6-year-old Kudo Shinichi hates lying.

And he had his own fair share of reasons. The first bad news Kudo Shinichi had ever received in his life, was when he was around 4 years old.

Having received a letter allegedly from a fan according to his mystery writer father, Kudo Yuusaku, that the letter was meant for Shinichi to be read privately at around 12 am on his birthday, he truly didn't know what to make of it.

For a 4-year-old, Kudo Shinichi was a precocious child, known for his intelligence and curiosity. He loved spending his days solving puzzles and mysteries and dreamed of one day becoming a great detective like his idol, Sherlock Holmes. Which really didn't change even until he turned 6-years-old if he was honest with himself.

Because his mom, Kudo Yukiko, a former silver screen actress, had a habit of posting about his son's daily activities on social media at that time, the fans of Kudo Yuusaku's mystery works are very much aware of their son being a budding detective prodigy.

So sending countless messages of support, admiration, and even their own unsolved mysteries for Shinichi to solve has become a norm and an activity he looks forward to for the 4-year-old.

One day, this particular letter was given to his father a day before his birthday.

The envelope that arrived for Kudo Shinichi on his 4th birthday was unlike any he had ever seen before.

It was made of a thick, glossy black paper that was smooth to the touch, with a subtle sheen that shimmered in the light. The edges of the envelope were expertly cut, sharp and precise, and the corners were perfectly square.

But it was the intricate detailing on the envelope that really caught Shinichi's eye. In the centre of the envelope was a silver emblem, intricately embossed and etched with delicate lines that glinted in the light. The emblem on the front of the letter was a stylized "K," representing the Kudo family name, and it was surrounded by a series of intricate patterns and swirls that gave the envelope an air of elegance and sophistication.

As Shinichi held the envelope in his small hands, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and curiosity. He had received many letters from his father's fans before, but none of them had ever been as fancy or mysterious as this one.

The back of the envelope was adorned with a gold wax seal, bearing the initial "A" in an intricate, swirling script, bearing an intricate design that looked like a coat of arms. The stamp was so well-done that it left a slight impression on the paper around it, giving the envelope an even more regal appearance.

Shinichi wondered who could have sent such an elaborate letter and what secrets it might hold.

As Shinichi held the envelope in his hands, he couldn't help but marvel at how fancy and elaborate it was. It was clear that whoever had sent this envelope had gone to great lengths to make it look as impressive and important as possible.

And little did Shinichi know, the contents of the envelope would be just as mysterious and foreboding as its appearance.

........................

4-year-old Shinichi had the most freedom, unlike most children.

While most kids aren't allowed to stay up late at night, the same can't be said for Shinichi. Maybe because his parents often worked late, or perhaps it was because they recognized his advanced intelligence and maturity, but 4-year-old Shinichi had a level of freedom that was rare for children his age.

He was allowed to stay up late into the night, reading books and solving puzzles by the light of his desk lamp. He would pour over the works of his favourite detectives, piecing together clues and trying to solve the mysteries before the big reveal at the end of the book.

Shinichi's parents, Kudo Yuusaku and Yukiko encouraged his curious nature and would often bring him along to their own investigations. Shinichi would watch from the sidelines, taking in everything he could and asking endless questions. And while some might have thought it was strange for a 4-year-old to be so invested in the world of crime-solving and detective work, to Shinichi, it was simply his way of life.

Of course, there were times when Shinichi longed for the normal childhood experiences he saw other kids having. He would watch from his bedroom window as his peers played in the park or rode their bikes around the neighbourhood. But for the most part, he was content with his unconventional upbringing. He had a passion for solving mysteries, and he knew that he was lucky to have parents who supported and nurtured that passion.

So that night, while his parents were asleep, at around 11 pm, he waited till 12 am.

A link was attached to the envelope, so he needed a computer.

Although he was an hour early, Shinichi couldn't contain his excitement. He quickly snuck out of his room and made his way to his father's study, careful not to wake his parents up, he knew there was a computer in the study he could use to see what was waiting for him.

As the minutes drag by to 12 am, Shinichi was impatient. He often wondered why time won't go any faster when it comes to school lessons, but when it came to the holidays, riddle solving or if he read mystery novels, time seemed to fly by too quickly.

Finally, the clock struck midnight, and Shinichi eagerly clicked on the link. The page that opened up was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The background was black, with white text scrolling across the screen. It was an encrypted message, filled with puzzles and riddles that Shinichi had to solve to unlock the message.

