As the cab approached their destination, the four children prepared themselves for the investigation.

They paid the fare and stepped out onto the streets of 鳥羽市 (Chōha-shi), with the row of mansions stretching along the quiet, upscale neighbourhood. The area had an air of sophistication and elegance, but beneath its polished exterior, a sinister mystery awaited Ranran and the boys.

"Neh, I have been wanting to ask you this for a while. Why do you..join the soccer club?" Takuma asked as Michio walked next to him.

"Ah, one day I saw a couple of boys in my class playing it, it looked fun, especially when I saw how they were able to dribble it with their feet."Shinichi suddenly beam as he talks about soccer," I heard them talking about it in class a few days later. At that time, I wasn't really hanging out with Ran and Sonoko as much due to...idiotic reasons. Anyway, since I thought had nothing left to lose, I joined the team."

Ranran who is walking next to Shinichi could see the genuine excitement in his eyes as he talked about soccer, and it was clear that the sport had brought him joy during a time when his friendship with Ran and Sonoko was strained. "But how come I don't see you play soccer anymore?" Michio found himself asking.

"I mean after those soccer mates sold me out for Rokuro, everytime I see a soccer ball.....I just have bad memories associated with it."

"You know, I can relate to that," Michio nodded understandingly as he revealed, "When I fell into a pool around the age of 3, I developed a fear of water that lasted even up till now. Still don't dare to swim."

"For me is different," Takuma recalled, "If I ever fall ill, I get anxious about going to the doctor, even for regular check-ups."

"Now that Ranran mentioned it, you used to be cooped up in the hospital due to some illness back then when you were younger, right?" Shinichi remembered.

"Yes, I had some health issues when I was younger, and I spent quite a bit of time in and out of hospitals. Although I don't fear the thought of doing surgery since dying would've been way better than being alive and being tormented by needle jabs and stuff...the expectation of getting good results from the doctors is by far the worst thing I had to deal with."

The four merely sigh about it while walking to Professor Shibuya's mansion.

"Did you have fun? After joining the soccer club?"Ranran asked.

"I did."Shinichi's smile grew a little wider.

"Don't underestimate him, Ranran," Takuma knowingly said, "I heard this through a mutual friend, that Shinichi was so good at it, he had already been scouted professionally."

"Eh?! You are that great?"Ranran's eyes grew big at the apprentice.

"Ahaha, I wouldn't call myself great of course."Shinichi chuckled before he added, "But I turned down the offer."

"Eh? Why?"Ranran asked.

"Why you say....you should know why...I want to be a Tantei!"

"Ah....but I think you quit too soon though." Takuma crossly said.

"I had no intention of quitting the soccer club, at least....not till that Rokuro incident happened. If...I ain't welcome back, it wouldn't really matter to me though since my no.1 dream as a Tantei still stands."

"Ah ha ha, soudesu neh."Ranran smiled back, before turning to Takuma to ask," And....was everyone aware of it?"

"Eh? On what?"

"That he was scouted?"

"Yeah, while I was playing American Football with the others not far from the soccer field in our school, all of his teammates were present in our school when it happened, "Takuma nodded to her. "He was so good in fact, he was the only one offered a scholarship to play at some reputable school for athletes."

"Woah, didn't think Shinichi would be that talented?" Ranran and Michio are at awe with the blue-eyed boy.

"It ain't a big deal," Shinichi grew embarrassed at the praises he was receiving, "I did tell them to pick someone else besides me."

"And....did they?" Michio questioned.

"Not that I know of, no."He shook his head at the eldest boy.

"Neh Ranran, you mentioned even a peaceful country like Japan may end up in war....if whatever Professor Shibuya had hidden in the stolen stuffed eagle got something to do with his past as a rocket scientist...you are joking, right?" Takuma had to ask the 6-year-old girl.

