### Chapter 62: The Little Detective Chef

Naoi Riko frowned.

The guilty look on Uemura Naoki's face was suspicious! She remembered that his girlfriend had gone to the countryside a few days ago. How could she possibly be here now?

Was Fujino's deduction correct? Was Masaru really kidnapped by this guy?

"Didn't your girlfriend go to the countryside a few days ago?" Naoi Riko questioned, her gaze fixed on Uemura Naoki. "How could she be back so soon?"

Uemura Naoki was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a moment, he said, "It's not her… it's another girl…"

"If it's another girl, what difference does it make? Let me in and see for myself!" Naoi Riko was not going to believe Naoki's excuses.

She pushed against the partially open door, shouting, "Masaru! Are you in there? If you can hear me, answer quickly!"

"Enough already! Stop being unreasonable!" Uemura Naoki shouted in frustration, trying to keep the door shut.

Fujino: "...…"

Watching the scene unfold, Fujino was momentarily speechless.

After a moment, he shouted to Naoi Riko, "Riko-san, step aside!"

**[Detective Enhancement Activated: Current Boost 175%]**

Upon hearing Fujino's voice, Naoi Riko looked back and saw Fujino preparing himself.

Understanding the situation, she quickly moved aside.

A loud "bang" resonated, and when Naoi Riko looked back, Fujino had kicked the door open and restrained Uemura Naoki, even tossing aside his crutches.

Fujino didn't use full power; dealing with a semi-disabled person on crutches didn't require maximum effort. He remembered that Naoki had indeed kidnapped Akagi Masaru but had no intention of harming him.

Using full strength might be problematic.

Despite not using full enhancement, the dramatic scene still left Naoi Riko astonished. Her expression was similar to the shock Fujino had felt when witnessing a certain woman in Mihama kick two men across the room.

"Go rescue him," Fujino's voice brought her back to reality.

She quickly began searching the room for Akagi Masaru's whereabouts.

Soon, she found Masaru playing video games in another room.

Just as Fujino had said, Uemura Naoki had kidnapped Masaru out of revenge for Hideo accidentally breaking his leg. However, upon seeing Hideo's heartfelt words on TV, Naoki broke down in tears, sitting on the floor.

A classic moment of regret.

When Hideo returned and learned what had happened, he chose not to call the police but to forgive Naoki, likely due to their friendship and his own guilt.

Whether Hideo had intentionally broken Naoki's leg was something only Hideo knew.

Fujino was just a detective; such personal matters were beyond his scope.

---

Although it was a misunderstanding, the Akagi and Uemura families eventually gathered 100,000 yen as a reward for Fujino. While not a large amount for Fujino, it was significant for them.

**[Congratulations, Host! Detective Profession Task Completed: Soccer Player Threat Incident]**

**[System Reward: 250,000 yen, 100 Reputation Points Granted]**

**[Current Detective Level Reputation Remaining: 400 points]**

**[Current Balance: 2,150,000 yen]**

Late at night.

As Fujino lay in bed after returning home, he suddenly heard the system notification.

"2,150,000 yen. Can I draw twice now?" he wondered aloud.

Checking his balance, Fujino's lips curled into a slight smile. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed, "Even though I can draw twice, I should leave some money for emergencies…"

"This time, I'll go for a ten-draw."

He got out of bed, went to the balcony, and glanced at the seemingly empty Mouri household across the way.

Then, lighting three cigarettes, he began the draw for the professional ball.

90,000 yen, draw!

**[Congratulations, Host! Obtained: Home Cooking Recipe Book (Blue), 100% Strength Enhancement Card x2, 100% Reflex Enhancement Card x3, Driving Skill Enhancement Card x2, Single Soldier Ration x2]**

No purple items this time? Did the mystical power fail?

Fujino stored his thoughts, opening the system inventory to examine the items:

**[Home Cooking Recipe Book: Contains the essence of several Chinese home cooking recipes]**

**[Driving Skill Enhancement Card: Enhances the host's driving skills for ten minutes]**

"So, this home cooking recipe book is similar to the knife skills or rope art knowledge items, right?"

Ignoring other less useful items and those previously drawn, Fujino scrutinized the details of the recipe book, his mind racing with thoughts.

He had planned to learn some recipes from Ran, but now he had drawn a home cooking recipe book instead.

Feeling a bit regretful, he flipped through the book for five minutes and learned a dish called **[Golden Fried Rice]**.

Then he headed to the kitchen for his first cooking attempt.

Thanks to his **[Rurouni Kenshin]** skill, he didn't cut his fingers on his first try with the knife, which was surprising.

Thirty minutes later, the **[Golden Fried Rice]** was freshly made.

As Fujino looked at the system prompt above the fried rice, he saw:

**[Elite Chef Enhancement: Premium Golden Fried Rice, 10% Strength Enhancement (Effective Time: 12 hours)]**

The system's elite chef effect had been triggered.

"10% strength enhancement, though only temporary, can stack with other enhancements."

Fujino murmured, then took a spoonful of the golden fried rice and tasted it.

As the rice hit his tongue, he felt a rush of light in his head.

In the next moment, a surreal scene unfolded before his eyes.

A colossal dragon emerged from the mist, soaring past him.

The dramatic BGM from earlier played again as the mist cleared, revealing girls in blue qipaos dancing gracefully in the bamboo forest.

Upon closer inspection, the horns on their heads resembled Ran's?

"What the… Ran?"

Fujino snapped back to reality, looking down at his golden fried rice with a bewildered expression.

He thought the BGM and golden light were already bizarre enough, but now hallucinations?

What was that surreal scene with dancing girls in qipaos?

**The Little Detective Chef?**

**(End of Chapter)**