At first, Shinichi felt like the website puzzles were far too easy for the 4-year-old.

It asked questions such as 'Name of father', 'Name of mother', 'What you think of having a sibling?', 'Why do you want to become a detective?' etc. He was starting to wonder if this was a scam and was about to stop answering.

But then, it took him to a Holmes Site unlike he has ever seen before.

As Shinichi explored the "Holmes Site" on the black background, he couldn't help but be transported into a world that looked like it belonged in the pages of a classic Victorian novel. The site was designed to look like an old, dusty library, complete with tall bookshelves lined with leather-bound books and antique lamps casting a warm glow.

The colour scheme was dominated by deep shades of burgundy, navy blue, and forest green, giving the site a distinctly "dark academia" vibe. The font used was an elegant, cursive script, adding to the sense of old-world charm.

The virtual tour of 221B Baker Street was a particular highlight. The site had recreated the famous flat down to the smallest detail, from the cosy sitting room with its overstuffed chairs and Persian rug to the laboratory with its bubbling beakers and scientific equipment. The attention to detail was astounding, and Shinichi felt like he was truly stepping back in time.

As he delved further into the site, he came across a section that was titled "Case Files". The page was designed to look like an old, leather-bound book, complete with gold lettering on the cover. Each case file was meticulously organized, with witness statements, crime scene photos, and even diagrams of the scene of the crime.

Overall, the site had a sophisticated, intellectual feel to it, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes and those who appreciate the elegance and refinement of the Victorian era. It was a world that Shinichi felt completely at home in, and he couldn't wait to explore it further.

To anyone seeing the site, it was a dream a Holmes fan could ask for. But then, an unexpected countdown timer appeared.

The countdown timer appeared on the top of the page, ticking away the seconds and minutes with a sense of urgency. Shinichi's heart raced as he watched the timer, wondering what it could mean.

Exactly around 12 am on May 4th, the time ticks by, and he has 19 hours left.

At first, the 4-year-old panicked, was this perhaps a bomb some terrorist sent to him anonymously through an envelope in the guise of a fan mail to his dad? To kill his precious son?

But then, judging from his neighbour Professor Agasa's words, it shouldn't be.

If that were the case, the whole Beikai District and the world would be wiped out in an instant.

Suddenly, the fancy words on the site unscrambled themselves before Shinichi's eyes, revealing a sinister message:

Choose a door. Left or Right?

Shinichi's heart pounded with excitement and curiosity. He had always loved a good challenge, and this mysterious message was no exception. He read the message over and over, trying to decipher its meaning.

Finally, he realized that he was being given a choice: Left or Right. But what did it mean? Was it a literal choice of doors? Or was it a metaphor for something else entirely?

Shinichi knew that he had to choose carefully. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand. After a few moments of contemplation, he made his decision.

He clicked on the left door, and immediately a new page opened up.

The page was dark, with a black background and white text. There were no images or graphics, only words. And these words were in the form of a riddle:

A Holmes shall fall in Vain,

Shall he lose to Moriaty with his brain,

The key lies hidden in plain sight,

Search well and you shall find the light.

Shinichi furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of the riddle. It seemed to be hinting at something, but he couldn't quite figure out what. He read it over and over, trying to decipher its meaning.

Then a disturbing video comes up out of the blue.

It was a video of a Reichenbach falling scene between Holmes and Moriarty, where Moriarty pushed Holmes down all the way to the depths of the waterfall. Except 4-year-old Shinichi's head was intentionally edited on Holmes, while that man's head was on Moriaty...was a man Shinichi had secretly despised in real life edited there.

Shinichi's eyes widened in shock and horror as he watched the video. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Someone had edited his head onto Holmes and his enemy's head onto Moriarty. It was as if they were trying to send him a message, a warning perhaps.

Shinichi felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the video play out. This man was someone his grandparents and parents hugely trusts, one that could never hurt a fly.

But Shinichi viewed him differently, he knew he was despicable.

He knew that the Reichenbach Falls was one of the most famous scenes in Sherlock Holmes literature, and it was often used as a metaphor for a great and tragic sacrifice. Was someone trying to tell him that he would suffer a terrible fate like Holmes if he continued his detective dream? If so, this is a sickening joke. Especially to use 'that man' who is within the family.

That disgusting man of all people.

