Chapter 52: Yuji Suwa’s Kendo Guide

[Acquired "Yuji Suwa's Kendo Guide" 4-star, "Victim's Guide: How to Leave a Dying Message" 1-star]

[Death Participation: 2, Extra Reward: 2 stars]

……

As the sound of the final page turning faded away, the projected text in Gao Mo's eyes dissipated like smoke.

Yuji Suwa was strictly detained by Inspector Megure and the others. As he passed by Gao Mo, he narrowed his eyes once again.

Pausing for a moment just before stepping out of the Maru estate, he said to Megure, "Inspector, could you hand Chiyochiyo over to that detective gentleman later?"

"Huh?"

"I don't want Chiyochiyo to remain in the hands of fools."

"You really are..."

Megure escorted Yuji Suwa into the police car, then glanced at Gao Mo, who was talking with Kogoro Mouri, a hint of gratification crossing his face.

Regarding Mouri, his old subordinate, he had always felt a lingering sense of guilt.

Seeing his old subordinate finally step out of the shadows and improve day by day truly made him glad.

"Woo—!"

Gao Mo sensed the gaze and turned back.

Aside from Yuji Suwa, Madam Maru, in tears, was also being taken to the police station.

Whether that doctor had been killed by Danjiro Maru was still just a speculation, and the evidence was far from sufficient.

In the backyard.

The two remaining maids stood at a loss, until they saw the dead fish in the pond and finally covered their mouths in panic, crying out, "What an ominous day this is, even the master's favorite fish are dead!"

Gao Mo walked over to the corridor railing, quietly watching the maids fish out the dead carp, without even carefully examining his system rewards.

He had a faint impression of this case. In the original story, it seemed only the head of the Maru family was killed, while that doctoring paramour survived safely to the end.

Was this just how the world was, or was it because of his involvement...

Thinking of the near-annihilation of the Hatamoto family last time, he suddenly found it hard to judge.

There was something wrong with the world, but it seemed he had problems of his own, too.

"Splash!"

Gao Mo's gaze flickered.

The faint outline of a book emblem still lingered in his field of vision.

In the eyes of outsiders, perhaps *he* was the god of death?

"What are you thinking about?"

Kogoro Mouri returned to the backyard in high spirits.

"It's so much more comfortable when you're around. I don't even need to enter sleep mode, my brain feels much sharper, it's practically like divine assistance, haha!"

"..."

This guy's scars had healed and he had already forgotten the pain; had he forgotten the danger he was just in so quickly?

"Uncle, I think you'd better get your physical condition back in shape as soon as possible," Gao Mo reminded him.

"At my age, how can I just change overnight?"

Themustached detective patted Gao Mo on the shoulder with a solemn face.

"Thanks for back there. If you hadn't pulled me back, I might have taken that blade... That guy is a true master, at least fifth dan or above."

Before Gao Mo could reply, the mustached man's expression shifted rapidly again, turning into a goofy grin as he recalled something.

"Such a sudden thing happened today, how about I take you out to Ginza tonight to unwind... You've got quite a talent for deduction, it's just your emotional responses that seem a bit dull. That Madam Maru just now..."

"Dad!"

Ran pulled Conan along just as they crossed the corridor, and from afar they heard Kogoro's demonic laughter.

"Are you trying to drag people out to Ginza to mess around again?"

"What kind of talk is that?" Kogoro broke out in cold sweat. "Is your dad that kind of person? We're just going to Ginza to see a movie..."

"Really? Which one? Is it the currently trending *Summer Santa Claus*?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Yeah, your head! That movie stopped showing last week!!"

Ran dragged her father away in exasperation, only then noticing Gao Mo, who was wearing a disguise.

"Eh? You are..."

"Ran-姐姐, hurry up," Conan guessed Gao Mo's identity the moment he saw him, and quickly pulled Ran, calling out, "I'm so hungry, let's hurry back and eat!"

Although Gao Mo's disguise techniques were much better this time, it was still easy to make a few simple deductions...

He figured only Gao Mo would pull a stunt like this.

Ran's attention shifted back to her father: "Didn't Dad want to unwind? How about we eat outside tonight? We just got the retainer fee, after all..."

"Huh? I didn't get the final payment."

Kogoro scratched his head in frustration, turning back to call out when he saw Gao Mo had already walked away.

"Don't forget to think over that matter!"

Gao Mo waved his hand and left the Maru residence.

Partnering up occasionally was fine, but being Kogoro's permanent assistant was out of the question.

Most of this guy's cases were stumbled upon while he was out having fun, and it felt like he was often living in a skewed timeline—recently, the Mouri Detective Agency had inexplicably accumulated quite a few case records.

If he went over to be an assistant, the work would most likely be routine affairs of investigating infidelity or looking for lost cats and dogs, with very few actual murder cases to encounter.

Besides, there were plenty of other issues like salary, master-servant dynamics, and so on.

Between friends, it was better to keep things simple.

