Chapter 2178 - 2176: It’s Fine, Steady as Can Be! (Cooked a Chicken for Soup Today)

With the hasty conclusion of the press conference, the Sindora Company has met its demise.

Just as Fang Zheng anticipated, this time Sindora Company was completely knocked down. After all, the AI that invaded the virtual reality system to kidnap children was manufactured by their company, as was the virtual reality system itself. So, all the responsibility falls on Sindora Company. Well....for now, bankruptcy seems to be their only option.

However, this has nothing to do with Fang Zheng. In fact, he is currently on vacation with Akemi and Little Ai.

Of course, while it’s called a vacation... it’s more like a business trip.

"Did he really say that?"

Driving on the highway, Fang Zheng coldly inquired while Akemi nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Mizuki said it wasn’t his fault..."

"If it’s not his fault, whose could it be? As the director, he at least bears the responsibility of poor management. Don’t forget, we at Umbrella spent a lot of money to quell public opinion!"

Speaking of this, Fang Zheng was really annoyed. Recently, a hospital under Umbrella had a medical accident resulting in the deaths of fourteen patients, and the media focused on the hospital director, Kirisaki Tetsurou, believing his surgical error led to the incident. Yet, he insisted that the medical accident was due to a nurse’s medication error.

Of course, Fang Zheng didn’t care about the truth of the matter. Regardless, so many patients died, and someone has to be replaced. But it turned out this guy had a strong will to survive, pointing skyward and swearing to Fang Zheng that he absolutely wasn’t at fault. Of course, it would be best if that nurse could testify, but unfortunately, the nurse also died in a previous car accident, so......

"How stupid can he be, thinking I’d believe in soul calling?"

Reflecting on the invitation letter Akemi handed him, Fang Zheng found himself almost laughing in anger. That director Mizuki, in order to prove his innocence, actually invited him to a spirit communication ceremony, saying it would summon the undead of the deceased nurse to testify to his innocence. From a certain point of view, this guy was grabbing at any straw he could find.

"Even though you say so, aren’t you planning to go?"

Little Ai understatedly commented while perusing a magazine.

"Because that area is a famous tourist spot. Isn’t it great to seize the chance for a breather? Oh, make sure to book the hotel and plan our travel route, we should really enjoy ourselves out there this time."

"Understood."

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s instructions, Little Ai’s lips curled slightly, picking up a pen to circle a spot in the travel magazine in front of her. This was a rare instance of the two sisters going on a trip with Fang Zheng, so naturally, they aimed to seek enjoyment. For them, the spirit communication ceremony wasn’t of any real concern, since Fang Zheng already mentioned: even if it wasn’t Kirisaki Tetsurou mainly responsible, as the hospital leader, he must bear the blame for mismanagement. This director wasn’t going to hold his position — seeking out an undead or even Laozi himself wouldn’t help.

Moreover, as a scientist, Little Ai didn’t believe in ghost gods, but... watching such an event now and then could be entertaining. After all, spirit medium activities were something she had only heard of and never seen in person.

"Ah, Mr. Fang Zheng, after this turn, we should be in Kura Village."

Akemi glanced at the map, then immediately began manually navigating.

"This truly is a remote location. Could that guy be planning to get rid of us— furiously and recklessly finding an excuse because he’s on the verge of being removed from his position... hmm?"

"What’s the matter, Mr. Fang Zheng?"

Observing Fang Zheng’s expression change slightly, Akemi was curious and asked, but Fang Zheng shook his head.

"Nothing, just that the scenery here is quite nice."

"Really?"

"Indeed........"

Speaking while narrowing his eyes, Fang Zheng looked around at the forest. On the surface, this was just a remote forest, that much was true. But Fang Zheng could sense that just now, he keenly detected a faint spiritual energy presence in this region.

Yep, spiritual energy!

Though this spiritual energy was extremely thin and not substantial enough for Fang Zheng to perform even a decent spell — at most, just a Level Zero Trickery — it was still enough to astonish him. Isn’t Conan supposed to be in Conanology? How could spiritual energy show up here? Though many murder cases in Conan occur in secluded mountains and forests under the guise of mythical tales and spirits, it still ends up being Conanology in essence.

Maybe Conan has an Anti-Magic Aura.

Of course, Fang Zheng was just joking. Although this place had spiritual energy, it was exceedingly weak. If the spiritual energy in other locations is 0, then this one might be 0.5, not reaching level 1. A place where even Level Zero Tricks can’t be performed, its spiritual energy, aside from being good for people’s health, holds no real value. It’s absolutely impossible to kill like you would in the Magic World.

Following the country lane, they proceeded and soon arrived at Kura Village.

"This place is indeed quite imposing."

Exiting the car and viewing the high buildings before him, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh. It was said to be the residence of a renowned spirit medium faction, and now it does seem to fit the part.

"I hope nothing like a murder happens here today; this place gives off the vibe that something might occur."

At this point, Little Ai joined Fang Zheng’s side, making an understated comment. Having mixed with Conan for a long time, she too, just like Fang Zheng, was "experienced" in such matters.