"It's not something to be taken lightly when I say a war may erupt out of the blue," she replied before revealing an example, "For instance, there was this incident of this man in the United States. He is a German who goes by the name Heinrich Albert and is a German spy towards the United States. Like anyone who is the enemy of one's country, he did all sorts of shady crap to get the United States into serious trouble, and he had a network of spies around the area."

The boys grew intrigued by the little red lip detective girl's story as she continues on, "One day, he took a train in Harlem, New York. With him was a briefcase of the contact info of every German spy he planted across the United States of America. As it was a long journey, after taking a seat, he fell asleep right next to his briefcase. I think you can all see where I am heading with this."

The boys nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. "How stupid was this spy to be such a mere idiot?! To put his bag next to him while falling asleep!? It's like tempting others to steal it!" Ranran's apprentice was in disbelief, and so were Michio and Takuma.

"When that incident happen, it was mentioned Heinrich Albert was an old man, so it ain't surprising why he later fell asleep." Ranran pointed out, "The thief ended up stealing that said bag, so in horror, Heinrich obviously put out a news or something that promises a reward of money in exchange for the said bag."

".....did he ever get his bag back?" Michio wondered.

"No, rather, the American Secret Service agents stole the bag." Ranran dismisses the eldest member, "Oh yeah, the government of the states even published it on the news. Long story short....it triggered a war."

The boys' eyes widened in surprise. They couldn't believe that a simple incident like a stolen briefcase could lead to such dire consequences.

"Anyway, as I said earlier, I hope that whatever was put in that eagle, has nothing to do with Professor Shibuya's past as a rocket scientist. But considering The Snake sent people to steal that stuffed eagle...I had a bad feeling I might be right."

The boys nodded, absorbing the gravity of Ranran's story. "But if that is truly the case....just because it is war, it won't be bad, right?" 6-year-old Takuma found himself trying to play it lightly, "I mean...if we are at war, that meant we no longer have to go to school anymore."

"Yeah, but that is the naive approach," Shinichi scoffed, "I heard that any country at war meant we would have to work in real life, as in physical labour like holding guns to kill people as soldiers etc."

"Shinichi is right," Ranran said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Takuma's shoulder. "War....is not something to be taken lightly. The last thing you want is that, cause as soon as you are embroiled in that world...the world of right and wrong no longer exists in everyone's sane mind, even the laws can no longer protect you, your parents, and everyone you cared about anymore. Things like killings, violence and hell will become so normalised...you will wish you are back in your classroom learning boring lessons."

The seriousness of the conversation settled upon Takuma, and he nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I...I didn't know it could be so bad," he mumbled, realizing that his innocent perspective had overlooked the harsh reality of war.

At the same time, Shinichi and Michio's eyes narrowed at Ranran in shock, wondering if had she herself dealt with such a world to come up with such a dark narrative.

"It's okay, Takuma. You're still young, and it's natural not to fully understand the complexities of the world. That's why we had to confirm whether Professor Shibuya is still a rocket scientist or a bird professor at the moment. The sooner we verify, the better."

"But let's say if that is the case, is this the part where we had to notify Sergeant Genzo?" Michio interrupted their conversation, "I mean if this is going to involve war, this is very serious."

"I mean even if confirmed whether that item concealed in that stuffed eagle had something to do with Professor Shibuya's past career, Sergeant Genzo alone may not even be enough to resolve this," Shinichi adds.

"What do you mean?" Michio and Takuma grew puzzled.

"I spoke to my neighbour Professor Agasa while inquiring about the profession of a rocket scientist, by right, any projects they do by right...should never be allowed to be brought home," Shinichi explained.

"Why? It's his work, right? He can bring it home to do it, just like our homework." Michio said.

"No, it's considered illegal," Shinichi affirmed before stating the reasons, "Rocket scientists deal with highly sensitive and potentially dangerous information and technology. Bringing work-related materials home could pose a serious security risk. There's a chance that someone could steal or sabotage the research, leading to disastrous consequences. That's why they have strict protocols in place to ensure that their work stays within secure facilities."

