The Case of the Twin Prison Locked Room Murder Pt. 4

**The Case of the Twin Prison Locked Room Murder Pt. 4** is the 54th chapter of the *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga.

## Summary

Totomaru and Ron head to the Moon Prison. Totomaru introduces himself to a police officer who recognizes his name as the one who is in charge of the crime scene until Amamiya comes. Fin and Shachi arrived only a little bit earlier. When Shachi sees Ron, he asks him what he is doing here as he was banned from doing any detective work. Ron tells him he came to deliver sweets; Shachi hopes he brought enough for him and Fin as well. However, before any sweets can be given, Fin has already walked ahead to the prison because she is so absorbed in the case; she was not even listening. Ron notes that this is not a surprise. After all, someone died right after she believed to have solved the mystery. Such a thing is disgraceful to detectives.

Ron, Toto, and Shachi then follow her to the prison's window. Through it, they can see Kaji's corpse. Fin tells them that she made sure that nobody entered the prison and that they confirmed Kaji's death by considering his dilated pupils through the window and taking his temperature via thermography. She adds that, judging by the pool of blood, Kaji was likely stabbed after he was tied to the chair. This means that the culprit was with him the room. Toto then says they should open the door to get inside, but Fin informs him that while the door is not locked, it cannot be opened: Like in Sun Prison Murder Case, a brass bar has been mounted to the inside of the door, making it impossible to open and sealing the room from within. This creates the same mystery as in the Sun Prison Case: How did the culprit leave the room after killing their victim?

Totomaru wonders if it could be the same culprit as in the Sun Prison Case, but Shachi reminds him that this case happened seventy years ago; it can only be a copycat. Totomaru then asks whether it is even possible to perfectly replicate an unsolved case. Fin replies they should focus on thoroughly checking the outside of the prison to find proof whether someone could enter or exit the building first.

Everyone helps to examine the building—even Ron. Fin eventually approaches Ron and asks him what he is doing, and Ron replies that he is only passing out sweets. She reminds him that, according to BLUE's operating regulations, "any activity intended to clarify the truth" is classified as detective work. Ron points out that he is only observing the crime scene though. Fin tells him she will decide whether this counts or not.

Afterward, they conclude the examination, and Fin declares the case a perfect locked room as nobody could have entered or exited the Moon Prison right before Kiyotaka, Youko, and Sakanoue arrive. Youko asks if it is true that Kaji was murdered, and Toto affirms this. And while Sakanoue starts to pray when she learns this and Youko is distraught, Kiyotaka asks if they can see his uncle's body, but Toto denies him the access. Youko scolds her son for making such a request.

Kiyotaka then testifies that Kaji was fixated on finding Juntaro's killer; Kiyotaka had tried to talk him out of it, but he did not want to listen. Youko tells Sakanoue to step aside before she adds that Kaji was furious about Juntaro's estate allocation because Juntaro left him nothing although, by law, Kaji was not entitled to any money or property. Kaji wanted to find evidence that would prove Kiyotaka as his father's killer so that he would get the money. This makes Toto believe that Kaji came to Moon Prison to search for evidence, but neither Kiyotaka, Youko, nor Sakanoue say anything about this.

Totomaru then asks Youko if they could break the window, and she agrees. The window is shattered and everyone can now enter the prison. Kaji is examined and no drugs are found in his system; this indicates that he was indeed killed inside the prison. Fin and Shachi then scrutinize the room, but except for the brass bar, everything is the same as yesterday.

As there are no signs that adhesives or wax had been used on the bar, Fin wants to check it for magnetism, but Shachi has forgotten the compass. Ron offers her his. Shachi tells him that Fin only uses the tools *he* prepared for her, and Fin asks Ron why he, a sweetsmonger, is carrying a compass. Before he can answer though, Sakanoue yells through the window at Ron, Fin, Shachi, and Toto, saying that it is their fault that Kaji died because they did not arrest the culprit yesterday. Toto wholeheartedly apologizes to her; they only focused on solving the mystery, not apprehending the culprit, and now, another life was lost and will never come back. Youko then finds Sakanoue and guides her away from the window.

Totomaru's words open Fin's eyes to her own arrogance; she thanks him for this and says that she will catch the culprit to atone for her shame. Again, Ron offers her his compass which he apparently uses for his sweets deliveries. Shachi tells him to forget it as Fin only uses his, but Fin takes Ron's offer. She then tells Ron that, according to her father's words, someone is only a detective if they solve the mystery; otherwise, they are only a bystander. Thus, as long as she is the one who solves this case, Ron cannot be considered a detective and can stay and help with the investigation, but only for this case. Ron notes that while it is generous, this means that Fin will be too focused on the case to bother with him.

While Fin takes Ron's compass to check the brass bar and learns that it is not magnetic, Ron declares that he will solve the case "his" way then.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Totomaru Isshiki
* Ron Kamonohashi
* Fin Fennec
* Shachi
* Youko Mihane
* Kaki Sakanoue
* Kiyotaka Mihane