There is a saying in Teitan Elementary school, set foot in Tantei Association is like a room filled with tonados.

Anything what one would expects it to be, common misconception is the association is a childish detective club who wants to be the next Mystery Inc, chasing after cases that not even the police are able to solve or handle, and it always ends with this iconic line 'I would've gotten away if it wasn't for those meddling kids' while being critizied for ruining the credibility of police officers of Japan.

But when the first nature of the case, 'Extinction Heist', was published on the noticeboard in their school, the kids who read this could feel that their skins could've fallen out of their bones. Even more so with their second major case, 'The Illegitimate Extra'.

Suddenly, the mentions of 'Police corruptions', 'unqualified cops running the department' and stuff like that, it changed the perception of association from the get go.

That was the same for the rest of the members, as they got word that The Snake, a vicious criminal who they were after since the events of Extinction Heist, had a daughter around Michio and Junko's age. It was a whirlwind shock.

For no one could've guessed even a criminal feared by many would use a child their age to go against them.

"Woah, say what now!?"Takuma jaw's dropped in horror, along with the rest of the members,"A daughter!?"

"Wait, The Snake has a daughter!?"it was Emiko's turn as she drops her jaw.

"You are joking, right!?"Ran shook her head in disbelief,"A daughter!?"

"No way! How.....!? I don't recall that the news even mentioning that he had a daughter!" Junko who was troubled by this piece of info, headed over to the box that contained the files of the criminals biography she created. After pulling out 'The Snake' file, she flipped the pages and triple checked his past, before confirming, "No, he wasn't even in a relationship with any female whatsoever."

"We found that confusing as well, which is why we later headed to the source that have been closest to The Snake, Watanabe Ikeda, to seek out answers." Shinichi heaved, having his head shaking

"Wait, Watanabe Ikeda!? You went to see the damn idiot who betrayed us!?" Ran became mad at that, before voicing out loud, "Why!?"

"Mouri Ran, keep your voice down! Or else!"

Once more, Shinichi slams the book out loud on his table, drawing her attention before she shut up. Ran truly hates this, before, although he voice out his opinions about what he likes in Sherlock Holmes and all of that, he never order her around. Ever since meeting Ranran, he has become more bold that she remembered.

Well, he always been bold in the past growing up. But he was grown bolder in a way, he didn't hesitate to bare his fangs.

"Ranran went there to ask him about his daughter, did you?" Emiko guessed.

"Since The Snake forced him to work for him for over a month before the case events took place, you think he might know a lot about his daughter, right?" Takuma snap his finger.

"You are right," Ranran grins before announcing their findings, "From his account, this girl is deviously aware of her father's shady business, and had experience duping boys her age. Including the fact that she had experience using a gun-"

"Wait! Gun!?" Heads turned to Junko in horror, "She owns a bloody gun!?"

Anger rose within Junko and then fear. The fact that dealing with someone as dangerous as Kudo Ranran was bad enough, now that they are dealing with someone like The Snake's daughter, who is not only clever and is around her age, but one who wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger and end their lives...oh no, that's enough for her. She needs to put her foot down.

"That does it! We need to contact Genzo!" Junko declared to the members with a serious tone, "It's one thing to deal with The Snake, but it's another, to deal with The Snake's daughter who has a gun-"

"Shinichi, pass her the book you read back in my house." Ranran ordered before Shinichi toss to Junko, which she grabbed in response in a startled expression.

Confused why the founder would do so, she opened the book while Ranran grimly ordered, "Page 3 and law number 41, read it out loud for everyone in the room."

As soon as the secretary's eyes spotted the number, she scanned the details and her eyes shot up. At first, the others wondered why Junko is acting conflicted. Only then, she reluctantly read it out loud for all ears to hear:

"Law number 41: The Penal Code of Japan provides that an act of a person under 14 years of age is not punishable by the law..."As her hand trembled while reading this, she lost grip of the book as it crash and landed flat on the table.

"So...what is Ranran trying to say?" Ran cautiously ventured, wondering why do Michio, Shinichi and Ranran looked rather gloomy at her words. Even Emiko was surprisingly pale.