"So, if that stuffed eagle contains something related to his past work, it means Professor Shibuya might have broken some serious rules? As in...enough to go to jail?" Takuma asked, trying to grasp the situation.

"Yes, exactly," Ranran replied. "If that's the case, it's not just a matter of notifying Sergeant Genzo. This could escalate to involve higher authorities and even international agencies, depending on the gravity of the situation."

"But wait a minute," Takuma suddenly realizes, "Say if Professor Shibuya did in fact do so-"

"That's right, I am certain...there is a possibility that Professor Shibuya could've secretly done it without anyone realizing." Ranran nodded to the athlete, "Think about it, he did not want to involve the police when we suggested to him after his taxidermied bird was stolen, under claims that the police may end up seizing his 150 life exotic birds at his aviary which he claimed he obtained legally. Yet, he seemed rather desperate for us to locate the stuffed bird stolen by The Snake, plus the fact that he was certain nothing was stolen when we entered his residence last night with everything ransacked...I can only conclude why he would do such a thing: He did the exact thing Shinichi had said, but then The Snake somehow found out about this, so he knew targeting Professor Shibuya to get that hidden stuff in that eagle would be easy."

"That's right...Professor Shibuya can't call the cops, cause we may find out that he broke the law and he would end up in prison." Takuma muttered.

"Exactly," Ranran said, confirming Takuma's deduction. "If Professor Shibuya commit such a felony, he would have good reason to keep the police away. And that's likely why he sought our help in the first place."

"But now we are caught in the middle of this dangerous situation," Michio added, his expression serious. "If we uncover the truth about the stuffed eagle, it could have serious consequences not only towards Professor Shibuya, that would also mean every single of our lives in Japan is at risk!"

"A war....we can't let that happen," Shinichi sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibility on their young shoulders.

"Okaasan...," Michio is suddenly panicking at this point, worrying about his widowed mother being caught on some battlefield that will take place in a not-too-distant future.

"Is that why you purposefully didn't want to bring Ran with us? To avoid her causing more chaos should she know? That is why you had Emiko and Junko accompanied her, didn't you? So that the idiot won't speed up our doom." Takuma suddenly had it all figured out.

"I would've gladly just taken Emiko alone, to be honest," Ranran admitted, "She is good at keeping secrets. Junko too, but I know this may have been a tall order since this case may involve such precarious elements enough to get her to notify Sergeant Genzo, which I can't let happen till it is proven. As for Mouri however...."Her expression hardened at the mere mention of her name, "I have still not forgotten how she had endangered us during the 'King of Rubies'  case, among other things." Careful not to mention the intruder incident, Ranran remarked, "Bringing Mouri over will jeopardize the entire country, and no, I am not overly exaggerating this part."

The boys nodded in understanding, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

"But judging Mouri's behaviour...I don't think she will remain just because you told her to, right?" Takuma asked, feeling a sense of helplessness in the face of such a dangerous and complex case. "I mean she is as stubborn as a donkey, do you not recall that incident during the events of 'The Illegitimate Extra'? She didn't remain at the association when she was supposed to, then recklessly left off with Emiko. As a result, when one of us tried to call for help, both Shinichi and you almost died!"

"You do not need to worry about that," Shinichi reassured while his jaw clenched tightly. "There is a likely chance that she will go against me, which she did many times towards Ranran, so I took some precautions should this happen."

Curious, Michio asked, "What sort of 'precautions' did you take?"

"Enough to get her kicked out of Tantei Association, this time....it would be irreversible," Shinichi spoke with bitter venom dripping out of his mouth.

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

The moment they made it to Professor Shibuya's place, the children could tell that the place looked even more neglected in the midday sun. The piercing light showed up in every hole in the roof. The cracks in the walls gave the old Spanish-style mansion the appearance of having been abandoned for years.

The boys hammered on the front door, after Ranran having repeatedly pressed the doorbell, but had no response from him."Professor Shibuya!"Ranran called at the top of her voice, but there was no sound from inside the old house. "Why isn't he responding?"

