The realization that the woman in the crowd was Mrs Saeki, the owner of the house they had egged, left the group stunned. They exchanged glances, unsure of what her presence at the scene meant.

"What is she doing here?" Ran whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "Could she have followed us?"

"I doubt it," Takuma's mind raced with possibilities. "We fled in such haste, she had no time to open the gate to come after us."

"Do you think that she is interested in this confrontation between Miss Rika and Jiro Daichi?" Sonoko wondered, puzzled by the connection.

"It doesn't seem like it though," Reina had everyone pointed in her direction, as Mrs Saeki suspiciously brought her trolley luggage bag, as well as several more bags filled with various items. She seemed prepared for a longer stay rather than just being a casual observer.

"I don't think she's here just to watch. Mrs Saeki seems like she's up to something," Ran said, her instincts kicking in. "We should keep an eye on her."

Takuma nodded in agreement. "Agreed. Let's not forget what she's capable of, especially after what she did to Miss Jun. We need to stay cautious."

Mrs Saeki appeared to drag her things and was distancing herself from the commotion with Miss Rika and Daichi. "Guys, do you think she is fleeing the country? Because of what she did to her daughter?" Ran suggests.

The group exchanged concerned glances as they watched Mrs Saeki move further away from the commotion, dragging her belongings with her. Ran's suggestion made sense, considering the recent events involving Mrs Saeki's mistreatment of her daughter, Miss Jun.

"Given what we know about her, I wouldn't be surprised," Takuma replied, his voice filled with apprehension.

"I mean the press is out hating her, bashing everything. Would it not make sense to simply pack up everything and move to some other country? Start over?" Reina says.

Reina's speculation seemed plausible. The intense public scrutiny and backlash Mrs Saeki faced could have driven her to consider fleeing the country to escape the consequences of her actions. The group couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and curiosity about her intentions.

"Unbelievable!" Ran snapped in anger, "It was thanks to her that we all suffered on that island!"

"I had dengue because of that woman!" Sonoko reminded them, "It was the worst 2 weeks of our lives!"

The memories of their harrowing experience on the island, caused by Mrs Saeki's actions, flooded back into their minds. The pain, fear, and frustration they had endured during that time were still fresh in their memories.

"Especially after the killer almost murdered Ranran and Shinichi!" Takuma clenched his fists, his expression reflecting his anger. "She deserves to face the consequences of her actions. We can't let her get away with what she did to us and to Miss Jun."

"If she's planning to flee, we can't let her escape justice."Ran nodded determination in her eyes.

Noticing something on the screen on Mrs Saeki's phone, Reina told everyone quietly, "We better get out bikes and motorbike over to follow her."

"Why?" Sonoko can't help but ask.

The class monitor of 1-A quickly pointed to the screen on Mrs Saeki's phone, "Her screen on the phone is so big, I can tell she is hiring a cab."

Everyone's eyes widened as they realized the implications of Reina's observation.

"If she's hiring a cab, it means she's planning to leave immediately. We can't afford to waste any time." Takuma turns to everyone, "Let's go get our motorbikes and bikes."

"But can we actually catch up to her?" Ran was in doubt, "Her vehicle runs on petrol!"

"According to Shinichi whom I spoke to this morning earlier, there is an upgrade regarding the speed, so it should be enough to catch up to her taxi." Takuma justifies.

With a sense of urgency, the group quickly made their way to where their motorbikes and bikes were parked. They knew that time was of the essence, and they needed to act fast if they wanted to catch up to Mrs Saeki before she left.

As Takuma rode the motorbike with Reina in the sidecar, while Ran pedalled on their bikes with Sonoko to the back, the determination in their hearts fueled their speed. "Try to not let her notice, she can see us through the front mirror of the cab if she sees us," Takuma told them.

With Takuma's guidance, the group maintained a safe distance behind Mrs Saeki's taxi, making sure not to attract her attention. They rode swiftly through the city streets, weaving through traffic while keeping their eyes fixed on the cab ahead.

While they are following Mrs Saeki's taxi, their hearts raced with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. They knew that their mission to confront her and expose the truth was reaching a critical point. Every passing moment brought them closer to uncovering her intentions and ensuring that justice was served.

