Somewhere in one of the buildings not far from the hotel where Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko are, a dimly lit room was adorned with high-tech equipment, and multiple computer screens flickering with data and surveillance feeds. The walls were lined with shelves containing an assortment of gadgets and devices, evidence of a sophisticated operation. In the centre of the room, a figure sat in front of a large desk, their face obscured by the shadows.

The mysterious individual's fingers danced over a keyboard with precision, navigating through various systems and networks. They were orchestrating a complex web of surveillance, manipulation, and information gathering. The screen in front of them displayed a live feed from the hidden webcam in Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko's hotel room.

As the two girls left the room, the figure's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Ah, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko, you are playing right into my hands."

The figure's voice was laced with a cold, calculating tone as they spoke to themselves. They had been observing Ran and Sonoko's actions closely, anticipating their every move and setting traps along the way.

On one of the computer screens, a map of the city displayed various markers, each representing a different location. The figure's fingers hovered over the keyboard, selecting one of the markers and bringing up a detailed view of The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel.

"Let's make things a bit more interesting," the figure murmured.

Before the figure knew it, the lights lit up, revealing a rather startled sleek hair 10-year-old boy in an Edgewood Academy uniform. Turning his head to see who switched on the lights, he moaned, "Vera!"

"That will stop you from acting all so villainy," 10-year-old Veronica rolled her eyes at her kindergarten friend while approaching him, "Also, unlike the cartoon world, do you want to risk ruining your eyesight as a Youtuber?!"

The boy sighed and adjusted his glasses, his cheeks slightly flushed from being caught in the act. "You're no fun, Vera. I was just trying to set the mood, you know, like a criminal mastermind."

"Ellis, quit fooling around. This is for Ranran's sake," Veronica crossed her arms, her expression unamused. "Did you not get the full picture?"

"Alright, alright, you win," the boy admitted, waving his hands in surrender. "But you have to admit, it's kind of thrilling watching them stumble around, unaware that I'm pulling the strings."

"Of course it would be, now I am starting to see how Christopher and Ranran felt like when they did this Fox and Deer business before Christopher died...."

Ellis's expression turned sombre at the mention of Christopher's name. "You know, unlike what it is now, back then for the past 2 years, they did it on their own. With no adult to rely on."

Even Ellis stop typing his keyboard to pause at that thought. "Back then...when we barely knew about the hell he had to endure with his delusional mother...although he knew how to use the computer, he had to heavily rely on a then computer savvy 3-year-old Ranran to relearn all of it, because his mother forcefully homeschool him to become a pianist."

The girl's expression softened as she listened to Ellis's words. "That's right, and back then, all of us were all busy hating on each other when his stupid arrogant b**ch fiance Ernestine pinned almost the entire school against each other, with hopes that when Edgewood Academy shut down, she will be portrayed as the 'People's princess'. Had Christopher not intervened with Ranran, we wouldn't even be here right now."

Ellis's eyes held a mixture of emotions, memories from the past resurfacing. "Christopher was always the one who brought us together, even in the most difficult of times. He saw through all the pettiness and divisions and knew that we were stronger together."

"He was envied by the others, if he were alive and all, he would've made a fantastic prince in his own right. And yet...."Veronica nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "Savagely killed by those kids with a mere word of mouth."

"The worst part was Ranran had to see it, she was only 4. Now she is 6," Ellis chooses one of the cameras to get a good look at her in the penthouse. "And as much as she smiles...you can tell it ain't the same as when he was alive."

Their expression grew pensive as she watched Ranran on the screen.

In the Edgewood school uniform she is in, Ellis commented, "You know, this is the first time I've seen her wearing our school uniform in a long while."

"The last time we saw her, she was around 5. Never even got the chance to remain in Edgewood one more year, and all of us hurriedly rushed over to the tailor shop to have this uniform tailor-made for her as our final parting gift." Veronica muses in despair, "The only chance she wears it, is not on our school grounds, but as The Fox in some foreign country she is forced to like when her parents moved her to Japan."