"Ha ha ha, definitely not possible."

In response to Little Ai’s remark, Fang Zheng waved his hand dismissively.

"Didn’t you hear, Conan and his group went to the seaside, right? Someone might die at the seaside, but here, that’s absolutely not happening. To avoid ’accidentally’ encountering them, I specifically chose the opposite direction to come here unless Conan travels by supersonic jet, appearing in front of us is nearly impossible. With Conan absent, no one is going to die, rest assured."

Fang Zheng firmly asserted, clearly no need to worry!

"Hopefully that’s the case...... hmm?"

At this moment, Fang Zheng saw Little Ai suddenly turn her head, looking toward the thicket nearby.

"What’s the matter?"

"I sensed a gaze."

"It’s a little girl."

With Fang Zheng’s height, he naturally was able to perceive the truth of that gaze.

"It should be a local resident here, looking smaller than you, maybe wanting to play with you?"

"I’m not interested in playing with kids."

Facing Fang Zheng’s suggestion, Little Ai responded with a light snort.

"Why so serious? I saw that you got along well with those kids in the Boy Detectives."

"But it’s quite exhausting, which is why I wanted to go out with my sister to relax. Bringing kids along would just tire me more."

At that moment, a bus came by, stopped at the nearby public station, and subsequently two men got off.

"Ah, President! Miss Haibara!"

Seeing Fang Zheng and the others, the man in the lead, with black and white hair, wearing a brown suit, a tie, and glasses, brightened up and hurriedly stepped forward to shake Fang Zheng’s hand.

"President! Please rest assured, I will prove my innocence! I will summon the undead of that nurse who died out of the blue and have her write a confession that it’s all her fault! Then you’ll see I’m innocent!"

"......Ha........."

Faced with the excited Kirisaki Tetsurou, Fang Zheng and Akemi and Little Ai looked at each other, at a loss for words.

Do you really think you have hope with this operation?

Forget it. Anyway, it’s just a few hours away from the dismissal, let him do as he pleases. After he’s done, it won’t be too late to remove him from his dean position.

"Who is this......"

Fang Zheng, uninterested in talking more with Kirisaki Tetsurou, immediately shifted the topic, looking at the man behind him in a blue suit, hair slicked back. He looked somewhat weak, like a person not very reliable, while Fang Zheng glanced at the badge on his chest briefly before quickly looking away.

"Oh, this is Mr. Naruhodo, the lawyer."

"Hello, I am Phoenix Wright."

The man named Naruhodo walked forward, smiling and handed his business card over.

"Nice to meet you, please give me your guidance."

"Hello, I’m Fang Zheng, this is Haibara Akemi and her sister Haibara Ai."

Fang Zheng spoke while taking out a business card from his chest, passing it over. Phoenix Wright took the card, glanced at it, then paused.

"I didn’t expect Fang Zheng, so young, to be......."

"Alright, let’s not talk about this now, let’s head inside quickly."

Fang Zheng waved his hand, interrupting the mutual compliments between him and Phoenix Wright. The group then headed towards the gate of Kura Village.

At the entrance, they encountered a woman in a black kimono, her hair styled in a comical bun on top of her head. She introduced herself as Kimiko Ayasato, the aunt of the spirit medium Maya Ayasato, and the little girl who was previously hiding in the bushes and watching them was, unsurprisingly, part of this family named Harumi Ayasato, a rather cute little girl.

Afterwards, under Kimiko Ayasato’s lead, the group proceeded to the inner courtyard, but contrary to their expectations, the soul summoning ritual was held in a closed room, and only the spirit medium Maya Ayasato and Kirisaki Tetsurou were allowed in, with the room being locked from inside. The rest were to wait in another room.

This made Akemi and Little Ai quite disappointed; they initially thought they would see a soul summoning ceremony like those on TV or movies, yet there was really nothing to see here, leaving them waiting outside like fools.

However, compared to them, Fang Zheng seemed quite calm, even frowning.

"What’s wrong? Mr. Fang Zheng?"

Seeing Fang Zheng like this, Little Ai also curiously asked.

"No, I just feel the name Phoenix Wright sounds familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere before......."

Fang Zheng thought for a moment, hesitating. When Phoenix Wright first introduced himself, it didn’t leave much impact but seeing the name ’Phoenix Wright’ on the business card suddenly felt familiar as if he had seen it somewhere.

"Hehe, but Mr. Wright’s surname is quite interesting."

Akemi also joined in with a smile.

"Surname?"

"Yes, doesn’t Wright’s surname sound like ’Naruhodo?’ So we can also call him Mr. Naruhodo."

"Now that you mention it, indeed it does."

Her sister’s comment made Little Ai nod in agreement, while Fang Zheng’s expression slightly changed.

At this moment, he finally remembered where he had seen this name before!

Oh crap!

Can I leave now?!

However, just when Fang Zheng was about to stand up, suddenly......

"Bang!!!"

A loud gunshot suddenly rang out, shattering the prior calm.