Shinichi felt his heart race as he tried to make sense of the video and the riddle. He knew that he had to stay calm and focused if he was going to solve this mystery. He took a deep breath and tried to push aside his fear and anxiety.

He then took a good look at the timer, 19 hours...why 19 hours?

Then he calculated the time, it would be 7 pm tomorrow after 19 hours passed by.

And then he remembered a party he almost forgot and dreaded: His first birthday party.

Shinichi's heart sank as he realized that the countdown timer was leading up to his birthday party. He had been so caught up in the mystery and the countdown that he had completely forgotten about the party. He had always been a bit of a loner, and the idea of a big party with lots of people made him feel nervous and uncomfortable.

But it won't be as bad as that disgusting man being there.

Said the disgusting guy being at his own birthday party...ugh, no one in the family believed him that there is seriously something wrong with him. When he once saw his smartphone had questionable pictures of children who looked very uncomfortable in unimaginable ways, Shinichi's mind literally blocked it and blurred it whenever he recalls this.

Shinichi shook his head, trying to clear his mind of those negative thoughts. He knew that he couldn't let his personal feelings get in the way of his detective work. He had to focus on the task at hand and solve this mystery.

Suddenly, Shinichi realized he forgot about the right door on the website.

He quickly went back to the previous page and clicked on the right door. A new page opened up, and this time, it was completely different from the previous one. This one was a riddle that implies it as the 'escape route' for Shinichi:

Through the dark and winding path,

A key awaits its master's grasp.

Unlock the door to freedom's light,

And Holmes shall flee the shadows of the night.

Shinichi's heart raced as he read the riddle. It seemed to be telling him that there was a way out, a way to escape from that man.

Then a thought occurred to him: Who is this person who gave his father the letter? And how did this fan know about Shinichi's predicament with this man?

He hadn't told his kindergarten friends Ran and Sonoko about him, aside from his own family members who barely believed a word when Shinichi voiced out that man was disturbing. Shinichi took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing thoughts. He knew that he had to solve this riddle if he wanted to escape the shadows of the night. He read the riddle over and over, trying to pick up any subtle clues or hints.

By this point, Shinichi realized that he had to be cautious. He didn't know who was behind this website or what their intentions were. Could this person be from that man?

That man could've sent someone anyone barely knows to deliver the letter to his father, and then pass it on to Shinichi. Shinichi then started by analyzing the riddle. Holmes shall flee the shadows of the night...if Shinichi were to think back to the video, was the 'Holmes' in the riddle actually referring to himself?

He read the riddle again and realized that the part "Shall he lose to Moriaty with his brain" was possibly referring to this man. And then he noticed the word 'key' multiple times regarding Shinichi's dilemma against that man.

Does this mean...whoever gave the letter to his dad and knew about Shinichi's private problem...found a solution to resolve this!?

It's possible, Shinichi thought. The repeated use of the word "key" in the riddle could be a hint that there was a way to unlock a solution to his problem with that man. But what could it be?

Shinichi knew that he had to keep a clear head and think logically. Suddenly, a list of names appeared without warning from the right door. Startled by the sudden appearance of the list of names, he wondered if it was related to the riddle in any way. He quickly scanned the list, trying to make sense of it. There were several names on the list, but none of them seemed familiar to him.

He read the riddle again, searching for any clues that could help him understand the significance of the list of names. But he couldn't find anything that connected the two.

Then the more names he read, the more it didn't make sense. And the oddest thing he noticed...was the number next to the name, exact of them range between 6-12. Beneath it, a type bar opened, saying if he could guess what do the numbers remind him of, he will get his solution to his dilemma.

Then he remembered the timer on the website, 19 hours.

19 hours later, it would be 7 pm, the time when his birthday party will begin. If the countdown was related to his birthday, then it could mean that something was going to happen when the timer reached zero. But what?

Shinichi racked his brain, trying to think of any possible connections between the riddle, the Moriarty Holmes video, and the timer. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in his head.

His birthday...that man is going to do the worst to Shinichi for his birthday!

Shinichi racked his brain, trying to think of any possible connections between the riddle, the Moriarty Holmes video, and the timer. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in his head.

His birthday...that man is going to do the worst to Shinichi for his birthday!

Shinichi's heart sank at the thought. He had to find a way to escape before it was too late. But how? No one believes him, not even his own parents!

He took a good look at the numbers, 6-12...what do they represent?

