As Emiko looked at Ranran, Shinichi, and Ran sitting together in the Tantei Association headquarters, an uncanny resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, 'The Last Supper,' crossed her mind.

The way they were seated at the table, their postures, and even their expressions seemed to echo the iconic depiction of Jesus and his apostles.

Except for studying them, Emiko ain't certain why is it that Ran reminded her of Judas, while Ranran is Jesus.

The artist couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable with the comparison that had crossed her mind. She knew that 'The Last Supper' was a significant and revered painting, depicting a pivotal moment in religious history. Comparing her friends to figures from such a renowned work of art felt strange and inappropriate.

Still, she couldn't shake off the eerie resemblance she saw in their poses and expressions. Ranran, sitting at the centre, exuding a sense of calm and authority, could be seen as the focal point, much like Jesus in the painting. Shinichi, sitting at Ranran's right hand, had a contemplative expression that could be likened to the figure of John in the artwork. Noticeably, Shinichi sat next to her a little closer this time.

But the comparison that troubled her the most was the notion of Ran resembling Judas, the betrayer. Ran shifted in her seat and ignored him and Ranran, as Emiko couldn't but notice the growing tension in the room, she lifted a questioning eyebrow but said nothing.

Michio was the first to speak, announcing the contents sergeant's call. "So Sergeant Genzo called earlier, and er....the man we saw on the bike while fleeing from Professor Shibuya's mansion last night....they found his corpse floating not far from the neighbourhood. Which is why....he wants us to be off the case."

Takuma wrinkled his brow, "Woah! Just because that man on the motorbike tried to steal a dead eagle?! That is too extreme!"

Emiko's eyes widened in shock upon hearing Michio's update about the man they had seen fleeing from Professor Shibuya's mansion. The news of the man's death was both unexpected and disturbing.

"I wonder if the professor had anything to do with killing the man on the bike?"Junko asked, at the same time wondering what is with the tension between Ran and Shinichi.

Michio frowned. "Good question," he nodded, "Though Professor Shibuya Jirou doesn't look much like a criminal or murderer to me."

"On another note, let's talk about the possibility Professor Shibuya is hiding something through that stolen stuffed eagle, and why would he want to lie to the officers about the stolen eagle," Shinichi announced.

"As I mentioned yesterday, gold. He must have placed gold inside the bird." Takuma insists.

"There are several fancier mansions compared to Professor Shibuya's creepy-looking mansion in that neighbourhood, if I were a burglar, the last place I would target is Professor Shibuya's, I mean why would I be expecting gold there?!" Junko rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Exactly as Junko said," Emiko nodded, agreeing with her point. "There are wealthier options available. And if the eagle did contain gold, why would the professor lie to the police about it? It's all very puzzling."

"How about some key to some unknown safe?" Ran suggests.

"A key....that is a good one," Ranran jot it down. "Junko, what is your assumption of a possible item stuffed to the stuffed eagle?"

"My assumption...." Junko took a good look at the photo of the stuffed eagle, with the measurements written onto the said bird, "It ain't big enough to fit a gold bar....."

"And it's unlikely to be a key to some unknown safe either," Takuma added. "I mean, why would someone go through the trouble of hiding a key inside a stuffed eagle? It doesn't make sense."

"How about stamps?" Michio suggests.

"Stamps!?" Everyone gave a look of disbelief.

"Stamps could be valuable, especially if they're rare or collectable," Emiko said, giving it some thought. "But would someone go to such lengths to step some stamps inside a stuffed eagle?"

"I mean I would've simply manufactured fake stamps, then tried to pass it on as a real deal and sell for millions of yen rather than go through all that trouble," Ranran commented, "Any other suggestions?"

"I know," Shinichi snapped his finger, "How about, for example, a ruby?"

The children turned their attention to Shinichi as he proposed the idea of a ruby hidden inside the stuffed eagle. It was an intriguing possibility, and the idea seemed to resonate with the group.

"I mean any gem aside from a ruby could definitely be valuable enough to warrant such secrecy," Junko said, nodding in agreement. "If you cut it here and there, it would have been small enough to fit inside the bird without altering its appearance."

Ran leaned forward, her eyes shining with excitement. "I like that idea. A precious gem like a ruby would explain why Professor Shibuya would be so protective of the eagle and why he lied to the police about it."

