Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Lin Xiuyi was an old friend of the officers in the First Investigation Division, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but say a few words in their defense.
"The First Investigation Division is mostly quite good; the officers there are very dedicated and hardworking."

"Hmph!" The old man snorted, his wrinkles deepening. "If they really cared, they shouldn't have let a bastard like Ichikawa get away with it! That kind of scum should be in jail to atone for his sins!"

When he said the last few words, Takeshita Matsufumi's voice suddenly rose, and his withered hand slammed heavily on the coffee table, making the teacups clink.

“Teacher,” Lin Xiuyi hesitated for a moment, “if you have any objections to the case from back then, I can help you talk to the First Investigation Division and see if we can reinvestigate it.”

"Reinvestigate?" Takeshita Matsufumi turned his head abruptly. "Is that even possible?"

“If the witnesses and physical evidence from back then were still available, perhaps we could give it a try,” Lin Xiuyi carefully chose her words, “but more than ten years have passed, and there will definitely be people who object.”

"You mean those incompetent cops who handled the case back then, right?"

Takeshita Matsufumi gave a cold laugh, his facial muscles twitching unnaturally.

"More than ten years have passed, and although we no longer have the ability to solve cases, it doesn't stop those bastards from climbing up the ladder."

Lin Xiuyi nodded silently without replying.

"Even if they were willing to reinvestigate, it would be useless,"

Takeshita Matsufumi suddenly slumped against the back of the sofa as if deflated, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"The person who told me Ichikawa never drank alcohol back then is long gone. There are no witnesses left, so who would believe me, an old man like me?"

"Why didn't the police believe that witness back then?" Lin Xiuyi couldn't help but ask.

A shadow crossed Takeshita Matsufumi's eyes: "Ichikawa was ordered by his superiors in the Metropolitan Police Department to arrest students at the University of Tokyo."

“He accidentally hit and killed a student on the way. If we really investigate, the Metropolitan Police Department will also be implicated.”

The old man paused, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"His superiors would naturally protect him, coupled with the circumstances at the time."

At this point, Takeshita Matsufumi shook his head and did not continue.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled light and shadow on the old man's face, making his expression appear even more forlorn.

Lin Xiuyi recalled the story her homeroom teacher, Murakami Yui, had told her, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the old man in front of her who had lost his daughter.

His gaze softened unconsciously, but little did he know that this subtle change was keenly noticed by Takeshita Matsufumi.

"I don't need your pity, brat!" Takeshita Matsufumi suddenly roared, grabbing a newspaper from the coffee table and throwing it at Hayashi Hideichi. "Get out of here right now!"

The newspapers scattered in the air and fell to the ground with a rustling sound.

Lin Xiuyi rolled her eyes inwardly and strode towards the door.

Just as his hand touched the doorknob, he heard Takeshita Matsufumi's hoarse voice behind him.
"If someone is framed and imprisoned, but they deserve it, what would you do? Help them find out the truth of the case?"

Lin Xiu turned around and saw the old man's hunched back looking particularly lonely in the dimly lit room.

"It depends. We need to see if that person really has a long history of evil deeds."

Lin Xiuyi answered cautiously, then a thought struck her, and she frowned as she looked at the old man.

"Teacher, you wouldn't be thinking of..."

"Get out!" Takeshita Matsufumi yelled without turning his head. Hayashi Hideichi quickly opened the door and ran out.

As he went downstairs, the old man's last words kept replaying in his mind.

Could the old man be trying to frame Ichikawa and send him to jail to avenge his daughter?

This thought sent a chill down Lin Xiuyi's spine.

He looked up at the window on the third floor of the Takeshita family's house and could vaguely see a hunched figure standing motionless in front of the window.

In the living room of the Takeshita family, Takeshita Matsufumi stood in front of the family photo, his fingers gently tracing his daughter's smiling face in the picture, his eyes sparkling with complex emotions.

The old-fashioned wall clock ticked monotonously, time passing by second by second.

It wasn't until it was completely dark outside that Takeshita Matsufumi seemed to have made up his mind.

He moved a stool over, climbed up, and removed one by one the teacher honors he had once been so proud of surrounding the photo.

Certificates for "Outstanding Teacher", "30 Years of Teaching Experience", and "Education Contribution Award" plaques.
He carefully packed each item into a cardboard box, as if burying his past self with his own hands.

At the izakaya, everyone had arrived by six o'clock, the time for dinner.

Lin Xiuyi briefly told Mouri Kogoro about the afternoon's meeting of residents in the shopping district, but deliberately omitted the matter of Takeshita Matsufumi, only saying that he left after taking the old man home.

"Are there really that many people who want to sell their properties?" Kogoro Mouri put down his chopsticks, his brows furrowed.

"It's hard to say," Lin Xiuyi said, picking up a piece of grilled fish. "But judging from everyone's reaction at today's meeting, there must have been quite a lot."

"If most people choose to sell their houses, what will happen to my family?"

Kogoro Mori let out a wail and ruffled his already messy hair.

In Japan, a society that values ​​collective rules, people who undermine collective interests may not be punished on the surface, but they will suffer various forms of passive-aggressive behavior behind the scenes.

If too many people agree to the demolition, even if the Mori family insists on not selling their ancestral property, they will likely have no choice but to sign. Otherwise, even if they manage to keep their house, they will find it extremely difficult to move around in this neighborhood.

“If Kogoro’s house is sold,” Yukiko said, resting her chin on her hand with a look of regret, “then the izakaya will also be lost, right? I quite like the atmosphere here.”

Reiko's eyes lit up: "If this place is demolished, will Onii-chan have to go home?"

"What are you thinking about?" Eri Kisaki tapped Reiko's head. "What will happen to Kogoro and Aunt Mori if this place is demolished?"

This is precisely the problem that Kogoro Mouri is most worried about.

After his father passed away, only he and his frail and sickly mother remained in the family.

This house is not only ancestral property, but also the family's source of income.

Selling the land and house might bring a considerable amount of compensation, but living off one's savings is not a long-term solution.

"Don't worry, the house should be fine," Lin Xiuyi said, looking at her worried friend.

"Shuichi, do you know something?" Kogoro Mori quickly pressed.

"I gave Mrs. Orikasa an idea today," Lin Xiuyi said, taking a sip of tea. "Tokyo property prices have been rising every day for the past two years. Those who agreed to the relocation are only temporarily blinded by the Shimadzu Group's high prices. Once they realize what's happening, they definitely won't sell so easily." (End of Chapter)