Chapter 0022: Activating the Points Exchange Shop
At this moment, the neatly dressed Megure stepped onto the stage. "[I am Megure from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. While Matsuo Takashi's pursuit of music is admirable, it does not grant him the right to judge others' lives at will. I hope the viewers of this broadcast take this as a warning: do not tread the path of crime.]"
After speaking, Megure stepped down from the stage with a righteous air. The live broadcast ended, and the vice president hastily filled the screen with a previously aired program.
As soon as Megure left the stage, his expression transformed into one of glee. Takagi, standing nearby, chuckled like a loyal sidekick. "Megure-san, your speech was fantastic. The way you walked down was so commanding!"
Megure laughed so heartily that his hat nearly flew off. "Takagi-kun, don't say that. Your moves while arresting the suspect were pretty stylish too." The two shared a hearty laugh beneath the stage.
Although the live broadcast had concluded, its impact only grew stronger. Online, Kwon Ji-yong's thirty million fanatics stirred up a storm, demanding the death penalty for Matsuo Takashi.
At the same time, loyal viewers of the Golden Music Festival argued that Matsuo was a pure artist who had done nothing wrong. Both sides engaged in a heated war of words.
Meanwhile, at the live venue, staff were escorting the audience out.
The singers, who had been waiting in the lounge for the rankings to be announced, looked at one another in confusion. How would the competition proceed now? With Matsuo Takashi arrested, who would announce the results?
Ikezawa Yuko was seething with frustration. She had painstakingly prepared a song to crush that "little tramp" Yoko, only for her plans to fall apart.
After the broadcast, nobody cared about the songs performed by the seven singers. What stuck in everyone's minds was the elegant, flawlessly logical deduction by the handsome Detective Mouri Kogoro, the story of a man who killed for music, and, at the very least, the image of nine long-legged girls who sang and danced across five performances.
As for the singers? Excuse me, what singers? Were they even relevant to today's program?
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[Congratulations to the host for completing the main task: 'Detective Duel I Activated'. You have earned 2,000 points and one Multiverse Lottery Spin]
[Congratulations to the host for achieving the mission: 'Fame in Tokyo' with a completion rate of 8,290%, far exceeding expectations. You have earned 82,900 points. With your points exceeding 5,000, the Points Exchange Shop is now available.]
Mouri Kogoro looked at V-chan, beaming with satisfaction. Thanks to the live broadcast of the Golden Music Festival, he had struck gold. Points from typical tasks only amounted to a few thousand at best—hardly satisfying. But now, with a sudden leap to over 80,000 points and the shop unlocked, the feeling was incredible.
Mouri eagerly accessed the newly unlocked Points Exchange Shop. He had been dreaming of this moment for a long time. At first glance, the shop was indeed packed with treasures. The beginner-grade Illusion Talisman from a previous lottery was available for 3,000 points each, while intermediate ones cost 30,000 points.
The most expensive items were advanced technological equipment, martial arts manuals, and powers from the Marvel universe—Iron Man's armor, mutant abilities, and X-genes—all starting at five million points. However, the truly high-tier items were not displayed.
The most expensive item currently visible was a martial art called 'Buddha's Palm', priced at a staggering ten million points.
"Wait, V-chan. Isn't this supposed to be a Multiverse Points Exchange Shop? I want to exchange for cultivation techniques, supreme bones, heavenly flames—where are they?"
V-chan replied, "[Your conditions are insufficient, so they are not displayed.]"
"Damn it! This trashy system, playing games with me again."
If V-chan had a physical form, she would have rolled her eyes a hundred times over.
With a total of 86,488 points, Mouri had a substantial amount to work with. The items he could afford spanned hundreds of screens, leaving him dizzy from the variety.
Mouri spoke up, "V-chan, recommend something for me to exchange."
V-chan replied, "[I recommend the 'Advanced Universal Guidance Technique' for 50,000 points. It significantly enhances the host's attributes and offers the best value for its price.]"
Mouri gritted his teeth and made the exchange. Instantly, an image of a stellar body map appeared in his mind. Within the map, starlight flowed continuously through the depicted human body.
Practicing this technique required no physical movement—merely meditating on the stellar map.
Browsing further, Mouri spotted an 'Infinite Ammo Desert Eagle'. His eyes lit up. No matter how strong one's martial arts were, a gun always had the upper hand. Since the Guidance Technique would take time to master, the gun would be an ideal defensive tool for now.
He spent 2,000 points on the Desert Eagle, leaving him with over 30,000 points.
With his reduced points, Mouri decided to save the remainder for emergencies. The shop was accessible at any time, so there was no rush.
"V-chan, spin the Multiverse Lottery for me."
The dazzling wheel spun and quickly came to a halt.
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the item: 'Time Reversal Card'."
The 'Time Reversal Card' was a one-time-use special item. Its description read: 'Triggers upon encountering specific individuals. Please handle with care.'
A purple-gold card with intricate patterns appeared in Mouri's hand. Although its description remained vague, he put it away for now.
Despite all these exchanges and spins, only a fleeting moment had passed. Ran and Conan arrived on the ninth floor, accompanied by Yoko, Boa, and Lee Hyori.
Mouri glanced at the group and noticed that Yoko's affection level had skyrocketed to 82—deeply in love. Her gaze indeed carried a hint of tenderness.
Beside her, Boa's affection level had risen to 60, marking her as a close friend. Strangely, Lee Hyori also appeared on the list with an affection level of 48. Mouri was puzzled.
Boa, looking admiringly at Mouri, said, "Detective Mouri, you're amazing. How did you find all those clues and evidence? Your reasoning earlier was so incredible! I never would've figured it out."
"Boa-san, it's not that you couldn't; you just didn't think in that direction."
Yoko chimed in, "Mouri-san truly deserves admiration. In such a chaotic situation, only you could step in and save the day."
"Yoko-san, you're too kind."
The flattery of these three beauties made Mouri feel indescribably elated.
Nearby, Conan had a blank expression, his trademark deadpan look. He felt utterly defeated—he couldn't solve the case, had to watch the useless detective bask in glory, and was now saddled with the nickname 'Perverted Boy Sidekick'. What was even the point of living anymore?
At that moment, Sato the butler, who had appeared earlier, returned, accompanied by the now-conscious Miyamoto, the company president. Miyamoto was groveling. "Sato-san, please, put in a good word for me with the princess. Ask her to give me one more chance. I swear I'll properly manage Tokyo TV and prevent any further blunders."
The old man was utterly pitiful—his former arrogance completely gone. He dared not even use his cane, hobbling behind Sato.
But Sato didn't spare him a glance.
Sato approached Mouri with a warm smile. "Detective Mouri, I am Sato Shosuke. Your deductions earlier were extraordinary. On behalf of my master, I'd like to invite you for a meeting."
Sato's courtesy was impeccable, from his bow to his handshake—everything was precise, like it had been measured with a ruler.
Seeing this, Miyamoto's face contorted, a mix of jealousy and despair. At last, he could only put on a bitter smile, gazing at Mouri with pleading eyes.
Ignoring the pitiful president, Mouri, feeling triumphant, followed Sato Shosuke to his master's private box.
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