"You know, when Ernestine lost everything, the last thing out of everyone's mind back then was that Ranran would end up moving to Japan a year earlier than expected," Ellis let out a heavy sigh, his fingers tapping on the keyboard absentmindedly. "Before, she wanted to be a child actor. Do you remember that?"

"I do."

A voice answered as the two recognized a 10-year-old girl in an elegant ponytail, "Hey Tiff, didn't think you came back so soon." Ellis greeted her from afar as she approaches them.

"Hey, Ellis, Vera," Tiffany greeted them with a small smile, her eyes focused on the screens displaying the surveillance feeds. "I heard you two were up to something, so I thought I'd come to check it out."

"Yeah, we're just keeping an eye on things," Veronica replied. "You know, making sure no one lay a finger on Ranran."

"I remembered the times we saw Ranran on stage," Tiffany's expression turned more serious as she watched the screen, "She wanted to entertain people, and now, she is tormenting them."

"What choice does she have?" Veronica lamented bitterly, "Everyone wanted her dead back then, it's a natural response after becoming The Fox, even more so when Christopher was murdered in front of her very eyes."

"I can't help but wonder what was going through Christopher's mind back then before opening Fox and Deer," Tiffany's gaze remained fixed on the screen, her thoughts clearly deep in contemplation. "Bringing in a then 3-year-old Ranran to settle our problems, cause if I know there was an AI Projector that will project our future traumas, and rewatched it over and over, I will go mad like Ranran is now."

"Maybe I shouldn't have let him watch Dexter back then before he was forcefully homeschooled by his mother." Nicolas entered the room.

The room fell into a moment of contemplative silence as the memories and emotions of their past resurfaced. "I am sorry, what is that show Dexter about again?" Veronica blinked confusingly.

"It's a show about a forensic expert who leads a secret life as a vigilante serial killer, trained by his adopted father since the said forensic expert had murderous impulses, to condition his murdering spree, the father trained him to target specifically killers that will escape the eyes of the law," Ellis explained, his tone sombre.

Veronica's brows furrowed as she processed the concept. "He does know this is real life, right? What was he thinking to do that with Ranran who was only 3?"

"You saw what happened to her in the projector, as foretold by the future narcissistic Ernestine," Nicolas sighed, his expression grave. "She was misguided and manipulated so viciously and cruelly that it's no surprise she ended up in this state. Which is why Christopher had to do this to her, so she won't become a puppet like him."

The room's attention immediately shifted to the footage showing Shinichi knocking on Ranran's door. The atmosphere in the room became tense, and everyone leaned closer to the screens to get a better view.

"I knew that brat would show up sooner or later," Veronica muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she observed the scene.

"His entire apprenticeship is heavily relying on her, if she dies, he is left to go back to his old life with those two lunatic girls," Ellis added, his fingers tapping on the keyboard to zoom in on the footage.

Tiffany's gaze remained fixed on the screen, her expression thoughtful. "But I am surprised Ranran didn't kill him, cause I would in her shoes."

"Shinichi had no malice in his bone," Veronica sighed, her tone heavy with concern. "He caught wind of the manipulation thanks to an obsessed twisted love of Ishbashi Mamiko, it's those two former friends: Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko we need to worry about."

Nicolas's brows furrowed as he observed the interaction between Ranran and Shinichi on the screen. "Can he be trusted with Ranran?"

"So far, he can. He knows of Ranran's alter ego as The Fox." Veronica confided to them, "I met up with them earlier, as my V-tuber persona. Ranran has no idea that I was setting up a solid alibi, and it seems like Shinichi kept his word about that secret contract he signed between all of us to go after Mouri and Suzuki."

Ellis nodded in agreement. "Shinichi is a smart kid, and he's got a lot on the line. He won't risk jeopardizing his apprenticeship and the trust he has built with Ranran."

Veronica's gaze remained fixed on the screen, her expression serious. "But Mouri and Suzuki are persistent. They've been chasing after Ranran all the way to New York."

