In a lot of movies and dramas, when it comes to the topic of revenge, there are two ways of handling it as the protagonist.

The legal way is the path of justice, where the protagonist ensures that the villains' deeds are exposed to the public. Through the press, they bring the truth to light, making sure that the villains' names are forever associated with their heinous crimes. The protagonist meticulously gathers evidence, recording everything in police reports and sharing it with the relevant authorities. Even if the villains are deceased, their legacy will be tarnished, and their true nature will be known to all.

The problem is, this route would take way too long to solve such a dilemma.

Which is why Kudo Ranran had opted to use her own way.

Ranran's eyes gleamed with a chilling determination as she contemplated her own path of revenge. Having experienced to know that obtaining justice through the legal system would only give them a slap on the wrist, Ranran had to go for a different kind of retribution that would ensure their legacy of evil would have consequences. She wants Primrose to know that although she is deceased, doesn't mean her sins will never lead to retribution.

The purpose of this is to make Primrose haunted through her every waking moment. And Ranran specialized in this since the days when she became the apprentice of 'Fox and Deer', she would make this woman suffer in ways that went beyond the confines of the law, even being dead would be suffocating.

Ranran's mind raced with ideas, each more twisted than the last. She envisioned a relentless pursuit, a psychological torment that would plague the villains even in their dreams.

In the days that followed, as everyone is about to learn...as much as Primrose is no longer alive to suffer for her sins, the same couldn't be said for her family members.

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Somewhere in the U.K., a girl who is around the age of 11 is severely bullied as angry children surrounded the little girl, kicking and screaming in anger as they go, "I knew that it is one thing that you were a school bully, but who knew...who knew your aunt is a murderer, Millie Rose Fisher!"

Millie's face contorted in terror as she realized her secret was out. The children's rage was palpable, their eyes filled with a burning desire for justice. They had discovered the truth about her aunt's crimes, and now Millie would face the consequences of her family's dark legacy.

The girl's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as the children continued their onslaught. "You thought you could hide behind your aunt's actions, but you're just as guilty! Just like how she had enabled you to bully others and defend you for your sins, now that she is dead...you'll pay for it!"

The bullies, fueled by a twisted sense of justice, showed no mercy. They wanted to make Millie suffer, to make her understand the pain and fear her victims had endured. The vicious cycle of revenge had come full circle, and Millie was caught in its unforgiving grip.

As the beatings intensified, Millie knew who was responsible for this.

Ranran must have been the orchestrator of this dark retribution.

You see after the murders in Japan took place thanks to Felix, Ranran didn't like the fact that Millie's aunt, Primrose, will never be punished for her sins.

But.....just because the murderer's compliance is dead, didn't mean her family members ain't.

It would've been evil to drag the loved ones of the killer to torment them, they were innocent and didn't have any role in the murders at all. And Ranran knows that. Still, Millie, Primrose's niece, stole Ranran's photo and gifted it to Felix to commit those murders, so in more ways than one, this was justifiable revenge.

Especially since Millie was one of the children who tipped her mentor's abusive mother, which later lead to his murder. So the logical thing to do was for Ranran to let everyone know about it.

Considering that Millie and Primrose's family struck lucky when they married into a family of earls through the marriage, it only made sense why releasing to the press is brilliant. Of course, there is a risk of slandering lawsuits, but since Ranran had dug around so efficiently about Primrose's involvement, according to Shinichi, legally, Primrose's family had more to lose should they attempt to sue, since the evidence was far too solid to confirm Primrose isn't innocent.

So what better way to settle this is by using her own connections to the press, through Miss Ohta, the secretary for movie investor tycoon Mr Muniko.

The child detective wants to make a huge announcement about Primrose's role with the murder of U.K.'s popular beloved comedian, Peggy Punchard, as well as Aurelia, Peggy's daughter. But not just any press, a press with an international fanbase, mainly the Brits. And so happen Mr Muniko had connections to the press in the U.K., much to Ranran's delight, they agreed to release this piece of news to BBC.

