"We need a navigator. Someone who knows the way around Shibuya city."

Those were the words Shinichi uttered from Takuma's smartphone as tensions were high in the association situated in Teitan Elementary school."Where are we going to find a kid who knows their way around Shibuya!?"Junko spat out as everyone was disoriented over what to do.

Ranran and Shinichi being chased down into Shibuya city, let alone, with a killer seeking to murder them if they don't get to the metropolitan department were not what they were expecting.

"We don't need one, "Ranran took over the conversation as she speaks through the air pod, "We just need someone to use the map, instruct us where to go, and that is about it."

"Like those movies right?!" Takuma suddenly figures, "Where there are characters who shout instructions on which route to escape from a bunch of cops!?"

"Couldn't you have just used your GPS app to navigate your way?"Emiko suggests.

"We can't be using our smartphone to keep check every couple of seconds while trying to avoid hitting cars or motorbikes, right?"Ranran commented.

"Y-You have a point..."Emiko stuttered.

"We just need to switch on our locations on our phone, then share it on some site, then someone tells us where to go."Shinichi discloses their plans to the members.

The kids back in the association stared at each other, that's when everyone spotted the perfect candidate."How about Takuma?"Michio vouch for him.

"What!? Why me?!"The athlete turned to the others, startled.

"Are you not the manager for those footballers in every match, shouting orders on which direction to head to?"Ran suddenly recalls this as Reina, his girlfriend once mentioned this.

"Ran, there is a huge difference between ordering players how to win game matches and directing two lost kids to the police department in a huge city for over, alright?!"Takuma argues.

"But you can keep track of every single player during a chaotic game right?!" Emiko disputes, "If you can keep an eye on 11 players among 22 in a football match, you should be able to handle 2 kids!"

"This isn't the problem of handling 2 kids! It's the problem of trying to locate every single street to take before heading there! If I miss out, they'll both die! Their lives are no matter what, under my hands! I don't have the confidence to pull this off!"The footballer was already pulling his hair in frustration trying to reason himself out of this.

"Listen here-"Ran is about to give the footballer a lecture on human life.

"Enough!"Emiko bangs the table, silencing everyone."Right now isn't the time to argue! Ranran and Shinichi's life is on the line! Either you do it or you don't!"

Her screeching voice is enough to astound everyone to silence, even Ranran and Shinichi.

For a while, they were in a long pause of silence. Finally, Ranran ended up breaking it by saying, "Tak-san, it's ok if you fail."

"Eh?"He turned to the smartphone, and so does everyone.

"In life, there are two ways. You either live long enough to be a coward without taking risks, or you live a short but fulfilling life plus risks. I once...considered living like that."Ranran had a castaway look, Shinichi was surprised she had such admission.

"Really!? That is...surprising." Ran's initial voice filled with bitterness towards Ranran earlier disappeared, "That doesn't sound like you."

"Yeah Ranran, that was something rather unexpected."Junko found herself saying.

"What changed?"Emiko couldn't help but ask.

"A week later...after reflecting on myself, I decided to screw it, "Ranran responded bitterly to the team's surprising expressions.

"A week!?"Michio became appalled, "What happened?"He demanded to know, what change her view overnight within 7 days.

"Life wanted to make fun of me because I didn't take the risk, so I decided to live well with risk and give life the middle finger."

Everyone let Ranran's words sink in, as Shinichi could be heard yelling, "Ranran, language!"

"Middle finger...?"Takuma's brows rose, "What is that?"

"No idea, I just heard it on Tv and it sounded cool."Ranran shrugged before she adds, "I choose how I wanted to live, I should have no regrets, even if it means dying an early death."

"But isn't that a little too selfish?"Ran said, before she contended to the founder, "You still have your parents who love you! For you to live life selfishly, knowing that you may seek an early grave is still-"

"There is only one life to live. You can either live with the consequences of not taking risks, where you keep waking up to the same life, routine and meeting the same people. Or...take the risk and live a life that is more fun. Will it hurt? Yes, but it didn't mean it would hurt less if I didn't choose to risk it all."

Ran was speechless. She knew Ranran was cutthroat but to the extent that she didn't mind fearing death in the eye? Who is this little girl before her? To live life so fearlessly and have such an outlook on life?