"I agree, but again, there is a problem with this theory." All heads turned to Ranran as she elaborates, "If the theft was motivated by the desire to retrieve the gem, Professor Shibuya should have been eager to seek the police's help to recover it rather than go to us, or be extremely worried that the cops might confiscate his 150 birds. And also, as Junko mentioned earlier: The last thing a thief would go for is to pick a haunted mansion to go steal some jewel hiding in the eagle, and go for the other mansions we saw earlier instead."

The children fell silent, considering Ranran's points. "Are they any other suggestions you all could come up with to hide something in some stuffed eagle worth stealing?" Shinichi eyed everyone to come up with something.

The children pondered for a moment, trying to think of other possibilities for what could be hidden inside the stuffed eagle. Emiko furrowed her brow, deep in thought, as she considered the various options.

"What about some sort of secret document?" Emiko suggested. "It could be a map, a code, or some confidential information that someone wants to keep hidden. That might explain why Professor Shibuya didn't involve the police and sought our help instead."

"That would've been a good suggestion," Takuma nodded, intrigued by the idea. "Except there is also another problem regarding this theory."

"Which is?" Ran tilted her head as she grew baffled by the others.

"Professor Shibuya is an ornithologist, a scientist who specializes in birds." Takuma leaned forward, her eyes narrowing in thought, "What would anything about birds be so interesting that would be worth stealing??"

Emiko and the rest of the Tantei Association members exchanged puzzled glances, realizing that Takuma had a valid point. Professor Shibuya's expertise as an ornithologist seemed unrelated to the idea of secret documents or confidential information.

"That said, however....it didn't mean he never was involved in...such occupation so to speak." Shinichi crossed his hands thoughtfully.

Intrigued by Shinichi's comment, Michio demanded, "What do you mean?"

"Well, yesterday night...I went to Ranran's place-"

"Wait, with Ranran's place?" Emiko interrupted before realizing, "Didn't you go over to Mouri's place to return the wallet Ran left behind in the cab we were talking about last night?"

As if Emiko had said something she shouldn't have, the tension between Shinichi, Ran and Ranran grew in a suffocating manner. Ran was very uneasy, Ranran remains....well, she remain Ranran as she is, but Shinichi's expression darkened.

After a while, the apprentice admittingly said, "Yes, I did go to Mouri's place, but then I also went to Ranran's place to do research about Professor Shibuya's career background after that." he replied tersely.

"And it was a 2-hour discussion." Ranran groaned.

While Ranran's interaction with Shinichi playfully bantered as usual, for some reason, Emiko could see Ran's hands curling and trembling during their meeting table.

Emiko couldn't ignore the tension in the room, and she could sense that something was amiss between Ran, Ranran, and Shinichi. She felt a sense of unease as she observed Ran's reaction to Shinichi's explanation. Ran's trembling hands and her uneasy demeanour were evident signs that something was bothering her.

Plus, it would be a no-brainer to think that Emiko wasn't the only child who noticed this, so did Junko, Takuma, and Michio. They exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the tension in the room. It was clear that there was more going on beneath the surface, and they couldn't help but be curious as to what might be troubling Mouri Ran.

"And so, did you find anything significant in your research about Professor Shibuya's career background?" Emiko asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the growing tension.

"We did," As Ranran leaned back in her seat, she announced, "We dropped by Professor Agasa and found....interesting tidbits about Professor Shibuya's career before becoming an ornithologist."

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

Yesterday night at Ranran's bedroom, Shinichi had dropped by to do an Internet search on Professor Shibuya Jirou on her computer. "Couldn't we have just headed over to Professor Shibuya's place to confront him, Ranran? Or why not we just drop by Agasa's place to ask about him?" Shinichi who took a chair to sit next to his mentor frowned at her.

"A client who lies about the true nature of the crime inflicted upon them will never be upfront and honest, a lesson worth learning during our first major case, Shinichi," Ranran had full attention on the monitor, "Since Professor Shibuya had no intention on revealing who is the likeliest to do this to him, we would have to do this ourselves. Also, it is very likely he did not share much about his life with Agasa, given his audacity to lie to the police."

