Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Ito had his back to Shoichi.

He continued, "During that time, Reiko often mentioned Masakazu."

"That frequency is no longer normal."

"Someone must have influenced Reiko, causing her to start committing crimes."

"And if I'm not mistaken, the person who exerted the influence was Zheng Yi."

Shoichi looked at Ito and said, "You need to provide evidence when you speak."

"Without evidence, that's just nonsense. I won't plead guilty to something as illogical as you."

Inspector Megure glanced at Masakazu.

His eyes looked a little strange.

That sounds familiar, doesn't it? It's like what Ito just said, isn't it?

Ito has now begun to plead guilty.

Inspector Megure was beginning to hope that Shoichi would confess.

If Shoichi pleads guilty, Tokyo's crime rate could drop by 80 percent.

“I have no evidence,” Ito said. “How could a crime expert like you possibly leave behind evidence that I could find?”

Zheng Yi sighed.

Even though I was being praised, I wasn't happy at all.

Ito said, "Officers, you should know that the AI ​​that Masakazu has is extremely powerful, right?"

Inspector Megure nodded and said, "That's right, the police are also cooperating with... uh, that AI."

Sometimes, that thing is really convenient.

However, he was unwilling to discuss cooperating with Zheng Yi.

That sounds awful.

Ito coughed and said, "With Mr. Shoichi's skills, he can completely manipulate what Reiko sees on the internet."

Ito spoke slowly, his voice echoing clearly in the silent room:

"Everyone, we have always believed that Shimizu Reiko embarked on a path of crime out of greed and ambition."

"But have you ever considered what made her so convinced that crime is not only risk-free, but also a 'worth pursuing art'?"

Ito said with a hint of understanding, "Mr. Shoichi, you used your AI to build an information world that belongs only to Shimizu Reiko."

"Your AI is manipulating the online information it has access to."

“Whenever she searches for crime cases, all she sees are legends of ‘perfect crimes’ and the ‘glorious deeds’ of criminals who get away with their crimes.”

"You blocked all the tragic reports about criminals being caught and imprisoned."

"In her online world, crime is a glamorous adventure, a wise man's mockery of the fool."

“You turned her into a ‘crime fan.’ You made her believe that if you’re smart enough, the law is just a piece of paper.”

"Cough cough."

Ito coughed and continued in a horrifying tone:

"Then, you gave her the 'script'."

Ito's voice deepened:
"Mr. Zhengyi did not directly teach her to kill or rob."

"He merely 'showed' a seductive, idealized criminal world and, at the right moment, 'just happened' to let her see the 'perfect plan'."

"The rest, Reiko did naturally."

"This was a perfect manipulation. Mr. Zhengyi used the information gap to cultivate Reiko into his ideal 'crime enforcer'."

"She robbed, killed, and framed Ito all to realize her 'perfect criminal dream'."

"And this dream was originally planted in her mind by Mr. Zhengyi himself."

After saying this, Ito's voice became increasingly hoarse:

"So, perhaps in Reiko's eyes, I'm just a hindrance, a supporting character who ruined her perfect performance?"

"I should have died in that tampered car."

"But……"

A mocking smile appeared on Ito's face.

"But I'm afraid even Reiko doesn't know that the real director from the very beginning was this Mr. Seiichi."

"She became the killing tool of the idol she worshipped."

Inspector Megure stared with his mouth agape.

That face, which always carried a hint of honesty and seriousness, was now filled with unbelievable shock.

His eyes widened, his gaze shifting back and forth between Shoichi's unfathomable face and Ito's confident expression.

His lips trembled, but he couldn't make a sound.

As a veteran criminal investigator, he has solved countless cases and seen all kinds of criminals.

But someone like Zheng Yi orchestrated a tragedy spanning several years behind the scenes simply by manipulating information.

This is the first time I've seen a tactic that even manipulates the police.

This was beyond his understanding of "crime," leaving him with a profound sense of powerlessness and shock.

“This…this is impossible…” Inspector Megure muttered to himself.

"Can someone be turned into a murderer just through the internet?"