That was when she realized she was wrong about Ranran. For so long, Ran always thought she was arrogant and full of herself, she thinks she is too reckless when it comes to tempting death, but now Ran can see that even girls like Ranran do fear life, but unlike others, Ranran decided to take the highway.

That is probably the reason why Shinichi constantly sided Ranran over her, cause Ranran never cried and is willing to face things head-on while Ran did nothing and shed tears all day whenever things doesn't go her way, like a spoilt child. The long brown-haired girl had always assumed Ranran was manipulative and spoilt having been born with a diamond spoon, but then after hearing all of this...Ran felt like a failure.

She is right, Mouri Ran is a cry baby.

Meanwhile, the other members were drawn out of their thoughts on her words, especially Takuma. It was through her words that everything had changed at that moment. Listening to Ranran's words made him recall his younger days when he officially announced to his family he wanted to go pro as an American Football player.

When he was born, he had to go in and out of the hospital for the past 5 years of his life thanks to some illness. At that time, he was very down on life till he watch a Football player on TV having dealt with the same illness as he did. It was thanks to that he got better and argued with his parents for many months before they finally reluctantly let him go. Sure, he had to deal with tons of hardship and he lost his ways and morals along the way after becoming an athlete star, but it's alright cause he is human. He didn't need to be hard on himself.

Even if it means failing and ending the life of his friend and Shinichi.

"I'll do it."

"Say what now!?"All the kids turned to the pro footballer in awe.

"Ranran is right, in life...failure is part of it. Without it...there are no changes in life. It's just mundane. And I am sick and tired of fearing failure."Takuma then takes out the school laptop, waiting for it to boot up as he grabs a seat, "Ranran, Shinichi, get ready, right now...you are considered to be one of my players in my group. If you fail, I won't go easy onto the both of you."He speaks with a determined face.

Ranran and Shinichi smiled proudly at Takuma's tone, "Alright, then we will leave it to you, Tak-san."Ranran grins.

Suddenly, the engine roared in the background as Ranran and Shinichi wonder what it was. Turning to their back, the two froze, recognizing the green Jaguar."He found us!"Ranran screeched

"Run!"Shinichi orders.

And so, the two Kudos continue to flee as the car was onto them in hot pursuit.

......

"Take the second lane! You almost miss it! Good good!"

Takuma was too excitedly shouting orders as its around 6:20 pm since he has been ordering them which route to take based on their smartphones. Under his orders, things were going well. Still, the idiot with the jaguar car was merciless as the Kudo twins were getting more and more scared. Ranran could see the aggression in the oncoming driver's eyes, and she could tell that he was getting ready to hit them both.

"Take the left, guys!" Takuma instructed them to take a left turn.

Ranran and Shinichi had to make a split-second decision, and they chose to follow Takuma's instructions. They swerved to the side and narrowly missed being hit. It was a close call because the two were able to avoid a collision and get away from the bad guys.

Being pursued by the Jaguar, the two were desperate to find a way out. Seeing a gap in the traffic, the two took it, speeding away from the car. But Takuma knew they were not out of the woods yet. The roads were busy and cars were coming in every direction based on the google map. So far, many cars had collided while the Kudo children had tried to avoid them. Takuma still had to get them to navigate their way through the traffic and avoid being hit.

"Shinichi...I think you would need to go without me."All senses on alert, Shinichi realizes something is wrong with his mentor's scooter as it began wobbling a little violently.

"Why?"Her apprentice head turned to her.

"The scooter...I think it's going to break into half."An unexpected chill trickled up her spine as she became tensed on her situation.

"Nani?!"

All of the kids froze at Ranran's revelation while Shinichi's heartbeat increased, as Ranran felt her scooter was wobbling more and more violently. An hour of travelling and having to use the scooter's booster as fast pace had resulted in the scooter overheating. There seem to be a design flaw in Agasa's invention, and if Ranran doesn't find a solution, she may crash and die.

And yet, Ranran can't stop in the middle of a car chase. Ranran dreads the worst. She knows if she doesn't do something scooter is going to break in half, as they are heading down a steep slope. She can feel it in her bones. Sure enough, as she was riding down the street, the scooter starts to sputter. Ranran tries to keep it going, but eventually it be a matter of time before it finally snap.