"Maybe he's still asleep, "Takuma wondered aloud.

"Would he? A robber just broke into his house last night. I would be having sleepless nights if I were him." Shinichi grew sceptical of this.

"Or maybe he's gone out to buy bird food to feed his 150-plus birds."Michio shrugged.

"Would someone who had his house ransacked would want to leave? Especially after last night's incident? And he had no house alarm installed." Ranran pointed out, "Furthermore, the fact that Professor Shibuya is able to afford this mansion here, meant that he could've bought additional food in the place so that he didn't have to keep leaving the place."

"Could he be having a guest over, then?" Michio asked grimly.

"If that were the case, Professor Shibuya could've heard the constant noise Ranran is now currently making through the doorbell!"Shinichi pointed this out to Michio.

Both Ranran and Shinichi's observations made sense, and the boys couldn't help but agree with their reasoning.  "So, what do we do now?" Michio asked, looking at Ranran and Shinichi for guidance.

"Wait, what if The Snake had sent someone to silence him in the mansion before he arrived?" Takuma guessed.

Ranran and Shinichi exchanged a serious glance at Takuma's suggestion before they did what anyone would do in their shoes as child detectives.

"I am going to charge towards the door," Takuma decided.

"Hah!? Is that even possible!?" Michio blinked at Takuma, then pointed at him, "You are only 6!"

"Don't worry about that," Takuma reassured the eldest boy, "I am a member of the American Football Club in Teitan Elementary school after all, I should've no problem barging towards the door."

"Are you sure about this?" Ranran checked the door, then at Takuma, door, then Takuma one more, "The door looks pretty hard on impact if it remains locked, Takuma."

"I have knocked down kids older than me despite being tough looking and taller than me, so a door should be nothing," Takuma said.

Reluctantly, the 3 other children agreed with the rather ridiculous plan as Takuma stood far away from the door, positioning himself across the other side of the road.

As Takuma prepared himself for the daring charge, Ranran and the others watched with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Takuma, did your parents have your head insured if anything goes wrong with this?" Michio shouted across the street.

"They did since I am pursuing a dream as an American Footballer!" The boy in the cap spoke with such enthusiasm.

"Neh Ranran," Shinichi pulled her aside away from Michio as he whispered to his mentor, "What are we going to do if his parents sue us if anything goes wrong?"

"Don't worry about it, the contracts I issued out to him and the others, that declaration form should they end up getting injured while on duty as child Tantei is the reason why should anything like what Takuma is about to do happen, we won't be charged," Ranran replies.

With reassurance from Ranran, Shinichi decided to trust in their mentor's expertise in handling legal matters. "Alright, Takuma, be careful!" Michio shouted, still feeling concerned about his younger friend's safety.

"Don't worry, I got this!" Takuma replied confidently.

With newfound determination, Takuma took a deep breath and sprinted towards the door. He ran at full speed, his small legs carrying him as fast as they could. The other children held their breath, unsure of what to expect.

With all his energy into the charge, Ranran suddenly realizes something. "Wait a minute, the door ain't in the right position." Turning the doorknob, the door opened.

"Huh! The door is left unlocked!?" Shinichi and Michio's jaws dropped.

As soon as that registered in the trio's heads, they panicked before yelling at Takuma, "Takuma, stop! The door is open!"

As Takuma charged towards the door, he suddenly saw Ranran turning the doorknob and opening the door and heard the yelling of the three children just in time. Startled by the unexpected opening, he tried to halt his momentum, but it was too late. Takuma crashed into the door with a loud thud.

"Takuma!" Michio called out worriedly, ready to follow his friend inside.

But before Michio could take a step, Ranran and Shinichi stopped him. "Wait, let's give him a moment to check if it's safe inside," Ranran said, her voice calm but concerned.

They waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Takuma's voice echoed from inside, "It's okay! I think I scared away a bunch of pigeons!"

