Ran Seems to Understand Something

The four-story building across from the Mouri Detective Agency.

In the dim room, Fujino stared at the photos connected by red thread on the wall, his black pupils filled with confusion.

From his memories, he should have transmigrated into the world of Detective Conan...

He was now eighteen years old, living in the legendary crime-ridden Beika Town, and he was a detective!

Fujino withdrew his gaze and walked out of the dim room. He glanced at the front-page headline about "Heisei Era's Sherlock Holmes" on the newspaper on the coffee table, his eyes narrowing slightly.

In this world, his name was Fujino Doji, which was very close to his previous life's name, Fujino. His background was that his parents were involved in a case and died about a year ago. With no relatives and no savings, he became a detective to make a living.

However, he was a rather clumsy detective.

Unlike Kudo Shinichi, who seemed to attract death wherever he went, he, as a detective, rarely encountered murder cases. Because of this, he hadn't gained much fame after a year.

His only income usually came from accepting requests to find lost cats and dogs. Even then, employers would hire him at prices far below market value. For the sake of survival, he accepted them all.

Working from dawn till dusk, in the year since he became a detective, he had either been searching for cats and dogs or on his way to search for them. He finally couldn't take it anymore.

Already mentally exhausted, he had caught a cold after being drenched in the rain all night while investigating an infidelity case yesterday. He developed a high fever of over forty degrees Celsius and suddenly died after returning home.

"He lived a pretty miserable life..."

Fujino murmured, feeling a bit of sympathy for the deceased.

Actually, according to his memories, this guy in this world shouldn't have had such a hard time. With his diligent spirit, even renting a place in Tokyo would have been more than enough.

But unfortunately, he also inherited a four-story building in a commercial district from his parents.

In Japan, there's a fixed property tax. For the four-story building Fujino currently had, the annual tax alone was 1.5 million yen, which is about 150,000 RMB at the current exchange rate.

Even though he was a minor, the tax authorities wouldn't show any leniency. As long as the property was under your name, you had to pay taxes!

But looking at the income from his commissions, which were fifty thousand yen per case, and sometimes even less...

After deducting living expenses, it was already difficult to cover the taxes at the end of the year, let alone save any money.

It could only be said that Japan's taxes were truly harsh, not even sparing him, a poor and helpless eighteen-year-old!

As for renting it out, the original owner had considered it, but that triggered another bug: houses couldn't be rented out without a guardian...

Ding dong!

At this moment, the doorbell rang.

Fujino's heart tightened at the sound...

Could it be someone coming to collect property management fees?

Come to think of it, he only had a million yen left in his possession. If that was taken away, his future days would likely be even harder...

With a sigh of helplessness, Fujino walked through the more than 100-square-meter apartment he lived in alone and arrived at the bedroom door.

Pushing the door open, what greeted him was not a property manager in a suit with an ugly expression, but a girl in a dark blue school uniform with horns on her head.

Mori Ran looked at the thin and cautious boy in the half-open doorway and gave a faint smile. She then bowed politely, "Hello, Fujino-senpai. My name is Mori Ran. I live across from you and am in the same class. I'm very sorry for the sudden intrusion, but you haven't come to school for a month, and your phone is unreachable. So, the teacher could only arrange for me to come and check on you..."

Same class, senpai, Mori Ran?

Right, the high school the original owner attended was Teitan High School. Because he went off to be a full-time detective halfway, his grades plummeted, and he was eventually demoted by the school. Now, he and Mori Ran should be in the same class.

Because of this, the original owner, who already had no hope for school, became even more apathetic. To make money, he basically wouldn't go to school for one or two months...

"I'm truly sorry. I've been taking all sorts of commissions this past month and really couldn't get away."

Fujino gave an awkward smile and explained.

Fujino had a good first impression of Mori Ran.

She was a polite girl, her smile was sweet and gentle, and she even used polite language with him.

"Is Fujino-senpai a high school detective?"

Hearing the word "commission," Ran asked in surprise.

"You could say I'm a full-time detective..."

Fujino corrected her. "After all, I live off this. It's different from a high school detective."

"I see."

Ran nodded and glanced at Fujino, who looked slightly pale and malnourished.

Through the gap in the door, she could vaguely see cheap instant noodle bowls piled up on the floor inside the room.

Suddenly, she seemed to understand something.

"My family just finished cooking. I don't know if Fujino-senpai..."

"Since Mori-san has delivered your message, I won't keep you any longer. If I have time, I'll go to school. Goodbye."

Before she could finish speaking, Fujino politely replied and then closed the door.

"Huh?"

Mori Ran's gentle smile froze on her face. After a moment, she sighed.

Fujino-senpai must be having a very difficult time after losing his parents, otherwise, he wouldn't be taking commissions to earn money even if it meant not going to school.

Tonight, senpai would probably have to eat that kind of unnutritious food again.

Honestly, he already looks so malnourished!

I absolutely have to treat senpai to a good meal someday!

Shaking her head, Ran felt a pang of regret.

Closing the door, Fujino walked to the balcony and watched Ran walking home, silently resting his hands on the railing.

In the end, Ran was just a stranger living across from him. He appreciated her sentiment.

But even after transmigrating and getting a new soul, he still couldn't escape the financial difficulties the original owner of this world was in.

In short, going to school was impossible. He'd rather die working outside than ever step foot in a school again!

"Ding! System task detected!"

[Host, please retain your student status and avoid expulsion! Mission reward: Detective profession binding, 100,000 Japanese yen!]

Is this the system?

Fujino stared at the voice in his ear and the system interface that popped up before his eyes, momentarily stunned.

A moment later, he accepted the system's premise. After all, being a transmigrator without a system would be the real oddity.

But speaking of which, the system's reward was incredibly practical!

100,000 yen was equivalent to the reward for two high-paying commissions. He had originally planned to sell the building and just give up on everything, but he never expected the system to pop out like this and offer him 100,000 yen!

All he could say was, it was too generous!

Going to school was a must. Even if Jesus himself came today, he wouldn't be able to stop him!