Fast forward to the day in the courtyard, Emiko confronted the rest of the members without Ranran and Shinichi present.

"Ranran knew where the nuclear plans are hidden, so she is going to point it out to The Snake as a lure, then have him arrested, ain't she?" The observant Emiko confronted Takuma.

Takuma, momentarily taken aback by Emiko's sudden entrance and astuteness, nodded slowly.

Michio's gaze shifted from Takuma to Emiko, impressed by her deduction. "You've got quite the mind, Emiko. You picked up on a lot more than most people would."

After sharing what she overheard yesterday, "I tend to learn things during my days in collecting intel from others," Emiko replied, her expression serious. "Anyway, is that the reason why they had Takuma announce to everyone not to set foot near them today, right?"

"They didn't have much of a choice," Takuma nodded in confirmation. "One has to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of everyone else in case things don't go as planned. This is an incredibly high-risk operation, and they want to minimize any potential collateral damage."

"I don't know whether to be amazed by their intelligence or be horrified that those two 6-year-olds are playing with fire," Junko pushed her glasses upward.

Emiko's sentiment was a mixture of awe and worry. "Playing with fire might be an understatement. But given the circumstances, they're the best chance we've got."

"Even so...."Takuma's gaze shifted from one face to another, each reflecting a mix of admiration and concern. "I don't know if it was a good idea for us to simply let things happen as it is."

"Eh?"

"Cause if you think of our previous major case in 'The Last Laugh'.....we didn't really do a good job, didn't we?"

The mention of "The Last Laugh" casts a sombre shadow over the courtyard.

When they figured out who the killer was back then, Ranran was trapped in a burning abandoned mansion with an explosive set up, forcing Shinichi to rush into the mansion to rescue her, because the rest of the children were too intimidated by the angry flames.

"No, we did not," Michio conceded, his voice tinged with regret. "Ranran almost died had Shinichi not rushed into the burning building. While all of us were forced to wait outside helplessly."

Emiko's expression turned pensive. "We were all utter cowards."

"In the first place, those two are built differently compared to the rest of us," Junko crossed her arms at them, "We are born normal after all."

"You talked as if they were robots," Emiko scoffed as she chucked at Junko.

Junko shrugged. "Well, they're definitely not your average 6-year-olds."

"She has a point," Michio adds, "I mean, I don't know of anyone their age who would inspect dead corpses, organize emergency routes when there was a serial killer on the island, or even go after them despite knowing they are risking their lives."

"Like that time Ranran secured a penthouse for herself at that island," Junko remembered.

"Or that time she flew an aeroplane and saved me and Mouri," Emiko recalled.

"Plus that time Shinichi led us to use a gun and organize a shootout at some gallery." Takuma thinks.

The memories of their past cases lingered in the air, a stark reminder of the dangers they had faced and the risks they had taken. The weight of their experiences hung heavy on their shoulders, a testament to the extraordinary nature of their group.

"That reminds me," Emiko's eyes grew wide before turning to Takuma, "Mouri-san wasn't in your classroom when you made that announcement, right?"

"No, which thank Kami-sama by the way," Takuma sighed in relief, "Cause if she was, she would rush over to our HQ and cause mayhem all over again."

Emiko tilted her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Speaking of Mouri-san, she has no idea this is about to happen, huh?"

"No, and Shinichi doesn't want her to," Takuma considered this for a moment before frowning deeply, "In the first place, she had been nothing but meddlesome towards Shinichi and is very hostile towards Ranran for all the wrong reasons."

Michio's brows furrowed in concern. "It might be best if she doesn't know. We don't need any unnecessary complications, especially given the gravity of this situation."

"You all do know that she was manipulated by Ishibashi Mamiko, right?" Junko argued, "I know what she did was wrong, but don't forget she did it because she was lied to through Sonoko, who also has no idea about her devious intentions."

"True, but Ranran and Shinichi had to deal with all of her tantrums." Takuma rolled his eyes in contempt, "I have been manipulated by my so-called 'friends' before and...while I admit I ain't a good boy back then, I didn't go as far as to manipulate girls to quit their dreams to marry me the way she did. And she is 6 years old like me."

