### Chapter 28: You Know What I Mean, Right?
Halfway into the coffin, white hair, frail body.
That was Fujino's impression of Director Ochiai...
But the eerie figure in front of him, wearing medieval armor and effortlessly swinging a heavy iron sword, shattered his worldview.
Is this really an old man?
His combat power must be at least B-level, right? Fujino looked at the armored figure in the darkness and couldn't help but swallow.
Given the opponent's visible B-level combat power, a direct confrontation would certainly be extremely difficult for him.
However, the armor's strength is also its weakness!
While the armor is sturdy, it sacrifices flexibility.
And that iron sword—through his enhanced vision goggles, Fujino noticed something peculiar.
The sword hadn't been unsheathed, making its swings awkward due to balance issues.
A sheathed sword, when used, has an effect similar to that of a fire poker... maybe even less effective.
Using his "Flying Sword Style," he could swiftly and decisively take him down!
Countless scenarios flashed through Fujino's mind. After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he activated the enhancement card at his waist and charged forward with his wooden sword.
"Clang!"
The "Swordsman Soldier" skill activated with a metallic ring.
Fujino's wooden sword struck the back of the iron helmet, leaving a dent in the supposedly indestructible iron.
With the force of a C-level strength, the medieval knight staggered backward a few steps before turning around, dazed, to look at Fujino.
Without giving the knight-director a chance to react, Fujino stepped forward with his left foot, kicked off with his right, and shot forward like an arrow.
Holding the wooden sword in an offensive stance, he pushed with his right hand, driving the sword into the knight's chest.
"Clang!"
With a crisp sound, the iron armor was punctured, sparks flying where the wooden sword made contact.
Though the "Okamoto Peach Flower Zero Point Zero One" was a wooden sword, its hardness surpassed steel.
Previously, he only used it to hit people, not showcasing its full hardness.
But against the armor, the peach wood sword's toughness was undeniable!
The force pushed the armored knight back several steps before he could regain his balance.
Raising his head, the knight finally reacted, drawing the sword from its sheath like a true knight.
Except, he only held the scabbard.
The heavy iron sword clattered to the ground with a metallic sound.
Swinging the scabbard, the knight-director Ochiai charged at Fujino.
"Got it right..."
Fujino smiled, watching the armored knight's movements.
Director Ochiai must have practiced with the sheathed sword to avoid damaging the surrounding exhibits.
The fact that he discarded the sword now proved this.
And he likely didn't want to harm Fujino, seeing him wielding a wooden sword.
Facing the charging knight-director, Fujino remained calm, his opponent's movements turning into slow motion in his eyes.
He sank low, positioning the wooden sword at his left waist, quickly steadying it with his left hand.
Stepping forward with his right foot, followed closely by his left, he advanced. Two meters from the armored Ochiai, he lunged again, thrusting the wooden sword at Ochiai's helmet.
"Heavenly Flying Dragon Flash!"
The heavy collision sound rang out as the iron helmet spun twice in the air before crashing to the ground.
With a thud, the helmet revealed Director Ochiai's wrinkled, white-haired face.
"Who are you..."
"I'm Fujino, a detective."
Fujino twirled the wooden sword and pressed it against Ochiai's neck, speaking in a low voice, "You must be Director Ochiai, right?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you wore this knight's armor and practiced every night to kill the soon-to-be museum owner, Mr. Naka, correct?"
"How do you know?!"
Ochiai's face showed surprise, the scabbard falling to the ground with a clatter.
"Let's just say you made too much noise..."
Seeing the threat neutralized, Fujino removed the wooden sword from Ochiai's neck.
Kicking the scabbard aside, he continued, "This morning, I read about the medieval museum ghost story in the newspaper. Out of curiosity, I investigated the museum and found that the moving armor was a person in disguise...
"When I saw your face under the helmet, everything clicked."
"I didn't expect my practice to be deduced so accurately..."
Director Ochiai slumped to the ground, sighing. "Yes, I was planning to kill Mr. Naka... I can't let that man turn the museum into a restaurant, even if it means staining my hands with blood!"
"There will always be another Mr. Naka."
Fujino looked into Ochiai's murky eyes, speaking sternly, "Do you think killing one Mr. Naka will stop the next one?"
"But... I have no other choice..."
Ochiai's old face looked desolate.
"Indeed, no one wants to maintain an unpopular museum... Even if they do, it's just for the land..."
Fujino nodded, murmuring.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and asked Ochiai, "By the way, when Mr. Naka took over the museum, didn't you sign an agreement to keep it running?"
"I think we did..."
Ochiai's eyes widened, but then he looked down again, "But the acquisition has already started... Even if we go to court now, the chances of winning are slim."
"Do you have money?"
Fujino asked suddenly.
"Money?"
Ochiai was puzzled.
"I know a lawyer who has never lost a case. We're not very close, but maybe I can introduce you..."
Fujino thought for a moment, "She might be able to guide you... but her fees might be high."
"High fees are fine!"
Director Ochiai seemed to grasp a sliver of hope, "I don't have enough to maintain the museum, but I can afford a lawyer!"
"In that case, it's simple."
Fujino nodded, "I'll be coming here tomorrow with two girls... One of them, a pretty girl with slightly curled hair, her mother is the lawyer... You understand what I mean, right?"
"Understood, understood!"
Director Ochiai nodded vigorously, looking at Fujino with a meaningful gaze.
(End of chapter)