"Neh, do you think you all should call Ranran and Shinichi over?" Sonoko can't help but ask, while Ran pedalling the bike with herself in tow.

Takuma considered Sonoko's suggestion for a moment before responding, "As much as I would love to have them here with us, it might be better if we handle this ourselves for now. We don't want to alert Mrs Saeki."

"Also, the two would be busy contacting Mr Ogawa to have the 2 million yen transferred to us." Ran huffed.

Now Reina and Sonoko are aware of the 2 million yen dilemma.

A quick summary regarding the events of 'The Red Drongos' Deception' case,  the lead singer of Red Illumination and his conspirator/brother had conspired plot on scamming their management by staging a fake kidnapping. When the plot was uncovered by Tantei Association, due to their scheming, the founder Ranran demanded 2 million yen in damages. And Mr Ogawa, who is the former manager, agreed to settle the sum.

To those who don't work in Tantei Association, one would simply misunderstand that they were extorting money. But to those who do work, mainly Takuma and Ran who are the members, it was merely justifiable after what the brothers had done.

As the group continued to tail Mrs Saeki's taxi, Reina wondered, "I don't understand, didn't Mr Ogawa, the former manager of Red Illumination, agree with the sum? Why the need for the video call?"

"Transfering 2 million yen, especially from US currency to Japanese currency, requires proper documentation and verification according to Ranran. It's not as simple as just transferring the money directly. The video call is necessary to ensure that the transfer is legal and transparent." Before voicing out his disappointment, Takuma explained, "You know in movies and dramas, whenever a ransom is demanded from some rich family in tv or movies, all of that nonsense Ranran and Shinichi had to deal with magically goes away."

"It can't be help, this is the real world," Reina replied, a tinge of frustration in her voice. "But if those things don't exist, it will ultimately end up falling in the favour to the villains."

As they continued to follow Mrs Saeki's taxi, the group's focus shifted back to their mission. They couldn't let the frustration and complications with the money transfer distract them from the task at hand – confronting Mrs Saeki and bringing her to justice for her actions.

"Neh guys, I was wondering," Ran suddenly blurted out with worry in her eyes, "Legally, even if we stopped her, can she be thrown to prison?"

"Hah, Ran!? What are you talking about? Of course! What kind of an answer is that!?" Sonoko and the others glimpse at her for a moment, while concentrating on the road.

"I mean don't get me wrong, I want her to go to jail more than anything. But...Miss Jun is deceased, and the spiking incident her mom did her took place 12 years ago...plus, Eiji, Jun's ex-fiance is the one who killed her by coaxing her with wine and drugs, not her own mother." Ran paused for a moment, "As much as her mother is evil to blackmail her into all of this, she didn't kill her, nor hire someone to kill her own daughter. She has more to lose with her daughter dead, as much as she was responsible for the events that lead to Jun's death."

Ran's words struck a chord with the group, and a sombre silence fell over them as they continued to follow Mrs Saeki's taxi through the city streets. The weight of the situation and the complexities of justice weighed heavily on their minds.

"Call Shinichi," Reina urged Takuma.

"Why?" The boy in the cap sideglance at his girlfriend sitting in the sidecar.

"He knows the laws of Japan here well, but don't let him know what we are doing now. Otherwise, he will put his foot down on us." Reina says.

The athlete understood Reina's point and realized that seeking Shinichi's expertise could provide them with valuable insights. He reached for his phone and dialed Shinichi's number, making sure to keep their current activities a secret.

After a few rings, Shinichi picked up the call. "Hey, Takuma. What's up?"

"Hey, Shinichi," Takuma replied, keeping his voice low. "Where are you right now?"

"Having lunch in Ranran at a cafe, why?"

Takuma glanced at Reina, silently indicating that they should be cautious with their words. "Just wanted to ask you something regarding the law. We came across a situation, and we're not sure about the legal implications."

Shinichi's curiosity was piqued. "Alright, go ahead. What's the situation?"

