The Resolve of Naruhodō Ryūnosuke

Episode 5: The Resolve of Naruhodō Ryūnosuke is the fifth and final episode of Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Kakugo, and it is a direct continuation of the events of Twisted Karma and His Last Bow.

Before the Trial

 * 9:14 AM

Ryūnosuke Naruhodō is counting on Susato Mikotoba's help today, she suddenly tosses her but quickly apologizes. Barok van Zieks arrives placing himself in Naruhodō's care, his face is stern but he's acting all agreeing. He says he might shouldn't have taken the name "Death Bringer" and says that the ghost his brother Klimt van Zieks is the true identity, the rumors were that he was bringing justice for Barok. He must've been very important to him, but he certainly didn't kill anyone. Van Zieks smells tea, Iris Watson is here and gives some to them. She has to leave to prepare for something but she also gives Naruhodō the rabbit doll that always hangs from her bag. It's a Sherlock Holmes charm she made herself, she tells Naruhodō to pull its ear when he's driven into a corner in the trial. Iris says Holmes never came home last night, neither did Yūjin Mikotoba, Susato reveals that neither came back to the hotel along with Seishirou Jigoku. The bailiffs tell them it's almost time for the trial to start, Iris wishes them all good luck.

Opening

 * 9:30 AM

The atmosphere in the Old Bailey is heavier than usual. Susato and Naruhodō are very surprised to see that Hart Vortex is now the judge of the trial! He explains the trial has rocked the English justice system to its core, the jury flames light by themselves. The gallery only includes members of the legal system, van Zieks says their Vortex's henchman. But Vortex just says he's disappointed in him since he was a great prosecutor like Klimt, he uses his unicorn-shaped cane as the gavel and declares court to be in session. The defense and prosecution are ready to make their cases.

Yesterday, it was revealed that the victim, detective Tobias Gregson, had a mission he was hiding from the yard. His accomplice was Everyday Mittlemont, who pretend to be the detective so the former can have an alibi. Mittlemont regained his memories from ten years ago where he allowed a prisoner to escape, he's currently recovering at St. Entre-Deux Hospital. Then came the possibility that Gregson was murdered the day before the incident. Prosecutor Kazuma Asōgi reveals that the claim was correct when he visited the coroner, he hands over an updated autopsy report, at first Vortex won't accept it as he sees no ice box in London that could freeze the body. Asōgi suggests he was murdered in the middle of his mission, he shall begin with the reports from Scotland Yard's investigation.

"Cross-Examining Gina Lestrade"
Inspector Gina Lestrade takes the stand, she reads Naruhodō mind and owes Gregson for taking her off the streets. Vortex seems to know that Gregson's mission was unrelated to the police. In her testimony, Lestrade says that detectives from the yard are to accept orders from headquarters and investigate. But during the search, they found a notebook with plans that differed from the others. Apparently, Gregson was going to investigate a smuggling transaction, the police didn't know about yet so it must've been huge. And there was more than one person saying they saw the Grim Reaper there. Asōgi reveals that tea and spices are smuggled into England and sold onto the Black Market, but the police didn't have leads. Gregson operated in secret since many high rank government members were involved with the market and information might be leaked. The exchange was to be conducted at a club for London's top echelons, van Zieks was there according to the yard. Naruhodō and Susato didn't know about this, but they proceed with their cross-examination.

Asōgi says the club's name doesn't matter since the transaction could happen again. Yet, Lestrade insists since she just learned to read, Naruhodō says it's no problem for a leak since the trial is top secret. Asōgi actually agrees since there was no proof Gregson was pursuing the black market. Lestrade says the club's name was the Balabrook, Naruhodō and Susato find out that the letter of introduction Yūjin wrote was on his ticket for a steamship named Balabrook! It departed in Yokohama, Japan on September eleventh and arrived at London on November first, but it stopped at Dunkirk, France the night before. When presented, Naruhodō explains that's why the yard couldn't find this "club". Asōgi says that the Gregson's corpse was found when the ship arrived at Dover harbor, therefore it was impossible for an investigation. For proof, Naruhodō takes a look in the trunk Lestrade had. There is a passport for France dated the day before the incident, it's also largely scratched with a chipped piece of metal and bloodstain. The passport is presented, meaning Gregson wasn't in England, he was near France.