"I agree," Michio agreed, his expression troubled. "I hope she doesn't go around to stir problems."

"It should be fine," Takuma reassured the elder boy, "I heard according to my girlfriend, she and that bird brain heiress took a leave for over a week, so nothing can go possibly wrong with this."

"It's probably for the best that Mouri-san and Sonoko aren't around for this. It's already risky enough without adding more variables to the equation." Emiko nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Junko crossed her arms, considering their options. "Let's just hope that everything goes according to plan. Ranran and Shinichi are smart, but even they can't predict everything that might happen."

The courtyard was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation. They were all acutely aware of the gravity of the situation, of the immense risk that Ranran and Shinichi were taking. But they also knew that there was no turning back. The wheels were in motion, and they had to see it through

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

After recess and school had ended, Takuma was about to head home for the day when his smartphone rang.

Takuma quickly pulled out his smartphone, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. He glanced at the screen, seeing an incoming call from an unknown number. He hesitated for a moment before answering, bracing himself for whatever news awaited him.

"Hello?" Takuma greeted, his voice steady despite the underlying tension.

A voice crackled through the line, filled with urgency. "Takuma, it's me, Reina."

Takuma's heart leapt at the sound of his girlfriend's voice. "Reina?"

"Is Mouri Ran at school?"

Takuma's heart raced at Reina's question. It was unusual for her to ask about Ranran's enemy, but the urgency in her tone set off alarm bells in his mind. "No, why do you ask?"

There was a pause on the other end, and then Reina's voice came through, strained and anxious. "Our teacher dropped by to pay her a visit at her Tousan's Tantei agency, because of you know....thanks to what she did to Ranran the other day. But when they got there.....her Tousan said Ran rushed out of the office in a frantic state."

Takuma's heart pounded in his chest, a surge of worry coursing through him. This was not the news he had hoped to hear. "Frantic? Did he say where she went?"

Reina's voice crackled with tension. "No, he didn't. He just mentioned that something urgent came up, and she had to leave immediately. I tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail. So I decided to head over there, but as soon as I got there...."

Takuma's breath caught in his throat, anxiety coiling in his chest. "What happened, Reina?"

"Before I could even leave the school campus, I overheard the other kids talking about....Ranran and Shinichi are about to do something dangerous at the main HQ." Dread settled like a stone in Takuma's stomach. It was a gut-wrenching feeling, knowing that something had gone wrong. "I think Mamiko spread those rumours and it reached Ran's ears, Takuma."

Takuma's heart sank as Reina's words hung in the air. His mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information. The urgency in Reina's voice told him that time was of the essence.

If Ran knew...that meant Ranran and Shinichi would be in danger!

Takuma's grip on his phone tightened, his mind racing. He needed to act fast. "Reina, thank you for letting me know. Stay safe and don't try to go after them. I'll handle this."

"I trust you, Takuma. Please, find them," Reina's voice trembled with worry.

"I will, Reina. I promise." Takuma's determination shone through in his voice as he ended the call. He knew he couldn't waste a single moment.

Dialling hastily to the rest of the members, he barked, "Guys, bad news! That damn Mamiko manipulated Ran to endanger Ranran and Shinichi!"

Junko's eyes widened in alarm as she heard Takuma's urgent message. She didn't waste a second, immediately springing into action. "We need to find them, now!"

Michio, Emiko, and Takuma quickly gathered around, their faces etched with worry. "Where could they be?" Michio wondered aloud, his mind racing.

Takuma's voice was urgent as he directed their next steps. "First, let's head to Tantei Association. Anyone see Mouri Ran, capture her! We can't let her ruin Ranran and Shinichi's plans to trap The Snake!"

The group moved with purpose, their steps quick and determined. They couldn't afford to lose any more time.

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

Back at the Tantei Association main HQ, Ranran got the call from Takuma, and this ain't good.