In a shocking turn of events, the world learned about the dark legacy that plagued Peggy Punchard's family. The headlines screamed with scandal and outrage, causing a storm of public opinion that descended upon Millie Rose Fisher like a torrential downpour.

As the news spread like wildfire, the public turned against Millie, her reputation forever tarnished by her association with her murderous aunt. The internet was ablaze with discussions, memes, and hashtags, each one condemning Millie for her family's sins. She became a pariah, a symbol of evil and corruption in the eyes of the masses.

It didn't help then when the other kids learn that her father is Alaric Fairchild, the famous director within the entertainment industry, his reputation now hung in the balance thanks to Primrose. The revelation of Millie's dark family secret sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment world, and Alaric Fairchild's career could've crumbled under the weight of public scrutiny.

Yet, In a stunning twist of fate, Ranran reached out to Alaric Fairchild a day before the media news broke out.

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In the earlier days at the tender age of 3, Ranran wanted to be a child actor growing up.

When Millie's bullying was exposed and she was later expelled from the prestigious Edgewood Academy, Alaric was far too horrified with his step-daughter's sins, he went above and beyond for the school's theatre club, as well as the unfortunate child actors who had to suffer under Millie. One of the compensation he did was offering the high profile acting roles Millie was supposedly cast in, to replace her with the other child actors in response, Ranran too was offered plentiful, but she can only do so when she reached the tender age of 6 due to circumstances.

But when fate took a different turn that lead her to become a child detective, although Ranran no longer choose to become a professional child actor, it didn't necessarily mean that her acting days were gone for good.

Not wanting to waste Ranran's talent, whenever Ranran is free, she gets sent to the studio somewhere in Japan whenever Alaric drops by to shoot all sorts of commercials that earn big bucks.

Perhaps the fact that Alaric Fairchild was a director loved by the other child actors thanks to his devotion towards them, that Ranran decided he had the right to know what his sister-in-law has done.

"Mr Alaric, I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. But I feel like you had the right to know that your sister-in-law, Primrose, was murdered."

Those were the words she dropped over the smartphone, she was in her bedroom days after being discharged from the hospital. Alaric was aware of her change in career, so to hear this from her the first time was shocking.

Alaric Fairchild's voice trembled with disbelief as he processed the shocking revelation. "Primrose...murdered? This can't be true. Are you certain, Ranran?"

Ranran's tone was serious and unwavering as she responded, "Yes."

A heavy silence hung in the air as Alaric absorbed the weight of the information. His mind raced with a mix of emotions, ranging from shock to anger. "Oh lord! Her mother....she is still bedridden in the hospital. I don't know how am I going to break the news to her, I mean...I promised to look after her since my last feud with my wife lead to her vanishing...."

Ranran knows this, even so. "And there is more, though I felt like I didn't want to break it down to you...but I felt like if I don't, it won't do good to your career as well...."

Alaric's voice quivered as he spoke, a sense of foreboding in his words. "What else is there, Ranran? I need to know. No matter how dark or devastating, I need to face it."

Ranran took a deep breath, her voice faking with empathy as she drops the bomb on him, "Primrose....your sister-in-law....she aided the killer with the murder of Peggy Punchard....as well as Peggy's daughter, Aurelia."

In a state of shock, Alaric struggled to comprehend the magnitude of Ranran's words.

"How...how could she do such a thing? She was my sister-in-law, and she...I know that she is a dimwit, but did she really-"

"And there is hard evidence, Mr Alaric. It doesn't look good. When the killer was done using Primrose, he killed her. And that guy....is Peggy's fiance."

The weight of the revelation crushed his spirit, threatening to bring his world crashing down around him. "W-what!? What fiance!?"

"You....didn't know?" Ranran had her hands covering her red lips, a bit surprised that Primrose didn't share this bit of news with her brother-in-law, "Felix, Peggy's eldest son, they were dating on and off. Both of them decided the killings had to be done, and Primrose wanted in so that...she would be more influential than you in the entertainment scene, not to mention....richer than you."