"Oh my God, you are both still 2km away!"Michio gasped in horror.

"How far can you go!?"Junko inquired.

"Less than a couple of seconds."Ranran's scooter is bound to break, Takuma is shouting directions, and Emiko is rambling while Michio and Junko could be heard exclaiming 'What are we going to do!?' in the background. Ran can't make herself breathe. "Then jump over to my side!"Shinichi urges her to jump over.

"Eh!?"Ranran glimpsed at him for a moment as he skated right next to her.

The grinding sound on her scooter was clear-cut Ranran is going to die if she doesn't hurry."What are you still on it, jump now!"Shinichi urges her to do it.

Ranran didn't think twice before jumping as his skateboard slowed down for her to hop down, and Ranran was glad she did, for the scooter later broke in half after a truck run over it."Ranran!? Are you ok!?"Takuma shouted.

"She is fine!"Shinichi could be heard hollering, as Ranran wrapped her arms around Shichi from the back as a passenger, "She is with me now."

"Oh, thank Kami-sama!"Emiko breathes a sigh of relief and so did the others.

"Jesus! This is worst than a horror movie!"Ran cursed, with all of the anxiety exhibiting onto the other kids.

Finally, the fraud driver had enough. If he wasn't going to get them, he might as well run them over!

The fraud with a mole on his right chin drove the stolen car as he continue to lurch forward, turning out of the traffic dangerously as it sped through the city streets. Speeding at a fast pace, he finally hit them. "Watch out!"Ranran screamed.

Too late, the two children have knocked off their skateboards and the two were lying in the street. A loud BANG shook the kids of Tantei association to its core. "Oh no! Ranran!? Shinichi!? Are you alright!?"Ran finally panicked, realizing they must have hit something.

"What just happened!?"The glasses girl wondered out loud with the others.

"Let Ranran go you bastard!"Shinichi could be heard yelling over the phone as the door of a car could be heard open, "How dare you! Don't you dare force me in! Help!"

"Oh my God, don't tell me..."Emiko's words trailed off.

"The fake driver run them over on purpose to kidnap them!?"Michio finished her sentence.

"No way!"Ran covered her mouth in horror, and so did Takuma.

Everyone is entirely focused on the phone as Ran's breaths are unsteady, Emiko can feel the cold sweat on her brow and Michio is experiencing the same clamminess under his own clothes.

"Let me go! Keep your filthy hands off me!"Ranran was heard groaning while yelling in a disoriented tone.

"Hey! How dare you take Ranran! Let me go! How dare you-mmph!"Shinichi's voice sounded muffled.

"Let Ranran and Shinichi go, you bastards!"Takuma screamed over the phone as there was a clatter and the sound of a struggle between the two children, then the line went dead.

"Ranran? Shinichi? Can you hear me!? Ranran!? Shinichi!?"Takuma tried to call them out by dialling the phone repeatedly, but neither Kudo picked up.

The jaguar car sped down the road, its engine roaring.

"Damn it!"Takuma cried in frustration and flung his phone into the wall.

"Takuma! Don't be harsh on your phone!"Emiko blasted at him.

The panic sets in Michio, "What do we do now...!?"

Ran was hovering nervously, "No way...Ranran and Shinichi are....kidnapped...."

"If we don't find them...they are very likely dead." The words from the rebellious artist are casual, matter-of-fact, but underneath the steel of Emiko's demeanour, there is worry creeping into her voice.

There was silence from all parties as Takuma cleared his mind to focus on just one thing. "In such a chaotic and frightening time, it is up to us to save them."

"Takuma..."

"Ranran and Shinichi are no longer around, if we were in their shoes, we must keep our heads clear and use their intelligence to outsmart the kidnappers. By working together and staying calm, we can overcome any obstacle."

"How!? Ranran and Shinichi are kidnapped by a gunman!"Ran expressed with tears in her eyes emotionally.

Takuma shook his head, his heart hammering, and his breath shaking. "We will go to the last place where Ranran and Shinichi were last seen. If we can find any clues...at least we know where they are. Everyone..."Takuma force himself to stand up bravely, "Prepare for the worst. Let's go!"Takuma fled as Michio grabbed Junko's arm and raced for the door.