"Well, that meant she can legally kill us all and get away with murder." Emiko drew in a deep, shaky breath, struggling to get out the words she was trying to speak. "Because of her age, she can also lie to others and say her dad made her do it."

"So what you are saying is-"

"You know where this is heading," The others waited anxiously for Ranran to continue after cutting Ran. "I think The Snake knew of this loophole, which is why he ordered his daughter to do it. Because she could get away with it. Even if he ends up in prison thanks to us, she can presumably take over his criminal empire."

Stunned silence fell over the table in the wake of the hushed, horrifying words. No one could find the strength to speak, trying desperately just to come to terms with what they'd just heard. It didn't seem that it could be possible.

But the truth is out there, a harsh truth.

"There are cases here that prove otherwise," Shinichi decided to take over the talk, with all seriousness, "There was this girl who murdered her classmate around her age. She only got sent to reformatory instead of prison, then released back into society."

"In the U.K, same situation. And they are still doing all sorts of crimes." Ranran said it with bitterness in her expression.

"No...no way." Ran blinked while shaking her head in denial, "This can't be!"

Even Emiko is at her worst, so were the others.

"I didn't inform all of you this not because I don't want all of you to tell Genzo, but rather, we need to accept the possibility that it won't make a difference. As long as that girl is around, the members of the association are in serious danger. Right now...no one is there to protect us." Ranran was massaging her face, feeling stress with what they are getting in.

Even Shinichi too was no different, as he later made another announcement while he got up and began to pace the room. "So earlier, Michio, Ranran and I lured her over at another restaurant, the little queen. I didn't want our Association to be messed around after that incident involving Extinction Heist, so we set up a rather dangerous trap. Let her think we are not under police protection, so when she informs The Snake to know what he's up to, he'll make a mistake, and that is when we trap them both." Shinichi explained.

"Just one question," Emiko raised her hand before retrenching, "Since the both of you contacted Watanabe, don't you worry he might tip The Snake off to gain benefits of his own?"

"He isn't in a position to do so this time," Ranran scoffed, before adding, "There is a reason why his daughter was not mentioned in the records of the police department, because The Snake wanted to keep her existence a secret from law enforcement according to Watanabe. Even him telling us all of this is a huge risk for him, it's inching him closer to death."

"Yeah, but what if he tries to make a deal with him by asking him not to kill him of that sort?" Ran refuted, "He made such deals before, there is no guarantee he won't keep his mouth shut."

"That the Snake might come after us if he knew that we knew," Junko grasped.

"Don't worry, I made sure his hands are tied," Ranran announced, before telling Shinichi to inform the details of their plan.

Of course, Ranran had prepared a back-up plan should Watanabe ever betray them by informing The Snake. In exchange for a place there, Botan's life will be her guarantor to ensure Watanabe Ikeda doesn't betray the children, or else he would be returning home to a deceased nephew.

Before letting Shinichi know that they should contact Watanabe Ikeda to inquire further about The Snake's daughter, she contacted Watanabe Botan and asked for one favor in particular.

"You want to use my life as pawn if uncle betray the both of you!?"

His voice could be heard shrilling over the phone, but Ranran couldn't care less. While hiding at the corner of the women's bathroom at the cafe Shinichi took her to calm her down, she explains why, "Not literally, but I need him to corporate to get some intel out of him. Of course, you would benefit from it."

Curious, he asked, "I benefit something? Like what?"

"A place in a prestigious school, Edgewood Academy back in the U.K. I am certain...you are no stranger to not knowing the existence of this school."

Edgewood Academy, the only noble prestigious school in existence unlike any other, students from noble to royal backgrounds mingle and receive the best education anyone could ask for in an early age. It was something Ranran knew Botan could not refuse, as she did her research that he was a Straight A student before his mother was arrested for robbery of that sort.

At first, she could hear him gasp. But then, it was followed with skepticism. "How does someone like you had connections to the school?"

"I have my ways."

Ranran shrugged. Truthfully, she was a student, and one influential figure she is in that school.

"That scholarship there requires one person who used to be a student, or still is a student to recommend a name to enroll in it. Which is me."

