68: Chapter 68: Distinctive Identifying Feature

Evening sunlight streamed through the windows as dusk began to settle.

Fujino collapsed onto his bed, utterly exhausted after returning home from the Konoha Kendo Dojo.

Every muscle ached, but beneath the soreness was a deep sense of satisfaction.

He'd spent the entire afternoon sparring and practicing with Suwa Yuji.

With the Natural Aptitude skill boosting his learning rate, the progress he made in one afternoon surpassed what others might achieve in several days.

He even felt a slight improvement in his overall physical condition.

But most importantly, just as he'd hoped, his Swordsman profession had ranked up!

From Intermediate to Advanced.

He'd also gained one Swordsman skill point.

Beyond the Swordsman proficiency, he was surprised to discover that receiving kendo instruction also ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠granted Student proficiency points...

Fujino opened his system interface:

[Name: Fujino]

[Current Classes:]

Primary: Detective (Basic, 3-Star) | (Reputation to next Rank: 300)

Sub-Classes:

Student (Advanced) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 400)

Swordsman (Advanced) | (Proficiency to next Rank: 970)

Skills: Wandering Swordsman's Heart, Swordsman Automaton (+100% ability)

Available Skill Points: 1

Skill Point Conversion Cost: 300,000 Yen

After a moment's consideration, Fujino converted the Swordsman point into a Universal point and applied it to his Detective Enhancement.

[Detective Enhancement: (Boost: Advanced 1-Star: +200% Physical Ability | Duration: Basic 1-Star, 120s)]

"Looks like I'll need to visit the Konoha Dojo more often,"

Fujino mused, pleased to see his Detective Enhancement boost reach 200%.

It improved his swordsmanship, his fitness, and his Student rank?

Win-win-win.

Two days passed.

Fujino attended school as usual and spent afternoons training at the Konoha Dojo, successfully earning another 150 Student proficiency points.

His Student rank was now only 250 points away from the next level.

Case-wise, however, things were quiet.

Not a single incident.

Probably thanks to a certain magic-loving, fish-hating high schooler being busy elsewhere.

After such a long stretch of constant activity, this sudden lull felt strange.

Fujino decided to treat himself.

Two days ago, he'd visited a motorcycle dealership and, using his Student Discount, bought a one-million-yen motorcycle for nine hundred thousand.

The Conan world did have its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠perks.

Since he already possessed a motorcycle license (conveniently), after the nominal waiting period, he'd managed to get the bike registered and plated at the DMV this morning.

Midday.

Fujino cruised down a Beika Town street on his new black motorcycle.

[New Detective Profession Task detected. Please check!]

Hearing the familiar chime, Fujino quickly scanned his surroundings.

Seeing no immediate traffic, he pulled the motorcycle over to the curb.

He opened the task interface:

[Detective Profession Task: Coffee Shop Murder Case]

Objective: Solve the Coffee Shop Murder Case.

Time Limit: 3 Hours

Reward: 500,000 Yen Bounty, +100 Detective Reputation.

"Coffee Shop Murder Case?"

Fujino took off his helmet, looking around.

His eyes quickly landed on a girl with a unique hairstyle standing nearby.

She wore a light blue dress under a dark blue blazer.

That horn... distinctive identifying feature.

"Ran?"

Hearing her name, Ran, standing by the roadside, started slightly.

She turned and saw Fujino straddling a black motorcycle, helmet tucked under his arm.

"Fujino-senpai?"

she exclaimed, surprised, then walked over.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just this,"

Fujino patted the motorcycle beneath him.

"Picked up a new bike, thought I'd take it for a spin. Just happened to run into you."

"Oh, I see..."

Before Ran could say more, police sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer.

"Huh?"

Ran turned, watching as several police cars pulled up in front of a coffee shop across the street.

"Why are the police stopping there? Did something happen?"

"What's wrong?"

Fujino asked, noticing the worried expression on Ran's face.

"I was supposed to meet someone at that coffee shop... Conan is already inside,"

Ran said anxiously.

"I hope nothing bad happened..."

"Let's go check it out together."

Fujino nodded, putting the kickstand down.

He and Ran quickly crossed the street towards the police-surrounded coffee shop.

"Authorized personnel only! Please stay back!"

A crowd had already gathered.

Two uniformed officers were struggling to maintain order and keep onlookers away from the entrance.

Thankfully, the crowd seemed relatively respectful, not attempting to push past the cordon.

"Officer, what happened here?"

"No comment!"

the officer replied stiffly.

Despite the stereotypes, Japanese police generally maintained basic professionalism, especially regarding active crime scenes.

"I heard a girl was killed inside!"

"Yeah, heard it was gruesome! Blood everywhere!"

Nearby bystanders, however, helpfully answered Fujino's question for the tight-lipped officer.

Ran's brow furrowed deeply, clearly worried about Eri Kisaki, her mother, whom she was supposed to meet.

Noticing Ran's distress, Fujino turned back to the officer.

"My name is Fujino, I'm a detective. If possible, could you please inform the lead detective inside? Perhaps I can offer some assistance."

"Fu... Fujino?!"

The officer blinked, then stared.

"You're the famous high school detective, Fujino?"

His exclamation drew murmurs and attention from the surrounding crowd.

"Yes,"

Fujino confirmed calmly, meeting the officer's gaze.

Sometimes, the 'detective' title opened doors.

Crime scenes off-limits to civilians? Not for detectives.

They could practically dance around inside.

That's the Conan world for you. Logic doesn't always apply.

"Right away!"

The officer quickly ran inside to inform Inspector Megure about Fujino's presence.

"You said Fujino-kun is outside?"

Megure asked, surprised but not entirely shocked.

After all, back in the day, Kudo Shinichi seemed to magically appear at every crime scene too.

A moment later, Fujino, accompanied by a visibly relieved Ran, was allowed entry into the coffee shop crime scene.