A month had passed since the harrowing conclusion of the Clockwork Murder Case. The city had returned to its usual rhythm of crime and chaos, but for Adrian Cross, life had changed in ways he could hardly comprehend. Once branded the "Detective of No Success," with five unresolved cases haunting his record, Adrian now sat in his dimly lit apartment as a man transformed. The precinct, once skeptical of his methods, now hailed him as a celebrity detective. Two impossible cases—the Vanishing Heiress and the Clockwork Murderer—had cemented his reputation, and twenty minor cases solved in the span of a month had silenced even his harshest critics.
Yet, as he sat alone, the weight of recognition pressed heavily on his shoulders. Fame was a double-edged sword. The applause of the public was loud, but so too were the whispers of envy and suspicion from within the force. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, overwhelmed by the sudden shift in his life.
The Vanishing Heiress had been the first case that changed everything. Eleanor Voss, daughter of the wealthiest man on the planet, had been abducted in broad daylight. The case seemed unsolvable, a labyrinth of false leads and dead ends. But Adrian, with the aid of his Crime Solver System, had unraveled the truth, exposing a conspiracy that reached into the highest echelons of power. The second case, the Clockwork Murderer, was darker still. Paul Albates, a manipulative genius and secret system user, had terrorized the city with a string of brutal killings. Catching him had been a battle of wits and willpower, a duel between two men bound by the same hidden technology. Only Adrian knew the truth—that Albates had wielded the system as a weapon, and that their final confrontation had been as much about survival as justice.
These victories had elevated Adrian, but they had also left scars. The system had gone into a month-long update after the Albates case, leaving Adrian to rely solely on his own skills. He had taken minor cases during that time, solving them through grit, intuition, and relentless training. He had poured his energy into boxing drills, shooting practice, and revisiting the fundamentals of detective work. Without the system, he had been forced to sharpen himself into a weapon.
Now, after weeks of silence, the familiar glow of the Crime Solver System returned to his vision. The interface looked the same: Quests, Status, Shop, Inventory, Tools, Party, and a new option—Smith. The system's voice, however, was different. It was more talkative, almost eager, as though it had grown restless during its slumber.
"Welcome back, Detective Cross," it chimed. "System update complete. New features available. Would you like to review?"
Adrian exhaled slowly. "Let's see what's changed."
He clicked Quests, and the familiar list appeared.
Main Quest: Please reach out to Chief of Police Jonathan Huggins
Side Quest: Run to the store and buy your subordinate food. Reward: 20 CP
Adrian smirked. "Still giving me errands, huh?"
He opened Status next.
Name: Adrian Cross
Job: Detective Corporal (new) (max stats: 50)
Titles:
TV Detective = +20 Charm
Detective of No Success = ????
Leading Detective = Enhances Absolute Authority
Health Points: 500/500
Stamina Points: 250/250
Mental Points: 250/250
Strength: 50 (enhances physical ability and stamina)
Vitality: 50 (increases HP)
Intelligence: 50 (increases MP)
Luck: 2 (Chances to change probability; can increase with achievements or titles)
Charisma: 20 (Can charm witnesses for easy interrogation)
Crime Points: 150
Skills:
Intuition Lv. 3
Deduction Lv. 5
Intimidation Lv. 4
Boxing Lv. 3
Marksmanship Lv. 2
Forensics Lv. 2
Adrian nodded. The month of training and the careful use of his Crime Points had paid off. He had rebuilt himself, stronger than before.
He opened his inventory.
Equipment:
Head: Reaper's Hat – 1-time invisibility (used)
Torso: Enhanced Wick's Coat, Enhanced Defense Long Sleeves, Sword Neck-tie
Hands: Enhanced Strength Gloves
Bottom: Enhanced Speed Pants, Enhanced Sprint Shoes
Items:
MP Potions: 5x
HP Potions: 3x
Revive Potion: 1x
He checked Tools.
Forensic Device
Case Board
Finally, he opened Party.
Party Member:
Detective Constable: Lin Reyes
(Click to check stats)
As Adrian closed the interface, his phone buzzed on the desk. He picked it up, and the gruff voice of Chief Jonathan Huggins filled the line.
"Adrian, I need you at the office. Now."
Adrian straightened in his chair. "What's going on, Chief?"
There was a pause, heavy with tension.
"You've got a major case. One that's going to test everything you've got."
The line went dead.
Adrian stared at the phone for a moment, then at the glowing system interface hovering in his vision. The month of waiting was over. The system was back. And so was he.
He grabbed his coat, adjusted the sword neck-tie at his collar, and stepped into the night. The city was calling.
Adrian walked through the streets, the neon glow reflecting off the wet pavement. The city was alive with its usual chaos—sirens in the distance, the hum of traffic, the occasional shout from a darkened alley. Yet beneath it all, there was a tension he couldn't shake. Something was brewing, something larger than the petty crimes he had been handling during the system's absence.
As he made his way to the precinct, his mind wandered back to the cases that had defined him. Eleanor Voss's abduction had revealed the reach of power and money, how the wealthy could manipulate the system — the real one, to their advantage. Paul Albates had shown him the dangers of the system itself, how it could be twisted into a weapon. Both cases had left him with a lingering unease. If the system could be used for such darkness, what else was it hiding?
The precinct loomed ahead, its lights cutting through the night. Adrian pushed through the doors, the familiar scent of coffee and paper greeting him. Officers glanced up as he entered, some nodding in respect, others whispering behind his back. He ignored them, heading straight for Chief Huggins's office.
The Chief was waiting, his expression grim. "Close the door, Adrian."
Adrian did as instructed, taking a seat across from the Chief's cluttered desk.
"We've got a situation," Huggins began. "One that's going to require your… unique skills."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What kind of situation?"
Huggins leaned forward, his voice dropping. "The Mafia. They're making moves again. And this time, it's bigger than anything we've seen before."
Adrian felt a chill run down his spine. The Mafia had always been a shadow in the city, a force that operated in the background. But if they were stepping into the light, it meant trouble on a scale he hadn't faced before.
"They've been quiet for years," Huggins continued. "But now, they're back. And we've got reason to believe they're connected to Eleanor Voss's abduction."
Adrian's mind raced. The Voss case had seemed closed, but if the Mafia was involved, it meant there were layers he hadn't uncovered.
"What do you need me to do?" he asked.
Huggins slid a file across the desk. "Find out what they're planning. And stop it."
Adrian opened the file, scanning the contents. Names, locations, photographs. The Mafia's network was sprawling, its influence reaching into every corner of the city. This was no ordinary case. This was a war.
He closed the file, meeting Huggins's gaze. "I'll take the case."
Huggins nodded. "I knew you would. Be careful, Adrian. This isn't like the others. The Mafia plays by their own rules. And they don't forgive."
Adrian stood, the weight of the case settling on his shoulders. As he left the office, the system's voice whispered in his ear.
"New Main Quest: Investigate the Mafia's resurgence. Reward: ???"
Adrian smiled grimly. The game had changed. And he was ready.