Shinichi's heart sank at the thought. He knew that he had to act fast if he wanted to prevent whatever that man had planned for him. But he didn't know where to start. He felt lost and overwhelmed. Then, he remembered the list of names and the numbers next to them. Could they be the key to solving the riddle and preventing his impending danger?

He decided to focus on the numbers. He looked at the list again and noticed that the numbers ranged from 6 to 12. Could they be referring to something else? A code perhaps?

Shinichi took out his notebook and pen and started to jot down his thoughts. He tried different combinations and patterns with the numbers, but nothing seemed to make sense.

As time was running out, Shinichi decided to take a wild guess.

For him who was 4 years old at that time, the only answer that he could come up in his mind was that the number 6-12 is the particular age where children begin their elementary school life. It would make sense why the numbers are next to each name, would it not? The person who made this is aware he is a 4-year-old, so it shouldn't be that difficult for him to understand.

Shinichi quickly opened the type bar and typed in "Age of children who are starting out elementary school."

Suddenly, the screen changed, and a new message appeared:

"Congratulations, you have solved the riddle. The key to your dilemma is using this name list."

Suddenly, columns appeared right next to every single name, along with the photos of children attached to them. In every column, as Shinichi reads, were the horrible things they had done.

Shinichi's heart sank as he looked at the columns and the photos of the children attached to them. He couldn't believe that these innocent-looking children had done such terrible things. But why were they on this list? And how could this help him with his dilemma?

As he read through the list, he noticed that each column contained a different type of misdeed. Some had committed acts of violence, while others had stolen or lied. He wondered what the significance of this was.

Then he noticed something odd. Why was he even given this list in the first place? And what does this list have anything to do with stopping that man from harming him at his own birthday party?

Shinichi couldn't make sense of the list at first. But as he thought hard about it, he remembered something.

His mother mentioned inviting children he barely knows who would become his potential play dare in the future for his upcoming birthday party. That's when he realized that the list before him was a list of kids that he may be forced to sacrifice to that man, in order to not only save himself but to also expose the man's misdeeds.

Only this list contains children who are bullies and liars.

Shinichi felt a wave of guilt wash over him as he realized what this meant. He didn't want to sacrifice anyone, even if they were bullies or liars. At some point, he was considering inviting the children on the list to his party but kept a close eye on them. Try to understand why they had done the things they did, and perhaps even help them change their ways. And since that man will show up at his party, he could expose his misdeeds and use the evidence on the list to prove his guilt.

But then before he could do so, an unexpecting thing popped out of the website that made him second guess his decision.

Shinichi's heart raced as he read the damning records of the man. At that time, Shinichi had no idea till today, that they have been several records that indicated this man had been posing a huge danger to children, even way back when this man was a child.

The most alarming thing to Shinichi was that police reports were made, and yet, nothing seemed to have been done to stop him. Even up to the point when the man turned 18, nothing could tie him that could bring him straight to jail.

Shinichi felt his stomach drop as he realized the gravity of the situation. If even the police couldn't stop this man, how could he, a mere child, do anything to protect himself?

He thought about his options carefully. He could cancel the party altogether, but then the man would win and continue to harass Shinichi. He could perhaps get his grandparents or parents to invite only a select few children and try to keep them safe, but it wouldn't do him good, the man might be easily tipped off.

As he sat there, lost in thought, a sudden realization hit him.

The sender who sent him this...did he or she know that this man was unstoppable and dangerous? Which is why he or she sent him this list of kids to sacrifice in Shinichi's stead?

For years Shinichi had been insisting to his parents and grandparents that this man wasn't a good person, but no one believed him. Shinichi knew even if he were to bring all of this to his parents and grandparents, they would naturally assume it was a prank to defame that man since this man was a master manipulator who can skillfully slip away from authorities.

Another problem was that this man had connections to authorities, the corrupt kind who can easily sweep away his crime like a cloud of dust under a carpet. Even way above the higher-ups according to the documents Shinichi is reading, he knew that his parents' connection to the police won't do Shinichi much help. Even the guest list as to who he or didn't want to invite was beyond his control, as all of this is under his paternal grandparents' command. They were also planning to use this party to build relations for the Kudo family after all, which is normal for children born into rich families here. It's called networking.

Shinichi felt a sense of hopelessness wash over him. He was just a child, and he was up against a powerful and dangerous man. Also, the documents he had received...he was no fool.  Although this will bring in an open investigation, it won't be enough to charge him for any criminal misconduct. Shinichi read the laws of Japan well enough to know that with this information in store, he would end up only as the boy who cried wolf.

