62: Chapter 62: Culinary Master Conan?

Naota Ryoko frowned. His guilty demeanor definitely meant something was wrong! She remembered Naoki's girlfriend supposedly went to the countryside a few days ago. How could she possibly be back already? Could Detective Fujino be right? Did Naoki really kidnap Mamoru?!

"Didn't your girlfriend go on a trip to the countryside a few days ago?" Ryoko questioned suspiciously, staring intently at Kamimura Naoki.

"How did she get back so quickly?"

Kamimura Naoki was momentarily speechless. After a pause, he stammered,

"It's... it's not her... It's another girl..."

"So, if she's just your side piece, what's the harm in letting me take a look?!" Ryoko clearly didn't believe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Naoki's flimsy excuse anymore.

She lunged forward, trying to push open the half-latched door.

As she struggled, she yelled into the apartment,

"Mamoru! Are you in there?! Answer me if you can hear me!"

"That's enough! Don't push it!" Naoki strained against the door, shouting back impatiently.

Fujino watched the scene unfold, momentarily struck speechless by the sheer absurdity. After a beat, he called out, "Ryoko-san, get out of the way!"

[Detective Enhancement Activated. Current Boost: 175%]

Hearing Fujino's voice, Ryoko turned. She saw him bracing himself, clearly preparing to force the door. Understanding immediately, she jumped aside.

A loud BANG echoed through the hallway.

When she looked back, Fujino had already kicked the door clean off its hinges. He rushed inside, swiftly pinning Kamimura Naoki against the wall. Even Naoki's crutch wasn't spared, casually tossed aside by Fujino.

This time, Fujino hadn't used his full strength enhancement. Dealing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a guy in a leg cast who needed a crutch to walk... the basic Detective Enhancement was more than sufficient. Besides, he vaguely recalled that while Naoki did kidnap Mamoru, he never intended to harm him. Overdoing it and seriously injuring Naoki would just cause unnecessary complications.

Even without the full power-up, the sheer visual impact of Fujino effortlessly busting down the door and subduing Naoki left Ryoko stunned. Her expression mirrored Fujino's own astonishment when he'd witnessed a certain Beika battleaxe send two grown men flying with a single kick.

"Go find the boy," Fujino's voice snapped her back to reality.

Ryoko quickly began searching the apartment. Soon, she found Mamoru in one of the rooms, completely engrossed in playing video games.

Just as Fujino had deduced, Kamimura Naoki had indeed kidnapped Akagi Mamoru as revenge for Akagi Hideo breaking his leg. However, after watching an emotional interview with Hideo on TV expressing remorse and concern for his friend, Naoki broke down, collapsing to the floor in tears of regret. The classic repentance scene.

When Akagi Hideo returned and learned what happened, he chose not to press charges, instead forgiving Naoki. Perhaps it was because of their long friendship. Or perhaps out of guilt for the injury. Whether Hideo intentionally broke Naoki's leg... only Hideo himself truly knew. Fujino was just a detective; those matters were outside his purview and the scope of his commission.

Although it ended up being a misunderstanding (of sorts), the Akagi and Kamimura families scraped together 100,000 yen as payment for Fujino's services. It wasn't much, but it was likely the most they could afford. While insignificant to Fujino, it was still a substantial amount for ordinary people.

[Congratulations Host! Detective Profession Task: Soccer Player Intimidation Incident Complete!]

[System Reward: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠250,000 Yen Bounty, +100 Reputation Awarded.]

[Reputation needed for next Detective Rank Up: 400]

[Current Balance: 2,152,000 Yen]

Late that night.

Fujino had just collapsed onto his bed when the system notifications chimed.

"Two million one hundred fifty thousand yen... Enough for two more ten-pulls?" He opened the system interface, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at the balance. But then he shook his head, sighing. "While I could do two pulls, I should probably keep some cash on hand for emergencies..."

"One ten-pull it is, then."

He rolled out of bed, went to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠balcony, glanced across at the Mouri Agency (lights were off, seemed empty), lit the customary three cigarettes facing east, and initiated the orb exchange.

Nine hundred thousand yen. Pull!

[Congratulations Host! Rewards Acquired: Book of Home Cooking Recipes (Blue),

Strength Enhancement Card (100%) x2,

Reaction Speed Enhancement Card (100%) x3,

Driving Skill Enhancement Card x2,

Individual Military Ration x2]

Not a single Purple item this time? Did the superstitious ritual fail?

Fujino sighed and opened his inventory, examining the details of the new items:

[Book of Home Cooking Recipes: Contains the essence of numerous classic Chinese home-style dishes.]

[Driving Skill Enhancement Card: Temporarily improves Host's driving skills for 10 minutes.]

"So, this recipe book is like the sword techniques or rope-tying knowledge books?"

Ignoring the useless duplicates and previously obtained items, Fujino focused on the recipe book, stroking his chin thoughtfully. He'd been planning to ask Ran for cooking lessons... but now he'd just pulled a recipe book. Suddenly, he felt a strange pang of disappointment.

Shaking it off, he briefly skimmed the book. Five minutes later, he'd learned a dish called

"Golden Fried Rice."

He immediately marched into the kitchen for his first-ever attempt at actually cooking. Thanks to the Swordsman skill "Wandering Swordsman's Heart" (unexpectedly applying to kitchen knives as 'bladed tools'), he managed not to cut himself, which was a pleasant surprise.

Thirty minutes later, a plate of Golden Fried Rice sat before him, freshly cooked.

A system notification hovered above the dish:

[Super Chef Enhancement: Superior Golden Fried Rice. +10% Strength Boost to Host (Duration: 12 hours)]

The Super Chef skill had triggered.

"A 10% strength boost... even if it's temporary, it stacks with other enhancements."

Fujino murmured, then scooped up a spoonful of the fried rice and put it in his mouth.

As he chewed, he felt a strange sensation, as if his mind was struck by a flash of light.

The next moment, a fantastical image materialized before his eyes.

Through swirling mist, a majestic dragon soared towards him, sweeping past in a blur of scales. The same dramatic background music from before swelled up again. As the mist cleared, he saw, scattered throughout a bamboo forest... numerous girls in blue qipao dresses, dancing gracefully...

Looking closer... the horns on their heads... Wait, is that Ran?!

"What the—?! Is it raining Rans?!"

Fujino snapped back to reality, staring down at his plate of Golden Fried Rice with a deeply weirded-out expression. He thought the background music and golden light were over the top. He hadn't expected full-blown hallucinations.

But seriously, he wondered, what was up with that bizarre vision of multiple Rans dancing in qipaos? Is this Culinary Master Conan now?