125: Chapter 125: Bomb Expert Breakthrough

"The World's Greatest Detective?"

Hearing this, Conan frowned. The world's greatest detective should be Sherlock Holmes!

What kind of detective is a Batman?

Especially just a Beika Batman!

How dare a mere Beika Batman be so shameless!

Pondering this, Conan's dissatisfaction grew.

Decided!

He would definitely knock the mask off this so-called Beika Batman.

For no other reason than wanting to see just how thick the face hidden behind that bat mask truly was!

"So, Shinichi really didn't show up?"

Nearby, Ran sighed softly. "We had plans, and today is his birthday..."

"Crap!"

At that moment, seeing Ran sighing and looking dejected, Conan felt a sense of impending doom.

Activating his 'Urinary Escape' skill and successfully fleeing the scene, he ran aside and took out the phone he used to contact Ran.

"I can't talk now, Ran, I still have a case to handle. Gotta go!"

A few moments later, after a brief chat with 'Kudo Shinichi' who had called her, Ran found the call abruptly disconnected.

"What the heck!"

Ran stuffed the phone back into her pocket.

"We had plans, and he stood me up again."

After thinking for a moment, she sighed softly again.

"I didn't even get to give him his present."

"But speaking of which, what case could he possibly have to handle so late?"

Recalling Kudo Shinichi's parting words, Ran's expression gradually turned strange.

"It's almost one in the morning..."

Fujino residence.

Returning home from Beika City Hall.

Fujino had just arrived home when he collapsed onto the large bed, complaining,

"So tired..."

Right now, he felt completely drained.

Just like...

Ahem, just like that catchy commercial from his past life.

The reason was simple: mental exhaustion.

Yes, mental energy.

Not anything else strange.

Controlling the Soul Lotus wasn't without cost.

The price was an amplified drain on mental energy.

If normal activity consumed one unit of mental energy, then controlling the Soul Lotus consumed two, or possibly three.

Fortunately, the cost wasn't too steep. At least it was far better than draining his life force.

It made sense, really. While controlling the Soul Lotus, Fujino was essentially managing two bodies, naturally splitting his attention and mental energy.

Being able to control another body without compromising his own focus was already quite extraordinary.

If it consumed nothing at all, then this world would be far too perfect.

Resting for a moment, he forced his weary eyelids open again.

Fujino opened the system interface.

He focused on the Bomb Disposal Expert profession description:

[Bomb Disposal Expert: Top-Tier (Breakthrough requires 3,000,000 Yen)]

Master Demolitionist (High-Level: Bomb disarming success rate +30%. Note: Success rate bonus does not stack for the same bomb.)

Bomb Master (Basic: Bomb creation success rate +10%. Note: Success rate bonus does not stack for creating the same bomb.)

Daredevil Savant (Basic: Provides Host with reaction time when a bomb is about to detonate. Current detonation stop time: 5 seconds.)

[Allocatable Points: 2]

[All-Profession Allocatable Points: 1]

[Current Balance: 6,660,000 Yen]

"Profession breakthrough?"

Fujino murmured, looking at the breakthrough option on the system interface.

Honestly, he didn't quite understand the concept of 'profession breakthrough'.

How exactly did it work?

Breakthrough from Bomb Expert to Bomb Master?

Or maybe Bomb Maniac? Or even Suicide Bomber Truck?

Not understanding was secondary. The main issue was the exorbitant cost.

If it were one million yen, he probably wouldn't hesitate.

But three million yen... required serious consideration.

After all, three million yen was nearly half his current total balance.

That represented thirty basic ten-pulls, or three intermediate pulls.

But on careful reflection, spending three million to break through the Bomb Disposal Expert profession seemed somewhat reasonable.

After all, if the Bomb Disposal Expert profession reached its peak and required a breakthrough to attain a new level,

then other professions likely followed the same pattern.

They would all require three million yen to break through.

"Hope it's worth the value!"

After much deliberation, Fujino decided not to overthink it.

He chose to break through the Bomb Disposal Expert profession.

Die sooner or later anyway, might as well spend the three million now and break through.

It would serve as a test case for other professions.

[2,700,000 Yen Consumed for Host.]

[Bomb Disposal Expert Profession Breakthrough Complete.]

[New Profession: Bomb Master Distributed to Host's System Interface.]

"Bomb Master?"

Fujino uttered in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠surprise. "Nice, upgraded from Expert to Master?"

He immediately opened the system interface to check:

[Bomb Master: Level 1 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠(0/500; 1,000,000 Yen)]

Bomb Master: (Possesses unique insights in the field of explosives, mastering extensive knowledge of bomb creation and disposal.)

