A Genius In The World Of Conan

Chapter 23: Midori Kuriyama

Kousuke Akikawa and the lawyer, Midori Kuriyama, took a taxi together to the Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Chiyoda Ward.

There, he retrieved his personal belongings as well as some of his late mother, Akikawa Ryoko’s, possessions.

However, since some of Ryoko’s belongings were still considered evidence in an ongoing investigation, they could only be returned to him after the case was fully closed.

But Kousuke Akikawa, who already knew the truth, understood that he was unlikely to ever get those items back.

‘So-called personal belongings… It’s just some ID cards, keys, and a few pills…’

‘Money… There’s barely 4,000 yen in total…’

‘And the original owner didn't even have a phone?’

Looking at the childish-looking satchel in his hands, Kousuke Akikawa couldn't help but complain internally.

‘Then again, someone who was planning to die wouldn’t have needed to carry much with them in the first place.’

After retrieving his belongings, Midori Kuriyama turned toward him.

"Akikawa-san, it’s still early. If you don’t mind, would you like to visit our law firm to discuss matters regarding the inheritance and insurance payout?"

"Of course, if you’re not feeling up to it, we can arrange another time whenever is more convenient for you."

She was considerate of his condition—his right hand was still in a cast, and his body was weak after just being discharged from the hospital. So, she offered the option of postponing the discussion.

‘Might as well get this hassle over with.’

"Let’s do it today," Kousuke Akikawa decided.

"Understood."

Midori Kuriyama nodded lightly and walked toward the curb to hail a taxi.

‘Wait— Another taxi?’

Kousuke Akikawa realized that he only had a little over 3,000 yen, which came from his mother’s remaining belongings.

And considering the taxi fare from the hospital alone had cost over 5,000 yen, he definitely didn’t have enough to cover another ride.

Midori Kuriyama, aware of his dire financial situation, turned to him with a gentle smile.

"Don’t worry, I’ll cover the fare. After all, having you entrust me with these matters is an honor."

Hearing this extremely professional and polite response, Kousuke Akikawa was now certain of one thing—

Midori Kuriyama’s legal fees must be expensive.

<+>

They took another taxi to the Kisaki law firm, where Midori Kuriyama worked.

Kousuke Akikawa had assumed that someone as professional and competent as her must have been employed at a large, prestigious law firm.

But when they arrived, he was surprised to see that it was actually a small, private office.

Upon entering, he noticed a woman sitting at a desk in the center of the reception area, working with laser focus.

She wore glasses, had her hair tied up, and possessed an outstanding appearance and demeanor.

"Sensei, I’m back. This is Akikawa-san."

The woman briefly greeted Kousuke Akikawa, then immediately returned to her work.

From Midori Kuriyama’s use of 'sensei' to address her, and from the sheer confidence radiating from her presence—clearly built upon countless successful cases over the years—

Kousuke Akikawa deduced that this woman was undoubtedly the head of the firm and a highly capable lawyer.

Midori Kuriyama then led him to a nearby sofa before heading toward the refrigerator.

"Would you like something to drink, Akikawa-san?"

"Water is fine."

She poured him a glass of water, then took a seat across from him.

"Then, let's get straight to the point. Akikawa-san, do you know the exact amount of Ryoko-san’s assets?"

"I'm not sure about her savings, but I don't think it's much."

"In that case, I can help investigate. As long as we know which banks your mother had accounts with, I can check her exact deposit amounts for you."

"I'm not sure about that either."

"If that's the case, then you'll need to go home and look for bankbooks or cards to find out."

"Understood."

"Also, from what I’ve learned, you and Ryoko-san lived in a rented apartment, so I assume she did not own any real estate?"

"That's correct."

Throughout the conversation, Midori Kuriyama diligently took notes in her notebook after every response from Kousuke Akikawa.

Even though most of his answers were "I don’t know", her expression remained calm and professional, never showing any signs of frustration or condescension.

"Alright, that’s all for the inheritance discussion for now. Let’s move on to the topic of insurance compensation."

With that, Midori Kuriyama took out three insurance contracts retrieved from the Metropolitan Police Department and placed them on the table.

"Ryoko-san had a total of three insurance policies—two life insurance policies and one automobile liability insurance policy."

"The automobile liability insurance offers a death benefit of approximately 30 million yen. Meanwhile, the two life insurance policies have death benefits of 40 million yen and 45 million yen, respectively."

"The payouts for the 30 million yen automobile insurance and the 40 million yen life insurance should not be an issue."

"However, the final 45 million yen life insurance policy might take some time."

"Why is that?" Kousuke Akikawa asked in confusion.

"Because the last life insurance policy was purchased less than two years ago."

At that moment, as he stared down at the insurance contracts on the table, Kousuke Akikawa’s eyelids twitched slightly.

At the same time—

Across the room, the other lawyer at the firm, Kisaki Eri, who had been writing at her desk, paused mid-stroke, her pen hovering in place after hearing those words.

Midori Kuriyama, unaware of these subtle reactions, continued explaining:

"If the insured person dies within the first two years of the policy, the case qualifies as an ‘early-stage accident’, which means the insurance company may launch an investigation."

"Depending on their findings, they could deny the claim or adjust the compensation amount."

"However, Akikawa-san, I don’t think you need to worry too much. Since the Metropolitan Police has already cleared you of suspicion, you should still receive the full payout."

"If the insurance company tries to find an excuse to refuse payment or reduce the amount, just contact me. I’ll make sure you get what you’re owed."

With confidence, Midori Kuriyama placed a hand over her chest and flashed a reassuring smile.

"Then, I truly appreciate your help, Kuriyama-san."

Kousuke Akikawa slightly bowed his head to express his gratitude.

"It’s no problem. This is my job, after all."

"Since you’ve placed your trust in me and entrusted me with this task, I won’t let you down."