"If it were the old me, I will hire a hitman to kill those two." Tiffany scoffed.

"Tiff, they are six-year-olds!" Veronica reminded her.

"So what? The six-year-olds in Edgewood are no different either back then when Ernestine was around. Way murderous as them." The ponytail swift a bit as Tiffany pouted.

"That I agree," The door opens to reveal Walter. "What's all the commotion about? I heard you guys were discussing something serious."

"That damn Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko manage to track down the hotel where Ranran and the others are," Ellis explained, gesturing to the screens displaying the surveillance feeds.

"Good, everything is according to plan," Walter's expression turned serious as he observed the screens.

"What are you talking about?" Ellis and the others gaze at the boy.

"Earlier Shinichi texted me, and said that he had Takuma took a picture of himself at the hotel they are in to lure them over. That will be our time to strike." Walter reasoned with them.

"He did, huh?" Samantha popped up behind Walter.

"Hey, Samantha!" Nicolas and the other exclaimed.

"I just finished our royal duties, and here you are Nicolas going about putting spy cameras all over the hotel Ranran at the others are." She reminded him sternly with her hands on her hips.

"In the first place, there isn't much to do besides cutting ribbons back in the U.K, and I did my part, we agreed to do half and half." Nicolas scratched his head sheepishly.

"True, but you owed me one more, Nicolas. You miscalculated," Samantha let out a sigh, clearly not entirely pleased with the situation, but she nodded.

"I promise I'll make it up to you," Nicolas replied with a determined look. "But right now, we have to focus on the task at hand."

Samantha crossed her arms, her gaze shifting to the screens displaying the surveillance footage. "I can't believe those two brats managed to track down the hotel so quickly."

"They're persistent, I'll give them that," Veronica muttered.

"What is with those two idiots wanting Shinichi back, when they themselves are the ones who didn't speak to him for several weeks?! So unreasonable!" Walter spat in disgust at Ran and Sonoko, who is coming out from another hotel, struggling to get a cab in the city of New York.

"It's all part of their twisted obsession," Ellis remarked with a hint of frustration. "They probably see him as some sort of possession they need to reclaim."

"I don't understand this," Nicolas pouted, "How is it that even though Mamiko's true nature is exposed, and they no longer trust her anymore, the two are still insisting on wanting to bring Ranran down!"

"It's not just about Mamiko anymore," Samantha chimed in. "It's about their own egos and jealousy. They can't stand the fact that Shinichi is happy with someone that isn't them."

"It's a classic case of entitlement and envy," Veronica added, her tone tinged with annoyance. "They want to prove that they're superior, that they're the ones who should be at the centre of attention."

"They just don't like the fact that Ranran is superiorly talented than the two combined, which is why Shinichi distanced himself to salvage his sanity." Ellis scoffed.

"You know, I watched the footage from that projector last year when Ernestine in the future was busy profiting off our future criminal endeavours by writing criminal biographies about us, I don't recall hearing her narrate that Mouri Ran is a jealous, insecure little twat who is madly obsessed with Shinichi. In the book, she is portrayed as an Angel who forgives and forgets anyone, even if one has a criminal past or is a killer, she is like a saint." Tiffany observed carefully at the 6-year-old long brown-haired brunette, "I thought biographies are genuine."

"In reality, biographies are often manipulated to fit a certain narrative or agenda," Nicolas replied, his voice tinged with cynicism. "When Samantha's ex had his own royal biography, he portrayed himself as a heroic figure who could do no wrong, conveniently leaving out all his questionable actions and mistakes. Remember that, Samantha?"

Samantha's expression turned sour as she recalled that incident. "Yes, I remember. He painted himself as the victim and conveniently left out all the times he caused further problems for me and at the academy, while he was busy two-timing with my supposedly pretentious sickly sister."

"Ah yes, that s**t." Tiffany recalled. "Used to spread rumours that you were that villainess who goes about tormenting those two when in reality, you were forced into this engagement by your reasonable parents because they realized your incompetent sister who was engaged to your ex at that time was corrupting him so severely that he actually considered shutting down Edgewood Academy!"

