In Detective Conan: Intercepting Miwako Sato at the Start

Page 30

A tremendous sense of satisfaction and the lingering adrenaline surge enveloped the victors' camp.

Mejiro McQueen's jockey, the young rider who had just created a miracle, riding Mejiro McQueen and achieving an astonishing comeback with his accumulated experience.

After crossing the finish line, he relaxed slightly, a relieved yet incredibly proud smile spreading across his face.

He gently stroked McQueen's sweaty forehead and his dark chestnut neck, feeling the rapid, rising and falling breaths of his companion beneath him, his body burning hot from the intense exercise.

“Well done, Megumi McQueen…you did a great job…thank you for your hard work.” He murmured softly, his voice tinged with weariness.

He habitually straightened his back, preparing to control the horse to slow down and circle the arena according to the procedure, to accept the glory that belonged to the champion.

However, just as he leaned back slightly, trying to adjust the reins—

The smile froze on his face.

His gaze suddenly lost focus, his pupils seemed to dilate for a moment, and then became unfocused.

The hand raised to greet the audience froze in mid-air, then fell limply to the ground.

His entire upper body seemed to have all its bones removed in an instant, and in an extremely unnatural posture, it slumped forward softly and heavily, crashing into McQueen's neck and back without warning.

Chapter 45 Anomaly (Please continue reading)

"Pfft!"

A muffled sound, barely audible against the backdrop of the bustling stadium, struck the hearts of several perceptive individuals nearby like a silent thunderclap.

McQueen was clearly startled by the sudden weight and his master's unusual behavior.

It suddenly reared up on its front hooves, letting out a neigh filled with panic and confusion, its steps instantly becoming disordered.

Fortunately, its strong sense of balance and well-trained instincts kept it in control. Instead of running away immediately, it paced anxiously in place, trying to get rid of the heavy burden on its back that no longer gave it any commands.

"what happened?!"

"Metsuji McQueen! What happened to Metsuji McQueen?!"

"No...look quickly, the jockey on it is in trouble!"

"Look at the jockey!!"

In the stands closer to the finish line, the spectators who were closest to the track were the first to notice the anomaly. Exclamations began to replace cheers and quickly spread throughout the entire racecourse.

In the stands, Yuki Takada's face froze with elation, his cold gaze fixed on the limp figure on the champion's horse.

His professional instincts told him that something was extremely ominous.

"Something's wrong!"

He let out a low growl, and almost simultaneously exchanged a glance with Sato Miwako beside him.

The blush and excitement on Sato Miwako's face faded instantly, replaced by the calm and solemnity typical of a police officer.

She also noticed the strange prone position and the champion horse's unusual reaction.

"Was it an accident? Or did something happen..." She didn't finish her sentence, but her body had already moved.

"Go!" Yuuki Takada gave the order, and the two rushed out of the stands, ignoring the staff's attempts to stop them, and rushed along the VIP passage towards the inner entrance at an astonishing speed.

At the same time, they showed their identification, moved swiftly and forcefully, pushed aside the staff who tried to question them, and headed straight for the finish line area where McQueen was located.

At this point, the scene was already somewhat chaotic.

Several stable staff and veterinarians were trying to approach Megumi McQueen, but the horse was agitated by the jockey's unusual condition, shaking its head and resisting the approach of strangers.

Some jockeys and horses that had finished their races also noticed the commotion and cast surprised and uncertain glances their way.

The jockeys, Bai Shi and Bai Lian, had just calmed their horses and were about to dismount when they saw the situation on the champion horse and froze in place.

"police!"

"Get out of the way! Nobody come any closer!" Yuki Takada's voice preceded his arrival, his powerful shout instantly quelling the somewhat chaotic situation.

His tall figure moved directly between the crowd and the horses, his cold eyes sweeping over everyone present.

Miwako Sato followed closely behind, her pace quickening as she nimbly circled around to the side and front of Megumi McQueen.

In a gentle but firm tone, he said to the staff member trying to calm the horse, "Please step back and keep a safe distance. This horse is very nervous right now, so please avoid further agitating it."

Her gaze quickly swept over the rider on horseback—his posture, his lifeless state—and her heart sank; she was almost certain of the worst possible outcome.

"This police officer?" A horse farm manager looked at them, his face filled with panic. "What...what happened to him? Is he exhausted?"

"I'm afraid not."

Sato Miwako said coldly, then told everyone to keep a safe distance and carefully observe the rider on horseback.

At the same time, he quickly reported to Inspector Takada beside him: "Inspector Takada, preliminary assessment indicates that the jockey has no vital signs. We need to immediately cordon off the scene and preserve all evidence!"

Yuuki Takada had already dialed the number, his voice firm and resolute: "This is Inspector Takada from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department! Kyoto Prefectural Police are contacting me urgently..."

"...A jockey has died suddenly at the finish line of the Kyoto Higashi Racecourse!"

"Suspected unnatural death. Request immediate dispatch of forensic pathologist, forensic specialist, and major crimes unit to the scene. Repeat... We are already on site maintaining order!"

After hanging up the phone, he turned to the person in charge of the horse farm and the staff around him, exuding an aura of authority: "I am Inspector Yuki Takada of the First Investigation Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department!"

"This is Officer Sato Miwako! From this moment on, a 20-meter radius area centered on Champion Horseman White McQueen is designated as the cordon!"

"Everyone, including staff, jockeys, and unrelated personnel, must immediately leave this area! Remain in place and do not leave without authorization, and cooperate with the subsequent police investigation! Any act of disturbing the scene will be considered obstruction of official duties!"

