People are in Conan, but Ace Attorney

Chapter 825 A Dragon-like Reversal (63)

"The testimony I'm going to ask you about next is the first sentence: 'I did this, and it has nothing to do with anyone else.' Mashima, please tell me, is it really true that this has nothing to do with anyone else?"

Even after members of the Majima Group have confessed that Shimano Tai was behind it?

Xiang Yuanguang gently stroked his chin with his fingers and asked directly.

Previously, Yuya Kazami and Sayoko Iwai had mentioned the fact that a member of the Majima Group had turned himself in, but they did not continue to discuss it. Now he has brought it up again, just to make the most of his remaining time.

However, Goro Majima frowned when he heard what Minamoto Mitsu asked him.

He answered without hesitation.

“I said I did it all by myself, and that’s what I did. The others are just trying to take the blame for me. I’m not the kind of person who would be so shameless as to let my subordinates take the fall.”

This statement carries a hint of veiled criticism.

Standing next to Goro Majima, Shimano Tai's expression was rather unpleasant.

However, considering the current situation in the courtroom, he wisely remained silent and did not reveal any obvious emotions, so as not to give Xiang Yuanguang any opening and give him a shocking reversal in the end.

After questioning the first statement, Xiang Yuanguang unusually continued questioning the witnesses in the order they were given.

He lightly touched his forehead with his finger and then asked.

"Now, the defense will next question you about your second statement of testimony: [As for when it was done... it was around noon the day before yesterday. I took some people to that elementary school in Beika Town and took them out. That's all.]"

"Since you've clearly stated that you did this alone and that no one else is involved, then what do you mean by bringing people along? If you really are the criminal, then these people are accomplices, right?"

At this point, the defense lawyers used their most common tactic of finding grammatical errors.

The most important thing in court is to be careful with the wording of your testimony, because all testimonies have legal effect. If you say the wrong thing or even use the wrong word in court, it could completely reverse the situation.

However, Goro Majima was clearly unaware of the rules of the courtroom.

This is quite normal, since as the head of the Majima Group, he has never actually participated in any trial. Even the trial of Kiryu Kazuma was just a one-sided confession by Kiryu Kazuma.

His testimony was clearly not rigorous enough, which caused him some trouble at this point.

"What's the point of saying all this? I did it all by myself. Why all this unnecessary talk? I'll take responsibility for my own actions and not drag others into this..."

At this moment, the judge lowered the gavel.

He frowned and said with a serious expression.

“Witness Goro Majima, this is a courtroom, not a place like the Tojo Clan that emphasizes some kind of code of honor. Here, we only look at evidence and objective facts. There is no such thing as one person doing something and then taking responsibility.”

"Since Inspector Kazami just mentioned that other members of the Majima Group surrendered, and given your testimony, it's clear that this case involves an accomplice. Stop making things up!"

This rebuke made Shimano Tai feel a little relieved.

In any case, the judge's opinion of Goro Majima seems to have dropped again. If this continues, Goro Majima's image in the judge's mind will soon reach its lowest point, and he will win without a fight.

However, Hikaru Mugen will not let Shimano Tai get away with the crime so easily.

He shook his head slightly, picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and then said calmly.

"Majima, please provide a detailed description of your operation to capture her."

"Since you claim to be the real culprit, you must know how the crime was committed, right? Even if you lack common sense, you shouldn't lack the common sense that a culprit must know how the crime was committed, right?"

Goro Majima paused for a moment, deep in thought. It must be said that the courtrooms nowadays are far more rigorous than those of ten years ago. When Kazuma Kiryu was indicted, there were no other procedures; it was simply that Kazuma Kiryu stated he had shot and killed Sohei Dojima.

Then Kiryu Kazuma was directly convicted, and no one paid any attention to or investigated the other details.

Now, Xiang Yuanguang and others clearly want him to explain the whole situation clearly before they will allow the court to hear it, which forces his slightly rusty brain to start working.

Goro Majima narrowed his eyes.

With only one eye, he already looked like a one-eyed pirate, giving him an even more menacing appearance and making people subconsciously suspect that he might be plotting some terrifying evil scheme.

However, he was only thinking about how to fabricate the crime.

"I……"

Goro Majima pondered for a moment.

Standing next to Goro Majima, Shimano Tai turned his head to look at him and realized a serious problem.

As the mad dog of Shimano, Goro Majima is a very free man. Most of the things he does are impromptu and spontaneous, and he basically doesn't have any long-term plans.

The other party was willing to take the blame in order to prevent members of the Majima Group from being convicted.

Goro Majima most likely never even considered fabricating a crime scene, so this rabid dog who's always thinking about fighting will probably have to improvise a crime scene in court.

Just hearing about it is enough to make one feel ashamed.

Shimano's expression changed slightly.

He could only hope that Goro Majima wouldn't suddenly fall ill and add some easily detectable element to his fabricated crime plot—

"Ahhh, this is so annoying."

"In short, I climbed over the wall, got in, found the child, picked him up, and climbed back out. No one else saw me doing that, right? Hmm?"

Goro Majima waved his hand, speaking with some impatience.

Shimano immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The freest man did not show the same freedom in taking the blame for his subordinates.

This crime scene likely sounds plausible, especially since it emphasizes that no one else saw it. Unless there happens to be a witness, it's practically impossible for the crime to be exposed.

—It is highly likely that there were no eyewitnesses in this case.

If there were any eyewitnesses, the Japanese Public Security Bureau would have been able to locate the Majima-gumi headquarters the night before last and rescue the girl.

"That's strange."

"If an ordinary yakuza member did something like this, no one else would probably notice. But if Majima did something like this, that's a different story, isn't it?"

Xiang Yuanguang snapped his fingers and said softly.

"Do I need to remind you, Mashima? Your appearance has become so unusual that you'll be instantly recognized if you appear within the surveillance camera's range on any nearby road. And..."

Do you think no one saw you in Kamurocho the day before yesterday at noon?

(End of this chapter)