"I mean it's obvious they are brothers," Shinichi is unfazed by this, and so is Ranran, "Considering that King Leif adopted him into the family, it makes Crown Prince Thomas and him siblings."

"No, you don't fully understand," The teacher shook his head at him, "General Stefan is the deceased queen's biological son, the same one she had with King Leif, which is why it makes them both Stefan and Thomas half-siblings!"

It took a while for them to digest all of this before Ranran finally said, "Half-brothers?" Ranran repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You mean, General Stefan and Thomas Lockwood, Landon's grandfather, shared the same parent?"

"No way! How could that be!?" Shinichi murmured his thoughts in turmoil. "When we did an online search, throughout the marriage between King Leif and his first ex-wife, there was no announcement on them having a kid between them!"

"There is a reason for that, "Moseby's voice grew even more hushed as if he was afraid the walls themselves might betray the secret. "You see...when their marriage went south years ago, they were....seeing other people." With their eyes growing bigger by the day, Moseby later coughed, "But anyway, he is definitely King Leif's child."

"Then why on the news, did the ex-wife upfront lie that General Stefan was her kid brother and not her son?" Shinichi pressed for answers.

Moseby's eyes darted around the room as if expecting someone to overhear their conversation. He leaned in closer, his voice barely audible.

"The truth was... it was a carefully constructed deception," he confessed. "When...she had General Stefan, having him quietly was the best idea. In a way....you know how royalty works, right?"

With Ranran musing from her seat, she nodded. Shinichi who couldn't understand questioned what the Lockwood royal tutor meant.

"Anyone child born into the royal family would ultimately serve them. Whether they like it or not." Ranran revealed to the apprentice. Sensing further confusion from him, Ranran simplified to him, "To put it bluntly, if there was a divorce between a King and a Queen, even though the King committed tons of faults in the marriage such as infidelity, emotional manipulation or abuse whatsoever, the main point is simple: The children born through the King when it came to...custody, is that he will have a share in it."

"W-what sort of nonsense rule is this!?" Shinichi exclaimed.

"Exactly as she says, it is what it is," Moseby nodded, grateful that Ranran understood the intricacies of royal affairs. "The life of a King's son in the 21st century isn't as good as its glory days back then. Nowadays, the royals are zoo animals for visitors and tourists to take pictures with, even the press made tons of money through every picture captured on the camera."

The weight of the revelation hung heavily in the room.

"Perhaps Her late Majesty dealt with it for so long back then, that she decided not to let General Stefan go through such fate," Moseby recalled.

"She didn't even bother to challenge the birthright of General Stefan?! Despite Thomas Lockwood, the mistress's son, having been crowned the official Crown Prince?!" Shinichi was in disbelief, "I can't understand her logic.....she was wronged by that scumbag king. It's one thing to protect her son, but it's another to suffer such mistreatment."

"It's something you kids can't understand when you become a parent someday, you will understand why." Moseby nodded somberly.

"How did King Leif later learn of General Stefan's existence?" Shinichi questioned the tutor.

"I don't have the right to reveal it," Moseby sighed heavily as if the weight of the past was pressing down on him.

"You have to, if it was for Landon's sake." Ranran pointed out.

The teacher looked torn, his gaze shifting between the determined young child detectives.

"When the boating accident for the ex-wife's family happened, thanks to the.... paparazzi, King Leif found out about it later on." Moseby finally confessed, his voice tinged with regret. "When General Stefan who was a child back then was sent to the hospital, the emergency contact that was left for him by his mother was King Leif. At first, he was going to deny responsibility. But DNA tests itself....even if one were to fake it 20 times, it can't be altered. It was irrefutable proof."

Both founder and apprentice exchanged a meaningful look in response.

"If that is the case, although the King acknowledges General Stefan privately, why not publically?" Shinichi wondered aloud.