He also considered contacting Ran's dad, who was a police officer at that time. But he is doing an undercover investigation according to Ran's mom, and contacting him could put his life in danger. Plus this is a private birthday party with the press coming over, and the security amplified, Shinichi knew that man was way too careful to do anything to him, especially with so many eyes on the birthday boy.

To summarize this short: As long as the man doesn't get caught doing a crime, he will continue to terrorize Shinichi or even innocent children at stake.

If this list of bad children is the only salvation for Shinichi to escape the clutches of that man from doing him harm, and it has to be done at his first-ever birthday party...Shinichi knew he had no choice but to use it.

While Shinichi put his thoughts together, he took out his notebook and started to jot down his thoughts. He began to brainstorm different strategies, as well as weighing the pros and cons of which child he was going to sacrifice to save himself.

.............................

On the day of his birthday party around 7 pm, Shinichi couldn't bring himself to choose which child to sacrifice.

He didn't want to put anyone else in danger, even if they were bullies or liars. He knew he couldn't go through with it, no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise.

But then, 3 minutes before the cake ceremony, he notice something no one else saw.

It happened so fast that it was surprising that so many attendees did not see that man adding something onto one part of a huge birthday cake Shinichi's grandparents had ordered, that is the part where he is to cut out a slice, hand it over to Shinichi, then have some pictures taken before the press.

Suddenly, Shinichi felt like that was sickening for that man to do so.

Several hours before his birthday party, after he left kindergarten, he went out to seek the victims whom the man had ruined according to another list he had anonymously received on the website, and to his horror, the stories were worse than he imagined.

The one victim that even to this day, made him shiver, was when he heard about this 4-year-old young girl who was physically assaulted and left traumatized by that man. She was just a year younger than Shinichi and couldn't defend herself when he did this to her.

Back then, she was an aspiring ballerina. And that man praised her with sweet words.

One day, he did it, and she has become a Hikikarmori since, too afraid to get out of the house. Police did little to do a thing, because her statements had been inconsistent, a normal thing after such traumatising incident. Even before he entered the house to pay a visit, he noticed a lot of her ballet shoes were shredded in a ugly manner. Even the tutu dress he spotted was all cut up with scissors, because the last thing that man said was she looked pretty in it, which was what later led to her fate.

No longer dream of dancing anymore, and thinks all of the men out there are evil, seeing her empty bitter eyes left a scary impression in Shinichi's mind, a broken doll who lost her will to dance, let alone, lost control of her own body.

And now, Shinichi realized that the man had no qualms about adding something to his birthday cake, potentially harming not only him but also all of the other children at the party.

A lot of things went though Shinichi's mind the moment he witness this first hand, did he want to live like the victim? No longer dreaming on wanting to be a detective? Had huge distrust towards the world, and be a house shut in for life?

But above all, did he want end up like her?

After leaving the house and talking to her mother, he heard screams from that girl again. The mother of the girl did not know Shinichi turned a glimpse to the back, seeing her mother crying while petting the back of her daughter who couldn't do a thing but scream, telling her being born pretty isn't her fault, that it was the man who choose to prey on her.

According to her mother, since she is considered very young, the therapist said she would eventually grow up and forget about it judging her behaviour. But it will come and go, hunting her for the rest of her life.

And then Shinichi thought about his birthday, that potential fate waiting to befall on him. Did he want to end up broken? Like that girl?

No, not anymore.

Shinichi decided he had to act fast. He couldn't let that man get away with hurting anyone else, especially innocent children this guy had harmed in his wake. He may not have known the specific details as to how and what the man did do them, but all he knows was he had to throw him in the slammer.

That's right, even if it means sacrificing a very bad child.

So as soon as he received the cake after the pictures were taken, 4-year-old Shinichi calmly while he acted as if he had eaten the cake in front of him. When he turned away, he spat it out elsewhere.

Then, he accidentally yet stealthily walked up to the child who will take his place.

This child Shinichi is about to set up had a very bad reputation, known for being a bully and causing trouble wherever he went. Since he is also a rainbow child, his parents let him get away with his shenanigans, even at some point when this kid once time pulled away the girl's chair in class while the child in front of him was about to sit, she fell and was no longer able to walk since.

Although the girl's family demanded his family pay up, they denied responsibility and the victim blamed the girl instead.

