Only the Utility Pole Was Hurt

"Same as always, cash on delivery."

Fujino pulled a small black bag from his robe and showed it to Goto, lowering his voice with a voice changer, "Inside is all the evidence of Beika-sensei's illegal and criminal activities related to the attack."

"Evidence of illegal or criminal activity?"

Goto was somewhat puzzled.

The evidence of illegal or criminal activity is definitely not the evidence against this guy in front of me, but rather the evidence against those two teachers.

He couldn't understand what those two people had done to deserve being beaten up like that by this guy.

"Among them are some big surprises you won't expect."

Fujino did not answer Goto's question, but said something meaningful.

"An unexpected bombshell?"

Goto frowned slightly, looking even more puzzled.

At the same time, he was also interested in what was inside the small package.

"There are 1.5 million here."

He handed the briefcase to Fujino, saying, "I'll withdraw the remaining 500,000 yen in a couple of days. Call me then and I'll give it to you."

"No."

Fujino took the suitcase and handed over the small bag. "Did you bring a credit card or bank card or anything like that?"

"I did bring my credit card..."

"Mobile payment is supported here."

"Forehead..."

Goto he examined the mobile POS machine that Fujino had just taken out of his robe.

Goodness, now even Beika Batman supports card payments.

Keeping up with the times is a good thing.

After a moment of silence, Goto took out a wallet from his pocket, took out his credit card, and swiped it on the mobile POS machine.

Then, a notification sounded in Fujino's ear that 500,000 yen had been deposited into his account.

"It's a pleasure to work with you."

Fujino put away the portable POS machine, then pointed Goto: "Look behind you."

"Behind me?"

Goto turned his head in confusion, looking in the direction Fujino was pointing Goto.

What comes into view is the street where cars pass by from time to time.

A streetlamp cast a faint light on the mailbox beneath it, and that was all.

Goto was about to turn around and ask a question.

He then saw that Fujino, who had been standing in front of him, had disappeared without him noticing.

"Disappeared... disappeared?"

Having witnessed the ghost story unfold Goto couldn't help but gasp.

He had heard the strange tale that Beika Batman would disappear as soon as he turned around.

He initially thought it was some kind of description...

But unexpectedly, it really did disappear as soon as it turned around.

And it happened right next to him, yet he didn't notice a thing.

"How did this guy do that...? Did he use some kind of visual illusion?"

Goto Shiroi, unable to understand her sister, shook her head and decided to stop thinking about it.

If he could figure out exactly how Beika Batman created those ghost stories, he probably wouldn't be far from ending up in a mental hospital.

After returning to the editorial office, Goto went to his office.

After closing the blinds on the glass wall of the office, he began to examine the juicy information that Fujino had mentioned.

"If the information here is correct, then this report will definitely cause a sensation throughout Japan!"

Goto he watched the television program, a sudden surge of fighting spirit ignited on Goto's somewhat weathered face, a result of working late into the night.

"Knock knock!"

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

"What's wrong?"

Goto replied somewhat resentfully, turned off the TV, took out the videotape, pushed open the door, and saw a woman wearing a pink business suit.

"Editor- Goto, the article 'Beika Batman, a Vigilante Wandering in Beihan' has been proofread. When will it be typeset?"

The woman handed a manuscript to Goto.

Goto took the manuscript, glanced at it, and immediately frowned. "Who made you write this report?"

"It's the president."

"The president?"

Upon Goto twitched his chin.

This report is filled with accusations against Beika Batman and dissatisfaction with his status as a vigilante.

Japan current media coverage of Beika Batman is highly polarized, ranging from praising him as a champion of peace to condemning his use of vigilante justice against criminals.

"There's no need to write these kinds of reports anymore."

Goto shoved the manuscript back at him, his words tinged with displeasure.

Although Beika Batman fights criminals, in the eyes of some mentally unstable people who believe that criminals can only be judged by the law and the courts, Beika Batman is a symbol of evil and a criminal.

This article is clearly intended to please those people.

Goto looked down on that kind of person.

He's currently in a cooperative relationship with Beika Batman, and if this report causes any unnecessary misunderstandings, his 500,000 yen would probably be wasted.