Truthfully, Botan knew the existence of Edgewood Academy in the U.K. A school that consist of children born into noble or royal families. Even so, the requirements is that one is born with those 1% rare intelligence, so even if one is born from such family, the school won't allow them to enter unless they can prove otherwise. And the expenses there ain't affordable, so even with scholarship, Botan doesn't see how this would benefit him.

In overall situation, he foresee this offer would cripple them further into debt.

As if she knew he was about to say that, she informed him, "Did you check the updated terms and condition for the scholarship?"

"Eh? Now that you mentioned it, no...wait, let me check on their site." As soon as Botan did on his phone, he was stunned with the attractive preposition on the scholarship requirements.

This time, the scholarship is offering one lucky student, all expenses paid in their accommodation, as their status changed to 'boarding school'. And judging the photos of the accommodation, although it may not look overly extravagant, the interior had that luxury aura vibe despite having to share with other students in the dorm. If Botan was even honest, self admittingly this was far better than his own bedroom.

One of the condition to apply for this scholarship program was...a backer.

"Judging your brains, I am certain you will thrive well in this environment. However, be warned that there will come a time people will ask about your....cocaine activities, and if you had what it takes to handle jealousy from other kids your age while studying, them mocking you about your background and all of that nonsense, including your family situation, I will recommend you under my name. There is also...interview you had to pass on a computer, and they will ask you about it. Whatever you say will determine your spot there. But I wouldn't suggest lying. Cause they will find out one way or another."

At first, there was long silence. Ranran's offer is very tempting even for Watanabe Botan. A school filled with luxury, let alone, serious in education is something he would do anything to break free from their family financial situation. Sure, she did mention to anticipate children from rich families giving him a hard time, but so what? If he can deal with dangerous individuals like drug lords for his age, those idiots meant nothing.

Don't expect them to leave their hands be free from his bites if they tried to be funny with him, he has no fear even if their parents are richer or powerful than him. After all, he dealt with such children from the slums before doing this part time job as a cocaine delivery boy. But then, it dawned on him as he has mix feelings over this proposal.

For starters, what if the terms lied?

He had heard stories of kids who were tempted with such offer, left everything behind to go overseas, only to never return when they learn there was loopholes that forces them out of this school and get jobs which adults exploited them 100 percent.

However, Ranran foresee this. "You can always contact Mr Alexandre, the school principal, if you find this worrying. He is a cool dude and a high rank individual. Should anything you find faulty, he has more to lose under his family name, since he is running a school that sets a good example worldwide. You can even negotiate additional terms if you do get the scholarship, but that depend on your capabilities."

And she meant it. Mr Alexandre, or Alex for short, was a very kind principal towards children of all ranks in Edgewood Academy. The last thing he would do is cheat anyone's money off.

Hearing this, Botan was astounded. A kid like him who had criminals in his background...be given the chance to study in such school? And to top it off, if he secured and succeed the interview, he can negotiate his own terms?!

Even so...."What about my parents? Who is going to look after them when I am away? And the medical bills...."

Ranran knew who he was referring to: His ill terminal stage parents...who is going to look after them if he was away? This cocaine smuggling activities began because of the medical bills and stuff. "In Edgewood, there are part-time jobs for children your age. Depending which one you get, you can send money over to them while studying. Of course, you need to secure a scholarship first before all of this."

And that workshop for kids doing such jobs began thanks to her mentor.

While he was still engaged to that 'murderer', he somehow managed to had his family establish this in school under the guise of school clubs. That way, kids can independently make money, but it is all under contracts and the top board of the school to approve it.

"Anyway, I don't think it would be easy for you to make this decision, since you are literally leaving everything behind. And to top it off, you need adult approval. But overall, if you want it-"

"How long this offer stands?"

And this point, she knew he had him hooked. "Within half an hour."

"Half-an what!? So short!?"

Of course, Ranran intentionally gave him a short time to figure out, since she is also desperate to get Watanabe Ikeda to talk. And she wasn't technically lying, since today is the last opening before the results are announced tomorrow.

So around 20 minutes later, he texted her and given her permission to use his life as bargaining chip to get his uncle to talk, in exchange for a place in Edgewood Academy.

And in case anyone is wondering, Watanabe Botan did succeed getting a scholarship.