"We will go to!"Ran said as she and Emiko were about to join them.

"No, Emiko, you and Ran stay here," Takuma called back.

"What!? Why!?"Emiko was surprised and so was Ran.

"Did you not remember the rules of the Tantei Association Shinichi drafted thanks to Ranran the other day?" Takuma reminded them, as the two females realised what he was saying, "Anyone who is excessively attached to the rescue victim should not be permitted to interfere with the rescue, since this might compromise the rescue operation. Unless there are not enough children-"

"No way!"Ran roared in anger."But he is already in trouble!"

"But I don't personally know Ranran or Shinichi well enough," Emiko argued.

"You nope, "Takuma pointed at the artist as he admits, "However, someone needs to stay back and make sure Ran doesn't cross in."He gave a stern glare at Ran.

Emiko blinks as she realizes Takuma does have a point."Now isn't the time to be obliging to the damn rules!"Ran yelled emotionally, tears were obviously streaming down her face.

"I hate to admit this, but Ranran is right."The glasses girl suddenly spoke up," Although I don't agree with the things done here, I too would freeze if Michio was in their shoes."

"Same here."Michio agreed.

Ran felt weak as she fell to her seat while Emiko tried to console her."Look Ran, you and Emiko won't be completely out of this. We will video call you later on, just don't leave the association, ok? Otherwise...Ranran and Shinichi won't go easy on you."

Takuma said as Michio goes, "We better hurry, time is running out."

Then the three ran through getting the transport as Takuma gave the directions, which they later accelerated and try to track the founder and apprentice.

Meanwhile, the Kudos were not having a good time having been forced into the Jaguar."What did you do to Muniko's driver!?"A second of fear gripped Shinichi's throat, as both Kudos had their hands bound to the back with ropes.

"He is somewhere where no one could ever reach him."

"What you did earlier is enough to screw you up," Ranran was looking at the back of the driver in a confrontational tone.

"True, but not as bad as the both of you currently are," the driver told her, staring straight ahead. "Now that the two of you are at our mercy."

Both kids remained silent for a moment. Then, Ranran sounded up. "Who are you working for? Namba? Or the Tadashi family's secretary so to speak!" Ranran contended as she sneaked her palm across the door handle to test it out, only to notice it is properly locked so neither of the two children could escape.

"You all know too many, it's time to put an end to the both of you." the man muttered, as he overtook a truck and sped around a corner.

Ranran and Shinichi gave each other a brief stare of horror, they wish they could make a phone call, but it is pointless now that he pocketed both of their smartphones. As they reached the outskirts of the city, the traffic thinned. Soon, dense jungle hemmed both sides of the road.

.....

The wind was howling, and the rain was pouring down out of the blue by 7 pm. The streets were flooded, and the sidewalks were covered in puddles. The only light came from the streetlights, and the only sound was the sound of the rain. When the remaining members finally arrived, the scene was havoc. Cars crashed into each other when the chase took place, the police were everywhere.

At this point, Ran knew they are up for mayhem watching all of this on her smartphone with Emiko.

"Here it is...Ranran's red scooter..."

Takuma's phone live-streamed the familiar broken red scooter on the side of the road, as the three children rode on bikes and skateboards. It was then Ran knew the signs were bad, really bad. It was lying on its side with the front wheel bent.

Ran braced herself for the inevitable. Sure enough, when Takuma, Michio and Junko got closer she could see on the smartphone, a broken skateboard, lying on the road. Ran was horrified, she recognize it as Shinichi's skateboard - she was sure of it.

Ran could only imagine the gruesome scene that must have taken place for both their scooter and skateboard to end up at this stage. Ran felt sick to her stomach when she realized this was probably just the beginning of hell. "He...c-can't be dead, right?"

"I don't know, we will see."Michio could be heard saying.

The words emitting from the smartphone seemed to fill the schoolroom with a fearful and dreading presence for the two girls as the watch in anticipation. They hung in the air like a dark cloud, oppressive and suffocating. Each syllable was like a weight, pressing down on Ran until she could barely breathe. That's when Ran started to cry. She was so scared and she didn't know what she was going to do if Shinichi is dead.

There was a point her mother had once warned her to be careful with the words she choose, for she may not know one day those words would be the last thing they remember before they did.

