90: Chapter 90: Soul Lotus Seed

[Detective Enhancement Activated: 200% Physical Ability Boost]

[Strength Enhancement Card Used: Host Strength +200%]

As the system notifications chimed, Fujino strode forward and delivered a solid punch to Takasugi Toshihiko's abdomen.

Thump!

With a dull impact, Takasugi Toshihiko flew backward over a meter, crashing heavily onto the floor. His face contorted in agony as he let out pained cries.

"Did you really think Ms. Sayuri was that foolish?"

Fujino walked up, grabbed Takasugi Toshihiko by the collar, and stared him down with cold eyes.

"Sodium hydroxide is extremely corrosive. After you poisoned the drink, logically, she should have tasted it with the first sip. But she endured the intense burning pain and drank the lemon tea anyway..."

"She must have already known about what happened twenty years ago."

Fujino released Takasugi Toshihiko's collar.

"In the end, you're just an attempted murderer. No, even worse than a murderer. At least murderers try to cover their tracks properly. You... you simply exploited Ms. Matsumoto's guilt."

"Fujino-kun! That's enough. Leave the rest to us police."

Just then, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Matsumoto Kiyonaga, having recovered his composure, stepped in, stopping Fujino before his 'little brother' did anything more drastic.

By the time everything concluded, the sun was setting.

Takasugi Toshihiko was taken into police custody. Fingerprints on the lemon tea can confirmed his involvement, and the bottle containing sodium hydroxide was found outside the preparation room. All evidence pointed towards him.

After some general conversation, once the others left, Sayuri asked Fujino to stay behind in the room alone.

"You knew from the start, didn't you?"

She turned her head, asking Fujino softly.

"About him poisoning me."

Fujino met her gaze, standing silently.

"He's not the same person he used to be," Sayuri continued quietly.

"He's been consumed by hatred and money."

After a moment, Fujino shook his head, turned, and walked towards the door.

"Thank you, Fujino-kun."

Matsumoto Sayuri's voice came from behind him. Fujino didn't reply, just shoved his hands in his pockets and walked silently out of the hospital room.

Late night.

Back home, Fujino stood on his balcony, a Chunghwa cigarette dangling from his lips, gazing at the moon in the deep night sky.

[Detected Host has completed: June Bride Murder Case]

[System Reward: 500,000 Yen, +100 Detective Reputation points distributed.]

[Current Host Reputation: 400/700]

[Current System Balance: 2,002,000 Yen]

Hearing the system notification, Fujino took a deep breath.

Collecting his thoughts, he opened the system's Profession Orb ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shop interface and began another round of pulls.

[1,800,000 Yen Consumed.]

[Congratulations Host! Rewards Acquired:

Kamen Rider Car Charm (Purple),

Golden Item Random Draw Fragment x4,

Spark Lens (Blue),

Basic Strength Enhancement Card (100%) x3,

Appearance Change Card x3,

Basic Reaction Speed Enhancement Card (100%) x3,

Basic Reasoning Ability Enhancement Card (100%) x3,

100,000 Yen x1, 200,000 Yen x1]

"Spark Lens?"

Fujino stared at the item list, blinked, then opened his system inventory.

[Spark Lens: Shouting 'Transform!'... still won't turn you into an Ultraman. Pressing the transformation button emits a constant light beam. No batteries required.]

"Thought I could turn into Ultraman."

Fujino commented dryly, reading the Spark Lens description.

He then turned his attention to the Purple Kamen Rider charm:

[Kamen Rider Car Charm: Can disguise any vehicle you operate at will. Does not alter the vehicle's original performance.]

"So, basically a vehicle skin changer?"

Fujino was quite satisfied with this item.

Maybe I'll disguise my Ford Taurus as a Rolls Royce later... Just kidding.

[Detected Host Golden Fragments collection complete. Random Golden Item Pack has been delivered to Host's system inventory.]

The system notification sounded suddenly. Fujino opened his inventory and saw a magnificently glittering gift pack standing out amongst the other items.

"As expected of a Golden item, even the packaging is different from the common stuff."

Fujino remarked, then activated the random Golden pack.

"Wonder what I'll get this time..."

After an exaggerated flash of dazzling light, a tiny seed gradually materialized before him.

"That's it?"

Fujino frowned, looking at the seed.

With a thought, the seed's description appeared:

[Soul Lotus Seed:

One seed changes the world!

Appearance: A small, red lotus root seed.

Effects:

Thousand Lotus Soul: Can temporarily absorb and preserve the soul of a near-death individual with a strong will to live (limit one soul).

Soul Lotus Puppet: Use one drop of Host's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blood to cultivate the Soul Lotus Seed. Over time, it will grow into a Soul Lotus Puppet. The puppet's form is determined by the Host's specifications and accepts Host control. Possesses its own will when not under direct control.

Indestructible Spirit Lotus: Locked. Unlocks after cultivating the Soul Lotus Seed into a Soul Lotus Puppet.]

"Freaky..."

Fujino commented, reading the Soul Lotus Seed's description.

A Soul Lotus Puppet... if Fujino understood correctly, it was essentially a controllable puppet.

And this puppet might even have its own consciousness.

That was... quite freaky.

The conditions were also demanding – needing the soul of someone with a strong will to live. But in the Conan world, that should be easy enough to find, right?

Speaking of which, souls appearing now... things were getting less and less Conan-logical.

Two days later, Teitan High School, Class 2-B.

"What?!"

Sonoko's surprised voice echoed through the classroom.

After a moment, realizing her outburst, she scratched the back of her head awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

The rest of the class, however, was already accustomed to such sudden exclamations.

Sonoko being Sonoko, they were used to it.

Amidst the curious stares, Sonoko sat back down and whispered to Ran in the seat in front of her,

"Ran, did you really encounter a robbery yesterday?"

"Yeah, the armored truck the robbers stole drove right past me..."

Ran nodded, swallowing hard.

Recalling yesterday's events still made her heart pound with residual fear.

"The ten billion yen robbery case?"

Nearby, Fujino, who had been diligently studying, hoping to rank up his Student profession, perked up his ears, catching fragments of their conversation.