### Chapter 57: Professional Quality at Its Best

"I've said it before, these persistent pests can't be driven away with force and threats," Fujino said, exhaling deeply. "Now, you have two options: you can either continue to endure his blackmailing and expect it to get worse without your concerns, or you can call the police now and use the evidence I have to put him behind bars, allowing you to marry Shimazaki Yūji in peace next month."

Maiko Dōgen was silent for a moment before making her decision.

...

That evening, the police arrived at the hotel near the shrine. After obtaining a copy of the recorded evidence from Fujino, they took the still unconscious Anzai Mamoru away in a police car.

Since Fujino's first strike was in response to stopping a crime and the second was in self-defense, the police did not trouble them. They only asked Maiko Dōgen to give a statement.

As for Anzai Mamoru, based on Fujino's knowledge of Japanese law, he faced charges of intimidation and attempted rape, with a minimum sentence of three years. Considering he had blackmailed more than just Maiko Dōgen, he would likely be imprisoned for a decade or more.

*Congratulations to the host for solving an emergency case. System Reward: 50 Detective Reputation Points*

*Current remaining detective reputation needed for level up: 50 points*

"Even without system tasks, solving a case or completing a commission earns extra detective reputation, huh?" Fujino mused as he watched the police car drive away. 

He had suspected this after the system had awarded him fifty reputation points for completing a previous commission from Shizaki Miaeko. His visit was partly to confirm this suspicion, and it seemed he was right.

"Detective Fujino!"

A voice called from behind. 

Fujino turned to see Yoko Shunyo, wearing a blue T-shirt, khaki jeans, and a blue cap, with her slim legs and neatly styled hair.

"I saw the police car when I was coming over. Did something happen here?" Yoko asked as she approached Fujino. "Did another case get resolved by Detective Fujino?"

"Ha…"

Fujino sighed internally. 

Why did she assume that a police car meant a murder had occurred? And why did she seem so accustomed to such incidents?

"Maiko Dōgen was really pitiful. She's about to get married, yet she encountered such a situation," Yoko said after listening to Fujino's account of the events. 

She sighed softly and then smiled, "But thankfully Detective Fujino was here. If you hadn't acted in time, things might have escalated irreversibly."

Yoko looked at Fujino with admiration, making him feel momentarily confused about who the real star was.

"Ahem!"

Fujino cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness.

"By the way, Yoko, why are you out so late?"

"I was actually heading to the convenience store," Yoko explained with a smile. "But when I saw the police car near the shrine, I came over to check."

"Do you need a ride?" Fujino offered. "It's quite dangerous out at night, especially with reports of a gang kidnapping young girls recently."

"If you could, that would be wonderful."

Despite not having taken on many cases so far, Fujino's reputation was steadily rising. The high-profile cases he had solved, such as the Moonshadow Island drug cartel, the Italian robbery, and the Shinkansen bomb incident, had contributed significantly to his growing fame.

Thanks to the police's guidance, his reputation had even begun to overshadow that of Kogorō Mōri, who had solved several murder cases.

...

Two days later.

Fujino had not received any system tasks in the past two days and had been quietly investigating Maru Maru's wife, Maru Inoko. Fortunately, he had finally found evidence of her infidelity.

However, the timeline had returned to normal over these two days, making Fujino feel somewhat disoriented.

At Maru Denjirō's residence.

The Maru Denjirō residence was large, with beautiful gardens, multiple buildings, and the occasional sound of flowing water and bamboo chimes—typical of a traditional Japanese-style estate.

"After my investigation these past few days, it's confirmed that your wife, Maru Inoko, is indeed having an affair," Fujino said, pulling out several photos from his shoulder bag and handing them to Maru Denjirō. "She was very discreet and well-hidden, but I managed to find out."

The photos showed a well-disguised couple leaving a hotel. The woman wore a black hat, and both wore glasses to conceal their faces.

Fujino pointed to a mole on the woman's cheek in the photos and compared it with Maru Inoko's photo. "Although well-disguised, the mole on her cheek is unmistakable. This woman is definitely your wife, Maru Inoko."

"Damn it…"

Maru Denjirō clenched the photos tightly, his teeth grinding in anger.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he asked Fujino, "Who is that man?"

"The man in question is your personal doctor, Hasegawa Kiyo," Fujino replied.

"Damn it!"

Maru Denjirō slammed his fist on the table. "I hired him to treat my diabetes, and instead, he's treating my wife!"

Fujino remained silent, adhering to the professional quality of a detective who never laughs at the client's troubles, no matter how absurd they might seem.

Unless, of course, he couldn't help himself.

"Ding-dong!"

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

"Looks like someone is here. Did you, Mr. Maru Denjirō, schedule any other appointments?"

Fujino suppressed his smile and asked Maru Denjirō seriously.

"Oh…"

Maru Denjirō thought for a moment before recalling, "Apart from Detective Fujino, I did schedule three other people."

Ding-dong!

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang again, more urgently.

"Damn it, where is everyone?"

Maru Denjirō seemed irritated. "The servants are just lazing around…"

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, scratching his head sheepishly. "I almost forgot. Since I had you, Detective Fujino, come over, I sent the household staff away."

"Well, now that the investigation is nearly complete," Fujino said, not acknowledging Maru Denjirō's awkwardness, "shouldn't we settle the payment for the commission?"

*End of Chapter*