Demolition Grandmaster (Level 3: Bomb disarming success rate +30%. Provides Host with one chance for error during disarming, reducing risk of failure.)

Bomb Grandmaster (Level 1: Bomb creation success rate +10%. Provides Host with one chance for error during creation, reducing risk of accidental detonation.)

Daredevil Savant (Level 1: Provides Host with reaction time when a bomb is about to detonate. Current detonation stop time: 5 seconds.)

[Allocatable Points: 2]

[All-Profession Allocatable Points: 1]

"One extra chance for error, plus a breakthrough in skill level caps?"

Fujino examined the upgraded Bomb Master. "And there's an option to spend one million yen to level up... Truly a pay-to-win dog system."

The three-million-yen gamble had paid off.

The breakthrough effects for other professions would likely be similar.

Increased skill level caps, plus enhancements to certain skill effects.

One chance for error... was actually quite decent.

At least he wouldn't have to be so tense when disarming bombs in the future.

And in emergency situations requiring his main body to disarm a bomb, it provided an extra chance at 'survival'.

Collecting his thoughts, Fujino glanced at his other profession skills:

[Student: High-Level (940/1000)]

[Professional Swordsman: High-Level (960/1000)]

"Looks like I need to go to school these next two days, and maybe visit the Konoha Budokan for sword practice?"

Fujino murmured, looking at the two professions nearing level up.

But then another headache struck him.

Upgrading one cost three million, so upgrading two would cost six million.

With only 3.6 million yen left, he could probably only afford to upgrade one.

Indeed, the road to riches ultimately leads back to... needing more riches.

Overnight, time passed.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains into Fujino's bedroom.

Miyano Akemi slowly woke from her sleep.

She rubbed her still drowsy eyes and sat up slowly from the sofa.

Noticing the blanket covering her, she stretched.

She folded the blanket neatly and placed it on the sofa cushion.

"When did I even fall asleep...?"

After doing this, she glanced at the bright sunlight outside the window.

Pondering, she turned to Fujino, who had also just woken up, and asked, "Fujino-kun, how long did I sleep?"

"Well, when I got home last night, Akemi-nee, you were already asleep."

"Is that so?"

Miyano Akemi pressed her aching shoulder. "Seriously, how did I fall asleep sitting on the sofa...? My whole body feels sore."

"It might be a side effect of the car accident."

Fujino stroked his chin, pretending to think. "The doctor did mention that besides amnesia, Akemi-nee, you might experience other side effects."

"Really?!"

Fujino nodded silently, maintaining his blatant lie.

Adding the car accident and amnesia premise was indeed a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠good choice.

Made manipulation incredibly easy.

Any abnormalities could be explained away by the car accident setting.

Emm...

But why did he feel like a creepy old uncle tricking an innocent young girl with nefarious intentions?

Taking out his phone, he checked the time: May 4th.

Yesterday was May 3rd, today is May 4th.

Looks like time flowed normally on certain occasions.

Since it was May 4th, it should be a long-awaited school day.

Confirming it was a school day, Fujino washed up, changed into his school uniform, and headed out towards school.

This feeling...

It really felt a bit like home.

Heading out in the morning, the streets were filled with high school students in their respective uniforms.

For some bizarre reason related to the weather or time, cherry blossoms had inexplicably bloomed.

Petals drifted everywhere, creating a special atmosphere.

Though beautiful, Fujino wasn't fond of such flashy displays.

If talking about beauty, peonies were better.

A pity they weren't common.

Motorcycle tires rolled over the cherry blossoms scattered on the street.

Soon, Fujino arrived at Teitan High School on his beloved little black motorcycle.

Daily school check-in routine.

"Senpai!"

"Senpai!"

Arriving at school, Fujino heard two familiar voices – Ran and Sonoko.

"Ran, how did things go with Shinichi last night?"

After greeting Fujino, the Teitan High gossip trio convened. Sonoko, with a mischievous grin, asked Ran teasingly, "Did you manage to steal his first kiss?"

"Sonoko, don't talk nonsense."

Ran blushed, explaining, "Actually, I didn't even see Shinichi at all yesterday."

Pausing, she glanced meaningfully at Fujino, adopting an expression that clearly conveyed 'I'll keep your secret'.

Fujino looked back, puzzled, clearly not understanding the meaning behind Ran's gaze.

Then, Ran lowered her voice. "And because there was a bomb in the building, I couldn't even watch the movie... or give him the present."