Criminal Consultant

"That's a really scary guy..."

The long-haired man murmured, recalling how that guy had been brutally beaten, and couldn't help but gasp.

"So I advise you to come here less often to hunt in the future."

The old hunter, seizing the opportunity, said, "If you accidentally anger the mountain god, you could be killed!"

Fujino: "..."

I feel like my reputation has been unfairly damaged.

He was very careful in his actions, wasn't he?

At least they didn't leave the other person half-paralyzed.

As night fell, the group's journey came to an end.

Everyone enjoyed the Matsutake Mushroom without incident, and the trip ended successfully without any fatalities.

The three little ones seemed especially happy, and just thinking about being able to taste Matsutake Mushroom again another day made their mouths water uncontrollably.

The group returned to Tokyo. Professor Agasa was responsible for taking the other children home, while Conan and Haibara rode in Fujino's car back to 5-chome.

This time, Fujino had a pretty good harvest.

Although no murder cases were encountered, the system rewards were not triggered.

But at least we picked a huge bunch of Matsutake Mushroom...

Fujino estimates that these Matsutake Mushroom are probably worth one million yen.

Hmm, why does he always feel that being a detective is not as good as being a mushroom person?

Night falls, it's dinner time.

Fujino and Ai Haibara were busy in the kitchen, preparing some Matsutake Mushroom that he had secretly brought back for dinner.

Fujino had a very fruitful harvest this time, which would be a good opportunity for Akemi Miyano to have a taste as well.

"Dili li!"

The phone in my pocket suddenly rang.

Fujino took out his phone and saw Inspector Juzo Megure on the screen.

"Leave this to me."

Ai Haibara stood on a stool, wearing a pink apron around her neck.

"Okay, thank you for your Ai, Ai."

Fujino turned around, brought the phone to his ear, and answered, "Brother Megure, has another murder occurred?"

"..."

Juzo Megure was speechless for a moment.

What do you mean another murder has occurred...?

Shouldn't the murder have happened because his younger brother called him?

Why does this guy always think he can uncover a murder case through him...?

I've become a stand-in?

Coming to his senses, Juzo Megure shook his head. "No, not at all."

"So, what's Megure, Inspector Megure?"

Fujino found Juzo Megure's unwarranted intrusion somewhat perplexing.

"I actually wanted to ask you some questions."

Juzo Megure turned serious and asked, "Fujino, would you be willing to become Criminal Consultant for the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Department?"

"Ha?"

Fujino was taken aback, then frowned. "Criminal Consultant?"

"What's wrong, bro?"

Juzo Megure was somewhat surprised by Fujino's reaction.

Normally, shouldn't one be very excited when something like this happens?

After all, the job of Criminal Consultant is quite easy.

"Why did you suddenly decide to hire me...?"

Fujino asked curiously, "After all, there are so many detectives, it's really a bit sudden."

"After all, your achievements speak for themselves!"

Juzo Megure was quite straightforward. "Making you a Criminal Consultant was done on orders from above. I just informed you when the documents came down... After all, it involves signing a contract. You're over eighteen, so it's in accordance with the procedure. Of course, whether you sign it or not depends on your personal wishes."

After a moment of silent contemplation, Fujino focused on the key point. "Is there a salary?"

Juzo Megure: "..."

Sure enough, my brother is still the same old brother.

The line of thought is very clear.

We definitely need to talk about money.

"Of course there is a salary."

Juzo Megure put on a serious face and coughed lightly. "After all, you are a contract employee, so you will definitely receive a salary. According to the documents, it should be 300,000 yen. However, when a case occurs, Fujino- kun, you will need to assist us in the investigation."

"Three hundred thousand?"

Fujino twitched his chin upon hearing this.

That's an income of 3.6 million yen a year, which is almost as much as a detective's income.

300,000 yen isn't a huge sum in Japan, but it's definitely not a small amount either; it's considered a slightly above-average amount.

Thinking about it carefully, this is definitely a great deal.

After all, if the police ask him to solve a case, then the System Task might be triggered.

Then, you can happily profit from both ends again.

When will we sign the contract?

"The contract materials still need to be reviewed. You can come over tomorrow to sign the employment contract."

