114: Chapter 114: Soul Lotus Cultivation Manual

Quickly, the kidnapper with the gun drove back.

The rain continued to pour, and he pushed open the car door, letting the water wash over his fur-collared jacket.

He looked up at the small auto processing plant.

"The window... shattered?"

Through his sunglasses, he noticed the broken window on the second floor, his brow furrowing.

He drew his gun and walked towards the iron gate leading to the outdoor stairs.

"Did they escape?"

"That guy's a complete waste of space!"

Kicking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the iron gate open, he saw shattered glass scattered across the floor, along with his partner tied up and lying motionless.

"Miyahara Satoshi, that should be your name, right?"

Just then, a young voice sounded from behind Miyahara Satoshi.

"Who's there?"

Miyahara Satoshi whirled around, gun raised, and saw a figure in a black windbreaker and fishing cap, with a mature face, standing behind him.

[Detective Time Activated. Remaining Time: 58 seconds]

"My name is Fujino."

Fujino raised the bokken in his hand. "I'm a detective!"

"A detective?!"

Miyahara Satoshi frowned.

He tried to fire his gun at the man named Fujino, but inexplicably, he couldn't pull the trigger.

"A year ago, you murdered an unidentified man at Shogenji Temple. You quickly reported the incident to the police, claiming you were attacked by a mentally unstable gunman and that the gun accidentally went off during a struggle."

"The police tested the victim's hands for gunshot residue, finding positive results, and noted only one bullet missing from the magazine, hastily concluding that it was self-defense..."

Fujino paused, then continued,

"The truth is, you arranged to meet the victim at Shogenji Temple that night. You brought the gun with you. After shooting the victim through the heart, you inserted an extra bullet into the magazine and fired a shot into the ground using the victim's hand. That established the pretense of self-defense."

As he spoke, Fujino slowly approached, his eyes fixed on the gun in Miyahara Satoshi's hand. "The reason you kidnapped TWO-MIX was because they happened to hear two gunshots while scouting locations near Shogenji Temple and used that as inspiration for a new song."

"When you heard the song and the reference to Shogenji Temple as the source of inspiration, you immediately realized it referenced the murder you committed a year ago. To prevent your secret from being exposed, you frantically tried to stop TWO-MIX from releasing that song."

"Heh... never thought you'd figure it all out."

Miyahara Satoshi scoffed, removing his disguise to reveal his true face. "That's right, I'm Miyahara Satoshi. I killed an accomplice who robbed a bank eight years ago and fled overseas. He suddenly returned, demanding his share of the profits, so we killed him at Shogenji Temple."

"But I never imagined my plans would be uncovered by those damned celebrities!"

"I intended to kidnap them, force them to hand over the demo tape, and then fake an accident to kill them, but you ruined everything..."

Saying this, Miyahara Satoshi flashed a chilling smile.

"Having said so much, it's time for you to die!"

"Wait, I'm not finished yet..."

The moment Fujino finished speaking,

Miyahara Satoshi's hand, as if refusing to obey, failed to pull the trigger despite his best efforts.

"What else do you have to say?"

Having his plans interrupted twice by Fujino, Miyahara Satoshi felt a growing resentment in his heart.

[Detective Time Countdown: 10 seconds]

[Detective Enhancement Activated. Strength Enhancement Effect: 200%]

Fujino, noting the remaining time on the Detective Time counter, grinned slightly.

"I bet your gun isn't loaded!"

"What?"

Before Miyahara Satoshi could react, Fujino charged forward.

Swinging the bokken upwards, he knocked the gun from Miyahara Satoshi's hand.

Under Miyahara Satoshi's astonished gaze, Fujino swung the bokken again, aiming directly for his face.

Crack!

Instantly, a searing pain shot through Miyahara Satoshi's face, sending him stumbling backwards.

Pressing his advantage, Fujino extended a leg, encased in a Comfort-Step Senior's Shoe, and delivered a powerful flying kick towards Miyahara Satoshi.

"Oof!"

Miyahara Satoshi staggered back, collapsing to the ground. Vomit spewed from his mouth.

