Keisuke Kumiko raised his eyebrows and looked at the girl in front of him.
It seemed like she came prepared.
"After the trial ended, I investigated the witnesses related to the case, such as the video store and the bookstore where the criminal bought the accessories."
Nanatsuki Koshimizu stared into Kumiko's eyes.
"Under my persistent questioning, their memories became a bit confused. For example, they weren't entirely sure whether the criminal really bought the relevant accessories from their store. They just felt like they might have seen the criminal come to buy something."
"So what?" Kumiko chuckled. "What are you trying to say?"
"No, no, you've misunderstood. I don't mean that. After all, I have no evidence. The law is about evidence."
Koshimizu Nanatsuki shook her head.
She stared at Keisuke Kumiko in silence for a moment.
Then, suddenly, the girl stood up, took a step back, and bowed deeply to Kumiko.
"Mr. Kumiko, I need your help because the case I am entrusting to you this time is very special, and the law… cannot punish them."
"Oh, I see."
Keisuke Kumiko rested his chin on his hand, looking at the girl with growing interest in his eyes.
This was getting interesting.
In Kumiko's worldview, detectives were the kind of people who would use the name of justice and the so-called law to shout about the need to uncover the truth and bring murderers to justice.
But the young detective in front of him…
She didn't seem to have any concept of justice. Instead, she was straightforward, asking him to do something directly.
"Tell me, what is the commission?"
"Alright, alright."
Koshimizu Nanatsuki nodded, sat back on the sofa, and began to speak.
"A year ago, I had a friend who worked as a maid in a villa. The notable thing about that villa was that it was full of lavender..."
As the girl spoke, Keisuke Kumiko gradually understood.
It turned out that this was an event from the anime.
(Refer to the anime "Three Days with Hattori Heiji," the last two episodes, Detective Koshien Incident.)
He remembered the details of this case more clearly than others because it was a particularly notorious wrongful accusation case in Conan.
This girl, Nanatsuki Koshimizu, had a friend named Kana Mizuguchi who worked in a villa.
A year ago, the villa owner's daughter committed suicide. The police were about to close the case when, out of nowhere, a high school detective barged into the station, spouting nonsense, insisting that it was a murder case.
As a result, her friend, Kana Mizuguchi, was treated as a suspect and subjected to relentless police interrogation.
The Kansai police in Japan had their way of doing things.
In the end, Kana Mizuguchi couldn't withstand the pressure and jumped off a cliff, ending her own life.
After listening to her story, Kumiko nodded.
"So, you want me to help you sue that high school detective for lying? Because your friend committed suicide, the law can't punish the real culprits?"
"Yes! And also the villa's butler at the time, Renzo Kotani!"
Koshimizu Nanatsuki spoke angrily.
"Renzo Kotani knew that his daughter had committed suicide and also knew the real reason—it was because she had consumed a large amount of illegal drugs. But he kept saying that he did it to protect his daughter's reputation. So, he conspired with the detective and didn't tell the police the truth. He is also guilty of my friend's death!"
Koshimizu Nanatsuki was clearly emotional, gripping the glass teacup tightly in her hands. The water in the cup trembled, and her fingers turned almost white from the pressure.
"I see what you mean."
Keisuke Kumiko nodded.
Then, he stood up.
"Ai, please escort her out."
Koshimizu Nanatsuki was stunned.
"You… you're not accepting my commission? Oh, I understand…"
She seemed to suddenly realize something.
Then, she took her bag, unzipped it, and pulled it open.
Inside were stacks of 10,000-yen bills.
"Here's five million, as a deposit. There will be another five million as a reward once the job is done—a total of ten million!"
Koshimizu Nanatsuki's expression was sincere.
But the materialistic Keisuke Kumiko didn't even glance at the money.
"Take it back. It's not about money."
"Oh? Has Grandet changed his personality again?"
Ai couldn't help but complain from the side.
"Why?" Koshimizu Nanatsuki looked confused. "According to my research, you should be a very materialistic person. After all, you charged extremely high fees for the three commissions you accepted, and all of them are recorded in the IRS."
"Tsk, I still hate detectives."
Kumiko sighed.
"People like you can't wait to dig up everyone's dirty laundry and leave them no privacy."
"You're hardly in a position to criticize others about that, right?"
Ai's complaint sounded again from the side.
Kumiko rolled his eyes.
"Go home, kid. Go play somewhere else."
After a pause, he shook his head and looked Nanatsuki Koshimizu up and down for a moment.
Then, he sneered.
"Excuse me, on whose behalf do you want to sue them? Mizuguchi Kana's long-lost sister? Or her brother disguised as a man? Or a transgender family member?"
"You… Look closely, I'm a woman!"
Koshimizu Nanatsuki's face flushed red as she abruptly stood up.
Kumiko was always so blunt. After all, with the way she dressed, she was often mistaken for a boy.
"That's not the point. What I mean is, do you want to sue on behalf of Mizuguchi Kana?"
"I… I… Can't I sue them?"
"Of course not, because you're not her direct relative."
Kumiko sighed, raised a finger, and wagged it lightly.
"Miss Detective, could you check the law before coming to me with a commission? In civil litigation, only direct family members of the involved parties can sue. The court won't accept a case from anyone else unless you obtain authorization from the family! Do you think the law cares about personal emotions? Something this simple, do you really need me to explain it in person?
Your friend died a long time ago. This is an injustice that can't be undone. Do you understand?"
Kumiko's sharp words were almost sarcastic, cutting Koshimizu Nanatsuki to pieces.
Her face grew paler and paler, and the confidence she had when she first arrived had completely disappeared.
"I see… is that so…?"
Koshimizu Nanatsuki collapsed onto the couch, looking distressed.
After a long time, she finally lifted her head with difficulty and forced an ugly smile.
"Excuse me."
She picked up her bag and staggered toward the door.
"Wait a moment."
Just then, Keisuke Kumiko's voice suddenly came from behind.
Koshimizu Nanatsuki turned her head silently.
"Mr. Lawyer, is there something else?"
There was no light in her eyes.
Kumiko looked at her and gave her a meaningful smile.
"Miss Koshimizu, although I can't file a civil lawsuit for you, if one day you do something irreversible… then the doors of Kumiko Law Office will still be open for you."
Koshimizu Nanatsuki gazed deeply at Kumiko.
"I understand. I will."
She bowed and walked out of the office.
(E.n.d)