Relieved, the other children rushed inside to join Takuma as their footsteps echoed in the vast hall. They found him standing amidst a group of startled pigeons that had taken refuge inside the mansion. "Takuma, are you alright?" Michio asked, checking his friend for any signs of injury.

"I'm fine, just a bit shaken," Takuma replied with a nervous smile. "I didn't expect the door to be unlocked."

As Michio lifted Takuma a bit, Ranran noted that the pigeons had flown off the moment the door was opened. Turning to Takuma, she asked, "Do you need to go for a medical checkup? Cause I can call the ambulance if you need me to."

Takuma shook his head, trying to reassure everyone. "No, no need for an ambulance. I just have a little bump on my head, but I'll be fine."

"You sure?" Shinichi asked, still worried about his friend.

"Yes, I promise," Takuma said with a smile. "I've had worse falls during football practice."

"Alright, just let us know if you feel any pain or discomfort," Ranran said, patting Takuma's shoulder gently.

As the group explored the mansion, they called out to the professor but heard no reply. The house was still and silent. They then carefully searched each room in the mansion, but there was no sign of Professor Shibuya. They even checked the aviary where he kept his 150-plus birds, but it was empty and in disarray, with bird feed scattered on the floor.

"I don't like this. It's too quiet," Michio said, feeling a sense of unease settling over him.

"I agree. It's like he just disappeared into thin air as if he didn't exist," Ranran replied, her detective instincts kicking in.

"Where could he have gone?" Takuma asked, looking around the mansion as if expecting the professor to suddenly appear.

"Logically speaking, if I did steal plans as a rocket scientist but I don't want people to know since the police might come and arrest me, and yet, The Snake found out about it and tried to force me into giving it up....would I not simply pack my bags and flee?" Ranran guessed.

Horrified, the four of them hurried up the staircase and moved through one empty room after another. The moment Shinichi stared around his surroundings in amazement, that was when he knew, "Everything's gone," he said. "The furniture, the professor's desk, all his books... he definitely must have moved out after last night's incident."

Ranran and the others carefully examined the empty rooms, looking for any clues that might indicate where Professor Shibuya had gone. The once grand and vibrant mansion now felt eerie and desolate, with only the faint echoes of their footsteps breaking the silence.

"Where could he have gone?" Michio wondered, his concern for the professor growing.

"He definitely didn't sleep well after last night's incident," Takuma commented.

More empty rooms greeted them downstairs. Even the huge aviary was deserted.

"Where could he have gone?"Takuma fiddled with his cap. "You don't think The Snake's been here, do you?"

They were still standing in the aviary when they heard footsteps approaching down the hall.

Ranran immediately signalled for the others to be quiet and hide. They quickly found a hiding spot behind some large potted plants in the aviary, hoping to stay out of sight while they assessed the situation.

As the footsteps drew nearer, the tension in the air grew thicker. The children held their breath, not knowing who or what they would encounter. They peeked through the foliage, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruder.

A figure emerged from the hallway and stepped into the aviary. It was a tall, shadowy figure, dressed in dark clothing. The person looked around as if searching for something.

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

Meanwhile, 6-year-old Mouri Ran took the other two girls, Emiko and Junko to the last place they were expecting her to take them to.

"Where we are heading to a row of fancy houses, Ran-san?" Junko can't help but wonder.

"And of all places, ain't that Shinichi's house?" Emiko pointed at the mansion.

"We're not going to Shinichi's house," Ran smiled mischievously at her two companions. "We're going to visit his neighbour, Professor Agasa."

Emiko and Junko exchanged surprised glances, wondering why they were heading to visit Shinichi's neighbour, Professor Agasa. "What's the reason, Ran-san?" Junko asked curiously.

"Professor Shibuya learn of us through the papers, right? Since he dug around enough to reach out to Professor Agasa before locating Michio in our school, surely Agasa might know a bit about his rocket scientist past," Ran replied.

"But I doubt he might know," Emiko rubbed her chin, "I had dug intel that Professor Agasa is a self-proclaimed inventor, not a bird professor."