Ranran ended the call, her thoughts racing. She turned to Shinichi, her eyes filled with anger. "Shinichi, bad news, that damn Mamiko somehow manage to spread rumours to reach Ran's ear, so that idiot is heading our way!"

"That bloody girl!" Shinichi gritted his teeth in anger as his fist slammed the table.

"We need to move, now," Ranran declared, her voice firm and resolute. There was no time for hesitation. Every moment counted.

Shinichi nodded, his eyes narrowing in determination. "We can't let Mouri Ran interfere. She has no idea what's at stake here."

That is when the apprentice's words were abruptly cut short when the unexpected happened.

Ranran and Shinichi's hearts raced as Mouri Ran burst through the door, panic written all over her face. The unexpected intrusion sent a jolt of alarm through the room.

Ran's eyes were wide with urgency, her breaths coming in rapid gasps. "Shinichi, enough of this dangerous stint you and Ranran are about to do right now!"

"Get out of the HQ, right now!" Shinichi barked angrily at his former friend, but as much as he tried to push her out, she remained defiant.

The atmosphere was thick with tension, every second ticking by as they stood face-to-face with the person they had hoped to keep away.

"Mouri Ran, you need to leave. This is not a place for a meddling girl like you." Ranran speaks coldly towards her.

Ran's eyes darted between the determined faces of Ranran and Shinichi. Her heart pounded in her chest, torn between concern for her one ex friend, her nemesis, and the desperate need to stop Ranran from what they were about to do.

"You don't understand!" Mouri Ran's voice trembled with urgency, her eyes pleading. "This is too dangerous! You can't go through with this!"

"You have no right to meddle," Shinichi's expression hardened, his resolve unyielding. "Whatever we are about to do, you have no right to speak. Especially since you are a former member."

"So leave, now!" Ranran snarled angrily while directing her towards the door.

Soon, the rest of the members hurriedly entered the HQ, horrified to see Ran here.

Takuma, who had been at the forefront of the search, entered just in time to witness the standoff. His heart sank at the sight of Mouri Ran. This was the last thing they needed.

"Everyone, step back," Takuma commanded, his voice steady but commanding. He knew that they couldn't afford any further complications. "Mouri Ran, Ranran has been far too generous with you. I think it is about time you leave."

"No, you don't understand!" Mouri Ran's voice was desperate, her gaze locked with Takuma's. "They're heading into something incredibly dangerous. You can't let them do this!"

"What are you guys just standing there, drag and throw her out!" Shinichi ordered angrily.

The other members quickly moved into action, their expressions determined. Takuma, Michio, Junko, and Emiko closed in on Mouri Ran, their intent clear. They needed to remove her from the equation, for her own safety and for the success of Ranran and Shinichi's plan.

Mouri Ran's eyes darted between the determined faces surrounding her, panic and desperation painted across her features. She knew that every moment counted, that Ranran and Shinichi were racing against time on a dangerous mission.

"Please, you have to listen!" Mouri Ran's voice quivered with urgency, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

"We have heard of your nonsense this past 2 months, especially your delusional feelings towards Shinichi and ruining his Tantei dream," Takuma's voice was steady, his resolve unyielding while grabbing her arm with Michio on the other, "Michio and everyone, drag her out!"

The members acted swiftly, determined to carry out Takuma's command. Mouri Ran's pleas fell on deaf ears as Takuma, Michio, Junko, and Emiko surrounded her, resolute in their purpose.

Mouri Ran struggled against their grasp, her eyes wide with fear and desperation. She knew that time was running out, that Ranran and Shinichi were in grave danger. But the others were equally determined to ensure her safety.

"Please, you have to understand!" Mouri Ran's voice was filled with anguish, her eyes darting between each determined face. "They're heading into something incredibly dangerous. You can't let them do this!"

"Oh yes, we can!" Michio's grip on her arm tightened, his expression unwavering. "We need to protect from the likeness of you!"

As Michio and the others continued to refrain her, Mouri Ran's eyes filled with desperation. She knew that time was running out, that every second counted. She had to make them understand.