Takuma took a moment to gather his thoughts before explaining, "Hypothetical situation...if someone was indirectly responsible for the death of another person through blackmail, but didn't directly cause it or hire someone to commit the act, yet the blackmail set of a chain of events that lead the killer to kill the victim, would they still face legal consequences?"

"Well, it's a complex situation," There was a brief pause on the line as Shinichi considered the question. "Legally speaking, if Mrs Saeki didn't commit murder or hire someone to do it, it would be challenging to directly link her to the death of Miss Jun. Generally, it's straightforward that the person who directly caused the death would be held primarily responsible for the crime.

"Ah damn it."

"But generally speaking, however, the individual who engaged in the blackmail could potentially face charges related to their involvement in the events leading up to the death."

Ran and Sonoko exchanged glances, absorbing Shinichi's words.

"To charge someone who is behind the blackmail, it would depend on the specific circumstances and the evidence available," Shinichi continued. "If one can produce hard evidence that the blackmailer's actions directly contributed to the victim's death, even if they didn't physically cause it, they could potentially be charged with crimes such as coercion or conspiracy, depending on the jurisdiction."

Takuma furrowed his brows, seeking more clarity. "But supposedly this blackmail incident took place like....a decade ago, but the death occurred recently as the blackmail is still ongoing....can we still bring the blackmailer to prison?"

"In general, the statute of limitations for crimes in Japan is quite strict." Shinichi sighed on the other end of the line, "For most serious offences, including coercion, the statute of limitations is 15 years. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and certain circumstances may allow for an extension of the time limit."

"15 years...."Reina muses to herself, "The situation had been going on for 12 years, so we still have hope."

"That is good,"  Ran's face hardened with determination, even Takuma is pleased with this.

"By the way, just out of curiosity, Ranran and I can't help but notice that you and Mouri coincidentally applied for leave today to buy eggs. May I know why?" Shinichi can't help but be suspicious.

The athlete hesitated for a moment, realizing that he needed to be careful with his response. He glanced at Reina, who nodded in understanding. "We...uh, had some plans," Takuma replied, trying to sound casual. "Ran and Sonoko wanted to learn how to uh....make homemade Valentine chocolates. You know...Valentine is coming soon, so...."

In Teitan Elementary School, the culture of 'crushes' and 'dating' do occur in kids of all ages, though it is highly discouraged by the adults to prevent them from being distracted from things like studies and their future in life. As much as many responsible teachers and head principals did try to put a stop to this by banning Valentine's Day, it lead to a 2-week protest last year by refusing to go to school.

Worst, since the majority of the children in Japan are trained to be independent to look after themselves, even the youngest at the age of 2 are sent out to go out to buy milk at some convenience store, or a 6-year-old cooking their own meals have become a norm. It made things easier for them to rebel against the adults in their school since they are equipped with skills that wouldn't really require the reliance on adults to look after they should the adults use those as a threat of discipline. Even if they had no money, they could find creative ways to obtain what they needed, like trading items or using their resourcefulness to solve problems.

During the Valentine's Day ban period, the children devised their own ways to celebrate and express their affection for their crushes without directly violating the rules. They created secret codes, exchanged handmade gifts discreetly, and even organized underground gatherings to share their feelings. These activities were carried out covertly, away from the prying eyes of the adults.

Then around 5 years ago, a new policy was implemented that acknowledged the children's feelings while still emphasizing the importance of education. Valentine's Day was no longer banned outright but was regulated within the school premises. The children were allowed to exchange small, handmade gifts during a designated time, and teachers used the occasion as an opportunity to educate the students about healthy relationships and mutual respect.

With this revised approach, the children felt heard and respected, and their rebellion subsided. The school and the students found a middle ground that encouraged emotional development while maintaining focus on their studies and future aspirations.

So whenever Valentine's Day occur in Teitan Elementary School, it ain't surprising to receive either love confession letters or Valentine's chocolates in general from others through the shoe locker.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Shinichi responded, sounding slightly sceptical. "Why would you all need 4 trays of eggs then? According to Ran's reason for applying for leave, she mentioned 4 trays of eggs."

The boy in a cap exchanged a quick glance with Ran, realizing that their excuse had holes in it. They had to think fast to come up with a plausible explanation.