Shinichi took advantage of this and seeing the greedy glint, snatch Shinichi's cake eagerly, took the piece of cake and ate it without any hesitation. A few minutes later, that boy started to feel drowsy, but that is only part of Shinichi's plan.

He then somehow drugged the man's drink with a special poison, one he specifically stole from his neighbour, professor Agasa. This drug itself works as if one gets easily drunk, the dosage is equivalent to drinking 3 bottles of wine, enough to make adults happy that they would do all sorts of things they tried to hide.

4-year-old Shinichi of course couldn't understand how alcohol works, but if this was enough to expose the man doing harm to the boy in Shinichi's stead openly, he is more than happy to see it happen.

As the party continued, Shinichi watched from a distance as the man slowly became drunk and started to act out. He began to reveal his true nature, making inappropriate comments about children, while the adults were too busy being bedazzled by the entertainers and celebrities his mother had invited.

Finally, after Shinichi pulled the act of a naughty child that led him to quickly rush over and locked his bedroom door shut, he finally heard the cries and screams of the boy he set up, who would be later discovered with dishevelled clothes with the man in the food pantry of the Kudo residence.

Later, the man was promptly arrested and charged with his crimes, thanks to Shinichi's level of scheming. The boy who had taken Shinichi's place was shaken but unharmed physically. The man actually unbutton that child's shirt, but fortunately didn't manage to go through with the deed because the boy screamed and alerted everyone in the mansion.

Even so, the sacrificial lamb's reputation had been ruined from that night onwards.

After police arrived and arrested the scumbag, and with his parents consoling Shinichi, they asked if he was alright?

It was then, Shinichi said his first ever lie to his parents, "I am alright." without telling them about the letter.

.............................

After the incident took place, his family began to take Shinichi's words very seriously.

No one knew the truth that the envelope Shinichi had received through his dad, in the guise of a birthday present for a then 4-year-old Shinichi, actually tipped Shinichi off on how to get rid of that vile man for good. The man was thrown in prison, where it is likely he will never be released to society ever again. Shinichi never told anyone about it, not even Ran or Sonoko for that matter. The only person he ever told of was a private family therapist whom he shared with sessions with, which to his surprise did not judge him.

As for the kid who stole Shinichi's cake and became a victim of that man, he later became a Hikikarmori. Though there was no physical inappropriate harm done by that man besides touching, the damage was done, and the kids who studied under the kindergarten as that child turned the tables to him. Before, that child used to terrorise them, but after that incident at Shinichi's birthday party, words travel fast, and now, that kid is the victim blamed 24/7.

Although Shinichi was spared, there were times he felt bad about sacrificing someone in his stead.  On the one hand, he was able to avoid being victimized by the man thanks to the information he received in the envelope. On the other hand, it's natural to feel empathy and remorse for the child who was victimized in his place. Sure, he did his personal investigation and is aware that a kid is a vicious bully, but a kid is still a kid.

For weeks, he had wrestled with guilt. On occasion, whenever Shinichi walked past the house of the sacrificial lamb, especially while walking home from kindergarten with Ran and Sonoko,the three of them would turn their heads to hear screams from their house, earning the nickname 'House of Screams' from all of the kids from Shinichi's kindergarten. Yet, not a single child pitied that child due to his bad reputation.

As time passed, Shinichi had trouble coming to terms with it. Even after becoming the apprentice of Kudo Ranran, he felt like he is an evil child.

But after sharing this with his mentor, it was Ranran's words that slowly help learned to come to terms with what had happened.

"You were not evil, you are just fed up that no one is taking you seriously, or else you wouldn't have resorted to this. In a way...you are defending yourself from becoming a victim, the way I see it."

Those words struck a chord with Shinichi.  It made sense to him that he was just trying to protect himself from being victimized, even if it was very manipulative, what choice did he have? He was a powerless 4-year-old at that time, and everyone around him didn't believe his words over that man.

Over time, Shinichi slowly came to terms with what had happened. After thar conversation, he had Ranran accompany him to pay a visit to the ballerina's family and see how is she doing now. According to her mother, when they paid a visit, she had completely wipe that memory out of her head, and had lived a normal life of a elementary school girl with friends of her own for now.

After hearing that the man ended up in prison thanks to Shinichi, the daughter had a severe fever when police ask to testify.

