71: Chapter 71: Even Recording a Show Can Lead to a Murder Case

"I'm fine..."

Fujino looked at Ran, answering somewhat sheepishly.

He then shifted his gaze to Tonoyama, who was already unconscious from the beating.

Hope he's okay!

Thinking back, this seemed to be the first time Fujino had witnessed Ran subdue a criminal...

Honestly, her level of ferocity was comparable to, if not greater than, a certain Beika battleaxe.

Never, ever provoke Ran.

Fujino swore silently in his heart.

Some time later, Ikegami Yuko and Yoko Okino finally sent messages to Fujino.

Saying the show recording was today.

The day of the recording, it was winter.

Fujino put on his black Lifesaving Trench Coat.

Before taking his motorcycle out of the underground garage, he paused, wrapped a red scarf around his neck, and then put on his black helmet.

Just as Fujino rode his beloved little motorcycle out of the garage, he saw a green car parked in front of the Mouri Agency.

Ran and Kogoro Mouri were standing by the doorway, talking to a rather plump woman next to the green car...

After a short while, the woman drove the car away.

Taken along with her was Conan, sitting in the passenger seat.

"Ran, was that Conan in the passenger seat of that car just now?"

Fujino slowly rode his motorcycle over to them, asking Ran curiously.

"Yeah!"

Ran watched the car drive away in the distance, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"I heard Conan's parents were discharged from the hospital, so they came to pick him up..."

"Is that so?"

Fujino looked towards the departing car.

"Makes sense. Staying at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a stranger's house indefinitely isn't really sustainable."

As he spoke, a subtle, knowing smile appeared on his face, hidden behind his helmet's visor.

If he remembered correctly, the person who took Conan away was indeed his mother.

Not some imposter, but his actual biological mother, Kudo Yukiko.

If his memory served, both Kudo parents had returned to Japan this time.

Trying to get him to give up his investigation and go live safely with them in the US.

However, this time, Fujino had no intention of getting involved.

After all, it was their family matter. Why should an outsider interfere?

Nightfall, backstage at Nichiuri TV station.

"Yuko? What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Yoko Okino and Ikegami Yuko stared at each other.

Both wore expressions of utter surprise.

After a moment, as if sensing something, Ikegami Yuko whipped her head around.

And saw Fujino sitting on a stool nearby, clearly trying to blend into the background.

Sizing up Fujino, Yuko's expression darkened, suspicion evident in her eyes.

"Detective Fujino, care to explain what's going on here?"

"Ahem."

Seeing he couldn't hide anymore, Fujino cleared his throat.

"Actually, right after you called, Yuko-san, Yoko-san called too. Same purpose – inviting me to participate in this show."

Yuko frowned.

"So you accepted invitations from both of us?"

Fujino nodded, putting on a troubled expression.

"Honestly, it was a difficult situation. You're both my 'friends', after all. I couldn't refuse either of you, so I simply chose the most... accommodating solution."

'I bet you just wanted double the appearance fee,'

Ikegami Yuko thought sarcastically.

"I genuinely didn't know Yuko had also invited you."

Just then, Yoko Okino beside them looked genuinely apologetic.

"Making you feel troubled... I'm really sorry."

"It's fine, Yoko-san. You meant well."

Fujino waved dismissively.

"If anything like this comes up again, feel free to call me. For 'friends,' I don't mind the trouble!"

Yoko Okino nodded.

"Okay."

Nearby, witnessing this exchange, Ikegami Yuko was utterly speechless.

That Yoko Okino...

Did she actually believe Fujino's BS?

Others might not know what Fujino was really like, but she certainly did.

Soon, it was time to start filming.

Today's episode of the show had an unusually full panel of guests.

Besides the main host Matsuo Takashi and his assistant Nagai Ayako, there was Fujino, the invited detective for this episode, and both Yoko Okino and Ikegami Yuko as special guests.

With two popular idols present, the filming went smoothly, and the ratings naturally hit a new high.

"Ouch, ouch!"

As soon as they went to the mid-show commercial break, the host, Matsuo Takashi, clutched his stomach and started groaning.

"Matsuo-san, are you alright?"

Assistant host Nagai Ayako looked at Matsuo Takashi's pained expression and asked worriedly,

"Can you continue with the rest of the filming?"

"My stomach has been acting weird since this morning, but it's okay. I should be able to hold out until the recording is finished."

Matsuo Takashi waved dismissively, then called over a passing staff member.

"By the way, where's Suwa? I haven't seen him at all since this morning."

Suwa was the producer of this show.

He was the one who invited Yoko Okino and Ikegami Yuko to be guests.

However, according to the staff member, the producer wasn't currently on site.

But hearing the name 'Suwa', Fujino paused.

Why does that name 'Suwa' sound so familiar...

Could he be Suwa Yuji's younger brother?

I'll have to remember to ask next time I visit ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Konoha Kendo Dojo.

Filming continued for a while longer.

Soon, they reached another four-minute commercial break.

Host Matsuo Takashi, looking increasingly unwell (perhaps from something he ate),

muttered a few instructions and then left the stage.

"Ding! New Detective Profession Task detected. Please check!"

[Detective Profession Task: Live Broadcast Murder Case]

Objective: Solve the Live Broadcast Murder Case.

Reward: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠600,000 Yen, +200 Detective Reputation.

Location: Nichiuri TV Station.

Fujino: "?"

Just as Matsuo Takashi returned to the set, the system notification chimed in Fujino's ear.

Hearing it, Fujino looked sharply at Matsuo Takashi.

Matsuo Takashi, catching Fujino's intense stare, suddenly looked flustered.

But then he quickly composed himself.

With my method, no one could possibly figure it out, right?

Fujino studied Matsuo Takashi for another moment, then turned his attention back to the system task interface.

Looking at the [Live Broadcast Murder Case] task, his mind raced.

No wonder "Spotlight on Japan's Detectives" and the producer named Suwa felt so familiar.

This was the Live Broadcast Murder Case from the original story!

After the broadcast finished, producer Suwa Michihiko was still missing.

Subsequently, his body would be discovered in the fourth-floor conference room.