But before the rest of the children could send Ran away, the back door from the Tantei Association Main HQ burst open. Their faces were hidden by stocking masks, and three men with guns stormed in before kidnapping them.

The sudden intrusion sent shockwaves through the room. The masked men, armed and dangerous, moved with precision, taking control of the situation in an instant. Takuma, Michio, Junko, Emiko, and Mouri Ran were caught off guard, their faces a mix of shock and alarm.

Takuma's heart pounded in his chest as he assessed the situation. They were outnumbered and outgunned. The urgency of the mission and the desperate need to protect Ranran and Shinichi clashed with the immediate threat before them.

The leader of the masked men, his voice cold and commanding, issued a chilling ultimatum. "Nobody moves. Cooperate, and no one will get hurt."

Ranran glanced at the time on the clock, before back at those men as she replied cooly, "Your boss is very much punctual on time, huh?" she asked.

The masked leader's eyes narrowed at Ranran's remark. He was clearly not one to engage in banter. "You're in no position to make jokes, little girl."

Meanwhile, crouched on a nearby rooftop, a man in a dark jacket reached for his walkie-talkie.

"Three masked men have just gone inside," he reported. "I'm sure they're from The Snake." He paused, his eyes riveted on the scene below "Hold it, they're back....they've brought the members of Tantei association...and shoved them into a black van."

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

The children were bundled into a windowless van where their smartphones were seized. The doors were bolted from the outside and the engine roared to life.

The van sped from the car park into the morning traffic, swerving abruptly around corners and hurling its passengers from one side to the other. With everyone bundled up with ropes regarding their limbs, as well as blindfolded, the ride was disorienting, each jolt and turn a stark reminder of their captivity. The confined space seemed to amplify the tension, suffocating them all.

Inside the van, the atmosphere was thick with anxiety and uncertainty. Takuma, Michio, Junko, Emiko, and Mouri Ran were bound and blindfolded alongside Ranran and Shinichi, their senses dulled by the darkness and the muffled sounds of the outside world.

Though, it wasn't that kind of anxiety that involved being held against their will, to say the least.

"You couldn't even go by a day without meddling, Mouri Ran!"

Ranran groaned over her luck to be seated next to Shinichi, as she continued to hear Shinichi's rants against his former friend, who sat opposite him as he went on, "When you said you were going to quit the association, I was hoping not to see you again. And yet, here were are once more, in this position because of you!"

"What was I supposed to do, Shinichi!? You and Ranran were being stupid to risk both of your own lives to do something as idiotic as this!" Even Emiko and Michio didn't fair out any better, their ears winced since they were seated between an angry stubborn Mouri Ran who refused to listen to Shinichi as she blasted angrily towards the apprentice, "What were you both thinking to sacrifice both of yourselves!?"

"That is none of your business! We are former friends, and again, you have no right to meddle in my life!"

The van's movements were rough and jarring, sending the children tumbling against one another. The ropes that bound them dug into their skin, adding to the discomfort. The blindfolds made it impossible to see anything, leaving them disoriented and vulnerable.

And although Junko and Takuma were sitting a bit of distance away from Shinichi as they both sat next to Ranran to the left, the two hearing the groans from his friend Ranran was pretty obvious this bickering between the two former friends was going to drag on for hours.  The atmosphere inside the van was tense, filled with the bitter exchanges between Shinichi and Mouri Ran. Their voices clashed, sharp and anguished, a stark reminder of the complicated history that bound them together.

The five remaining members could only listen to the heated argument, their hearts heavy with the weight of the situation. They knew that time was running out, that Ranran and Shinichi were racing against an unseen clock. And yet, here they were, bound and helpless.

Junko's brow furrowed in frustration. The situation was dire enough without the added tension between Shinichi and Mouri Ran. They needed to find a way out of this van, and fast.

"Neh Ranran, about that pocket knife you once used to puncture The Snake's car last time, do you still have it? Cause it would do us a huge favour to get us out of this, especially the bickering." Takuma whispered urgently.

