Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 119 Mediation
After taking the "Superintendent" assessment and learning about the case from Inspector Megure, Shiraishi directly asked Gen to take his briefcase back to the police station, while he went to celebrate his "promotion" with Ayako.

By the way, Shiraishi also asked Ayako about "President Ono"...

The police were eager to solve the case and gave Sanzhi the opportunity to act as a "lifeline" because of the pressure from Onoyama.

"The witness from that year was himself a suspect in murder? There is actually such a thing... But if it were Uncle Ono, I think when Sister Miki was murdered, he must have put a lot of pressure on the police." Ayako thought of her father's old friend and felt helpless.

Not only does Onoyama have a bad temper, but as the chairman of "Yama no Fudosan", he also has great influence in both the political and business circles.

"But the person in charge of the case back then seemed to be Deputy Director Moroboshi, right? So now you..." Ayako sounded a little worried at this time.

"It doesn't matter. We are just investigating whether there is any hidden story behind the injury case two days ago." Bai Shi said casually.

However, Ayako, who knew Shiraishi well, knew that Hei would never "quit while he was ahead", so after hesitating for a moment, she said, "If... I mean if, you must touch Sister Miki's case, you can tell me first!"

"Hmm? Oh..." Shiraishi also understood. From the way Ayako addressed him, he knew that the Suzuki family should have some relationship with the old man Ono.

……

The day after the promotion review, which was Thursday.

Yuanwei was also very puzzled at this time. She found that the Criminal Division had invited her to the big office in the police station again today...

"There haven't been any major cases recently... Hmm? Hello, Director." Yuanwei looked at him in surprise. The director actually attended the case discussion meeting in person again.

What puzzled her even more was that she looked at the content of the scheduled meeting...

"Injury case mediation meeting?" Yuanwei didn't understand. For a minor injury case that could be "mediated", why did they need to hold a special case discussion meeting? And even the director personally attended?

At the same time, the investigators from the Criminal Division all had a tacit understanding - nominally they were discussing a case of minor injury, but everyone understood the purpose behind it.

"Detective Yuan, please tell us about the case." Shiraishi directly asked Yuan to preside over the meeting. After all, it was he who advocated a detailed investigation in the first place.

Usually the meetings are chaired by the department heads, and Yuan seemed a little nervous, but he still started speaking.

"On November 1998, 11, between 14 and p.m., Zhulian Foods' president, Tani Shigeaki, fell to his death from the roof of the company building.

"No suicide note was found at the scene. Subsequent investigations revealed that President Tani Shigeru was indeed in a period of depression, but the motive for suicide was unclear. In addition, a cigarette butt with Sanzhi Shangyan's saliva was found on the roof, but due to the limitations of the technology at the time, it was impossible to determine whether it was from that day or the day before.

"Yesterday I found the Tani Shigeru siblings again, and also asked some old employees from that time... Sanzhi Foods and Zhulian Foods had a close cooperation back then. It is said that Sanzhi Naohiko wanted to borrow money from Tani Shigeru Akari at that time, but President Tani Shigeru's financial situation was not very good at that time...

"And just after President Tani Shigeru passed away, Zhulian Food and Sanzhi Food were both acquired by Wuche Flour Milling. It was Sanzhi Hisahiko who facilitated this. Now Sanzhi Hisahiko is also the president of Wuche Flour Milling."

After Yuan returned to the police station yesterday, he also went out to investigate.

With the case information that Megure entrusted to them, they were able to get twice the result with half the effort. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult to find any clues after eighteen years.

After some investigation, Yuan found some "motives" - if the mere "loan rejection" could not be regarded as a solid motive for murder, then the "merger and acquisition" that occurred afterwards also seemed to be fishy, ​​and it might be the real motive!
"After their father passed away, Gu Fan and his sister were raised by their mother alone. At that time, Zhulian Food's accounts were not good and they did not get much money from the merger and acquisition. They lived in poverty. Mrs. Gu Fan passed away last month. Before she died, she told Gu Fan and his sister that their father did not commit suicide, so..."

When Yuan was about to say the rest, Kunikida interrupted him and said, "Okay, Detective Yuan, if there is nothing else related to the case, you don't have to say anything."

Kunikida doesn't like topics that "draw emotions" during a case. Investigating a case is not a place to show off sympathy. Whether the victim's family is pitiful or not, it does not affect their investigation!

Excessive empathy may cause the criminal police to act hastily in their investigation.

"Yes, that's the general situation of the case eighteen years ago...and on Monday night, Tani Shigeru Naoki beat up Saegusa Hisahiko, and the police station agreed to mediate between the two parties at half past ten." Yuan talked about the current events.

"It seems that it would be best to ask something during the mediation... However, we must pay attention to Tani Shigeru Naoki's emotions. If a conflict arises during the mediation, we cannot favor him, especially if he talks about murder with Saegusa Hisahiko, it will alert the enemy." Aoki judged at this time.

