Not a detective

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Inspector Takahashi: You were also at the scene of yesterday's surgery, right? What kind of surgery did the victim have?

Midori Fukushima: We must protect the privacy of patients, especially such important guests.

Inspector Takahashi: The person is dead! This is a matter of life and death!

Midori Fukushima: I'm sorry.

Inspector Takahashi: I advise you to cooperate honestly. We have a search warrant, and all the investigation procedures are legal and compliant. Tell me about the surgery details as soon as possible.

Midori Fukushima: ...It's [plastic surgery].

Inspector Takahashi: Plastic surgery?

Midori Fukushima: Yeah, well, since I've already said it, I might as well say it all. Actually, a lot of celebrities and entertainers come here for plastic surgery, you know? And—

Inspector Takahashi: This isn't the place for gossip! We're discussing this case! ...Don't write this down.

Midori Fukushima: I'm telling the truth. Rika Otsuka came here so we could help her with plastic surgery. Your forensic pathologists should be able to see the implants and surgical traces on her face. But once you start plastic surgery, you can't stop. To keep working, you'll keep doing it. What we're doing this time is maintenance and reconstruction of what she did before.

Inspector Takahashi: ...Do many celebrities and entertainers come here? It's not that I'm prejudiced, but the environment of your hospital...?

Midori Fukushima: Haha, I know, many people have that thought, but they don't understand what celebrities and artists really need. Do you think they don't want to go to regular plastic surgery hospitals or those big chain institutions? Of course they want to, but they can't, because those hospitals have media and paparazzi lurking outside 24/7, just waiting to create big news for Weekly Bunshun. Our clinics in the alleys and streets are the places that value privacy the most, and we will never expose our clients' identities.

Inspector Takahashi: You guys really have professional ethics.

Midori Fukushima: You flatter me, you flatter me.

Inspector Takahashi: So, did the victim come to you that day to request plastic surgery?

Midori Fukushima: It was a month ago, you should have surveillance footage, right?

Inspector Takahashi: The equipment here will only be kept for fifteen days.

Midori Fukushima: There should be medical records; you should be able to find them on Professor Ōmura's computer.

Inspector Takahashi: We don't need you to teach us how to solve cases. Why did you have a consultation a month ago, and only perform surgery today? Are your operating rooms so fully booked?

Midori Fukushima: No, it's not that... It's because we rarely have the opportunity to have surgery, so we need to prepare well. Professor Omura will give us training and review.

Inspector Takahashi: ...You should really let your clients hear this.

Midori Fukushima: There were no accidents during our surgeries, neither this time nor in the past.

Inspector Takahashi: We will investigate this. Anyway, since you participated in this surgery as an anesthesiologist, please tell us what you did.

Midori Fukushima: Is this an investigation into medical malpractice...? Okay, I'll explain. Anyway, all the medications I used are recorded in the instruments; they were bupercaine and lidocaine. Hmm... I'll write it down for you. Otsuka Rika came here mainly to maintain her previous cosmetic surgery results and replace her implants—not a particularly major procedure. And since the patient's mindset was relatively stable, I suggested using local anesthesia, specifically infiltration anesthesia above the neck. The dosage was very small; the medication should still be detectable under the skin, or it might be gone.

Inspector Takahashi: We will have professionals verify that... that means the victim still had sensation and pain below the head at that time, right?

Midori Fukushima: Yes... that's why she struggled so hard, and blood splattered all over my face.

Inspector Takahashi: She was conscious when she underwent the dismemberment, and her stomach was also cut open.

Midori Fukushima: Ugh...! Don't talk like that... I didn't do it!

Inspector Takahashi: Okay, next, please tell me, what exactly happened during the surgery after the anesthesia was completed?

...

[Excerpt from the second eyewitness's statement: Chief Surgeon, Takeshi Omura.]

Ōmura Kiseki: I've already said it! I didn't kill anyone, so why are you still locking me up here! I want to go home, I want to see my lawyer!

Inspector Takahashi: After I've finished questioning you, I'll give you time to call a lawyer. But please answer my questions and introduce yourself first.

Ōmura Kōsuke: Look up, you tax thief... This is my clinic, and here's an introduction to me!

Inspector Takahashi: I see. Doctoral degree, professorship, outstanding achievements in gynecology... My question is, are you a gynecologist or a plastic surgeon?

Ōmura Takesuke: Ha, that's the perspective of an unprofessional person. I'm a surgeon, which means I can do any kind of surgery. That sign on the wall is just for outsiders, like our hospital's advertising sign. Can you find "cosmetic surgery" there? You can't, right? Of course not. Putting "cosmetic surgery" on it is like telling the medical regulatory authorities we perform surgery here; no wonder we get fined!

