Sincerity Is the Ultimate Weapon

As the trial time approached, nine judges filed into the courtroom...

Because this was a major criminal case, there were not only three professional judges, but also six civilian judges—the so-called "jurors."

In theory, in an Eastern Island Nation courtroom, if five of the six jurors found the defendant "not guilty," then even if every professional judge believed him "guilty," he would be acquitted. Likewise, as long as one professional judge insisted on "not guilty," then even if all the jurors found him "guilty," he would still be acquitted...

As for the jury system, Shiraishi personally felt that it had both advantages and disadvantages.

After all, jurors were ordinary people, and their values often differed greatly from those of judges...

According to large-model statistics, Shiraishi felt that one benefit was harsher sentencing for serious juvenile crimes. Civilian jurors generally did not approve of lenient sentences for minors. Of course, there were drawbacks too, the most obvious being... civilian jurors generally took narcotics offenses too lightly.

Naturally, these "benefits" and "drawbacks" were merely judgments colored by Shiraishi's own subjective views. He did not believe he truly represented the law, much less the truth. They were only his personal thoughts...

Still, most of the time, jurors did not raise any objections to the judgments of professional judges.

But...

Given the public uproar surrounding this case, the jurors' views were also extremely important!

Just as Shiraishi was lost in thought...

Knock, knock—

Before announcing the opening of court, the elderly Chief Judge tapped his gavel, then held out a hand toward Shiraishi at the back. "Sir, please sit down. We are about to begin."

Shiraishi: ...

Hearing that, Shiraishi could only stand up, then sit back down...

Chief Judge: ...

After realizing that Shiraishi had actually been sitting just now, the judge was startled as well. He then cleared his throat. "Ahem, then... court is now in session!"

After that, the proceedings followed their usual course...

The prosecution stated the charges and presented its evidence, then called witnesses to testify and gave the lawyer a chance to "question" them...

Komikado truly lived up to his reputation as a great defense attorney. Not only was his reasoning clear, but his words were also extraordinarily persuasive. He denied and refuted every prosecution inference that lacked hard evidence—and his rebuttals sounded entirely reasonable. At the very least, the jurors... and even the professional judges, found themselves somewhat convinced!

Indeed, statements such as "The defendant said, [I'm going to kill him]" could not be treated as conclusive evidence. Shiraishi accepted that argument as well...

This sort of "second-rate evidence" was overturned one by one, and soon it was time for the real clash!

Komikado began his counterattack by focusing on "police coercion during interrogation"...

"Your Honors, please look at this record. What a coincidence—the surveillance camera in the Interrogation Room just happened to break while Mr. Tsubokura was being interrogated?"

"Objection! It was merely a coincidence. Surveillance equipment can break down at any time!"

Yane Takefumi was not prepared to admit it. Prosecutors had always been stubborn when it came to matters like this.

"Is that so? Then let us continue... This is the testimony record previously provided by the prosecution, from the officers involved. These young officers actually claimed that they heard no unusual sounds, that the station was very quiet that day? Unfortunately, that is impossible. I believe the police station must have been extremely noisy that day." Komikado spoke with certainty.

"Objection! That is merely the defense's subjective speculation!" Yane Takefumi stubbornly persisted.

The Presiding Judge also spoke up. "Defense counsel, why do you believe that?"

"The reason is simple. Because the police station had been under construction those days. Every office, every room, had its doorframe renovated... After all, take a look at this... the new Chief of our Beika Police Station, a hero who bravely fought criminal forces. When he entered the courtroom just now, he had to do this..."

As he spoke, Komikado bent at the waist and mimed "squeezing" his way inside—when Shiraishi entered most rooms, he really did have to do that... The doorframes were simply too short and too narrow!

At the same time...

In this parallel world, Eastern Island Nation courts permitted both sides' advocates to step down from their places and even use some body language, so long as the Chief Judge did not object.

Everyone turned to look at Shiraishi—reasonable, far too reasonable!

Shiraishi: ...

That was right. Shiraishi recalled that the station had indeed been "noisy" for several days a week earlier, mainly because the doorframes had been renovated. Now, every single one was spacious!

After all, on his first day in office, Shiraishi had "squeezed" through every office to greet everyone. After witnessing that, even the most oblivious person would have known the doorframes needed renovating...

"So... during those days, just after Chief Shiraishi took office, many doorframes at the station were renovated. The work lasted three days, including the very day on which the final interrogation produced results. To claim that the station was very quiet at that time is absolutely... a lie!" Komikado's reasoning was compelling.

Shiraishi had already told the personnel involved to testify honestly. In fact... Beika Police Station had now admitted to this accusation!

But the prosecution had not accepted it, and the testimony it submitted was still the original stubborn denial—at which Shiraishi wore a grim expression.

By comparison, perhaps because he did not want to create further complications, Komikado, though arrogant overall, deliberately or inadvertently gave Shiraishi an out—emphasizing that Shiraishi had only just taken office at the time!

Sure enough, after hearing Komikado's words, people in the gallery and even the jurors began whispering among themselves.

Seeing this, the Chief Judge rapped his gavel. "Order, order!"

Komikado then requested that Shirai take the stand—an application that had been submitted earlier. Shirai was also in the witness waiting room today, but Prosecutor Yane seemed to have noticed long ago that something was wrong with him and had been hoping he would not be called out.

Yet under Komikado's attack, the judges still required witness Shirai to be questioned.

However, to Komikado's surprise...

"I admit that I conducted... an improper interrogation that day. The station has already disciplined me for it, and after this case concludes, I will resign voluntarily!" Shirai's opening statement left both the prosecution and defense utterly reeling.

Yane Takefumi was the first to try to stop him, but he was too late.

Shiraishi also revealed a surprised expression—he had instructed him earlier to tell the truth, but... Shiraishi had not told him to resign!

He had even intended to use some connections to transfer him to an easy desk job.

After all, the man was nearly retired. Setting aside whether he could finish his decades as a detective properly... his pension was a substantial sum as well!

Pensions in the Eastern Island Nation were mainly paid out in a lump sum upon retirement. At Shirai's rank, he could receive twenty or thirty million, a safeguard for his old age. If he resigned now, he would receive nothing. As for the employees' pension and the like, it would not even be enough for rice with soy sauce.

Shiraishi supported progress with the times, and he also supported the remnants of the times getting out of the way, but he did not support those remnants being left without pensions... After all, frontline detectives' pay had never matched what they gave. Their only "advantage" was a somewhat larger retirement pension.

It was perfectly normal for people in their fifties or sixties to fall behind in any profession. But if falling behind meant leaving in poverty, it would not only damage their colleagues' motivation, but also undermine the dignity of the profession!

Having heard only the beginning, several reporters immediately hunched over and hurried out—this was breaking news that had to be published at once!

"However, I will continue to testify regarding this case. The defendant's first interrogation took place on September 5..."

Shirai immediately began recounting the details related to the interrogation!

Komikado interrupted him. "Objection, please wait, Inspector Shirai. The primary reason you were called to testify this time was regarding your improper interrogation. Since Chief Shiraishi, who had only just taken office, has already disciplined you, I believe the court can proceed to the next stage. You may go and rest..."

"Objection overruled." The judge reminded Komikado that since they were discussing the interrogation, Shirai could theoretically continue speaking.

"Thank you, Your Honor..." After offering his thanks, Shirai continued his testimony.

This time, Shirai concealed nothing. Calmly and sincerely, he described the interrogation process and the many suspicious points surrounding the defendant...