So needless to say, it was a win situation for both sides. And Watanabe Ikeda had no choice but to agree, as soon as Ranran whispered the additional terms over the phone after Shinichi rushed over to the association to beat Michio up, Ikeda agreed. This is a man who will do anything for his nephew's future. If he was capable of betraying the association for his beloved childhood friends and family, then he is capable of honoring anything for Botan.

While she was thinking of all of this, Shinichi already set up the laptop that was earlier set up connected to the projector, while briefing their plans with the slides presentation. "So after speaking to Watanabe Ikeda, an unusual development in the case took place on the gallery. If all of you can look here," With the remote shooting out a red cursor, he pointed it at the recent status of the exhibition regarding the King of Ruby at Atsuko Gallery.

"The status reads, mind all of you, this was after the car accident on the inspector, it reads 'Due to 'unforeseen circumstances', the exhibition that is suppose to take place yesterday around 10-11pm had abruptly shut down, and it is postponed on this upcoming Friday. Since today it's Tuesday, that gives us 3 day window for anything to happen. This will be the day all of us must be on guard no matter what. We mustn't go anywhere alone, we mustn't take any risks."

"Wow," Takuma adjusted his cap while whistling, "The Snake must be scared as hell, now that he thinks we know who is responsible."

"This is honestly going to be the most nerve-wracking thing of our lives!" Ran groaned and so did Junko.

"Technically, it is going to be that for both sides." Michio corrected, before mentioning, "Whoever strikes first loses."

Suddenly, a text message arrived to Shinichi's smartphone, which he left on the table. Curious, he head over to his spot to take a look over who sent him, upon reading whatever it was on it, his eyes immediately flashed with shock, followed with anger.

"Shinichi, are you alright?" the words escape past Ran's lips in a breathy rush before she can think twice about it. She bites the inside of her cheek over her stupidity.

Shinichi turned to the sound of her voice as his eyes have flickered up to hers. But of course he doesn't want to speak to her. Not when his mood is this foul. Shinichi scoffs. "I am fine."

His words freezes as Ranran call the meeting off for a day.

While everyone packed their respective rondesu bag and leave as Shinichi headed to the window to speak to someone over the phone, Emiko approached towards where Ranran is sitting in front of the IPad Pro and then requested, "Ranran, can I take leave?"

"Eh? Leave?" She looked up to a distressed Emiko, "May I know why?"

"It's..."She couldn't tell her, about her school placement situation. Even so, times are desperate. "You remember what we spoke over the phone earlier? About the placement in that prestigious art school? Well..." After a long hesitation, she answers, "That 'friend' is me."

Ranran knew that, but she didn't need to let her know.

Any drama she watches that said 'My friend is in this or that situation, what would you in that situation' blah blah blah always points back to themselves whenever they ask for advice. But rather than let her know about it, she pretended to blink in surprise, "What?!"

"Yeah, well..."She scratches her head nervously, "I used to know the gallery owner before she sold it to the current one, she...helped me secured a spot in that prestigious school, after learning that my parents aren't supportive because of...the fact it ain't money making job. As you know...the gallery and that school had historical ties..."

"...yeah, that I am aware." Ranran knew this because of the investigation report she did as The Fox.

"But when you said those things...I had reason to worry-"

"Go." Ranran ordered abruptly.

"Eh?!"

"Go," Ranran nodded to her as if she understood her predicament, crossing both her hands as she addresses, "Education is important, but it's pointless if you are not happy, let alone, takes you to your dream that makes you happy."

Emiko was perplexed about what just happened.

Before, they were rumors that Ranran was a tyrant in her previous school who make others overwork for her, since she dread doing anything that isn't to her liking. Homework was one of them, where rumours said she pay someone to do her homework. Mostly the source came from that Mamiko girl, but upon this interaction, Emiko is starting to realize that may not be the case. Or is it?

In disbelief, she decided to test her further, "What about the case?"

"What about it?" Ranran gave a quizzical look.

"Do you not need me? In case-"

"No need, even without Shinichi with me I can handle it on my own." She dismisses her thoughts.