Ran mouthed to him in a low voice, "Say Sonoko is careless in the kitchen," Even Sonoko sitting behind Ran nodded alongside her.

"Uh, well...you know how clumsy Sonoko can be sometimes," Takuma stammered, trying to come up with a convincing story. "We figured that with her track record, we might need extra eggs in case she messes up the first few batches."

Reina chimed in, trying to support Takuma's improvised explanation. "Yeah, and you know Ran. She always wants to be prepared and make sure everything goes perfectly. So, we thought it would be better to have some extra eggs on hand just in case."

"Extra eggs just in case of Sonoko's mishaps, huh?" Shinichi's voice carried a hint of amusement as he responded,  "Well, I can't argue with that logic. Just make sure you don't end up with too many scrambled eggs instead of chocolates."

The boy in the cap chuckled nervously, relieved that Shinichi didn't press further. "Yeah, we'll be careful. Thanks for understanding."

After a few more pleasantries, Takuma ended the call, feeling a sense of relief. "That was close," he said, his voice filled with relief.

"We seriously need to be more careful with our excuses, especially since he was with Ranran having lunch," Reina sighs, "It's one thing trying to convince Shinichi, but not Ranran."

"Why? Can she tell if one lies?" Ran can't help but ask.

"You have no idea," Reina thought hard about it before revealing, "One time, I made up a lie about how my pet rabbit escaped, because I didn't want to watch that movie Ranran watched. Something about some guy name Jason wearing a mask killing people at a campsite, she just looked at me and said, 'Reina, were you lying about a non-existent pet rabbit just to avoid watching Jason X with me?' I was shocked!"

Mouri Ran and Sonoko's eyes widened at Reina's story, realizing the level of intuition and perceptiveness the founder of Tantei Association possessed.

At the same time, however, "Wait, ain't she 6 like us?!" It suddenly dawned on the heiress, "She wanted to watch Jason X!?"

Even the colour in Ran's drained, "Ranran isn't normal at all. Not one bit."

"Another time, this was when I recently had my suspension towards the American Football Club reinstated, which I owed Ranran," Takuma paused for a moment, reminiscing about the incident before continuing with a smile on his face. "So, out of gratitude, I wanted to purchase tickets to one of the movies she wanted to watch. But I woke up late, so the tickets sold out and there won't be another till a week later. So I thought I could surprise her with tickets to a baseball game as a way to make it up to her. I went through all the trouble of getting the tickets and planning the surprise, but when I presented them to her, she just looked at me and said, 'Takuma, I appreciate the thought, but you know I don't like baseball, right? Also....' She put up her eyes all like this before dropping the rest of her sentence."

Takuma mimicked Ranran's expression by widening his eyes and tilting his head to the side, now that both of their vehicles and the taxi they are tailing stopped before the red light, while he was trying to imitate Ranran's distinct mannerism. "Don't tell me...you overslept and fail to get those movie tickets, so you are attempting to force me to like baseball by flashing those tickets, no?"

The others burst into laughter, finding the imitation spot-on.

"I can't believe she saw through your plan like that," Sonoko chuckled, shaking her head.

"Yeah, she has this uncanny ability to see through people's intentions and read between the lines," Takuma shivered a bit. "It's like she has a sixth sense when it comes to detecting deception."

"That's Ranran for you," Ran sighed, a mix of exasperation and admiration in her voice.

As they continued their journey following Mrs Saeki's taxi, the group couldn't help but be amused by the unique qualities Ranran brought to their detective team.

That said, however, Sonoko grew pale a bit, "What is wrong, Sonoko?" Ran can't help but notice.

Sonoko took a deep breath, trying to compose herself before speaking. "Ah, nothing."

As Ran cycled on, Sonoko did not have the heart to tell her...that she recently met up with Rokuro.

Rokuro was formerly Mouri Ran's neighbour, before meeting Shinichi in kindergarten, the two had a close friendship. Ran used to live in one of those family apartments before moving to the city, so they used to play at the park all the time. He is older than Ran by 3-4 years, so he was already starting out at Teitan Elementary School before Ran started out in kindergarten.

