Shu sighed and addressed Megure directly:
"Megure, have your people gather everyone in the villa - separate men and women for supervision."
"Get the forensics team to examine the scene immediately and confirm details."
"You personally come with me."
Turning around, Luo Shu grabbed the still-dazed Eriri and commanded:
"Why are you standing around? Shouldn't you be calling Utaha over immediately? Don't you want justice for your dead father?"
At these words, Eriri suddenly sniffled, wiping her arm across her face:
"Understood."
Though concerned, Luo Shu said nothing more. After all, when it came to comforting this girl, Utaha Kasumigaoka was far more skilled than him.
Compared to Eriri, the more troublesome one was actually Sayuri Sawamura, who had now calmed down.
Glancing at Sayuri Sawamura's currently reddened eyes, Luo Shu sighed and said seriously:
"Madam, you should come along too."
"Mouri, keep an eye on this kid and don't let him eavesdrop."
"Yes, sir!" Kogoro Mouri instinctively saluted, then fixed his gaze on Conan like a snarling guard dog.
Conan, who had been somewhat eager earlier, immediately froze upon hearing this.
'Is this Director mentally ill? Guarding against me right off the bat? Not even sparing a child?'
'And Uncle Mouri, are you out of your mind, too? You resigned from the Metropolitan Police Department ages ago—that guy isn't your superior anymore, damn it!!'
As Conan cursed inwardly, he could only watch helplessly as Luo Shu took the key witnesses into a side corridor for a private discussion.
At that moment, Conan's expression was as bleak as if Ran Mouri had been dragged into an alley by some blond guy who looked like Luo Shu, his face full of sorrow and despair.
"Life really is unbearable!"