"Unfortunately, when they seized our smartphones, the knife was taken away as well." Ranran sighed.

As Mouri Ran and Kudo Shinichi's heated exchange reached a fever pitch, Junko couldn't take it any longer. Her voice rang out, sharp and frustrated, cutting through the chaotic atmosphere. "Hey, can you both shut up for once!? We are kidnapped for God's sake!"

The sudden outburst drew a momentary pause from both Shinichi and Mouri Ran, their attention momentarily diverted. But it didn't take long for them to resume their argument, their voices even more strained and agitated.

Ranran, on the other hand, tried to intervene, speaking with a mix of British English and her usual directness. "You blithering idiot Junko, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Junko, not entirely sure of the meaning behind "blithering," focused on the word she understood perfectly well. "Hey, why did you call me that?!"

"Oh dear, here it goes." Takuma shakes his head.

Before Ranran could explain to Junko why, the bicker between Mouri Ran and Kudo Shinichi took a turn for the worse when they ignored her and tuned up their volume bickering, much to Junko's surprise.

"After two months of being in the association, you seem to have forgotten that whenever the two argue, their volume would go up." Ranran clicked her red lips at Junko.

Junko let out a frustrated sigh, realizing that this was, unfortunately, a familiar dynamic. The high-stakes situation seemed to only heighten the tension between the two former friends.

"None of this would've happened, had you for once had your brain straightened out!"Ran could be heard arguing with Shinichi.

"No, his brain is perfectly functional, unlike your scattered brain." Ranran joins Shinichi.

"You especially!" Ran snarled, "You and that foul mouth of yours-"

"Shut up, you little pig who can't process what the word 'shut up' means." Ranran's words were enough to shut Ran up, let alone, drain out the colour in the 6-year-old child before her.

For a moment, the other children gasped at Ranran's choice of language. "W-w-what did you just say-"

"You heard me, you little squeamish pig." Ranran taunted before provoking Ran further, "If you can't understand a word, let me translate it for you: Oink oink."

"You-!"

Ran swears if she wasn't tied up, she could've easily karate this she-demon to a pulp.

"While your friend is a donkey, you are a pig in a princess dress locked up in a tower, squealing as she cries for her prince charming 'help me' multiple times, while all the princes in the kingdom flee away from your nagging, at least the hunters would rather go there to turn you into bacon." Ranran taunted.

"Ranran!" Junko gasped along with the others.

Ranran's choice of words took a particularly drastic turn, stunning the others into a momentary silence. The harshness of her language hung in the air, a stark reminder of the pressure they were all under. Even Shinichi, usually the voice of reason, was momentarily taken aback. The tension in the van seemed to reach a boiling point.

"Ooi, Ranran, that is enough. Though I appreciate you for defending me though." Shinichi tried to stop his partner-in-crime, but Ranran continued.

Ran's eyes welled up with a mix of frustration and hurt. Her voice trembled as she struggled to find words to retaliate. It was clear that Ranran's taunts had hit a nerve.

And in the midst of it all, Ranran's voice rang out, unyielding and merciless. Her taunts seemed to hang in the air, a haunting refrain in the confined space. "Girls who squeal all the time don't deserve to be called princesses, but pigs. Because that is all they ever do." Ranran gleefully says, "And to remove one who caused chaos in our association for over 2 months was very satisfying, cause our association ain't a pig sty for pigs like her."

"Ranran, that is enough!"Junko spats.

Michio, ever the peacemaker, attempted to intervene. "Hey, hey, let's all just calm down. We're in this together, right?"

But their words fell on deaf ears as Ranran continued, "Look at this coward before us, causing mayhem, which resulted in the 7 of us kidnapped. Originally it could've been minimalized to two, me and Shinichi, but thanks to her meddling, it went up to 7."

"Ranran, seriously, enough! We need to focus on getting out of here, not tearing each other apart." Junko couldn't bear the animosity any longer.

"Look who is talking!" Takuma defended his friend, "You only said that because you weaselled your way into the association to get Michio."

