**Chapter 163: The Bronze Statue with Violet Pupils [4k Chapter Bonus for Rewards]**

"So that's how it is."

After a detailed explanation from Director Ochiai, Fujino finally understood the whole story.

Eri Kisaki truly lives up to her title as the Queen of the Legal World. After Fujino introduced her to Director Ochiai, she helped him win that lawsuit.

The final verdict ruled that the transaction between the owner and Director Ochiai of the museum was invalid.

However, Ochiai faced another dilemma.

The museum hadn't seen many visitors in a while, and without a new owner to take over, it couldn't continue operations.

However, about a month ago, a turn of events suddenly occurred.

The Suzuki Zaibatsu actually bought the Medieval Museum.

It was only when the contract was handed down that Ochiai realized that the person who frequently came to purchase some trivial and bizarre collectibles from him was, in fact, a consultant for the Suzuki Zaibatsu, Jirokichi Suzuki.

After the Suzuki Zaibatsu acquired the museum, he even met the youngest daughter of the Suzuki family.

It was the same young girl named Sonoko who came with Fujino that day, the Suzuki family's heiress!

Ochiai started overthinking things.

And then, the situation suddenly escalated.

"Ahem, Director Ochiai, this really wasn't my doing."

"I understand, I understand."

Director Ochiai nodded, showing a profound expression, much like he did that night at the museum. "Even if you weren't the one who did it, just preventing me from making an irreparable mistake is already a great kindness. If it weren't for you, I might never have seen my museum again."

Fujino: "…"

Alright, so there's no way to explain this, is there?

Fine, let it be then.

Fujino took a deep breath while sitting on the couch and then turned his gaze to the other elderly man who had come with Director Ochiai. "I forgot to ask earlier, who might this be?"

"My name is Koushou Arima, and I'm the director of the Ekoda Museum. Pleased to meet you."

Koushou Arima stood up and handed a business card to Fujino.

"So, it's Director Arima."

Fujino took the card, which had Koushou Arima's name, contact number, and the address of the Ekoda Museum printed on it.

'Ekoda Museum?'

Fujino squinted at the address on the card.

He remembered that Kaito Kuroba lived in Ekoda.

Is this museum in Kaito Kuroba's hometown?

"Director Arima and I have been friends for many years."

At this moment, Director Ochiai spoke up, "Just yesterday, Director Arima's museum received a notice from Kaitou Kid. The notice stated that Kid would steal the Bronze Statue with Violet Pupils at 8 PM tomorrow night."

"Kaitou Kid?"

Hearing this, Fujino squinted his eyes.

Not only is it in Kaito Kuroba's hometown, but the kid actually wants to steal from the museum in his own hometown.

He's really making himself at home.

"If possible, I hope you can help us deal with Kaitou Kid, Mr. Fujino."

At this point, Director Arima suddenly stood up and requested Fujino's help.

"Deal with Kaitou Kid?"

Fujino adjusted his glasses and furrowed his brow, "If it's Kaitou Kid, protecting the item is one thing, but as for capturing him… even I don't have much of a chance to catch him."

Kaitou Kid isn't exactly uncapturable.

It's just not necessary.

If Fujino wanted to catch Kaitou Kid, he only needed two steps.

Step one: Wait for him at his school gate. Step two: Knock him out and take him away.

But that approach would be too troublesome.

Kaitou Kid is like an eel, slippery with his strange little magic tricks that even he sometimes can't counter…

Besides, keeping him around isn't so bad.

Last time, the Suzuki family gave him five million yen, and this time the museum offered one million yen. Even when on vacation, he could seize the opportunity to make some pocket money.

As of now, Kaito Kuroba, that kid, has become his money tree.

Asking Mr. Fujino to chop down his money tree? Not a chance.

It's going to cost extra.

"No need to catch him, just protecting our museum's treasure, the Bronze Statue with Violet Pupils, is enough. The police have been trying to catch Kaitou Kid for so many years, if it were possible to catch him, they would have done so already."

Director Arima paused for a moment before continuing, "I didn't expect you to know Director Ochiai either. But since it's you, Mr. Fujino, who once helped the Suzuki Zaibatsu against Kaitou Kid, you can definitely protect the Bronze Statue with Violet Pupils, right?"