"I know, but it's worth a shot," Ran said with determination.

The three girls reached Professor Agasa's house, a quaint and welcoming place filled with all sorts of scientific gadgets and inventions. Ran knocked on the door, and moments later, the door swung open to reveal the kind and cheerful face of Professor Agasa.

At first glance, Shinichi's neighbour is an average size middle-aged man with a slightly-overweight frame. Looking somewhat older than his actual age, he is bald on the top of his head with the rest of his hair in black. He sports thick eyebrows and a moustache and a somewhat bulbous nose. He wears round glasses and is in his lab attire.

"Ah, Mouri-san! What a pleasant surprise!" Professor Agasa greeted her with a warm smile.

"Ohaiyou, Professor Agasa-san,"

Ran bowed with a warm smile before she noticed the middle age man searching for something in particular, "Ah reh? Shinichi-san isn't with you today?"

"No, he's not with us right now since he is busy looking into Professor Shibuya's case," Ran replied.

"Ah, sou? So he and Ranran finally took his case, huh? That made sense," Agasa crossed his arms knowingly, "Ever since Tantei Association opened, it seems like Shinichi had been happier huh."

As much as Professor Agasa's words stung Ran in the heart, her smile twitched a bit as she tried to hide her feelings. "Yes, it's been quite an adventure for all of us," she said.

Emiko and Junko, who were listening to the conversation, said nothing since it was pretty evident Professor Agasa is seemingly unaware of the nasty fallout between Ran and Shinichi.

"I could've sworn that ever since Tantei Association opened, Shinichi kept talking about 'Ranran this' and 'Ranran did that' nonstop." Agasa found himself sharing their moments.

Ran felt her heart sink, hearing Agasa talk about Shinichi's constant chatter about the founder of the Tantei Association just make things worse for her. "Wait, Shinichi kept talking about Ranran?" Emiko found herself asking.

"I am sorry, and you are...."

Emiko blushed slightly at the sudden attention but quickly composed herself. "I'm Emiko, and this is my friend Junko. We're friends of Ran's from school. Also members of Tantei Association."

"Ah, I see. Nice to meet you both," Professor Agasa said with a friendly smile, "Yes, he talks about her 24/7, whenever he drops by here whenever I prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner."

Not expecting to hear such candid information about Shinichi being candid about Ranran, Emiko pressed to know more while Ran grew pale as Junko listens intently, "Why does he bring her here to eat in the first place?"

"Ranran has a habit of eating out all the time since her parents are mostly away working overseas like Shinichi-kun." The middle age man explained, "Before Ranran moved to Japan, Shinichi used to do that a lot. But after Ranran came into his life, he started bringing her here to have meals together. It's like he's become more responsible towards her welfare or something."

"So, Shinichi-kun is always taking care of Ranran?" Junko asked.

"That is a bit too much, don't you think?" Emiko frowned, "I mean don't get me wrong, but he isn't her apprentice all the time....did Ranran make him do all of this?"

Ran was being hopeful that Agasa would suggest to be the case. Much to her disappointment, he revealed, "Nope, he offered it willingly. Also, it ain't a big deal, since Ranran lived not far from Shinichi's place."

The little girl couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy towards Ranran, knowing that he had replaced Mouri with the founder of the association in his life so easily.

"Wait, Ranran didn't live far!?" Junko asked, curious about their living arrangements.

"Yes, their houses are just a few steps apart, her family's mansion is just right behind Shinichi's place." Professor Agasa confirmed. "It's quite convenient for them to spend time together. Didn't Shinichi nor Ranran tell any of you about it?"

"No, she never mentioned it," Emiko replied. "I guess it's not something she talks about."

"I see," Professor Agasa said with a smile. "Well, they've become very close after he and Ranran opened Tantei Association. It's been wonderful to see how their friendship has blossomed over time."