And that is the truth, for Ranran had been doing this solo for over a year before Tantei Association. Even during the days of Fox and Deer, a little online revenge detective agency for Edgewood Academy when she was apprentice, she did it mostly on her own accord when her mentor couldn't be contacted due to piano lessons he was forced to do thanks to his controlling mother.

"Do what you need to do with your future, no matter what. That is more important than this case." She told her.

And from the words of the founder, it sounded very genuine. And Emiko who had run this intel business for 3 years in school was experience enough to know when one is lying and one isn't, those words she said...were the genuine feelings of a leader concern over a subordinate.

After Emiko thanked her upon bowing, she left the association in a haste before heading over to the prestigious school to check whether she can cancel her scholarship there while pondering of those rumors about Ranran.

They said Kudo Ranran is a spoiled bratty little girl born into riches, that she is far worst than Suzuki Sonoko. Emiko had heard all sorts of rumours about her. And yet, she was considerately thinking about Emiko's education and welfare, rather than worry that she would be understaff thanks to the current case they are working on.

Is she being genuine? Or is she lying? Even Emiko herself can't put a proper word to describe her.

Psychopathy, lunatic, and manipulative. Those were the words commonly used to describe Kudo Ranran from the moment she set foot in the pakour event held by their school years ago. Which of this is the real Kudo Ranran?

While all of this was going on as Emiko pondered in her mind, Ranran and Shinichi were left alone in the association.

Observing Shinichi pacing around while talking over his smartphone to where she was sitting, Ranran knew her little schemes are building up one after another.

She then gave a good look at the pot of plant on another table not far from her, with colorful Begonias in it. This was brought in by Takuma, since Reina his girlfriend gifted it to him to give the place some sort of life within both association, at school and in here. The plant has been sitting there since the start of their third case, it was a gift from the beautification club in their school as they had too many plants in their place, so they had to make way for the other.

But no one except Ranran knew of one little secret no one knew about.

And she is going to use this secret as a weapon, one against Mamiko, by using Shinichi. Which should arrive anytime now.

"Alright, it's time for me to head home." Ranran spoke to no one in particular, as she was about to pick up her rondesu bag and head towards the door.

"Ranran."

"Hmm?" She turned back, as expected, he took the bait.

"We need to talk."

His head and eyes remain downcast but she can see the tension in his shoulders, the muscles in his arms flexing as he clenches his fists. Ranran who stood from where she sat could only do nothing but stare in silence.

Right now, it's time to adopt the mantle of a traitor.

His shoulders straightened. "About the stakeout last night-"

Ranran's red lips twisted. "Wasn't it Takuma's phone call through me that ruin it?"

"No, the one before that," He shook his head. "I tripled checked everyone's phone on silent mode before the stakeout. I then recalled you are overly familiar with Tak-san's phone, that you were able to prank him one time with a ringtone despite having muted it."

"So are you suggesting I intentionally sabotaged your stakeout last night?"

Shinichi frowned at the mildness of her tone, as if his hard-work as a detectuve wasn't appreciated. "It ain't like you to just simply hand over such a huge operation onto someone who is inexperience, am I wrong?"

Shinichi didn't want to believe that his mentor is capable of sabotaging one's attempt. However, he realize he barely knew a thing about Ranran personally at all. Aside of the fact what status she has within their family, the rest was a blur.

That's right, even her morals...he doesn't know where she stands.

If it were the old him, it was easier to distinguish who is the hero and who is the villains like the anime shows he watched on tv at the age of 3 while his family were away. Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were his real friends, the three boys he was seen hanging out with during kindergarten era were his 'friends' only in the eyes of his family to prevent them from setting him up with a play date, out of fear he can never befriend someone in real life. And above all, Kudo Ranran is a evil girl.

But then she seemingly uses an UNO reverse card and make things far more complicated that he could've anticipated.

Suddenly, what he once assumed that the world is simply black and white...was merely grey all over. Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were not really supportive of his dream, Ran is easily jealous over every petty thing he does with Ranran, and Ranran is....what is she?

Noting his perplexed look about her, Ranran decided it's about time the plan to pry the puppet out of Mamiko begins now. Starting with, "Yes, it was intentional."

And her self-admission was enough to see her apprentice's face fall, gasping.

