While Namba was still attempting to reach his fiancée, Shinichi decided to browse through Takuma's smartphone on the Tantei association's group discussion since he was curious about the latest information they manage to gather on the case.

"After all of the controversies, Namba Pictures was taken over by another CEO." Ranran was studying Michio's smartphone. As Ranran assigned Shinichi the task of keeping the group updated on the case while she dug deeper, the two kids had lost their smartphones owing to the earlier kidnapping.

"Namba insisted that the woman who he had lived his whole life with his is true mother. But, according to Mr Tomio, Tadashi Sora is his real mother. So who is lying?" Ranran was confused when she listened to Shinichi's summary of Emiko's text messages shortly afterwards.

"Also the money part...they were in debt due to a loan shark signed by a woman. Could it be Tadashi Sora?"Shinichi ponders about this."How is it that she can easily forge or easily obtain Namba's step-father's signature, I wonder? You can't just go up to someone and ask them to sign for you."

"Perhaps his step-father knew Sora in some way. But we don't know what the connection is. Another troubling aspect of the issue is Namba's right to an inheritance. Our client didn't reveal anything about the inheritance situation besides the Ponzi scheme. Is our client conscious of Namba's motives, or is he deceiving himself to lie to us all?" Ranran is perplexed.

"Their blood relation is the one thing that connects everything together. The question is, say if Kamiko, his supposed mother, lied that Sora isn't his mom. Why? Why didn't she say a thing about their true relations to Namba? What is stopping her? Also, was Namba lying when he said the woman who raised him is his real mother? Or he was unaware?" Shinichi ponders. After a few minutes, he drew Ranran away and whispered, "Ranran, take a look at this sketch art Emiko gave us earlier on Seto Menami's brother."

"He looks...familiar?"Ranran scrutinized the picture.

"Right? I also think so too," Shinichi replied softly so the man couldn't hear them.

Ranran said nothing for a while, then she had an idea.

She then texted Emiko urgently a certain request, one that she knew would eventually break the case wide open with Emiko's sketch.

Right off the bat, as soon as Emiko received a ping from her phone, she checked the founder's request hurriedly, picking out her sketchbook and pencils to sketch over the art. Ran was sitting next to her when she noticed Emiko starting to draw the face, and as she worked on it, the more she realized she knew about the person as Ohta Bunko's grey car left the city behind and reached the Old Northern Highway.

Ohta was too busy to talk with the little girls as she was busy on her phone arguing with her fiance. Ran who was sitting next to her asked in a low voice, "Emiko, what are you doing?"

"I am drawing over the face of Seto Benjiro," Emiko said.

"Why?"

"Cause Ranran asked for it."Emiko continued sketching.

"What are you trying to do?"Ran stared in curiosity.

"She asked me to do an Age Progression on Seto Benjiro."

"Age progression?"Ran blinked confusingly.

"Ranran is curious to know how Seto Benjiro is like today for his age when he is no longer 18 years old."Emiko turned to Ran, "I think Ranran suspected she knew who the person is, except she ain't sure till one does Age progression. It's a technical interpretation for artists of what a missing person may look like when they have been missing for several years."

"Eh? So one can actually predict how one will look like when one gets older? But usually doesn't it take years to master it?"Ran frowned at Emiko, "You are only nine years old."

"Correction, I have been learning to draw since I turn 3 years old. "Emiko argued before she decided, "If she believes in my talent, then I won't let her down."

"That idiot, "The fiance finally hung up the phone on her beloved as she groaned, "I didn't think he took it too far."

"What did he do?"Ran asked.

"Girls, I think I am going to have a long talk with Namba before you girls send him to prison."

The little girls exchanged looks before turning to the driver, "Did he kill someone?"Ran probed.

"I don't think so, yet."The woman responded grimly.

"Yet?!"Ran and Emiko responded in unison with their jaws falling.

"I hope by the time I get there, he didn't do anything stupid!"The unfortunate fiance was already greeting her teeth by then," Had that trip I wasn't supposed to head to get cancelled, I wouldn't have known he would do something as foolish as this!"

Deciding to calm her down, Emiko poses a question to distract her."About your benefactor...how did the both of you meet?"Emiko couldn't help but ask.