His orders carried an unquestionable authority.

The manager of the horse farm turned pale and immediately ordered the security guards to clear the area and set up a cordon.

The previously agitated crowd quickly quieted down under the imposing presence of Yuuki Takada and Miwako Sato, retreating as instructed. The budding chaos was forcibly nipped in the bud.

Miwako Sato carefully comforted Megumi McQueen.

She displayed remarkable patience and equine affinity, speaking softly in a steady tone as she approached slowly and steadily.

Perhaps sensing that she meant no harm, or perhaps feeling a sense of security from the calmness conveyed in her voice, the previously agitated champion, White McQueen, gradually calmed down.

Although it was still snorting restlessly, it no longer resisted fiercely.

Sato Miwako gently took its reins and slowly and steadily led it away from the center to prevent it from unknowingly stepping on any possible clues.

This also ensured that the jockey's body would not slip and cause further injury.

She remained vigilant at all times, making sure no one approached this moving "first-line core".

Yuki Takada stood guard at the edge of the cordon, his eyes constantly searching for something, scanning everyone who tried to approach or peek in, deterring any possible interference.

He quickly noted down the locations and expressions of several key figures nearby, especially the jockeys of Eagle, Whitestone, and White Ryan, as well as the directions of their owners and trainers.

Time ticked by in the tense atmosphere.

The clamor of the stadium was replaced by a heavy and oppressive silence, with only the occasional uneasy hoofbeats of Megumi McQueen and the faint, bewildered murmurs of the spectators in the distance.

Yuki Takada and his companion maintained firm control of the situation, protecting the most vulnerable evidence of this sudden death.

Finally, the piercing sound of police sirens broke the silence as they approached from afar.

A large number of police cars from the Kyoto Prefectural Police arrived with sirens blaring and flashing red and blue lights, and stopped at the entrance to the inner area.

The uniformed police officers quickly got out of the car and set up a larger cordon.

Forensic doctors in white coats and forensic investigators carrying toolboxes walked in quickly, led by several plainclothes, serious-looking detectives from the Major Crimes Unit.

The Kyoto Prefectural Police Criminal Investigation Division Inspector, who was leading the team, nodded slightly to Takada Yuki and Sato Miwako, his eyes showing a hint of respect and gratitude that was barely perceptible.

It is no easy feat to control the core scene so quickly and professionally in such a sudden and chaotic public place, minimizing interference and preserving the most valuable first-hand information for subsequent investigations.

Chapter 46 Pick up 50 speed points

They watched as the police officers walked towards them.

The leader had a neat short haircut, dark in color, and the hair was neatly combed, exuding a meticulous and rigorous air.

His facial features are well-defined with strong lines, a full forehead, and sharp, slightly upturned eyebrows, paired with a pair of highly recognizable inverted triangular eyes.

His eyes are long and narrow with an upward tilt, and his gaze is sharp like an eagle's. He usually carries a sense of scrutiny and aloofness. Even without deliberately showing his emotions, he exudes a sense of pressure that cannot be underestimated.

He has a high, straight nose, thin, tightly closed lips, and a well-defined jawline.

His attire was always formal and proper, mostly dark suits, which accentuated his tall and straight figure, and his calm demeanor exuded the aloofness unique to an unapproachable "aristocratic police inspector".

There even seemed to be a little squirrel on his shoulder.

"I am Inspector Hiroki Akimoto of the First Investigation Division of Kyoto Prefecture." After seeing their identification, Hiroki Akimoto said briefly to the two of them:

"Inspector Takada, Officer Sato, thank you both for your hard work!"

Yuuki Takada extended his hand and gave him a firm shake, his words concise and to the point:

"The scene is under preliminary control, and the core area remains undamaged. The deceased is still on horseback and is being held by Officer Sato. Witnesses have been isolated. It would be better if the police officers from your Kyoto Prefecture took over the specific details."

Miwako Sato then smoothly handed over Megumi McQueen's reins to a horse handling expert from the Kyoto Prefectural Police, while clearly reporting:

"The deceased was the jockey of this year's Emperor's Prize champion horse, White McQueen. About a minute after crossing the finish line, he suddenly collapsed forward without any signs of struggling. The preliminary judgment is that he died suddenly, but the specific cause needs to be determined by a forensic examination."

"The horses, saddles, and reins that the deceased had contact with are all key pieces of evidence. There are many onlookers at the scene, and preliminary testimonies need to be collected as soon as possible."

"Understood! Thank you very much for your timely action!" Inspector Akimoto of Kyoto thanked him sincerely, then waved for the forensic doctor and identification personnel to come forward.

Watching their colleagues from the Kyoto Prefectural Police work swiftly and systematically—sealing off the scene, taking photos, conducting preliminary investigations, reassuring and isolating those involved—Takada Yuki and Sato Miwako finally relaxed a little.

"I'll leave the rest to you," Yuuki Takada said to Inspector Akimoto of Kyoto.

"Please rest assured, we will investigate thoroughly." Inspector Akimoto nodded.

Yuki Takada and Miwako Sato exchanged a glance and turned around in tacit agreement.

"Inspector Takada, Officer Sato, this way please." A Kyoto Prefectural Police officer directed them through the busy perimeter of the police cordon.

Yuuki Takada nodded slowly.

Guided by police officers from the Kyoto Prefectural Police, they quietly left the area, which was shrouded in the shadow of death.

After leaving, Yuuki Takada looked at the attribute panel that flashed in front of him.

Host: Yuuki Takada

Age: 25 years old