Inspector Takahashi: So you're saying that these introductions are just a cover, and you're actually secretly having plastic surgery?

Ōmura Kōsuke: Hmph, I won't fall for your tricks! If you want to investigate my illegal medical practice, then call the medical supervision bureau. The police want to charge me with murder? No way!

Inspector Takahashi: If you want to clear your name, please cooperate fully with the investigation. Come on, tell us what exactly happened during the surgery?

Omura Takesuke: ...After the surgery began, I performed the scheduled eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty as usual, maintaining the results of the previous surgery and replacing the implants. So the scars you see on the face are indeed my work; there wasn't time to suture them because the patient had already died. I must emphasize to you that while those facial scars may look horrific—that's your layman's perspective—they were just normal medical procedures. We signed the surgical consent form; they wouldn't have been fatal at all.

Inspector Takahashi: ...So, fatal wounds to the abdomen and limbs, and massive bleeding?

Ōmura Takesuke: I didn't do that. My scalpel never left the patient's face and didn't touch any other part of his body. I swear!

Inspector Takahashi: So, who exactly did you see commit such a cruel act?

Ōmura Takesuke: Nobody!! It was a monster! Her arms and legs were suddenly cut off, and her stomach was ripped open! None of us saw it; it was done by a monster that can't be seen in the air!

Spring of Events: Chapter Sixteen, Eyewitness Accounts (Part Two)

[Excerpts from the statements of the third and fourth eyewitnesses: First and second assistants, Takayuki Ono and Mizuka Doi.]

Inspector Takahashi: Gentlemen, theoretically, our statements are taken from only one person at a time, and we cannot accompany either of you. However, our officers told me that this lady is extremely agitated and we are worried about her potentially acting rashly. Therefore, I have made an exception and allowed you both to be questioned together. In return, you must cooperate with our work. Do you understand?

Takayuki Ono: I understand, thank you, officer.

Mizuka Doi: ...Okay, okay.

Inspector Takahashi: Before we begin, I'd like to say something unrelated. Your identities and information have already been retrieved. You two are graduates of medical programs from prestigious universities, with master's degrees. You had excellent grades during your studies and obtained your medical licenses early on. You should have had bright futures. Why didn't you go to work for a regular hospital and instead chose to work for this kind of illegal clinic?

Ono Takayuki: I... I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but I have a rather timid personality and tend to cause trouble for those around me, so people don't really like me. I used to work in a large hospital, but the work was... very painful, and I even considered suicide at one point. I didn't feel valued and was always treated with contempt. But since I switched jobs here, Mr. Omura has treated me like his apprentice, like his own son, and taught me a lot. I felt the warmth of a father, so I decided to follow him for life and inherit his skills and mantle in the future.

Mizuka Doi: Me? Ono-kun and I went to the same university... We became lovers while we were studying. He's very gentle. Sorry, this isn't the time to talk about this. Anyway, he's the one who introduced me to this place. My family is very poor, and I have younger siblings who need to go to school. My parents are quite old and still working hard to support my medical school education. I feel really bad about it... But when I'm interning at a big hospital, there's no decent salary for the first few years, just a basic salary to cover living expenses. I want to earn money to ease the burden on my family, and this is the best option for me.

Inspector Takahashi: I understand. I sincerely hope that you are not the perpetrators in this incident.

Mizuka Doi: ...Of course not!

Ono Takayuki: It's alright, Ruixiang, we didn't do anything wrong.

Inspector Takahashi: I understand your basic information, but I don't quite understand the situation during the surgery. Could you please explain the work your assistants are responsible for?

Takayuki Ono: No problem, I'm the first assistant, which means the main assistant. My main role is to assist Professor Ōmura in the surgery, such as disinfection, assisting with placement and exposure of the surgical site, assisting with the surgical procedure, and so on—basically, all the auxiliary operations. If the surgery goes smoothly, I'll also be responsible for transferring the patient back to the ward and following up afterwards.

Inspector Takahashi: In other words, the chief surgeon is only responsible for making the cuts, and the rest of the work will be done by you.

Mizuka Doi: I... am the second assistant, that is, the assistant to the first assistant. My job is basically the same as his. If one person can't do it, then we need two people to work together.

Inspector Takahashi: Okay, but I heard from Dr. Omura that this is just a minor, minimally invasive cosmetic surgery. He seemed very confident. Does he need two assistants?

Takayuki Ono: ...Maybe he wants to train us so that the hospital will need doctors to take over after he retires.