In the beginning, when Ran started out, Rokuro used to see Ran in tears, saying how miserable kindergarten was. The one good thing that came out of it was that she made her first friend named Suzuki Sonoko. And while Rokuro was busy consoling her like an elder brother to a younger sister would, or being the good friend he is, Sonoko had to deal with those unreasonable bullies.

Back then Sonoko didn't know the sinister plot that their form teacher was plotting to kidnap Ran in order to take her in as their daughter, after their own daughter ran away from them, with disturbing minds on wanting to 'start over' with an obedient more docile child.

Then 5-year-old Shinichi having exposed that plot changed the dynamics of the relationship between Rokuro and Ran.

Mouri Ran wasn't aware at that time, but Rokuro had a crush on her.

Sonoko was the first to notice, one time dropping by at her apartment, when Ran waved goodbye to Rokuro as she was heading downstairs, she noticed Rokuro looking at Ran with a wistful expression.

Now, 5-year-old Sonoko may not have been in a relationship before, however, watching tons of romantic dramas with her eldest sister, she was not that stupid to not recognise the signs of Rokuro's infatuation.

Over the years, Sonoko witnessed Rokuro's unrequited love for Ran as they grew up together. Rokuro would often find excuses to be around Ran, offering to help her with school projects or listen to her problems. His gestures of affection were subtle yet noticeable to those who paid attention.

As they reached elementary school, Rokuro's feelings for Ran became more apparent. He would frequently invite her to events or outings, trying to spend more time with her. Despite his efforts, Ran seemed oblivious to his romantic intentions, always considering him as a close friend.

The problem was, Ran had eyes on Shinichi.

And as much as Ran never admitted it, Sonoko herself had noticed the subtle glances and blushing cheeks whenever Shinichi was around. And it was becoming a problem when Sonoko ended up telling Rokuro about it one day during one of their outings as a trio, she was hoping he would eventually move on and find happiness with someone else.

But perhaps Rokuro despite the idea of losing so pathetically like a second male lead who will never win their shot romantically with the main female lead, that incident later happened.

The hostile relationship between the unfortunate Shinichi who had no idea of any of this, and Rokuro escalated quickly.  Ran, unaware of the extent of the situation, noticed the growing tension between Shinichi and Rokuro. She couldn't understand why her childhood friend suddenly seemed distant and hostile towards Shinichi. Ran's confusion and desire to mend their relationship as 'senpai' and 'junior' only added to the complexity of the situation.

Of course, there were attempts to get Rokuro out of this mess. However, he refused to listen, believing that he was justified in his behaviour.

Before long,  it would eventually lead to a misunderstanding and subsequent framing of Shinichi, a long suspension from the soccer club, as well as Shinichi joining forces with Ranran which lead to the birth of Tantei Association.

To sum up all of this, Shinichi never bothered to seek out reconciliation from Ran and Sonoko ever again, since the two girls outright falsely accused Shinichi at some point for attacking Rokuro. The worst part was he was glued to Ranran, the founder of Tantei association who is a very manipulative little girl, and Sonoko still has no clue where she stands: A good little girl, or a she-demon pretending to be an angel?

Since that incident, Sonoko honestly felt guilty for unintentionally revealing Ran's crush on Shinichi to Rokuro. She blamed herself for the fallout that occurred between Shinichi and Ran.

As the group continued their pursuit of Mrs Saeki's taxi, the atmosphere became more sombre, and Sonoko couldn't shake off the weight of her thoughts. She contemplated whether it was time to address the past and find a way to mend the bonds that had been broken.

But she knew that if Ranran even caught wind that Sonoko had met up with Rokuro secretly, that she-demon will get to justifiably kick out Mouri Ran out of Tantei Association. After all, Ranran and Shinichi detest Mouri's presence in the association for reasons that are justifiable to the majority of the kids of Teitan Elementary School. Adding Mamiko twisting while distorting the truth was enough to earn the hate of everyone.

Oblivious to the situation, once more Ran glanced at Sonoko to the back with concern. "Sonoko, you seem distracted. Are you sure nothing is bothering you?"

The heiress forced a smile and shook her head. "Oh, it's nothing, Ran. Just lost in my thoughts, that's all."

