People are in Conan, but Ace Attorney

Chapter 874 A Dragon-like Reversal (78)

"The person who assassinated Sera Katsumi was Akira Nishikiyama, the leader of the Nishikiyama Group, a direct descendant of the Tojo Clan!"

Just as Minato had predicted, Ito Yasuhito did not hesitate to identify the culprit behind Sera Katsu's assassination, a reaction that immediately caused a stir in the entire courtroom.

The reason is simple: Ito Yasuhito was just fighting against Mukami and the others.

But then, in a sudden change of tone, he gave the exact same answer as the name of the mastermind behind Sera Katsumi's assassination that Yuan Guang had mentioned during yesterday's court hearing.

With both pieces of evidence corroborating each other, it's hard not to believe that Akira Nishikiyama was the murderer who assassinated Katsuki Sera.

After all, people with opposing views to Akira Nishikiyama call him the murderer, and people with similar views to Akira Nishikiyama also call him the murderer, unless Akira Nishikiyama is so unpopular that everyone would slap him.

Otherwise, it would be hard to believe that Akira Nishikiyama was not the murderer of Katsuki Sera.

Upon hearing this surprising answer, the blond judge in the main seat couldn't help but widen his eyes.

He knew, of course, that the Japanese Public Security Bureau intended to identify Akira Nishikiyama as the real culprit in the assassination of Katsumi Sera, and he also knew what strategy the Japanese Public Security Bureau would most likely adopt next.

However, he was still incredibly surprised that Ito Yasuhito had come forward to identify Nishikiyama Akira as the murderer.

This was something he hadn't expected at all!

Ito Yasuhito is supposed to be someone who has absolutely no connection with Nishikiyama Akira, so why would he say at this time that Nishikiyama Akira was the murderer of Sera Katsumi? What kind of hidden story is behind this?
The blond judge swallowed hard, unsure of where to begin.

However, Prosecutor Sayoko Iwai already knew why Yasuhito Ito said those words at this time, and she also knew that Yasuhito Ito was indeed qualified to identify Akira Nishikiyama as the mastermind.

After all, this point was clearly mentioned in the reasoning that Ito Yasuhito hired Utsunomiya Naoji to assassinate Kusakabe Makoto, which was previously proposed by Minamoto Mitsuaki.

The sniper rifle that Ito Yasuhito gave to Utsunomiya Naoji was purchased with a caliber that was modeled after the sniper rifle used by Nishikiyama Akira to assassinate Sera Katsu. If Ito Yasuhito was unaware of Nishikiyama Akira's assassination plan, then the logical chain of his crime would not hold.

Therefore, Sayoko Iwai merely glanced at the bewildered presiding judge before asking the question on his behalf.
"Then, witness, do you have any evidence to prove that Akira Nishikiyama is the murderer of Katsuki Sera?"

Upon hearing this question, Ito Yasuhito fell into a brief moment of thought.

He really didn't do any research on this matter. After all, he only knew that Nishikiyama Akira would make a move, but he didn't know the specific day or location when he would do it.

Therefore, even if he investigated afterwards, he wouldn't find anything, so he simply gave up the investigation.

Now, when Iwai Sayoko asked him what evidence he had to prove that Nishikiyama Akira killed Sera Katsu, he was momentarily speechless, unable to think of any evidence he could produce at this time.

However, after only a brief silence, Ito Yasuhito realized what was happening.

—Of course he couldn't have physical evidence of Akira Nishikiyama's assassination of Sera, but he did have witnesses to Akira Nishikiyama's assassination of Sera. The reason he knew that Akira Nishikiyama wanted to assassinate Sera was because he learned it from the witnesses.

Therefore, Ito Yasuhito said without hesitation,

"I recall Attorney Xiang Yuan mentioning before that the reason I sent someone to assassinate Kusakabe Makoto was to shift the blame to the Tojo Clan, and the target was Nishikiyama Akira." "The reason the sniper rifle I purchased has the same caliber as the one used by the mastermind behind the assassination of Sera Katsuki is because I had it custom-made to resemble the caliber of the sniper rifle Nishikiyama Akira used to assassinate Sera Katsuki—"

"That's true."

A high-ranking undercover agent from the Omi Federation, who had infiltrated the Tojo Clan, spoke eloquently.
"The real reason I knew that Akira Nishikiyama would buy this caliber sniper rifle and that he wanted to assassinate Sera was because I had bribed one of Akira Nishikiyama's key members."

"That core member participated in the entire process of Akira Nishikiyama purchasing sniper rifles and deduced his purpose."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to learn about Nishikiyama Akira, who is the least informed among the leaders of the Tojo Clan's direct subordinate organizations, let alone know such confidential information."

—At this point, what's the point of saying this?
Kazami Yuya, standing next to the testimony platform, frowned slightly.

It's not that he thinks it's wrong for Ito Yasuhito to provide a witness who can refute Nishikiyama Akira at this time, but now that it's the last day of the trial, he simply doesn't have time to find this so-called witness.

Therefore, when Ito Yasuhito introduced new witnesses at this time, it was practically adding pressure to them.

Why didn't this guy tell us about this sooner? Why wait until the last minute? Does he think the Japanese Public Security Bureau is so powerful that they can find a yakuza member in a ten-minute to half-hour recess?

Kazami Yuya was in a bad mood.

He was already a corporate slave working overtime every day, and now that he was suddenly subjected to intense pressure from Ito Yasuhito, his mood suddenly became unusually unpleasant. However, he suddenly realized something.

"That's a huge help."

Hikaru's relaxed voice reached Yuya Kazami's ears.

And just as Yuan Guang said, it was indeed a great help to Ito Taijin to reveal the identity of the core member of the Nishikiyama group who was colluding with him.

If other witnesses were to bring this up at this time, it would indeed put pressure on the Japanese Public Security Bureau.

However, if the witness is a member of the Nishikiyama Group, or even a core member trusted by Nishikiyama Akira, then this person would be very easy to find.

When Akira Nishikiyama and Kazuma Kiryu fought at the Millennium Tower, Akira brought along all the Nishikiyama-gumi members he trusted. As long as Yasuhito Ito didn't make things up, the Nishikiyama-gumi member he mentioned is probably in detention.

If we can find the undercover agent that Ito Yasuhito befriended, then the matter concerning Nishikiyama Akira will be easily resolved.

Kazami Yuya realized this, which is why his mood suddenly brightened and he became relaxed.

—The Japanese Public Security Bureau only needs a name to bring the person over, which takes less than 30 minutes. All of this is entirely feasible and can eliminate the long series of procedures originally planned.

why not?

Ito Yasuhito glanced at Kazami Yuya's expression, somewhat puzzled as to why the public security official's expression was so changeable. However, he turned to the presiding judge and directly stated the man's name—

(End of this chapter)