"Well, if it's just protecting the item, I can manage."

"That's wonderful."

"But…"

Fujino pondered for a moment and then said, "Regarding the commission fee…"

"If you can protect the bronze statue with violet pupils, our Ekoda Museum will pay one million yen as a token of gratitude."

Hearing Fujino mention the commission fee, Koushou Arima immediately spoke up.

"One million yen?"

Fujino's ears perked up.

Although it's not as much as the Suzuki family's five million yen, one million yen is still quite a temptation for Fujino.

Or rather, it's a substantial commission…

—But what's the catch?

Fujino knew that not everyone was a fool.

If they were willing to offer such a high commission without any persuasion from him…

Without even negotiating the price.

There must be some secret behind it that they haven't mentioned.

Of course, it could also be that he's overthinking it…

After a moment of thought, Fujino stopped overthinking it and agreed, "I have some unfinished business with Kaitou Kid. Since your museum is so sincere about this, I'll take on this commission. Rest assured, I'll do my best to make sure that guy doesn't steal the bronze statue."

"Thank you very much," Arima Koushō bowed in gratitude.

After signing the contract, Fujino watched as Director Ochiai and Director Arima drove away, nodding to himself.

Connections are strange and wonderful things.

You never know when someone will bring an acquaintance to commission you.

That's probably what happened with Director Ochiai.

Hmm, thank you, Taro.

The next day was Sunday.

Ah, the beloved day of rest.

Early in the morning, Fujino changed into sportswear and went out for a jog.

As for Ai Haibara, although she wasn't staying at Professor Agasa's house, she still frequently visited there.

Could it be that she's researching the antidote for APTX 4869?

Who knows.

Only God knows how Conan managed to convince Ai Haibara.

At Beika Park, the weather was clear, a gentle breeze blowing, casting dappled shadows through the trees.

It was still early morning, so there wasn't much around—only Fujino doing his morning exercises.

Fujino sat on a park bench, lightly feeling the tiny, almost invisible beads of sweat at his temples, and couldn't help but marvel, "The increase in physical ability and constitution is really visible to the naked eye..."

Physical capability determines constitution, and constitution, in turn, determines physical capability.

The two complement each other.

Suddenly, Fujino realized that he was no longer the weak young man he used to be.

"Maybe this is the most straightforward change brought by the system," Fujino stood up from the bench and looked around.

Seeing no one nearby, he walked to a large tree nearby.

"My current physical strength is already enhanced by 300 percent. I wonder how effective it is."

Fujino thought for a moment, then stretched out his hand and suddenly punched the tree in front of him.

Bang!

With a sound, the birds in the surrounding trees flew away, and all the small animals on the ground scattered.

The tree Fujino punched had a small dent in its bark.

Retracting his fist, Fujino looked at his hand's condition.

Not even a scratch.

"It must be the effect of the full attribute increase in defense power," Fujino muttered, examining his unharmed hand.

The full attribute increase is the most cost-effective enhancement he currently possesses.

Although it can't amplify learning ability or certain special attributes, it can strengthen physical abilities and sensory responses.

Naturally, defensive capabilities are part of that.

An 180% increase in defensive power is enough for him to punch someone with relative force without hurting himself.

The fisherman's fishing hat also has a 50% defense increase.

But that thing is quite useless.

It's fine if he encounters someone he can handle barehanded.

But if he meets someone with a gun, directly attracting them to aim at his head, that's game over.

"I wonder how effective it is if I go all out now..."

Clearing his thoughts, he took out a Strength Enhancement Card from his portable space and activated Detective Enhancement.

The original 270% strength, plus a temporary boost of 425 points, meant his current strength reached 700%.

After completing the enhancement, Fujino extended his hand and aimed directly at the tree.

With a sound of a heavy thud, leaves began to fall from the top of the tree.

"Is it that terrifying?"

Fujino gazed at the large dent his punch had made in the tree and furrowed his brows.

Pausing for a moment, he covered his hand.

A few small cuts appeared; it hurt a bit.

Even with defense and combat techniques to avoid self-harm, punching a tree still results in injury.

This is the drawback of sudden power surges, similar to a super Saiyan transformation.

