Leaving the lobby, they walked down the hallway to the judge's chambers.
Ai Haibara, walking beside him, recalled what had just happened and couldn't help but complain.
"Last time I evaluated you, I thought you would simply step on an ant on the side of the road. I might have made a miscalculation."
Keisuke Kumiko raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean?"
"You must have seen an ant on the edge of the road and not only stepped on it but also placed its body in the sun to dry, then threw it to a mantis or a grasshopper in the haystack to eat. Finally, you probably fed its ant companion with the mantis's droppings."
"Very vivid. Thanks for the compliment."
"Aren't you afraid that if you keep messing with Kudo's mentality, he'll get so mad he uses his parents to deal with you?"
Keisuke Kumiko turned his head and looked at her.
"Why do you sound so sad?"
"I don't."
Ai shook her head, the corners of her lips slightly upturned, revealing her signature devilish smile.
"It's better to increase the intensity."
Keisuke Kumiko looked at her and smiled.
"You're really ruthless. Wasn't he your old lover?"
"What lover? Don't talk nonsense." Ai rolled her eyes. "Kudo and I are just acquaintances. The only person I cared about from start to finish was Ran-Chan. After all, that self-absorbed lunatic has dragged her into this."
"Oh, cheerleader mode?"
"Get lost! I never hear anything good come out of your mouth!"
"You can't get the love you want, so you want me to destroy the one beside Ran-Chan?"
"Pervert! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll bite you!"
"Old monster, come at me if you have the guts!"
"Awoooooooo!"
"Damn it! I was just joking!"
By the time Kumiko arrived at the arbitration room, his suit was already in disarray, with scratch and bite marks all over it.
He quickly straightened his clothes and glared angrily at Ai, who was sitting among the spectators, rolling her eyes at him.
This woman must have been a dog in her past life. No, she was definitely a dog.
Before long, people started arriving one by one into the courtroom—plaintiff, defendant, the defendant's lawyer, the judge, and so on.
Keisuke Kumiko looked at the person sitting in the judge's seat, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
A female judge in her forties or fifties, likely entering menopause.
The legal profession is part of the liberal arts, and women often hold related positions.
Especially in recent years, as women's status in society has gained increasing importance, the call for female judges, prosecutors, and lawyers has grown stronger.
"Court is now in session!"
The judge struck the gavel firmly.
"This court will be adjudicated in accordance with the Japanese Civil Code! Now, will the plaintiff's representative please read the lawsuit claim?"
The gavel strike was forceful.
This indicates emotional instability, possibly influenced by her menstrual cycle.
Gender advantage, plus an emotional bonus.
A guaranteed win.
After analyzing silently, Keisuke Kumiko cleared his throat and stood up.
"I am Keisuke Kumiko. As an attorney, I am here to represent my client, Ms. Koshimizu Nanatsuki, in all matters related to this lawsuit."
"The facts of the lawsuit are as follows."
"First, during the Detective Koshien incident a month ago, our client, Ms. Koshimizu, invited several detectives to an uninhabited island. During this time, the defendant, Edogawa Conan, secretly used phone surveillance to record a conversation between them without Ms. Koshimizu's consent."
"Second, during the trial of the Detective Koshien case half a month ago, Edogawa Conan presented and distributed the recording in court, which was later spread by various media outlets."
"The content of the recording infringes upon Ms. Koshimizu's privacy and has caused severe damage to her mental health."
"In short, the defendant's actions violated our client's right to privacy."
"Our litigation requests are as follows."
"First, the guardian of the defendant, Edogawa Conan, Mr. Kogoro Mouri, must compensate our client with 5 million yen for emotional distress and issue a public apology."
"Second, the litigation costs for this court session shall be fully borne by the defendant, Kogoro Mouri."
"That is all. Your Honor, please deliver a verdict according to the law."
Keisuke Kumiko was clear and well-organized, reading the lawsuit word by word.
During that time, he took the opportunity to glance at the judge on the bench.
Before the actual trial had even begun, just hearing the words "invasion of privacy" had already caused a hint of sympathy and anger to appear on her face.
Ha! With gender advantage, how can the opposition fight against him?
"The plaintiff has finished their statement. Now, will the defendant and their representative present their defense?"
The judge suppressed her emotions and struck the gavel forcefully.
Kogoro Mouri's lawyer was a woman—Usui Ritsuko, a lawyer and friend of Eri Kisaki.
For the second time, Eri Kisaki did not appear. Instead, Ritsuko Usui was the one fighting the lawsuit on behalf of the family.
The other party seemed conflicted, probably aware that winning this case would be difficult, not to mention facing a tough opponent like Kumiko.
But she had no choice but to accept the challenge and stand up.
"Objection! I oppose the plaintiff's stated facts in the lawsuit!"
She began her argument.
"Our client's actions were completely in line with legal procedures!"
"First, when our client was recording, there were three to five people present, making it, strictly speaking, a public setting."
"Second, our client presented evidence in court following legal procedures, meaning there is no valid claim for an invasion of privacy."
As soon as she finished speaking, Kogoro Mouri immediately began shouting beside her.
"That's right! We are innocent, it was just a recording! The other side is completely exaggerating the invasion of privacy—we shouldn't have to pay anything!"
"Are you kidding me? Five million yen?!"
"Do you even know what five million means?!"
"Nohara Hiroshi, a regular office worker in Crayon Shin-chan, only earns 300,000 yen a month!"
"Even though Japan is a developed country, the majority of ordinary people earn just about that much."
However, the judge on the bench didn't care about Kogoro Mouri's concerns.
Hearing his shouting, she simply banged the gavel expressionlessly.
"Defendant, please remain silent! Otherwise, you will be charged with disrupting court proceedings!"
"…Damn it!"
Kogoro Mouri sat down angrily.
Even someone as insensitive as him could tell that the judge was clearly biased toward the plaintiff.
But there was no choice. Civil cases were heard in summary court, where there was no jury—the judge had the final say.
"Plaintiff's attorney, please present your counterargument."
After scolding Kogoro Mouri, the judge turned to Keisuke Kumiko and, at the same time, cast a gentle glance at Koshimizu Nanatsuki, who was sitting beside him, covering her face as if she were about to cry.
Of course, this was an act by Koshimizu Nanatsuki.
"Objection!"
Kumiko immediately cooperated, making a pained and resentful expression.
"Did you hear what the defendant just said?! Is that something a normal man would say to a woman? What does 'just a recording' mean? Do you know how much psychological damage this behavior has caused my client, a poor young woman?"
(End of Chapter)