There is no venom in her words for once. Still, the truth she spoke remain bitter to him.

There was a long paused from the little boy as he considered how to respond. Anyone observing this interaction, let alone, know of their bad blood history would think Ranran is a heartless little girl, who trampled on his sincerity to put aside their differences for the greater good.

And it was evident that was how Shinichi is rightfully feeling so, no, in Ranran's opinion, upset seemed like an understatement for the anger he felt. The pain of the betrayal. Cause that meant Mamiko is right that Ranran never trusted him on becoming a detective in his own right.

Before he could ask why she did what she did, Ranran jumped to it with her same rational and collected self, the same personality that shone that night when he broke into her place, "Or else, would you not continue to think that whatever I said is not the truth, but anything Mamiko said about me is?"

The question she confronts with made his lips open and shut like a gold-fish, wanting to argue, but at the same time, was caught off guard. Since when did she-

Her words honestly caught him off guard. His head and eyes remain downcast but she can see the amount of anger he had to suppress. Finally, it came to blows. "I never should have trusted you." Shinichi spits out, the words leaving his mouth before he can truly think about them. He can see Ranran's expression change for a second, instead of hurt, all he sees were...a posture of thinking?

Unbeknownst to Shinichi, she was recalling the details of the biography in that projector about her supposed life in the future. The words he mentioned earlier were in it, except that 'Ranran' in the book cried.

Why? Because he blindly sided with Mouri Ran when she wrongly accused her of allegedly pushing her down the stairs, when in reality, Mamiko was the one behind it. She intentionally pull the strings to ensure she had Ranran under her control, to paint herself as a self-respecting head student council who believe in second chances, and that she could reform Ranran. Under his prejudice thanks to Mamiko's influence that Ranran is someone who is the product of his father's affair, one that threatens to steal the affection and love in the Kudo family, he never believed a word she said.

The sad reality while all of this is going on, was the 'Ranran' in the book, she was also dealing with her own trauma, the same one she fortunately avoided back in her old school, which is why she ended up doing all the horrible things to Shinichi and the rest of them. A true recipe for a disaster story.

Looking back even now, she now thinks Shinichi is probably no different than Mouri Ran when it comes to being biased against certain people. The first time when Ranran learn of this at the age of 4 was a justifiable meltdown, before swearing to not get involved with those morons who blindly listen to the words of the she-devil. She swore to herself to be a better detective than Shinichi, so in case they became unreasonable towards her, she will flip the table right back at them.

Now, let's see after a month of becoming her apprentice, how much has he learned?

Going back to her icy demeanor, she confronted him with her scripted words she had in her head for days. She laughs, and the sound of it grates against his nerves. It rough and humorless, sounding more like stuttered sigh. It has no traces of a joke. It sounds like a bottomless pain. "I am glad it is mutual, since I too can't trust you after seeing you hanging out with that two face girl."

"W— Wha— ?" Shinichi's face twists in both confusion, and guilt.

Two faced girl!? Is she...referring to Mamiko!? That meant....she saw them together!?

Before Shinichi could process everything, to his surprise, a book appeared before him as Ranran wave it in front of his face for attention.

After he does, she stopped before he subconsciously tried to make out the titled over what book she is holding. To his surprise, it was one of the books Ranran was seen reading the other day in the living room of her house. The one with the odd title.

By all appearances, it shows the word 'Art' in Japanese on the cover.

First glance, the color of smoke could be seen exploding behind the title 'Art', leading him to think the book content must be about tutorials on illustrating pictures of all kinds-

Wait, since when Ranran is into art? The only one who is into that sort of thing is Emiko.

Confused, Ranran ordered her apprentice, "Return this book for me, the deadline I am supposed to return it is today." Before Shinichi was about to blow up over why should he thanks to her supposed betrayal, she answered firmly but in a cold tone, "As soon as you do, you will get your answers to why I did all of this."

"Wha-"

At first, Shinichi was outraged. Is she for real!? She just betrayed him by sabotaging his stakeout, and now she expected him to just return a book she owed their school library!? What time is it already by the way!?

His head turned to the clock in their association hanging on the wall, 6:30pm, and the school is shutting down by 7pm! If it was the old him, he wouldn't even bother! Why should he do her job!?