Her friend since kindergarten grew worried, reached out and gently touched Sonoko's arm. "If there's something you want to talk about, you know I'm here for you, right?"

Sonoko nodded, appreciating Ran's support, but she couldn't bring herself to reveal the truth just yet. It was a delicate situation, and she needed to figure out the best course of action.

As the journey continued, Sonoko could only pray to Kami-sama that Shinichi, especially Kudo Ranran did not catch on.

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

After a tense ride, Mrs Saeki's taxi finally arrived at its destination.

Suddenly, the taxi pulled over to the side of the road and came to a stop. The group quickly found a hiding spot, ensuring they remained unnoticed. They watched intently as Mrs Saeki stepped out of the taxi, her bags in tow.

Mrs Saeki looked around, seemingly checking her surroundings. She appeared cautious as if expecting someone or something. The group held their breath, waiting for her next move.

Then, they saw her staring at a skyscraper, a tall one.

The group exchanged curious glances as Mrs Saeki fixed her gaze on the towering skyscraper. They couldn't help but wonder why she seemed so focused on the building. It was an impressive structure, standing tall and prominent amidst the city skyline.

"What do you think she's looking at?" Ran whispered, her voice barely audible,

"It's hard to say. Maybe she's meeting someone there or has some business to attend to." Takuma shrugged slightly, her eyes still fixed on Mrs Saeki.

"I doubt it," Reina leaned in closer. "The value of Dozing Shoemaker has been plummeting after the murder case came to light. Also, I am pretty sure her personal ATM, a.k.a blackmail victim Yasuo Shizuku will not comply with her threats, since everything shady crap about the Yasuo family had been published all over the news, she probably ain't in the position to give money to Mrs Saeki anymore now that she is very likely going to jail."

"Now that you mentioned it," Takuma perked up before scooping out his smartphone to google search.

"Tak-chan, what are you doing?" Reina blinked at her boyfriend.

"Just curious what would be in the skyscraper that would make someone like Mrs Saeki be fixated on it," Takuma glanced at Reina.

He quickly typed on his smartphone, searching for information about the skyscraper that had caught Mrs Saeki's attention. After a few moments, he found some relevant details.

"According to the internet," Takuma began, his eyes scanning the screen, "that skyscraper is the headquarters of....wait, Yasuo Corporation!?"

The group exchanged surprised glances, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected connection between Mrs Saeki and the headquarters of Yasuo Corporation. It seemed like more than just a coincidence.

"The headquarters of Yasuo Corporation? That's interesting," Sonoko mused, her mind racing with possibilities. "Is she gonna try to blackmail Mrs Yasuo Shizuku one last time to flee the country?"

The tension in the air grew as they continued observing Mrs Saeki's actions, who is clutching her purse tightly, seemingly nervous.

"I mean what Takuma said made sense," Reina gazed at the luggage who is with Mrs Saeki, "She would need tons of money to come up with a fake identity, fake passport and stuff to flee the country, plus the shoe company is in debt. She had no money to flee and start afresh."

"Seriously!? Did she not learn her lesson!? Her daughter was murdered at the same campsite we were on thanks to her blackmail! And we almost died!" Ran clenched her fists

"Nope, it is evident that the lives of us and our classmates, as well as her daughter's death, did little to stop her greed." Takuma rolled his eyes.

"She is beyond redemption," Sonoko chimed in, shaking her head in disbelief. "I honestly don't know why would Kami-sama even grant her a child of all people!"

"We're dealing with someone who has no regard for human life or basic morality after all," Reina added, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure she has a whole PowerPoint presentation on 'Why Ethics Are Overrated' saved on her laptop."

"Yeah, and she probably has a playlist titled 'Blackmail Anthems' that she listens to while plotting her next evil move." Takuma scoffed, his frustration evident before suggesting, "Hey, maybe she's got a secret lair in that skyscraper, complete with laser security systems and a pool filled with gold coins like Scrooge McDuck."

The group burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting the seriousness of the situation. Their absurd imaginations brought a much-needed dose of humour to the tense atmosphere.