Had she known that arguing with him would be the last time she saw him, she would have done things differently. He wouldn't have ended up befriending the red lip demon, opening a Tantei agency together, or even getting himself into this dangerous situation because of her!

But hindsight is always 20/20, and at the time she thought they were just exchanging words like normal. Now she regrets not apologizing to him. But, as it happened, she said things she has regret. And it probably is too late.

"I think I better shut it down, no need to see any more distressing things."Emiko decided. That's when she realized, "Huh, Takuma and the guys were in such a hurry, they forgot to turn off the laptop. Ah reh?"Her right brow raised, "The map showing Ranran and Shinichi's location is still on and moving."

"Eh?!"Takuma, Michio and Junko heard Emiko's words, "Really?"Michio said hopefully.

"Looks like it," Emiko squinted onto the map as Ran suddenly stop crying, before pointing to the moving two spots, "I think the idiot who kidnapped them didn't realize the location on their smartphone was on. "

"That means they are very likely alive, right?"Junko suddenly jumps into the conversation, "Emiko, can you tell where are they heading?"

"Hmm...let me check."Emiko zoomed in before directing them, "If you guys take to your right and go straight all the way, you should be able to catch up with them."

"Alright, Emiko, we are leaving you to navigate us there. It's time to save them."Takuma growled as he muttered, hopping onto the skateboard before Junko and Michio geared up on their bike, ready for action.

"Ok, here we go."Emiko tries to calm herself as Ran sniffed, hoping they still have time left to rescue Ranran and Shinichi.

At last, the three manage to catch up with the green Jaguar as it аccelerated and it kept going straight. Michio flashed Junko a startled look."Where do you think they are taking them?!"

"I have a bad feeling about this."Junko thinks, observing from afar.

"We should follow them, "Takuma looked over his shoulder at the two eldest members with his skateboard.

"Yes, but don't get too close, alright? Otherwise, we will lose them."Michio replied.

....

Back at the school HQ, Ran was pacing up and down restlessly."They are going to be alright, Ran. We sent out a pro-football athlete, a strong swimmer and a daredevil bike rider."Emiko tried to reassure her, her eyes still on the laptop observing Ranran and Shinichi's location."Even if they fail to make it, Ranran who has experience can save Shinichi."

"Even so, there must be something we can do. Also, I am worried that they have no guns," The long brown-haired girl complained. "I hate being cooped in here like a chicken."

"You know the rules, Ran."The artist reminded her.

"Rules are designed to be disregarded, Ranran is the living definition of that," Ran expresses herself fiercely before she realizes, "I thought you ain't a stickler for rules!"

"I ain't," Emiko answered.

"Then why won't you let me-"

"Did you recall the very day when you stormed over to plead us into Tantei association, to step foot in this very room?"

Ran stopped as Emiko decided she is too emotionally impulsive at this point, and someone needs to tell her that."I-"

"What was the reason all of the boys in this room and Ranran didn't want to let you in? Even though you arrived here to plead for Sonoko's case?"Ran's mouth fell as Emiko silenced her with her harsh words, "This, what you are showing now...is the reason why."

"But-"

"What are you going to do if you head over to them?"Emiko throws the question at her.

"Excuse me?"Ran was halted by that unexpected question.

"You said you want to save Shinichi, correct? If you follow them, what do you plan to do? Jump in front of an oncoming bullet!?"Emiko pressed onto the shocked girl.

"I-"

"Or volunteer yourself as a hostage in exchange for Shinichi? Do you think Shinichi will remain unscathed?" Emiko believed that Ran was becoming agitated and didn't know what to say in response to Emiko's comment, "You realise what I mean?" Ran was unable to speak. "That's why you are here with me."

Silence.

"Anyone would act emotional, hell, I am certain Junko would do the same with Michio as you would with Shinichi." Emiko expresses her strong view."Though that girl I think would do worst than you."

Ran hesitated, unsure how to respond to Emiko.

"If you want to prove your place here and get Shinichi back, get your act together. Prove it. Put your views on Ranran aside for a moment."

"Prove it you say..."Ran's words trailed off as she formed a deep frown, "What can I do...?"

"Work on this case on a computer without leaving the room. That way, Shinichi and Ranran won't kick you out!"