Inspector Takahashi: I see. Well then, let's get to the point. With your two pairs of eyes, you should be able to see what exactly happened in the operating room, right?

Mizuka Doi: I...! I don't know! It happened so suddenly, I was completely terrified... I didn't see anything, and then I was splattered with blood.

Takayuki Ono: Let me explain, officer. During surgery, we absolutely have to concentrate on the incision and the surgical site, which is the face, so we really don't know what's happening immediately. But I quickly looked back and saw an invisible monster cutting through the patient's body at incredible speed. The patient screamed in pain, thrashing about wildly, and we all fell down, making a complete mess... When I came to my senses again, the patient had become like that, his hands, feet, and abdomen were a complete mess...

Inspector Takahashi: So you're saying that you testified against each other and didn't have an immediate eyewitness opportunity?

Mizuka Doi: But...maybe only the nurses can see it; they'll observe the overall situation.

Inspector Takahashi: I'll ask them too. I'm still very curious, you all say that an invisible monster killed the victim, and your wording is so consistent, aren't you just going along with each other's stories?

Takayuki Ono: Because that's an undeniable fact, officer. I can assure you, none of the six of us killed the patient, absolutely not.

...

[Excerpt from the statement of the fifth eyewitness: Surgical Nurse, Sumire Ogawa.]

Sumire Ogawa: The patient was killed by an invisible monster.

Inspector Takahashi: I understand. Do you have any other details to add regarding this?

Sumire Ogawa: The patient was killed by an invisible monster.

Inspector Takahashi: Madam! Please cooperate!

Sumire Ogawa: ...Hehe, it was those doctors who said it, "The nurses must have seen the whole picture." Don't look, I wasn't eavesdropping. I know from my own (indecent language) thinking that these doctors despise nurses the most in their lives, and if any tricky problem arises, they will immediately try to shift the blame to the nurses. I know that.

Inspector Takahashi: So, your testimony is that you didn't see anything at the time of the incident, and that an invisible monster killed the victim?

Sumire Ogawa: Hmm, what else? Do you think I'm an scrub nurse, so I should just grab two scalpels and start hacking around?

Inspector Takahashi: I didn't mean that, but the murder weapon could indeed be among the surgical instruments. Could you recall the instruments in the operating room at the time?

Sumire Ogawa: (Looking through the operating room duty log) 6 small curved forceps, 12 medium curved forceps, 8 Allis forceps, 3 needle holders, 4 towel forceps, 8 oval forceps, 3 scissors, 1 large and 1 small knife handle, 1 flat forceps, 1 long-handled forceps, 2 dental forceps, 1 intestinal depressor, 1 S-retractor, 2 abdominal retractors, 2 thyroid retractors, 2 packs of surgical gowns, 2 packs of surgical towels, 3 packs of sterile gauze, 2 packs of cotton balls, scalpel blades, various types of absorbable sutures, 5ml sterile syringes, suction device, incision protector, sterile surgical film, sterile dressings.

Inspector Takahashi: Please have our investigators copy and identify the evidence later. We will find the murder weapon from it.

Sumire Ogawa: If you ask me, your line of thinking is completely wrong.

Inspector Takahashi: Why?

Sumire Ogawa: Anyone with a bit of knowledge knows that the instruments we have here are either for plastic surgery, gynecology, or urology. Without the professional saws and hammers of orthopedics, and if you don't have enough strength, you can't just cut open bones and dissect a corpse with a scalpel and blade. Just ask your forensic doctors.

Inspector Takahashi: ...We will verify it.

Sumire Ogawa: A bunch of idiots! The criminals aren't even human. You'll realize that sooner or later!

Spring of Events: Chapter Seventeen: Eyewitness Accounts (Part Three)

[Excerpt from the statement of the sixth eyewitness: Circulating nurse, Yoshimura Shuo.]

Inspector Takahashi: So, what you saw was the same scene, right?

Yoshimura Shuo: Yes. My position is circulating nurse, which mainly involves talking to patients, providing emotional support, administering intravenous infusions, protecting sensitive areas, assisting with comfortable positioning and keeping the patient warm, maintaining cleanliness in the operating room, and supervising aseptic procedures—basically, doing odd jobs. During surgery, I'm constantly moving around, wiping sweat from the doctor's brow, handing instruments, and observing changes in the patient's condition, so I'm probably the first to notice something is wrong… the patient's body suddenly splits open into pieces.

Inspector Takahashi: What did you do at that time?

