Two Funhouse Questions (Chapter 4)

[Smiskeriminister]

In the Funhouse, why does Sonia mention the three laws of robotics?

Since she mentions it so out of the blue, and even comes back to it when interrupted, I figured it would be important... but it's not. I was sure it was going to facture into the murder case (Mechamaru being unable to fight back, or being unable to resist an order, or somesuch).

Also! What was the point of setting the alarm clock in the strawberry house? What purpose did it serve?

Thank you!

[Belgerum]

Regarding the alarm clock, the killer wanted to have an alibi for the time of the murder.

Setting the alarm allowed them to gather multiple people together at a specific time to hear the loud noise of the victim's death, thus making those people able to verify each other's location at the time of death.

If their plan had gone as ideally planned, those people who heard the noise would have checked all the rooms, and witnessed them "sleeping" in their room, thus giving them an alibi.

Admittedly, an alibi for the time of murder would not rule them out as a suspect, given the true nature of the murder method and the secret passage allowing them to pass between the two houses, but if Nagito had not done the risky move in the Final Dead Room, then the alibi and the (presumed) lack of ways to travel between houses would have made it seem impossible for them to commit the crime.

[Silent Proti]

I thought mentioning the laws is a nod to Virtue's Last Reward, since it's also Chunksoft's game. Also, I think that just fit Sonia's character?