### Chapter 54: The Professional Bodyguard

[Detective Time has begun, with 59 seconds remaining]

"If he was killed before then, does that mean the one who opened the door for us was…?"

Inspector Muro glanced at Tanaka Tomohisa.

"Exactly!"

Fujino nodded. "Tanaka Tomohisa killed his brother in the bathroom, and when he realized his crime had been discovered, he devised this scheme."

"He first cleaned up his brother's body before you, Inspector Muro, arrived. Then, he disguised himself as his brother to open the door and went back to the second-floor room."

He pointed to the large tree outside the window. "He used that tree to climb out, used the phone's connection feature to record his brother's voice, and pretended that his brother was still alive to avoid suspicion."

"To be honest, this plan is quite clever. It's hard to imagine it being conceived in just fifteen minutes."

"As long as the police didn't notice that his brother was already dead, everything would have been fine. Even if discovered, he could have used his brother's heart condition to pretend it was a heart attack."

"And before the police could figure everything out, he would escape."

Fujino turned to Tanaka Tomohisa and said solemnly, "Am I right, Mr. Tanaka Tomohisa?"

[Detective Time has ended]

[Fishing Hat effect has been triggered. Please protect your head]

"Ha ha ha!"

Tanaka Tomohisa laughed maniacally. Stepping back, he grabbed a nearby floor lamp and swung it at Fujino's head. "You're right! I killed that damned guy!"

"Clang!"

"You really think we're just a bunch of amateurs?!"

Inspector Muro roared, stepping in front of Fujino and blocking the lamp strike with his arm.

Enduring the pain in his arm, he frowned slightly and then charged forward, delivering a powerful kick to Tanaka Tomohisa's stomach. The corpulent figure was knocked to the ground.

He then shouted at the nearby uniformed officer, who was still stunned, "What are you waiting for? Arrest him!"

"Yes!"

This time, Fujino did not use his system enhancement to subdue the criminal. Instead, he let Inspector Muro handle it, sustaining the blow to help.

Being a detective isn't always about fighting; it involves understanding human nature and leveraging opportunities.

Fujino gained a reputation, and Inspector Muro earned credit.

A win-win situation, indeed.

When Fujino got home, it was already dark.

[Congratulations, host, for solving the missing body murder case. Task reward of 500,000 yen has been issued, and 50 detective reputation points have been granted]

[Current detective reputation points needed for next level: 100 points]

After making a pack of instant noodles that could fill his stomach, Fujino heard the system's voice again.

"Still 100 points left?"

Fujino muttered as he looked at the 100 points needed for the system upgrade. He then checked his current account balance: [Current balance: 2,300,000 yen]

He finished his noodles, went to the balcony, lit three cigarettes, and opened the profession card exchange interface.

"1.8 million yen, draw!"

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Strength Enhancement Card (Purple), All Profession Skill Upgrade Points (Purple), Purple Profession Card (Bodyguard), and a Pack of White Wolf (Blue)...]

[Strength Enhancement Card: Strength +200%, limited time 10 minutes]

[Pack of White Wolf: The White Wolf will guide you (Item Effect: Light the White Wolf Card cigarette, and the smoke-formed White Wolf will help find the person you are looking for)]

[All Profession Skill Points: Allows you to allocate points to any upgradable profession skill you currently have]

The Strength Enhancement Card is similar to the Reflex Enhancement Card, but it's focused on strength. Fujino recalled the feeling of having his reflexes increased by 200% and remembered it well.

As for the White Wolf Cigarette… it had a mystical vibe.

Next, Fujino focused on the newly acquired Bodyguard skill:

[New Profession:

Bodyguard (Junior): Upgrade requires 100 proficiency points]

[Profession Skills:

Bodyguard Duties: As a professional bodyguard, you can detect unreasonable things around your employer and provide physical protection (Junior: Reduces injury probability of the target by 10%, increases the probability of the host being attacked by 10%, and enhances perception and observation by 20%)

Professional Protection: A bodyguard isn't just a meat shield; a professional protector knows how to counterattack (Junior: Increases all attributes of the host by 20%)]

"A Bodyguard profession…"

Fujino examined the Bodyguard skills and couldn't help but smile.

Well, this saves fifty years of trouble!

The Bodyguard skills seem quite good.

Putting his thoughts aside, Fujino opened the system profession panel:

[Name: Fujino

Current Professions:

Main Profession Detective: Junior Two-Star (Upgrade requires 100 detective reputation points)

Profession Skills: Full-time Detective, Detective Time (Junior), Detective Enhancement (Enhancement: Junior One-Star, Enhances host's physical abilities by 120%) (Time: Junior One-Star, Extends duration to two minutes), Detective Aura.

Secondary Professions:

Student: Advanced (450 proficiency points needed for next level)

Swordmaster: Intermediate (50 proficiency points needed for next level)

Bomb Expert: Intermediate (150 proficiency points needed for next level)

Chef: Junior (92 proficiency points needed for next level)

Bodyguard: Junior (100 proficiency points needed for next level)]

Fujino scanned the system interface and decided to upgrade the Detective Enhancement physical enhancement.

[Detective Enhancement has been upgraded: Physical Enhancement]

[Detective Enhancement: (Enhancement Two-Star: Enhances host's physical abilities by 150%)]

"1.5 times enhancement?"

Fujino muttered as he looked at the upgraded enhancement effects.

With the system's 150% enhancement, the Swordmaster's 100% enhancement, and the Strength Enhancement Card's 100% enhancement, his physical strength had now reached C+ level.

With the enhanced reflexes and the reduced 10% effect of the Detective Aura, his overall combat ability within two minutes could surpass a typical C+ and could even stand a chance against B-level opponents.

But remembering how he kicked away two people like a piece of cake a few days ago, Fujino discarded the idea of matching B-level opponents.

As for someone like Ran, the human tyrant, Fujino had yet to experience that.

But it was certain that she would be much more formidable than expected.

"Dingling!"

At this moment, a phone ringing interrupted Fujino's thoughts.

He checked the phone and saw it was from Yoko Shunyo.

What could Yoko Shunyo want? Another commission?

After a moment of contemplation, Fujino answered the call.

On the phone, Yoko Shunyo informed Fujino that the drama she was currently filming, "The Threat in the Dark Smile," was working on a murder scene plot. The director hoped to invite a famous detective to provide guidance.

Yoko Shunyo immediately thought of Fujino when she heard about needing a famous detective.

She called him to see if he could visit the set tomorrow to help with the guidance.

*End of Chapter*