Ran tried her best to keep her composure, but hearing Professor Agasa speak so fondly of Shinichi and Ranran's friendship only made her heart ache. She knew that her stubbornness and jealousy is the reason why she and Shinichi can no longer remain friends, but the fact that he is willingly looking after Ranran without any attachments as apprentice and mentor irked her to no end.

"Professor Agasa, could you tell us more about Professor Shibuya? We're here to learn more about his background." Junko decided it was better she asked, before Ran goes meltdown mode.

"Ah, of course," Professor Agasa said, changing the subject. "I don't know much about his background as a rocket scientist, but I can tell you that he's a highly knowledgeable and passionate bird enthusiast. He's dedicated his life to studying and protecting various bird species, especially the endangered ones."

"May I ask how did the both of you meet?" Emiko and the two other girls took out their notebooks to jot down their findings.

Professor Agasa smiled at the girls' enthusiasm and began to share his story. "Well, I met Professor Shibuya several years ago at a science convention event. Although I am more of an electronic inventor while he is a bird enthusiast, we struck up a conversation about our respective fields of interest."

"Did he ever mention anything about his past as a rocket scientist?" Emiko asked, hoping to uncover some valuable information.

"Well, he did mention that he used to work in the field of aerospace engineering and had a successful career as a rocket scientist," Professor Agasa replied. "But he didn't go into much detail about it. He seemed to have moved on from that phase of his life and was fully dedicated to his work as a bird enthusiast. But I know he is still passionate about that part of his life because he talks about that way more than his bird hobbies."

Emiko and Junko furiously took notes, finding this information about Professor Shibuya's past as a rocket scientist intriguing. Ran, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On the one hand, she was glad to know more about Professor Shibuya's background, but on the other hand, hearing about how Shinichi and Ranran spent so much time together made her heart ache even more.

Trying to steer the conversation away from her personal feelings, Ran asked, "Do you know anything about his research or any projects he might have worked on as a rocket scientist?"

Professor Agasa paused, thinking for a moment. "I remember him mentioning that he was involved in some top-secret projects, but he never divulged any specifics. Aerospace engineering and rocket science can involve highly classified information and sensitive technology, so it's not surprising that he couldn't share everything."

Emiko's eyes narrowed as she sensed some unresolved tension in Ran's expression. "To your knowledge, is Professor Shibuya currently working as an ornithologist or a rocket scientist?"

"Hmph.....the last time we chatted, he said he is working as an ornithologist," Agasa confirmed.

"If he loves talking passionately about his rocket scientist career more than his birds, then why did he quit his dream, then?! I mean I heard that the pay for a rocket scientist is way higher than being a bird professor!" Junko still can't understand the logic.

"There is a reason for that," Professor Agasa headed to the bookshelf before he opened a thick index book, checked through it and then crossed to a cupboard before showing it to the three girls, "Last year...things fell out of control because of this incident."

The girls read the article with curiosity, their eyes scanning the text to understand what had happened. According to the article, there was a mysterious rocket launch that was scheduled to take place as part of a government-funded space exploration program. However, just before the launch, accusations arose regarding stolen funds that were meant for the project.

Professor Shibuya, who was a prominent rocket scientist at the time, was one of the main suspects in the case. He vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that he had nothing to do with the missing funds. Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding the incident was enough to tarnish his reputation and credibility as a scientist.

As a result of the investigation and the damage to his career, Professor Shibuya decided to step away from the world of rocket science. He left the research facility and nothing was heard of since.

The photo of an angry Professor Shibuya Jirou was evident on the news, shockingly to the girls, the news described Professor Shibuya as a 'renowned scientist' in America, mainly in NASA.

And any idiot would be stupid to not figure out what NASA is.

The girls were taken aback by the revelation in the news article. They hadn't expected Professor Shibuya to be involved with such prestigious and high-profile projects in the United States. The fact that he was considered a renowned scientist at NASA added another layer of complexity to the case.

"I had no idea he was involved with NASA," Emiko said, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Me neither," Junko added. "He never mention any of this when he requested us to locate his missing stolen eagle."