Fortunately the fever didn't wipe out all of her daughter's memory during trial, until he was officially sentence, the fever later wiped out the darkest chapter in her daughter's life, and she is living happily now. Which made Shinichi sigh of relief with Ranran by his side. Though the mother will remain tormented by it for life thanks to this incident, she is alright with it if it means letting her daughter live a life away from pain and having no memory of it.

It was much easier to forgive himself for the decisions Shinichi had made and the actions he had taken, especially after learning recently that the boy who took his place has began to commit a string of burglaries in the wake of the birthday incident.

Becoming a child detective at the age of 6 now, he tries not to think of that envelope that started it all. And even when he does, he can't help but wonder who was the sender who send it to him, and at times can't help but think what was going through the sender's mind when he tipped Shinichi off, who was only 4.

According to his father, it was a dirty blonde-haired boy, perhaps a 1st grader who gave him the envelope.

Shinichi often wondered if he had met the boy who gave him the envelope before. Maybe they were classmates or had met at a park or a playground. He even tried asking his father if he knew who the boy was, but his father didn't seem to remember him. It was frustrating for Shinichi to not have any leads on the sender's identity.

He may never know who sent him that fateful envelope, but he was grateful for it in a strange way, as it set him on the path to becoming who he is today.

Now why was he thinking about this envelope now?

Because right now, with Ranran in the fancy restaurant at The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel, Shinichi is put in a difficult position where he may be forced to drop the bombshell to their classmates from 1-A, that there may be a serial killer at the campsite.

As Shinichi sat at the table with Ranran, he couldn't help but think about the envelope. When Shinichi went through with the contents, it was by far the sickest period of his entire 4-year-old life.

Shinichi took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind of the past, but it was difficult. Their classmates are all 6 years old, and about to hear this potentially life-threatening news. For some reason, their reaction wouldn't be any different than his reaction when he was 4. "How certain are you that this is definitely the work of a serial killer, Ranran?"

"Very."

Shinichi felt a knot form in his stomach. He knew that Ranran was an experienced detective and had good reasons to believe that a serial killer was behind the recent incidents at the campsite. But he also knew that their classmates were just children, and the news could potentially traumatize them.

"In fact, I am that certain that as soon as you returned to the campsite, you will find another corpse waiting for you."

Shinichi's eyes widened at Ranran's words. He knew that she was serious and that they had to act fast to protect their classmates. "The shower unit that has exploded, the guy had fallen to his death from the cliff during a post-graduate expedition, as well as Eiji's rope cut cleanly while he was hanging with Miki...is too much of a coincidence to be an accident, Shinichi. And you and I both know that coincidences don't always work in the detective world."

Shinichi nodded in agreement, knowing that Ranran was right. He knew that they had to act fast to protect their classmates.

At the same time, however...the one tiny thing he hates about being a detective, is that he hates being a bearer of bad news. "You got two choices," Ranran showed two of her fingers, before counting one by one, "Normally, I would go for the honest route to warn others."

".....but?" Shinichi prompted her to continue.

"The killer is among the adults who are in charge of us, and there is no police officers on this island due to the corruption scandal last year, all of them are arrested, so they have yet to send anyone from the capital here to do actual work till around this coming Thursday! So the second option, is to tell a half lie and half truth."

"Wait, lie?! Are you kidding me?!" Shinichi was appalled, "Why lie?!"

"Do you want to tip the killer that all of the accidents he or she had staged were actually murdered by the killer?! No killer would want to be tipped of that someone out there knows, Shinichi."

Shinichi understood the logic behind Ranran's reasoning, but he still felt uneasy about lying. "But if we don't tell them the truth, how will they know to stay safe?"

Ranran sighed, "Address it that the investigation is met with uncertainty. As if the developments of this situation is progressing towards a serial killer route."

Shinichi considered Ranran's words and nodded in agreement. "Okay, I see your point. Let's go with the half-truth for now, and if we find any evidence of foul play, we can tell them the full truth later."

........................

And so, fast forward to their current situation, Shinichi announced at the campsite, "Based on the clues, Tantei Association could not confirm whether if there is a serial killer around the campsite."

All of the children as he could see murmured among themselves.

"That said however," He knew this will get their attention, the half truth he is about to announced, "It is clear cut that the deaths are not out of natural causes, which means there is a possibility of a serial killer among us."

And it was at this point, seeing their anxious faces changed from anxiety to horror, he was again reminded of his reaction when he himself look through the contents of the envelope once more.