He paused, then realized his behavior had been a bit too deliberate, and explained to the female reporter, "The smear campaign in the report was too obvious, there was nothing eye-catching about it, it was all the same, it was just following the trend of other media outlets!"

"What we need to do is report news that others can't report, understand?"

"Reporting news that others can't report?"

The female reporter was stunned by what she heard.

Goto the female reporter's bewildered expression, Goto sighed.

Are media professionals these days really that incompetent?

How can they not even understand such a basic principle?

"I have just obtained evidence of illegal activities by the teachers at Haido Elementary School. Only reports based on this information will be considered real news."

"Goto- Senior, are you referring to the news about the Haido Elementary School teacher?"

The female reporter asked in surprise, "Where did you get that from, Senior? The police aren't giving any interviews to the media these days..."

"You don't need to ask where I got this information. Anyway, it's true and reliable. Once it's reported, we'll be the first to eat the fish."

After the female reporter left, Goto leaned back in his office chair and sighed.

If the law alone could truly restrain criminals, then his wife wouldn't have been brutally murdered after being robbed on the street.

Meanwhile, after receiving a huge sum of two million yen, Fujino embarked on his journey home.

"This Goto is quite generous."

Fujino sat in the driver's seat, glancing at the balance on the system interface and smiling slightly.

Nothing is more joyful and pleasant than receiving a little money.

If there is, it's getting more small change...

"Why does this remind you of Mr. Krabs?"

Shaking his head, Fujino put the thought out of his mind and opened the system interface.

The system interface appeared before my eyes like a head-up display.

After a slight pause, he broke through the Professional Swordsman's barrier.

[The host has already broken through to the Swordsman Profession.]

[Congratulations, host, you have acquired the secondary profession skill: Unity of Man and Sword, Kendo Master]

Current balance: 1,590,000 yen

"The Body is the Sword? Kendo Master?"

Looking at the notification that he had acquired a new skill, Fujino asked a question, then opened the system interface:

Swordsman Grandmaster: Level 1 (0|500; One Million Yen)

Wanderer's Sword Heart (The host will be particularly adept at using any sword or bladed weapon)

Take the Body is the Sword: Level 1 (The person is the sword, and the sword is the person. The host gains a 100% bonus to all attributes).

Kendo Master: Level 1 (When wielding swords or other sword-type weapons, strength and reaction speed increase by 25%)

Currently available career points: 2

"Is man the sword, and the sword man?"

Fujino stared at the "The Body is the Sword" skill, which was the result of transforming from Swordsman Soldier, and his expression turned strange. "Swordman?"

"Ahem."

Fujino coughed lightly, and his strange expression gradually returned to calm.

Although the description "man is sword and sword is man" is a bit strange, the skill of using one's the Body is the Sword is indeed a very practical skill.

The attribute enhancements that were originally only available to Swordsman Soldier wielded swords have now become direct enhancements, no longer requiring the sword to be held.

This means that his combat effectiveness has increased significantly under normal circumstances.

Moreover, this skill of the Body is the Sword can be upgraded...

"So, it seems that breaking through is just the beginning?"

After three upgrades, Fujino had a general idea of the effects of skill breakthroughs.

This professional breakthrough is probably only just beginning.

For example, Swordsman Profession only has two skills before breaking through, and those two skills cannot be upgraded.

However, after the breakthrough, the Swordsman Soldier changed his class to one the Body is the Sword.

Not only did it gain an additional skill that enhances normal combat effectiveness, the original Swordsman Soldier also inherited other skills very well.

The Kendo Master's skills should be inherited from the original Swordsman Soldier's skills.

Unlike the Swordsman Soldier which directly increases the boost by 100%, the Kendo Master only gets 25%, but its value lies in the fact that it can be broken through.

Presumably, after upgrading to the later stages, the combat power that can be enhanced will definitely not be measured by 100%.

As he pondered, Fujino had an idea and allocated his two Swordsman Grandmaster skill points to the Body is the Sword skill:

The Body is the Sword: Level 3 (Man is the sword, sword is man; host gains a 120% bonus to all attributes)

"A 120% bonus?"

