novelraw Chapter 108 The Death Row Inmate Who Was Poisoned
Chapter 108 The Death Row Inmate Who Was Poisoned
Chapter 108 The Death Row Inmate Who Was Poisoned
Inside the execution chamber, Ming Sheng Er stood on the electrified platform.
Executioner Mori Kyo placed the noose around Ariake Shoji's neck and pulled the rope tight.
The executioner, Tsunu, brought Ariake Shoji's legs together and tied his exposed ankles with a thin rope.
Standing along the west wall of the execution chamber were Inspector Fujishiro, Clerk Hironan, Head of the Protection Section Sekine, Warden Iwami, Head of the Education Section Mibukuro, and a group of others.
Each of them clenched their fists in unspoken agreement, staring intently at Ariake Shoji, who was about to be executed.
When the executioner Mori Kyoshi arrived, Tsunuma raised his hand, indicating that everything was ready.
The curtain in the small room inside the execution chamber was drawn back.
Five prison officers sat obediently in front of five buttons, ready to be called upon at any time.
The reason why there are five electric buttons used to carry out executions is that...
It's not that five buttons need to be pressed simultaneously to activate the electric pedal under the condemned prisoner's feet.
Conversely, only one of the five buttons is connected to the power pedal.
However, no one knows exactly which button it is.
This arrangement was designed to alleviate the executioner's guilt about committing the murder.
All five executioners were the people that Director Matsuyama trusted most.
They are Iizuka in position 1, Shimizu in position 2, Ishida in position 3, Nakazato in position 4, and Miyamoto in position 5.
As Nakazato sat in front of the fourth button, all eyes were focused on the right hand of Yamazaki, the head of the security section.
As soon as the head of security waves his right arm, all five executioners must press the button simultaneously.
Even a moment's hesitation would be a betrayal to the other four executioners!
Because five people take one life, the evil is not one-fifth, but five times greater!
If it weren't done in the name of the law, this would be no different from murder!
Nakazato's hands were covered in sweat and felt incredibly slow as time seemed to drag on.
Everyone present held their breath, waiting for Security Chief Yamazaki to give the order!
But—no one received the order.
"ah"
Standing on the gallows, Ariake Shoji suddenly let out a scream!
Everyone looked toward Ariake Province 2.
But then they saw that Ariake Shoji's body began to convulse violently.
It looked like a bent sapling, trembling all over!
The pulley tied to the other end of the rope creaked and groaned. Ariaki Shoji painfully lost his balance, convulsing and twisting from side to side, as if he were rolling on the ground.
However, Ariake no Shoji was standing.
Everyone present was stunned by the unbelievable scene before them.
I have absolutely no idea what happened.
As Ariake Shoji's convulsions gradually subsided, Security Section Chief Yamazaki finally lowered his right arm.
However, the situation on the scene was too sudden.
All five executioners remained in their original positions until Ariake no Shoji completely stopped convulsing, and none of them pressed the button.
"Yamazaki!"
Director Matsuyama shouted loudly to Yamazaki, the head of the security section, who then instinctively came to Ariake Shoji's side.
Security Chief Yamazaki grabbed Ariake Shoji's hand and felt his pulse.
He then slowly turned his head, looked at the crowd present, and said with a grim face, "Yumei Province 2 is dead!"
When Kasai Kiyoshi saw Ariake Shoji's death, a look of great surprise appeared on his face.
Although the title of this story has already revealed part of the plot.
But—no matter what Kiyoshi Kasai thought, he never expected that "The Mystery of the Death Row Inmate" would have such a surprising development!
A death row inmate who was about to be hanged suddenly convulsed and died.
This strange riddle is truly astonishing!
Although Kiyoshi Kasai hasn't seen the later plot yet, according to what Kyosuke Maijo said before, this story, "The Mystery of the Death Row Inmate," is a tribute to Ellery Queen, the "King of Logic."
Since it is a tribute to Ellery Queen, the cause of death of the death row inmate is self-evident.
Kasai Kiyoshi looked at Maijo Kyosuke, who was sitting not far away from him, and saw that Maijo Kyosuke was also looking at him.
Kiyoshi Kasai then bent his index and middle fingers into an X shape.
When Maishiro Kyosuke saw Kasai Kiyoshi's actions, a smile appeared on his face, and he nodded in agreement.
Having received confirmation from Maijo Kyosuke, Kasai Kiyoshi naturally confirmed his conjecture.