"In the first place, politically speaking....he already made the announcement that Landon's dad would be the next in the line to the throne, let alone, acknowledge the mistress had become the legal wife." Ranran figures, "Acknowledging General Stefan publicly would bring about a storm of controversy in many ways unimaginable. Although it would be something the people of Norway would want, switching the line of succession at this point would be an absolute mess."

"How?" Shinichi demanded, "There are no wars anymore back then."

"Ok, let me explain what happens on a modern scale, minus the war," Ranran then listed the consequences. Ranran leaned forward, her small face serious as she laid out the potential consequences of acknowledging General Stefan publicly. "Imagine this, you were groomed to become King. That would mean tons of events you had to attend, study hours, as well as a whole nation's expectations on your shoulders. Suddenly, out of nowhere, they say, 'Hey, we made a mistake, it's actually this other guy.' All the time, effort, and preparations that went into grooming you for the role, are gone in an instant. Would you like that? Being replaced? Just because of someone's birthright?"

"No, of course not!" Shinichi considered Ranran's words carefully. "I worked hard, and then some idiot just grabbed all of my hard work because of this!?"

"Exactly," Ranran affirmed, her eyes fixed on Shinichi. "That is one. And then second, since the deceased ex-wife was a queen loved by the majority of the People of Norway, while the current legal wife is the mistress who ruined their marriage, it would be easier to torment the King to divorce them, making them live a life on the streets should word get out."

"No way, he won't do that." Shinichi scoffed, "He is the King!"

"Whose family is relying on the taxpayer's money, the people of Norway who think they are already a huge waste of space since stripping everything out of his ex-wife, whom he betrayed and cheated with someone else." Ranran reminded him as Shinichi's eyes widened, "Royalty may have their own privileges that prevent themselves from landing in jail but don't forget, this is the 21st century where the people are more educated and aware of their rights. Even the Royals will face serious backlash if they don't deliver in the public's favour, especially if it goes against their own rules. You heard what happened to Princess Diana, right?"

Shinichi's expression darkened. "Yes, they want the royal family out badly in the U.K., like things got really bad. It was a miracle that the family still survived regardless back then till now."

"Exactly. But France didn't with Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, did they?" Ranran taunted, "Do you know....what happened to their children?"

Shaking his head, Ranran revealed their grim fate.

"The son who was around 10-years-old at that time was locked up in some dark chamber, fed with nothing but bread and water, and eventually died of malnutrition and neglect," Ranran's voice was cold, her gaze unflinching. "The daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, was the only survivor. She was imprisoned in solitary confinement for over three years, and her health deteriorated rapidly. She was finally released at the age of 17, but by then, she was broken and traumatized."

The apprentice's face turned pale at the horrifying account. The brutality of history weighed heavily on his young shoulders. "Although by modern standards we would call this illegal, and that it will no longer be possible anymore, there are modern ways of doing things legally without going through all of that, and trust me, you would be the last one who wants to find out how they will end up if General Stefan's true heritage was revealed."

His eyes widened in horror at the grim historical accounts told by his 6-year-old mentor.

"Anyway, back to the scandalous Lockwood family." Ranran sighed before casually speaking to the royal tutor, "That was at stake. But is General Stefan and Thomas Lockwood, Landon's Tousan, aware of this?"

"Yes, of course they do." Mr Moseby heaved, "Cause I taught both of them for all those years, I even know their personality very well."

"What are the dynamics like? Between them?" Shinichi inquired.

"Before General Stefan moved into the palace, Thomas was a bit coddled by both parents, but had a level head and was mature despite his age. Even when the staff members of the family, some of them do speak ill of his mother being the mistress's son and stuff, he handled it maturely." Moseby recalled with fondness, then he saddened a bit, "But when General Stefan moved in...I can only say it wasn't the same since."

Recalling his attitude towards Ranran back then under similar circumstances, the 6-year-old apprentice confronted, "Landon's Tousan wasn't happy, was he?"

"Who would? Anyone would be mad, suddenly, he is forced to share everything! And worst, since General Stefan's mother was loved by the people despite not being favoured by the King, the staff members of the family treated General Stefan a lot more kindly compared to Thomas." Moseby explained, sympathy evident in his voice.