Emiko is right.

Ran should do something rather than bawling her eyes out. With the laptop before them, Emiko said, "Didn't Ranran say something about the director having mentioned a brother but the CEO claimed that Seto Manami's dad said he only had one child? Plus the money they receive never makes it to them? I felt like there must be something fishy going on with this."

Ran placed her chin on the table," Either the CEO lied or the gardener lied, nah?"

"Ok, but let's think of it this way."Emiko tucked her pencil into her right ear, "If the CEO lied about the money and sibling, why?"

"Hmmm," Ran thought hard, "Maybe to protect his late grandmother's reputation? I mean the director did claim she abuse low-rank staff. As for the sibling part...I don't think he has a reason to lie."

"Alright fair enough," Emiko nodded, "Then let's think about the director. Why would he lie about a sibling that didn't exist? Plus the gardener...what was he thinking when he told the CEO he was a single child?"

"Maybe one favours the other?"Ran considers as she lifts her head, her right index finger to her chin, "There are parents who favour the other."

"Favour the other huh..."Emiko's behaviour became a little depressed at that thought, "Perhaps you are right."

"Eh?"Ran turned to Emiko, "What did you say?"

"Nothing," Emiko quickly recovered as she went on, "I spoke to the maid who used to work for them, it turns out the abuse claims were true."

"EH!?"Ran jumped up, "No way!"

"It's true," Emiko confirmed, as she recounted the phone conversation," She was literally in tears talking about the family's plight. It was a huge mess."

"How come a woman like her can be a mother..."Ran muttered in disapproval.

"You can't blame her though, turns out living a bastard life is worst off than a child whose parents split, "Emiko commented, as she ponders, "Force to live under the same roof with a woman who hates you, then force to marry someone you don't love, have a kid...anyone can go crazy as her."

Ran wasn't going to argue with that."If it were me, I will snap!"

"Right?"Emiko bobbed her head with her."Like Ranran?"

"Yeah, like Ranran-wait, what!? No! Ranran is a lunatic!"Ran dismisses Emiko's point of view.

"Is she really?"Emiko challenges her.

"...what precisely are you attempting to imply?" Ran is confused when Emiko goes silent, silently studying her. "What?! Is there something I don't know about Ranran? Tell me if this is the case!" Ran is curious to learn what Emiko discover about Ranran.

"I can tell you, however...you need to figure it out on your own."Emiko smiled.

"Eeeh!? Why!? Tell me!"Ran pleaded.

"No," Emiko expressed, "because if I did, you'd jump to the same conclusion. You wouldn't understand it unless you figured it out for yourself. Now," she had her index finger to Ran's attention, then pointed to the laptop, "Figure out about the case. The quicker we find something, the better Ranran and Shinichi's chances of living."

"Alright alright, I get it! Stop flipping your finger to stare, mou!"Ran groaned before having her eyes turned to the laptop, "Let's see...what should we look into?"

While all of this is going on, the remaining five members were having a rough time.

......

"Please don't tell me this is where we went the other night," Ranran told Shinichi as they were in the car.

Shinichi felt a chill down her spine. "It's the Ogochi Dam," he said. "It is exactly that."

Their eyes met and Shinichi shuddered. "You psycho!" He swung round and tugged on the door handle. "Stop the car," he yelled. "We're getting out!"

But the driver ignored him, his lips twisted in a cruel smile.

"Dude, I think they are in serious trouble man," Takuma commented as they tail the car with their little transport.

"Why?"Junko and Michio turned to Takuma, both of the eldest kids peddling hard with their bikes.

"This road is the route to that quarry we headed the other day," Takuma recalled, as Junko and Michio realize why the route they were taking was rather familiar, as the rain finally toned down.

"Now that you mentioned it...I found it odd why does this sound familiar..."Junko shuddered and began baling furiously around the bike handle before she reached across to Michio's bike handle and gripped around his hand as they cycled together. "Michio, I think you better sit back on this one in case the worst comes to you."

"But if anything goes wrong with you, who is going to call for help!?"Michio pointed out.

"He is right, Fuyuko! Now isn't the time to trim the fat."Takuma nodded, panic lighting his eyes onto the car containing Ranran and Shinichi, "What are they going to do to them!?"

