Conan reveals that the murderer is the elder. He reveals that the elder were people who dressed up as her to continue the story of the arrow. Heiji and Kazuha arrive at the house in time to confirm the story. The culprit reveals that her mother was the previous elder who were killed by the three victims. She continued the elder story for her mother, but finds out the whole town knew she was the elder and that her mother was the mermaid's corpse. All the town people bow their heads and apologize for not telling her sooner as she cries due to her guilt.