Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

Tohru Tono operated the system for a while and quickly switched it to the tech tree interface.

Sure enough, above the only lit skill at the bottom, [Basic Modification], a new skill was faintly glowing.

[1300/1000]

Tohru Tohno pointed to the new skill without hesitation.

[Ding! Skill LV2 Advanced Modification has been unlocked.]

[Advanced Modification: By intervening in reality through the system and understanding the underlying principles, the host can modify any item to add the required functions, and upgrade its functionality while eliminating all unstable factors. Cooldown: 1 hour]

Oh?

Tohru Tohru read the skill description carefully for a while and found that although the upgraded skill looked similar to [Basic Modification], it was actually surprisingly useful.

Some time has passed since he acquired the system. Unlike the difficulties he faced when he first started researching, he can now, while not an expert in all books, rely on his knowledge from his previous life and his recent studies to discuss the principles of inventions with Professor Agasa on an equal footing.

Tohru Tohno has long since passed the stage where he had to consult books to modify even an invention; now, he is terrifyingly strong.

Therefore, what limited Tohno Toru's invention speed was the long 3-hour cooldown time of the [Basic Modification], as well as its poor efficiency and extremely high error rate.

The [Advanced Modification] feature perfectly solves these problems.

According to the system description, the "Advanced Modification" can "eliminate all unstable factors" and "upgrade its functions," which basically solves Tohru Tohru's most pressing problem—his invention, which he spent so much time developing, has become a useless piece of junk.

On top of that, the cooldown time of [Advanced Modification] is further reduced to one-third of that of [Basic Modification]...

What a tremendous improvement that is!

Are the days of spending all day in the lab finally coming to an end?

Tohru Tohno wiped away a tear of bitterness; he had had it so tough.

Chapter 20 Danger looms ahead

Tohru Tohno continued browsing the unlocked next-stage skills on the tech tree and discovered that they required a full 5000 Detective Points to unlock.

Tohru Tohno sighed as he looked at the pitiful 300 points he had left.

It seems like it's a long way off.

He then looked at the other skills for a while and found that they were all still blacked out, so he guessed he would have to wait until they were unlocked to see the specific information.

Finally, I opened the system store with a try-it-and-see attitude.

[Self-Repairing Bulletproof Suit: 500 Detective Points]

[Holographic Decoy Generator: 500 Detective Points]

It really was updated?

Tohru Tohno remembered that there used to be only one button for repair items in this system shop, but now there are two more items.

It's unclear whether it was because he upgraded his skills or completed the mission.

[Self-healing bulletproof suit: Embedded with 5000 hexagonal honeycomb protective units, it can convert the kinetic energy generated by a bullet impact into heat energy and release it within 0.5 seconds. It also features a built-in nano-repair swarm that secretes a pearl-like repair fluid to fill bullet holes after consuming metal. In the event of severe damage, it will automatically draw on the user's blood to accelerate regeneration.]

! !

Tohru Tono was speechless for a moment when he saw the effect of the suit.

This is a bit like science fiction... No wonder it's a prop given by the system.

But it seems reasonable to put it in the world of Detective Conan?

[Holographic Decoy Generator: After loading character information, the AI ​​will automatically generate a character behavior model, and can construct a touchable holographic image using entangled photons within half an hour. Enabling special functions can simulate a bullet wound and blood spurting effect, or split into three simplified decoys when attacked.]

"..."

Tsk, I want it.

But it's so expensive.

But I want it.

......

The next day.

Toru Tono yawned as he walked from the basement laboratory into the living room.

"I spent another whole night down there..." Tono looked in the mirror and saw very obvious dark lines around his eyes.

"But there's nothing we can do about it." His invention couldn't be mass-produced, so he had to make it by hand.

Because he doesn't have a dedicated production line, and he occasionally has to go out to take on extra cases, his production capacity is very low, and orders for custom-made products have been piling up for a long time.

Not to mention his skills have cooldown times, so he can't actually pull off many in a whole night... Fortunately, the skill cooldown times have been reduced by more than half compared to before, which has greatly improved his efficiency.

However, it seems it's still difficult to keep up with production capacity...

Therefore, working overtime and staying up late is the norm.

Tohru Tono opened the refrigerator door and rummaged through the drawers for a while before finally finding half a bag of instant bread slices and some jam.

He often stays up late and is too lazy to cook, so his most common breakfast is a few slices of bread spread with jam. The sweet taste helps him wake up his brain, which is half dead after working late into the night.

Just as he was putting a slice of bread in his mouth, pondering whether to spread peanut butter or mayonnaise on it, he suddenly heard the doorbell ring.

Tohru Tono looked up at the clock and wondered if he was hallucinating.

It's only five o'clock, who would have nothing better to do than come and ring his doorbell?

