People are in Conan, but Ace Attorney

Chapter 873 A Dragon-like Reversal (77)

If the Japanese Public Security Bureau's preparations were truly that thorough, then there would be no need for them to continue denying it.

Ito Yasuhito sighed deeply and said,
"It was indeed I who purchased the sniper rifle from the black market dealer, and then gave it to Naoshi Utsunomiya, so that Naoshi Utsunomiya and two others could carry out the plan to assassinate Prosecutor Makoto Kusakabe."

"I have nothing more to say about this matter."

Upon hearing Ito Yasuhito say such words, the audience in the courtroom erupted in discussion, as no one expected Ito Yasuhito to so quickly press the surrender button.

Normally, shouldn't a criminal continue to deny the facts for a while when the evidence is clear and sufficient?

The presiding judge was also somewhat surprised.

However, having witnessed countless cases and emergencies, he surprisingly felt a long-lost sense of nostalgia in the face of this situation.

The reason is simple: this is how normal public safety incidents usually unfold.

It is common for criminal suspects to confess quickly in front of numerous pieces of evidence and witnesses when Japanese police present them with evidence; it is rare for them to resist arrest. It's just that the cases that Xiang Yuanguang takes on are mostly criminal suspects who are determined to fight to the bitter end.

The blond judge shook his head, dismissing his unnecessary thoughts.

Then he said directly,

"Now that there is sufficient evidence and witness Yasuhito Ito has confessed, this court believes that the truth of the Kusakabe prosecutor murder case has been established and there is no need for further debate or discussion."

"Therefore, this court hereby pronounces its verdict—"

Just as the blond judge was about to deliver his verdict, a voice rang out.

"and many more!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtroom turned their heads in surprise.

They all turned to look at the defense table, or more precisely, at a certain blue-clad lawyer. Even Kiryu Kazuma, standing next to Xiang Yuanguang, subconsciously turned his head to look at Xiang Yuanguang.

However, Kiryu Kazuma quickly realized what was happening.

Although it's true that Xiang Yuanguang is usually the one who would say such things at this time, how could he not recognize that it was Xiang Yuanguang speaking when he was standing so close to him?

The person who just said "wait" and asked the presiding judge to suspend the verdict was not Xiang Yuanguang.

"...Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Xiang Yuanguang picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and, despite the stares of the crowd, appeared completely calm, as if nothing had happened. He simply looked towards the witness stand and asked,

The person he was questioning was, of course, Ito Yasuhito, who was now standing behind the testimony platform.

When Xiang Yuanguang questioned Ito Taijin, everyone realized that the person who jumped out to object just as the trial was about to give its final verdict was not Xiang Yuanguang, but the perpetrator of the case, Ito Taijin.

However, this only made everyone more confused.

—Now that the evidence proving Ito Yasuhito's guilt is quite complete, and Ito Yasuhito himself has just confessed, why did Ito Yasuhito jump out to object just as the presiding judge was about to end the trial?

Not only were the many audience members puzzled, but even the presiding judge frowned. He glanced at Xiang Yuanguang standing behind the defense table before focusing his attention entirely on Ito Taijin, raising his gavel and asking directly with some displeasure,
"Mr. Ito, do you have any other objections? If so, please say them now."

"If you always wait until the questioning phase is over and the trial is about to begin before you raise your objections, this court understands your predicament, but we have to express our disapproval."

"The order of the courtroom is not a game, Mr. Ito, can you understand that?"

In response to the judge's words, Ito Yasuhito nodded, and then he spoke.
"I am not giving any further testimony regarding the assassination of Prosecutor Makoto Kusakabe, but rather testifying about another murder case that will be addressed in today's trial."

"After all, if I'm found guilty, I'll just go straight to the detention center, right?"

Will you testify regarding another murder case that will be discussed in today's court hearing?

The blond judge was somewhat surprised.

This series of cases comprises three incidents. The case of Ai Haibara's kidnapping was concluded on the second day of the trial, and the case of Prosecutor Makoto Kusakabe's assassination has just come to an end.

Therefore, even if Ito Yasuhito did not explicitly state that it was a murder case, he knew that the other party must be referring to the case of Sera Katsumi.

However, the suspect in the murder of Sera Katsumi is Nishikiyama Akira.

Although Akira Nishikiyama and Taijin Ito are both high-ranking members of the Tojo Clan, there seems to be little overlap between them in the intelligence reports. Can Taijin Ito really provide any valid testimony regarding the murder of Katsumi Sera?
The presiding judge hesitated.

However, Sayako Iwai, on the prosecutor's bench, turned her head to look at the head of the courtroom and said seriously,
"Your Honor, I believe it is necessary to hear the final testimony of the witnesses."

"There is far less information available about the murder of Sera Katsumi compared to the attempted assassination of Prosecutor Kusakabe Makoto. Perhaps we can get some new testimonies from the witnesses."

Hearing this, the presiding judge finally made up his mind.

He nodded, then lowered the gavel and said directly,
"In that case, Mr. Ito, please testify about the information you have regarding the assassination of Sera Katsumi."

—Why would Ito Yasuhito request testimony regarding information related to Sera Katsu's assassination at this time?

A hint of surprise appeared in Xiang Yuanguang's eyes.

Then he realized—

As an undercover agent of the Omi Federation infiltrated into the Tojo Clan, Ito Yasuhito naturally had to give testimony regarding the assassination of Sera Katsumi, since he actually knew a lot about the matter.

At the very least, the other party knew quite well about Akira Nishikiyama's plan to assassinate Katsumi Sera.

Otherwise, Ito Yasuhito would never have known what caliber and model of sniper rifle Nishikiyama Akira would purchase, and would not have been able to acquire a sniper rifle of the exact same caliber for use in his subsequent framing scheme.

Since he knows that the real culprit in the assassination of Sera Katsumi is Nishikiyama Akira, he must make public the fact that Nishikiyama Akira is a murderer and send him to jail.

As a result, two of the leaders of the Dongcheng Society's core organizations were offline for an extended period.

This would significantly improve the interests of the Omi Federation. Even disregarding the Omi Federation's interests and considering only the reduction of his personal sentence, it would be perfectly normal for Ito Yasuhito to make such a decision at this time...

The lawyer in blue took a sip of coffee.

(End of this chapter)