Beyond the Truth: Mouri's Odyssey

Chapter 0008: Kogoro Mouri's Evolution

Kogoro Mouri sat inside the pink Maserati sports car. With a press of the accelerator, Ikezawa Yuko sped off, the car disappearing into the distance.

The neon lights outside flickered past as Kogoro unabashedly stretched out and fixed his fiery gaze on Yuko-san sitting beside him.

Yuko-san couldn't help but glare at him a few times, but she soon gave in under the intensity of Kogoro's actions.

"Stop it. Don't do this."

The car raced like a pink flash to the riverside, where it came to a stop. Soon, soft gasps filled the car, only to fade away shortly after.

Kogoro chuckled, wiping his damp fingers. "We haven't separate from each other for long, and you're already craving more?"

Yuko-san's face turned cold. "You..."

"It's just a joke. No need to be so serious."

Looking at Yuko-san's sour expression, Kogoro scratched his head in frustration. After his earlier antics, her favorability had dropped by five points, leaving it at only 70.

'Looks like relying on sheer desire isn't enough to build a lasting connection.'

Yuko-san calmed herself before speaking. "When do you plan to return the camera and bracelet? I won't let you manipulate me like this forever."

Kogoro didn't reply. Instead, he began to hum softly:

"Kisha wo matsu kimi no yoko de boku wa

Tokei wo ki ni shiteru

Kisetsu hazure no yuki ga futteru...

Fuzakesugita kisetsu no ato de

Ima haru ga kite kimi wa kirei ni natta

Kyonen yori zutto kirei ni natta."

Using his master-level singing skill, Kogoro sang Nagori Yuki with a melodious and emotional tone. The song, known in his past life as a classic from the 1970s in Japan, carried an ethereal beauty.

When the song ended, the tension in the car evaporated, leaving only the pure and poignant melody of Nagori Yuki.

The beauty of the song moved Yuko-san to tears. As an artist with a deep appreciation for music, she gazed at Kogoro with tearful eyes.

"You're already my woman," Kogoro said with a smile. "You're participating in the Golden Music Festival next week, right? Consider this song my gift. Bring back a championship for me."

Hearing this, Yuko-san's eyes lit up with determination, and her favorability soared from 70 to 80.

'Looks like winning over a career-focused woman like her requires a different approach,' Kogoro thought.

With the sheet music in hand, Yuko-san momentarily forgot about the camera and bracelet. She left Kogoro on the curb and drove off to the practice room to rehearse.

Standing by the roadside, Kogoro sighed in exasperation as the Maserati disappeared from view.

'Just you wait, Yuko-san. Next time, I'll make sure you can't get out of bed!'

Realizing how late it was, Kogoro suddenly remembered Ran was still sick and hadn't eaten yet.

Hailing a cab, he rushed home, arriving at eight in the evening. With no time to cook, he stopped by a bustling bento shop.

Carrying two bentos, Kogoro returned to the agency, turned off the lights on the ground floor, and headed up to the third floor.

"Ran, Ran, dinner's ready!"

To his surprise, the room was empty.

"Strange," he muttered. "Ran's sick. Where could she have gone so late?"

He reached for his phone to call her but was startled when her ringtone came from the room.

'Looks like I'll just have to wait.'

Recalling the body transformation opportunity granted by the system, Kogoro quickly entered the bathroom.

"System, activate the cleansing process!"

[As you wish, Host.]

A mysterious force surged through Kogoro's body. His cells seemed to vibrate as if sweet dew was washing over them.

His skin turned beet red, like a boiled shrimp, as impurities oozed out of his body. The years of indulgence and alcohol vanished from his physique, revealing toned muscles and a chiseled six-pack.

[Congratulations, Host! Your attributes have increased.]

Kogoro felt invigorated as he opened his character status:

Attributes:

- Physique: 20 (Energetic; capable of staying awake for three days and nights, with enhanced resistance to low-level poisons.)

- Strength: 28 (Exceptional combat ability, fully restored to the peak of youth. At full power, capable of lethal strikes.)

- Intelligence: 20 (Brilliant mind; on par with that brat detective.)

- Agility: 15 (Swift and nimble; capable of winning a 100-meter dash.)

(Normal human attribute baseline: 10)

Skills:

- Karate: Master-level (Unmatched in hand-to-hand combat across Japan.)

- Firearms Proficiency: Basic (Gained from his past as a police officer.)

- Singing: Master-level

- Disguise: Perfect-level

Kogoro admired his rejuvenated physique in the mirror and grinned.

'This is going to be fun.'

A Special Thank You!:

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Shawn Morwood], for supporting me on Patreon!