The Mystery of the Death Row Inmate is a tribute to Ellery Queen's masterpiece, The Tragedy of X!
Therefore, the cause of death of Ming Sheng Er must have been nicotine poisoning!
Kiyoshi Kasai deduced all of this and felt extremely pleased.
Immediately open the manuscript and once again enter the story of "The Mystery of the Death Row Inmate". This time, Kiyoshi Kasai not only has to find the real murderer before the story ends!
We also need to find out just how many Easter eggs Maijo Kyosuke has hidden in this book—
Ariake no Shoji died unexpectedly, and to avoid being blamed by his superiors.
Inspector Fujishiro and Chief Matsuyama plan to invite their mutual friend, Inspector Hozuki, and his son, Rintaro Hozuki, to participate in the investigation.
Inspector Hozuki and Rintaro Hozuki were invited and soon arrived at the station.
As security chief Yamazaki and protection chief Sekine, who witnessed the entire incident, used a whiteboard on the wall to write down the entire sequence of events on a chart.
At 9:45 a.m., Ming Sheng Er walked out of his cell.
At 2:59 p.m., Ming Sheng Er died on the execution platform.
He explained all of this in detail to Fa Yue and his son.
Upon hearing the two section chiefs' words, Rintaro Hozuki's face showed surprise: "The victim was killed just before his execution?"
Security Chief Yamazaki Asahi and Rintaro Yamazaki nodded: "Mr. Rintaro, I just received the latest information from Dr. Nakamura."
"According to the autopsy results, Ariaki Shoji died of acute nicotine poisoning, and the poison entered his body through his mouth."
"Moreover, there is something very difficult to talk about, because this morning, following Director Matsuyama's instructions, we found a deadly overdose of nicotine in the thermos flask that was brought into the Buddhist temple."
"That means the poison was mixed in with the tea."
Upon hearing the words of Security Section Chief Yamazaki, Chief Matsuyama's face drained of color: "Did I mean well but end up doing something wrong?"
"I had planned to give him a farewell party, but who knew it would turn out like this, with no way to salvage the situation!"
Rintaro Hozuki has a very unconventional way of thinking and is very suspicious. After hearing these clues, he immediately asked to meet with Dr. Nakamura.
The talks were conducted in detail.
Rintaro Hozuki confirmed that there was no nicotine in the detention center's medical room, but Ariake Shoji did indeed die from an overdose of nicotine poisoning.
Having obtained these clues, Rintaro Hozuki immediately looked at Director Matsuyama and asked, "Since a large amount of nicotine was found in the thermos flask..."
"Then we need to discuss who is most likely to have poisoned the thermos."
"But before that, I want to ask Director Matsuyama something."
"Do you serve cake and tea to death row inmates before carrying out an execution?"
Director Songshan shook his head: "No, I usually offer one of my cigarettes to death row inmates."
"But Akihiro Akihiro doesn't like smoking; instead, he loves sweets."
"So this morning I arranged for the housekeeper, Nan, to go and buy a cake and prepare tea—"
Rintaro Hozuki interrupted Director Matsuyama, "Please wait a moment!"
"Director Matsuyama, do you mean that the cake and tea you placed in the Buddhist hall were a spur-of-the-moment decision this morning?"
'
Director Matsuyama nodded: "That's true. Is it that important?"
Rintaro Hozuki's expression tightened as he stared at Director Matsuyama with suspicion: "This is extremely important! Did Director Matsuyama make this decision himself?"
Director Matsuyama nodded again upon hearing Rintaro Hozuki's words: "Of course."
Rintaro Hozuki pressed on, "Did you tell anyone about this beforehand?"
Director Matsuyama immediately shook his head, but Rintaro continued, "What was the exact time you instructed us to prepare the cake and tea?"
Director Matsuyama thought for a moment: "It was before going to the Buddhist hall, around ten o'clock at the time."
Upon hearing Warden Matsuyama's words, Rintaro Hozuki's expression turned somewhat strange. He turned to Inspector Hozuki beside him and said, "It's almost ten o'clock, Father. I remember Dr. Murakami saying that this detention center doesn't carry any nicotine drugs—"
Inspector Hozuki, puzzled by his son's behavior, asked, "Rintaro, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Rintaro Hozuki frowned and looked at Director Matsuyama: "In any case, please summon the housekeeper Minami who went to buy the cake and prepare tea. I have a few questions to ask him in person."