"First of all, the lights in car three were deliberately sabotaged, and the small lamp on Akagi's table is the evidence. Only if the lights were not working could the criminal plan be carried out. When the train entered the tunnel, in the complete darkness, Honda used the hidden murder weapon inside the pen's body to stab Akagi in the neck. As everyone knows, potassium cyanide is a lethal poison; once it enters the bloodstream, it can cause instant death. Once Akagi was dead, pouring the remaining potassium cyanide into the glass of water was a piece of cake, because Akagi was already dead and could not stop him..."
"One moment, please. How did Mr. Honda know that Mr. Akagi would definitely sit behind him?" asked the stewardess skeptically.
Tickets for this train do not have assigned seats; it was impossible to predict where Akagi would sit. And Honda Kumaji had been sitting in that spot from the beginning, without changing places.
"No, that's true. Mr. Akagi changed seats halfway through the journey, he sat there voluntarily," said Kazuha, surprised.
"If he sat there voluntarily, what does that have to do with Honda?" said Engo Masanami indifferently.
"Idiot, think about why Akagi moved voluntarily," Heiji snapped.
"The lamp! When the car went dark, he moved voluntarily for the lamp," Kazuha said aloud.
Heiji nodded with a satisfied smile: "Exactly, it was for the lamp. Normally, there are no lamps in the car; this lamp was attached to that table, and to see clearly in the dark, it was natural for Akagi to sit there."
"But that doesn't prove that the murderer is Honda. Besides, we don't even know what the murder weapon was," said Katsu Nanako resignedly.
"The murder weapon? If I'm not mistaken, the weapon was actually a needle of ice, with a wide head and a tip as fine as a pin. This needle of ice was mixed with a large amount of potassium cyanide."
The people present were stunned, with expressions of complete disbelief.
Honda Kumaji's face turned pale, his pupils contracted, and he looked at Heiji in disbelief.
How does this kid know that? Impossible, he must be guessing.
"But, Mr. Heiji, how did you know?" asked the stewardess curiously.
"Akagi's shirt collar was wet, and the fog formed on the mirror is the proof," Heiji explained.
Everyone suddenly understood. So that was the reason Heiji had used the mirror earlier.
"How ridiculous. Even if it's true, as you say, that the murder weapon was a needle of ice with that shape, how was I supposed to bring it onto the train? As you know, without refrigeration, it would have evaporated quickly," said Honda Kumaji with a cold smile.
"Oh, that's why I said the pen's body is the evidence," Heiji said confidently.
Boom!
Honda Kumaji's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Heiji with a trace of panic.
Why does this kid look so confident? Has he really figured out my method?
"Perhaps many people don't know, but wrapping ice in dry cotton helps preserve it, preventing as much evaporation as possible. And your method must have been to completely empty the pen and then insert the ice needle wrapped in cotton inside. Of course, that needle was made from a frozen mixture of potassium cyanide and water. Once inside, you extracted the air to create a vacuum state, which would prevent the ice needle from melting quickly for a while. And the water droplets inside the pen's body are the result of the needle's evaporation, and there is still a faint trace of almond smell. That's the proof!"
The car fell silent. Heiji's deduction was truly overwhelming.
Honda Kumaji's expression froze completely, and a deep sense of panic overtook his gaze.
How does this kid know all this? My plan was perfect, why does he know all these details, as if he saw it with his own eyes? Impossible, it's impossible.
"But, Mr. Heiji, the water droplets inside the pen have already disappeared," Katsu Nanako whispered.
Suddenly, Honda Kumaji, like a drowning man clinging to a piece of wood, regained his confidence: "That can't be proof. Also, now that I remember, I washed this pen last night, those must be water droplets left from then. As for the almond smell, you must have made a mistake."
"It seems you're planning to deny your guilt until the end, right?" Heiji still had the upper hand.
"I'm not the murderer, why would I confess?" said Honda Kumaji fiercely.
"The pen's body is just one of the pieces of evidence, not the decisive one. The definitive proof is here."
Heiji picked up the tissue pack, opened it, and took out the tissues one by one.
Suddenly, a piece of paper flew out and landed on the table, covered in text.
"This must be the paper Akagi was reading earlier. I'm sure you can find his fingerprints on it. The fact that the paper Akagi had right before he died is now in your possession is already enough proof that you're the murderer. But there's one more piece of evidence that you won't be able to refute. And it is..."
Heiji pulled a wet cotton ball out of the tissue pack. Instantly, the people present covered their noses. A strong smell of almonds!!!
Seeing that cotton ball, Honda Kumaji's face completely changed, and his gaze filled with hopelessness.
"This must be the cotton you used to preserve the ice needle, right? At this point, do you still think you can deny it?" Heiji said confidently.
Honda Kumaji clenched his fists tightly, and after a long while, relaxed them in a gesture of defeat.
"You really live up to your name, Hattori. I admit your deductive ability. That's right, I killed Akagi. Who told him to discover that I was embezzling funds by taking advantage of my position as chief and even get proof? To rid myself of his threats, I decided to kill him and get rid of the problem once and for all. I thought my plan was perfect, but unfortunately, I didn't count on you being here," said Honda Kumaji, completely dejected.
"Humans have flaws, only machines can be perfect. And before a Machinist, no crime can remain hidden."
An aura of imposing confidence emanated from Heiji's body.
------------------------
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