"Officer, are we really just going to let him go like that?"
Watching Kumiko's back as he left the police station, Takagi and Chiba clenched their fists, clearly unwilling to accept it.
"We can't do anything. We have no evidence," Inspector Megure sighed.
"Kumiko… That man is harder to deal with than you think. Even though we all know what kind of methods he uses, he never leaves any loose ends. If this goes to court, there's no way to charge him."
"Then are we just going to let him continue like this?" Takagi said angrily.
"If there's no evidence, then let's create some! We can bring him into the interrogation room and grill him for 24 hours straight. Let's see if he can still act so arrogant after that!"
"Takagi, what nonsense are you spouting?!"
Megure glared at him angrily, making the younger officer fall silent in fear.
"We are police officers. How can we do something illegal? Go back and write me a self-criticism report, and don't let me hear those words from you again!"
"Yes, sir," Takagi muttered under his breath.
"What do you mean by breaking the law? You're the one who ignored the rules in the past, letting Kudo Shinichi mess around at crime scenes—"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
Megure glared at him again.
Takagi was so scared that he immediately lowered his head and dared not say another word.
Meanwhile, Keisuke had already obtained the information and left the police station.
"Go through the details on these two people carefully, including this guy who seems unrelated."
Keisuke pointed to the file on Hiroo Tsuchio and spoke to Ai.
Ai took the document and asked, "Why do you want to investigate this person? Didn't you and Koshimizu Nanatsuki previously say that Renzo Kotani was likely the real murderer?"
"Yes, I said it was possible."
Keisuke shrugged.
"But in truth, without absolute certainty, anyone could be a suspect."
"I see," Ai nodded. "Then you need to find evidence. After all, you need to know the truth now."
"Find evidence? Did you misunderstand me?"
Keisuke curled his lips into a strange smile.
"I never look for evidence. In my case, I always create evidence."
Ai's efficiency was truly impressive.
By the next day, she had placed a thick stack of documents in front of Keisuke.
Looking at the mountain of files, Keisuke sighed, "I seriously have my doubts… What did you really do before this? Maybe this so-called drug research of yours was just a cover, and you're actually a secret agent from some country?"
Ai rolled her eyes. "What agent? I'm just a poor worker who stays up late doing overtime, and my boss doesn't even pay me."
"Oh, but you don't have to work overtime. I never forced you."
"So you're not giving me pocket money next month, huh?"
"What are you saying? I'm just holding onto your money for safekeeping. I'll give it back to you when you grow up."
"Vampire! Capitalist!"
"Hey, don't I provide you with food and shelter?"
"Get lost!"
Keisuke casually picked his ear and ignored Ai's verbal abuse.
Oh, about their relationship—
During the second lawsuit, Conan had asked him for information about drugs that could make people grow. After Keisuke overheard that conversation, the two had become almost completely honest with each other.
Ai had told Keisuke about how she had become a child and about Kudo.
Of course, she still hadn't mentioned anything about the real information inside the Black Organization or the actual effects of the drug.
But that didn't matter. Keisuke had no interest in Black Organization affairs. He took Ai in purely because of her abilities, and she never asked for a salary.
That day, he had deliberately listened in on their conversation—simply because he didn't want to pretend he didn't know in the future.
Now, he flipped through all the information Ai had gathered.
As he read, a classic smirk appeared on his face.
"Alright, I've already figured out who the murderer is."
"Yeah, I've pretty much guessed it too," Ai nodded.
"But you don't have any evidence, right? And the uninhabited island is too far away. It'll be a real hassle for us to gather any."
Keisuke shook his head. "Didn't I tell you? I don't look for evidence—I always create it."
"So, what do you want to do?"
"That's right. Now, do as I say and prepare these things."
Keisuke then gave Ai a few instructions.
And honestly, Ai was incredibly efficient.
It only took her a day—after pulling another all-nighter—to prepare everything he needed.
On the morning of the third day, Keisuke made a phone call.
"Is this Mr. Hiroo Tsuchio?"
A man's voice answered from the other end.
"Yes, this is him. What is it?"
"Hello, I'm attorney Kumiko, handling the Nanatsuki Koshimizu case."
"Attorney? Oh, what do you need from me?"
"Well, there's something I'd like to discuss with you—about what happened when you were at the crime scene."
"Oh, I see." There was a pause on the other end. "But the police already questioned me, and I told them everything I know. Can't you just ask them instead?"
Kumiko's lips curled slightly.
"No, no, no… I'm talking about what you did at the crime scene."
Clatter!
A noise came from the other end—
It sounded like the microphone had been knocked over.
After a moment, the man's voice came back, this time trembling slightly.
"W-What are you talking about? I didn't do anything!"
Perfect. The fish has taken the bait.
Keisuke continued, "It's not convenient to talk over the phone. Why don't we meet in person and discuss this privately?"
There was silence for a moment.
"...Alright. Where?"
"How about three in the afternoon, at a café near Shibuya Station?"
The two agreed on the location and hung up.
When the time came, Keisuke packed his things and got ready to leave.
"Be careful," Ai said, after thinking for a moment.
"Don't push people into a corner. There are all kinds of people in this world, and plenty of them would do something irreversible if they act on impulse."
"Don't worry. I know."
With that, Keisuke left.
After walking for a while, he arrived at the designated café.
The atmosphere was elegant and comfortable, but since it was the afternoon, there weren't many customers.
Keisuke picked a random seat and sat down.
A while later, a short, fat, balding man walked in, panting heavily.
Keisuke raised his hand and gestured for him to sit.
"Attorney… what do you want from me?"
The man looked uneasy, rubbing his fingers together repeatedly.
"Then I'll get straight to the point," Keisukep said, tapping his thumb against the table with a smirk.
"Mr. Hiroo Tsuchio—you're the real murderer who killed Junya Tokitsu on the uninhabited island, aren't you?"
---
Thanks for your monthly votes and recommendations!
Sorry for the late update—I was revising the outline.
Writing about the prosecution team is really tricky because so many things need to be adjusted and rewritten.
Of course, the protagonist's personality and behavior remain unchanged.
Thank you for your support.
(End of this chapter)