"And...how did that side-piece King Leif has married react?" Ranran boldly asks.

"Ranran!" Shinichi hissed at her not to be rude.

"She stole him from the ex-wife, just because she is the legal wife, doesn't change the fact that she is a side-piece," Ranran stated, then added, "I wouldn't even be surprised that within the palace walls, she probably tormented him as the wicked step-mother."

"But as you say, since this is the 21st century, royal staff members have their own rights nowadays. Anyone could become the press overnight, so she isn't in a position to do those wicked stepmother things you would assume she had done to General Stefan when he was a boy." Mr Moseby revealed, "I will admit, there were moments of tension, but she tried her best to maintain a sense of harmony within the family."

"Harmony," Ranran echoed, her tone tinged with scepticism. "In a situation like that, it's hard to imagine true harmony ever existed for a mistress like her."

"Ranran!" Shinichi once more hissed at his mentor, but she remained unfazed.

"Is Landon aware? Of this history between his father and General Stefan?"

"No," Moseby shook his head at them, "King Leif didn't want some Lion King real-life saga, so he only knew his uncle as the brother to the ex-grandmother his grandfather once married."

"But he probably noticed that his Tousan didn't like General Stefan regardless, right?" Shinichi interrupted.

"Of course," The teacher admitted, "Even when they were little before Landon was born, the rivalry was intense, always arguing and fighting, always in trouble. Which is why I later arranged for their lessons to be private throughout the years till adulthood."

Then he pointed to the door. "Now I think you'd better go. I've told you too much already."

After the two children bowed, Shinichi was the first to leave the door with Ranran almost following him from the back, before she turned her head to ask, "By the way, Mr Moseby."

"Hmph?"

"Did His Majesty, King Leif...ever mention anything about diamond mines having been discovered in Norway?"

"Diamonds?" The teacher grew genuinely surprised. "What diamonds? What are you talking about?"

"Looks like that itself is a lie as well," Shinichi muses.

"I am sorry, what is this diamond mine you speak of?" The teacher demanded to know.

"Nothing much of significance, but if you insist," Ranran shrugs before delivering the news, "When Landon dropped by our office in Tantei Association, he insists that his Tousan was able to pinpoint where the diamond minds are in Norway, that only he, his father and King Leif is aware of the existence. And that the coordinates are locked up somewhere in Japan, and the message gave him instructions on how Landon can locate him."

Shinichi who heard all of this grew bewildered, she was upfront lying!

The only thing that was mentioned by Landon was the confirmation of its existence, not some instructions to Landon on where to locate it!

Waiting for Mr Moseby to respond, he finally much to their surprise, roared with laughter.

"No way, if King Leif did, it would've been a game changer for Norway!" Moseby chuckled.

"And you are that certain?" It was Shinichi's turn to ask, "He could've been private about something this big? Since he is a king of Norway after all."

Moseby's laughter gradually subsided, but his amused smile remained. "You two certainly have a vivid imagination. But I assure you, if such a discovery were made, it would indeed be a monumental event for Norway. There would be no reason to keep it a secret, even for a king."

"How is that so?" Shinichi challenged him.

"Because our economy hadn't been doing well in decades. Even when King Leif was a child." The teacher revealed.

Both their expressions fell while they expressed their shock, "Say what now!?"

"It's true," Moseby insists with a nod, "You see, it has been decades since our economy has taken a turn for the worst, which meant that our cost of living had gone up over time. Making matters worse is that this gave the people of Norway a reason to hate the Lockwood family more, considering they were all struggling to put food on the table, they still had to pay their taxes and it ended up with the royal family who doesn't do much in their opinion."

The revelation about the state of Norway's economy was unexpected. "But didn't you say they all love General Stefan's mother?" Ranran reminded his words.

"Of course, because she was a commoner like them. And she actually does a lot to reduce those hardships. Which is why she is way more popular than King Leif at that time." Moseby crossed his arms thoughtfully, "And I remembered King Leif wasn't happy to hear that one bit, which is also one of the reasons why their marriage fell apart."

