After school, Teitan High School, Class 2-B.
"Three million for this bounty?"
Fujino packed his books into his bag, stood up from his seat, pondering inwardly.
Three million yen. After completing this mission, he should be able to afford the ten-pull for Intermediate Profession Orbs.
Nearly ten million yen... wonder what kind of good stuff he could pull.
"Senpai."
Just then, two female voices interrupted Fujino's thoughts.
Fujino turned around and saw two familiar figures.
As always, it was Ran and Sonoko.
"Speaking of which, after the holidays tomorrow are the midterms. After the exams, Ran and I are going bowling to relax. Senpai, want to join us?"
Sonoko actively invited Fujino.
"Midterms?"
Fujino's brow furrowed upon hearing this.
He remembered having monthly exams just a short while ago.
Why midterms again already?
He was getting increasingly confused by the bizarre timeline of the Conan world.
"Senpai, didn't you know?"
Ran looked somewhat puzzled.
Sonoko explained, "Senpai seemed to be absent that day. But with Fujino-senpai's grades, midterms are surely a piece of cake."
"I see."
Ran nodded, then teased Sonoko, "But Sonoko, you need to focus! You have to study hard tomorrow. If you fail, it'll be troublesome."
"I know!"
Sonoko scratched her head, then asked Fujino again, "How about it, Senpai? Want to join?"
Fujino nodded, agreeing.
Sometimes, going out to relax was a good thing.
After all, people weren't machines; they couldn't stay tense all the time.
But with Ran and Sonoko appearing together, it was highly likely that Conan kid would tag along...
If the elementary school shinigami was present, would another murder case pop up?
As for why nothing happened at the ski resort last time...
One could only say, Kaito Kid was also there.
Just as Fujino stepped out of the classroom, intending to head to the parking lot and drive to the mission target location, a female voice called from behind.
"Fujino, come with me for a moment."
Fujino turned to see Hiratsuka Shizuka standing behind him.
Although Fujino didn't understand why she called him over, he still followed her to the faculty room.
Arriving at the faculty room, Hiratsuka Shizuka pulled a chair over for Fujino, then sat down in another chair herself, asking with concern, "I feel like you're a bit lethargic... Is it because you have to take care of your relative's child?"
"That's not it."
Fujino sat down, shook his head, and explained, "My sister helps take care of the relative's child at home, so I don't need to worry too much."
"You have a sister?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked puzzled upon hearing this.
She remembered Fujino should be alone now.
When did he gain a sister?
Fujino explained,
"She's my cousin. Actually, I didn't even know I had a cousin until she got into a car accident some time ago, and I heard about it from others... She's temporarily staying at my place now."
"I see."
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded upon hearing this.
"No wonder you often seem absent-minded. So that's what happened."
"That's not it."
Hearing this, Fujino stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then replied,
"Actually, it's because I've pretty much learned everything in the second-year curriculum. Going over it again feels a bit boring... something like that."
"You've learned everything in the second-year curriculum?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned upon hearing this.
But thinking carefully, it seemed quite possible.
After all, she remembered Fujino's score on the last monthly exam, though not perfect, was still among the top five in the entire school.
"Mhm."
Fujino nodded, paused, then added, "Hiratsuka-sensei, could you help me get a set of third-year textbooks or something similar?"
"Third-year textbooks?"
Hearing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka stroked her chin, then had a realization.
"Fujino, are you planning to aim for a better university next year?"
Normally, second-year students didn't need to study third-year material.
But some students aiming for top universities would study third-year courses in advance and attend cram schools.
"Something like that."
Fujino nodded.
Applying to university... he hadn't even dared to think about it yet.
Given the nature of the Conan world timeline, he probably wouldn't even survive this year, let alone the next twenty.
His main reason for wanting the third-year textbooks was actually to grind Student proficiency points.
He had already learned eighty to ninety percent of the second-year curriculum some time ago.
Now, grinding proficiency points was incredibly difficult.
His purpose for wanting the third-year textbooks was solely to increase his Student proficiency.
"Hmm... Textbooks alone aren't very helpful for entrance exams."
Hiratsuka Shizuka's tone held a hint of seriousness.
"How about this: the midterms are the day after tomorrow. If you can maintain your grades, I'll help you get a set of third-year textbooks, and also find some supplementary materials for you."