Alaric's mind spun with a whirlwind of emotions. The shock and disbelief were soon replaced by a fiery anger burning deep within him. "That conniving little snake! How dare she betray our family like this? And Felix, Peggy's own son, involved in these heinous acts? It's unfathomable!"

Ranran could sense the rage building within Alaric, and she knew she had to tread carefully. "Also...."

"What, is there more!?"

Here it goes, "She allegedly...used your daughter, Millie, to steal a photograph of me...then gave it to the killer to try and make use of me to frame an innocent man for the murders. But when the plan backfired...it appeared that she and Felix had conspired to kill me with explosives-"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?" Alaric's face flushed with fury, not at the child, but at the revelations.

"Anyway, it ain't completely Primrose's fault since she was manipulated," Ranran tried to reassure him over the phone. "But a...I thought I should let you know before the press release of this news by tomorrow. Since they....got word about it."

"What are you talking about!? It is Primrose's greed that leads us to this situation! It is her fault!" Alaric's voice grew tense as he responded, his anger seething through the phone. "I appreciate you telling me, Ranran. This is beyond infuriating. That damn Primrose! Thanks to her, I might end up losing my livelihood!"

Of course, Ranran is very much aware.

Alaric Fisher is a famous casting director in his own right. He worked from ground zero just to get to where he is today, and he was in general a likable kind person. This scandal of Primrose would be enough to bring everything he had worked hard for to ruin.

In the face of Alaric's growing anger and despair, Ranran tried her best to offer some comfort. "I understand Mr. Alaric. This is a terrible situation, but I believe in your talent and resilience. You've worked hard to build your career, and I'm confident that you can overcome this setback."

Alaric let out a bitter laugh, devoid of any humour. "Overcome? How can I overcome this? My name will be dragged through the mud, and who would want to work with a man associated with murderers and betrayal?"

That is when Ranran formed a sly grin on her face with the phone pressed on her right ear, "What if I have a way to stop this?"

Alaric's voice perked up with a glimmer of hope. "What do you mean, Ranran? Is there really a way to salvage my reputation?"

"There is," She paused for a moment, relishing in the suspense she was creating while faking her tone of reluctance. "But it may be too much for Millie to handle."

Alaric's hopefulness turned into concern. "What is this plan you have in motion?"

Ranran's grin widened as she continued with her twisted plan. "Millie's mom....she went missing for 11 years, correct?"

"Yeah? What about it?"

Here it goes, "Divorce her." Ranran suggests.

"Excuse me!?"

"Divorce her," Ranran repeated with conviction, "Your missing wife and Primrose are sisters. If you divorce her....it would sever your connection between you and your wife's family. People won't see you as someone associated with the murderer's family anymore. It would create distance and allow you to rebuild your reputation."

Alaric's voice grew hesitant as he considered the implications of Ranran's suggestion. "But...but what about Millie? How would she handle all of this? It would be devastating for her."

Ranran's grin didn't falter. "Mr Alaric, Millie relies on your heavily since you are the only sole income earner. The moment you lose your job as a director, you both are likely to be living in the streets. If you didn't lose your job, although she will be labelled as the niece of the killer, at least she still has you to rely on."

Alaric's mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. The weight of the situation pressed upon him, torn between the desire to salvage his reputation and the responsibility he felt towards his daughter.

"But divorcing her...it feels like betraying and abandoning Millie," Alaric murmured, his voice tinged with guilt.

"Mr Alaric, you don't have that much of an option. Time is running out." Ranran's voice took on a tone of urgency. "Think about it, Mr Alaric. This scandal is a ticking time bomb. If you don't take action now, your reputation and livelihood will be destroyed. Millie may be hurt in the short term, but you can still be there for her, support her, and help her heal."

Alaric wrestled with his emotions, his heart torn between protecting his daughter and salvaging his career. The weight of the decision bore down on him, threatening to crush him under its immense pressure.

"I never wanted to choose between my career and my daughter," Alaric whispered, his voice filled with anguish.