Fujino examined the upgraded Body the Body is the Sword and rubbed his chin. "My combat power should be at least B+ now, right?"

The Advanced Enhancement Card, Detective Enhancement, can provide him with a total power boost of 400%.

Fighting Expert the Body is the Sword, and with the bodyguard enhancement, he can receive a 250% constant bonus.

With the added 100% enhancement effect of the Assassin's Robe, his combat power has now reached 750.

Based on her previous encounter with Sato Miwako, her B-rank combat power should be around 500%.

Now, with his combat power enhanced by 750%, he has probably reached B+ level, not far from Shuichi Akai and that dark-skinned guy's A-level combat power.

"It's a pity I can't encounter any A-level combatants..."

Thinking it over, Fujino sighed softly.

The strongest opponent he has ever fought is probably a B-rank opponent in his memory.

That is, the same group as Numabuchi Kiichiro, Director Ochiai, and Sato Miwako.

Numabuchi Kiichiro was an agile player. The reason why he was able to defeat Numabuchi Kiichiro was actually due to a plan devised by Lao Liu.

When he found Numabuchi Kiichiro had been wandering for a year and had become as thin as a monkey due to malnutrition.

If it weren't for the fact that Numabuchi Kiichiro's physical strength had already weakened, he really wouldn't have been a match for him at that time.

Director Ochiai is probably the same.

The last time Sato Miwako at close range, his combat power was only about 500% of the threshold of B-rank, and it took him a while to subdue her.

With his current strength of 750% B+, if he were to encounter Sato Miwako again, he would probably be able to easily subdue her in less than ten moves.

This uniform represents a complete suppression in terms of strength and sensory abilities.

"I wonder how I compare to Ran... Maybe we can have a friendly match someday."

As he pondered, Fujino suddenly stopped the car and glanced at the telephone pole by the roadside.

"I wonder if I can smash a telephone pole with my bare hands now..."

As is well known, in the Conan World, telephone poles and marble pillars are both units of measurement.

Fujino drove the car a short distance away, opened the car door, and slowly walked to the telephone pole to examine it.

The utility poles are made of cement, so their hardness is self-evident; they also have steel reinforcement inside...

It seems to be the same type as the one Ran burned back then.

Fujino stared at the telephone pole in front of him for a moment, then took off the necklace around his neck. After looking around and seeing that no one was around, he enlarged the Wooden Sword.

Of course, he's not like Ran, a human monster or a steel-bodied hero.

Using a utility pole as a unit of measurement, of course you have to use Wooden Sword...

"Cut!"

Amidst a loud shout, Fujino brandished his Wooden Sword.

The Wooden Sword, which had been swung so far that it left afterimages, collided directly with the telephone pole.

"Buzz!"

With a buzzing sound, a tremendous force immediately emanated from Fujino's fingertips.

"Bang!"

A deafening explosion erupted, accompanied by a loud bang, a tremor, and the sound of metal tearing apart.

At this moment, the originally sturdy cement utility pole was actually cut with Wooden Sword, creating a deep trench that extended halfway into the pole's interior and cut into the internal steel reinforcement.

Several of the internal steel bars were cut and broken, but the whole structure was intact and showed no signs of breaking.

It was cut off, but not completely.

"Call..."

Fujino took a deep breath, sheathed the Wooden Sword, and then stared at his numb and trembling hand. "I really don't know how Ran managed to avoid breaking any bones..."

Okamoto 0.01 itself possesses certain energy-absorbing properties and is extremely hard.

Despite this, he still felt a tingling sensation in his hands.

Shaking his hand, Fujino turned his gaze back to the telephone pole, and couldn't help but sigh to himself, "It seems that from now on, I can only use the Wooden Sword when it's fully extended."

If the Wooden Sword in his hand today were replaced with an iron rod, and the telephone pole with a person, the person being hit would probably be twisted and deformed by the blow, and die on the spot.

Because he had been using Wooden Sword to strike people, he had no sense of his own strength.

But when he tried it today, he discovered that... his combat power seemed to be getting increasingly outrageous.

In the past, Ran blew up a telephone pole; now, Fujino tries to cut down a telephone pole. A world where only telephone poles are injured has been achieved.