Tohru Tono stopped what he was doing, listened carefully for a while, and then heard the doorbell ring again.

It was indeed a hallucination.

He took a slice of bread, sat down at the table, picked up the coffee pot, and prepared to make another cup of coffee.

"Why won't you open the door for me?" A pleasant female voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Tohru Tono's hand trembled as he poured the hot water, almost splashing it out.

He put down the kettle and looked to the side, only to find it was Tachibana Maya, whom he had just met the night before.

Unlike the purple suit she wore when we first met, she wore a more casual white outfit today, with a ribbon tied in a bow on her wrist, making her look playful and cute.

"...Want some coffee?" Toru Tohno sighed. He knew Tohno was a skilled assassin, but couldn't he have used the front door? His fragile heart, having just pulled an all-nighter, couldn't take the shock.

"Drink." Tachibana Maya sat down naturally next to him, tilting her head slightly. "You look like you didn't sleep well last night."

"You don't understand the pain of inventors." Toru Tono said sadly as he ground coffee beans.

Most people can only see the glory when they casually pull out a magical invention, but how can they understand the hardship of racking their brains late at night?

"..." Tachibana Maya didn't quite understand, but it sounded really impressive.

She took the coffee Toru Tono handed her, took a sip, and found that he was quite good at making coffee.

"Is there something you need?" Tohno asked, noticing that she didn't seem to have anything urgent to say.

"Didn't you say last night that you would arrange for me to be your henchman? I didn't have anything else to do, so I came over to take a look." Tachibana Maya sipped her coffee and looked around at the living room's decor. "Your house is quite big."

Can I move in?

Upon hearing this, Tohno Toru looked at Tachibana Maya in shock.

How presumptuous of you!

"Oh dear, I'm a bit short on cash lately," Maya Tachibana explained. "I was planning to quit after finishing the last mission and getting my payment, but to ensure the mission could be completed smoothly, I used all my savings to commission this invention from you..."

"You know how it turned out."

"The mission isn't complete, Yuda's in jail, so there's no hope of getting the reward. Besides, Tokyo's housing prices and rents are so expensive, and our daily expenses are huge..."

"You're not planning to make me sleep on the streets, are you, boss?"

Tohno Toru looked at Tachibana Maya's pitiful eyes, raised his right hand, spread his five fingers in front of him, and made a gesture of refusal: "I don't care about that. You're an adult. You can't be incapable of earning your own money, can you?"

"...Will washing dishes really be enough to pay for rent in Tokyo?" Tachibana Maya's eyes held a hint of resentment. "Finding a proper full-time job isn't out of the question, but then I might not have time to complete the tasks you assigned me, you know?"

"Or you can pay me a salary?"

Tohno was about to retort that she couldn't learn from Amuro Tooru and work multiple jobs, but then she thought, Bourbon probably doesn't live off the wages from those jobs either. He gets paid from both the organization and the Public Security Bureau, and can also get his operational expenses reimbursed, which is why he lives so carefree...

Oh no, I can't really expect to pay my own salary, can I?

Tohru Tohno thought for a while and realized that it wasn't that paying him a salary was unreasonable, but rather that living in his own home was more cost-effective.

If you're willing to stay, then stay. Why should working people make things difficult for other working people?

"...Living here isn't impossible." Toru Tohno avoided mentioning the salary, "But my public identity definitely can't be associated with a wanted criminal, so you'll have to be like a ghost... a ghost, understand?"

“Understood, I’m a professional,” Tachibana Maya readily agreed.

"...Go upstairs and pick any room you like." Tohru Tono thought she didn't understand.

After all, living next door to Shinichi Kudo's family is a high-difficulty challenge for me every day.

If you don't hide it properly, the Grim Reaper Elementary School Student will find out.

Tohru Tohru pondered for a while and felt that he should make some equipment for Tachibana Maya to conceal her identity, as running around naked like this was still a bit dangerous.

With his advanced technology providing protection, he's not afraid of encountering a murder case at all...

"Ding dong ding dong"

The doorbell rang repeatedly.

Who is it again?

Tohru Tono walked over and opened the door, and what came into view was an elementary school student in a blue suit and red bow tie.

See, speak of the devil and he will appear.

However, it seems he wasn't the only one... Toru Tohno glanced around and found that there was not only Conan at the door, but also Ran, Sonoko, the members of the Detective Boys, and Professor Agasa in a white coat.

Tohru Tono was a little confused about the situation.

Why are so many people standing in front of his house? And are they all regulars involved in the case?

Tohru Tohru was shocked. This lineup was enough to blow up a skyscraper, wasn't it?

He felt as if a huge "danger" character was hanging over his head.

Is this what they mean by "coming to your house to film an episode of Detective Conan"?