Junko was hesitant to speak till she spills, "I think...they are going to throw them into the quarry, like what they did with me in the pool."

"What?!"The boys grew pale with horror.

Minutes later the stolen jaguar turned off the old highway and disappeared down the abandoned road and highway to Quarry Lake.

"If only we can call the damn police!"Junko groaned grimly, "But never would I had imagine a bloody earthquake would ruin things!"

The three then headed down the road as the car headed to Okutama Lake.

The bright sunshine dappled the dirt track with gloomy shadows. The twisted trees and broken skeletons of old equipment somehow looked even more forlorn in the evening light. As they hurried along, a flock of startled birds rose into the sky and wheeled away. Insects chorused in the wild scrub. A long, thick snake slithered into the tangled grass.

Suddenly, the sound of an approaching car sent the animals and insects diving for cover. The car that had driven the two kids to the lake rounded the bend and rattled past. They caught glimpse of the driver's grinning face before the Jaguar disappeared.

"I wonder if that Junko said is true?" whispered Takuma.

"I hope you are wrong, Junko," Michio whispered.

"Not hope, pray that I am wrong!"Junko corrected before she scrambled to her feet, "Let's find out! I don't think we have a moment to lose!"

Three men stepped out of a big car parked under the trees and walked towards the car.

"This is it, kids," said the driver, cutting the engine. "The end of the line for the both of you."

Ranran and Shinichi watched in horror as the three men approached the car. They flung open the doors and dragged them out The tallest man wore sunglasses and carried a gun. "Okay, the two of you have caused enough trouble," he growled.

"Is this your idea of a joke? If so, that is in bad taste!" demanded Ranran.

"Don't let that concern you," the man with a mole on his right chin snapped."You'll soon have something much more important to worry about."

Shinichi stared at the gun. "What are you going to do to us!?"

"Nothing." The fraud driver signalled with his gun." The both of you are going for a boat ride, that's all," and he roared with laughter.

The evening light bathed the grim, desolate landscape. Finally, the green Jaguar car rounded the last, sharp bend and the evil waters of Okutama Lake stretched to the distant tree line. A small boat bobbed in the water that lapped at the end of the road.

Ranran and Shinichi were dragged to the lake's edge. The water sloshed were forced over their shoes as they were to climb into the old wooden boat."Ah, damn it! My other shoe!"Ranran whined, for not long ago, her mom bought her another one after the events of 'Extinction Heist'.

"That's irrelevant now, Ranran!" Shinichi hissed at her.

"See it's always tragic when kids do silly things," explained the fraud driver with the gun."I mean fancy going out onto the lake in a boat that leaks."

"Yeah right! Kids can't just simply rent out easily and go on a ride legally!"Ranran blasted at the gunmen."They will know you force us here and drown us all!"

"Eh...this girl is feisty than the previous one in the pool, not to mention, educated."The gunman then shook his head in mock sympathy. "But, you know what they say. accidents do happen...the press will believe you both stole a boat and went out for a little joy ride. Next thing you know, oops! You both drown!"

"You bastard!"Shinichi roared at the fraud driver, "You are nothing but a cowardly wimp who targets after kids when the adults aren't around! I bet that is the reason why your mom and dad dump you!"

Ok, Shinichi knows nothing about this man's family history, let alone, his identity, but he had read a majority of criminals have dysfunctional lives where parents either abused them or abandon them which led them to this life of crime. If he was going to die, he might as well insult them through this once and for all!

Ranran who is next to him had her face fall, "Shinichi! Are you asking for our premature death!?"

And Shinichi must have struck a nerve with the child attacker, for his countenance distorted from astonishment to wrath. "How dare you make a snide remark about my background when you know nothing!"

"What!? Am I mistaken!? It's no surprise your parents threw you out! You deserve it!" Shinichi taunted the would-be-killer when Ranran was looking at her apprentice with pure horror written all over her face.

"Alright, that does it! Guys!"The child attacker turned to his henchmen as he pointed at the boat with the kids in it, ordering them, "Push them in! That will teach brats like them to talk crap about my childhood!"

The men began to push the boat away from the land. It rocked alarmingly as it floated out onto the lake with the two unfortunate children.