"Aaaah, I recalled that," Walter spat while rolling his eyes, "He never admitted his faults on anything he does, always said we were 'pompous', looking down on 'commoners' and all those nonsense, when in reality, those 'commoners' we spoke ill of actually came here with all of their ambition written on their face."

"I remembered, one of them tried to sweet-talk, the other try to score brownie points....it was sickening. The majority of those 'commoners' who were in our school never bothered to study, they wanted the shortcut to succeed by sucking up to them, those assholes." Ellis cursed.

"I am so glad Christopher had Ranran screwed them nicely, really, we were all pushed to our sanities intentionally by those dickheads and almost committed crimes, just so they could achieve whatever nonsense 'Happily ever after' they saw on the projector!" Tiffany voiced her contempt at that.

The room was filled with a mix of frustration and resentment as they discussed the manipulative tactics employed by certain individuals. Their memories of past events, distorted by biased narratives and hidden agendas, were brought to the forefront.

"On a side note," Ellis spoke up after a moment of silence, "We are allowed to torture those two, right?"

"Of course," Samantha nodded alongside the others, "After the hell Ranran had to endure, it only seems fair that they pay. And Shinichi gave us full permission to do so....."

"I can't wait to test out my new machine I bought recently," Ellis smiled delightfully at the machine from afar, "Those two would be the perfect guinea pig to test it out...."

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

At The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel, Ranran had changed into her Edgewood Academy school uniform while checking out in the mirror of the penthouse she was in.

As Ranran adjusted her Edgewood Academy uniform, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia and bittersweet emotions. The familiar uniform brought back memories of her time at Edgewood, both the good and the challenging moments. She sighed softly, her thoughts drifting back to the past.

"Time flies, doesn't it?" she muttered to herself, her reflection staring back at her from the mirror. "It feels like it was just yesterday, I was an Edgewood child, but now...I am a child Tantei."

"I can't believe you used to wear this in your former school," Shinichi showed up in the borrowed uniform Ranran lent him earlier.

She turned around with a surprised look, her eyes widening slightly as she saw Shinichi wearing the Edgewood Academy uniform. Although Ranran had seen him before in it, it still surprised him that he was able to fittingly wear this uniform.

Especially since this school uniform belonged to her dead friend, Christopher.

But Shinichi didn't need to know that.

Seeing she didn't respond, Shinichi scratched his head sheepishly, a faint blush on his cheeks. "What? Does it look odd on me?"

"No, it's just...I never got the chance to wear it for very long either, let alone, see someone wear it in a long time," Ranran quickly shook her head with a slump.

Shinichi nodded in understanding. "I get it. It must hold a lot of memories for you."

Painful memories to be exact. But those words never reached the apprentice's ears.

"Come on, let's head downstairs to that NASA event." Ranran urged him to follow her.

As Ranran and Shinichi headed downstairs to the NASA event, little did they know that they were being watched by multiple pairs of eyes. The intricate web of surveillance and manipulation that surrounded them was growing more complex by the minute.

In a hidden room not far from the hotel, Ellis, Veronica, Tiffany, Nicolas, Samantha, and Walter observed the live feed from the surveillance cameras. Their expressions were a mix of determination and anticipation as they watched Ranran and Shinichi's every move.

"Looks like they're heading to the NASA event," Ellis commented, his fingers dancing over the keyboard to adjust the camera angles.

"We'll be close by to intervene if anything goes wrong," Walter assured them, his tone confident.

Veronica nodded in agreement. "We won't let Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko get in their way."

Tiffany's gaze remained fixed on the screen. "I just hope this all goes smoothly. We can't afford any mistakes."

Samantha crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed. "If those two think they can just waltz in and disrupt everything, they have another thing coming."

Nicolas's lips curled into a sly smile. "Let's give them a taste of their own medicine."