"Well...I was job hunting one day as an office secretary before she suddenly managed to contact me and offered me a job there. Surprisingly, she knew Namba through mutual friends."Bunko explained before she adds, "Tadashi pictures are one of the most valuable billion yen movie production company in the entertainer industry, and since Namba was working as a film director at that time thanks to her, I thought doing this job would sound convenient as I would be working in the same inner circle."

"Why didn't you work for your fiancé back then under his company then? It would've been all so convenient."Ran marvels at the woman's job opportunity having fallen onto her lap easily.

"After reading tons of tabloid magazines on how love won't survive that long in the long run in the entertainment industry, we both agreed to work separately to maintain our relationship."Bunko commented.

"Really? Why is that I wonder?"Ran became perplexed.

"In the entertainment world, it's said that marriages and love aged quickly in time."Ran became more uncertain as Emiko explains further, "It's something like...you start to see imperfections on everything in the person you love, but a lot faster there. That makes it quicker for you to want out of it."

"That's awful if one puts it."Ran pouted at that thought.

"This is the way to Quarry Lake, isn't it" observed Emiko, arching an eyebrow. "I thought you were taking us to see Namba."

"I am," explained Bunko. "He's been hiding out at the lake ever since Muniko tried to kill him."

Ran saw the road to the old quarry flash past, "You missed the route." Ran told her.

"There's another way in, "The driver told her." Years ago during a date outdoors, we discovered it by accident. There used to be a lot of old mines up here, as well as the quarry." and she pointed ahead to "That's an old mining road that nobody knows about. It comes out on the opposite side of the lake to the quarry road."

She turned off the highway into a small clearing. The car came to a stop in front of a wall of thick bushes. The scammer's fiance jumped out ran forward and revealed a small road leading uphill through the dense forest. There was just enough space for the car to drive through.

....

"It ain't just me, deshou? I kept hearing noises coming out from up there?"

Shinichi couldn't help but be annoyed as he pointed at the weird-looking cave on the top of the hill where the kids were directed to look.

"You ain't wrong, that noise is bloody annoying."Ranran's hands were even deeper in her skirt pockets, gritting her teeth in irritation as she kicked another pebble aside as she followed the trail through the trees.

The kids of Tantei Association initially had no plans of exploring, let alone, wandering off further from where Namba asked them to remain. But the echoing whining noises that are emitting from the dark mine based on the top hill have annoyed them for over their 5-10 minute boredom, and Namba has yet to return as he could be heard arguing with his fiance over the phone.

Kudo Ranran who is sensitive to loud noises has had enough of this and decided she was going to end the source of the noise. Murder is one of those options.

"Ranran, I think this is a bad idea!" Michio and Takuma rush over to her, trying to discourage her from confronting whatever it is.

"They are right, you know?"Shinichi stood in front of her, "It could be a bear for all we know!"

"In the middle of winter!? I beg my chances!" Ranran spat before moving towards the rocky paths. A hillside loomed up ahead while the others followed, trying to see where the source of the noise is coming from.

"What is Ranran doing? Does she not realize she almost got killed!?"Junko grumbled, a little annoyed that she kept kicking every pebble or stone she sees.

"She is in thinking mode, don't bother to stop her," Takuma whispered to Junko.

"Eh?"The glasses girl turned to the athlete.

"Whenever Ranran thinks, she does that all the time. Kicking anything she meets. But if anything gets in her way, she will take matters into her own hands."

"Still, she shouldn't be taking her frustrations on rocks that can do no wrong."Junk rolled their eyes at him." I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry as well. I bet it's dinner time already" she complained before whining, "And I still feel drenched in water after swimming at that lake earlier. I can't wait to change spare clothes to keep myself dry after this. I felt cold right now."She then gave Ranran and Shinichi a hard glare from the back while rubbing her arms for warmth, "How are they still wet and not shivering! I swear I am close to getting hypothermia with the weather and all of this!"

"Why don't we go back and see what kind of food Namba has later on, nah Junko? Also, I am certain he has some additional spare clothes to keep us dry."Michio suggests.

Suddenly Ranran stopped, staring at a shadowy gap in the side of the hill." It must be a cave," said Shinichi, standing beside her.

