Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 448 Fearless and Reliable?

October 5, Wednesday.

Early in the morning, before dawn, long before it was time to go to work.

However, Shiraishi then appeared at the door of the Shikishima family's house...

Very formally, dressed in the chief's uniform and riding in the police station's largest police car, they arrived at the Shikishima family's doorstep!
By this time, there were already many police cars around. In fact, the Shikishima family had been "surrounded" since the latter half of last night. Neighbors who didn't know the situation might have thought that the Shikishima family's house had been raided...

Of course, in reality, the Beika Bureau did not interfere with anything the Shikishima family did, nor did it restrict people from coming and going—it's good that Shikishima dared to let his son out!

However, the night passed and "nothing happened".

Although Shikishima made calls everywhere, the only call Shiraishi received was from Odagiri. In the middle of the night, Shiraishi also promised Minister Odagiri that the Beika Police Station would not conduct any improper searches—we were just conducting normal inspections on public roads!
Now that the search has yielded results, Shiraishi himself has come to visit.

Knowing that Shiraishi was "visiting," Shikishima Jundai quickly invited him in.

After entering the house, Shiraishi surprisingly walked straight to the luxurious sofa and sat down, behaving very rudely.

Yamada, who had come in with Shiraishi as his follower, now stood obediently to the side.

"Director Shiraishi, are you trying to intimidate me?" Councilor Shikishima said rudely upon seeing this.

"Haha, Representative Shikishima is joking. I heard that the location where my officers searched last night was not far from your house, and I was afraid of disturbing you, so I came to apologize," Shiraishi said matter-of-factly.

Shikishima understood perfectly well that Shiraishi was just playing dumb—was it a matter of whether or not to bother him?

You've only come here with your sights set on our house, haven't you!

Moreover, without your order as the commissioner, would so many patrol officers have come, looking like they were about to dig three feet into the ground?
“There’s no need for an apology… Director Shiraishi, does your department really want to get involved in this mess? It’s just the death of a foreign worker. If Director Shiraishi is willing to let this matter go…” Shikishima whispered to Shiraishi, hoping to reach a deal.

Of course, he knew it was unlikely—otherwise he wouldn't have made so many calls without ever contacting Shiraishi directly!
Shiraishi understood that at this point, Shikishima and he didn't need to act anymore; it was simply a matter of finding evidence.

“Consul Shikishima misunderstands. Last night we were looking for a perpetrator who attacked a police officer. As for whether he is the same person who recently attacked and killed foreign workers, that remains to be verified… Oh, by the way, we found a few drops of blood about 20 meters from your doorstep. After testing, the blood is consistent with the biological evidence of the thugs who attacked our officers!” Shiraishi said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Shikishima's expression also turned cold. Hearing Shiraishi's words, he understood that Shiraishi was determined to investigate!

"Oh, then I hope you find the thugs," Shikishima said with a straight face.

"I wonder what your son is like..." Bai Shi was about to say something.

"Chief Shiraishi probably doesn't have a search warrant yet, does he?" Shikishima interrupted.

Obviously, it was impossible to get Shikishima to cooperate voluntarily, and without a "search warrant," it was impossible to forcibly take samples.

and……

While finding a criminal's bloodstains twenty meters from one's doorstep carries some weight as evidence, it's not enough to warrant a search warrant for a member of Congress's home—though it might be more relevant for an "ordinary citizen."

"In that case, I'll try applying myself." Shiraishi stood up and didn't press the matter further.

"Heh, whatever." Shikishima naturally didn't have a friendly attitude at this point, and directly told his secretary, "Show the guest out."

But just then...

"Huh? Chief, there seems to be something on your pants... Is it blood?" Yamada immediately asked.

"Blood? No way... There wasn't any when I came in just now?" Shiraishi said, feigning surprise.

"Maybe it was picked up somewhere by chance. Let's have the forensic team take a sample later!" Yamada said, following Shiraishi's suggestion.

Hmm, it wasn't there before I came in, so it must have been picked up at the Shikishima house?

Upon hearing this, Shikishima immediately looked at the sofa where Shiraishi had just sat—last night, his foolish son had indeed been there applying medicine to his wound!
“Just in case, let’s take a sample,” Shiraishi said calmly, then looked at Shikishima and said, “I won’t disturb you any longer, Representative Shikishima.”

Shikishima: ...