Ranran's tone softened as she spoke, her voice laced with empathy. "I know, Mr. Alaric. Life is unfair, and sometimes we're forced into impossible choices. It was no one else's fault but Primrose, but the difficult decision had to be made. You may have divorced your absent wife, but you are all still family regardless."

And Ranran wasn't completely lying. She had witnessed in the future-telling-projector how devoted he was to his mother-in-law and Millie despite MIllie not being his biological daughter, as they gave him a hard time for over a decade.

Considering they all gave him a hard time and prevented him from remarrying despite being kind towards them, it only seems fair that Mr Alaric had the right to keep his career as a director, while Millie pays the price for Primrose's sins.

Silence hung in the air as Alaric contemplated the magnitude of the situation. The clock was ticking, and he had to make a decision.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Alaric spoke, his voice tinged with resignation. "Alright, Ranran. I'll do it. I'll divorce Millie's mother."

Ranran's grin returned, her satisfaction evident in her voice.

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

Thanks to Ranran's 'kind suggestion,' Alaric avoided having the industry turn its back on him, as well as directors, producers, and actors have distanced themselves, fearing association with the Fisher name. In more ways than one, he was very lucky not to get blacklisted, but the same couldn't be said for Millie.

"You thought you could escape the consequences, but you were wrong, Millie," One of the bullies of Millie hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "You and your aunt will pay for your sins, one way or another. Consider this a taste of the fear and pain you inflicted on others."

The other children joined in that boy's taunting, their voices blending together in a sinister chorus. They chanted, mocking Millie's suffering and relishing in her despair. It was a symphony of vengeance, a twisted dance of darkness.

Millie was furious at Ranran, although she is in Japan while Millie is in the U.K., it was utterly horrifying how Ranran was able to scheme the worst for her. The revelation of her family's dark secrets had unleashed a torrent of hatred and vengeance upon her. Everywhere she turned, she faced scorn, ridicule, and relentless bullying.

The last straw was when the press revealed Ranran was almost killed by Primrose's act, thanks to her love for Felix, the killer.

The press never officially revealed Ranran's name, after all, she is a minor running Tantei Association. Even so, Ranran's friends back in the U.K. in Edgewood are very much in the loop as to who the press is referring the victim specifically at since they announced 'founder of Tantei Association' was kidnapped, left to die in a burning building after setting the explosion.

And since Ranran's friends are influential children of nobles and royalty, it didn't take long for their word to reach all the way to the school where Millie is, causing outrage.

"Millie, you're nothing but a monster! Just like your aunt!" one of the bullies shouted, his voice filled with venom. "You don't deserve to be here. You don't deserve anything."

It was bad enough that the entire school Millie was in knew in advance that she had caused the death of Ranran's mentor through manipulative means, let alone, bullying other children when she used to be a child star but had an aunt who is a killer is the final nail in the coffin. Even more so, now they learn that Millie is related to her aunt Primrose, who aided in the killer's killings towards the U.K.'s well-beloved comedian Peggy Punchard and Aurelia, and once more attempted to kill Ranran, that was the tipping point for Millie's social standing. She became an outcast, shunned by her peers and labelled as a pariah. The whispers and glares followed her everywhere, a constant reminder of her family's dark legacy.

Oh, how Millie resented Ranran more than ever.Before that, they were enemies, now Millie saw Ranran as the orchestrator of her downfall, the puppeteer pulling the strings of her misery. How could someone so young be so cunning, so manipulative? Millie's anger burned like wildfire, consuming her thoughts and fueling her desire for revenge.

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

A few days after that, Shinichi found himself strolling down the streets of Beikai District, his cape billowing in the wind. The events of their sixth major case, 'The Last Laugh,' had finally come to a close. The reports had been submitted, the evidence collected, and Felix, the mastermind behind the murders of Peggy, Aurelia, and Primrose, would never walk free again.

Shinichi had initially been against Ranran's plan to make Primrose's loved ones pay for her sins. After all, they were innocent and had no involvement in the murders orchestrated by Felix. It seemed unjust to drag them into the web of revenge. But as soon as Ranran presented her plan to spare Millie's director father from losing his career before exposing Primrose's involvement, Shinichi couldn't argue anymore. He gave his full approval, recognizing the twisted sense of justice in the situation.