"Seriously? A woman doing better than a man, and he is already all about ego?" Shinichi scoffed. "What a sore loser."

Even Ranran nodded to Shinichi in silence.

"Anyway, if there were diamond mines mentioned by Landon, it is probably a dreamy hoax his mother made up to entertain him. Cause his deceased mother used to do that to cheer him up, whenever he was reluctant to perform boring royal duties." Suddenly Mr Moseby's expression became serious. He pushed the two children toward the door. "Now, please go! Cause you both know too much about the Lockwood family that you are both not supposed to know. And let me give you a friendly warning. If I were the both of you, I'd drop this case I'd have nothing to do with either Landon or The General. For your own safety, don't trust either of them!"

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

"Royal life sounds so complicated."

As the two Kudo children entered the cab they hired through the app to pick them up while heading back to the city, those were the words Shinichi uttered to his mentor.

"I told you that the moment you all decided to get involved with this royal case, it is bound to be messy." Ranran reminded him. "You just got a glimpse of the dark underworld of royalty and privilege."

"Even so, now that we learn about General Stefan's true heritage, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him." Shinichi slumped a bit in the back seat.

"What is there to feel sorry?" Ranran who remained in the front seat of the cab replied. "He got the privilege to have a royal education, eat, sleep and breathe like one, and he had all the power in the world by using the secret police of Norway to do whatever he wanted."

"But if you think about it, General Stefan was still a child when he was forced to enter palace life." Shinichi pondered Ranran's words, conflicted by the complexities of the situation, "The life he had before all of this was normal, suddenly, you got dragged into a life of politics, power, and expectations. That's got to be tough."

"Even so, he chose that, right?" Ranran countered. "He could've decided to step back and live a normal life. No one forced him to be part of the royal family drama."

"I doubt it," Shinichi argued, "He lost all of his family members: His mother and his maternal grandparents. Given his options, it is either ending up in the orphanage or royal life. And you know based on our investigations on how life is like living in the orphanage. Cause no child wants that."

As much as Ranran wanted to counter his words, he wasn't in the wrong.

Life of an orphan regardless of which country one ends up in, is never going to be smooth sailing. A child is constantly under the mercy of adults, often facing neglect, uncertainty, and a lack of stability. It was a harsh reality that neither of them could ignore. 

As a kid back then, Ranran was certain for General Stefan at that time, having lost the people who cared for him for years, living life at the palace might although living in a golden cage, at least it provide some semblance of security and stability. While the cab driver navigated the busy streets of the city, Shinichi gave a low whistle. "But seriously, what was Landon's mother thinking back then? To make up stories about some diamond mine? Ain't she supposed to be some professor of politics or something?! Especially the letter....did Landon make it up?!"

Ranran thought about it while replaying that conversation, "When we questioned Landon whether Mr Moseby knew the contents of the letter, he hesitated."

".....what are you on about?"

"We never got confirmation whether the messenger was true, but for us to earn such a reaction from Landon when he lied that Mr Moseby isn't aware of the letter's content....that means the letter is the real deal, including the key Landon was wearing...."Ranran paused before she continued, "I think he longed to know what that key meant to him."

"Eh!?"

"I told you before, the Lockwood family are an influential royal family in Norway. Resources are easy to come by when it comes to investigating anything at their disposal, so from the right, Landon didn't really need the help of our association to look for his father, let alone, figure out what the key his father sent him meant."

"Maybe he doesn't know where to put the key to good use at least?" Shinichi argued. "Don't forget General Stefan is influential with the secret police belonging to the royal family. They live under the same roof, so those resources could be rendered useless for Landon because it will end up tipping back to General Stefan regardless."

"No, he definitely knew the relevance of the key, because of what he was wearing." Ranran persisted. "When he held the key before me, I noticed it was a chain. And chains are durable, they are difficult to cut off with a knife if one were to try and snatch it from a 10-year-old boy like Landon."