But then he observed Ranran's expression, who immediately say, "If you don't do it, I can always do it myself. However, I warn you by not doing so, this would eventually become your biggest defect as a detective."

And the founder of the association wasn't joking about her words.

Even now, he still has no idea this was a trap intentionally set up by Mamiko to drift their trust apart. When she saw that little girl's bike parked near the lamp-post not far from where she is standing the other day with the boys from the alley at the gallery, she recognized it immediately who it belonged to. She had Reina's paperwork to backup who it was.

But Mamiko made one mistake: Ranran had no issues with Shinichi leaving her.

When Ranran staged that she and Shinichi were casually dating, she didn't just do it just to stir suspicion that they were working on the Extinction Heist case, no, she did it to ensure Mamiko knows about it. Ranran had Takuma intentionally spread these rumours, reaching to the head of the journalism club's ear in order for her to take in the detective girl's bait.

When the rumours spread across the school, she knew the first thing Mamiko was going to do was publish news articles in their school about their relationship. However, Ranran's friend Reina being in charge of the student head council put a stop before anything could happen, enforcing all sorts of ridiculous rules to ensure if she does, the punishment from the teachers and principal is bound to be awful. Plus, having Reina's rules constantly plague Mamiko, she knew it would be a matter of time before she was so desperate to hurt Ranran, she will end up making a mistake.

All of this scheming obviously later drove Mamiko to come up with this idea, it was an opportunity to ruin Ranran's heart. When in reality: It was also opening the gates of hell, inching her plans to drag Mamiko's so-called reputation into the gutters.

Mamiko probably told him to test how selfish she is, and while Ranran admits she is one and had no plans on hiding this from him, she was obviously not going to let Mamiko get away with this. Considering all their future plans she intended to use the 'biography Ranran' into making her reputation look as faultless as a saint, a future schemer like Ranran will let her know who is the ultimate Queen of manipulators.

Therefore, as soon as that idiot took the bait, she knew Mamiko was going to try and take a video or photo about this 'feud' Mamiko plans to trigger between mentor and apprentice, before trying to find a loophole to publish this.

By loophole, Ranran found it within minutes.

The reason Ranran knew this is when she snuck into Mamiko's office with the spare keys she cloned from Reina, she studied her methods as to how this brute had been obtaining intel.

From what Ranran gathered, the friendships and relationships she had broke, even the ones back in kindergarten were so sickening in nature, that by the time Ranran put them together into a video format, Takuma actually had his mountain dew drink burst out of his mouth and nose while he was drinking this midway listening to her words while Reina rushed to the toilet and puke her lunch.

Seriously, Ranran was expecting disturbing behaviour from that girl, but who knew for a future con woman/sociopath, the things she did really put all of the bullies within their school to shame. No wonder Shinichi in the biography never notice any of this, let alone, Reina's mother didn't believe her or her victimised cousin in the biography because that is what a truly manipulative girl Mamiko was.

Anyway, Ranran giving Shinichi the chance to take over this stakeout is part of the plan to sow discord between Mamiko and Shinichi once and for all. If he finds the clues she laid out for him, everything will go exactly the way Ranran does it.

And by the time Mamiko looked back, she has no idea what is in store for her.

"It's up to you, you don't have to take the book from my hands," Ranran waved the book as if it was Shinichi's lifeline, while his eyes followed with all seriousness. "But there are things you are not completely aware about what goes on in school. And not receiving the hand that offers you the keys to the door...would eventually be a huge waste to your tantei career. Also, we have 3 days including today to spare."

"You-"

"So, what will it be? Return the book for me? Or walk away with your pride, but at the cost of everything?"

From the way she sounded, anyone could've mistaken it as a threat.

But for Kudo Shinichi who worked with her for over a month, there is something in her tone that sounded...commanding, like a teacher guiding a misguided student, asking if their student's answer is truly in the right?

Shinichi knew he had a big decision to make, either turn away and keep his pride intact to face the unknown, or continue working as her apprentice and see 'The truth' Ranran has in store?

Towards the end, the decision he made brought changes to Shinichi in a way he never could've imagined.