"I don't think so," Ranran murmured, stepping closer, "It's got a wooden doorway inside."

Michio peered over her shoulder and pointed."It's an old mine," he told her."You can see the timbers supporting the entrance."

Shinichi hurried forward and pushed the old door. It swung open on well-oiled hinges. He shot Ranran a glance and together they disappeared inside.

"Ranran, Shinichi! Wait up!"Takuma hurried over to their side.

Junko stamped her foot."Doesn't she ever get hungry?"

Michio grabbed her hand." Let's see what they have found."

Junko groaned and followed her into a large, gloomy chamber. Strange, broken pieces of old machinery littered the rocky floor. Ranran stooped down and examined them.

"You're right, Shinichi," Ranran commented. This was a mine of some kind."

"Why would there be a mine left all on their own?"Takuma wonders.

Shinichi surveyed the walls carved out of solid rock."My guess is they had to abandon the mine when the underground river filled the quarry."

Junko suddenly gripped Michio's arm. "Majima," she whispered urgently, "somebody else is in here?

Michio her a scornful look, but before he could give say anything he heard a strange, low sound. He froze as his eyes probed the darkness

"What's that?" Takuma nudged Ranran.

Ranran edged deeper into the chamber. The noises seemed to be growing louder and more urgent."Who's there?" She called into the gloom.

A muffled groan came in reply. He ran forward, almost tripping over a strange hooded shape on the ground. He dropped to his knees, his hands discovering somebody bound in thick rope.А sack had been pulled over the person's head. The others ran forward to help, fumbling to remove the sack and loosen the rope.

Moments later Junko shrieked with horror as she was staring at the ashen face of Mr Muniko, his eyes wide with fear.

"Mr Muniko Tomio?! What are you doing here?!" Takuma couldn't help but ask.

"I thought I was a dead man," he groaned weakly as Michio and Junko helped him to sit up, while Ranran cut through the rope with a penknife.

"How did you get here, Mr Muniko?" Shinichi asked him.

Muniko Tomio struggled to get his breath. "It was Namba. He did this to me after I sent the driver over to pick the both of you and sent you to the Tadashi CEO."

"Was it over the inheritance you stopped him from claiming?"Takuma asked, wondering why is this family situation getting more messed up.

"What do you mean I stopped him?! It's him who was being too greedy with his share!"The children silently listen to his ramblings as Mr Muniko ranted, "Many years ago, he headed over to the house and confronted that we cheated him off on the inheritance. When in reality, he cheated my ailing dad of the money, a lot more than originally offered."

"Really?"Michio raised his eyebrows, "How did you know? Did your late father inform you?"

"No, my mother was the one who informed me. She had been by his bedside when his depression acted out as she works as a nurse."

"Your mother?"Takuma blinked.

"The same one that declared she would hire someone to murder him?"Junko found herself saying it.

"That's right, the same one. My mother has always loved my father since high school, and that hasn't changed leading up to his death. That's right, I almost forgot, one time she even declared she was willing to take in Namba at that time when the affair broke out in the media. This made my father's depression take a turn for the worst according to my late-grandfather."

"Really? Also, depression!?"Junko was stunned as she and Michio pulled away from the remains of the rope as Muniko massaged his wrists and legs, not before realizing, "Wait, what is depression?"

"Yeah, what is that?"Takuma and Michio questioned the dazed Muniko.

"It means feeling sad, but the sadness doesn't go away for a long long time."Ranran sighed rubbing her face, wondering why are they so lacking in understanding of such a term. In her old school, everyone knows what that is. Don't tell her all the kids her age don't know this damn word?!

"Wait, you mentioned the affair broke out of the media."Shinichi turned to face the wearied man, "What do you mean?"

"You may not know this, but the Tadashis and my mother didn't want both my dad and that woman to be together because of Miss Sora's illegitimacy. When my mother found out he had the child with Sora, she made a deal with the late matriarch of the Tadashi at that time to oust them to end the affair." He then cast his eyes to the ground, "That's why when mother stormed over to the office and said Namba was exploiting him, I didn't doubt her for a second because of this."Muniko explains grimly.