"So in other words...."

"That key is vital, he knew what it brings. Whatever it unlocks, it is something not even a 10-year-old Prince like Landon could afford to lose, as if his privileged life as a royal depended on it." Ranran concluded, then added, "And the contents of the letter between him and his father, I don't buy it that it was a confirmation of the diamond mine's existence, but rather, instructions to his son over where he has to use this key. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stolen the money I had Ran planted at her father's detective agency in the first place."

Shinichi's eyes widened before growing serious. "If that is the case....what do you think we should do?"

"Don't worry, earlier as soon as Ran made sure Landon stole the money, I had her to get her father to file a police report." Ranran menacingly smiled while rubbing her fingers gleefully, "Before, I knew it wasn't possible to get Landon dancing under my palm since he is royalty, and that General Stefan got the embassy of Norway involved. But with the police report that legally confirms Landon had committed a crime in our backyard, much less in Japan, it levels the playing field for the Japanese authorities to no longer have their hands tied by the embassy laws, and they would eventually block every single airport route Landon thinks he could catch a flight to flee, whether General Stefan or the Norway embassy likes it or not."

As the cab pulled up to their destination, Shinichi and Ranran paid the fare and stepped out onto the bustling streets of the city. "Ranran, what is going to happen if King Leif...Landon's grandfather, get word of your plot?"

"If King Leif catches wind of this, I doubt it will change much," Ranran replied coolly. "Also, the contract Landon signed under me had sealed his own fate. Even with the amount of power he has in the world, Landon is screwed the moment he signed that contract."

"That reminds me," Shinichi suddenly remembered something, "Earlier when you instructed Michio to take out that contract from the red box, it was my first time reading that the terms look....unusually different than the usual ones we normally gave our clients. Why is that?"

"Ah, about that," Ranran slyly leaned against the railing of the sidewalk, her gaze thoughtful. "It is reserved for kids like Landon."

Shinichi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"When I was The Fox back in Edgewood Academy, my deceased mentor once taught me people lie, and so do clients." Ranran flashed a mischievous smile. "Since the kids in Edgewood Academy including myself happen to be children of nobility and royalty, precautions had to be taken should we suffer losses under their lies."

"Really?" Growing curious, he questions, "And....what is Landon going to lose now that we found him lying?"

"A lot," Ranran's smile grew even more enigmatic. "Let's just say, he's dug his own grave with that lie even before meeting us."

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

"Takuma, you are genuinely the worst artist I have ever met!"

After leaving the association, once more, his artwork was a disaster in the eyes of 9-year-old Emiko as the two gathered in the cafe. Takuma sighed, looking at the paper covered in his latest attempt at drawing a Harpy Eagle.

It was true, his artistic skills left much to be desired. When he once drew a picture of his teacher, it looked more like a strange alien than a human being. Another time when he drew a landscape, it was so abstract that even he couldn't tell what it was supposed to represent.

"I'm trying my best, Emiko," he said, a touch of frustration in his voice.

Emiko, undeterred, crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. "Your best isn't good enough, Takuma."

"In what way is it not?"

"Alright, what do you see here?" Takuma protested, feeling a bit defensive.

"That's not an excuse," Emiko retorted, undeterred. "You can't just give up because it's hard. You have to keep trying and keep pushing yourself. This is about showing appreciation for Hikari, for what that bird means to you."

Takuma looked down at the sketch, a mix of determination and frustration swirling within him.

Emiko directed the younger boy at her sketch work of Takuma's pet Harper Eagle, Hikari, which is drawn with meticulous attention to detail, capturing every feather, every curve of the beak, and even the gleam in the bird's eye.

"Hikari."

"Ok, then," Emiko flipped up Takuma's artwork before pointing, "What do you see here?"

"Hikari."

"Come on, Takuma! Seriously!? How is this Hikari!?"

Contradictory to Emiko's artwork, Takuma's work was more abstract, with a rough outline of what might resemble a bird, but lacking any real detail or accuracy.

