**Chapter 74: The Sandstorm Temple Incident**
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A few days ago, Fujino received 500,000 yen from the café murder case, and today, he earned another 600,000 yen from the television station case.
Although the producer was dead, the 500,000 yen commissions for the two popular idols invited by the TV station were still collected.
With the money in hand, it was time for a draw.
Especially since he had just survived an assassination attempt and was in a precarious situation.
"I'm not going to make a wish today."
Fujino focused on the career ball draw interface, took a deep breath, and activated the system career ball draw.
1.8 million yen, 20 draws!
[Congratulations Host for obtaining: Strength 100% Enhancement Card x2, Reaction Ability 100% Enhancement Card x3, System Card Fusion Device (Purple), Golden Item Random Draw Fragment x4, Batman's Anesthetic Batarang x5…]
"System Card Fusion Device?"
Among the items drawn, Fujino's attention was immediately drawn to the single purple item.
He paused for a moment, then opened the system warehouse and checked the details of the [System Card Fusion Device]:
[System Card Fusion Device: Can use a certain amount of money to fuse and upgrade multiple low-tier enhancement cards. Note: Fusion Transcendence!]
"If the system's description is correct, this should be a device for fusing basic enhancement cards."
Fujino thought for a moment, then took it out of the system warehouse.
The fusion device resembled a black rectangular inkstone, measuring 50 cm in length and 15 cm in width.
It had five card slots on the lower part, and a single slot on the upper part, likely for placing enhancement cards.
The device was not large but was surprisingly heavy, almost causing him to drop it when he first picked it up.
"Five slots…"
Placing the device on the floor, Fujino observed the five slots on it. "Looks like I need five enhancement cards."
He then retrieved five 100% Strength Enhancement Cards from his space and placed them in the slots.
[Low-tier enhancement cards detected and positioned]
[Do you wish to fuse the five 100% Strength Enhancement Cards into a 200% Strength Enhancement Card?]
[Current Fusion Cost: 100,000 yen]
"Fuse!"
[The system has consumed 90,000 yen, starting the fusion]
With a series of system prompts, the originally black fusion device began to emit warm light.
Moments later, the five enhancement cards converged into a beam of light, flowing into the top slot.
As the light faded, a single enhancement card appeared in the slot.
[Congratulations Host for obtaining a 200% Strength Enhancement Card: Enhancement Time Ten Minutes]
"This fusion device is really something."
Fujino put away the enhancement card and continued. "I can't say for sure about other things, but I've definitely drawn quite a few enhancement cards lately…"
After a while, Fujino spent another 450,000 yen to fuse three 200% Reaction Ability Enhancement Cards and two 200% Strength Enhancement Cards.
[Current Balance: 600,000 yen]
Fujino glanced at his system balance, then turned his attention to the items he had just drawn.
[Golden Item Fragment: Collect twenty to exchange for a random golden item]
"So I need to collect twenty to get a golden item?"
Fujino looked at the fragments and couldn't help but mutter, "As expected, the system is a money-hungry beast."
Despite the complaint, golden items were definitely worth saving up for.
After all, golden items were incredibly valuable, like the space expansion, which, though requiring a lot of money, was definitely worth it.
Next, Fujino examined the Batman Anesthetic Batarang:
[Batman's Anesthetic Batarang: A high-tech batarang crafted by a Gotham City billionaire. It can instantly incapacitate an adult, and will slowly biodegrade after hitting the body. Note: Wear gloves when using it.]
The batarang seemed to be made of metal, coated with a black layer, and had silver blades between the wings, along with cute little bat ears.
It looked like a genuine high-tech item, something only a Gotham City billionaire could produce.
As for biodegradation… that remained to be tested.
Honestly, Fujino wasn't convinced that it would biodegrade, but if the system said so, it might be true.
A stealthy anesthetic tool was certainly better than some infamous school death god's anesthetic needles.
"I'll test it out on some unlucky souls someday."
As Fujino put away the anesthetic batarang, the system's voice suddenly rang in his ear:
"Ding! Detective level upgraded to Beginner Four Stars. A Detective Bounty Task has been issued!"
"Another bounty task?"
Fujino was surprised.
If he remembered correctly, this was the second time a detective bounty task had been triggered.
The last time, the random equipment package he received included a protective coat.
He wondered what task would be triggered this time and what rewards it would bring.
After a moment of contemplation, Fujino opened the system interface:
[Detective Bounty Task: Capture Tenyu Monk
Task Location: Takao Mountain, Sandstorm Temple, Tokyo Suburbs
Task Deadline: Three Days
Task Rewards: 3 Million Yen Bounty, 200 Detective Prestige Points, Random Equipment Package]
"Tenyu Monk?"
Fujino studied the task on the system interface, tapping his chin. "If I remember correctly, this should be related to the Misty Tengu Murder Case."
Two years ago, a bizarre case occurred at Sandstorm Temple.
A monk named Chūnen was found hanging dead in the temple's training room, allegedly by the Great Tengu.
Due to numerous suspicious aspects and lack of evidence, the case was hastily concluded as a suicide.
However, the truth was that the temple's head monk, Tenyu, had killed Chūnen to prevent him from eloping with his granddaughter, Kiku.
Chūnen and Kiku were in love, but their relationship was obstructed by Kiku's pre-arranged marriage to another temple's heir.
On the night they planned to elope, Tenyu discovered their plan and, to protect the temple's interests, brutally killed Chūnen and staged it as a Tengu's murder.
Kiku, heartbroken by the death of her lover, eventually married the heir from the other temple.
"This really is a case of bad luck attracting misfortune."
Fujino smiled with a hint of intrigue, storing his thoughts as he prepared for the task.
**(End of Chapter)**