"Even so...I felt like we won't find anything online, to me....judging his hunted-looking mansion that looks very unkept, not to mention, how time-consuming it must have been to look after 150 plus birds at his place...I concluded he is a recluse." Shinichi concludes.

Ranran nodded in agreement. "You have a point. I mean anyone who has seen his living room and kitchen could tell," she said. "But...as much as he is one, someone out there should know him one way or another."

"Even though he works from home?" Shinichi remains doubtful.

"Working from home doesn't mean he never interacts with the outside world," Ranran replied. "He must have some acquaintances, colleagues, or people from his past who might have valuable information about him. After all, he had to make a living to support himself and 150-plus birds!"

"True," Shinichi conceded, before wondering, "Including the maintenance of that aviary he built...after Junko fled from that place...I can confidently say....that is the best part most well-kept part of the mansion."

"So you would rather be one of Professor Shibuya's birds, than living like him in the dust musked infested mansion, huh?" Ranran chuckled.

Shinichi grinned. "I think I'd prefer neither, thank you very much. But I have to admit, his aviary is quite impressive, unlike the rooms we were at his mansion earlier." He then deeply frowns, "Why is it that he can do the same for the birds at the aviary, but not for himself?"

"Some people are like that, pouring all their energy and love into something they're passionate about while neglecting other aspects of their lives." Ranran swung her legs from her chair.

"That's right...." It suddenly dawned on Shinichi, "He loved that stolen stuffed eagle more than anything, and yet.....he didn't want the cops to be involved about it, claiming that he feared that they seized the birds that he obtained through legal means. I wonder...if there was anything he love way more than the birds so much so...that he decided not to involve the cops."

As Shinichi and Ranran continued their search for information on Professor Shibuya Jirou, they stumbled upon something unusual. Studying dozen of websites after Ranran searched the word 'Ornithologist' on the search engine, the first thing Shinichi said an hour into the search was, "How is it that Professor's name doesn't pop up when you search the word 'Ornithologist' in Japan?"

"I don't think it is that straightforward to find his name up or anywhere. Not everyone's names who had such occupation would ever pop up." Ranran refuted, as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

The night wore on as Shinichi and Ranran delved deeper into their online investigation. The search for information about Professor Shibuya Jirou seemed like an arduous task, especially considering the lack of results when searching for his name in connection to his profession as an ornithologist in Japan.

"Ok, let's do things differently." Shinichi decided before telling Ranran, "Change the search results location from 'Japan only' to 'Worldwide'."Since we are getting nowhere here, we might as well pull the net worldwide. We may find something along the way."

As they adjusted the search parameters to include worldwide results, Shinichi and Ranran hoped that they would finally uncover some valuable information about Professor Shibuya Jirou. The computer screen flickered as it processed the new search criteria, and soon, the results started pouring in from all over the world.

Among the various search results, a few articles caught their attention.

A moment later the two bolted from their seats, both upright in their chair as their eyes fixed on the screen in shock.

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

"And here is the results, Shinichi, I will let you announce it since I owe it to you." Ranran beamed.

As the founder was spreading her stack of printouts on the table, Shinichi took a deep breath, excitement and curiosity coursing through him as he prepared to reveal the newfound information. "According to these articles," he began, "Professor Shibuya Jirou wasn't always an ornithologist. In fact, before he became a bird expert, he was a rocket scientist."

"A rocket wha-!?" All of the children's jaws dropped in response.

"Wait, what is a rocket scientist?" Ran found herself asking.

"A rocket scientist is someone who specializes in the field of rocketry and space exploration," Ranran explained. "They work on designing, testing, and building rockets and spacecraft that can be used for various purposes, such as launching satellites, exploring outer space, or conducting scientific research."

Emiko's eyes widened with fascination. "So, you're saying that Professor Shibuya was involved in space exploration before he became an ornithologist?"

"That's what the articles suggest," Ranran confirmed. "It seems that he had a significant career change at some point in his life."

"Wow, that's quite the transition," Michio remarked, still processing the surprising revelation. "From rockets to birds, it's like two completely different worlds."

Silence hung over the room. Everyone stared at Shinichi and then at the information he'd downloaded from the Net. "Wow," Takuma said, pushing back on his chair and fiddling with his cap. "So he's not just some dumb old birdman this whole time?!"