"By the way, Ranran," Shinichi frowned worriedly, "Are you sure the NASA event will let us in? We are not invited. Also, we are in this school uniform...I would've expected any event carried out under this luxurious hotel to have a formal dress code."

"According to my contact, considering this is an event filled with NASA staff members that barely prioritize grooming rituals, the adults would be dressed up in their own uniforms at work. And since the children of Edgewood are invited, they had to show up in the prestigious Edgewood Academy uniform since tons of Edgewood children are invited there. Also, in case we had no invitation, I had a replicated one made by my contact here."

Ranran pulled out a folded piece of paper from her skirt and showed it to Shinichi. It was a well-crafted replica of an invitation to the NASA event, complete with the event details and a convincing logo.

"I made sure to cover all our bases," Ranran explained with a mischievous grin. "This invitation should get us past the security. All we need to do is ask a couple of drunkards and deal with those Edgewood kids, and we will be free to go."

Shinichi raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Ranran's resourcefulness. "But I ain't an Edgewood kid, and you stop heading there when you were 5."

"Don't worry, if anyone asks, tell them I loaned you this to ask around about looking into the case of Professor Shibuya, who hired us to locate the missing friend, Professor Hoga, who went missing a week ago." Ranran reminded him.

"Wait, Professor Shibuya hired us to locate his missing stolen eagle, not locate his friend who went missing after helping him move away from Shibuya's residence. Ain't the reason for us attending the event in the first place is to determine what is the likely stolen item concealed under that stolen eagle belonged to NASA?"

"If the people find out something was stolen from NASA due to the dismissal of Professor Shibuya, considering if Professor Shibuya didn't embezzle funds, the public outcry won't do them well. Don't forget that he used to be paraded about by NASA before those allegations took place. Expect tons of cover-up if we ask directly. Also, Professor Agasa mentioned to the girls the other day about possible envy and office politics lead to Professor Shibuya's downfall. No way anyone who spoke ill of others will admit that they are the bad guy if Professor Shibuya is discovered to have been framed and was innocent since day 1."

Shinichi could feel the tension as Ranran elaborates, "The only way we are going to do this is to pry it out without realizing it by changing the format of how we ask those questions. Also, if anyone asks what this had anything to do with the NASA thing, tell them that not long after he moved back to Japan, he had to deal with harassment for over a year not long after he was forced to resign. So Professor Shibuya vanished in the process of searching for Professor Hoga."

Shinichi nodded in understanding, impressed by Ranran's quick thinking and strategic approach. "You've really thought this through, haven't you?"

"I always do," Ranran replied with a confident smirk. "Now, let's head in and gather information. We need to figure out what's really going on with Professor Shibuya and this event."

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

As they approached the entrance to the NASA event, Ranran and Shinichi were stopped by a security guard who glanced at their uniforms and the replica invitation.

"Excuse me, young ones," the security guard said with a polite smile. "May I see your invitations, please?"

Ranran handed over the replicated invitation, and Shinichi followed suit. The security guard inspected the invitations carefully before nodding. "Thank you. Enjoy the event."

The two exchanged a triumphant look before entering the event venue. The room was filled with various displays, interactive exhibits, and people engaged in conversations about space exploration and scientific advancements.

Their eyes are wide with wonder as they took in the array of exhibits and displays. The atmosphere was electric with excitement, and Ranran's curiosity was piqued by the discussions and presentations taking place around them.

"But to be honest, Ranran, would we be able to get anything out of them?" Shinichi was in doubt, "The incident took place a year ago."

Ranran's expression turned determined as she glanced around, assessing the situation. "We might not get direct answers here, but sometimes just being in the right place and listening can give us valuable insights. We need to gather as much information as possible, even if it's just bits and pieces."

Shinichi nodded in agreement. "You're right. We can try to piece together the puzzle from various conversations and observations."

"Let's split up and ask around, we will get back here within an hour." Ranran decided.

As they went about their inquiries, the group of young individuals monitoring the situation from their hidden room continued to observe Ranran and Shinichi's interactions closely. Their fingers danced over the keyboards, adjusting camera angles and analyzing the conversations.