OK!

Fujino responded and hung up the phone.

He agreed to this not because of the 300,000.

What he cares about is official certification!

Now he's considered a Great Detective, so getting into a crime scene is a piece of cake for him.

However, this was only under the condition that the police officer at the scene had a good impression of the detective.

If someone discriminates against detectives, they probably won't even be allowed to be near the crime scene.

At this point, an officially recognized identity becomes very useful.

With the title of Criminal Consultant, even if the police dislike detectives, they will not prevent them from entering the crime scene to assist in the investigation.

The next morning, Fujino got up early and went to the Metropolitan Police Department to sign the contract.

"That's fine."

Juzo Megure picked up the employment documents and then called out to Takagi, "Takagi, help me hand over Fujino's employment documents."

"Yes!"

Takagi took the document and then skillfully walked away with small steps.

"Takagi, you really are a professional errand runner..."

Fujino watched Takagi leaving and couldn't help but sigh.

Then, he began to think about the contract he had just signed.

The contract he signed was for one year.

Throughout the year, the Metropolitan Police Department was required to pay him 300,000 yen every month.

Regardless of whether or not they were involved in the case...

He's the kind of person who listens to orders but not proclamations.

That's equivalent to a white-collar salary.

But then he thought about it again, and he still couldn't quite figure out whether the wages in this world were paid on a monthly basis or by the hour.

He didn't dare ask, because if he did, people would suspect he might have some serious illness.

Time in this world seems a bit unpredictable.

"Congratulations, Fujino- kun, you've become Criminal Consultant..."

At this moment, Sato Miwako walked over, smiled, patted Fujino on the shoulder, and teased, "But now we should call you Advisor Fujino, right?"

"Okay, stop teasing me..."

Fujino chuckled and waved his hand.

"But Fujino, you are indeed our youngest advisor."

Juzo Megure nodded. "We will indeed be calling you our advisor from now on."

"Youngest?"

Fujino asked in confusion, "Isn't Kudo Shinichi an advisor?"

"No..."

Juzo Megure, "Kudo is only seventeen years old this year, he's not old enough."

Fujino nodded upon hearing this, as he had suddenly thought of that as well.

In Japan, people under the age of twenty are allowed to work.

It's just divided into two age groups: sixteen and eighteen.

Sixteen-year-old Duan not only had to prepare written materials, but also had to go through all sorts of tedious procedures, which was incredibly troublesome.

The period after the age of eighteen is much more lenient.

He was stuck on this line, which is why he was directly hired as a consultant.

As for someone like Kudo Shinichi, they would probably be the kind of assistant who helps solve cases.

Although they can solve cases, they don't get paid.

The great injustice is a kind of grievance.

However, for Kudo Shinichi, this small amount of money was really nothing.

After all, he was the eldest son of a wealthy family whose father was a popular novelist and whose mother used to be a female celebrity.

"By the way, Inspector Megure."

At that moment, Fujino seemed to suddenly remember something.

He turned around, looked down at the small white badge on his chest, and said, "Now that I've become an advisor, shouldn't I have some kind of badge or something?"

You mean work ID?

Juzo Megure and said, "We'll get it after the higher-ups approve it. We'll also need you to take a headshot."

Fujino nodded without saying anything more.

He said that everyone needs a work permit.

In reality, Criminal Consultant don't have much power; ultimately, they're just external staff.

A work permit is the sole credential for verifying identity.

Actually, getting into the Metropolitan Police Department isn't easy either.

Visitors need a guest pass to enter the Metropolitan Police Department and can only move around within the restricted area.

With Criminal Consultant's credentials, one can freely enter and exit the Metropolitan Police Department.

Furthermore, they can participate in case investigations using their credentials.

It can be said that it is a very important thing.

"Ring ring!"

Just then, a noisy telephone ringing suddenly came through.

Fujino turned his head to look in the direction of the sound and saw a telephone on his desk making a ringing sound.

Upon Juzo Megure's expression immediately darkened.

Could it be another murder... Why did it have to happen right when Fujino started working?

Fujino, you've really been infected by Mori's bad luck, haven't you?