"Nope, he apparently ain't," Shinichi answered.

"Neh, this is unrelated, but this had been nagging my mind for a while," Junko leaned back in her chair, her mind working to make sense of the new information. "After we left the mansion, I was thinking how is it an ornithologist could afford to live in a mansion, let alone, raise 150 plus birds. So I googled around as to how much his hunted-looking mansion was worth." As Junko shared her findings, she continued, "Long story short, it's so freaking expensive, that him having used to work as a rocket scientist made total sense."

"Why? How far is the pay gap in yen? Between his job as an ornithologist and a rocket scientist?" Ranran asked.

"Very," Junko checked her smartphone before announcing, "Based on my research, the average salary for an ornithologist in Japan is around 4-5 million yen per year, depending on experience and qualifications. On the other hand, a rocket scientist's average salary can be around 10-15 million yen per year, or even higher in some cases. That's more than double the salary he would have earned as an ornithologist."

Everyone in the Tantei Association was taken aback by the stark difference in salaries between the two professions. "So much money!" Ran's jaw dropped in shock, "I would no longer need to have my parents go to work anymore!"

"Better, I will quit school today if I had that much money! Then buy some luxury yacht and retire there, fishing all day long!" Takuma imagined.

"Such a drastic gap in salary....." Then a question surfaced in Michio's head, "Why would he simply quit such high lucrative job to just look after some birds!?"

"Exactly! With that amount of money, the last thing I would do is quit!" Even Emiko is astounded by this mind-boggling information, "I would've used that money to attend some art school in Paris, buy myself a nice apartment and live there with my cat Sota till the day I die!"

"It's clear that there's more to Professor Shibuya's story than meets the eye," Shinichi said, his eyes narrowing in thought. "It's odd...he never mentions any of this during our meeting. Why is that?"

"Maybe he found a deeper passion for ornithology that led him to leave his previous career," Ran suggests.

"Love for birds? You must be joking! Even if I do love the birds, I will never leave such a high-paying job for those birds, since it ain't cheap to raise exotic birds! Let alone, a total of 150 plus birds!" Takuma questioned.

"Even so, I know some people would do so," Ran admitted, "Maybe his fascination with birds was so intense that he decided to pursue it as a full-time career."

"But still, it's quite an extreme lifestyle change," Michio added. "I can understand pursuing your passion, but to go from a rocket scientist to an ornithologist, it seems like there's more to the story."

"To put a long story short, Shinichi, you did a good job with the search," Ranran congratulated her apprentice by patting him on the back.

"Ah ha ha, I couldn't have done it without you either, Ranran." Shinichi grins back at his partner-in-crime.

"Of course you had to praise her, since you are her apprentice, it's natural for you to wipe her feet," growled Ran, casting an unfriendly look at Ranran and Shinichi.

Emiko, Junko, Takuma, and Michio were quick to notice the change in atmosphere and exchanged worried looks amongst themselves. Ran's uneasiness and irritation were evident, and it seemed that the relationship dynamics between the three of them were more complex than they had initially thought.

"Mouri, behave," Shinichi glared at Ran, silencing her to a gulp while Ranran rolled her eyes at the rude child, sensing the tension in the room rising once again.

"Aside from a member acting all so petty," Ranran coldly glances at Ran before paying attention to the others, "There is one thing that bothers me about Professor Shibuya."

"Which is?" Emiko demanded.

"That stuffed eagle that Professor Shibuya insist that it was stolen, he said it was worth around 500,000 yen, correct?" Everyone nodded to her, "Say you were in his shoes, even if you didn't want the cops to be involved in locating the bird, what would have been your normal response if you were Professor Shibuya?"

The Tantei Association members pondered Ranran's question, trying to put themselves in Professor Shibuya's shoes.

"I think I would still report it to the police," Emiko spoke up after a moment of contemplation. "Even if I didn't want them to be fully involved, I'd at least want them to be aware of the theft and keep an eye out for any leads."

"Agreed," Michio chimed in. "If it was something valuable to me, I would want any possible assistance, even if I was hesitant about involving the police entirely."

"Yeah, especially if you're worried about your birds being taken away, you'd want the authorities to know about the theft. They could still investigate discreetly without causing too much disruption." Ran nodded.

