[Detective Time Activated. Remaining Time: 0:00:59]
"If he was killed before that... then who opened the door for us?" Megure asked, glancing sharply at Tanaka Tomofumi.
"Exactly!" Fujino confirmed. "The person who opened the door was Tanaka Tomofumi. He drowned his brother in the bathroom first. Then, realizing his crime might have been witnessed, he quickly concocted this scheme."
"He cleaned up the body before you arrived, Inspector. Then he disguised himself as his brother to answer the door, before returning upstairs."
Fujino pointed towards a large tree outside the window.
"Using that tree, he climbed outside, then used a mobile phone linked to the landline to play a recording of his brother's voice, making it seem like he'd just returned and his brother was still alive, thus diverting suspicion."
"Honestly, it's a clever plan, especially conceived within just fifteen minutes."
"As long as the police didn't realize his brother was already dead, everything seemed fine... And even if the body was discovered, he could blame it on his brother's pre-existing heart condition."
"His plan was likely to disappear before the police uncovered the truth."
Fujino fixed his gaze on Tanaka Tomofumi.
"Am I wrong, Tanaka Tomofumi-san?"
[Detective Time Expired.]
[Angler King's Hat Effect Triggered. Host advised to protect their head.]
"Hahaha!" Tanaka Tomofumi suddenly burst into maniacal laughter. He stumbled backward, grabbing the nearby floor lamp and swinging it violently at Fujino's head.
"You're right! I killed that damn bastard!"
"Thump!"
A heavy thud echoed.
"Do you think we police are useless?!" Inspector Megure roared. Before the lamp could connect, he lunged in front of Fujino, blocking the blow with his own arm.
Wincing from the sharp pain shooting up his arm, Megure gritted his teeth, then surged forward, kicking Tanaka Tomofumi hard in the stomach.
With another lunge, Megure's surprisingly agile (for his build) frame tackled Tanaka to the ground.
He yelled at the stunned uniformed officer nearby, "What are you waiting for?! Arrest him!"
"Yes, sir!"
This time, Fujino deliberately didn't activate his enhancements or intervene. He let Inspector Megure take the hit and make the arrest. Being a detective isn't just about fighting; it's about managing relationships. Fujino got the glory of solving the case; Megure got the credit for the arrest. A win-win situation. Why interfere?
By the time Fujino got home, it was already dark.
[Congratulations Host! Vanished Corpse Murder Case Complete! 500,000 Yen Bounty and +50 Detective Reputation awarded.]
[Reputation needed for next Detective Rank Up: 150]
The familiar system chime sounded as Fujino expertly prepared a cup of instant noodles – his usual quick meal.
"One hundred fifty points left?" Fujino mused, looking at the remaining reputation needed. He then checked his current balance: [Current Balance: 2,302,000 Yen].
He slurped down the noodles, went out to the balcony, lit the customary three cigarettes facing east, and opened the Profession Orb shop.
One million eight hundred thousand yen. Two ten-pulls!
[Congratulations Host! Rewards Acquired: Strength Enhancement Card (Purple),
Universal Skill Point (Purple),
Purple Profession Card (Bodyguard),
Pack of White Wolf Cigarettes (Blue)...]
[Strength Enhancement Card (Purple): Strength +200%, Duration: 10 minutes.]
[Pack of White Wolf Cigarettes: The White Wolf guides your path (Item Effect: Lighting a White Wolf cigarette creates smoke that forms into a wolf, which seeks out a person you are looking for).]
[Universal Skill Point: Can be used to upgrade any owned upgradable skill.]
The purple Strength card... probably similar to the purple Reaction card, just for strength. Fujino vividly remembered the feeling of 200% increased reaction speed. The White Wolf cigarettes... sound mystical.
He then focused on the new profession card:
[New Profession Added:]
Bodyguard (Rank: Basic)
(100 Proficiency needed for next Rank Up)
[Class Skills:]
Bodyguard's Duty (Basic): As a professional bodyguard, you can instinctively notice abnormalities around your client and protect them with your own body (Protection Target Injury Chance -10%, Host Attack Chance +10%, Perception/Observation +20%).
Professional Guardian (Basic): A bodyguard isn't just a meat shield; professionals know how to counterattack (Host All Stats +20%).
"Bodyguard Profession..." Fujino's mouth twitched. Well, that skips about fifty years of career progression! The skills actually looked pretty decent, though.
He checked his updated character sheet:
[Name: Fujino]
[Current Classes:]
Primary: Detective (Rank: Basic, 2-Star) | (Reputation to next Rank: 150)
Skills: Professional Focus, Zone of Concentration (Basic), Detective Enhancement (Boost: Basic 1-Star, +120%; Duration: Basic 1-Star, 2 mins), Detective Aura (Basic).
Sub-Classes:
Student (Advanced) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 450)
Swordsman (Intermediate) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 500)
Bomb Expert (Intermediate) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 150)
Chef (Basic) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 92)
Bodyguard (Basic) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 100)
After reviewing the panel, Fujino used the Universal Skill Point to upgrade the power aspect of his Detective Enhancement.
[Detective Enhancement Skill Upgraded: Body Enhancement]
[Detective Enhancement: (Boost: Basic 2-Star: +150% Physical Ability)]
"One point five times boost?" Fujino noted the improved effect.
With the system's 150% boost, plus the Swordsman's 100% passive, and a potential 200% from the Purple Strength card... his physical strength could reach C+ baseline, potentially peaking much higher.
Combined with reaction enhancements and the Detective Aura debuff... his overall combat effectiveness within the two-minute enhancement window could probably handle most C+ opponents and maybe even hold his own against a B-rank fighter.
Although... remembering Sato Miwako kicking two large men airborne... maybe he shouldn't aim for B-rank just yet.
As for Ran Mouri's monstrous strength... Fujino hadn't personally experienced it, but he was certain she was stronger than she looked. Much stronger.
Ring ring!
His phone rang, interrupting his power scaling calculations.
He checked the ID: Yoko Okino.
What does Yoko Okino want? Another commission?
Curious, Fujino answered.
Yoko explained that she was currently filming a TV drama called "The Threatening Laugher," specifically a murder scene plotline.
The director was keen on having a real detective visit the set to offer some guidance and ensure authenticity.
Hearing "famous detective," Yoko immediately thought of Fujino and recommended him.
She was calling now to ask if he'd be available to visit the set tomorrow and provide some consultation.