Chapter 144: Toru Amuro's Focus

"Akikawa."

Conan hadn't expected to hear Akikawa Kyousuke's name from Toru Amuro's mouth.

"What about Akikawa?"

Conan asked.

"It's nothing, I'm just a bit curious about the artist Toda has his eye on," Toru Amuro replied.

Conan briefly explained the cases related to Akikawa Kyousuke to Toru Amuro.

Of course, everything he revealed was information already recorded by the First Investigation Division.

Conan intentionally withheld personal details about Akikawa Kyousuke, such as his mother, Akikawa Ryoko, and his sister, Okino Yoko.

He didn't want to be the one to disclose Akikawa Kyousuke's private life.

Moreover, Conan thought that if Toru Amuro was truly interested in Akikawa Kyousuke, he should investigate the First Division on his own.

After all, with Toru Amuro's background, it wouldn't be difficult to access information from the Criminal Affairs Bureau.

---

"So that's the situation. No wonder Toda suspects Akikawa Kyousuke. There really are some oddities in the cases Akikawa Kyousuke has been involved in," Toru Amuro remarked over the phone.

"What do you think, Conan-kun? Do you believe Akikawa is innocent?"

"I can only say that it seems unlikely Akikawa is involved. If what Officer Toda said is true, then the benefits of Akikawa's actions wouldn't justify the risks, making it completely unreasonable," Conan responded carefully.

---

Then Toru Amuro said, "But it seems Miss Sera and Conan-kun have different opinions."

'Does he know about this too?!'

Conan was startled.

Although he knew Toru Amuro bore no ill will toward him, he was still shocked by how well-informed Amuro was about his side.

Conan couldn't help but wonder if the police had secretly installed surveillance software on his phone.

---

On the other end of the line, Toru Amuro seemed to have guessed Conan's thoughts and chuckled.

"I just found out that Miss Sera left in a hurry yesterday after requesting something from Inspector Megure's department."

"And Conan-kun, you just told me that before Toda was arrested yesterday, he adamantly insisted that Akikawa Kyousuke was the murderer in the car accident."

"So I deduced that Miss Sera must have started doubting Akikawa Kyousuke because of Toda's claims yesterday."

---

"Let's visit Akikawa Kyousuke's house later to search for clues."

After saying this, Toru Amuro paused for a few seconds before continuing, "By the way, Conan-kun, do you know what Miss Sera discovered during her investigation?"

"I don't know," Conan answered honestly.

Sera Masumi hadn't told him anything about finding something at Akikawa Kyousuke's house yesterday.

So, Conan truly didn't know the details.

---

"But since Miss Sera hasn't mentioned it to me, it's highly likely we haven't found enough evidence to support Officer Toda's claims."

"That's all. Thank you."

After hearing Toru Amuro's thanks, Conan hung up the phone.

He stared at the screen of his phone, lost in thought:

'Amuro-san is also curious about Akikawa Kyousuke.

That means, like Sera, he believes Toda Kyouji isn't targeting Akikawa Kyousuke without reason.

Amuro-san also mentioned earlier that the police have been investigating Toda Kyouji.

So, Amuro-san must have a much deeper understanding of Toda Kyouji than we do.'

---

Conan couldn't help but ponder further.

Although he found Toda Kyouji's words and actions untrustworthy, Toru Amuro was a different matter.

As the head of a secret police intelligence unit, Toru Amuro's skills were in no way comparable to Toda Kyouji's.

'Now that Amuro-san is focusing on Akikawa Kyousuke because of Toda Kyouji,

Does that mean Amuro-san sees some credibility in Toda Kyouji's judgments?'

---

'Toda might not just be a violent officer targeting random suspects.

Maybe, as Sera hypothesized, Toda Kyouji only goes after those he believes to be criminals.

And for Amuro-san to recognize Toda Kyouji's abilities, his judgment must hold some weight in Amuro-san's eyes.

Otherwise, if Toda were as reckless as he appeared yesterday, Amuro-san wouldn't pay much attention to Akikawa Kyousuke.'

---

'Could it be that everything Toda Kyouji said is true?'

'But if Akikawa Kyousuke were truly as capable as Toda claimed, how could the car accident case end up like this?'

'Just like the last two cases, wouldn't it be smarter to minimize suspicion?'

No matter how Conan thought about it, he couldn't grasp Akikawa Kyousuke's actions.

For a moment, it drove him a little crazy.

Conan ran his hands through his hair in frustration until it was completely disheveled, but his thoughts remained jumbled.

In the end, he had to give up and head back to the living room.

---

Ministry of Public Security – Planning Section

A man with short hair and black-rimmed glasses knocked gently on Toru Amuro's office door.

After receiving permission to enter, he opened the door and stepped inside.

---

It was Yuya Kazami, the Public Security Bureau detective tasked with investigating Toda Kyouji during yesterday's film exhibition and secretly following Mouri Ran and the others under Amuro's orders.

---

When Yuya Kazami entered, he noticed the room was completely dark, except for the glow of a computer screen on Toru Amuro's desk.

Toru Amuro, with his blonde hair and healthy complexion, was intently staring at the screen in the dim office.

---

It seemed Amuro was so focused that he had forgotten to turn on the lights.

Click.

Kazami switched on the office lights, instantly filling the room with bright fluorescent white.

---

"Furuya-san."

Kazami stepped aside, waiting for a response. But when Toru Amuro remained silent, Kazami finally couldn't hold back and called out.

---

"Toda sent his officers to Akikawa's house yesterday to fabricate evidence."

Toru Amuro finally spoke.

"Toda actually went that far. It's truly outrageous."

Kazami Yuya's face displayed visible disgust.

To him, Toda Kyouji's behavior was completely at odds with the image of a criminal investigator.

---

"If Akikawa Kyousuke hadn't installed a camera in his home, we might not have seen this clearly," Kazami remarked.

"The fact that the First Investigation Division detectives knew someone entered Akikawa Kyousuke's house means his camera had an alarm feature.

The alert likely went to Akikawa Kyousuke's phone, notifying the detectives."

---

"Exactly."

Kazami nodded but seemed unsure about the point of Amuro's statement.

"In other words, Akikawa Kyousuke's phone is now being held as evidence by the First Division," Amuro continued.

---

He finally turned away from his screen to face Kazami.

"Kazami, retrieve Akikawa Kyousuke's phone and install covert tracking and listening software on it."

This action wasn't illegal. The Metropolitan Police and Public Security Bureau were permitted to conduct warrantless searches and surveillance, a practice known as "informal investigation."

---

(End of Chapter)