Case NOT Closed

“The final judgment will now be deliberated,” announced the judge.

The judge and the two accompanying jurors exchanged glances.

“This court rules that the prosecution’s request is rejected. The defendant is found not guilty of intentional murder and is released.”

“The trial concludes here. Court is adjourned!”

As the gavel struck, it marked the end of this trial.

In reality, under normal circumstances, it might not have been this straightforward.

For instance, some jurors might have been talkative, asking all sorts of unrelated questions.

They could have inquired if the witness confirmed the accuracy of their testimony or asked the defendant about their view of the victim. After all, according to the information provided by Ryuuji Masami, there did seem to be a possible motive for murder between the defendant and the victim.

However, none of the jurors did any of this.

Because, from the very beginning, not only the prosecutor’s side, but everyone had been led around by Kensuke.

Of course, things wouldn’t end this simply. After all, a dog had caused someone’s death.

According to the law, they would follow the principle of liability without fault, and later, Masayoshi Sakaguchi’s civil liability would be pursued.

“Is it really that simple?”

Before leaving the courtroom, the defendant, Masayoshi, seemed to be in disbelief.

Was he really acquitted just like that?

Although he might have to pay compensation later, not going to prison was truly great news.

“Of course, human eyes and ears sometimes exhibit indirect abnormalities,” Kensuke said, his lips curling as he glanced at the heads of the jurors who were about to leave.

Their levels of goodwill and agreement varied, some reaching three bars, and some even four bars.

It had to be admitted that Kensuke’s performance in the courtroom was quite influential and easily affected people’s emotions.

Excessive sentimentality had influenced their judgment.

“Alright, Sakaguchi-san, you have been acquitted now. It’s time to fulfill your previous promise,” Kensuke said, grinning and rubbing two fingers together.

Masayoshi snapped back to reality and nodded, saying, “Don’t worry, Kensuke-san, I will send you the check.”

“Thank you very much!”

As the two of them left the courtroom, they continued to talk in the hallway.

At that moment, a calm voice suddenly emerged from behind.

“Is it really over like this?”

Turning around, they saw Conan standing there.

His hands were in his pockets, and his gaze was fixed on Masayoshi’s eyes.

“Sakaguchi-san, do you plan to evade the condemnation of your conscience and live in constant anxiety like this?” Conan questioned.

Faced with Conan’s inquiry, Masayoshi hesitated.

After all, he had indeed killed someone.

“I…”

“Kid, can you not mislead people here? Go home and play with your mom, okay?” Kensuke raised an eyebrow and interrupted Masayoshi’s words, waving his hand at Conan as if shooing away a dog. He seemed ready to leave with Masayoshi.

“John’s orders, were those your doings?” Conan’s voice came from behind again, with a serious tone.

“For the past twenty days, you’ve had a routine.”

“In the morning, you go to Sakaguchi-san’s detention center, picking up his scent.”

“In the afternoon, you go to Sakaguchi-san’s house, training John to eliminate commands.”

“Because John obeys you well due to Masayoshi’s scent on you, the training poses no difficulty. Although it’s been only twenty days, all you need to do is eliminate the last command. This will cause the entire logic chain to collapse, and the evidence won’t stand. Sakaguchi-san will escape the charge of murder thanks to your defense.”

Kensuke’s steps halted.

“How interesting, kid, you speak as if you’ve seen it all with your own eyes,” he turned around, returned to Conan’s side, and looked at him with a smile.

“Let’s say that you are right, do you have any evidence to back up that claim of yours? Or did you bring a recording device to secretly film someone’s privacy here?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t bring a recording device, and I have no evidence, it’s just my speculation.” Conan took his hands out of his pockets, turning both of his pants pockets inside out.

“Let’s just be clear, even if you had evidence, it would be useless,” Kensuke said with a smile. “Because everything I’ve done is legal. Once that dog was out of the prosecutor’s control, it technically no longer counts as evidence protection. That’s the biggest negligence of the prosecutor’s office. I was just visiting a friend’s dog every day and playing with it.”

Conan fell silent for a moment.

