Case NOT Closed

“Alright, enough chitchat.”

Kensuke stood up.

Before leaving, he remembered something again and confirmed once more.

“Koshimizu-san, before I came to see you, has anyone— um, like a detective, come to see you?”

Natsuki Koshimizu blinked and shook her head, saying, “No, you’re the first one to visit me.”

“Good, very good.”

Kensuke smiled and nodded.

In every aspect, this commission was really satisfying for him.

Then, his expression became serious, and he said earnestly, “If any detective comes here later, trying to persuade you to confess or something similar, listen to me, just spit on them and kick them out.”

“Oh, okay…”

Natsuki Koshimizu blinked, nodding as if she only half understood.

They walked out of the prison gate.

Haibara looked back, pondered for a moment, and asked, “Although this lawsuit doesn’t have direct physical evidence, there are several testimonies and circumstantial evidence. How are you going to deal with it?”

“Brat, haven’t I told you before?”

Kensuke raised an eyebrow.

“In any case, all indirect evidence is just a pile of uncertainties, just like Schrödinger’s cat. Before you open the box, you have no idea what’s inside.”

Haibara rolled her eyes sarcastically, “In simple terms, you’re going to tamper with the evidence again, right?”

“What tampering with evidence? I’m just ‘seeking evidence,’ understand? Didn’t you hear what I just said to Koshimizu? The perpetrator in this lawsuit is uncertain.”

Kensuke retorted and continued, “In short, whether a case can lead to conviction or not, whether there can be a successful defense, it all boils down to the tug-of-war with evidence. If all the evidence favors the other side, do you expect miracles to happen and for loopholes in the law to be handed to you by some divine intervention?”

“So, you don’t feel any guilt about doing this kind of thing?”

“Guilt is just a self-deception. Nowadays, conscience is worthless.”

“You’ve got some nerve, you scumbag lawyer!”

“Washboard brat!!”

“Trash gamer!”

The two continued their usual banter.

At that moment, Kensuke suddenly stopped.

He saw a familiar figure walking across the street from the prison.

It was Conan Edogawa, with his blue bowtie.

Next to him was a guy with dark skin, looking like he just came out of a coal mine, appearing to be a high school student.

“Hey, Conan-kun!”

Kensuke greeted the two with a smiling face, waving his hand.

“Enjoying being the defendant?” Kensuke said deliberately. “I had someone record the entire process of that trial! Do you want me to send you the video? You have no idea how amusing your expressions were!”

“You bastard! I heard everything from Shi— Conan! You are that money seeking lawyer.”

The guy next to Conan, looking hot-headed, was immediately filled with anger after hearing Kensuke’s words. He clenched his fists and seemed ready to punch Kensuke.

But as he took a couple of steps forward, Conan stopped him.

“Hattori!”

Conan gave Kensuke a serious look, shaking his head.

“What are you afraid of? My old man is the chief of police, the head of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters! This guy— let me go, I’ll teach him a lesson!”

Hattori Heiji, or rather, the guy who looked like he just came out of a coal mine, broke free from Conan’s grip and grabbed Kensuke’s collar, roaring angrily.

“Oh, I see, you’re from a prominent family!”

Kensuke remained unfazed.

He looked Hattori up and down, his expression seemingly mocking, his tone still sarcastic.

“So, being from a prominent family gives you the right to resort to violence? Is that how you use your police identity?”

“Talking about Japanese bloodlines— You people, don’t you just rely on your family backgrounds to act recklessly everywhere? Take away those things, what are you left with? Those laughable detective deductions?”

“If you want to fight, then come on!”

“Use your identity as a police officer’s son!”

Listening to Kensuke’s confident and mocking tone, Hattori Heiji’s face turned red with anger, his hair seemingly standing on end.

“You damn— damn bastard!” he yelled, gripping Kensuke’s clothes tightly, his fingers turning white.

He wanted to throw a punch.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t muster any strength.

Because Kensuke’s words hit the mark perfectly.

Like an arrow firmly lodged in the bullseye.

In the Kansai region, the people of Osaka are known for their tough demeanor, and the police style reflects this.

Growing up in such an environment, Heiji Hattori was indeed accustomed, as Kensuke said, to often abusing his police connections.

“You can’t do this, you’ll fall into his trap.”

Conan, standing beside him, seemed much calmer compared to Heiji.

He reached out again, pulling Heiji back, shaking his head, gesturing to the surrounding bystanders.

Heiji paused, glancing around.

A crowd had already gathered around them, with some busybodies holding their phones, snapping pictures.

“We have more important things to do, we better leave quickly.”

Conan’s expression was serious.

“I, I— this guy!”

There seemed to be lingering resentment in Heiji’s eyes.

However, after hesitating for a while, he released his grip on Kensuke’s clothes.

“You damn bastard, I will remember this!”

Leaving behind these words, he stormed off with Conan, passing by Kensuke, and entered the prison gate.

Kensuke watched their backs, chin in hand.

Observing their direction, it seemed like they were heading to see Natsuki Koshimizu.

After all, they had spent some time together not long ago, while they can’t be called friends, they can be called acquaintances.

“Ah, thankfully I was quick-witted and said those words beforehand.”

Kensuke nodded, sighing.

“These detectives are just like children, not doing anything serious, always trying to persuade others to confess and behave themselves.”

“You’re just the same, aren’t you?” Haibara quipped from the side. “You’re just waiting for someone to commit a crime so you can get some work.”

Kensuke remained unfazed, “What nonsense, I’m standing up for justice, speaking up for those poor souls wrongly accused by detectives.”

“Anyone who believes that is a fool.”

Haibara rolled her eyes.

After thinking for a moment, a slight smile appeared on her lips.

“I’ve noticed that you seem to act quite impulsively. You always like to run up to Kudo and say things to provoke him.”

“Oh, you’ve noticed,” Kensuke admitted generously. “Yes, I can’t stand that little brat. Is there a problem with that?”

Haibara shook her head. “I didn’t say there’s a problem with you, but your approach is wrong.”

“How so?”

“Have you noticed that every time you reprimand Kudo, he always has a stubborn expression and remains silent?”

“Hmm…”

Kensuke pondered, realizing that was indeed the case.

He actually wanted to see Conan feeling frustrated and losing control of his emotions, as that would be very amusing.

But unfortunately, Conan always remained as stoic as a log, which made it boring.

“It’s because you don’t understand Kudo, you haven’t spent time with him.”

Haibara said calmly.

“Kudo, no matter how good his action and believe is, at his core, is just like the rest of us, he’s a very self-centered person. You can tell this from his constant insistence on protecting Ran while always staying by her side. Additionally, although it’s not often, he still imposes his own values on suspects after apprehending them more often than any normal person would, often disregarding the suspect feelings before they commit the crime. It’s true that he occasionally show some pity, but most of the time, he sticks to his own principles.”

“So, to make someone like him bow down, you have to use a different approach.”