After joining the company, won't the probability of becoming a victim increase significantly?

The silence lasted only a moment. Coming to her senses, she stepped forward and answered the phone, "Yes... this is Megure..."

"Yes!"

After a brief exchange, Juzo Megure responded seriously, then sighed and turned to Fujino: "Advisor, it seems you're already handling a murder case right after joining the company..."

Fujino was taken aback. "A murder case?"

"We'll discuss the details on the way..."

Without uttering a word, Inspector Juzo Megure waved his hand and began hurriedly taking stock of his men, preparing to head to the crime scene.

This time, Fujino was accompanied by Inspector Sato Miwako Juzo Megure.

We should have brought Takagi or Chiba along.

However, both of them were busy with other things, so they had to take Fujino along to investigate his first murder case after joining the company.

The police car, sirens blaring, rushed to the scene of the crime.

The crime scene this time was located near Shimokitazawa Station Setagaya Ward.

By the time everyone arrived at the scene, the nearby wooden shopping street was already engulfed in flames.

People from the surrounding shops ran out of the fire, their instinct for survival making them disregard their appearance, pushing and shoving each other, creating a chaotic scene.

Tall flames leaped and roared, while several fire trucks were parked nearby, and firefighters wearing heat-resistant suits and carrying oxygen tanks were doing their best to extinguish the fire.

"New detective mission detected, please check!"

Just as Fujino was focused on the firelight in front of him, a system notification suddenly echoed in his ears.

Is there work coming in?

Fujino lowered his head and glanced at the newly issued System Task: [System Bounty Mission: Serial Arson Case in Tokyo]

Mission Objective: [Arrest and Kill] Mission Objective (The serial arsonist who set fire to this location).

Mission Reward: 2 million yen + 100 points of Detective Reputation

Serial Arson Case?

Fujino raised his head, looking at the towering flames, his eyes slightly narrowed.

If he remembered correctly, this should be the case involving the murder of Sato Miwako's father, Sato Masayoshi...

The fire burned for a short while before it quickly came to an end.

After a whirlwind, those distinctive wooden houses had long since been burned to ashes.

After the flames subsided, officers from the First Investigation Division Investigative Division who were investigating the arsonist began to examine the fire scene.

Generally speaking, in such situations, there shouldn't be any forced acts.

Since someone died at Damco, they have to take responsibility.

Only then did the group have the opportunity to step forward and examine the victim's body.

Fortunately, the fire was brought under control.

The appearance of the corpse is passable; some details can be discerned.

This was confirmed by Forensic Science Division experts.

The deceased died from excessive blood loss after being stabbed in the chest with a sharp weapon.

Blood was still flowing continuously from the wound on his chest.

This proves that the body had only recently died.

"The body was not far from the fire's origin... According to the arsonists, this fire was Serial Arson Case, and the fire started over there."

Juzo Megure surveyed the crime scene, his gaze lingering on a particularly badly burned area. "It seems this fire is connected to this murder."

"Could it be that the victim discovered the murderer was setting a fire, and the murderer chose to kill in order to avoid being exposed?" Sato Miwako speculated.

"..."

Fujino stared at the corpse before him without saying a word.

That's how it should be according to common sense, but this is rice cakes...

Isn't it common to find one or two corpses on the streets of Mikasa?

It would be truly frightening if this thing didn't exist.

However, this time it did indeed turn out exactly as they had deduced.

The victim must have discovered the killer's actions, which is why he was stabbed to death.

One could say that the police's IQ has increased slightly, but not by much.

As for the murderer, he was still certain.

After all, aside from arson, that guy was also a murderer during the mission.

At that moment, Juzo Megure suddenly turned around and asked, "Brother Fujino, what do you think?"

"Um..."

Fujino pondered for a moment, then looked at the corpse. "Judging from the distance of the fire and the victim's wounds, I think you are right. The deceased did discover that the guy started the fire, which is why he was killed."

Is that so?

Juzo Megure withdrew his gaze, his expression calm.

But in reality, at that moment, a strange sense of accomplishment suddenly welled up in his heart.

That means he finally stopped being criticized by the detective and reached an agreement with the detective's thoughts and opinions!