Case NOT Closed

The courtroom fell silent.

Conan and Hattori Heiji stood dumbfounded.

Kensuke’s words struck the two detectives like a powerful hammer blow.

“I… I have no right?”

Conan’s face turned pale as he slumped back into his seat.

Kensuke’s emphasis on the word “life” echoed what he had said that morning in the detention center about the sanctity of life.

Conan had always believed in using deduction to uncover the true culprit and uphold the dignity of the victim’s life.

But Kensuke’s words pierced his proud beliefs like a needle, bursting his bubble effortlessly.

“Could I have really been wrong?”

Conan muttered to himself, his expression dazed.

He had clashed with Kensuke many times before.

Kensuke’s mind was meticulous, his words sharp as a sword, always delivering precise, soul-searching questions.

And this time, it hit the bullseye.

It hurt more deeply than ever before.

‘No, I don’t believe it!’

Suddenly, Conan seemed to remember something and looked up sharply.

“Yes, there’s only one truth!”

Unwilling to give up, he banged the table and stood up, staring directly at Hiroo Tsuchio on the witness stand.

“Tsuchio-san, if you claim to be the culprit, then present your evidence!”

Indeed, evidence is the crucial element in a murder case. Just because someone confesses doesn’t make them the real culprit! For all Conan knew, this man could have been bribed by Kensuke; it could be another of his schemes!

“That’s right. If you want to accuse me of being the mastermind, you must present evidence!”

Kotani Renzo, trying to maintain his composure, echoed from the side.

Kensuke maintained his smile throughout.

“Of course, we have evidence.”

He gave Hiroo Tsuchio a knowing look.

Hiroo Tsuchio nodded and pulled a pen from his pocket.

This was the latest model of a recording pen.

Hiroo Tsuchio pressed the button, and a voice began to play.

“Kotani-san, the person has been killed.”

“Well done. The remaining five million will be transferred to your account later.”

“I don’t want the rest of the money. I just want the surveillance footage from a year ago, when I stole from Lavender Villa.”

“Surveillance footage? Don’t even think about it. How could I give up such a valuable item? I’ll need you for more tasks in the future!”

“You scoundrel, despicable bastard!”

“Hahahahaha!”

The recording stopped there.

The courtroom buzzed with commotion.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Kotani Renzo.

“It seems the situation is quite clear. This recording is the evidence, proving that Koshimizu-san is not the culprit.”

Kensuke smiled and winked at Conan.

Conan’s face darkened.

Kensuke’s expression seemed to say—

You like sneaking recordings, don’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t use the same trick?

That was the feeling.

“How can you prove that the recording isn’t fabricated?”

Conan asked.

“My, my, why does that sound so familiar?” Kensuke feigned surprise, “Isn’t that what I said earlier? Young man, what mindset are you in to make such a shift in stance?”

“…”

Damn bastard!

Conan glared at Kensuke.

If he could, he would love to kick this man’s head with his soccer ball.

But he certainly couldn’t do that, as it would play right into Kensuke’s hands and result in another lawsuit.

The judge banged the gavel.

“Defense counsel, please answer the special witness’s question!”

Kensuke shrugged and picked up a document from the table.

“This is a voiceprint analysis report conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, verifying the authenticity and accuracy of the recording. Oh, by the way, getting this done took quite some effort.”

After all, Kensuke didn’t have a particularly good relationship with the police.

However, that mostly applied to Inspector Megure’s division in the First Investigation Department.

Other departments, such as the Forensics Division, were not as adversarial.

The clerk handed the analysis report to the judge for review.

The judge verified the document and nodded, acknowledging the evidence as valid.

“Even so, this evidence doesn’t prove anything!” Conan waved his hand, staring intently at Kensuke.

“The recording still needs to be verified for the context and environment in which it was made. How can you prove that their conversation is directly related to this murder case?”

“Exactly, this was actually a rehearsal for a play!” Kotani Renzo quickly added, “I’ve recently become enamored with theater, and this was part of a performance!”

“Oh? The detective who once proclaimed to find the real culprit for the victim is now defending the true criminal?” Kensuke smirked, his words as sharp as ever.

Conan tried to ignore his words, gritting his teeth. “Answer my question!”

The judge banged the gavel again.

“Does the defense counsel have more concrete evidence?”

If there was no further evidence, the judge would adjourn the court, allowing both parties to gather more substantial proof and reconvene at a later date.

The case had reached a stalemate with the new developments.

Facing the scrutiny of everyone present, Kensuke smiled slightly.

“The more concrete evidence was presented right at the beginning, wasn’t it?”

The jurors exchanged puzzled looks.

Conan frowned, unsure of what Kensuke meant.

“Have you forgotten? It’s the analysis report of the murder weapon, the hammer, that the prosecutor presented earlier.”

Kensuke walked down from the lawyer’s stand to the middle of the courtroom.

There stood a whiteboard with the analysis report pinned on it, which the prosecutor had submitted earlier.

“The analysis report states that, apart from my client’s DNA, fingerprints were also found on the hammer.”

Kensuke pointed to a line on the report.

“But look closely, the report specifies that the fingerprints were found on the ‘hammerhead,’ not the ‘handle.’ This means only the part of the hammer that struck the victim had my client’s fingerprints.”

“This is strange. Why would the handle, the most critical part that needs to be grasped, not have fingerprints?”

Kensuke paused, his face breaking into a classic smile.

As Kensuke had mentioned before.

Sometimes, the pieces needed for victory might be in the opponent’s hands.

But ownership is only temporary.

What seems disadvantageous can, at the last moment, turn the tables due to a specific factor.

And now, the moment of reversal has arrived.

“The only explanation is that the fingerprints on the hammer’s handle were covered by something else, like someone wearing gloves, which removed the original fingerprints through friction.”

“So, who would do such a thing?”

“Do I need to spell it out?”