"If I don't want the cops involve, I would hire a detective." Emiko taps her chin absent-mindedly.

"Which he did, by hiring us." Junko reminded them.

"Then why do you think would be the reason he hired us?" Ranran questions them.

The Tantei Association members exchanged glances, considering Ranran's question. "To locate the eagle, Ranran," Shinichi said.

"But would you put your trust in a group of children to locate this said bird? If you were an adult?" Ranran adds.

The children fell silent, mulling over Ranran's question. "Ranran, what are you on about?" Takuma and the others grew baffled at her question. "We are child detectives, after all, qualified ones too. Since we solved a total of 6 major cases that not even the police could."

Then, as if a penny dropped, it suddenly dawned on Shinichi, "I wouldn't."

"Eh!?" Everyone whipped their head at the apprentice except Ranran.

"Think about it, guys. Although we are qualified child detectives, the bird is worth 500,000 yen." Still not getting where he was heading with this, he elaborates, "Michio, if your Okaasan's boutique shop was burglarized like the last time, but the police here are useless in locating the stolen goods, would you hire an adult Tantei to look into it or a bunch of kids like us?"

Michio thought for a moment, realizing the gravity of the situation. "No, I'd probably hire an adult detective because they have experience in this, not a bunch of kids who solved 6 major cases," he admitted. "As much as I trust our skills, a theft of that value would require professionals with more experience and resources. And we only just opened the agency like around a month ago."

"Exactly. It's not that we lack the ability, but the stakes are high, and a stolen item worth 500,000 yen is a serious matter. Hiring children detectives might seem like an unconventional choice for someone like Professor Shibuya, who was a rocket scientist before and used to a different level of expertise." Shinichi nodded.

"So, if he didn't want the police involved, but he also didn't fully trust child detectives like us, what was his intention in hiring us in the first place?" Junko wondered aloud.

"First he lied in front of officers about the eagle being stolen, then he lied about his occupation, then he lied to the cops and said there was no robbery, this mystery is getting very murky with his lies," Emiko spoke her thoughts out loud.

Even Junko leaned against the chair before sitting back, "What is his purpose for doing so then?"

"Maybe he thinks that we're greater than the cops, that is why?" grinned Michio, running fingers through his hair.

That is when Shinichi leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "Let's recap all of the cases we have previously handled. Stolen ruby, missing movie, fraud pop star......"

"Not just that," Ranran reminded him, "Tiger smuggling case, serial killer while we were out camping, a comedian murdered by her son...."

"You know that tiger case is our first major case," Junko polished her glasses, "Maybe that was the reason why Professor Shibuya picked us since we were the only detectives that happen to have handled exotic animals. After all, I doubt another private detective, including Ran's Tousan, has ever dealt with such animals."

"Yeah, but Fuyuko, Ranran was the only one who knew how to deal with the tiger. Neither of us knew how to handle it, and only Shinichi was the only one who choose to learn how to handle it after that case because of his apprenticeship. Neither of this was mentioned on the papers, aside from the fact that we solved it." Michio commented.

"Animals alone....we ain't a pet detective agency though,"Takuma then leaned forward on the table "But there must be something else."

Then, Shinichi remembered a conversation between Michio and Professor Shibuya:

"But who'd want to steal a dead eagle?" Michio wondered aloud.

"That's what I want you all to find out," The old man told him. "You and the others. I've been reading all about your cases. First, there was the 'King of Rubies' case, then the Extinction Heist case when that criminal mastermind smuggled out a white tiger was foiled by the whole lot of you, but then I read somewhere one of you rode on to school-"

"Neh, all those cases he had mentioned to us before we took him to our HQ...." It dawned on Shinichi, "'The Extinction Heist', 'King of Rubies'.....those two cases had one thing in common: The Snake was involved." Everyone stared at Shinichi in surprise. "Think about it guys, how many private detectives in the whole of Japan, aside from us, had actually outwitted The Snake?"

The room fell silent as Shinichi's words sank in. The Snake, a notorious criminal mastermind, had been a formidable adversary in their previous cases. The fact that the Tantei Association had managed to outwit him not once but twice was an impressive feat. If Professor Shibuya had been keeping tabs on their previous cases, he might have seen their success against The Snake as a reason to hire them.