“Indeed, the law cannot sanction what you’ve done,” he said, staring directly into Kensuke’s eyes. “But I just want to ask you one thing: do you look down upon the law when you operate on its fringes?”

Kensuke gazed back at him, listening to his earnest tone.

He chuckled and then spoke up suddenly, “Little one, I want to ask you a question as well. I mean, detectives like you… do you fear the law?”

Conan furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you are still a kid, so maybe this topic is still too hard for you, but, in this world, some things can only be truly understood when you delve deep into them,” Kensuke said.

“Before I truly studied the law, I used to think that the purpose of the law was to uphold justice, punish evil, and bring criminals to justice. Well, turn out, that’s just the common perception! However, after truly studying law, I came to understand the real purpose of the law… Do you know what it is?”

Conan pondered for a moment and replied, “It’s about fairness. The law needs to protect the rights of everyone, including the rights of criminals.”

“It seems you have some brain cells after all, but that’s just one aspect of it,” Kensuke snapped his fingers.

He paused.

“Before upholding fairness, the law serves an even greater purpose, which is to be a deterrence.”

“The so-called ‘strict enforcement of the law and prosecution of violations.’ When a person refrains from or abandons actions prohibited by the law out of fear of legal consequences, that’s deterrence, and it’s the true message that the law wants to convey.”

“Every case your detective agency solves, before the truth comes to light, the criminals go to great lengths, using clever tactics to flee from the scene, shift suspicion from them to others, all to avoid the possibility of being caught.”

“This is the deterrent effect of the law. Its purpose has already been achieved. Although the criminals still committed murder, they fear being caught and imprisoned. They are afraid of the law, so they tread cautiously, like walking on thin ice.”

“Now, let’s switch to the same perspective for you detectives…”

“I’d like to ask, Conan, do you fear the law?”

“…”

“…”

Conan fell into silence.

Kensuke continued, “You don’t, detectives never have the thought of fearing the law. You can engage in illegal activities without any psychological burden, as long as you truly believe deep in your heart that everything you do is for justice, for catching criminals, you can break any law you deem necessary.”

“Let me give you an easy example, like the last time, Conan, when you used the recording device to record my conversation with Sugita-san, did you ever think, ‘What I’m doing here is illegal, I could get caught’? Have you ever had such thoughts?”

“As a lawyer, I, like ordinary people, still fear the law because I know what the law represents. So, regarding what you said, I will do everything in my power to avoid being caught.”

“But you, and all the detectives, none of you have such thoughts. None of you ever think about what kind of actions might get you caught. The deterrent effect of the law doesn’t apply to you. You all violate the rights of others without a second thought, and sometimes even blatantly break the law.”

“So, aren’t people like you guys the ones who look down upon the law?”

“…”

“…”

Conan lowered his head, deep in thought.

The lenses of his glasses glinted.

Indeed, Kensuke’s words just now were almost another soul-searching question.

After a while, he suddenly raised his head.

“Komemon-san, talking so much won’t change the fact that you fabricated evidence to help the real criminals escape legal consequences.”

“Oh dear, I’ve already said it, that’s not fabricating evidence. Why don’t you understand? I’m a legitimate lawyer! I’ve never engaged in illegal activities, you know! Kid, if you’re saying that, you should present some evidence first!”

Kensuke started to laugh again, as if the serious words he spoke just moments ago were said by a different person.

He turned and patted Masayoshi on the shoulder.

“All right, let’s not pay attention to this little detective game-playing kid anymore. It’s time for adults now. Sakaguchi-san, I’ve done so much for you, so you better treat me to a good meal!”

“…”

Masayoshi moved his mouth slightly but ultimately didn’t say anything.

He sighed and gave one last glance at Conan before leaving the corridor with Kensuke.

Conan stood still, watching Kensuke’s departing figure.

His fist unconsciously clenched.

Regardless of how it was framed, this person, although not breaking the law, walked on the edge of it, helping criminals with their acquittals, helping them escape legal consequences.

And judging by his demeanor, it seemed like he intended to continue this way in the future.

Conan couldn’t accept this in any way.

Just wait, no matter what, I will catch your real criminal actions and expose you!

One day, I will send you to prison, just like that!