"They can't be stupid to think otherwise, right? Rocket scientists themselves are highly paid! Why would Professor Shibuya bother to steal the funds in the first place if he is already earning so much!? Not to mention, a reputable scientist!?" Ran pondered aloud.

"Anyway, if he was innocent, why didn't he try to fight to clear his name?" Emiko asked, feeling sympathy for the professor's situation.

"Sometimes, even if you're innocent, proving it can be extremely challenging, especially when jealousy is involved among the top best." Professor Agasa explained. "Professor Shibuya who worked there for many decades had dealt with jealousy from his peers, so it ain't surprising when he was falsely accused, NASA didn't do much to prove his innocence. So he had no choice but to quit as a result."

"He must have been devastated, I mean that was his dream and he worked there for so many decades!" Emiko said, feeling a sense of empathy for the professor's situation.

"Anyway, the accusation towards him wasn't merely out of greed," Professor Agasa corrected the girls, "According to whoever spoke falsely about him, the accusation was that he intentionally stole those funds to feed his expensive hobby."

Recalling the aviary, Junko then figures, "Did it have anything to do with his 150-plus birds?"

"Ah yes, that bird hobby is the reason," Professor Agasa nodded to the spectacle girl, "The birds he kept were exotic in nature, so it cost more to look after them."

"That makes sense," Ran said thoughtfully.

"Wait, he had those birds even before he quit as a rocket scientist?" Emiko inquired.

"Yeah, according to him, he had those birds for a long time." Professor Agasa recalled, "Everyone in his former workplace knew about his odd bird hobby, so it ain't surprising why the jealous ones could've used this against him. After he left NASA, he returned home here and lived in his old house, which was that mansion you all headed to. Became more a Hikikarmori, but works from home as an ornithologist."

"Did he not try to bring this incident to the press?" Junko wondered.

"Ah no, he was requested by several reporters to do so, they wanted to do a follow-up story after that, but he refused all requests for interviews. Never bothered to defend himself, because he felt like the press could've twisted and turned whatever he said."

"He sounds like a very lonely and bitter man." probed Emiko.

"Who wouldn't? He lost his dream thanks to jealousy!" Junko pointed out, "It would be devasting for anyone who loses their dream, even so after one spent living the dream for over several decades."

The conversation took a sombre turn as Ran's thoughts drifted back to Shinichi. Suddenly, Ran was reminded of Shinichi's expression last night when the topic of his Tantei dream came up before he stormed off and left her crying.

"Is it a big deal? To lose your dream?" Ran found herself asking Agasa, "Can't he just simply get the same job elsewhere?"

"He can, but would anyone dare to hire someone like him because of those accusations?"

The girls were met with silence in response.

"Sometimes, it's not just about the job itself, Ran-san," Professor Agasa explained. "When a person's dream is shattered, it can lead to a loss of confidence and a feeling of disillusionment. Starting over in a different place or field might not feel the same as continuing their original passion."

Sensing the 6-year-old girl can't understand, Agasa tries to explain in a child-friendly context.

"Imagine you have a dream of becoming the best detective in the world, Ran-san," Professor Agasa said gently. "You work hard every day, learning and solving cases, and you become really good at it. But one day, someone comes and accuses you of cheating or lying about your skills, and everyone starts doubting your abilities. Even though you know you're innocent, no one believes you, and they take away your title as the best detective. How would that make you feel?"

Ran listened intently, trying to put herself in that situation. She imagined how devastated she would feel if her dream was shattered and people didn't trust her anymore.

Then the face of Shinichi last night looking so tormented by her words flashed in her mind.

"I see," Emiko said softly, her expression thoughtful. "Losing your dream is like losing a part of yourself."

"Exactly," Professor Agasa nodded. "Dreams are naturally always going to be part of one's identity. For someone to maliciously ruin it after achieving it with their own feat.....that makes them the truly evil."

By this point, Ran felt like she was going to be sick at Agasa's words.