Asōgi laughs, he disagreed with what the prosecutor's office's claim, now he can find out the truth: Gregson was in France as part of the Death Bringer! He claims that Gregson was working for Barok van Zieks and was killed by him when he failed at his mission. Naruhodō protests that no one died on the steamship, but that's why Gregson failed. Judge Vortex wants Gina Lestrade to testify about Gregson's notebook.

"Cross-Examining Lestrade with Barok van Zieks"
She says it contains all the Grim Reaper's deeds for the past decade: places, names, and dates with the final being the end of October at the Balabrook. The target was someone who escaped van Zieks' trial ten years ago. But Lestrade says that Tobias Gregson was just investigating the Reaper, Vortex says opinions are not allowed in court. Kazuma Asōgi says that only an associate of the Reaper would know that information. Lestrade struggles with the name of the target due it not being English, but she manages to sound it out: Seishirou Jigoku! Suddenly, Barok van Zieks takes the stand, he says Lestrade is just saying what she received and is therefore not a proper detective. Then he reminds Asōgi on how he sent his father to the Gaol, but he sees him as no different. Hart Vortex gives special permission for the defendant to remain on the stand during the cross-examination.

Lestrade suggests the notebook contains the results of Gregson's investigation, but van Zieks says he was a member after he conducted his own secret investigation. The Death Bringer must be an organization since all the victims were big time villains, van Zieks found out about the Balabrook from the notebook and mistook it for the club in London. Lestrade says there's always another name besides the victim's: Ann Sasha, the murderer who carried out Gregson's plans. Naruhodō realizes that someone must have accompanied him on the Balabrook when trying to kill Jigoku, but that name is missing in the notebook. Vortex remembers Jigoku as his student of international law, he returned to Japan because of the Professor Killings. His own trial was because of his contempt in the court of Genshin Asōgi, van Zieks prosecuted that apparently secondary Professor trial, Jigoku paid to the stand repairs and was declared not guilty. Asōgi says Jigoku couldn't fall victim to the Death Bringer ten years before now because he returned to Japan, their rules must not be comprehended.

Lestrade has had enough of Gregson being treated like a hardened criminal, she is crying that Naruhodō isn't yelling "Objection!". Vortex says a pickpocket like her wasn't fit to be a detective, he declares that her ID will be provoked after the trial! But Naruhodō keeps being bothered by a contradiction from Kazuma Asōgi, he shouldn't have known about the trunk since someone tried to sell it. Naruhodō demands to know where he was during the crime, Asōgi responds with his location being on the S.S. Balabrook near Dunkirk harbor! But he notes that Naruhodō doesn't have any evidence, so he (despite hoping he's wrong) shows him a piece of a chipped blade inside the trunk next to the slash mark. He asks Asōgi to brings out "Karuma", he does so and its tip has been snapped off. Asōgi admits he accompanied Gregson when the ship headed for France, his mission was to assasinate a target! But he assures the court that he did not kill anyone, it wasn't his intention to carry out the operation. First, the two traveled to the ship by train, they headed for Jigoku's ship cabin as part of the plan, he wasn't there but Asōgi disembarked in Dunkirk for the night and returned the next day. But Gregson obviously failed to kill Jigoku, when returning to the Grim Reaper the latter shot him dead. Barok van Zieks demands to know why the chipped sword was in the trunk, but Asōgi remains silent because Gregson was killed by a gun not a sword, yet Hart Vortex still wants it as evidence.

The judge also wants to know if Seishirou Jigoku is safe, if they go missing for a whole day in London something must've happened to him. Asōgi says van Zieks must've had accomplices outside the gaol. Vortex puts the trial on hold for a half hour and has all involved with the symposium remain in contact with headquarters. Jigoku will be declared dead if the recess is over since only the Death God of the Old Bailey would kill someone like a defendant who escaped his trial.

