“Ranpo told me, and I quote, ‘There were two factors to this murder: one that was mediocre and one that was really impressive. You can think of it like a shrimp and a whale. It’d be easy to catch the shrimp, and there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s the best you can manage. Shrimp is great, after all. But if you want to get the whale, you’re gonna have to use the shrimp.’”
Seemed more complicated than necessary.
It was all well and good that Ranpo was being optimistic, but he was still as unruly as ever. At any rate, it was clear there were two people behind this, and it looked as if Ranpo was going after the big one—the whale. That much Fukuzawa understood. But then…did that mean Ranpo was safe?
“Where’s Ranpo?”
“I wish I could tell you, but he gave me that message here only a few moments ago. Also, he told me to tell you, ‘Go back to your seat in the theater. There, the angel will tell you everything.’”
Fukuzawa instinctively looked down at the stage through the control room window. He could see the empty seat where he sat during the performance.
“An angel?”
“Apparently. Hey, Fukuzawa? Be honest with me. Who is that boy? He said he was a skill user and a master detective, but skill users are just made-up fairy tales from plays, aren’t they?”
Ranpo actually wasn’t a skill user, so that part was made-up in a sense. That was exactly why Fukuzawa became worried. Was Ranpo rushing into danger because of his lie?
“Either way, I certainly do believ
e he’s a master detective. I’m honestly becoming a fan!”
She had come around awfully quickly. Taken aback, Fukuzawa couldn’t help but stare at Ms. Egawa. What did Ranpo say to her that changed her?
“One more thing Ranpo wanted me to tell you. ‘I’m fine, so don’t worry about me. I’m gonna solve this entire case, so hurry back to your seat.’ He said he would make sure nobody else got hurt.”
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about me.”
It sounded as if Ranpo knew exactly the situation he was in and was prepared for it. That was why he asked Ms. Egawa to pass on these messages. He was safe, which meant Fukuzawa should follow his instructions and return to his seat.
All he could do was trust the newly born master detective.
The crowd was still stirring from all the commotion, whispering anxiously under the high ceiling lights. An officer was patrolling the area, so no one appeared to be worried for their safety, but even then, they were all facing something they had never experienced before. It would be stranger if they didn’t feel uneasy.
Fukuzawa surveyed the crowd while heading to his seat. He looked across the front row, but the gentleman from earlier was nowhere to be found. He felt he should probably be investigating the man’s disappearance, but he thought back to what Ranpo had said: “I’m gonna solve this entire case, so hurry back to your seat.” Ranpo wasn’t in his seat, though. Fukuzawa had thought the boy would be waiting for him so that he could unveil the truth.
Was he running late? Did his plans change?
Whatever the case, Fukuzawa trusted him, so he decided to wait for the time being and took a seat.
Immediately, the lights went out.
Fukuzawa couldn’t see a thing. The lights over the audience seating could be darkened completely for the show, but why now? Who turned them off? Even Fukuzawa needed a few seconds before his eyes adjusted to sudden darkness. But before his eyes could adjust…a blinding light lit up center stage. An instant later, laughter echoed throughout the theater.
“Haaaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!”
A silhouette stood in the middle of the stage below the pillar-like spotlight beaming down from above. The small shadow blissfully cackled.
“Look at all the fools—the buffoons—the simpletons! Bless your empty heads! Those horrified expressions on your faces make it look like you’re wearing Halloween costumes! I can even see the price tags!”
Fukuzawa’s mind went blank.
What the—? Why? What in the world is going on?
Ranpo was wearing the glasses. He proudly pushed up the black frames.
Why was Ranpo there? And what was he saying in front of hundreds of spectators? Who turned on the spotlight? Wouldn’t the lighting technician be the only one who could do that?
“Your faces are telling me you’re wondering why I’m here. I’ll tell you why. Because I am the savior! I am a master detective, a skill user, and a child of God! I am the one who appears at the end of the play to solve all the mysteries in one sentence. I am the one who makes everyone say ‘Oh, thank goodness’ in relief before being freed to go home. In other words, I am the deus ex machina! Oh, you people are so fortunate! Oh, how I wish I were you! It’s time to solve the mystery! A once-in-a-lifetime show! If anyone needs to go to the restroom, then go now! I’ll wait!”