Veronica leaned in, her eyes fixed on the screen. "It looks like they're making progress. Ranran is quite skilled at getting people to talk."

"They're handling this well," Samantha added. "Ranran's resourcefulness and Shinichi's deductive skills make a formidable team."

Tiffany nodded in agreement. "Let's hope they can uncover something useful."

"Speaking of which, how is the 'texting' to those 2 dickheads doing," Nicolas grinned to see Samantha, Ellis and Walter busy texting.

Samantha glanced at her phone, a mischievous smile on her face. "Oh, just a little reminder of their past misdeeds. They're about to get a taste of their own medicine."

Ellis smirked as he typed on his phone. "I can't wait to see their reactions."

Walter chuckled, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "Let's see if they'll squirm as much as they made Ranran squirm."

Their fingers danced over their phones as they sent carefully crafted messages to Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko, exploiting their guilt and insecurities, reminding them of their past actions and manipulations. It was a calculated move to unnerve the two young troublemakers and disrupt their attempts to interfere with Ranran and Shinichi's investigation.

As the messages were sent, the atmosphere in the hidden room became charged with anticipation. The group watched the live feed, waiting to see how Ran and Sonoko would react.

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

In the New York cab while on the way to Mayfair at Brampton Hotel, the notifications from the two 6-year-old girls were beginning to annoy the cabby driver a bit.

"I am sorry, the both of you if you do know how to speak English fluently, but could you please silence both of your phones? It's annoying."

Ran and Sonoko exchanged glances, realizing that their phones were buzzing incessantly with notifications. Curious, they both checked their phones after muting it.

On their phones, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko found a series of messages that sent shivers down their spines. The messages were carefully worded, tapping into their past actions and the guilt they felt deep inside.

Message 1: "Remember the time you used to annoy Shinichi when he was given the role of prince charming in kindergarten, but then the female lead was granted to another classmate, you all harassed him to no end? Funny how the tables have turned, isn't it? That the two of you are nothing but irrelevant extras."

Message 2: "And let's not forget the time you spoke ill about that death memorial last year. It's a shame that both schemes couldn't save you from your own downfall, since you both shared one brain cell alone."

Message 3: "Both your arrogance and jealousy led you down a dark path, and now you're trying to disrupt what little peace is left. But remember, the past has a way of catching up to the two of you all."

Ran and Sonoko stared at their phones, their faces pale as they read the damning messages. The words struck a nerve, digging up memories and guilt that they had tried to bury. Their hands trembled slightly, and their expressions shifted from annoyance to unease.

"What is this? Who's sending these messages?" Sonoko muttered, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Ran clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. "Someone is trying to mess with us, who knew of....the things we did."

The cabby driver glanced at the two girls through the rearview mirror, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Are you two alright?"

"We're fine," Ran replied quickly, her gaze still fixed on her phone. "Just some prank messages, that's all."

Sonoko nodded, her brows furrowing. "Yeah, just some idiots trying to harass us."

As the cab continued on its way to the hotel, Ran and Sonoko exchanged another glance. The messages had clearly rattled them, and they couldn't help but wonder who was behind this and what their intentions were.

But being rattled was nothing, compared to the pictures they were all receiving.

While still in the cab, people around them began to react, some gasping and others murmuring in surprise. Curious, they turned their attention to several large screens across the city.

On the screen of the Big Apple were pictures of Ran and Sonoko, taken at various moments during their attempts to track down Ranran and Shinichi. The images were accompanied by bold captions that highlighted their intrusive and disruptive behaviour.

"Delusional little girls flying across the world to harass an Edgewood child."

It was clear that someone had decided to expose Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko's actions, publicly shaming them for their intrusive behaviour. If the two girls didn't know things were about to become worst, they sure did when the video of a blurred 9-year-old boy breaking into the Tantei Association HQ in Japan surfaced attacking Ranran with the taser baton, before fleeing the scene.

