After hearing Sera Masumi's words, Megure Juzo took out his cell phone.
"Officer Sato, take a team to Akikawa Kyousuke's house immediately. Move quickly."
"Akikawa Kyousuke?"
"The victim from the previous car accident case came to the Metropolitan Police Department yesterday to provide a statement."
"I see."
Sato Miwako heard the seriousness in Megure Juzo's voice over the phone and guessed that something significant might have happened.
She didn't waste words.
After retrieving the address Akikawa Kyousuke had registered during his visit, she led a team straight to his apartment in Shibuya.
---
At that moment, the forensic officer responsible for analyzing the fingerprints on Conan's suit jacket returned with the results.
"The fingerprints have been compared through AFIS and confirmed as those of Akikawa Kyousuke's right hand."
AFIS, or the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, is used to store and compare fingerprint data of suspects and registered individuals to aid in criminal investigations and identification.
Since Akikawa Kyousuke had been involved in multiple cases, his fingerprint data was already stored in the system.
---
"By the way, can't we just unlock Mr. Akikawa's phone and use the app to see who entered his house?"
"Isn't it connected to a webcam? Since the person is still in Mr. Akikawa's home, wouldn't it help to check?"
Suzuki Sonoko asked, visibly confused.
---
"Uh, Miss Suzuki, that's not allowed."
Takagi Wataru stepped forward to explain.
"Although this phone is considered evidence, it's also Mr. Akikawa's personal property.
The Metropolitan Police cannot inspect someone's phone without the owner's consent."
---
"Why are you still concerned about that at a time like this? What if the suspect escapes?"
Suzuki Sonoko was frustrated by the Metropolitan Police's rigid procedures.
"Even so, we have no right to inspect it.
Besides, we don't know Mr. Akikawa's phone password either."
---
"As for the password, couldn't we just call Mr. Akikawa and ask him?"
"But Mr. Akikawa's phone is here. Who are we supposed to call?"
Conan blinked his large eyes and looked at Suzuki Sonoko with feigned confusion.
Suzuki Sonoko froze, embarrassed, and fell silent.
---
Moments later, Megure Juzo's phone rang again.
He answered it.
The simple act immediately drew everyone's attention to him.
"Hello, Officer Sato?"
"Captured?! That's great! Who is the suspect...?"
"What did you say—?!"
Megure Juzo suddenly shouted mid-sentence.
Mouri Ran, Suzuki Sonoko, and Conan were stunned.
---
"Understood.
Ensure you find all the falsified evidence at Akikawa's house and bring it back to the Metropolitan Police Department."
After hanging up, Megure Juzo's expression visibly darkened.
Sera Masumi watched his reaction closely, then spoke.
"So, it's Nakajima, the detective from the Third Criminal Investigative Division, isn't it?"
---
When Megure Juzo heard this, his eyes widened, and he stared at Sera Masumi.
The anger on his face was instantly replaced by shock.
He hadn't wanted to reveal such shameful truths to outsiders.
Yet, Sera Masumi had guessed everything as soon as he ended the call.
---
"It's obvious, Officer Megure."
Sera Masumi said calmly.
"Your surprise when you heard the suspect's name and your order to have Officer Sato bring them 'back' to the Metropolitan Police Department clearly indicate the person is a criminal investigator.
Considering Officer Nakajima used to be a subordinate of Officer Toda and was responsible for coercing confessions from Akikawa during the car accident case, it's not surprising I could deduce his identity."
Sera Masumi continued, unfazed.
---
While Sera Masumi didn't seem to care much about such matters, the detectives of the Metropolitan Police present once again looked at her with admiration.
"This is what a detective looks like... It's incredible."
"No wonder the Metropolitan Police often rely on detectives to solve crimes. Their reasoning skills are on another level."
"I didn't even suspect Nakajima earlier... She figured it out. That's terrifying."
"And she's just a girl."
"Wait, what?!"
The Metropolitan Police officers began whispering among themselves again.
---
Sera Masumi ignored their chatter and kept her focus on Megure Juzo.
"Officer Megure, I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
---
"Suppose Akikawa hadn't been so lucky today and none of us had witnessed Officer Toda attacking him.
Would Officer Toda have staged the scene as an assault on police, used it to search Akikawa's house, and claimed Akikawa was guilty because he resisted arrest?
And after finding the so-called 'evidence,' would Akikawa have been treated as a criminal, erasing what Officer Toda did today?"
---
After hearing Sera Masumi's relentless questioning, Conan, Mouri Ran, and Suzuki Sonoko were stunned.
"Hey, Sera..."
Suzuki Sonoko tugged on Sera Masumi's sleeve, whispering a reminder.
Though the Metropolitan Police were at fault this time, Sera Masumi's words were brutally honest.
---
Judging by the look on Megure Juzo's face, he clearly didn't condone what Toda Kyouji had done.
But Sera Masumi ignored Sonoko completely, her piercing gaze locked on Megure Juzo.
She couldn't accept the idea of someone like Toda Kyouji being part of the Metropolitan Police Department.
What's more, Toda didn't just coerce prisoners into confessing—
He targeted anyone he deemed guilty.
---
Megure Juzo, usually imposing when dealing with officers like Toda Kyouji, now found himself flustered under Sera Masumi's scrutiny.
He knew very well the flaws within the Metropolitan Police.
It was precisely because they relied so heavily on detectives that they managed to maintain a high crime resolution rate.
---
Moreover, this time, the Metropolitan Police were at fault.
As an ordinary citizen, Sera Masumi had every right to criticize and oversee the police's actions.
Thus, Megure Juzo couldn't even be angry at her.
He carefully considered her words, feeling a growing fear in his heart.
---
What if things had indeed gone as Sera Masumi described?
While Toda Kyouji would have faced punishment for his unlawful actions, the consequences wouldn't have been too severe.
On the other hand, Akikawa Kyousuke would likely have been branded a criminal.
---
After a long pause, Megure Juzo finally responded in a deep voice.
"I'm sorry.
I will investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure this never happens again."
(End of the chapter)