"I... I know it's not great," Takuma admitted, looking down at his drawing with a touch of embarrassment.

"It's not great, it's awful!" Emiko huffed, clearly frustrated. "I can't believe you're struggling with this, Takuma. It's just a simple drawing."

"Why are you that bothered anyway? It is just a homework titled 'My Pet' that I had to submit anyway, I always end up getting a bad grade anyway." Takuma scoffed, "And anyway, aren't you supposed to meet up with your grandpa here to inquire about the key?"

"Truthfully he was supposed to, but then his car broke down during heavy traffic as he was on his way here, told me to meet up another day." Emiko groaned before pointing at the boy, "Anyway, I wasn't expecting to bump into you in this same cafe we are both in. What plans did you have to come here anyway?"

"Had plans to go on a date with Reina initially," Takuma shrugged, "But then she had heavy tons of paperwork to do back at school because of the birds Ranran brought over without telling the school."

"Ah yes, the 150 plus exotic birds, right?" Emiko suddenly remembers.

"That's the one," Takuma nodded, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Honestly, the birds are getting on everyone's nerves the teachers and staff."

"Why? I thought our schoolmates were alright with it?" Emiko blinked.

"They were, at first," Takuma explained, "But as much as they still are, considering not all of the kids at experience in handling the birds as Ranran and I do, everytime they open the animal hutch, the birds would often escape and keep on making a mess in the classrooms. I even heard one of the teachers say that they feel like they're running a zoo instead of a school."

"If we were to look on the plus side, at least school is no longer boring." Emiko couldn't help but chuckle at the image.

"That's one way to put it," Takuma agreed with a wry smile. "But anyway, that's why Reina had to cancel our date. And here I am, attempting to finish my art homework."

Emiko glanced at Takuma's drawing again and sighed. "Maybe you should try a different approach. Start with the basics. Study the bird closely, pay attention to the details, and try to replicate them on paper."

Takuma nodded, appreciating Emiko's advice. "You're right. I'll give it another shot."

As Takuma started a new attempt, Emiko watched him for a moment before changing the subject. "So, about the Lockwood case. Any progress?"

Takuma hesitated for a moment before deciding to share what he knew. "Before you arrive at the cafe, Ranran and Shinichi actually made some headway today after texting the progress. Apparently, they took a cab to head back to that school again, spoke to Mr Moseby and learned some....interesting stories."

Emiko's eyes widened in curiosity. "Really? What did they have to share about?"

Takuma proceeded to recount the conversation Shinichi and Ranran had with Mr. Moseby, detailing the revelation about General Stefan's true heritage and the complicated dynamics within the Lockwood family.

The artists listened intently, absorbing every detail. As Takuma finished recounting the conversation, she let out a low whistle.

"Wow, that's quite the revelation," Emiko remarked. "So, General Stefan and Thomas Lockwood were half-brothers? That's...unexpected."

"Yeah, it's a lot to take in," Takuma agreed. "There's still so much we don't know. Like, how does this all tie into the key that Landon has? And also...how old was General Stefan and Crown Prince Thomas Lockwood when all of this happened?"

Emiko tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I am foreseeing a real-life version of Lion King." 

"I doubt it," Takuma laughed it off, "Scar isn't even Mufasa's half-brother!"

"But if you think about it, they are still brothers fighting for the throne regardless!" Emiko pointed out.

"Then what, Landon is Simba?" Takuma joked.

"Oh no, Landon lies. And Simba barely does." Emiko rolled her eyes at that thought.

Suddenly, Emiko's smartphone shrilled before checking the caller ID. Realizing it was Junko, she answered to hear her frantic voice, "Emiko, you wouldn't believe what just happened to me?!"

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

Several hours ago, as Michio was accompanying Junko while walking her back to her apartment, she confronted her friend since kindergarten about one mind-boggling issue that had plagued her, and no, it has nothing to do with the case, "Neh Michio, just be honest with me. Where have you been going out for lunch lately?"