"Alright, enough goofing around," Ran said, composing herself. "We need to figure out our next move. We can't let her escape or continue terrorizing innocent people."

Soon, their eyes watched as Mrs Saeki entered the building.

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

Meanwhile, Yasuo Shizuku was at the top of the helipad of Yasuo Corporation, she is dressed in a sleek black suit, the epitome of power and sophistication. The wind tousled her hair as she gazed out over the city, a subtle smirk playing on her lips. She had come a long way from being Mrs Saeki's mere ATM.

"Ah, the sweet smell of power and ill-gotten wealth," Yasuo muttered to herself, a smug grin spreading across her face. "I enjoyed it while it lasted, but it will last longer in another country."

She surveyed the city below, the people and cars below reminded her of puny ants scuttling around aimlessly. Her eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and disdain as she revelled in her elevated position, both literally and figuratively.

The socialite had come a long way. Dating a scumbag, being in a loveless marriage, and the murders coming out on the news were finally the nail in the coffin for her fate. But it ain't too late to flee, not just yet.

Like Mrs Saeki, the murder on the island where the children were hurt at Kodama Forest Campsite resulted in a huge backlash towards the Matriach of the Yasuo family. People were outraged towards Shizuku. Plus the involvement with the scandalous activities of her husband was enough to send the shares plunging. The media had a field day, exposing the skeletons in the Yasuo family closet and tarnishing their once-glamorous reputation.

But Yasuo Shizuku was not one to be underestimated. She had spent years perfecting the art of manipulation and deceit, ensuring that her secrets remained hidden beneath a facade of elegance and grace. Now, with Mrs Saeki's blackmail no longer a threat, she saw an opportunity to reclaim her power and start anew. A helicopter would be coming to fetch her.

"But what's this?" Yasuo's eyes narrowed as she noticed a figure standing on the edge of the helipad. It was Mrs Saeki, her face a mix of determination and desperation. "What are you doing here?" Shizuku demanded, her voice dripping with arrogance. "Thought you were done with your little blackmail game. Or did you come crawling back for more?"

"It can never be done, you are planning to flee after all," Mrs Saeki's voice trembled as she spoke. "Shizuku, hand over the money for this month! You owed me!"

Shizuku let out a boisterous laugh, her voice echoing through the night air. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen! You thought you could control me with your secrets, but now the tables have turned."

"And how are you any different from me!?"Mrs Saeki's face contorted with a mix of fear and anger. "Committing all those crimes and constantly covering up for your husband! Oh wait," A cold smile formed on her lips, "I forgot, you covered up his death as soon as you learned your little bastard son killed him! The same bastard son whom you faked his death years ago!"

"He is a bastard, I'll admit it, having killed all those people. But it felt liberating when he killed that so-called darling 'husband' of mine. You had no idea how suffocating one has to live with that idiot," Shizuku chuckled darkly. "But between your child and mine, Tatsuo did the right thing killing Jun."

"Excuse me!?"

"It only made sense why you both belonged to Lazy City, with all of that slum mentality! My son did a good job killing her, she is not qualified to marry him. Constantly acting like a slut towards Miki, when she still keeps pinning for Tatsuo for 12 years. She genuinely never loves my son, and it only seems fitting that she ends up with someone who is the son of a mistress."

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew across the helipad, causing Yasuo's hat to fly off his head and Mrs Saeki's hair to whip around her face as Saeki was growing furious at her words. "Looks like the wind agrees with me, Mrs Saeki," Yasuo sneered, trying to maintain his composure despite the disturbance.

But before Shizuku could revel in his twisted victory, the words Shizuku said made her snap.

"You think you can mock my daughter's death and get away with it!?" Mrs Saeki's voice rang out, her eyes blazing with a fiery rage. "I may have been the worst mother of the year, I will admit it, but there is a bottom line when one makes fun of someone's child getting killed by their own! And I won't stand it!"

"Aw, you can't handle the truth, that is why," Shizuku pouted mockingly, "Your idiotic greed killed her, along with your daughter who is a coward constantly misleading men to get whatever she wants leading her to where she deserves to be: In Heaven. At least Tatsuo noticed it later on after his 'death', she is not worth marrying."

