"So, unlike Detective Mouri, you support the Phantom Thieves?" Nagai Ayako reacted quickly and continued leading the conversation.
A direct clash—this collision between the thinking of the new and old generation detectives—was exactly the scene she had been hoping for!
"Not really," Kazawa rested his gloved hand on his chin and replied in a measured tone. "I believe they should still be punished by the law."
"Oh? So you think what they're doing is a crime?"
"That's right. There's no doubt that the crimes committed by their targets are unforgivable, but punishing others using standards outside the law—that's lynching. That goes against justice more than anything else. More importantly, forcibly distorting someone's heart and mind... that's the one thing we should never do. If even the spirit is no longer free, then this world..." Kazawa's smile faded slightly. He looked at the camera with meaning in his eyes. "...is far too terrifying, don't you think?"
Miyano Akemi smoothed her overly vivid wig to conceal her unsettled expression.
She understood he was trying to distance himself from Joker, but that tone...
At the villa, Hoshikawa Teru stared at the close-up of "his own face" on the television and shrank his shoulders.
Strange. It was clearly Kazawa saying those things, so why did he feel like he was the one being held accountable?
"Hmph. What's this kid getting at?" Gin sneered, biting down hard on his cigarette filter.
Vodka nodded, thinking secretly that this kid clearly had a personal grudge. He dared to badmouth KA03 so boldly and without restraint—this had nothing to do with some "tested counterattack." He was just taking this chance to mess with his colleagues, wasn't he?
After saying those strange words, Kazawa was secretly delighted.
Aside from that last sarcastic line he'd added, the rest was actually a direct quote from Goro Akechi on the original P5 variety show.
Back then, Akechi—who was himself a "cognitive world killer" responsible for real deaths—righteously criticized the Phantom Thieves on camera for being unjust. Now, wearing the identity of a code-named member of the Organization, he was using that same quote to scold himself... on camera.
It was honestly hilarious.
Naturally, Nagai Ayako didn't understand the source of his joy.
She glanced at the director behind the camera, who was signaling to wrap up and transition to the closing segment. Looking at Goro Akechi, who clearly still had more to say, she felt a twinge of regret but still closed the segment professionally:
"Thank you both for sharing your perspectives today. If our viewers have any thoughts about this topic, feel free to leave a message on the website and join the discussion. Dear viewers, we'll see you again next week! And don't forget to check the website for this episode's lucky draw winners. You just might be one of them!"
"See you next week, everyone!" Takashi Matsuo, who had zoned out for a moment, suddenly perked up and walked over to Nagai Ayako, waving as he delivered the sign-off with a smile.
"Okay, okay!" The director behind the camera watched the viewfinder nervously, confirming that the shots were transitioning properly between guests and hosts waving. He then raised his hand and declared the shoot wrapped.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone." Kazawa and Mouri Kogoro stood together and bowed toward the audience and the studio staff.
"Thank you for your hard work, detectives." Now that the cameras were off, Nagai Ayako shed her polished media persona. She bowed deeply with sincere politeness.
"Conan, look!" Mouri Ran clapped along with the rest of the audience, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the blinking colored keypad on her lap. "We won a prize! We're so lucky today!"
"Awesome, Detective Samonji!" Conan raised his hands in celebration, genuinely happy.
He'd always trusted in Ran's luck!
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Matsuo." Kazawa followed Kogoro Mouri and smiled as he bowed toward Takashi Matsuo.
"Not at all! You two were fantastic guests—easy to get along with and great at keeping the atmosphere lively," Takashi Matsuo replied with genuine warmth.
During the intermissions for the short film, he had keenly noticed that both guests, like himself, had stepped away from the studio at some point, making his own brief absence feel less conspicuous.
He really owed these two for that. He only hoped that their so-called fame was nothing more than an illusion, and that his carefully crafted skills wouldn't be exposed...
Kazawa responded with a gentle, easy-going smile.
Sure, keep smiling. Laugh while you still can. Later, when bad things start happening to you, you won't have much reason left to laugh.
"Mr. Matsuo! Producer Matsuo!" A staff member hurried over, ignoring the fact that Matsuo was still talking with the two guests. He was sweating profusely as he interrupted, "Mr. Suwa seems to be missing. No one is answering in his office or on his mobile. The sponsor is already waiting in the conference room."
"Huh? That's odd..." Matsuo Takashi was surprised. "Maybe he snuck off to do some secret brainstorming again. Honestly, that guy..."
"Could you please help us look for him?" the staffer continued, flustered. "If we can't find him, maybe you could go meet the sponsor in his place."
"Of course. Let's go check things out first," Matsuo nodded calmly.
Meanwhile, Conan led the cheerful Ran—still excited from her win—over to Mouri Kogoro as a family group.
Kazawa also turned his gaze toward Matsuo Takashi.
Maybe he'd been in the variety world too long, but the man's reactions felt exaggerated. Even Conan's suspicious gaze looked like it was drilling into the back of his head.
Nagai Ayako stood off to the side with a faint smile. When she noticed Kazawa looking her way, she walked over on her own initiative.
"Thank you for your hard work today, Akechi-kun."
"No, thank you for your hospitality, Miss Nagai," Kazawa replied with a polite smile.
Maybe it was because he'd been using the Kumail persona to deliver sarcastic remarks for so long, but his tone naturally carried a hint of irony—enough to make Nagai Ayako's smile stiffen briefly.
Was this guy being genuinely polite… or just saying he was?
She blinked, uncertain, but still bowed properly: "Sorry, was my behavior inappropriate today?"
"Not at all. Miss Nagai is a first-rate host, and a journalist with integrity." Kazawa tilted his head and beamed. From his outward appearance, Goro Akechi had a warm and affable smile that easily won people over.
That confirmed it—Nagai Ayako was now certain that he was delivering a subtle jab for her performance today.
She was just thinking about how to apologize gracefully and shift some of the blame onto the planning team to smooth things over with this rising detective star when suddenly, the studio landline rang urgently.
"Ring, ring, ring—"
"Hello, this is the studio... What did you say?! Mr. Suwa is lying on the fourth floor covered in blood?!"
Pssst! This story is already on Chapter 196 on Patreon!
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