"Woah, I weaselled my way!?" Takuma's defence of Ranran added fuel to the fire in Junko's eyes as she retaliated, "You are only saying that because you benefitted a lot from being her friend!"

"Says who!?" Takuma challenged.

"I dare you too!"Junko taunted.

The bickering grew louder at this point as Ranran's taunts were already causing Ran to burst into tears while Shinichi tried to tell her to stop, Michio was already shaking his head, shutting his eyes while Junko was already fuming while arguing with Takuma Emiko could do nothing but sit there and block both her ears. Even the driver of the van is already becoming pissed off by the minute, although they kidnapped 7 children under The Snake's orders, the last thing he was expecting was them yelling at each other.

"Ooi, you kids better shut your Kami-sama damn mouth, before I drive this van off a cliff or something, alright!?"The driver exploded as the van swayed around another corner.

"Go ahead!"Ranran taunted him, "We are in the middle of some city Kami-sama knows where, go ahead and do so! Then when The Snake finds out about this, he will kill you next for doing a horrible job!"

The driver's face turned a shade of crimson, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He was clearly at his wit's end, having expected a quiet drive instead of this chaotic yelling match. The faces of the other members turned to fear over Ranran's way of words. Ranran's taunts, combined with the escalating argument, created a volatile atmosphere. It was a pressure cooker ready to explode unless someone switched it off.

"Ooi Ranran! Keep it down!"Shinichi warned her as anger turned to panic, no way he was going to let Ranran go loose on her words. She will literally get everyone killed if she keeps up, before turning to Ran, "As for you, when all of this is over, I am telling your parents to send you to therapy, and if you keep on skipping those sessions, I will get people to throw you in a mental hospital!"

Once more, his words stung Ran's heart.

"And as for you, Fuyuko Junko, just shut your damn mouth up! Or else, when all of this is over, I am going to have Ranran bury you alive in school the last time!"

Fearing Ranran will push them over the edge, Junko has no choice but to comply with the 6-year-old boy's demands, but she still fumes in anger over the feud she had with Takuma.

"Oi, you two! If you don't stop, I swear I'll tape your mouths shut!" Michio's threat held an edge of frustration as he glared at Ran more.

"Like that's gonna help," Emiko muttered, her voice edged with bitterness.

"Exactly." Takuma rolled his eyes.

Junko, still seething with anger, shot a glare at Takuma, who met her gaze with a stubborn set to his jaw. The tension between them hung in the air, a silent undercurrent beneath the chaos.

Meanwhile, the driver's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his face a mask of frustration and annoyance. He couldn't believe his luck, getting stuck with this unruly bunch.

At first, no one said a thing. But then gradually, Ran finally broke down in tears as she sobbed, "Why am I constantly being blamed!? I was trying to do the right thing!"

The sight of Ran's tears didn't seem to elicit much sympathy from the others. Instead, it only added to the frustration that had been building in the van. Shinichi's frustration had turned into a mix of exasperation and indifference, while Ranran seemed to be losing patience as well.

Takuma muttered sarcastically under his breath, "Oh, great, now we're stuck with a sobbing pig and one idiot, with a couple of reasonable children at least."

Junko, despite her earlier anger, couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Ran. She leaned closer to her and awkwardly patted her on the back, muttering in a somewhat comforting tone, "There, there. We're all stressed out here. Let's just try to keep it together."

"Exactly as Takuma said!"Ranran agreed, "A sobbing pig-"

"Ok, this is all said and done. Enough for the day, "Shinichi shut her lips with his hands as he chuckled darkly a bit while the van rumbled on.

Takuma meanwhile thought he heard the sound of a helicopter but said nothing. Anyhow, he was too busy watching Junko. It hadn't stopped twitching since they'd been locked in the van.

He fiddled with his cap and wondered where they were being taken to.

Shinichi decided he was done with it but let out a sigh of frustration. He didn't have the energy to continue arguing with Ran anymore, and the tension in the van was becoming unbearable. As for Ranran, she remained silent, her earlier taunts seemingly forgotten as she watched the chaos unfold. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of indifference and annoyance. It seemed that even the tears of her former nemesis couldn't sway her emotions at this point.

