Conan: Chief of Rice Flower's Science Points

Chapter 408 Practice Makes Perfect

Although rejected by Wakui, Shiraishi did not give up. Instead, he said that he would personally ask Goto Megumi in an hour...

After all, what Kazui says doesn't count!

Strictly speaking, her fiancé is not a family member, and it's not up to a young doctor at Dongdi University to make such a decision.

However, since Wakui said that Goto Megumi needed to rest, and considering her special circumstances, Shiraishi did give her an hour and did not linger in the ward.

……

"What should we do next?" Eri asked Shiraishi.

Eri Kisaki is certainly not a person without her own opinions. She originally came to ask Shiraishi some questions, but it was Shiraishi who took the initiative to suggest coming to the East Imperial Hospital for a checkup...

However, Shiraishi was more "well-connected" at the East Imperial Hospital than expected, so Eri Kisaki couldn't help but listen to Shiraishi's opinions.

Previously, whether it was "questioning witnesses" or "visiting victims," ​​if only Eri Kisaki were to do it, there would likely be a lot of trouble, and it might even be impossible to do it at all.

After all, she was just a "lawyer," with little power, and she was also the defendant's lawyer...

Putting aside the pressure of personal relationships like that of Oma, just consider the Tou-tei Hospital... If Tou-tei Hospital avoids the issue and refuses to cooperate with her because of the "doctor murder" incident, not to mention a lawyer, even the Metropolitan Police Department or the Prosecutor's Office would be helpless!
This is the largest hospital in the eastern island nation. Although it's not a government department, its connections are incredibly complex, and no government department can truly control it...

"Attorney Kiyoshi, you'd better ask Dr. Shirai why he had the argument with Dr. Goto," Shiraishi reminded him.

“Eh? This… I asked him before, and Mr. Shirai said it was because Dr. Goto suspected him of accepting bribes from the pharmaceutical group and overstating medical expenses… but Mr. Shirai doesn’t admit to any of that.” Eri Kisaki answered directly without having to ask.

Sure enough, even if the clues seem detrimental to the client, Eri Kisaki will still investigate them once she knows them.

"You won't admit it? Then why does Dr. Goto suspect him?" Shiraishi asked further.

“I don’t know… Mr. Shirai said he didn’t know why there was such a misunderstanding,” Eri Kisaki said.

"Would this incident make Goto Megumi suspect that he was the murderer of Eto?" Shiraishi confirmed the most crucial point.

Eri nodded upon hearing this, saying, "That's right, because Dr. Eto is also connected to that medical group... This was discovered by the prosecution. However, this matter should not be related to the murder case. The motive for the murder that the prosecution is charging is that Dr. Eto coerced Mr. Shirai, which led to the murder. Mr. Shirai also agrees with this."

"So you didn't investigate this matter further?" Shiraishi asked rhetorically.

Eri Kisaki was taken aback for a moment and said, "Hmm...you could say that."

Eri Kisaki would certainly not overlook anything related to the case, but this matter was completely unrelated. Whether Shirai took the bribe, or even if this matter actually happened, or whether it was a misunderstanding by Goto Megumi... none of this was known.

The prosecution did not include this in the case. Why would Eri Kisaki investigate her client's corruption suspicions for no reason?
The only connection between this incident and the case is that "Goto Megumi suspected Shirai of having a problem with Eto's death and wanted to report it to Megure"—in other words, Goto Megumi's actions were a happy accident...

Regardless of whether Shirai was wrongly accused of corruption, it seems that his motive for murder was not that.

Since Goto Megumi did indeed intend to report Shirai, her subsequent attack on Shirai was perfectly justified in terms of motive!

Therefore, the prosecution's investigation only went this far—Goto Megumi and Inspector Megure's meeting was indeed very likely to report Shirai.

However, Shiraishi seemed to have some other ideas at this moment, so he took the initiative to speak up: "I don't think it's that simple... Attorney Fei might as well use this hour to conduct a simple investigation of that pharmaceutical group."

Upon hearing this, Eri Kisaki initially didn't understand, but then suddenly realized something and nodded solemnly, saying, "I see... I understand now."

Reminded by Shiraishi, she realized what was happening.

I initially thought it was just a coincidence unrelated to the case, and even considered that the client might have actually received bribes but was too embarrassed to say it—after all, this wasn't part of the trial or defense, and there was no need to force him to say it.