Ran and Sonoko's faces turned pale as they stared at the screen, shock and disbelief washing over them. The images and captions were undeniable evidence of their actions, broadcasted for the world to see. 

As the cab driver continued to drive with his full attention on the street, the cab driver glanced at them again, concern evident in his gaze. "Are you sure you're alright? You both seem really shaken up."

"We're fine!" Ran snapped, her frustration spilling over. "Just keep driving!"

The cab driver nodded and focused on the road ahead, clearly sensing that something was amiss. Meanwhile, Ran and Sonoko frantically exchanged messages on their phones, trying to figure out their next steps.

Back in the hidden room, the group watched the events unfold on the screens, their expressions a mix of satisfaction and amusement. The messages and images they had sent had hit their mark, exposing Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko's actions and creating chaos in their attempts to disrupt Ranran and Shinichi's investigation.

"They're really feeling the pressure now," Ellis commented, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I am surprised Dominic was able to convince the people in charge of those large TV ads screens in New York City to put up those things, I would've assumed due to the laws and stuff, it wouldn't have been possible." Tiffany is amused.

"Dominic has his ways. He is very persuasive if had to get things done," Samantha chuckled, clearly entertained by the unfolding chaos.

"We won't get sued legally, right?" Ellis inquired while frowning, "Considering that Sonoko dimwit comes from a rich conglomerate family, I worried they may find legal loopholes to do so. Since we had all of this plastered across the Big Apple."

"Don't worry, we've covered our tracks. Dominic made sure everything was done within legal boundaries. And we're not directly accusing them of anything criminal. We're simply highlighting their behaviour and creating public awareness." Nicolas leaned back in his chair, a smug grin on his face.

Samantha nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We're just shedding light on their actions and letting the public form their own opinions."

"Besides, they're the ones who initiated the harassment and disruption. This is just a response to their actions." Walter chimed in, his expression confident.

"And let's not forget, Ranran and Shinichi are children too. If anyone tries to sue, it would be a whole other mess for them legally." Veronica chuckled.

"It serves them right. They thought they could mess with Ranran and Shinichi without consequences."Tiffany nodded in satisfaction.

"But I don't think it will be enough to deter them," Ellis thinks.

"No, we ain't deterring them. We just simply placed up signs that said 'STOP', but they refuse to listen." Samantha chuckled menacingly, "Anyone who drives past such signs...they won't foresee themselves getting run over by cars and stuff."

As the chaos continued to unfold on the screens and in the cab, Ran and Sonoko's determination to confront Ranran and Shinichi grew stronger. The exposure of their actions and the public humiliation only fueled their resolve to prove themselves and regain their sense of control.

After the cab pulled up to the hotel, Ran and Sonoko quickly paid the fare and exited the vehicle. They were met with a bustling scene outside the Mayfair at Brampton Hotel, with people gathered around the large screens, discussing the images and captions that had been broadcasted.

Ignoring the commotion around them, Ran and Sonoko made their way into the hotel, their expressions determined. They were about to walk into a confrontation that would test their mettle and force them to confront the consequences of their actions.

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

Inside the hotel, Ranran and Shinichi continued their inquiries at the NASA event, unaware of the unfolding drama outside. They were making progress in gathering information, piecing together clues that were leading them closer to the truth behind Professor Shibuya's disappearance and the larger conspiracy.

So far Ranran was doing well with those drunk adults. "His friend went missing last week? And Professor Shibuya had been dealing with harassment for a year after resigning from NASA as soon as he moved to Japan. No way!" One of the adults was stunned.

"Which is why I am here to look into it," Ranran effortlessly lied to the drunk staff members of NASA, her expression serious. "I want to confirm whether those allegations that he embezzled funds from the NASA company is true. And was there any project, in particular, he was working on that would make this person resort to kidnapping Professor Hoga?"

The drunk adults exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by Ranran and Shinichi's determination to uncover the truth. One of them, a middle-aged man with dishevelled hair, leaned in, his breath reeking of alcohol. "You kids...did Professor Shibuya genuinely hire you to look into this?"