The driver, on the other hand, was regretting his decision to take this job, as he muttered to himself, "I should have become a florist as my mother wanted me to be back then..."

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

After an hour's drive, the van lurched to a stop. The bolts were thrust back and the doors flung open.

The first thing Tantei association heard was a hideous screeching sound. Within seconds, it was followed by hundreds of wild squawks. That can only mean one thing for Junko who had a dreaded fear of birds.

10-year-old Junko shuddered. "Please don't tell me this is what I think it is..."

The masked men dragged them from the van into a courtyard.

Ranran and Shinichi gazed around in amazement after their blindfolds were removed. They were in the centre of a vast bird park. A series of massive aviaries surrounded them, filled with every imaginable species of bird. The noise became deafening as the disturbed by the van's arrival, swooped around their enclosures.

The van was parked in front of a small concrete building that housed the visitors' centre and souvenir shop, plus sculptures of birds decorated its roof.

"Where are we?" Ranran demanded. "I thought you were taking us to The Snake."

"Welcome to the aviary, Kudo Ranran." Said a smooth, sinister voice behind her.

The children spun around to discover a man with a green reptile-skin mask stretched over his face. He had stepped out of the souvenir shop.

"Why of all places did you have to set this meeting place here?!" gasped Junko, thanks to the escalated fear as she sensed the presence of the birds.

"Shut up, Junko! We ain't in a position to negotiate!" Takuma hissed at her.

"Good morning and welcome to my bird park, "The Snake greeted them. "It's just one of the many businesses my company has operated for the past year."

"I hate the sounds of those birds!" shrieked Junko, "Can't we go somewhere else?"

The Snake's eyes glittered behind his mask, amused by Junko's distress. "I'm afraid not, my dear. We're quite secure here, surrounded by the beauty of nature."

"Seriously, why a bird park?" Shinichi was giving a look of disbelief at the criminal.

"I thought it was rather clever to bring you all here"The Snake's mask moved menacingly as he laughed."After all, an aviary is the last place you'd expect to find a dead eagle."

"Ha ha, very funny," Ranran replied before she took a step forward, but The Snake's hand moved like lightning. He aimed a handgun at her. Its stainless steel barrel gleamed in the morning sunlight.

"Ranran!" Shinichi spoke in horror, echoing the sentiments of the rest of the children, but Ranran remained silent, her face a mask of determination rather than shock.

"Don't move, any of you," he warned. "This is my new Colt Python, so perfectly named for The Snake. It holds six rounds, which means I have one 357 Magnum for each of you. And if you force me to use it, I can assure you I won't miss at this short range."

"But there are 7 of us!" Emiko counted.

"You know the saying 'Kill 2 birds with one stone', I can do that with one bullet." The Snake sneered.

His cold, calculating demeanour made it clear that he was not to be underestimated. The tense atmosphere in the bird park seemed to grow even heavier.

Ranran, though facing a gun, didn't waver. "Well, lucky for us, there are more than enough birds around here for you to practice your aim."

Shinichi couldn't help but be impressed by Ranran's fearless retort, even in the face of danger. It was a testament to her unwavering resolve. Though Ran whose eyes are red thought of it differently.

The Snake's masked face twisted into a scowl. "You're quite the cheeky one, aren't you?"

"Cheeky is my middle name," Ranran quipped, her voice laced with a hint of defiance.

The Snake's grip on the gun tightened, his finger hovering over the trigger. The standoff continued, the children trapped in a dangerous game of wits. The gun shifted impatiently "We're wasting time, I have billions of yen at stake, and I'm getting tired of this continual interference from all of you."

"Then let us go home and we won't trouble again," suggested Takuma cheekily, and one of the masked men jabbed him sharply in the back with his gun. "Ouch!"

The Snake led them into the souvenir shop. One of the display cases had been pulled aside, revealing a narrow flight of stairs that led them down into a small, gloomy basement.