Even so, there was one justification for this plan he could not refute: Primrose did tell Millie to sneak into Edgewood Academy to steal Ranran's photo and hand it to the killer, in the attempt of using Ranran to frame Takashi and as a result of that, Ranran almost died.

Millie's role in this scheme, whether she knew the full extent of the consequences or not, made her culpable, but as soon as Shinichi heard Ranran telling him that Milie was one of the kids who murdered her mentor, and to top it off, had figured out a way to spare Millie's director father from losing his career before the news is made about Primrose's involvement, he gave full approval.

Also, although he knew Ranran to be merciless and ruthless, manipulating Millie's dad into divorcing his missing wife of 11 years was a cold-blooded move towards the child.

As much as children from divorced parents within the United Kingdom are tolerated by other children in school, stigmatized by their peers, labelled as "bad children" or subjected to cruel judgment. Millie would bear the brunt of this social stigma, further isolating her in her already difficult situation.

Shinichi couldn't shake the feeling that Ranran is perpetuating a cycle of pain and revenge. While Primrose and Felix had committed heinous acts, dragging Millie into their dark legacy seemed like an added cruelty.

Lost in his thoughts, Shinichi took a deep breath, contemplating the consequences of their actions. The pursuit of justice had led them down a dark and treacherous path, and now they had become the architects of another's suffering.

He wondered if there could have been a different way to handle the situation, a way that would have spared Millie from further harm and allowed her to redeem herself. But the past couldn't be rewritten, and they were left with the choices they had made.

Shinichi felt a pang of guilt, knowing that his approval had contributed to Millie's fate. He wondered why didn't Ranran give this girl a chance to redeem herself, does she not believe in forgiveness? Sure, Millie bullied other kids who were more talented than her for a child actor, even going as far as to indirectly cause the death of Ranran's mentor through the mentor's abusive mother, but it wasn't as though she wanted people to die, right?

Now, as Shinichi walked the streets, he couldn't help but wonder about the aftermath. What would become of Millie? How would she handle the consequences of her actions? It was a heavy burden to bear, even for someone as young as her.

Unbeknownst to him, he would be getting his answer within a minute.

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Walking his way to the main HQ of Tantei Association, he overheard a loud sound in the alleyway.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Shinichi hesitated for a moment before turning towards the alleyway. He could hear voices, some of them angry and others pleading. He quickened his pace, his detective instincts kicking in.

As he approached the alley, the sight that greeted him made his blood run cold. Shinichi was shocked to see Millie, who he recognized in a photo display in Primrose's room, was not only here in Japan, but cornered by allegedly, a group of bullies, their faces seemingly twisted with malice. They circled around her, taunting and jeering, enjoying the power they held over her.

Without a moment's hesitation, Shinichi was about to step forward and yell at them to say "Leave her alone!"

But that almost happened when one of the kids belittling Millie suddenly said in British English, "How does it feel now!? To be in Ranran's shoes!?"

Shinichi froze in his tracks, the words echoing in his ears. "To be in Ranran's shoes..."

Suddenly, he held himself back before hiding in the corner, eager to listen to what Millie had to say in response. Now that he looked at the children who were the 'bullies', their school uniforms and faces seemed familiar for some odd reason.

"Hah! What is there to pity about her anyway!?" Millie sneered, "She asked for it when she had that 'boy' to expose all of my bullying! If it wasn't for them, I would've still remained a child actor! Kya!"

Millie yelped in pain as one of the children, one girl with an elegant ponytail struck her in the fact. "You still had no remorse! Even after murdering 'him'!"

Shinichi's eyes widened in shock at Millie's words. The pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. These children were not just random bullies, they were Ranran's friends, the children from Edgewood Academy in that photo discovered in Primrose's room.

And the reason they look familiar is because of their Edgewood School uniforms.

"Tiffany, don't need to waste your breath," A nicely groom-haired little boy who was with her pulled her away from Millie.