"Yes."

The elder man scratched his chin thoughtfully, clearly affected by their conviction. "I used to work with Professor Shibuya, you know. And I can tell you this much – he was a brilliant scientist, no doubt about it. But he was also...a very reserved man. I think the pressure got to him after those accusations came up."

Another woman chimed in, her voice slurred, "Yeah, I heard rumours about office politics and backstabbing at NASA. Some folks were jealous of Professor Shibuya's success, and they didn't hesitate to make things difficult for him."

"As for project....I heard whispers about a top-secret project he was working on before he left," a third person added, swaying slightly. "But I don't know the details. All I know is, he was obsessed with it. Used to lock himself in his office for hours, refusing to share much with anyone."

"That's definitely a lead worth exploring. We appreciate your honesty."

While Ranran engaged in conversations and subtly questioned attendees about Professor Shibuya, Shinichi found himself drawn into discussions as well. His genuine curiosity and natural charm allowed him to seamlessly blend in and extract valuable information from the adults and other children present.

"Did he ever mention anyone he was working closely with? Maybe someone who could shed light on the project?" Shinichi leaned in, his detective instincts kicking in.

"If we are talking about that project a month before he left," A man rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "It had to be those rocket plans."

The man chuckled, clearly amused by Shinichi's interest. "Well, I'm not an expert, but from what I heard, Professor Shibuya was working on a revolutionary design for a new type of rocket propulsion system, we are talking parts which make up the rocket engine; the tanks pumps, propellants, power head, and rocket nozzle to build a rocket, maybe even a workable nuclear rocket for that matter. It was supposed to be more efficient and powerful than anything currently out there. He was pretty tight-lipped about it, though."

Shinichi's eyes lit up with intrigue. "Rocket propulsion, huh? That sounds fascinating."

The young man nodded, taking another sip of his drink. "Oh, it definitely was. There was a lot of excitement around the project, but also a fair amount of jealousy and rivalry. Some of the other scientists were envious of the attention Professor Shibuya was getting."

"Did he face any threats or harassment related to this project?" Shinichi inquired further.

"I wouldn't say he did here," The man shrugged. "But since you mentioned it, the only thing he had to deal with was whispers about office politics and power struggles."

"Why is it so?"

"Because our other colleagues saw his rocket project as a threat to their own positions or projects."

"How is that a threat?"

"You may not know this, boy, but certain projects need tons of money, and usually the money goes to the one whose project will yield the most promising results." He explained to the 6-year-old apprentice, "Which is why when the allegation took place, some people saw it as an opportunity to eliminate him as a competitor."

Pondering about this, Shinichi pressed, "That nuclear rocket project, has anyone taken over after Professor Shibuya resigned?"

"To my knowledge, not since he left."

"Eh? Why?"

"Don't tell anyone this, but....."The man made sure no one is closer to them before whispering to the boy, "The plans might have been missing."

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise at the man's revelation. "How does something this big go missing? And what do you mean 'might have'?"

"It's just a rumour, but to be honest with you, when Professor Shibuya was under investigation for over a month before he resigned, there were claims that when he embezzled the same funds meant for his rocket nuclear project to feed his exotic birds, he wasn't in the mood to make those plans and made up a fake one to get back against NASA."

"Wait, can you actually make a fake plan?" Shinichi is in disbelief.

The man chuckled, clearly amused by Shinichi's scepticism. "Well, I'm no expert in rocket science, but from what I've heard, it's possible to create a convincing plan on paper that might look legitimate to anyone who isn't deeply knowledgeable about the subject. Whether it's actually workable or not is another question."

"You said 'might have', what does that mean?"

"Before the complaint of embezzlement was made, he was very diligent in working on those rocket plans. After that scandal came up, no one is able to pinpoint whether he actually made those plans or not, which is why our company NASA didn't file a police report."

Meanwhile, outside the hotel, Ran and Sonoko had entered the lobby, their expressions set with determination. "Kudo Shinichi and Kudo Ranran, they better be prepared for hell!"