"Mr. Miyahara, I seem to recall you mentioning something about wanting me dead..."

Saying this, Fujino hefted the bokken, deactivated the Vision Enhancement Glasses' recording function, and slowly approached Miyahara Satoshi, a sinister smile on his face.

Miyahara Satoshi: "..."

"Wait..."

"Aaaah!"

A dozen minutes later, the police arrived on the scene.

Megure anxiously led a team of officers through the iron gate and saw the two kidnappers, bound tightly with red rope, while Fujino sat casually nearby, twirling the bokken in his hand.

"Fujino-kun, are you alright?"

Despite seeing that Fujino appeared unharmed, Megure couldn't help but ask.

"I'm fine."

Fujino nodded, noticing Megure and waving his hand dismissively before standing.

Nearby, Sato Miwako walked forward, pried open the eyelids of the two kidnappers, and confirmed they were merely unconscious before nodding to Megure.

Understanding, Megure waved his hand and barked to the officers behind him, "Take them back to the station for questioning!"

Normally, in such situations, the suspects would be sent to the hospital first.

But after recalling Fujino's track record, Megure abandoned that procedure.

What's the point of a checkup? Just take them back to the station and douse them with cold water to start the interrogation.

Anyone beaten by Fujino-kun ends up showing no injuries whatsoever, even after a hospital examination.

As evening approached, the idol kidnapping case drew to a close.

Since Takayama Minami's concert ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was about to begin, Megure refrained from dragging her down to the police station for paperwork.

Takayama Minami and the others headed to the concert venue, while Fujino went home to copy the video footage from his Vision Enhancement Glasses.

Nagano Shiina, having been struck on the head with a gun butt during the kidnapping, although not visibly injured, went to the hospital after the concert to check for a concussion.

Takayama Minami, unharmed, went with Nagano Shiina to the MPD after the concert.

After completing their statements, the police station parking lot.

"I never imagined that demo tape would cause so much trouble."

Having just left the MPD, still wearing her performance outfit, Takayama Minami sighed, looking at the demo tape in her hand.

"Some things are just unpredictable."

Fujino took out his car keys. "Something seemingly insignificant can very easily lead to a fatal danger."

"Detective Fujino, you probably already figured out the truth of this case, right?"

Suddenly, Takayama Minami asked, belatedly realizing this.

"Yeah."

Fujino nodded, explaining, "While investigating the sasaeng fan you commissioned, I deduced that the guy had committed a murder at Shogenji Temple. However, lacking evidence, I couldn't bring those guys to justice."

Pausing, Fujino then adopted a remorseful expression.

"I'm truly sorry, Ms. Takayama, that you had to suffer."

"It's nothing... If that's the case, those guys were going to kidnap me to steal the demo tape sooner or later anyway,"

Takayama Minami chuckled softly. "And if I hadn't commissioned you beforehand, Detective Fujino, I probably would have been in a life-or-death situation now."

"It's what I should do for my clients... If Ms. Takayama feels unsatisfied, I can waive the commission fee this time."

"What are you saying, Detective Fujino?"

Takayama Minami chided gently, "After all, you saved my life and completed my commission. Of course I have to pay."

Saying this, Takayama Minami took out a credit card from the bag slung across her chest and continued, smiling, "Can I pay by card?"

"Of course."

A smile also spread across Fujino's lips.

A knowing smile.

Taking out the mobile POS machine, after securing the 600,000 yen payment, Fujino drove Takayama Minami home.

Night had fallen.

Just as Fujino arrived home, notifications for two completed system tasks appeared before him:

[Detected Host completed Detective Task: Popular Idol Kidnapping Case]

[System Reward: 1,000,000 Yen Distributed. +100 Detective Reputation Distributed.]

[Detected Host completed Bodyguard Task: Protect TWO-MIX]

[System Reward: 500,000 Yen Distributed. +50 Bodyguard Proficiency Points Distributed.]

[Sub-Profession Bodyguard Leveled Up to: Intermediate]

[Currently Allocatable Bodyguard Profession Points: 1]

[Current Host Balance: 4,200,000 Yen]

Fujino opened the profession interface. After a moment's consideration, he allocated the Bodyguard profession point to Professional Escort.