"It's like this. Fortunately, Naoki Tani was seriously injured before and is still in the hospital for observation. Today his sister is acting as his agent. I have already told Ms. Tani to hand it over to us when the time comes. Don't say too much." Yuan nodded.

Kunikida flipped through the materials and said, "I know you all want to investigate this old case, but I must emphasize one thing... Tani Shigetoshi's death was not necessarily murder. To be precise, based on the case, suicide was the most likely cause.

"If you focus on the suspicious aspects of a person, you will only think that he is more and more like the murderer. I don't want you to handle this case with the mentality that Mr. Saegusa must be the murderer. The only thing that can be confirmed at present is that 'Mr. Saegusa was a victim of beating.'"

Kunikida "cooled down" everyone on a daily basis.

Shiraishi then said, "I'd also like to add a few words. You all know what happened to Naohiko Saegusa's alibi eighteen years ago. Once his alibi is denied, there will be a chain reaction. I believe you all know it. Be careful when investigating. If there is any situation, report it to Section Chief Kunikida and me in a timely manner." "Yes!"

A group of criminal police officers responded one after another.

Deputy Director Toshio Moroboshi...

Thinking of the real resistance behind the scenes, everyone was worried for the director.

As for these grassroots criminal policemen... the title of "Deputy Director of the Metropolitan Police Department" is too far away, so the pressure won't come here!

This is true even for Kunikida, the police captain. Kunikida had already applied for resignation, but was forced to stay by the director-general. Now he is in a state of "strength due to lack of desire".

Once the "Miki Ono murder case" is touched upon, the person who directly bears the pressure from above is Director Shiraishi...

Afterwards, Shiraishi did not personally attend the mediation process. He could not help much in this regard, and...

If Sanzhi saw him in the meeting room, he would probably be on guard immediately!
Gen and Makita, accompanied by Ms. Tani Shigeru, met with Saegusa Naohiko - the old man was also beaten with a black eye and a swollen face, but they were all superficial injuries.

Ms. Gu Fan had already been instructed by Yuan, so she didn't mention anything else at this time, but just bowed and apologized on behalf of her brother...

In order not to recall the previous hatred, Gu Fan didn't even look up at the other person.

"Is that young man still in the hospital? That really... makes me feel a little guilty." Sanzhi looked like a good guy at this time.

"You can't say that. We've also watched the surveillance footage, and it was indeed Naoki Tani who attacked you." Yuan deliberately comforted him at this time.

"But why did that guy attack you, Mr. Saegusa, do you have any idea?" Yamada asked from the side.

"I don't know either. I just had dinner and was walking home...I don't know this person at all." Sanzhi really made up his mind.

"In the surveillance video at that time, he seemed to be shouting something to you... Well, it was also to confirm whether there was any possibility of causing another case. What impression does Mr. Saegusa have?" Yuan asked deliberately at this time.

"What was I shouting? I have no recollection. I was attacked suddenly and I was stunned." Sanzhi avoided talking about this.

"President Saegusa, do you have any impression of the surname Tani Shigeru?" Yuan asked suggestively.

"Gu Fan... never heard of it." Sanzhi shook his head directly.

giggle-

Ms. Tani Shigeru clenched her fists. Seeing this, Yamada said, "Well, Ms. Tani Shigeru, please come over here and sign first..."

Sanzhi glanced at Gu Fan's departing back and sneered silently.

"Eh? But this is a bit strange... I looked at the information of [Sanzhi Foods], and as of eighteen years ago, the largest partner was [Gufan Foods]... Could this [Gufan Foods] have nothing to do with Gufan Naoki?" Yuan asked in a puzzled manner.

Sanzhi paused when he heard this, and drank a sip of tea in a panic, but still said: "Oh, it seems that there is such a company... But it has been 18 years, I have long forgotten it!"

……

When it was almost lunchtime, Chief Maruo of the Police Affairs Section hurried to the Commissioner's office to report that a caller had filed a complaint against the police officer in charge of the case.

Although such matters are usually not reported to the director immediately, but... Shiraishi has previously stated that any circumstances of "this case" must be escalated.

"Saegusa Naohiko...complaint? Okay, I'll go and take a look myself." Shiraishi didn't expect that with Yuan's questioning skills, he would alert the enemy so quickly.

When Shiraishi arrived at the scene, he found that the situation was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

"No, no, no, Mr. Sanzhi, you misunderstood. I don't have anything else..." Yuan was confused and explained to Sanzhi.

However, Sanzhi Naohiko sneered at this time: "Don't think I don't know what you are thinking, but it doesn't matter... I have a clear and irrefutable alibi!

"Remember... no one can arrest me! I'm going to find a lawyer now. Without an arrest warrant, I don't think there's any need for me to cooperate with you. Goodbye!"

(End of this chapter)