"Now that you mentioned it...it would have made total sense," Ranran nodded slowly, "So far, the press had only mentioned our association being able to handle The Snake besides the cops, and there had been no private detectives ever to achieve such feat....neither Tantei was any closer to countering The Snake....aside from us."

"Wait a minute, but if that is the case...." Michio thought about it for some time, "That meant Professor Shibuya is likely to have figured out that the man who was sent to break into his house to steal whatever it was in the stuffed eagle was sent by The Snake!"

"And since he knew of our close contact with The Snake, it only made sense to hire us!" Junko jumped up from her seat, "We may have been elementary school kids, but judging that we had solved 6 major cases in a row involving real-life criminals plus going against The Snake, it's no wonder Professor Shibuya has been desperately wanting us to take in his case!"

"Plus, given The Snake's way of doing things, he knew calling the cops would be useless because The Snake had a history of bribing cops across Japan, which is why he had to get us involve. That's why he looked so frightened and came straight to us for help,deshou?" Emiko snaps her finger in response.

"And that's why he didn't want the police involved," added Takuma. "He's terrified of what The Snake could do to him."

"But then this leaves us with one question," Ran found herself perplexed, "If Professor Shibuya is a rocket scientist as Shinichi said earlier....what does a rocket scientist like he has that The Snake is resorting to send people to steal inside that stuffed eagle?!"

The question of what a rocket scientist like Professor Shibuya had that The Snake might want, concealed within the stolen stuffed eagle, left the Tantei Association members puzzled. They had already established that Professor Shibuya's previous profession as a rocket scientist was a significant factor in the case, but they couldn't figure out what specific information or item could be so valuable that The Snake would go to such lengths to steal it.

"Maybe it's not what he has, but what he knows," Shinichi proposed.

"Eh!?" Everyone grows baffled by Shinichi's cryptic words while Ranran nodded in silence.

"The Snake ain't the kind of criminal who would simply waste his pursuits by simply sending one of his men to steal a petty 500,000 yen worth of stuffed eagle," Shinichi deduces, "I am going to bet that mysterious item that is concealed inside that stuffed eagle had something to do with his career as a Rocket Scientist."

"And you think it's because.....?" Ranran prompted him to continue.

"I spoke to my neighbour Professor Agasa this morning when I asked him what rocket scientists normally do, he explained to me that they tend to deal with cutting-edge technology and research." Seeing more confusion, Shinichi elaborates, "For example, they might work on advanced propulsion systems, satellite technology, or even classified government projects related to space exploration and defence. These projects themselves are valued at a total of billions or even trillions of yen. Now, imagine if Professor Shibuya had knowledge of such sensitive and valuable information from his time as a rocket scientist. It's possible that he might have hidden that information within the stuffed eagle to keep it safe from prying eyes, including those of The Snake."

"Wait, billions and trillions of yen!?" Michio and the others had their jaws dropped like a chain reaction of dominoes.

"Why are those projects so expensive!?" Emiko was shocked by the high amount of value Shinichi had said earlier.

"Well, projects related to cutting-edge technology and space exploration often involve a lot of research, development, testing, and implementation. They require state-of-the-art equipment, highly skilled experts, and extensive resources, which all contribute to the high costs. Additionally, these projects can have significant implications for national security, scientific advancements, and even commercial applications, which further increases their value." Shinichi explained.

"In simple terms, it's a big deal!" Michio exclaimed.

"And....say if The Snake do end up obtaining it, " Emiko inquire, "What sort of people would want to pay so much to get those plans?"

"People with malicious intentions, rival countries or organizations, or even individuals seeking to gain an advantage in a competitive industry could be potential buyers. The information could be used for various purposes, including military advancements, technological espionage, or even to gain a significant edge in the global market." Ranran revealed, "Fall in the wrong hands, even a peaceful country like Japan...could end up in a war."

The realization of the potential implications of the stolen information hit the Tantei Association members hard. They understood that the information concealed within the stolen stuffed eagle could be highly valuable and dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands, particularly those of criminals like The Snake or rival nations seeking technological advancements.

