A sharp, electronic "ding" jolted Adrian from the depths of unconsciousness. For a split second, he braced for the System's familiar voice, but instead, the sound came from a heart monitor beside his bed. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled his nose. He blinked, adjusting to the harsh hospital lights.
He was alive.
Turning his head, he saw Eleanor curled up in a chair, her hair falling over her face as she slept. She looked younger, peaceful in her exhaustion—a stark contrast to the terror and chaos of the pier.
Adrian exhaled, then instinctively called up his stats. The System's interface shimmered into view, crisp and clear:
Name: Adrian Cross
Title: Detective of No Success (grants ??????)
Health Points: 100/100
Stamina Points: 50/50
Mental Points: 64/64
Strength: 13 (Crime Points required for enhancement: 5)
Vitality: 10 (Crime Points required for enhancement: 5)
Intelligence: 16 (Crime Points required for enhancement: 5)
Luck: 2 (Cannot be enhanced directly; changes with achievements or titles)
Crime Points: 220
Skills:
• Intuition Lv. 2• Deduction Lv. 2• Intimidation Lv. 1• Boxing Lv. 2• Marksmanship Lv. 1Extra Stat Points: 5
He stared at the numbers, a wave of relief washing over him. It hadn't been a dream—the System, the case, Eleanor. He'd survived, and he'd actually solved his supposedly last case.
Adrian thought back to the moments when his mind had nearly given out, when every point of intelligence had made the difference between life and death. He understood now how crucial that stat was. Without hesitation, he allocated all five extra points to Intelligence.
Intelligence: 16 → 21
Mental Points: 64/84
A surge of clarity filled his mind, as if a fog had lifted. He felt sharper, more aware of every detail in the room.
A soft rustle drew his attention. Eleanor stirred, blinking awake. She saw Adrian, then noticed his fingers moving in the air, tapping invisible screens.
She shot to her feet, alarmed. "Doctor! He's awake! And… he's, um, tapping at nothing again!"
Adrian couldn't help but laugh, the sound rough but genuine. Eleanor joined in, her relief evident.
"Thank you, Detective," she said quietly, her eyes shining. "For not giving up."
The doctor entered, checked Adrian's vitals, and nodded approvingly. "You're lucky, Mr. Cross. Very lucky." He stepped out to call the police department, informing them that their patient was awake.
Adrian and Eleanor talked for a while, sharing quiet laughter and the kind of camaraderie forged only in the crucible of danger. Soon, the door opened again, and Chief of Police Jonathan Huggins strode in, his presence filling the room.
"Adrian Cross," the Chief said, a rare smile breaking his stern features. "Congratulations. You finally solved a case. And what a case it was."
Adrian grinned, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. For the first time, he didn't feel like the Detective of No Success.
The System chimed in, its tone celebratory:
Main Quest Complete: The Vanishing Heiress
Eleanor Voss, 26 years old, missing on the night of October 28 (3 days ago) at around 6:30 PM
Reward: Skill: Forensic Lv. 1 + 100 Crime Points
Status: Case Closed – Solved
A new skill settled into Adrian's mind—Forensic Lv. 1—along with a fresh influx of Crime Points.
Crime Points: 220 → 320
Another notification appeared:
Tutorial quest is a success. Congratulations, detective. System will update. Please wait for 24 hours. Case Board, status, and inventory are still active while quest and shop will be updated.
Adrian stared at the message, unsure how to respond. He needed to wait for 24 hours, but that was fine. He was alive. He was no longer the Detective of No Success.
After the congratulations and handshakes, everyone left the hospital room. Adrian was alone, the quiet settling around him like a blanket. He gazed at his case board, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Now, I know what it feels like to solve a case, he thought. But deep inside, he knew it wasn't over. Raphael DiAmmo was still out there. And then there was Detective Harlan Kane—what was his connection to DiAmmo?
Adrian slipped into his routine: he ate the bland hospital food, took a slow shower, and even lit a cigarette by the open window. He half-expected the System to scold him, but no warning came. The System was still updating.
He exhaled, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling. For now, he could rest. But the real game was just beginning.