"From the sounds of it...your father's relationship with your mother sounded bad."Junko couldn't help but notice.

"I think there was never a day their relationship was good since I was born."Muniko now thinks bad of the cruel memories, "My father was never around...even though he is around."

"What is that supposed to mean?"Takuma's eyebrows rose as the two Kudo children returned to them.

"My dad...was always sick growing up."Sensing all of the kids were baffled, Muniko explained, "He was always tired going to work and back. Even if he wasn't working...he still is tired and sleeps on the sofa or bed all day during the holidays."

"Was he drunk? My mom gets drunk after work usually."Junko suggests.

"My father drinks, but he drinks moderately. I think he must have some sort of medical condition now I think back."

"What makes you certain?"Shinichi asked.

"He was always groggy, couldn't pay attention at times. At work in the same company back then, he was sharp as an eagle. But whenever he is free, he couldn't remember where he place his car keys, or would forget to shower the whole day...oh yeah, he even once forgot to attend my high school graduation. Which didn't sound like him. I think...it was because of this, I had to interfere with the inheritance thing because I don't think he was thinking straight when all of this was going on. I mean....it got so bad, that he kept crashing into things for many years before my mother reluctantly hired a chauffeur to drive him there."

"I am sorry, reluctantly? Her husband was ill! Has she lost her mind!?"Junko blinked at that statement.

"She didn't want to hire a chauffeur at that time because she feared the press would get wind that he relapsed from his depression. Plus, the company sales might go downhill since their golden goose is dying." The crooked nose man tried to breathe in slowly from having to deal with his recent kidnapping,"I mean the press did hound them whenever they go, especially my dad since the affair."

"That is so messed up."Takuma couldn't help but mutter in scorn," She is prioritizing money over her husband's life."

"I don't think that's normal for your dad to behave that way if he was sad all the time." Michio had a hard time believing this, "I mean if one is sad, one doesn't just sleep all day."

"That's true," Junko and Shinichi nodded in agreement towards Michio's statement.

"Well, my dad does a lot. Ever since the affair revelation broke out, whenever I see him, he sleeps most of the time. I don't know about you lot, but that is how his depression worsens his sleep. If it wasn't for my mother who was formerly a nurse to constantly aid him with medicine and all of that, he could never survive this long leading up to his death." Muniko rambled.

Sensing something amiss, Ranran snatched Takuma's phone and headed out of the mine to get a signal and browse the news. Shinichi followed her out, wondering what was with her.

It wasn't till Shinichi spotted what Ranran was trying to search, that the switch in his brain flicked.

"Ranran, are you thinking what I am thinking?"Shinichi said as he exchanged looks with his red lip mentor.

"I suspect so as well."Ranran suddenly gave a grim look, "Depression is difficult, it does affect sleep patterns where one sleeps longer during the day or be deprived according to what I learn in school." she browses for information further on, "But the wife works as a nurse if I were her, would I let him drive to work on his own? Knowing that his sleep pattern would set him at a higher risk of getting into a car accident?"

"Exactly, that wouldn't have been wise for someone who used to work as a nurse."Shinichi's blue eyes then scanned the results on the screen," If what we suspect is true, that changes everything we know about the case."Shinichi scanned the words as he began to wonder, "What are we looking for anyway?"

"A video from the press, the ones that follow his father."Ranran answers without looking back at her apprentice.

Shinichi then recalled another thing that has been boggling his mind, "You know what else is odd, Ranran?"

"What is?"

"The fact that Miss Sora has been living under the Tadashi's after her stepmother passed away, till she moved out thanks to her blossoming career." He turned his attention to her, "During that period, her father passed away deshou? Why didn't the late matriarch kick her out of the house and continue to pay for her education and all of that despite knowing she is the daughter of the mistress?"Shinichi was bewildered while scratching his head."I mean if I were her, I would send her to a school with the weakest teaching opportunities like Cinderella's stepmother would do."

"I could be wrong, but I suspect she did it to avoid getting sued by Sora should she reach adulthood."Ranran imagined, as her eyes cast on the brightly lit screen, "Do you know why Cinderella's stepmother and daughters were punished by The Prince, Shinichi?"