"Ellis-"

Then Shinichi was reminded of that time when Ranran introduced him to Ellis on the smartphone when they were conversing in class, the boy was shaken to see him with them, what is he doing here in Japan!?

"I know, let me handle this," Ellis reassured the girl.

Shinichi's mind raced as he connected the dots. Tiffany, the girl who had reformed from her jealousy towards her twin sister, was now standing with Ellis as one of the group of kids tormenting Millie. The irony of the situation was not lost on him.

Shinichi watched in astonishment as Ellis confronted Millie, pinching her cheeks hard. The intensity of the situation and the accusation caught him off guard. The words echoed in his mind: "Did you purposefully fly all the way here to kill Ranran!?"

Millie winced in pain but didn't back down. "What are you talking about? I didn't fly here to kill anyone!"

"Is that so?" Another familiar face was with them, it was Veronica who flashed the pocket knife before Millie, "How do you explain this that we found in your skirt pocket!? Not to mention," She pointed to the fallen rondesu bag next to Millie, "You spared no expense purchasing that bag to sneak in as a student, and the last time I remembered, your school is still in the U.K., and your father had no plans of transferring you here since his career is still intact. So I am going to ask you nicely while I can, cause if you dare to lie to me one more time about not wanting to kill Ranran, I will do the worst than what Ranran is capable of."

Shinichi's mind raced as he observed the unfolding scene. Millie's denial and the evidence presented against her painted a conflicting picture. He couldn't ignore the fact that Millie had been involved in Ranran's mentor's murder and her connection to Primrose's dark deeds. But the accusation of intending to kill Ranran was a shocking revelation.

Veronica's threat lingered in the air as the tension rose. Shinichi watched intently, ready to intervene if things took a dangerous turn. "Alright, fine! I want her dead! I want her to die, and let her join 'him' in Heaven!" 11-year-old Millie admits with anger and tried to flee, but Ellis held her neck against the wall.

Shinichi's heart sank as he listened to Millie's confession. The depth of her anger and desire for revenge was more profound than he had anticipated. It was clear that Millie harboured a deep resentment towards Ranran, and she was willing to go to extreme lengths to see her harmed.

Once more, Veronica slapped Millie before her while yelling, "It was bad enough when you all decided to manipulate Christopher's mother to murder him when he was around 8 years old, and Ranran was around 4 years old when he died, and you now wanted Ranran dead!? She is 6! What is wrong with you!?"

Veronica's words echoed in Shinichi's mind, highlighting the severity of the situation. Millie's desire for revenge had taken a dark turn, and her intentions were far more sinister than he had anticipated.

"What is wrong with that?! We didn't cause Christopher to die, he asked for it! And that stupid girl who can't let go of his death kept coming up with schemes to ruin me in the worst way possible!" Once more, Veronica struck Millie in the face, and that girl continued to rant, "Even if I didn't tip his mother off about his weaknesses, he would've lived a miserable life when his mom abuse him. So we are just merely doing him the favour by ending his life with mercy."

Shinichi's eyes widened in shock and horror as he listened to Millie's chilling words. The depth of her twisted reasoning and lack of empathy sent a shiver down his spine. It was clear that whatever Millie is, she is the type who is willing to justify her actions in the most disturbing ways.

And that is honestly eerie to Shinichi for some reason.

Tiffany who was listening to all of the gibberish made a grab of the rondesu bag on the ground before striking Millie hard in the head, "How dare you!? You and those children barely had any regrets about killing our classmate!"

Shinichi watched in disbelief as the situation escalated. The confrontation between Millie and the group of children from Edgewood Academy had taken a dark turn, with accusations, violence, and chilling justifications for their actions.

He felt a mixture of anger, sadness, and helplessness. The depth of Millie's resentment and her willingness to harm others, combined with the group's own involvement in manipulating Christopher's mother, created an atmosphere of darkness and despair.

"Why should we?" Suddenly, there was that craze of eyes appearing on Millie's eyes, "The things we are blessed by Gods shouldn't be taken away by them! Whatever we want, we get!"

