It's 10:00 PM at the Ryukyu Onsen Seraga Hotel.
Fujino sees off the last group of reporters, pocketing a cool million yen with tears in his eyes.
He casually grabs a drink from the fridge and leans back against the headboard, feeling relaxed.
Outside, moonlight spills across the window, faintly blending the deep sky with the coastline in a single, seamless line.
The sound of waves drifts in from beyond the glass, and a gentle sea breeze brings a touch of coolness.
The window faces northeast—out there, not too far away, lies the homeland of this world…
Fujino savors a rare moment of peace, then stands and walks to the window.
He wonders if he'll ever get the chance to go back, to see how this world's China differs from the one he knows.
Gazing at the sea, faintly glowing under the moonlight, he takes a sip of his drink.
It's cool, with a hint of lemon.
Setting the drink on the windowsill, Fujino pulls up his system interface. A string of notifications chimes in his ear:
[Detective Profession Task Detected: "Murder Case in the Sky" - Completed]
[Driver Profession Task Detected: "Emergency Landing" - Completed]
[System Rewards: (1.5 million yen, 200 Detective Reputation Points, 500 Super Driver Profession Points) - Rewards Issued]
[Current Balance: 4.35 million yen]
[Host Detective Level Up Detected! Current Level: Intermediate 3-Star (10/1500) - Available Points: 1]
"Finally hit Intermediate 3-Star…"
Fujino stares at the system screen, taking a deep breath of fresh air. "One step closer to the next stage," he mutters.
He skims the system prompts, then opens his profession menu to allocate points for his newly upgraded class.
His Detective profession just broke through to Intermediate 3-Star, and his Doctor profession had already hit the top tier a while back, thanks to a random upgrade coupon.
Right now, he's got two All-Profession Points, one Detective Point, one Doctor Point, and two Chef Points…
Given the situation, it's a good time to bump up some profession skills.
With a quick thought, Fujino assigns the points.
[Self-Healing (Advanced: Boosts host's physical recovery by 150%)]
[Detective Enhancement: Intermediate 3-Star (Temporarily boosts physical strength by 300%)]
He puts one Doctor Point into self-healing and tosses two All-Profession Points plus one Detective Point into Detective Enhancement.
Bringing Detective Enhancement to Intermediate 3-Star—matching his current Detective level—amps up his combat ability even more.
The self-healing boost? That's just for insurance.
As for leveling up again, he'd need to push his Doctor profession further.
But he's not planning to do that just yet.
Upgrading a profession skill takes nearly 3 million yen.
With his current balance of 4.25 million, leveling up would drop him to just over a million.
That's a bit too low—too risky for handling emergencies.
Even though he's mildly curious about the skills he'd unlock with a Doctor upgrade, his account balance won't allow it. Three million yen is his self-imposed red line.
If he had more cash, he'd set that line higher.
It's all about having enough in reserve for a crisis—enough to dump into combat skills, boost his strength fast, and turn the tables to save his skin.
---
The next day rolls around.
Japan Airlines and the local Okinawa police hold a joint press conference.
The Okinawa police spokesperson highlights Fujino's heroics in saving everyone on the plane, praising him to the skies.
Then Japan Airlines steps up, handing Fujino a 3-million-yen reward and a custom platinum card.
According to the presenter, this card lets the holder—Fujino—fly any Japan Airlines flight, anytime, anywhere, for free. No mileage limits, just for him, and he can bring three or four adult passengers along.
After Japan Airlines wraps up their rewards, it's the Okinawa police and county council's turn.
They heap praise on Fujino's selfless bravery and top-notch piloting skills, each presenting him with a certificate of appreciation.
The certificates are framed in gold, made of brass, with calligraphy penned by the Okinawa Police Chief and the county governor themselves.
They feel… familiar.
Not exactly identical to the ones from Osaka, but close enough that Fujino suspects the frames came from the same factory.
He half-listens to the polite speeches, letting them go in one ear and out the other, clapping when the audience does. In his head, he's grumbling, "Only 3 million yen? That was a whole passenger jet… and just 3 million?"
But then he reconsiders. Three million plus a platinum card isn't bad at all.
Free flights from now on will save him a ton, and with no limits on destinations or mileage, it's practically priceless.
Japan Airlines? They're alright, he decides.
Which reminds him—he can't help but throw some shade at those Kyoto nobles.
For the bomb disposal gig? Not a single feather, not even a thank-you note.
What are they so high and mighty about?
Oh, right, Ooka Momiji's from Kyoto too.
Makes sense. Neon nobles, all cut from the same cloth.
At the end of the conference, Fujino snaps a photo with the Japan Airlines execs, the governor, and the police chief.
And with that, the bureaucratic song-and-dance is over.
---
The next day, the date jumps big time—it's now August 11th.
Luckily, it's still a day off, so the trip can go on.
After breakfast, the group heads into downtown Okinawa to explore.
Okinawa, also known as Ryukyu, was a vassal of China since the Ming Dynasty. It only got snatched up by America and Japan later on.
The island's a mash-up of Chinese, Japanese, and Western vibes.
That clash of cultures and unexpected quirks makes it feel like a real trip.
Ran's especially pumped—it's the birthplace of karate, after all.
In Fujino's combat knowledge, traditional karate started here in Ryukyu, originally called "Tang Hand." The "Tang" part ties it to China, naturally.
Early karate was a mix of Chinese fighting techniques and some fist styles—like Fujian traditional boxing and Tiger-Crane Fist. Over time, "Tang Hand" branched out, and for reasons best left unsaid, the name shifted to "Empty Hand."
Modern karate's drifted far from its roots, blending in stuff like Muay Thai and Sanda.