And so far, 10-year-old Michio refused to answer and often answered vaguely. "To the convenience shop not far from our HQ, why?"

Junko scrutinized Michio, her eyebrows furrowing with suspicion. "That's all? Just the convenience shop?"

"Yeah, Junko, why are you asking?" he replied, his voice a touch too casual.

Junko folded her arms, not buying his response. "Michio, I've been your friend for years. You can't fool me with that. I know something's up. Tell me the truth."

Michio hesitated for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. Finally, he let out a sigh and looked at Junko with a mix of resignation and guilt.

"Okay, fine. I haven't been going to the convenience shop. I've been... going somewhere else," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Somewhere else? Where?" Junko pressed, her curiosity piqued.

Before Michio could answer, Junko's smartphone suddenly rang. Thinking it must have been her mother, she angrily fished out her smartphone to check the caller ID. To her surprise, it was blank. Assuming it was a scam call, she hung up and then once more confronted Michio, "Ok, about where you-urgh!"

Once more, Junko's smartphone rang again and she glanced at the screen, perplexed. The caller ID was still blank, which struck her as odd. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to answer. Finally, curiosity got the better of her, and she picked up the call.

"Hello?" Junko said cautiously.

"Hi, is this Junko? It's me, Landon."

The sound of Landon's terrified voice brought her to her feet, while Michio blinked, "Who is that on the phone?" Michio questioned.

"It's him!" Junko hissed lowly while covering the smartphone.

"Who?"

"Landon!"

"Oh? The one who stole Ran's money!?" 

"That's the one," Junko confirmed, her voice low and urgent. "Keep it down, I need to figure out what he wants." With trepidation, Junko uncovered the phone and brought it back to her ear. "Why are you calling me?"

"I... I need your help," Landon's voice trembled on the other end of the line.

"My help? Why would I help you after what you did to Ran?" Junko's tone was sharp before noticing the background at Landon's side sounded as if there were tons of people there. "Where are you, anyway!?"

"I'm at Haneda Airport," The prince answered.

"Hah!? So far!?" Junko exclaimed loudly but then grew a bit embarrassed over how loud she exclaimed since she and Michio were at the side of the streets. "How did you end up there!?"

"Not long after Ran and you left me in the guest bedroom, I took the money to buy myself a ticket at the airport to fly back to Norway, because I got word through the disposable smartphone that my father was there, he wanted to meet me urgently." He began to explain, "But as soon as I arrived, I was shocked to find police everywhere. I'm trapped!"

"Man, Ranran did screw him nicely," Michio is amused while quietly listening to all of this through Junko's speaker phone.

"This wouldn't have happened had you not stolen our friend's money, deshou?" Junko angrily scolded over the phone, "It only seems fair for Ranran to scheme for her and land you in serious trouble."

"Well, had you not had your father, the Crown Prince, suddenly gone missing out of the blue with secret police sent out by your step-uncle to kill you? Especially chase after a 10-year-old boy like me who is at the moment left with nothing!? Then suddenly, you get the message of your family member contacting you out of the blue?!" Landon's voice was filled with desperation. 

The two children didn't reply back. 

Junko's mind reeled as she desperately worked out what to say, "I'll tell you what, I will call Ranran over to figure this out," she blurted out.

"No, that girl is evil!" Landon's fear crackled like electricity.

"Hey, you can't simply blame her! You stole one of the members' money, it was only fair that she scheme to get it back for her!" Junko scolded him over the phone.

"Look, I... I messed up, okay? I didn't think things would get this out of hand. But please, you have to help me. I'm really scared here, and I don't know what to do."

"What can I do anyway!?" Junko panicked. "I am only 10-years-old!"

"Why not?" Landon begged, his voice choked with emotion. "You are older than that girl! Surely you are more resourceful than her."

"In terms of certain life experiences? Yes. But even that is nothing compared to her." Junko rolled her eyes admittingly while Michio observed their interactions. 

"Please, I have no one else to turn to." Landon pleaded.

"I'll tell you what, I will get someone to come with me," Junko thought out loud.