With a sudden burst of energy, Mrs Saeki lunged at Yasuo, her fingers curling into claws as she aimed for Shizuku's throat. The two women grappled with each other, their struggle filled with a raw intensity that seemed to embody their years of pent-up animosity.

The wind howled around them, carrying their furious cries and the sound of their bodies colliding. They fought with desperation fueled by betrayal, revenge, and the desire to reclaim what they had lost. Each punch, each kick, carried the weight of their shattered lives and the determination to emerge victorious.

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

"Wonder what is taking that Mrs Saeki so long?" Sonoko frowned, waiting felt like forever outside the skyscraper.

"Extorting money from someone you go after for 12 years, at this point, I am pretty sure her personal ATM is bound to say no."Takuma pointed out.

"Yeah, I mean, who in their right mind would continue to give money to someone who's been blackmailing them for over a decade?" Reina chimed in, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Ran, leaning against the wall, let out a small chuckle. "Honestly, the audacity of Mrs Saeki. She must think she's got some supernatural power over that Yasuo woman."

Just then, the doors of the skyscraper swung open, revealing several employers rushing out while some of them began to form a crowd while pointing up into the sky.

"Hey, what's going on up there?" Sonoko called out, her voice tinged with curiosity.

The group followed the pointing fingers and directed their gaze towards the heavens. And what they saw left them speechless.

Meanwhile, the group of onlookers watched in shock and disbelief from above, their minds struggling to process the chaos unfolding before them. They had stumbled upon a battle of epic proportions, a clash between two women on the top of the Yasuo skyscraper, Mrs Saeki and Mrs Shizuku.

The wind whipped around them, adding an eerie backdrop to the scene. Mrs Saeki and Mrs Shizuku fought with fierce determination, their movements fluid and calculated. It was a spectacle that seemed straight out of an action movie, defying all logic and reason.

"Is this for real? Are they actually fighting on the rooftop?" Ran's voice trembled with a mix of awe and disbelief.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing," Takuma muttered, his eyes glued to the unfolding battle. "It's like something out of a comic book."

Sonoko's eyes widened as she watched the intense struggle between the two women. "They're like superheroes or supervillains up there! This is insane!"

Even Reina found herself at a loss for words. The sheer audacity and intensity of the fight left her speechless. She could only watch in stunned silence as the two adversaries clashed, their emotions and vendettas fueling their every move.

The children exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to intervene or if they even should. The situation had escalated far beyond their expectations, and they found themselves caught in the crossfire of a feud that had reached its boiling point.

As the wind whipped around them, the group could almost sense the electricity in the air, the clash of egos and the clash of fates. It was as if the very elements were conspiring to witness this ultimate showdown, an unconventional battle between two women who had become the embodiment of their own destructive desires.

The struggle continued, the sound of blows landing and grunts of exertion filling the air. It was a dance of vengeance, a symphony of chaos, and an embodiment of their intertwined destinies.

At that moment, the fate of both women hung in the balance, teetering between triumph and tragedy. The outcome remained uncertain, but one thing was clear—neither Mrs Saeki nor Yasuo Shizuku would back down until they had achieved their own twisted version of justice.

And so, with bated breath, the onlookers watched as the battle raged on, their own lives forever entwined with the outcome of this cataclysmic clash of wills. The winds of fate had brought them to this point, and now they could only wait and witness the resolution of a story that had spiralled far beyond their imagination.

Some took out their smartphones to capture the spectacle, their fingers trembling with excitement.

"This is going to break the internet," Sonoko exclaimed, her eyes wide with anticipation. "I can already see the headlines: 'Epic Showdown on Skyscraper Rooftop!'"

"Hashtag rooftopbattle, hashtag SaekivsShizuku, hashtag unreal," Ran added, her mind already racing with the potential hashtags that could make this viral

Suddenly, before Sonoko could post, Reina's phone abruptly rang.

Startled, Reina fumbled for her phone in her pocket and quickly answered the call. "Hello?"

On the other end of the line, a familiar voice crackled with urgency. "Reina, you all better leave Yasuo Corporation right now, and fast!"

It was none other than her best friend, Kudo Ranran.