Life-Saving Windbreaker

"Impressive. A man who evaded the organization's pursuit for a year... His will to fight is incredible."

Fujino gazed at Numabuchi Kiichiro, standing not far away, and murmured with admiration.

He then raised his Wooden Sword once more.

"Again!"

This time, Fujino made the first move.

He lunged forward, raising his Wooden Sword and bringing it down to cleave Numabuchi Kiichiro's head.

Numabuchi Kiichiro didn't charge forward again.

Instead, he used a dagger to parry Fujino's relentless assault with the Wooden Sword.

In an instant, sparks flew.

The flashes of light illuminated the forest, then quickly vanished, much like summer fireflies.

[Please note: Power card enhancement has only ten seconds remaining.]

As Fujino continued his offense and parries, the system's voice suddenly rang in his ears.

Hearing this, he frowned and quickly leaped backward, disengaging from the stalemated battle.

"Looks like I need to end this quickly?"

Fujino tightened his grip on the Wooden Sword, his gaze fixed on the dagger in Numabuchi Kiichiro's hand.

Taking a deep breath, all his strength began to concentrate into the Wooden Sword.

"Heavenly Soaring Dragon Flash!"

Fujino let out a light breath, charging forward rapidly. The Wooden Sword in his hand slashed horizontally, colliding with the dagger Numabuchi Kiichiro had raised to block.

"Clang!"

The sound of breaking metal shattered the forest's quiet.

Numabuchi Kiichiro looked up at the sky in disbelief. The blade, shimmering with mottled silver light under the moonlight, momentarily stunned him.

Now's the chance!

"Nine-Headed Dragon Slash!"

Seizing the opening, Fujino's Wooden Sword changed direction and swept horizontally towards Numabuchi Kiichiro once more.

The lightweight Wooden Sword flashed with afterimages, and the sound of it cutting through the air accompanied its every movement.

One strike, two strikes, three strikes...

Struck by multiple blows, Numabuchi Kiichiro felt a surge of pain flood his mind.

He was immediately forced to retreat repeatedly by the agonizing pain.

In the end, he could only endure the unbearable torment, kneeling on the ground, clutching his head and struggling.

He slowly raised his head to look at Fujino.

His dry hair was blown by the wind, his pupils were like an ancient well, devoid of any ripples... as if he had accepted his fate.

At this moment, he only wished for the masked man before him to grant him a swift end.

Thump!

With a dull thud, Numabuchi Kiichiro was knocked unconscious. As his body lost all sensation, he collapsed onto the grass, finding a long-lost peace.

[Congratulations to the host for completing the system bounty mission. You have gained 100 Detective Reputation points, a bounty of two million Yen, and a system equipment gift package.]

[The system equipment gift package has been delivered to your inventory. Please check it yourself.]

The system's voice echoed in his ears.

Fujino removed the Batman mask from his face and looked at Numabuchi Kiichiro lying on the ground, murmuring, "Just how terrifying was this guy's combat power before? It was this difficult to take him down even with the system's enhancement..."

Numabuchi Kiichiro's strength was far more terrifying than Fujino had imagined.

However, thanks to a year on the run and the dagger's lack of maintenance, Numabuchi Kiichiro had revealed an opening.

Otherwise, he might have been locked in a stalemate with Numabuchi Kiichiro today... until the system's enhancement wore off.

At that point, who would live and who would die would have been uncertain.

Thinking of this, Fujino couldn't help but gasp.

[System Equipment Gift Package: Randomly draw one piece of equipment with a guaranteed purple quality.]

Gazing at the system equipment gift package he had just received in his inventory, Fujino was momentarily stunned.

After regaining his composure, he couldn't help but glance at the Wooden Sword in his hand.

The Wooden Sword he held now was a system equipment, and it was only blue.

Even at just blue quality, the effects were already powerful enough...

He couldn't imagine what kind of monstrous level purple quality would reach.

Fujino took a deep breath and opened the system gift package.

Suddenly, streaks of light shot out from the system warehouse before his eyes.

After a realistic cutscene, similar to a wooden sword, a black windbreaker shimmering with purple light appeared before him.

"A windbreaker?"

Fujino exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the black windbreaker that had appeared.

Then, he lightly touched the system interface, and detailed information about the equipment was presented:

[Life-Saving Black Jacket: A windbreaker made of ordinary material, but it has undergone some unspeakable reinforcement. Although made of ordinary material, it automatically repairs itself after being damaged and will not wrinkle.

Appearance: A black windbreaker for an adult male.

Abilities: It can automatically repair itself after being damaged. Its primary effect is life-saving. While it cannot block normal attacks, it will automatically trigger its life-saving effect against a fatal blow or a strike that would cause serious injury to the host, taking the blow for the host... Once triggered, the windbreaker's life-saving effect becomes invalid and can only be re-triggered after it has fully repaired itself.]

Fujino took out the windbreaker and shook it.

His first impression was that it was very light, not much different from an ordinary windbreaker... And judging by the feel, it was also made of ordinary material.

"Can this thing really save my life?"

Fujino couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.

Was this damn system trying to fool him?

Cursinng inwardly, he took out the broken dagger he had just confiscated from Numabuchi Kiichiro from the system space.

Fujino held up the dagger and tentatively slashed at the cuff of the windbreaker.

Zzzip!

With a tearing sound, a cut appeared on the cuff of the windbreaker.

But after just a moment, under his watchful gaze, the wound began to continuously repair itself...

At the same time, a light screen suddenly appeared before him: [Remaining time until Life-Saving Black Jacket repair completion: One minute]

"It seems the system's description is likely true."

Fujino nodded with satisfaction and put it on.

If the system's description was accurate, this item definitely deserved a purple quality.

After all, this was a chance to save his life!

Compared to anything else, a chance to survive was clearly more precious.

"But it's clearly a black windbreaker... why does the system call this thing a black jacket?"

Fujino muttered in confusion.

Then, he shook his head, casting the doubt aside.

Afterward, he turned his gaze to Numabuchi Kiichiro not far away.

Numabuchi Kiichiro was currently lying on the grass, his body bound by a red rope.

The tying method was a bit unusual; it was kinbaku...

"Wake up, the moon is shining on your butt!"

Fujino picked up a bucket of cold water and doused Numabuchi Kiichiro, giving him a chilling wake-up call.

Numabuchi Kiichiro, soaked by the cold water, regained consciousness and tried to get up, but he immediately fell back to the ground.

Kinbaku, though it might not look aesthetically pleasing... was exceptionally practical for dealing with hyperactive patients like this.

"Numabuchi Kiichiro, I think we can have a proper talk now..."

Fujino put on the Batman mask again.

A cold smile curled up invisibly at the corner of his lips.

He interlaced his fingers and cracked them, producing a series of crisp snaps