"It's a deal."
Fujino agreed. After exchanging a few more words, he left the faculty room.
For him, exams were like drinking water – somewhat annoying, nauseating if overdone, but still a simple matter.
Behind him, Hiratsuka Shizuka watched Fujino's departing figure, feeling immensely gratified.
After leaving the faculty room, Fujino followed his original route, driving the Ford Taurus along the highway, guided by the system's red dot.
Soon, he arrived near a newspaper company called Oowada Press.
"This should be where Silver Fox produces the counterfeit money, right?"
Fujino parked the car by the roadside, looking through the window at the building nearby with the 'Oowada Press' sign on its roof, his eyes narrowing.
In Fujino's vision, the red dot continuously blinked on the third floor, indicating Silver Fox was indeed on the third floor of the newspaper company.
"Using a newspaper company as a disguise... Who would suspect the sounds of machinery printing inside are actually printing counterfeit money?"
Fujino observed the newspaper company, instantly grasping the trick.
Setting up a counterfeiting operation in a newspaper company was indeed a classic tactic for such criminals.
He had seen many similar cases in his past life... didn't expect someone to replicate it in the Conan world.
Averting his gaze, Fujino looked around.
At a glance, he saw a police station.
Or rather, more like a police box.
Small police boxes like this were quite common in Japan.
But setting up a counterfeiting operation right on the roof next to a police box...
Truly worthy of you, Beika.
As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place, and the safest place is the most dangerous place.
Printing counterfeit money for so long without being discovered.
In a way, Silver Fox was quite the talented individual.
Averting his gaze again, Fujino started the car and parked it in a nearby parking lot.
If he remembered correctly, there should be surveillance cameras in that building.
And that Silver Fox, along with her accomplices, had guns.
Making a move required a well-thought-out plan.
Meanwhile, Ai Haibara, having joined the Beika Death... Detective Boys, quickly received her first commission.
Finding a boy's missing older brother.
After some investigation, Conan learned that
before the boy's brother disappeared, a woman dressed all in black had visited him.
Due to the details about the black clothes, his sharp mind quickly suspected the Black Organization's involvement.
Then, he grabbed the Black Organization girl Ai Haibara beside him, led her to a secluded spot, and asked, "That woman in black, she must be from your organization, right?"
"I don't know."
This time, Ai Haibara didn't resist, simply shaking her head, speaking calmly.
"How could you not know?"
Conan grabbed Ai Haibara's shoulders, shaking her slightly.
"Didn't you escape from that organization?!"
"Let go, or I'll scream."
Under Ai Haibara's calm gaze, Conan frowned, then immediately released her.
Given the previous incident, he had no doubt Ai Haibara would actually scream.
If he was called a pervert again, his image in the eyes of those three elementary students would likely plummet to 'lewd brat who likes bullying girls'.
Seeing Conan let go, Ai Haibara nodded with satisfaction.
The identity of a little girl was indeed convenient...
This trick really worked well.
Pausing, Ai Haibara finally said, "Before defecting, I was just a researcher responsible for developing drugs... The organization is vast. How could I possibly know so much?"
"You really don't know?"
Conan looked suspiciously at Ai Haibara.
"I have no reason to lie to you."
Ai Haibara's expression remained unchanged.
"Alright, I'll believe you for now..."
If this woman... girl's words were true, then she indeed had no reason to lie to him.
After all, she had already escaped the organization, couldn't even fend for herself, reduced to relying on him for help. Lying seemed pointless...
Wait, if she couldn't even fend for herself, how did she transfer into Teitan Elementary?
Thinking this, Conan continued asking Haibara,
"By the way, the address you mentioned earlier should be Fujino's house, right? Why did you give his address?"
"Because I live there,"
Ai Haibara replied calmly, her face showing no emotion.
"Oh, so it's because you live..."
Conan sighed in relief upon hearing this.
He thought this girl was actually living at Fujino's house...
Wait, did she just say she lives at Fujino's house?!
Snapping back, Conan asked again, "What you just said, was it that you live at his house?"
"Yes,"
Ai Haibara nodded, looking puzzledly at Conan.
"Is there a problem?"
"Why are you living at his house?!"