[Professional Escort: Bodyguards aren't just human shields. A professional bodyguard must also know how to retaliate. (Intermediate: Host's All Stats +40%)]

"The Soul Lotus growth progress has reached 100%."

Just as Fujino finished allocating the point, feeling slightly thirsty, and intending to grab a green tea from the refrigerator, a system notification suddenly echoed in his ears.

"Growth complete?"

Fujino paused, hearing this.

Then, a light screen materialized before him.

[Soul Lotus growth has matured]

[Soul Lotus Cultivation Manual Distributed]

"'Soul Lotus Cultivation Manual'?"

As Fujino asked this question in confusion, a torrent of memories flooded into his mind.

Accompanying these memories was a sharp, stabbing pain.

The pain lingered for a moment before abruptly vanishing.

Recovering from the pain, Fujino rubbed his head. He then felt a multitude of unfamiliar memories surfacing in his mind.

If he guessed correctly, those memories should be what the system referred to as the Soul Lotus Cultivation Manual.

Organizing those memories,

Fujino bypassed his hundred-square-meter bedroom and walked slowly towards the bathroom where the Soul Lotus was located.

"What the hell is this?"

The moment he pushed open the door, Fujino was stunned by the scene before him.

His eyes beheld a bathroom utterly unrecognizable, entangled with roots.

Roots extended outwards continuously from the bathtub. The clear water within was entirely covered by lotus leaves, obscuring everything beneath.

At the top, amidst the scattering leaves, a pink lotus flower bloomed slowly.

"How did these roots grow so fast?"

Watching the transformed bathroom, Fujino frowned. "I remember it wasn't like this this morning."

After questioning this, drawing back his gaze, he began searching for clues about this situation within the Soul Lotus Cultivation Manual.

Soon, he found the solution.

He first peeled open a band-aid, letting a drop of fresh blood fall from his fingertip.

The crimson droplet landed in the bathtub water.

In an instant, a burst of light erupted.

Accompanied by shimmering motes, the surrounding tendrils and roots began to fade, from the roots disappearing to the lotus leaves and finally the lotus flower.

The chaotic bathroom, after a flurry of light, suddenly returned to its original state of order.

A lotus-shaped badge floated quietly in mid-air. Fujino reached out, and the badge drifted into his hand.

[Lotus Badge: One of the connecting mediums between the Host and the Soul Lotus]

Stowing the badge, Fujino swallowed hard and stepped forward.

What he saw before him was a young woman in her twenties immersed in the clear water.

"Ahem."

Fujino cleared his throat, then carefully retrieved the girl from the bathtub.

A few moments later.

The girl whom Fujino had just pulled from the bathtub, now clad in a clean, deep-red shirt, a red leather jacket, and a white skirt, lay quietly on the pristine white bed.

The girl's face was exactly like Miyano Akemi's.

No, it should be said, they were exactly the same person.

Not only did they share the same face, but even their build was nearly identical.

"This should be it, right?"

Fujino took a deep breath, calming himself.

Looking away, he began to examine the Soul Lotus's system interface:

[Soul Lotus: Level 1 (0/100)]

Soul Puppet: (Host can control Soul Lotus's actions. In non-controlled state, Host determines whether it possesses consciousness.)

Soul Lotus Undying: (The Soul Lotus body has significantly enhanced recovery abilities. Upon suffering a fatal injury, automatically decomposes and returns to the Host's Lotus Badge slot.

Note: After a Soul Lotus suffers a fatal injury and dies, the Host must re-cultivate the Soul Lotus, with a growth time equal to half of the initial growth period.)

Puppet Show: (Soul Lotus's appearance and features are determined by the Host)

Note: For details, please refer to the Soul Lotus Cultivation Manual.]

"I can control the Soul Lotus?"

Looking at the Soul Lotus's system description, Fujino murmured to himself.

Then, he mentally confirmed, taking control of the Soul Lotus.

Accompanied by a flash of dizziness, the Soul Lotus lying on the bed slowly sat up.