"But that is if only....the said mysterious item in that missing eagle happens to contain such stuff," Ranran said with a grave expression. "Don't forget that when Professor Shibuya introduced us for the first time, he mentioned that he is currently working as an ornithologist, not a rocket scientist. As long as we can't verify his current job...."

"...we can't be certain about the contents of that stuffed eagle," Shinichi finished Ranran's thought.

"We also can't ignore the fact that he lied about being robbed in the first place," Emiko pointed out. "Maybe the entire robbery claim was a ruse to draw our attention and make us take the case."

"We should try to talk to Professor Shibuya at least." Shinichi decided.

"I think we should interview those acquaintances and colleagues from both his past as a rocket scientist and his current life as an ornithologist," Michio suggested. "That is only to narrow down what is the likeliest item in the eagle."

"Fair enough," Ranran said. "We need to approach this case from different angles and gather as much information as we can. The more pieces of the puzzle we find, the clearer the picture will become."

"Maybe we can also find out if anyone else knew about Professor Shibuya's past as a rocket scientist," Takuma added. "If someone knew about his previous career, they might have a motive to steal the stuffed eagle and exploit the information it contains."

"So, it looks like we have our work cut out for us," Shinichi said with determination. "We need to investigate the crime scene, talk to people who knew Professor Shibuya, and look for any clues that might lead us to the missing stuffed eagle."

"We will eventually know the answer to that," Ranran said before checking the time on the clock, hanging on the wall, "I think it's time we paid the professor another visit."

As everyone is about to hop out of their seats, the founder then said something rather shocking, "Before this, I need to address one particular announcement, it may sound very unsettling to all of you. But it concerns the misbehaviour of one of the members."

The room fell silent as Ranran's words hung in the air. Emiko's eyes widened, and she exchanged worried glances with the others. "Wait, what's going on?" she asked, trying to make sense of the sudden announcement.

"It's about....the break-in a few days ago here, when that idiot knocks me unconscious in the head after confronting them. It appears that....someone in this room...knew the identity of the intruder, and although.....that person is told nicely to leave, they refused." Ranran's words sent shockwaves through the room. A heavy tension filled the air, and all eyes turned to each other, searching for any sign of guilt or denial.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up, Ranran! You're saying one of us here knew the intruder and didn't tell anyone?" Takuma exclaimed, looking around with wide eyes.

"This isn't funny! Like, why would anyone do that?" Michio chimed in, scratching his head in confusion.

Emiko said nothing, but she could see Ran's hands trembling in silence while Shinichi who is sitting next to Ranran, coldly glared at Ran.

"I am not going to snitch around, but I believe that this person still has some form of conscience. At least...that is what Shinichi still believes in." Ranran's words were as harsh as a slap in the face for Mouri Ran, and the tension in the room grew even thicker.

"I can't believe someone would keep that information to themselves," Junko said, shaking her head in disbelief. "That's messed up!"

"Yeah, seriously, why wouldn't they just reveal the identity of the person who attacked you in this very association!?!" Takuma added, looking genuinely angered by whoever Ranran is referring to.

"It's not like we're dealing with a petty secret here. Someone broke into our headquarters, and they had information about the intruder, but they didn't say anything. That's just messed up!" Junko's voice was filled with anger and frustration.

Mouri Ran who is still sweating bullets, "I-I-It could've been a simple case of misunderstanding-"

"Misunderstanding? Really? Would you have imagined someone who knew the identity of a killer, but kept quiet was a tiny mistake? Come on, that's a lame excuse." Ranran scoffed.

"Oh no, it ain't that straightforward. It is deliberate to hurt Ranran enough to end up hospitalized." Shinichi who had remained silent, his face stern and unreadable.

"Yeah, it's not like they accidentally forgot or something," Michio chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "They chose to stay silent, and that's just messed up."

"Seriously, how could they do that to Ranran?" Takuma said, his voice tinged with anger. "This is unforgivable!"

The more the anger is riled up, the more Ran trembles. She is honestly scared, fearing the worst that Ranran will oust her with those devious red lips.

Seriously, Ranran is an utter she-demon.

But before things escalated further, Ranran raised her hand to calm everyone down. "Let's not jump to conclusions just yet," she said, her voice steady. "I understand your anger and frustration, but we need to handle this situation carefully. Accusations without evidence won't solve anything."