Seeing Millie's eyes filled with madness sent shivers down Shinichi's spine. It was clear that she had crossed a dangerous line, consumed by a twisted sense of entitlement and vengeance.

He then thought of the earlier conversations he used to have with Ranran, something about Edgewood Academy being a different kind of privileged school. He remembered her mentioning that it was a school for the privileged, where children with unique abilities or backgrounds were gathered. Ranran also hinted at a darker side to the school, mentioning the manipulations and power struggles that existed within its walls.

The realization struck him like a lightning bolt. Now it made sense why his mentor Ranran has grown to become a schemer and is cunning in general, ruthlessly dragging down Millie to the worst pits of hell. Because of kids like Millie. Edgewood Academy in general had seemingly fostered a tough yet luxurious environment, where power, entitlement, and manipulation reigned supreme. The children who stood before Millie had been shaped by this environment, and their actions reflected the twisted values they had adopted.

Finally, deciding Millie was beyond redemption, Ellis took the pocket knife, made Millie face against the wall as he held the knife to poke behind Millie's spine, "Try killing Ranran, and you will bet on my words that I will get your father to disown you and put you in an orphanage!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Millie hissed while growing pale at that thought.

"Try me, you are not even his biological daughter, just the niece of a killer. Just so happen that your opportunistic leach family from your mother's side made use of his kindness to give you a better future." Elli's grip on the knife tightened, as Shinichi shudder the worst possibility that might happen. Should he intervene? Or continue to watch. "You and the others had no remorse for murdering Christopher, even laughed among yourselves and held an after party after his funeral. A world with one psycho like you gone would make our lives so much more bearable. Don't you think? Especially for Ranran."

Shinichi's mind raced as he witnessed Ellis's threatening gesture towards Millie. What was about to happen next?

Finally, Millie had no choice but to agree, and Veronica later seizes the knife before Ellis let Millie go, as Tiffany barks, "You wanted Ranran dead thanks to what she did to you, but all of this wouldn't have happened, had you not let Christopher be murdered on purpose! Let alone, helped your idiot aunt Primrose who tried to kill Ranran as well!"

Shinichi watched the scene unfold before him, torn between his desire to intervene and his understanding of the complex dynamics at play. The situation had escalated to a point where Millie's actions and the actions of the children from Edgewood Academy were intertwined in a web of darkness and revenge.

Veronica's words struck a chord within him, highlighting the interconnectedness of their actions and the consequences they had brought upon themselves. It was a harsh truth that Millie had to face, the realization that her own actions had set off a chain of events that led to her current situation.

As Millie's legs crumbled to the floor, Shinichi just stood there. Then, as he tried to reverse to the back, he accidentally trip a bit to the back, causing a noise.

As Shinichi stumbled and made a noise, all eyes turned towards him. The children from Edgewood Academy and Millie looked at him with a mix of surprise and suspicion as to who had been eavesdropping on them.

But Shinichi manages to flee before any of them were able to see his face.

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

As Shinichi quickly made his escape, his heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't afford to be caught in this situation, not when emotions were running high and tensions were escalating.

Running through the winding streets of Beikai District, Shinichi tried to make sense of what he had just witnessed. The darkness that had enveloped Millie and the children from Edgewood Academy was deeper than he had imagined, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of despair and helplessness.

As he ran, his mind raced with thoughts of what he should do next. Should he report this to the authorities? Should he inform Ranran about her second family's actions? The weight of the situation bore down on him, and he knew that whatever path he chose, it would have far-reaching consequences.

Finally, finding a secluded spot, Shinichi took a moment to catch his breath. The old him would've not turned a blind eye to what he had witnessed. He would've naturally contacted the cops to look into it, even though Millie was very much in the wrong.

On the other hand, those days had ended after he had become Ranran's apprentice.

As Shinichi reflected on his new role as Ranran's apprentice, he realized why Ranran's perception of justice is way different than his in more ways than one.

Cause towards the end, Ranran was right about one thing: He had never gone through similar hardships as Ranran does.