Fujino's got karate moves in his fighting arsenal, but after weighing it, they don't suit him.
Competitive modern karate's got too many blind spots, weak lethality, and leaves you open to counters. Traditional Tang Hand's a mishmash with its own flaws.
He leans toward stuff that fits a Chinese build—crisp, lethal moves like Bajiquan, or Tai Chi for quick, light-to-heavy takedowns, mixed with some tactical CQC.
The group wanders around the city.
Soon enough, someone recognizes Fujino, sparking a bit of a commotion.
He's kind of a big deal now, in a way.
It's a hassle—he doesn't love being gawked at.
"Hopefully they'll forget about this in a while…"
Fujino slips on a mask and hat, sticking with the group as they check out cultural spots, hit up shops for souvenirs, and sample local eats.
By evening, they're at the coast.
A soft sea breeze brushes over the waves.
Fireworks burst in the sky, painting the night in brilliant colors.
On the shore, under the glow, the group stands together.
"A fireworks festival?"
Fujino narrows his eyes, glancing at Ooka Momiji.
Just yesterday, he took a job—roped in by a certain rich girl.
And now, the next night, fireworks light up the sky.
Right from the beach, they've got a perfect view.
He looks around—no one else on the sand…
Fujino: "…"
No big deal, though. The situation's still under control.
"So pretty…"
Ran gazes up at the fireworks, beaming innocently. "I can't believe we got lucky enough to catch a festival nearby."
"Pretty lucky, huh?"
Momiji smiles up at the sky, her mind ticking.
Fujino's right—this trip, the fireworks, it's all her doing.
But after the plane incident, her plans went off the rails.
Still, it wasn't a total wash.
Progress was slow, but she's picked up a trick or two.
—Assignments.
The payout can't be too much or too little—just enough to hook him.
Drain the pond to catch the fish… Fujino's her bait now.
Nearby, Haibara Ai scans Momiji with a flat look.
Sharp as she is, she's sniffed out the scheme.
And her keen senses tell her this woman's cracked the code to trap poor, helpless Fujino—playing him like a fiddle.
Haibara lowers her eyes, silently resolving, "No way I'm letting this scheming… heart-trickster win."
---
The next day, June 18th.
Fujino stares at his phone—big, bold "Saturday"—and sighs.
Normally, today's Saturday, tomorrow's Sunday.
But no…
Everyone in this Conan-world agrees tomorrow's Thursday—a school day.
He still can't wrap his head around this messed-up timeline.
Asking's pointless. Haibara would just deadpan, "Today's July 10th, tomorrow's August 11th—what's weird about that?" then give him a puzzled look.
It's a mess…
Good thing he asked Haibara—she doesn't pry too much even when she's confused.
If he'd asked Momiji, he'd probably be choppered to a brain doc by tomorrow.
After grabbing some souvenirs, the group flies back to Tokyo.
With eight people as a buffer, Fujino dodges any awkward moments this time.
This Okinawa trip netted him nearly 10 million yen, two more thank-you plaques, and a free-flight card.
Not a bad haul.
Back in Tokyo, atop a high-rise:
A white helicopter's blades whirl, roaring loudly.
Fujino watches the massive chopper lift off, speechless.
His Super Driver knowledge kicks in—he recognizes it. An EC225, European-made. All-weather, high-performance, seats up to 30.
Usually snapped up by nations or big organizations…
Ridiculous.
Only a noble heiress could pull this off.
Wealth beyond imagination.
"I'm happy with how this job turned out."
Momiji stands at the open cabin door, her skirt fluttering in the wind. She dips a playful bow toward Fujino, smiling. "Fujino-kun, if I've got another gig, I'll come find you… See you soon!"
"Another job, huh?"
Fujino squints as the hulking chopper fades into the sky.
A few million just for hanging out? Too easy.
Beats facing armed drug lords solo or outsmarting Rice Flower Town's worst criminals.
---
Two days later, Shizuoka.
"Ow! I bit my tongue!"
Mouri Kogoro's in the driver's seat, wrestling with a rental car that's bouncing along a dirt road.
"Dad! Slow down!"
Ran's in the back, gripping the seat, looking miserable as she yells at Kogoro. "Why's this road so bumpy?"
"We're headed to a remote fishing spot!"
Kogoro clutches the wheel, explaining, "A few bumps are normal!"
Fujino's up front, glancing at Conan—who's getting tossed around and yelping in the back—and quietly tightens his seatbelt, grumbling to himself.
They're in Shizuoka because Kogoro invited them fishing after school yesterday—a thank-you for tagging along and scoring a fancy hotel in Okinawa.
But Kogoro clearly didn't plan ahead. He took a wrong turn at a fork and barreled down this dirt path…
After a rough ride, the car finally hits smoother ground.
Ran looks back at a sign they passed. "Dad… that road back there was closed off…"
"Bet Uncle Mouri got the route wrong again," Conan mutters, rubbing his backside with a deadpan stare.
"We're almost there anyway!"
Kogoro perks up, eyeing the road ahead and changing the subject. "Look, there's an archery range up there!"
Ran sees through it, pouting. "So you *did* take the wrong way…"
"Haha…"
Kogoro laughs awkwardly, his face flushing.
Bringing Fujino along for a rare outing, and he screws up the directions…
*Whoosh—*
They've barely hit smooth pavement when a sharp sound cuts through the air.
Fujino turns toward the window—just in time to see an arrow streaking toward the car.
He calculates its trajectory in a flash.
If he does nothing, it'll smash through the driver's side and nail him in the head.
Another assassination attempt?
His face hardens. Timing it perfectly, he reaches out.
*Crack!*
He snags the arrow by the shaft.
With a slight squeeze, the carbon shaft shatters in his grip.
(End of Chapter)