Eri nodded, agreeing with Kouyu's words: "Kouyu is right."
Kuriyama Midori also found the relevant case file, titled "Real Estate Company President Robbery and Murder Case," among the numerous files on the nearby bookshelf.
“I just don’t know why no one is taking this case,” Eri Kisaki said, flipping through the case file. “I glanced at it last time, but I found quite a few areas for defense.”
"Is this case going to be handled by Prosecutor Kujo?"
Guangyou seemed to remember something, but he didn't remember it very clearly. After all, he was just an ordinary person and didn't have the ability of a memory palace.
"Eh, Kousuke, you actually knew that?" Kuriyama Midori looked at Kousuke in surprise, then smiled wryly, "I think it's because the opponent is Prosecutor Kujo that many lawyers dare not take the case."
Guangyou shook his head and said, "No wonder, the Bar Association probably specifically assigned this case to Auntie."
"It should be correct. When we gave it to Attorney Fei, the association gave her an extra amount of compensation."
Upon hearing Kuriyama Midori's words, Kōsuke chuckled, guessing that it wasn't an overpayment, but rather a deduction from the amount given.
"Excuse me, what exactly is the case?"
Conan is more concerned with the case itself than who takes it on.
Eri Kisaki didn't try to hide anything and said, "About a month ago, the body of the company's president was found in an office in a building in Beika Town. The fingerprints left in the room and the deceased's belongings identified a suspect with a long criminal record."
"There shouldn't be any disagreements in court for this kind of case, right?"
Conan didn't think it was necessary to hire a lawyer. With such important evidence as fingerprints already discovered, what was the point of arguing?
Eri nodded and said in a deep voice, "Indeed, it's unnecessary to look at it that way, but the problem lies in the charge."
Conan asked in confusion, "Criminal charges?"
Eri Kisaki flipped through the file and said, "Yes, the charge is robbery and murder."
Guangyou stroked his chin and asked, "What exactly happened in the crime?"
"The suspect attempted to break into the company to steal, but encountered the victim on the way. The two got into a fight, and in the heat of the moment, the suspect attacked the victim with an ashtray on the table before fleeing."
Conan realized something was wrong and said, "If that's the case, the charge should be manslaughter, right?"
“Yes, I don’t think Prosecutor Kujo would make such a basic mistake.” Eri Kisaki turned her head and instructed Midori Kuriyama, “Right now we only have the prosecutor’s report and the statements; the on-site investigation report hasn’t arrived yet, and we also need an autopsy report. Miss Kuriyama, could you ask them to send a copy over?”
Kuriyama Midori nodded and walked out the door.
Seeing Eri's state, Ran realized that there might not be an answer today.
I don't know how long this case will last. We're going to the hot springs in three or four days, and Eri might not be able to come along.
This disappointed her somewhat.
As expected, Eri Kisaki turned to Ran apologetically and said, "Ran, I'm sorry, Mom is too busy right now and might not be able to go. I'll go with you when I have some free time, okay?"
Xiaolan nodded, then said disappointedly, "Then I'll be going now."
Eri closed the file, glanced at Ran's retreating figure, and let out a long sigh.
Ran looked a little disappointed as she walked down the street, but she still put on a smile and held Conan's hand as they walked.
Glancing at the sullen Ran beside him, Guangyou thought to himself, "Let's give it a try. Even though I don't remember, I should still be able to solve the case quickly."
Kōsuke didn't have high hopes for his reasoning ability; he was just giving it a try, hoping that solving the case sooner would allow Eri Kisaki to get some rest.
If we have time, we can go to the hot spring resort together, which will fulfill one of Xiaolan's little wishes.
Back at the office, Ran wasn't in the mood to cook because of what had happened. Coincidentally, Uncle Mori had gone out to play mahjong, so Kouyu and Conan had to take care of dinner on their own.
Inside the exhibition hall next to the agency, Kouyu and Conan sat facing each other, each with a plate of fried rice in front of them.
Conan frowned, shoveling food into his fried rice half-heartedly: "Actually, Ran has it pretty tough."
"Yes, after all, my parents are separated, so it's not easy to have a chance to go out and have fun with my mother."
Kōyū nodded. He knew Ran was helpless in this situation. He looked up at Conan and said, "Then we can only wait until tomorrow to go to court to hear about the case."
"Um."
...
Tokyo District Court
The preliminary trial of the "real estate company president robbery and murder case" is underway in court, and Guangyou and his two companions are sitting in the audience watching the trial.
First, the plaintiffs, led by Reiko Kujo, read out the details of that night and that the suspect had committed robbery and murder.
Based on her observations, Eri Kisaki raised an objection, arguing that the suspect was wrongly charged and should be charged with manslaughter.
Upon hearing Eri Kisaki's words, Reiko Kujo, who was sitting in the plaintiff's seat, smiled slightly, but did not react immediately. She only slowly stood up when the judge asked her a question.
"I would like to ask, what were the defendant's reasons for choosing to hack into the Otsu real estate agency?"
The defendant, also known as the suspect, Takashi Inoue, lowered his head and pursed his lips: "I just happened to choose him when I was selecting my target."
Reiko Kujo's smile grew increasingly confident, as if victory was assured. "So, you were completely surprised to find yourself there, and you had no grudge against the victim?"
Inoue Takashi avoided looking directly at Kujo Reiko, pursed his lips, and said, "Yes."
Ran, who was sitting in the gallery, also realized that something was wrong and said, "I feel like Prosecutor Kujo was implying something in his words."
Guangyou frowned slightly: "She must have another trump card; it's impossible for her to make such a basic mistake."
"In that case, does the defendant know a woman named Noriko Endo?"
Inoue Takashi's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly looked at Kujo Reiko.
"What? Don't you recognize your daughter?" Reiko Kujo said with amusement. "I don't think so, do I?"
Kuriyama Midori quickly flipped through the case files, and after a few seconds, she said to Kisaki Eri, "He had an eight-year-old daughter when he separated from his ex-wife twenty years ago."
After confirming the news, Eri Kisaki's expression turned serious; she had already guessed what Reiko Kujo's trump card was.
Despite this, Eri Kisaki still stood up and said to the judge, "I protest that the questions raised by the prosecution involve immediate family members and are suspected of undermining the defendant's composure in court."
The judge looked at Reiko Kujo: "May I ask, what is the connection between his daughter and this case?"
Reiko Kujo replied, "Yes, Noriko Endo currently runs a fast food restaurant in another building managed by Otsu Real Estate Agency. Rumor has it that she has some kind of ambiguous relationship with President Otsu."
Guangyou, who was listening in the audience, gaped, feeling as if a million alpacas were stampeding through his mind.
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