And as painful as it may sound, he had no reality experiences the way she did back in Edgewood Academy in the U.K. Back then during kindergarten, all Shinichi needed to do for a normal 3-year-old was singing nursery rhymes, naptime, drawing, sharing toys with others, as well as being kind to others as the only way to live a good life. Although he was at that time exposed to stories of dark origins like Sherlock Holmes, he always believed that one doesn't need to be ruthless and that the values of kindergarten should be taken seriously in the real world.

But Ranran's school environment on the other hand blew off everything he ever knew.

Edgewood was a place where the most manipulative kid in the world can only survive such an environment. Not a school for a child who is kind, fair and righteous, cause one would ultimately be mocked within seconds. The children from Edgewood Academy had been shaped by this environment that is as closely matched as the real world, and by exposing them to such situations, their actions reflected the twisted values they had adopted. It was a world that Shinichi had never experienced firsthand, and he realized that it had shaped Ranran into the person she was today.

Recalling Millie's twisted personality, the realization struck him deeply that Millie mentioned 'we'. In other words, there were many more kids like Millie who are psychopaths, probably worst than Millie at Edgewood Academy. And he has a nagging feeling Ranran must have come across many of them, to become borderline twisted when it came to revenge.

Shinichi couldn't help but feel a surge of concern for Ranran who had been influenced by such dark values.

Ranran....in the end, you lived a far hellish life than me......and you never said a word about it....

For a moment, Shinichi felt bad, after having witnessed glimpses of Ranran's life through the interaction between Ranran's friends in Edgewood Academy and Millie, he has no idea how he was going to face his mentor after witnessing such a scene.

"Tiffany, I don't think you need to keep calling me every single day to be reminded of taking my painkillers."

The 6-year-old girl couldn't help but sigh in the main HQ of Tantei Association, her right arm is bandaged following the events of 'The Last Laugh' as she struggles to use her left hand to eat one tablet after another.

"You have to, Ranran, you tend to be forgetful at times." Tiffany reminded her of the tablet Ranran is using through video call, as Tiffany appeared to be with the other children at some British cafe.

"Even if I am forgetful, I set up alarms on my smartphone to remind me to take it," Ranran listened to Tiffany's reminder, her expression showing a mix of annoyance and gratitude. She knew that Tiffany was only looking out for her well-being, but the constant reminders could sometimes be overwhelming.

"True, but you have that habit of neglecting your own health in the process of seeking justice." Tiffany pointed out.

"That ain't true." The child detective merely scoffed while rolling her eyes at Tiffany's observation. It was true that her dedication to seeking justice often took precedence over her own well-being. She had a tendency to immerse herself in her work, sometimes neglecting her own health in the process.

"Tiffany, I appreciate your concern, but I assure you, I take my health seriously," Ranran replied, her tone a mixture of gratitude and defensiveness before suspicions began to appear on her beautiful features, "By the way, shouldn't it be 6 am there in the U.K.? What cafe would be open at that hour?"

"Um... well, we found a cafe that opens early," Tiffany replied, pausing for a moment as she was caught off guard by Ranran's question.

Ranran raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by Tiffany's explanation. "Is it?"

"I mean....why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"I don't know, I mean...." Ranran felt something was off with this, "Sometimes I feel like you and the others are in Japan rather than the U.K."

"Ah ha ha, no, don't think too much about it." Ellis suddenly interrupted in the tablet as he reassured Ranran, "We are very much in the U.K."

Ranran couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss. There was an unusual tension in Tiffany and Ellis' responses, and their attempts to reassure her only raised her suspicions further.

"Ellis, Tiffany, what is the name of the cafe you are in?" Ranran pressed her voice firm but tinged with concern.

The children exchanged glances before Tiffany spoke up, her voice wavering slightly. "The Viscountess's Tea."

"Really?" Ranran was doubtful, "This is your bubble tea shop? I have been through several of your shops, but the interior of the cafe you are all in...how come I never see it before?"

"It's another new shop my parents opened recently, honest!" Tiffany lies naturally as she breathes, wondering if the 6-year-old girl would buy this lie.