"Alright, enough nonsense."
Keisuke stood up.
Before leaving, she remembered something and decided to confirm it once more.
"Miss Koshimizu, before I came to see you, was there anyone else... like a detective, who came to visit you?"
Koshimizu Nanatsuki blinked and shook her head. "Not really, no. You're the first one to see me."
"Yes, very good." Keisuke nodded with a smile.
This case satisfied her in every way.
Then, her expression turned serious as she spoke solemnly.
"If any detective comes here later and tries to persuade you to go to prison and atone for your sins, just spit on me and spit on him."
"Oh... okay..."
Koshimizu Nanatsuki blinked and nodded as if she understood.
Outside the detention center door.
Ai glanced back, thought for a moment, and said,
"Even though there's no direct physical evidence in this case, there are several witnesses and circumstantial evidence. How are you going to handle this?"
"Doraemon, didn't I already tell you?"
Keisuke raised an eyebrow.
"In any case, all indirect evidence is nothing more than a bunch of uncertain factors—like Schrödinger's cat. Before you open the box, you have no idea what's inside."
Ai rolled her eyes. "So, in short, you're going to manipulate the evidence again, aren't you?"
"What do you mean by 'manipulate' the evidence? I'm going to 'seek verification,' got it? Didn't you hear what I just told Nanatsuki Koshimizu? The criminal in this case is uncertain."
Keisuke rolled her eyes as she said this.
"To put it bluntly, whether a case leads to a conviction or a defense of innocence is nothing more than a tug-of-war over evidence. If all the evidence is in favor of the other party, do you still expect the gods to descend and give you new loopholes in the laws and regulations for you to exploit?"
"Then... you don't feel guilty about doing these kinds of things, do you?"
"The word 'guilt' is just a way to deceive yourself. Conscience is worthless these days."
"How dare you say that, you damn lawyer!"
"Flat-chested brat!"
"Useless nerd who only plays games!"
The two continued their usual bickering.
At that moment, Keisuke suddenly stopped.
She saw a familiar figure walking down the street in front of the detention center.
A little devil in blue clothes and a bowtie—Edogawa Conan.
Next to him was a dark-skinned boy who looked like he'd just come out of a coal mine, seemingly a high school student.
"Hey, Conan-kun!"
Keisuke grinned and waved at them.
Of course, no matter how you looked at it, his smile seemed malicious.
"Feels good to be the accused, doesn't it?" Keisuke said deliberately. "I had someone record the entire trial process! Should I send you the video later? You have no idea how wonderful your expression was at that moment!"
"You bastard! I heard... Conan said the lawyer was you!"
The coal-mine-black guy next to Conan seemed to have a very impulsive personality.
After hearing what Keisuke said, he suddenly exploded in rage, clenched his fists, and was about to punch Keisuke.
But after taking two steps, he was stopped by Conan beside him.
"Hattori!"
Conan looked at Keisuke seriously and shook his head.
"What are you afraid of? My dad is the police commissioner and head of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters! This guy... let me go, I'm going to teach him a lesson!"
Kuroko—no, Hattori Heiji—broke free from Conan's grasp, stepped forward, and grabbed Keisuke by the collar, roaring.
"Oh, I didn't realize you're the son of an official!"
At this moment, Keisuke still showed no fear at all.
She looked the coal-mine-black guy up and down, her expression half-smiling but still sarcastic in tone.
"What? You, the son of an officer, can hit people? Is that how you use your police identity?"
"Japanese bloodline theory... Don't you all rely on your family status to do whatever you want? If you throw those things away, what do you have left? That ridiculous detective reasoning of yours?"
"If you want to fight, just come at me!"
"Use your identity as a police officer's son!"
Hearing Kumiko's sharp and sarcastic words, Hattori Heiji's face turned red with anger, his hair practically standing on end.
"You damn bastard... bastard!"
He gripped Keisuke Kumiko's clothes so tightly that his fingers turned white.
He wanted to strike back.
However, he couldn't muster the strength in his fists.
Because what Keisuke said hit the mark.
Like an arrow, it was firmly lodged in the target.
In Kansai, the people of Osaka Prefecture were tough, and so was the police style.
Growing up in such an environment, Hattori Heiji had gotten used to it. And just as Keisuke said, he often relied on his police connections to get things done.
"You can't do this. You'll fall right into his trap."
Conan, standing beside him, was much calmer than the coal-mine-black guy.
He reached out again, pulled Hattori Heiji back, shook his head, and gestured to the onlookers around them.
Hattori Heiji was stunned and looked around.
A crowd of spectators had gathered, including some curious people taking photos with their phones.
"We still have important things to do, so we'd better leave quickly."
Conan's face was solemn.
"I... I... this guy!"
There was some reluctance in Hattori Heiji's eyes.
However, after much hesitation, he let go of Keisuke Kumiko's clothes.
"You damn bastard lawyer, remember this!"
After leaving that remark, he stomped past Keisuke angrily with Conan, then entered the detention center.
Keisuke watched their backs, holding her chin thoughtfully.
Judging from the way those two were headed, it seemed like they wanted to meet Koshimizu Nanatsuki.
After all, they had spent some time together recently and might have developed some friendship.
"Oh, luckily, I was smart and said those words in advance."
Keisuke nodded and sighed.
"Why are these detectives such bastards? They don't do anything serious and just spend all day trying to persuade people to go to jail."
"You're the same, aren't you?" Ai complained. "You also hope people commit crimes so you can get work."
Keisuke remained calm. "What are you talking about? I'm defending justice and speaking up for those poor souls who have been randomly accused by detectives."
"Anyone who believes your nonsense is a fool."
Ai rolled her eyes.
Then, after a moment of thought, a smile appeared on her lips.
"I noticed that you seem to be very impulsive. You always like to run ahead of Kudo and say things to provoke him."
"Oh, you noticed." Keisuke admitted openly. "Yeah, I just don't like that kid, okay?"
Ai shook her head. "I didn't say you couldn't, but your method is wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"Did you ever notice that every time you tried to teach Kudo a lesson, he always had a stubborn expression and never said a word?"
"Hmm..."
Keisuke thought about it, and that was indeed the case.
Actually, she wanted to see Conan's frustrated, out-of-control expression. That would be interesting.
But unfortunately, Conan always acted like a wooden block, which was boring.
"If you don't understand Kudo, it's because you've never been with him," Ai said casually.
---
(End of Chapter)