Recess
With everyone gone, Naruhodō and Susato dicuss how Tobias Gregson was working for the Death Bringer. Consequences await for them if Jigoku is found dead, they only have thirty minutes. Susato suggests they pull the ears on the Holmes charm Iris gave them, Naruhodō decides to do it. Suddenly, Sherlock Holmes' scream is heard from the stuffed animal! When Naruhodō pulls again, another stuffed animal is pulling Holmes' ear. He and Yūjin Mikotoba are in the first class hallway of the S.S. Balabrook, they came racing over before it left for France again. The two in the court are so proud of Holmes, but Yūjin reveals he found the ship. They tell them how they can't find a clue to the legendary duo will find one by then.

"Holmes and Mikotoba on the Balabrook"
Yūjin says they need to hurry or else they'll end up in Italy. Jigoku's cabin was number two, but the first mate, Mapotov Stroganov, is blocking the cabin door. Holmes notices that Stroganov has "holmes" written on his arm, and as a result, the detective concludes that he must be a fan, and states that he will perform a deduction for him.

Aftermath
"Iris Watson"

- "Come! The game is afoot!" The ship with our friends from the east sailed steadily towards the distant horizon. But Holmes' face was alight with joy. "The times may change, but a steadfast friendship will remain true, Watson. We have but to greatly close our eyes, and we are with them once more." ...So I do just that. And when I do, I can hear... his strong, familiar voice ring out.



Where are they now?

 * Sherlock Holmes keeps getting telegrams about his stunt at the last trial. So he wants to vacation somewhere far away. He was thinking about Japan.
 * Iris Watson (née van Zieks) wrote a thank you letter to Holmes causing him to cry.
 * Barok van Zieks has decided to let go of Klimt’s ghost for good, and move on like his “foreign friend” told him to.
 * Gina Lestrade found a letter left by Gregson, she understands that he was protecting her. She and Toby vow to protect the peace of London.
 * Tobias Gregson's last moments are shown in a flashback, where he speaks fondly of Lestrade, and leaves her his "detective spirit," knowing that after his final mission, he will depart from this world.
 * Taketsuchi Auchi says that Kazuma infiltrated Jigoku's office but Sōseki Natsume reveals Jigoku's arrest. Auchi then says it was forbidden for Susato to have been disguised as a male but Haori Murasame says it was a big success. Satoru Hosonaga says the lawyer probably asked for it.
 * Maria Goulloyne visits her mother, Courtney Sithe, in jail. They discuss about corpses and how the coroner's office can still run.
 * Benjamin Dobinbough was invited back to England by van Zieks, and the latter said he’d give the former a tour.
 * Connette Rozaic notice something funny when Genshin "rose" from his grave, but shouldn't testify about it because of a deal. However, her rules say that she'd do anything to prove that it was real.
 * Everyday Mittlemont still refers to his "Gossip" personal. Marco di Gicho is selling red spaghetti and Maurice de Quilco says he is not suitable. Anna Mittlemont is proud of her husband for making friends and he says everyone will guess when gets released from jail.
 * Kazuma Asōgi wanted Naruhodō to come with him originally so that Naruhodō could defend him, should Asōgi wind up in the defendant’s chair.
 * Susato Mikotoba is going to be busy when she opens her new office in Japan.

Trivia

 * This the third time a culprit appears in the "Where are they now?" epilogue (the first two being Robert Crogley and Beh'leeb Inmee). Additionally, this is also the first time a victim has appeared.
 * None of the characters exclusive to The Memoirs of the Clouded Kokoro, appear in the "Where are they now?" epilogue, nor does Mapotov Stroganov. Stroganov also does not appear in the ending credits, where Naruhodō walks by the entire cast of characters (including those left out of the epilogue).
 * As this is a direct continuation from Twisted Karma and His Last Bow, this is technically the first case in the Ace Attorney series to last more than three days.