However, Eri Kisaki now understands Shiraishi's thoughts...

……

So, within that hour, Eri Kisaki immediately used her connections to inquire with the pharmaceutical group.

only……

An hour later, when Eiryu was about to go with Shiraishi to find Goto Megumi, she encountered some obstacles.

When Eri arrived at the ward, she found that Shiraishi was being blocked at the elevator, and the people blocking him weren't from Touhou Hospital, but...

People from the prosecution and the court!

Shiraishi knew both of them. The prosecutor was Takefumi Anouchi, a first-class prosecutor he had met several times before and had dealt with quite a bit at the Beika Police Station. The court representative was Judge Maiko Ozaki, whom he had met a few times before.

"Judge Ozaki is truly a young man of great talent. Now you're in charge of such an important murder case?" Shiraishi remarked with admiration.

However, Ozaki remained calm and said, "I am not the presiding judge, I am just checking to see if the witness has been harassed."

“That’s right. As a victim, Ms. Goto is in a special physical condition right now. Her statement has already been taken and is true and valid. There’s no need to take it again…” Takefumi Ane also emphasized at this point.

At this moment, Shiraishi interrupted with feigned surprise, saying, "Is someone harassing the victims? If so, you must tell me, and I can help you persuade them."

“Inspector Shiraishi, you don’t need to do that… Isn’t it you who’s looking for Ms. Goto?” Takefumi Ane rolled his eyes.

Is playing dumb effective?
“Oh, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding. My questioning of Ms. Goto was not only about the case, but also about assisting with her recovery and monitoring her condition,” Shiraishi said matter-of-factly.

As for why this misunderstanding occurred?
Seeing that Wakui was right behind the two of them, it was clear who had "misled" them...

“You think this kind of talk…” Takefumi Ane was about to ask Shiraishi to raise a question.

but……

"Dr. Kurosawa, is that correct?" Shiraishi asked directly to the people behind them.

Ayane and Ozaki turned around and saw a middle-aged doctor with a hairstyle that looked like that of a strongman walking over.

"Chief Kurosawa." Wakui was taken aback when he saw this, but he still greeted him immediately.

To Wakui, Kurosawa simply nodded and said, "Gentlemen, Officer Shiraishi is here to assist us with the treatment."

"Director Kurosawa, Xiaohui is not suitable right now..." Wakui was about to say something.

However, Kurosawa immediately frowned and interrupted, "You think my judgment is inappropriate?"

You, who can't even stand in the first three rows when I'm making my rounds, dare to say I'm not suitable?
Upon hearing this, Wakui paused for a moment, then sullenly dared not say anything more—in the eastern island nation, the hierarchical concept and the degree of internal secrecy in hospitals far exceeded that of ordinary industries, so how could he dare to directly question the department head?

"Excuse me, gentlemen," Kurosawa said, pushing past Ayane and Ozaki. Others might show extra respect to prosecutors and judges, but...

As the head of the neurology department at Todai Hospital, Kurosawa didn't care at all—did he really think that academic power wasn't power?
Want the Eastern Imperial Hospital to be wary? If it were Karma Gou or Fukano Tomoaki here, they would only "consider" it!
That's exactly what Shiraishi just did!

For an hour, Shiraishi did not conduct any investigation into the matter, but instead visited the dean's office.

Shiraishi knew perfectly well who was in charge in the hospital!
Without a formal search warrant or protection order, Dongdi Hospital can decide who can do what, whether it's the police, prosecutors, courts, or lawyers, and if they say someone can't, then they can't.

Even people like Gou Karma and Tomoaki Fukano have far less influence over the hospital than someone like a member of the Doctors' Association. That's the true value of an independent kingdom.

……

Although Shiraishi and Director Hiruma weren't exactly "acquaintances" yet, ... familiarity breeds contempt!
After failing to probe the relationship between Shiraishi and Miss Suzuki, Hiruma finally decided to give him face.

So, we have the current scene.

Seeing Shiraishi leave directly with Kurosawa, Ayane and Ozaki were both surprised and helpless.

Indeed, Wakui had just informed them that the defense lawyer had brought in Shiraishi Kuro, who wanted to forcibly disturb Goto Megumi, and hoped that they could protect Goto Megumi from being disturbed.

The prosecution and the court did indeed react immediately upon hearing Shiraishi's name—after all, they knew all too well the extent of Shiraishi's "destructive power."