The tension in the room was palpable, and Ran felt like she was being suffocated. She couldn't handle the accusing glances and the anger directed at her. She needed to come clean, but she was too afraid of the consequences.

Eventually, Ranran then said, "Which is why I decided....not everyone is going to join me while we head to Professor Shibuya to get some answers."

The room fell silent as Ranran's words sank in. Emiko, Junko, Takuma, and Michio exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of the situation. It was clear that tensions were running high, and the trust within the Tantei Association had been shaken.

"Shinichi announced the names as to who would be joining us," Ranran instructed the apprentice.

"Takuma and Michio, you'll come with us," Shinichi said, his tone firm. "We'll confront Professor Shibuya together and get to the bottom of this mystery."

"Eh!? Then what about us!?" Junko and Emiko blinked in shock while Ran grew pale.

"The three of you will try to search where Professor Shibuya is currently working, if you guys finally do, don't go there till we arrived. Cause you can bet it is likely The Snake could've sent his men to keep an eye on us as to how far we know about his devious plans." Shinichi says as Takuma and Michio head towards the door to put on their shoes.

"Wait, are you implying that you don't trust us!? Since we are likely to be the one who is concealing the identity of the intruder who hurt Ranran!?" Junko screeched in anger.

"That would be plain stupid," Ranran held up her hands in a placating gesture, "The reason I am leaving some of you here, is to keep an eye on the member who won't make such a stupid mistake ever again."

Emiko who is hearing all of this then realized, "Wait for a second...then Ranran, are you implying-"

"Yes, among you girls, I can't trust one of them, so I am relying on one of the two of you to keep an eye that she keeps her bloody mouth shut! Cause the next time she ever does something like that again, I won't just be simply ruining her life in the worst unimaginable way possible." Ranran's words were sharp and direct, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Emiko and Junko exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. 

Ran, who had been silent all this while, could feel her teeth chatter in response, even more so when Shinichi shot Ran an icy look before telling Ranran, "Shall we go, Ranran?"

Soon, Ranran headed outside with the boys, leaving the girls alone. It was then Emiko and Junko whispered among themselves, "Junko, was it you who did this to Ranran?" Emiko confronted.

"No! Of course not!" Junko lowly hissed to her. "Why would I want to do that?!"

"You hated Ranran when Michio opened Tantei Association to avoid you." Emiko pointed out.

"Naturally I would, if the case involved Adeline, The Snake's daughter," Junko sighed, her frustration evident. "But no, I have nothing to do with this. Honest." Then, the secretary remembered something, "Earlier this morning, did you notice how Ran became unusually quiet for most of the meeting, and whenever she saw Ranran or Shinichi, she would tremble in fear?"

Reminded of their interactions earlier, Emiko then had her fist hit on her palm, "Now that you mentioned it...."

"I am sorry...."

"Huh?" The two girls turned and then stunned to see Ran wearily sink back with her knees on the floor.

"I am truly sorry," Tears soon began to shed from both of Ran's eyes as she sobbed, "Because of me, you two were dragged into our mess."

"Eh!?"Junko and Emiko were shaken, for it wasn't like Ran to act that way. Ran always confronts things head-on, even if things become challenging."Why?"Junko pries out of curiosity.

"Wait a minute, you are sorry?" Then everything soon clicked for both girls as Emiko confronted her, "You were the one who hid the identity of Ranra's attacker, were you!?"

Ran's tears continued to stream down her face as she nodded hesitantly. "I-I didn't mean to, I swear."

Junko looked at her questioningly, "Ran, why did you do that!? This is so unlike you!"

"I know you have Ranran detest each other, but how could you simply do that to her!?" Emiko blasted at her.

Ran wiped her tears with the back of her hand, trying to regain her composure. "It's not what you think," she said, her voice shaky. "I didn't do it out of malice or to hurt Ranran intentionally. I did that because he didn't mean to do this to Ranran."

"Wait, the attacker is a he!?" Junko then confronted the sobbing 6-year-old girl, "Who is he!?"

"My former neighbour, Rokuro." Ran shook her head. "He was the one behind it."

Suddenly, the moment that name was uttered, the atmosphere in the room seemed to change in a horrifying twist.