Shikishima's face darkened at this point—if blood matching the biological evidence of the police-assaulting thugs were also found on Shiraishi's pants, and Shiraishi insisted that it was stuck on his pants, the court probably wouldn't dare refuse to sign the "search warrant"!
After all, Shikishima, as a member of parliament, has limited influence. He can get the court to block the search warrant, but he can't completely block it to the point of "refusing to sign it no matter what".

Actually, judging from Shiraishi and his little follower's affected manner, Shikishima also suspected that this guy was trying to stage an accident by wearing pants that were already stained with blood, or was trying to scam him.
Because Junji really did treat his wound on the sofa where Shiraishi had just been sitting last night, Shikishima wasn't sure...

"Wait!" Shikishima called out to Shiraishi.

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi stopped in his tracks, but did not turn around.

“Last night…my son did go out. If Chief Shiraishi suspects he made a mistake, I can have him cooperate,” Shikishima said sullenly.

Last night, after discovering that the Beika Police Station was serious, the Shikishima father and son had already rehearsed their "act" – if they were really caught, they would first admit to assaulting the police last night!

In any case, the police have no evidence to prove that the two cases were committed by the same group of people...

After all, Shikishima Junji had not committed any crimes in Beika Town in the past year, so it was not easy for the Beika Police Station to find evidence.

Even if several attacks are found, it doesn't matter. There are still several layers between "the previous attacker was Junji Shikishima" and "the killer that night was also Junji Shikishima".

During this period, Jundai Shikishima can also leverage his connections. He believes that as long as his son can grit his teeth and hold on, getting him out of trouble will not be a problem. In fact, considering the police's "entrapment" operation, he can find a way to fight back!
"Ah, Representative Shikishima is so understanding; he's truly a role model for the people," Shiraishi said, turning and leaving without looking back.

That's right, the "blood" on the pants was a complete staged accident...

After entering the house, Shiraishi first smelled the blood on the sofa, which is why he deliberately sat down there!

As for the red stains, they were there before...

Of course, even if Shikishima doesn't shed tears until he sees the coffin, Shiraishi still has a way—even if there's no visible blood on the surface, if he really wants to test it, he can still find something.

Even the unseen residue is enough to be found by "scientific search"!

Although Shiraishi wouldn't fabricate evidence, but...

"Even though the detection was a misunderstanding, it just so happens that it was detected," is that not a problem?
……

Before the morning rush hour, all the police cars around the Shikishima residence drove away.

Even so, because of this spectacle, the matter of the Shikishima family has already become a hot topic...

Also taken away by the Beika Police Station were the son of the Shikishima family and two other accomplices.

However, Shiraishi had already guessed it. After a whole night of preparation, sure enough, Shikishima Junji didn't tell a single truth in the interrogation room!

"...Yes, this is indeed my account...I do hate those foreign workers, but so what?"

"No, it had nothing to do with me before. I just saw the posts from this account and got angry. I was angry with them, so I hit the person who was impersonating a police officer."

"Hehe, I had no idea those were real police officers. After all, why would police officers protect those pests? I was clearly doing the right thing. If any police officer was going to make things difficult for me, then it must be a fake, right?"

"Oh, what I meant by 'what I did' was just what I said online. I didn't actually do anything."

……

The interrogation capabilities of the Miho Police Department have been tested once again—now that the "bad guy" has come forward on his own, it's all a procedural tug-of-war!
Junji Shikishima clearly didn't care, which convinced the detectives at the Beika Police Station that they were the murderers, since they didn't need to be formally confirmed as such.

Yuan, whose wound had already been bandaged and who had only rested for half a night, ignored the hospital's warnings and insisted on going to work with his injury, but...

"No, the chief said you can't interrogate this person." Yamada specifically stopped him outside the interrogation room.

"What? Why can't I..." Yuan asked anxiously.

"Because you acted too emotionally!" Zongfang's reprimanding voice came from behind.

Zongfang wasn't someone who cared much about "rules." If it was just a matter of breaking the rules, as long as the goal was achieved and no evidence was left, Zongfang could turn a blind eye.

However, this is not just a matter of illegal search; the methods used are not only unsophisticated but also very dangerous!
Of course, it can't be said to have been completely useless—the fact that he was able to bring people to Beika Town openly and legitimately is the significance of the beating he received last night.

