### Chapter 52: The Disappearing Body Murder Case

After some pleasantries, Hiratsuka Shizuka agreed to Fujino's request and said she would handle the sick leave report for him the next day. She probably knew that some kindly-looking but violent beauty would once again forcefully extract an illegal sick leave report, just like last time.

After hanging up, Fujino couldn't help but reflect on Hiratsuka. He didn't know much about her, except that she was a violent beauty—sometimes aggressive, sometimes remarkably kind. Whether out of pity or guilt, she was one of the few people who genuinely cared about his well-being.

"New detective task detected. Please check, host!"

The system notification interrupted Fujino's thoughts.

"Again?!"

Fujino was surprised. He looked ahead and saw several police cars blocking the road, suggesting a crime had occurred.

Opening the system task interface, he read:

**[Detective Professional Task: The Disappearing Body Murder Case]**

**Task Objective:** Solve the disappearing body murder case.

**Task Reward:** 500,000 yen, 50 detective reputation points

**Task Location:** A house 50 meters away from the host**

"So it's a disappearing body murder case."

Fujino examined the task and parked his car by the side of the road. After getting out, he walked towards the police officers standing in front of the house and asked, "Inspector Muro, has another murder occurred?"

"Fujino, my young friend?"

Inspector Muro turned around, surprised to see Fujino. He pointed to a group of kids and said, "These kids say they saw a body in the bathroom of this house. We're about to search the place."

"I see."

Fujino noticed the young detectives—Conan, Gokuen, Genta, and Ayumi—among the group. He turned back to Inspector Muro and suggested, "How about letting me join the search? I might be able to help."

"That would be perfect, Fujino!"

Inspector Muro clapped Fujino on the shoulder with a grin. He then led Fujino and the forensic team to the house.

"It's so noisy! What are you all doing?!"

The door was answered by a disheveled man in his thirties, wearing a bathrobe and looking like he had just finished a bath.

"I'm a police officer."

Inspector Muro pointed to the kids and explained, "They said they saw a body in your house…"

Before Inspector Muro could finish, the kids began interrupting:

"There's no mistake!"

"A man died in the bathroom!"

"And he was covered in blood!"

"A body?"

The man looked surprised and pointed to the end of the hallway. "The bathroom is at the end of the hallway. If you want to see, go ahead."

"Then I'll take the liberty."

Inspector Muro walked into the house.

Conan and the others also intended to follow. But as they entered the door, Fujino stopped them.

"Kids can't enter a crime scene."

"But we're the ones who found the body!"

"Yeah, yeah, I bet Fujino wants to take all the credit for himself."

The young detectives grumbled when Fujino stopped them. 

"Fujino is right!"

Inspector Muro, now inside the house, turned around. "Kids shouldn't be in a crime scene. You should wait outside. If there really is a body in there, you'll get your credit."

"Yes…"

Even though the Junior Detective League was unhappy, they had to comply.

Conan frowned, his gaze fixed on Fujino with suspicion. "This is the second time, isn't it? Why does this guy always get in my way?"

"How strange. The man said there was no body."

The middle-aged man, now standing in front of the bathroom door, grumbled as Fujino and Inspector Muro entered the bathroom. "I think those kids are just playing tricks."

"It's odd. The kids clearly said the body was in the bathroom."

Inspector Muro glanced at the man but didn't respond to him. Instead, he asked Fujino, "Fujino, how long did it take you to get here?"

"Let me see."

Inspector Muro checked his watch. "From the time we got the call to when we arrived, it took about fifteen minutes."

"So, Fujino, do you think he moved the body?"

"That's likely."

Fujino nodded at Inspector Muro. "Also, Inspector, didn't you notice the foul odor in the bathroom?"

"Foul odor?"

Inspector Muro sniffed the air and was surprised. "There is indeed a foul smell!"

"Yes."

"If I'm not mistaken, it's the smell of blood. Fifteen minutes might be enough to clean up the blood, but the smell of blood lingers. If we use luminol, we should be able to detect it."

"Is that so?"

Inspector Muro's eyes lit up. He called out to a forensic officer outside. "Did you bring any luminol?"

A moment later, a forensic officer in blue work clothes arrived. "Report to Inspector Muro: Since the situation was sudden, we didn't bring luminol."

"Then go get it!"

Inspector Muro's face darkened, and he shouted at the officer.

"Yes, sir!"

Once the officer left, Inspector Muro sighed. "Until the luminol is returned, we'll have to search for the body ourselves."

Fujino watched the scene with a wry smile. The forensic team hadn't even brought luminol. It was really just basic detective work.

"Hmph!"

The man in front of the bathroom door snorted with an odd expression. "Since you're going to search, search all you want! I'm going back to sleep on the second floor."

"Are you sure we can search freely?"

Inspector Muro was surprised.

"I couldn't care less…"

The man turned away with a sneer. "You're the police who take children's pranks seriously. It's a miracle if you solve the case!"

"Search! Search every inch of this house! Even if we have to turn it upside down, we'll find the body!"

Inspector Muro was already fuming and ordered the forensic team to start searching the house thoroughly.

*End of Chapter*