In the centre of the room, perched on a box, was the stolen stuffed eagle of Professor Shibuya.

Standing beside it, his hands bound together behind his back, was their missing client, Professor Shibuya Jirou.

The old man was shaking with fear when he laid eyes on the children, "I should never have involved all of you in my affairs. I am terribly, terribly sorry."

Ranran gave him a curt look. "I think, Professor, you're going to be even more apologetic when you hear what I have to say."

The snake levelled his gun at the girl, "You told my daughter you knew what I was looking for and you knew where to find it so..talk," he commanded.

"Alright. So be it." The 6-year-old red-lip detective shrugs dismissively.

With a calmness that belied her age while she eyed The Snake, Ranran began to recount the details of her investigation, "It all began with Professor Shibuya Jirou hired us, a group of elementary-school-going-children, to investigate his stolen taxidermized eagle." The Snake listened intently, his gaze never wavering from Ranran. As she spoke, the gravity of the situation hung heavy in the souvenir shop. "The moment he hired us to locate it instead of the cops, one question popped up: Why?"

Ranran's words hung in the air, a weighty revelation in the dimly lit souvenir shop. The Snake's eyes bore into her, his curiosity piqued.

"We may have solved six major cases in total, but let's not forget that if we were to be compared to other adult Tanteis across Japan, we are what you would all adults consider to be....inexperience. Adding the fact that he lived in a rather run-down-looking mansion which he could afford, plus the fact he owns a total of 150 plus exotic birds of its kind, he could've simply put that money to good use by employing the most capable adult Tantei at his disposal. It wasn't until what he said to me, Shinichi and Michio the other day, that it made sense why."

"That's what I want you all to find out, 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-"

"Those two cases he mentioned to us the other day when he read about us...had something to do with you, The Snake." Ranran concluded, before staring brazenly at The Snake, "One of the reasons he couldn't call the cops, was because he knew the identity of the thief who stole his precious taxidermized eagle, was you."

She then paced, "After you threatened him, he was really scared. He promised to cooperate with you, but then somewhere along the way.... he ended up changing his mind. And that's why he approached us. Because he knew we were the only Tanteis in the whole of Japan that had previously gone ahead with you in two previous cases aside from other Tanteis, and that we were the only ones who subdued both of your plans in those previous major cases, that he had his hope pinned on us."

The Snake snorted, "That won't happen again, I assure you. This time, I have clearly outsmarted the whole lot of you."

"I ain't done yet, "Ranran then pointed to Professor Shibuya, "Then there was the mystery of Professor Shibuya himself. From the outside, he is an old retired professor whose hobby was collecting rare birds. Or....so we thought." She grins before looking at the professor, "Former NASA rocket scientist for many decades, and you didn't even bother to bring this up when you met up with us at our main HQ?"

The professor gasped in surprise, "You....you knew all this while?"

"We do background checks on every single client," Shinichi revealed to the shocked ornithologist.

"It was odd for you to keep on lying to the cops when the second burglary incident took place at your home, Professor Shibuya, about the fact that you insist nothing was stolen, but you told us a different story. Which is one of the reasons we did that background check to confirm whether you were a criminal, or that you wronged someone in the past." Ranran justifies before narrowing her gaze at the sweating Professor, "About that incident that took place last year, that complaint filed against you that you allegedly embezzled money from NASA before you were forced to resign, be upfront and honest with us, did you do it or not?"

The shock on the old man's face gave way to anger, "How dare you! Even if I ended up homeless, the last thing I would do is to touch a single cent of their money! My late parents didn't raise me to be a thief!"

"It is obvious you didn't," Shinichi decided, "You've been a target of jealousy for quite some time in that workplace according to Professor Hoga. Which is why in retaliation, you stole something else instead. Not even sure if I can even call it stealing in a normal context."

The atmosphere in the souvenir shop was thick with tension and revelations. The Snake watched the exchange between Ranran, Shinichi, and Professor Shibuya with a keen interest, his masked face unreadable.