It seems he really is getting old.

The crimes committed now have reached a level he can no longer comprehend.

No wonder Zheng Yi is suspected of committing so many crimes, yet none of them have been confirmed.

After the initial shock, an unnamed rage suddenly ignited within Sato.

Her eyes were burning with fury as she stared intently at Zheng Yi.

His hand had already drawn his sidearm with a "whoosh," and then he put it down with great restraint.

If what Ito said is true.

What about a human life?

Is it just a game?

Or is it simply his perverse sense of humor?

Then he created a criminal with his own hands, watched her kill people, watched innocent people die tragically, and then abandoned her like trash.

She approached Zheng Yi step by step, radiating a cold aura that kept strangers at bay.

We must find evidence.

We must find evidence that Zheng Yi committed the murder.

After hearing this, Takagi froze on the spot, his face turned pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He looked at Zheng Yi as if he were looking at a demon crawling out of the abyss.

The reactions of the other police officers were largely the same.

They all looked at Zheng Yi with fear.

I'm terrified that I'll become a victim of Zheng Yi's manipulation.

What I fear even more is being manipulated and controlled by Zheng Yi as a killing machine without my knowledge.

The police officers looked at Zheng Yi with awe.

That man was terrifying.

Kogoro Mouri suddenly raised his head, his usually squinty eyes now wide open.

His mouth was slightly open, clearly stunned by Ito's groundbreaking reasoning.

But amidst this shock, his intuition quickly led him to grasp something.

A few seconds later, a hint of... indescribable joy suddenly appeared on his face.

He cleared his throat and straightened his back.

"Ahem! I see! I see!" Kogoro Mouri shook his head, feigning profundity.

Inspector Megure looked at Kogoro Mouri.

Did you glean some crucial information?

But soon, Inspector Megure slapped his forehead.

Why would he have any hope for Zhengyi's lackeys?
Perhaps Kogoro has found an excuse to help Shoichi clear his name.

"Inspector Megure, did you hear that? I've felt that Mr. Shoichi is strange from the very beginning."

"But Kogoro Mouri solves cases based on solid reasoning."

As he spoke, he patted his chest proudly, his voice booming:

“I’m not this guy’s henchman! Every single one of the criminals I’ve caught is a genuine criminal.”

Kogoro Mouri pointed to himself, then to Ito, and said with a hint of disdain:
“Look closely, I, Kogoro Mouri, am a genuine master detective.” “And murderers like Ito, who are completely unaware of the crimes they commit and are manipulated by Shoichi like pawns, are Shoichi’s true tools.”

He, Kogoro Mouri, is completely innocent.

They were simply outmatched when dealing with Zheng Yi, failing to find the Zheng Yi behind the criminals.

He is not some traitorous lackey.

He said this not only to Inspector Megure, but also to himself.

Inspector Megure's eyebrows furrowed deeply.

This~
Is what Kogoro said true or false?
If what Ito said is true, then Kogoro might not actually be Shoichi's lackey.

Those murderers are the real lackeys of the Zhengyi sect, they just don't know it.

Kogoro remains the same unreliable detective, unable to find out who the real culprit is.

Inspector Megure's expression suddenly turned somewhat grim.

Doesn't this also show that the police are inadequate and unable to find the mastermind behind everything?
Inspector Megure looked at Kogoro Mouri.

I don't know what to say to him, and I don't know if I can trust him.

Zheng Yi stood there, unsure of what expression to make.

In Ito's mouth.

I think I've become a bit too good at it.

Using the information, he then turned Shimizu Reiko into his tool for committing crimes.

That's a bit too amazing.

He seemed to have never heard of a more outrageous criminal manipulator than himself.

Zheng Yi touched his chin.

He wondered if, if these people continued to speculate, he might become the god of crime.
Looking into those fearful eyes, Zheng Yi spoke gently:
"You don't actually believe this criminal, do you?"

"He's a vicious criminal; you can't believe anything he says."

Sato looked at Masakazu and said, "There is an old Chinese saying: 'When a person is about to die, his words are good.'"

Ito made so many guesses.