If this were a case involving the Mikasa Police Station, it would be one thing...

But this time it clearly has nothing to do with the Mikasa Police Department, yet Shiraishi openly helped the lawyer? How could such a powerful figure be so biased towards outsiders?

Gou Karma and Tomoaki Fukano were also annoyed and immediately sent people over.

Both Anai and Ozaki felt they were protecting a witness, especially one who was a victim, but...

They really couldn't protect her!
After all, this is the East Emperor Hospital. They said they could see Shiraishi, and Kazui isn't a family member in the legal sense. What could they do to refuse?

If they had informed Karima Gou and Fukano Tomoaki beforehand, and had them contact that old fox of a hospital director, there might have been a chance to get Higashi Hospital to reject Shiraishi, but...

Heji didn't tell me this before!
They thought that Shiraishi's "want to see Goto Megumi" was just an application, but they didn't expect it to be so powerful.

"By the way, if you two are interested, you can come along," Shiraishi said to Ayane and Ozaki.

Eri Kisaki walked over at this moment, but Shiraishi said, "Attorney Kisaki, it's better not to come over yet. Hmm, perhaps you can check other things related to the case. The security department might have some findings."

When Ya Nei heard that Shiraishi hadn't brought the lawyer along, his expression softened—at least he wasn't completely on the same side as that despicable lawyer!

However, what Eri saw at that moment was Shiraishi giving her a wink—given Shiraishi's size, the person behind him couldn't possibly notice.

"Okay, sure..." Eri knew that Shiraishi wanted her to find something, but she could only think about what it was later.

When Eri Kisaki arrived at the Security Division, Hiruma had already given prior notice and knew that Eri Kisaki had come with Shiraishi, so the head of the Security Division immediately cooperated.

"The director instructed that Chief Shiraishi can freely access the surveillance footage from the day of the case..." the security chief said.

Eri Kisaki was now even more certain that Shiraishi had sent her to find something, and that thing... should be in the surveillance footage!

……

Meanwhile, Aya and Ozaki were led to the examination room where the brain MRI machine was located—the same place where Eto's murder took place.

Of course, this wasn't for an on-site inspection; the site had already been cleaned up and reopened.

The reason we're here is because this is the "brain MRI room".

Amidst their confusion, Aya and Ozaki saw Goto, who was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed into the MRI machine and lying down.

Goto still looked rather dull at this point, and he certainly hadn't recovered much.

"Director Kurosawa, this is..." Ozaki then expressed his doubts to the head of the neurology department.

"For treatment and observation," Kurosawa said with a straight face, offering no further explanation.

Even if he wanted to explain, he didn't know what to say...

Why this arrangement?
Because that's what the dean said!
As for why the dean gave such an order, it was of course because of Shiraishi, but Kurosawa really didn't know what Shiraishi was going to do.

“Let’s ask again about what happened to Dr. Goto that day,” Shiraishi said to Aya and Ozaki.

"Why?" Ozaki asked, frowning.

"You wouldn't understand medical matters anyway," Shiraishi said, putting on an act as if he were genuinely there for treatment.

As Shiraishi spoke, he turned on the loudspeaker connecting to the inner room and immediately asked, "Dr. Goto, can you hear my voice?"

Goto questioned it for a moment before nodding.

“Xiaohui can’t answer complicated questions right now, Officer Shiraishi, you’d better ask her directly,” Wakui reminded her.

"Who attacked you?" Shiraishi asked very directly.

“White clothes…black glasses…short hair…” Goto Ichion paused and said with difficulty.

"Can you tell me his name?" Shiraishi continued to ask.

“Shirai… Shirai!” Goto said, uttering Shirai’s surname.

At this point, Yane exclaimed excitedly, "See? See? You see it, don't you? This is very clear testimony!"

Seeing this, Ozaki reminded him, "Prosecutor Aya, Inspector Shiraishi said it was for treatment..."

Whether it's true or not, that's at least in name.

However, Shiraishi then said, "Explicit testimony? I don't think so." As he spoke, Shiraishi looked at the fMRI images on the screen.

Not only Shiraishi, but Kurosawa also immediately stepped forward and stared at the screen. When Shiraishi replayed the questioning process, he was initially excited, as if he had made a great discovery, but then he realized something and clicked his tongue in disappointment...

(End of this chapter)