After finishing lunch, the third movie began to play.
In the dimly lit cinema, only Fujino and a few members of the Junior Detective League remained.
"Having a group of guests like this for the last movie is pretty good," Yuri Yuriko said with a soft laugh, leaning against the entrance of the projection room, watching the few people sitting in the front rows of the theater.
"No, this isn't the last movie," Matsumura Akio said, standing beside her with a cane. "I've decided not to sell this cinema to that guy, Zhang Tian."
"What?" Yuri Yuriko was taken aback by his words.
"Actually, I had completely forgotten why I opened this cinema in the first place," Matsumura Akio reminisced. "The excitement of watching a movie, the cheers that echoed through the space—when I think back, it feels like it just happened. The reason I opened this cinema was to share that feeling with others."
He raised his head, his voice carrying a hint of emotion. "Even if there's only one person left, if that feeling can still continue, then this cinema shouldn't be closed. I can't give up so easily..."
"Boss..." Yuriko's expression softened, a smile of relief appearing on her face.
...
Time passed quickly.
By the time they finished watching the movie, dusk had fallen.
With the setting sun, Fujino, bathed in the golden light, took the little ones home.
By the time he was driving Haibara Ai and Conan back home, it was already nighttime.
After safely sending them home, he stepped out into the night, claiming he had some business to attend to for a client, and rode off on his motorcycle.
It was time to settle the score with Zhang Tian Masaji.
A coward and a weakling—Fujino despised being called such things, especially when accused of relying on women.
Did Zhang Tian really think he could get away with angering Fujino?
Fujino never delays his revenge until the next day.
Grudges from the day are always settled that very night.
Even if Jesus came, he'd end up in the hospital for at least two and a half years.
...
Now transformed into the "Beika Batman," Fujino quickly located Zhang Tian Masaji's real estate agency based on Matsumura Akio's clues.
Upon sneaking into the agency, he didn't find Zhang Tian, but he did find his home address.
With that in hand, things became much simpler.
If he didn't know where the guy was, he'd just stake out his home.
...
"Bodyguard mission detected, please check your task, Host!"
Just as Fujino was on his motorcycle, heading to Zhang Tian Masaji's home for a surprise attack, a system notification rang in his ears.
Fujino opened the task screen, and a light panel appeared before his eyes:
**[Bodyguard Mission: Man Targeted by Yakuza Debt Collectors]**
**Mission Objective: Protect the man being harassed by the Sumiyoshi-kai Yakuza before he becomes disabled.**
**Reward: 1,000,000 yen, 100 bodyguard proficiency points.**
**Mission Time Limit: 1 hour.**
"One million yen, huh?" Fujino brought his bike to a halt.
In the 1990s, the Yakuza gangs were still quite rampant.
He had tangled with the Sumiyoshi-kai before…
In fact, he'd fought members of almost every gang in Tokyo by now.
After all, these gangs made their money through crime, and they often robbed people at night—something that coincided with Fujino's line of work.
After thinking it over, Fujino made his decision.
First, he'd finish the system task, and then he could settle the score with Zhang Tian.
Zhang Tian's house wasn't going anywhere. He could deal with him at any time.
But the system mission was only available for one hour. If he missed that, the million yen would be gone.
Fujino understood what was more important.
...
He disguised his motorcycle as the Batcycle using the Kamen Rider pendant.
Following the system's guidance, he arrived at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Tokyo.
At a glance, there were two men in black suits standing at the warehouse entrance, clearly tough guys.
They were likely members of the Sumiyoshi-kai.
Fujino, utilizing the stealth capabilities of his assassin's cloak, approached from the side and silently took out the two men with bat-shaped shurikens.
He flicked his wrist, extending his silver sleeve blade, and entered the warehouse.
Inside, a typical gangster scene was unfolding.
Three large men in black suits were holding clubs, threatening a man in a black shirt.
Fujino recognized the man—Zhang Tian Masaji, the very person he had been looking for.
What a coincidence...
He had been planning to ambush him, but Zhang Tian had conveniently triggered the system task instead.
This was a win-win.
Zhang Tian not only revealed his location, saving Fujino the trouble of staking out, but also delivered him a million yen on a silver platter.
"Please, just give me a few more weeks!" Zhang Tian Masaji was kneeling on the ground, no longer the arrogant figure he had been earlier. "As soon as I sell the cinema tomorrow, I'll be able to repay half the money I owe you!"
"Hmph, only half?" The leader of the thugs scoffed, grabbing Zhang Tian by the collar. "And when do you plan to repay the other half of your gambling debt to the Sumiyoshi-kai?"
"I'll figure something out! I swear, just give me a little more time and I'll repay it!"
"Our patience has limits." The thug pulled a knife from his pocket. "If you want us to give you more time, you'll have to pay some interest first."
With a gesture, two other men grabbed Zhang Tian.
"We'll just take one of your fingers as a down payment."
As he spoke, he crouched down, ready to slice off Zhang Tian's pinky finger with the knife.
*Clang!*
Just as the knife was about to fall, Fujino's sleeve blade struck, sending sparks flying and slicing through the blade.
The men looked up in shock.
But before they could react, Fujino had already moved.
He kicked the man holding the broken knife across the room, then dispatched the two holding Zhang Tian.
Grabbing Zhang Tian, Fujino sprinted outside, throwing him onto his motorcycle and speeding away, leaving the three thugs bewildered.
...
Riding his motorcycle, with Zhang Tian in tow, Fujino quickly fled the scene.
**[Bodyguard Mission: Man Targeted by Yakuza Debt Collectors; Objective Complete]**
**[System Reward: 1,000,000 yen, 100 bodyguard proficiency points have been issued.]**
As the system notification sounded in his ear, Fujino stopped the bike and tossed Zhang Tian off.
Fujino was a man who kept business and personal matters separate.
Saving Zhang Tian from the Sumiyoshi-kai was for the system reward.
Now that the task was done and the reward received, it was time to settle the score from earlier.
To Fujino, cutting off one of Zhang Tian's fingers or even killing him, as the Sumiyoshi-kai planned, was far too lenient…
Zhang Tian tumbled off the bike, rolling onto the grass beside the road. Despite being thrown, he breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm saved..."
At least his fingers were intact.
But before he could stand, Fujino stepped forward, planting his foot on Zhang Tian's chest.
"It's a bit early to be saying that, Mr. Zhang," Fujino said, a smirk forming behind his mask.
(End of Chapter)