27: Chapter 27: The Medieval Museum Mystery

"That urban legend? Yeah, I've heard of it," Ran replied, thinking for a moment, her interest piqued.

"They say the medieval armor comes alive late at night and wanders around the museum!"

"Medieval armor wandering around a museum?" Fujino frowned. That sounds... strangely familiar.

Not Night at the Museum, but... Ah! The Art Museum Murder Case from the original Conan series.

If he remembered correctly, that case did take place at the Medieval Museum.

And the "wandering armor" in the legend? That was the museum director, Ochiai, practicing his murder plan.

The old director was passionate about art, viewing the pieces as his life's work, dedicating decades to the museum.

But due to Japan's recent economic downturn, the company funding the museum went bankrupt, and it was about to be sold to another company.

That wouldn't have been so bad, but the new owner, Manaka, planned to demolish the museum and build a hotel instead.

Enraged, Ochiai decided to kill Manaka to save the museum.

He disguised himself in the armor to practice the murder, making it look clean and accidental, hence the "haunting" rumors.

"Huh?" Sonoko glanced at Fujino, a look of surprise dawning on her face, as if discovering a hidden facet of his personality.

"Don't tell me you're interested in ghost stories too, Fujino-senpai?!"

"Interested might be too strong a word. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just curious," Fujino nodded.

"After all, if a legend exists, there's usually a reason for it."

"Wow, that's unexpected! You know, Fujino-senpai, you're way better than that stuck-up deduction freak!"

Sonoko declared, then launched into a passable imitation of Shinichi Kudo's condescending tone. "If he were here, he'd be all like: 'Urban legends? Please, that's just stuff to scare kids...' or something."

She glanced back at Fujino, muttering, "They're both detectives, how can they be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so different?"

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something else.

"Speaking of which, Ran, I haven't seen that guy around school in ages."

"Shinichi..." Ran frowned, a familiar sigh escaping her lips.

"He's... working on a really complicated case... He might not be back for a while..."

"See! That's why I say those deduction freaks are the worst!" Sonoko huffed indignantly.

"I bet he ditched you, Ran, his old 'plain Jane' childhood friend, and ran off with some cuter girl!"

"Sonoko!" Ran protested, blushing furiously like a scolded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠child.

"Hahaha..." Sonoko grinned mischievously, thoroughly enjoying Ran's reaction.

She then turned to both of them with an inviting smile.

"Hey, Fujino-senpai, Ran! Tomorrow's the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weekend. How about we go check out the Medieval Museum together? See if we can spot that walking armor?"

"Weekend?" Fujino frowned internally. But today's Monday... How is tomorrow the weekend? He'd never understand the time flow in this world.

"Ding! Detective Profession Upgrade Task detected."

The system prompt interrupted his thoughts.

Fujino blinked, pulling up the interface. A new task appeared:

[Detective Profession Upgrade Task: Art Museum Mystery Murder Case]

Objective: Resolve the Art Museum Mystery Murder Case.

Option 1: Ensure no one dies.

Reward: +50 Detective Reputation, 500,000 Yen Bounty, Random Profession Upgrade Ticket (Purple)

Option 2: Solve the Art Museum Mystery Case after the crime occurs.

Reward: +50 Detective Reputation, 500,000 Yen Bounty, Mask of Deception (Purple)

Time Limit:2 Days

"Two options?" Fujino stared, surprised. This was different. Usually, it was just one objective.

And the rewards were different too...

"Well? Fujino-senpai? Are you free to go to the museum tomorrow?"

Sonoko asked eagerly, interrupting his contemplation.

"Ahem." Fujino cleared his throat, considering.

"If it really is the weekend tomorrow, then yeah, I should have time. I haven't really relaxed lately. A trip to the museum might be nice... broaden the horizons."

"Great! It's a date then!" Sonoko beamed, her eyes holding a distinctly triumphant glint as she looked at Fujino.

Sunset.

Back home, Fujino hung up the borrowed uniform, changed back into his usual suit, and ate one of the system-rewarded cream puddings.

He then pulled up the task interface again, contemplating the two options.

They represented two fundamentally different approaches.

Option 1: Ensure no one dies.

This meant intervening, stopping Director Ochiai before he killed Manaka.

The reward was a Purple Random Profession Upgrade Ticket – potentially very valuable, allowing him to instantly level up any chosen profession.

Option 2: Solve the case after the crime.

This was the standard procedure. Wait for the murder to happen, then swoop in and solve it.

The reward was a Purple item called Mask of Deception.

Solve the case... or prevent it entirely. One path allowed the crime, the other stopped it.

Fujino thought for a long moment, then made his decision...

Late that night, Medieval Museum.

Fujino, with his wooden sword strapped discreetly to his back and boost cards tucked into his waistband, slipped into the darkened museum.

Getting inside was surprisingly easy.

Not because he was particularly stealthy, but because security was practically non-existent.

Thanks to the "haunting" rumors and the impending closure in ten days, the security guards hadn't been paid in a month.

No pay, no work.

The entire massive museum was currently being "patrolled" by a single, elderly guard who was only there out of loyalty to the director, working for free.

The Medieval Museum had four main wings:

Sky, Earth, Ocean... and Hell.

Each corresponded to the theme of the artworks displayed within.

Fujino headed straight for the Hell Wing. If memory served, that's where the murder was supposed to take place.

"Wonder if the old director is here tonight for practice..." Fujino murmured, peering down the dimly lit corridor. "If not..."

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Before he could finish the thought, the distinct sound of metal scraping against stone echoed from the Hell Wing just ahead.

Fujino tensed, drawing his wooden sword, and crept silently towards the noise.

Peeking around the corner into the Hell Wing gallery, his eyes widened.

There, amidst the grotesque sculptures and dark paintings, stood a figure clad in a full suit of medieval armor, clumsily swinging a sword... or rather, its scabbard.