Yoshimura: I immediately shouted loudly to warn the others, but they were probably stunned by the sudden change, especially since the patient was bleeding and screaming in pain, and moving around incessantly. I could see it clearly. Even the experienced Dr. Yoshimura was pale. He was the surgeon, and if he didn't give instructions, everyone would be stunned.

Inspector Takahashi: You mean that if Dr. Ōmura had reacted quickly enough to provide timely medical assistance, the victim might have survived?

Yoshimura Shuo: No, no, no, that's not what I meant. Officer, you might think that we have a lot of resuscitation equipment in our operating room, and maybe there's a chance of saving him, but once you see what happened, you'll know it's absolutely impossible. The patient's limbs were cut off very quickly, it all happened in an instant. I'm just a nurse, I might not be a professional. If we could have stopped the massive bleeding and pieced them back together in time, it would have been okay, but after the abdomen and chest cavity were cut open, there was really no hope. You saw the organs inside, they were almost chopped into a bloody mess. Finally, the patient's head was also cut off by an invisible blade. If anyone could save a patient like that... I can only say that they are truly godlike doctors.

Inspector Takahashi: I understand. During the surgery, your perspective was from the outermost side, so you can be sure that no one used a knife, right?

Yoshimura Shuo: Yes, officer, I can confirm that no one did it, and no one could cut a human body in such a short time, unless it was Miyamoto Musashi with his two swords.

Inspector Takahashi: We don't need that analogy. I've noticed you're really thick-skinned... You're the calmest one out of all these people, and you can even joke around?

Yoshimura Shuo: Officer, working on this street, working in a hospital like this, I've probably seen more strange things than you, without exaggeration.

Inspector Takahashi: No wonder you're so fat, you must be very easygoing.

Yoshimura Shuo: Haha... But to be honest, Kabukicho has become increasingly unsafe lately, even more so than before... I might have to consider resigning and leaving.

Inspector Takahashi: Something's not going well? Is it related to the yakuza?

Yoshimura: I can't just say things like that. This is the creed for survival. Officer, you don't have the right to investigate matters unrelated to this murder case, do you?

Inspector Takahashi: You're quite shrewd. Let's get back to the case. Actually, I personally trust you quite a bit, because you were the first among this group to call the police. We already know enough about what happened during the surgery. Tell me about how you responded after the incident.

Yoshimura Shuo: Of course. After the incident, around 10:30 p.m., we immediately evacuated the operating room. It was like an invisible monster committing the crime, and we were worried that we might also be cut up by that terrifying blade and become like the patient, torn to pieces. So everyone ran away in a panic.

Inspector Takahashi: Do you remember who came out first and who came out last?

Yoshimura Shuo: I remember the security cameras must have recorded it too, because we gathered in the lobby on the first floor. Ms. Ogawa was the first to run out; she ran right away. Ono came up a little later with his girlfriend, Doi, because Ms. Doi could barely walk. I covered for them from behind as we came up together.

Inspector Takahashi: Wait, two people are missing?

Yoshimura Shuo: Yes, the chief surgeon, Dr. Omura, was responsible for this surgery, so he found it hard to accept this situation. Dr. Omura is a proud person and insisted that this was not an accident he caused, and wanted us to testify for him. He even tried to get the anesthesiologist, Dr. Fukushima, to help him save the patient. He must have dragged it out down there for a while. I don't know what happened after that. Maybe Dr. Fukushima persuaded him, and then the two of them came up together.

Inspector Takahashi: The order is Ogawa—Ono—Doi—Yoshimura—Fukushima—Omura, right?

Yoshimura Shuo: Yes, the interval should not be more than twenty minutes, it was not yet eleven o'clock.

Inspector Takahashi: What happened next?

Yoshimura Shuo: Mr. Omura looked very upset. When he got angry, no one dared to stop him. He picked up his work bag and went home, saying that this matter had nothing to do with him.

Inspector Takahashi: That's really irresponsible. We summoned him from his house tonight, and he was still wearing his pajamas.

Yoshimura Shuo: The five of us were left here looking at each other. You see, we hadn't even had time to change our clothes yet. No one dared to go down into the basement. It felt like hell. At this moment, Ono suggested reporting to the director, so he made a phone call. But the director's instructions to us were not to call the police, to keep the news under wraps, and not to spread it.

Inspector Takahashi: You didn't do as he said, did you?

Yoshimura Shuo: To be frank, officer, I didn't want to be used as a pawn for nothing and become a suspect. So I called the police on the spot, around 11 o'clock.

Inspector Takahashi: You did a great job. With your information, we were able to apprehend the hospital director who was trying to flee. He was intercepted on his way to the airport in the early morning.

Yoshimura Shuo: Oh? Will he be sentenced, and on what charge?