“I…” Yuan was speechless for a moment.

Zongfang didn't say anything more to him, but instead looked at Yamada beside him and asked, "How are his two accomplices being interrogated?"

"Ah...yes! They all admitted to beating someone they 'didn't know was a police officer' last night, and said they threw away the baton they used. They're currently looking for it at the place they said they abandoned it, but...it looks like there won't be any news." Yamada said helplessly.

If we can find the batons they used, we can directly collect biological evidence. Once we find the deceased's DNA and compare the wounds, it will be irrefutable evidence.

But now they all say the same thing: they threw it away...

Furthermore, there is currently no concrete evidence linking them to the murder case. If the Shikishima family were to search for the murder weapon, the court would likely not grant a search warrant.

at the same time……

"Section Chief Munakata, there's a lawyer outside who wants to meet with his client." Section Chief Mado came over to inform him personally.

"Understood, thank you." Muneko thanked Madoka and then gestured to Yamada, "Let him see him."

Since they've hired a lawyer, of course we can't refuse them a visit.

but……

After meeting with the lawyer, this guy became even more difficult to deal with!

If the interrogating officers raised their voices even slightly, Shikishima would immediately accuse them of using violence and demand that they be replaced...

On the other hand, the lawyer hired by the Shikishima family was not someone who had dealt with the Beika Police Station for the first time—it was Ikukura Yukio, who had previously served as the lawyer for Sane in the "Fake Heiress Murder Witness Case"!
At this time, Ikura was in contact with the General Affairs Section of the Beika Police Station, questioning whether the previous actions of the Beika Police Station's criminal police were entrapment.

"Fishing" is definitely fishing, but luring out a murderer and "luring the other party to beat me up" are two different things!

"First of all, your detectives were not wearing police uniforms or showing their police identification at the time, right? So this cannot be considered an assault on a police officer, nor can it be considered obstruction of official duties."

"I believe this was just a fight that broke out over an online argument, and one of the parties just happened to be a police officer!"

“In this case, I believe the Mikasa Police Department should recuse itself and transfer my client to the prosecutor’s office.”

"Furthermore, when I met with my client just now, I heard that he was asked many questions unrelated to the case. I have reason to suspect that your department is conducting a separate trial. If your department continues to do so, I will protest to the Metropolitan Police Department on behalf of my client!"

……

Although the criminals have been caught, the detectives at the Beika Police Station are now quite certain that it is this group. Shikishima even deliberately hints and provokes them, clearly knowing that "the Beika Police Station already knows"... However, the current situation of the Beika Police Station is hardly "advantageous".

Just before Shiraishi got off work, the Criminal Investigation Department called again.

"Hello, this is Shiraishi... Chief... um, address me by rank, Chief Odagiri... no, no need to transfer, our department can handle this case!"

Odagiri is already persuading Shiraishi to transfer the case.

However, Shiraishi understands that if the case is transferred now, at most the "assaulting a police officer" issue can be debated, but the previous murder case will probably remain a cold case!

So Shiraishi gritted his teeth and refused Odagiri's offer...

Shiraishi rejected Odagiri, and after hanging up the phone, less than two minutes later...

beep beep...

"Hmm?" Shiraishi glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Beika's number, so he frowned deeply.

"Hello, I'm Shiraishi... Well, the head of the department is right, no... then please don't trouble yourself!"

Sure enough, it was Yan Tu Haici calling. As for the purpose... it was half to show off and half to warn. On the one hand, it was to suppress Bai Shi's arrogance, and on the other hand, it was to ask him to hand over the case again.

However, Shiraishi tolerated his arrogance, but directly rejected his warnings.

"Really? You really don't need our help? That's a shame..." Yan Tu said with a smile.

Before hanging up the phone, Yan Tu lowered his voice and said, "Director Shiraishi, I hope you remember this lesson and don't rush to send more outstanding talents from the Mikasa Bureau to society. After all... you have to learn from your mistakes! Hahaha..."

Yan Tu brought up Mutō's resignation again, his warning clear.

Shiraishi:……

After hanging up the phone, Shiraishi's face remained long, but...

Suddenly, Bai Shi's expression began to soften.

"Learn from your mistakes?" Bai Shi muttered to himself again, as if he had just realized something from Yan Tu's mocking words.

Shiraishi took out his personal cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number.

(End of this chapter)