"Why you say...?"Shinichi mouthed before responding," Because he learns of the cruel treatment they inflicted on Cinderella. They took away her lavish bedroom, beautiful jewellery and clothes as they made her sleep in a pit of cinders. But wait, what does this have to do with Sora and her stepmother?"

"Let me ask you something, Shinichi. Say in the Cinderella situation, if her stepmother and daughters didn't do all of that cruelty towards her such as stealing all of her wealth and assets, but just treating her coldly, in your opinion, do the prince have grounds for punishing her?"

"I mean yeah, that depends. He is a royal, after all, they can do whatever he wants."He scoffed.

"Then if that fairy tale is in the modern world, can he punish them for treating Cinderella coldly?"Ranran quipped.

"No! Absolutely not!"Shinichi contested, "A royal ain't above the law, also, they didn't steal her wealthy inheritance."

"There you have it, Shinichi." Ranran snapped her fingers at him, "That is the situation with Sora and that woman."

"But her situation is like Cinderella, except worst, she was being abused!"Shinichi argued.

"Wrong, she is being abused and at the same time, taken care of in the public eye."Ranran commented, "Like if one abuses a dog behind the scenes, yet it is dressed lavishly to look good on Instagram photos, you don't question the owner being capable of such cruelties. If that dog bites the influencer, everyone will automatically blame the dog and put it to sleep. I think that is the same with Sora. In case Sora tries to sue her, the late matriarch could've used this against Sora and painted her as a money-grabbing wild illegitimate child. After all, she did pay for Sora's school fees meant for nobles. Sora reporting this is a losing battle for her. Also, it makes you look good in social circles."

"Damn, "Shinichi cursed under his breath," This is even worst than I imagine things to turn out."

Meanwhile, back in the mine, Muniko's terrified eyes darted around in paranoia while the 4 others remain. "I guess it was thanks to all of this, I had reason to fear Namba as my mother said he is as dangerous as his mother, that Tadashi Sora."

"So is that the reason why you forged the will?!" Takuma confronted and Muniko snorted.

"What!? No, I wanted to contest the will, that is why I send in the old one he drafted through the family lawyer. There was no way I was willing to risk my career by coming up with the forge one in the entertainment industry. It's a suicide to my career." Muniko snapped.

"According to Namba, he claimed you submitted a fake will and overwrote his rights."Takuma reminded him.

"I wasn't present when all of this was going on at that time as I had to go on an overseas trip, but my mother said this was what had happened when they met up in court. Long story short, when the verdict was read out...he ended up harassing our house till guards had to be hired to protect the  residence."

That's when Junko couldn't help but noticed something was amiss, "Hang on a minute, if you were involved in this lawsuit, surely Namba wrote down his real legal name on court documents, right?"

"His real legal name?"Muniko became baffled.

"You sent Ranran and Shinichi to meet up with the Tadashi family earlier to ask about his legal name as you had no idea, correct? Yet there was a lawsuit there was taking place at that time...sure you did come across his real name."Junko pointed out.

"That's right!"Takuma's fist hit his palm, "You can't put your fake name on documents, especially in court. Otherwise, you would get into serious trouble!"

"I am sorry I had no idea...as my mother was completely involved in the whole legal saga..she only asked me to submit the documents my father left behind to go against Namba."

"Why didn't you mention any of this earlier before sending the driver over? Have you done it earlier, you wouldn't have gotten yourself into this mess!" Michio confronted.

Muniko looked at her in despair, "When Namba accused us of killing his biological mother thanks to the inheritance thing, this was before I knew Namba is my half-brother, it didn't cross my mind since I am aware that Tadashi Sora is alive, so I was certain he was lying."

Meanwhile, Shinichi waited till Emiko answered the phone, "Hello? Takuma?"

"Emiko? It's me, Shinichi. I am using Takuma's phone as our phones are stolen. I need you to do a couple of things Ranran need me to ask Namba's fiancé through you. It's urgent."

As soon as Emiko listened to Shinichi's orders, she covered her phone before asking Namba's fiance, who was driving in the car"Neh, Miss Ohta?"

"Yes?"

"Is your fiance's name before Namba...Seto Benjiro?"

"Eh? How did you know that?!"

