Chapter 58: Kendo Genius

"Of course."

Marudenjiro nodded, then pulled out a thick stack of envelopes from behind him and handed them to Fujino.

"Appreciate your help this time, Detective Fujino—finding out that b*tch so quickly…"

Ding dong! Ding dong!

Just then, the doorbell rang again, urgently.

"You better hurry up and greet your guests."

Fujino took the envelopes with a nod. "My commission's complete now."

"If I've got more work next time, I'll be coming straight to you."

With that, Marudenjiro left the room.

"Fifty thousand yen, secured."

Once Marudenjiro had gone, Fujino stretched lazily and tucked the money into his system inventory.

[Current balance: 1,300,000 yen]

Glancing at his balance, Fujino opened the task interface:

[Detective Profession Mission: Antique Collector Murder Case]

Mission Objective: Resolve the antique collector murder case by any means

Mission Location: Marudenjiro's residence

Mission Reward: 500,000 yen + 50 Detective Reputation Points

"It's about time to collect the other 500,000 yen and 50 reputation points."

Focusing himself, Fujino took out the wooden sword from his shoulder bag.

"Fifty reputation points… with this, I can level up my detective rank…"

—

"Now that I've paid you back, how about you return that sword of mine?"

In a side room, Suwa Yuji, dressed in a black suit, sat formally at the low table, staring at Marudenjiro, who was counting his money with a sinister grin.

"Oh, that sword?"

Marudenjiro casually put the money away, lazily replying, "I already sold it. Tech didn't even fetch much."

"Besides, what's done is done. The money from selling it? Just think of that as interest…"

Of course, he hadn't sold it.

"Kikuchiyo", after all, was a famous sword, and as an antique collector, how could he possibly bear to sell it? That sword was sitting safe and sound in his storage room.

Suwa Yuji's eyes widened at those words, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

In that moment of daze, fury clouded his rationality. He reached for a nearby decorative katana and drew it from its scabbard.

Clang!

The sound of metal scraping echoed sharply through the room.

But before he could swing it, the sliding door to the room was suddenly kicked open.

"That's enough! Is this what you learned kendo for—to kill?!"

"Nani?!"

Suwa Yuji exclaimed in shock.

Looking back, he saw a young man kick the door open, a wooden sword in hand, pointed directly at him.

The boy's glasses glinted coldly under the lights.

Suwa Yuji instinctively sized him up, and an oppressive pressure rose in his heart.

"Brother Fujino, save me!"

Marudenjiro had already crawled into the corner of the room, frantically calling out for Fujino's help.

"Rescue fees are extra—another 500,000!"

"No problem!"

[Bodyguard Mode Activated]

At those words, Fujino, fully powered by his system's enhancements and wearing his protective windbreaker, charged straight in.

He's strong!

Suwa Yuji evaluated Fujino instantly.

He raised the katana in his hand to block.

Clang!

Wood and steel collided, sparks flying.

Suwa Yuji's katana, made of carbon steel, took a visible dent the moment it clashed with Fujino's wooden sword.

"A wooden sword… and it still hit like that?!"

Suwa Yuji was astonished.

He quickly retreated several steps, his gaze toward Fujino turning serious.

In his eyes, the young man's sword style was peculiar—it seemed like a mixture of multiple schools, strange and unpredictable.

The only flaw was the lack of polish—the movements weren't smooth yet, as if he had knowledge but wasn't fully proficient in executing it.

"Since that's the case… let's see what you're capable of!"

With that, Suwa Yuji lunged forward again, his sword stabbing in an awkward yet sharp thrust aimed at Fujino's arm.

But just as the blade closed in, it deviated slightly to the side, as if deliberately avoiding harm.

Fujino noticed it too—the guy wasn't trying to kill him.

With a firm grip on his wooden sword, Fujino lifted it—block!

Clang!

Another sharp impact.

The two swiftly repositioned, their blades locked in stalemate as their duel moved into the garden.

"You're holding back, aren't you?"

Fujino narrowed his eyes, questioning Suwa Yuji.

With his understanding of swordsmanship, he could tell—this guy was pulling his punches. None of the attacks had been aimed at vital areas.

"I just lost my cool because he sold Kikuchiyo."

Suwa Yuji squinted slightly. "You were right—my sword wasn't meant to kill."

"Since you've calmed down… why are we still fighting?"

"I want to see your strength for myself… For someone your age to wield a wooden sword and go toe-to-toe with me, a 7th-dan kendo practitioner, and even have such a solid understanding of swordsmanship…"

"Given time, you'll become a renowned kendo master across Japan."

At this moment, Suwa Yuji's killing intent had long since faded.

His earlier violence had been pure emotion, but in clashing with Fujino, his reason had returned.

Now, all he wanted… was to test this young man's skill.

"Cut the crap. If that old bastard comes out now, we'll have real trouble."

Fujino glanced back slightly with the corner of his eye. "Work with me on a little performance. Let's see if that bastard sold your Kikuchiyo."

"How?"

"Just follow my lead."

As they fought, the two began whispering hurriedly about their plan.

Moments later, Fujino broke free from the deadlock and retreated several steps, moving back toward the shivering Marudenjiro in the room.

"Is this what your sword's for? To kill?"

He gave Suwa Yuji a look.

"You're right!" Suwa Yuji caught on immediately, raising his katana in a deliberately non-threatening manner, growling fiercely, "I don't want to kill—I just want Kikuchiyo back!"

"This bastard sold our family's heirloom! Even if it costs me my life, I'll make him pay!"

"Mr. Marudenjiro… this guy's no joke…"

Fujino pretended to be struggling, murmuring as if afraid, then said seriously, "If we don't give him back Kikuchiyo, the two of us might die here today."

"How… how could this be…"

Marudenjiro swallowed hard, panic written across his face.

He believed every word Fujino said.

As a 3rd-dan kendo practitioner himself, he knew exactly how terrifying a 7th-dan master like Suwa Yuji was.

Give that guy a real katana, and three to five people wouldn't be able to stop him…

Killing one private detective and a weakling 3rd-dan? Easy.

Gritting his teeth, Marudenjiro finally shouted, "Alright! I didn't sell Kikuchiyo! It's still in my storage room!"

"As long as you let me live, I'll give it back to you!"

(End of Chapter)