That would give the Metropolitan Police Department a clue when investigating how to deal with Masakazu.

Investigate online information.

However, Zheng Yi's technology is far superior to that of the police.

Even now, the technology used by the Metropolitan Police Department is from Zheng Yi Company.

Investigating and confirming the manipulation of the internet remains a very difficult task.

But at least we have a direction.

Shoichi looked at Ito and curled his lip, saying, "If I were a bad person, I would definitely never repent until death."

"He's been a bad person his whole life, and he'll never say anything good until he dies."

He looked at Sato, questioning her professional competence as a detective:
"You're a veteran detective, it's a bit unacceptable of you to believe a criminal."

Sato snorted coldly and ignored Masakazu.

Zhengyi thought she was wrong.

That just proves that she's on the right track, and Zheng Yi is already feeling uneasy.

"Beep, beep, beep~"

The ringing of a cell phone broke the strange atmosphere.

"Hello? This is Inspector Megure."

An indistinct male or female voice came from the other end of the phone:

"Inspector Megure, I've already delivered to the police station evidence of President Fukayama's theft of artwork, as well as other crimes including murder. Remember to arrest him."

Inspector Megure was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Who are you? Why are you...?"

"dududu~"

Before Inspector Megure could even ask his question, the call was already disconnected.

"Ahem." Ito coughed and said, "Fukayama is our senior and a member of the Crime Research Club. He often engages in criminal activities."

Perhaps because he knew his life was nearing its end, Ito was very willing to confess to those guys' crimes.

"Sato, you and Takagi go find Miyama," Inspector Megure said.

"Yes!"

Sato and Takagi accepted the order and prepared to leave.

"Cough cough."

At this moment, Ito's cough intensified, and he spoke:

"Mr. Zhengyi seems to really like art."

Zheng nodded.

Although Ito couldn't see Shoichi's response, he still spoke without any difficulty:
"If I'm not mistaken, the person who called should be one of Mr. Zhengyi's people."

Sato and Takagi stopped in their tracks.

Sato stared intently at Masakazu.

Masayu winked at Sato.

He couldn't refute Ito's words.

Because the person who called was Kaito Kid.

He is indeed one of my people.

But it wasn't Zheng Yi who made Kid do it.

This is a personal feud between Kidd and Deep Mountain.

Ito said, "Since Senior Fukayama is in prison, those artworks will eventually end up in Mr. Shoichi's hands."

"Don't talk nonsense," Zheng Yi said in a very soft voice.

Looking at Inspector Megure and Sato, Shoichi felt that they had both believed the criminal's lies.

So he said, "I won't explain anything, but time will prove my innocence."

"clean?"

"Haha~"

I don't know which policeman laughed out loud, but when Zheng glanced over...

I noticed that everyone's faces were very serious, without a single smile.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside.

The police seemed to be trying to stop someone.

But they couldn't stop them. Two people, one big and one small, barged in, and two police officers who were blocking the way outside also came in.

"Conan?"

Kogoro walked up to Conan, picked him up, and asked:

"Where have you been? I couldn't find you before."

Conan, held in Kogoro's arms, whispered, "I'm going to find the truth with Heiji."

Then, he looked at Ito, who was sitting in the chair.

My mind is still foggy.

Through his investigation, he indeed deduced that the mastermind was Ito.

But why were the police and Uncle Mori faster than me?

Heiji also looked bewildered.

He and Conan went through so much trouble, spending an entire day, to find out who the culprit was.

But now we've come here to see.

The police already know who the murderer is, and even know his location and have arrested him.

Through Kogoro Mouri, Conan learned the reason why Ito was arrested.

He ran up to Zheng Yi with his short legs and asked:

"Brother Zhengyi, how did you manage to capture Ito?"

Shoichi looked at Conan and repeated everything Ito had said about himself.

What kind of manipulation of Shimizu Reiko through the internet, followed by criminal activity?

Absolutely not an exaggeration.

Under Conan's dumbfounded gaze, Shoichi calmly said:
"That's just how amazing I am." (End of Chapter)