"No way!"Emiko was horrified and so was Ran as they learn, "So the one who committed suicide at the bridge was his sister, right?"

"Step-sister from his father's side from a previous relationship, though I think she tends to be overly doting onto Namba. Also, what suicide? She was pushed down the bridge."

"Eeeeeeeh!?"The two little girls yelped before Ran said, "But the news said she committed suicide."

"No, that ain't true."Ohta denies it," Part of her university course requires her to take pictures at that bridge at that time. On the day of her death, she was talking to Namba over the phone till he overheard some confrontation where she yelled who was that person before she later scream with a loud thud. Namba was heartbroken as this took place days after he lost the trial with the Muniko family."

"No way..."Ran's jaw dropped at this revelation.

"Why? Is there something wrong?"The woman asked.

"That means...he really has no idea at all, doesn't he?"Ran and Emiko exchanges grim glances at the woman.

"No idea of what?!"The woman demanded, wondering what do they know.

Muniko Tomio's voice was choked with regret as Ranran and Shinichi finally returned with the phone in Ranran's hands. "If only I'd been more honest with all of you, right from the start. Then I wouldn't have endangered your lives. I'm very, very sorry, he pleaded. "Then, you all know the rest of the story. Namba brought me here and I couldn't see much, it's dark, but we're somewhere near Quarry Lake, aren't we?"

Ranran nodded, "We are, though...I felt like there is one more thing odd about this case. And I think we have the right to know, Mr Muniko Tomio," Ranran frowned, "Are you certain that your mother isn't completely aware of this case?"

Muniko face was drawn with horror."No way, over my dead body." He shook his head. "If she finds out, it won't just be Namba's life at risk, we would be screwed. Anyway, now that I said all of this, I think it's finally clear that Namba was responsible for the kidnapping. I know that as I heard his voice."

Michio stared at him in disbelief "But it doesn't make sense," he cried. "I mean to you it does, not what about us? What does he gain from kidnapping Ranran and Shinichi?"

Ding ding.

The notification emitting from Takuma's phone echoed and silenced everyone.

Looking at the message on the screen, as soon as Shinichi peered at what was displayed, he gasp, "No way...."

Even Ranran was shook to the core, finally, everything about this case began to make sense. And this video confirms her suspicions.

Like a boomerang, the case that began with crooked beginnings is bound to return viciously. It was many years in the making due to the feud between two people, but no one is aware of it.

"I can't believe you are still here busy lying to the children just so to justify your crimes!"

"Eh?" "Eh?"

The two children turned back to see what was going on, before they know it, Namba had reappeared entering the mine with his gun aimed at the man on the floor. The very one that killed his mother, made him bankrupt and brought him so much pain in his childhood as the kids helpless watch while Junko squealed in horror.

"Don't you dare!"Muniko barked in defiance.

"Why shouldn't I? You killed my mother without even looking back by tempering with the will where father left a reasonable sum of fortune for me to aid her. To top it off, I know it was you who tipped the family behind the movie 'Boy in the mirror', if you didn't, I wouldn't been forced to steal just to pay off my family's debts and company alike!"

"You are crazy!"Muniko bellowed, "I never once met your real mother in my entire life! Also, what on earth are you talking about?! Are you psycho or what?! Your mother is still alive!"

"Liar! She is dead and buried six feet below next to my adopted father! If it wasn't for my benefactor to tell me all of this, I wouldn't have known that you'll be capable of such cruelty!"Namba spat bitterly.

Ranran shouted, "Don't do it, Namba!! You got it wrong!"Ranran suddenly puts herself in front of the scared man, blocking Namba's view.

Right now, Shinichi could only hope his mentor can talk some sense into the scammer, and get him to see reason.

"Go away, girl! This is between him and me unless you want to join him!"

There's no reasoning with him, he's beyond rational thought, even going so far as to threaten to shoot Ranran as well."I wouldn't mind letting you after all of this, but your half brother isn't the one behind it."

"Excuse me?!"

"If you killed him, it will be succeeding the plan of both of your mothers! They will ultimately benefit more from both of your tragedies!"

Silence can be heard all over the mine. All have stunned shocked faces."What did you just say?!"