"No!" Landon was almost screaming. "You're the only one I trust. Nobody else must know Come alone!"

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

"So that is what happened, huh?" Emiko and Takuma grew amused as Junko spill everything over Emiko's phone.

Emiko and Takuma listened intently to Junko's account of the phone call with Landon. As the story unfolded, they exchanged glances, a mixture of surprise, amusement, and concern evident on their faces.

"Wow, the thieving Prince is pushed to the corner of the wall, Ranran really did him good. I kinda wish that conversation you had with Junko was recorded, Ranran would've loved to listen to that." Takuma remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.

Junko's voice crackled over the phone, sounding a bit frantic. "I don't know what to do, Emiko. I can't just leave him stranded at the airport, but I also don't want to go alone. What if it's a trap?"

Then, Takuma leaned in closer to the phone, offering reassurance. "I have an idea."

Within 5 minutes, Ranran's voice was the next to blare out of Takuma's phone, "Good, he is being cornered to the wall."

"Karma is so satisfying." Shinichi's voice followed by Ranran's.

"Anyway, what do you guys think I should do?!" Junko paced around the side of the street like a tiger trapped in a cage, leaving Michio to hold her smartphone with the speaker mode still on/

"Junko, be upfront and honest with me, do you want to help him?" Shinichi was the next to ask.

"I wouldn't, that is for certain!" Michio voiced out before Junko could over Emiko's smartphone. "That boy has proven to be a liar and a thief!"

"Same here," Emiko nodded while she and Takuma viewed the smartphones they placed on the table in the cafe they were both in. "I know it's too soon to judge, but hear me out. He rushed all the way to our association to request our help in hiding him away from his step-uncle, General Stefan. We offered to hide him at Ran's place, yet, he stole the money that Ran openly moved away from her bedroom where he was placed at that time to her Tousan's room. I don't know about you, but even if Ranran didn't set this trap with Ran, Landon had that intention to take anything that benefits him in keeping his privileges as a royal, which involved stealing for that matter."

"Also, don't get me wrong, I ain't being too emotional, but I had to bring this up." Michio then revealed, "Earlier when we were at the cab on the way to Mouri's place, when we were stuck in traffic, he was asking strange questions."

"Like what?" Takuma questioned.

"Relationships. Whether any of us is single or not." Michio replied, before adding, "I know that he is around the same age as me and Junko, but I felt a bit odd as to why he asked such a question, especially since he is on the run from his murderous uncle."

"It wouldn't be odd, I remember Ranran said just to make the girl he liked back then years ago jealous, he somehow wooed a girl from some noble family and got arranged to be engaged to check her reaction." Shinichi spat in disgust, "What a player."

Meanwhile, Ranran said nothing, but her expression seemed to realize certain things through Michio's words. Deciding not to utter a word, Ranran also pressed, "What else did Landon want from you, Junko?"

"He even said...I am the only one he trusts." She pressed her forehead into her hands. There were so many questions buzzing around in her brain she thought it was going to burst, "And I can't understand why he thinks so?"

After a while, Ranran laughed, "Ah I see, so that is what this is about."

Emiko, Takuma, and the others grew confused as Ranran laughed over the phone. 

The more Ranran laughed, the more annoyed Junko grew.

Finally, Junko had it with her laughter and confronted her, "What is so funny!?"

"Nothing, I just find this scenario the funniest it has ever been." 

Emiko, Takuma, and the others listened in with puzzled expressions as Ranran continued to find humour in the situation. They exchanged glances, unsure of what exactly Ranran was finding so amusing.

Junko's patience was wearing thin. She couldn't understand why Ranran was laughing at a time like this. "What is so funny!?" Junko demanded, her tone edged with frustration.

Ranran finally composed herself, realizing that her laughter might not be helping the situation. She spoke, her tone more serious. "I'm sorry, Junko. It's just that...I thought I would've not seen this joke in a long while. But to see it again years later, it was the best joke I ever heard in a long while."