……

It was already dusk by the time he returned to his apartment.

Along the way, Gao Mo had found a place to remove his disguise and changed back into his regular clothes.

Near the apartment building.

Passing by the international supermarket where he used to work, he was surprised to find several police cars parked at the entrance, though he had no idea what had happened.

According to the discussion among the onlookers outside, a murder had taken place. The culprit was a former employee of the supermarket, who hadn't even fled after committing the crime and was arrested on the spot by the police.

Gao Mo watched for a moment, but felt completely indifferent.

Though he did learn that the deceased was that female manager.

Could this supermarket even stay in business?

Gao Mo bought some casual food at a convenience store and subconsciously glanced at the mailroom as he went upstairs.

There were no new packages.

Would he have to find cases entirely on his own from now on?

That wasn't entirely impossible, but without acting missions, what would happen to his career indexing?

So far, the only career he had truly activated on his own was "Detective," and that was only after continuously experiencing several cases and drawing Kogoro's detective notebook.

He'd wait and see...

Gao Mo waited briefly in front of the elevator, stepping inside only after confirming there were no signs of danger.

He didn't think this career role-play system was just meant to level up his acting skill to Lv2.

It had been quite a while since he acquired the "Death Note." Alongside his wariness, he had never stopped researching and observing it.

Compared to the orthodox Shinigami behind this world, the "Death Note" felt very much like a foreign reaper that had arrived here alongside him, facing the native grim reapers together.

The most obvious sign was that the presence of the "Death Note" was growing stronger and stronger.

Perhaps one day, without needing a carrier projection, this thing would directly manifest into reality.

"Ding!"

The elevator opened on the 16th floor.

Gao Mo habitually looked toward room 1602; judging by the marks on the door, Toru Amuro still hadn't returned.

Had he given up on him and shifted his base of operations?

A bit of a headache.

He only knew now that a detective agency had to apply for a detective license from the Public Safety Commission, and the review period took anywhere from 1 to 3 months—heaven knew when this chaotic timeline would drag on to.

If Toru Amuro were still around, he could have indirectly used his subordinates to save himself plenty of trouble.

"Click!"

The door to room 1603 right next to Gao Mo suddenly opened, and a thin, long-haired young man came out carrying a bag of trash. Seeing Gao Mo, he nodded slightly and headed straight for the elevator.

Someone had moved into the stigmatized apartment so quickly.

He thought it would remain vacant for a long time.

After all, people who wanted cheap rent would go to budget apartments, while those indifferent to rent wouldn't choose a murder house.

Taking out his keys to open the door, Gao Mo paid little attention to his neighbor, casually changing his shoes and entering the apartment with a slightly relaxed posture.

No matter what things were like outside, home was always his warm harbor, as if it could shield him from the malice of the entire world.

He casually turned on the television, went into the kitchen to boil a pot of water, and ate cup noodles for dinner while looking out at the night view.

The television broadcast happened to be covering today's Maru case, with Kogoro being chased and interviewed by reporters during his meal.

Tomorrow, he'd probably make the front page of the news again.

Gao Mo reclined comfortably in his favorite spot on the sofa, switched the channel to a music and dance show, and began checking the notebook projections amidst the sound of upbeat tunes and dancing.

[Supernatural Ability: Eagle Eye Vision]

[Career Talents: Fast Immersion, Vigor in Age, Disguise Expert]

[Book Abilities: Makeup Lv2, Marksmanship Lv2, Deduction Lv2]

[Storage Pool: 14 stars]

……

Marksmanship had actually been upgraded to Lv2, just like deduction.

Because of studying detective books lately, Kogoro's *Marksmanship Guide* hadn't really been read much.

It seemed he had a bit of natural talent when it came to shooting.

There were still two books left that could increase his star count, so Gao Mo didn't delay any further, taking the reference books from the side and projecting them directly.

A 1-star miscellaneous book, *Victim's Guide: How to Leave a Dying Message*—as humorous as ever...

Well, not entirely useless; at least it allowed him to step into the mindset of a victim, which was somewhat helpful during deductions.

Next was the 4-star professional book, *Yuji Suwa's Kendo Guide*—the combat-oriented book he had been longing for.

Yet, actually drawing this one made him feel somewhat apprehensive.

Judging by his experience with judo, his true innate weakness seemed to be physical combat.

"Swish!"

The sound of pages turning echoed in the living room.

Gao Mo didn't spend too much time finishing both books.

Another 5 stars were credited, bringing the star count in the storage pool up to 19.

[Storage Pool: 19 stars]

Just 1 star shy of advancing his career level.

However...

Gao Mo stared with a headache at the retained *Kendo Guide*.

Reading it wasn't particularly difficult.

However, this thing required massive amounts of basic drilling and actual sparring practice; it wasn't some martial arts cheat sheet that worked the moment you read it.

He could only say it was slightly better than judo in that he didn't have to start completely from scratch.

Yet another skill that required time to hone and polish.