Unable to properly control his strength.

Gaining a sudden increase in power naturally comes with a price.

Fujino's price is the inability to instantly adapt to the suddenly enhanced strength.

This price isn't obvious, but Fujino found it slightly annoying.

He didn't like the feeling of his body being out of control.

Fortunately, after some observation, he found that with training, he could gradually minimize the feeling of a sudden power surge.

So, Fujino's morning exercises served not only to strengthen his body but also to adapt to his physical strength.

Now, through kendo training and morning runs, he's completely overcome this drawback.

After some morning exercise, Fujino headed to the Konoha Kendo Dojo to start his day's training.

The day quickly passed, and in the evening, after training at the Konoha Kendo Dojo, Fujino drove to the Ekoda Museum.

The Ekoda Museum was surrounded by reporters at this time.

Fujino took a baseball cap from his portable space, put it on, took out his phone, and dialed Arima Koushō's number.

After a short while, Arima Koushō came out to welcome Fujino in.

As soon as he entered the museum, Fujino saw the target he was commissioned to protect this time—the bronze statue with the purple eyes.

The bronze statue was large, and from its appearance, there was nothing particularly special about it.

The most unique part was the eyes of the statue.

It was a very beautiful purple diamond.

To be honest, the diamond was indeed very tempting.

"Tonight is the time to showcase the strength of our Japanese police force!"

In front of the statue, Inspector Nakamori was making bold claims, "Eight police helicopters are patrolling the sky, and we've stationed 200 officers inside the museum. The basement is equipped with infrared sensors and cameras! Not even a mouse can break into this museum today, let alone Kaitou Kid!"

A row of uniformed police officers stood in a line before him, while on the other side, a camera was live-streaming the entire process.

"Squeak, squeak!"

At this moment, a sound came.

Fujino looked in the direction of the sound and saw a mother mouse leading a group of baby mice past the bronze statue.

Fujino: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

"You bunch of idiots!"

Inspector Nakamori was utterly furious, stomping his feet in rage as he pointed at the fleeing mice, "Hurry up and catch those damn rats and throw them out!"

"Long time no see, Inspector Nakamori."

After things calmed down, and Inspector Nakamori cooled off, Fujino stepped forward to greet him.

"Ah, it's you, Fujino."

Inspector Nakamori glanced at Fujino and paused before remembering him, "By the way, how did you get in here?"

As he spoke, Inspector Nakamori felt a bit speechless.

He had just said that not even a mouse could get in, and then got humiliated by mice.

Then Fujino walked in, and he got humiliated again...

Forget it; he's been humiliated enough over the years. He's numb to it.

"I invited Detective Fujino to protect the purple-eyed bronze statue," Arima Koushō stepped forward to explain.

"Do you not trust the police?"

Inspector Nakamori leaned in and whispered, "Agreeing to broadcast the capture of Kaitou Kid was already our limit. And now you even brought in a high school detective. Isn't that a bit much?"

"It's not that big of a deal," Arima Koushō waved his hand dismissively. "I think cooperation between the police and a detective will greatly increase the success rate. Last time, didn't Detective Fujino help you fend off Kaitou Kid?"

"Well, that's true..."

Inspector Nakamori wanted to say more, but paused and then fell silent.

Then he walked over to Fujino, glanced around to ensure no cameras were filming, and asked, "Fujino, my boy, how do you think Kaitou Kid will make his appearance tonight?"

"Well, I'm not really sure," Fujino chuckled. "Figuring out where Kaitou Kid will enter from isn't that important. What's important is that we know what he's going to steal. No matter how he gets in, in the end, he's only here for the treasure he announced. All we need to do is wait for him to deliver himself to us."

"That's easier said than done," Inspector Nakamori pouted. Although he knew Fujino wasn't wrong, hadn't he been doing that all this time? And that guy still kept getting away.

"Alright, let's synchronize our time..."

Inspector Nakamori checked his watch, then called out to the surrounding officers, "The current time is..."

"September 2nd, Sunday, 6:12:16 PM."

At this moment, a voice filled with a bit of arrogance came from behind.

Fujino turned around to see a blonde wearing a Sherlock Holmes-style cape, hat, and even a cloak.