When The Snake sleeps, he rather does so where no one wakes him up.

Especially at around 10 pm, since he had plans for meeting at around 8 am tomorrow with his fellow deputies. But then his plans for a deep sleep fell short when his smartphone placed on his bedside began to shrill. In most cases, unreasonable gangsters in his shoes would head over to the caller and fire shots with a gun for waking him up, the caller is fortunate that it was The Snake he was calling.

Usually, in the criminal world, unexpected problems would arise at the most unpredictable moment. Giving the people in charge his phone number was a decision he never regret since their calls often save his criminal empire from crumbling to the ground.

With a sleepy hand, he reached for the smartphone.

Adeline meanwhile was up in her bedroom online chatting with someone else on the computer, an anonymous friend while typing with rapid speed on the keyboard. Adeline is under the username Formergirlnextdoor, while her friend is only known as 'D'. From what Adeline knows, the person behind 'D' is a 10-year-old boy from the U.K, and they have been friends for 2 years.

What do you think of the story I told you? The one that my date told me about recently? ~ Formergirlnextdoor

I mean when you first told me about it, I swear my head was spinning. And seriously? Are the kids he mentioned even 1st graders? Why all the unnecessary love triangle drama? ~D

Shortly after her first and second date with Michio, she shared the story of what Michio revealed, mainly the love drama involving the Kudo children, as well as Ran and Sonoko.

But it was fortunate that since Michio felt like he didn't know her well enough to be trusted, he changed the details of the story. Allegedly claiming that this little boy he was babysitting broke things off with his two friends when he was fed up with their mistreatment and the mockery of his dream as a police officer. When he began to grow close to a beautiful and extraordinarily talented girl his age who support his dream, that is when the harassment began.

The thing that set off Adeline's alarm bells was that the beautiful girl didn't have romance in her brain unlike the other two and that she was subjected to being falsely accused as a home-wrecker by the two, even though the unfortunate boy had no official relationship with one of them.

I know, right? I mean a smart little girl who had no romance in her head, being harassed by such idiots? All because she encouraged him to follow his dream and severe ties with them if they discourage and gaslight him not to...man, I don't know about you, but those girls need to check themselves in the mental hospital. ~ Formergirlnextdoor

As much as Adeline is self-admittingly the daughter of a criminal who duped boys, there are certain morals she thinks one should not cross. Mainly the harassment of a little girl who uses her brain far more than chase after romance, if she knew who this person is in real life, she will teach those girls a lesson. After all, girls like them are close to becoming extinct, and Adeline thinks society needs more of such girls like herself.

Secretly Adeline does not have a desire for romance, no, not one bit. To her, it is a luxury she can never afford since The Snake is her dad. She uses her brain most of the time, and usually she had such conversations with 'D' more than the boys in her school, mostly because they fall for her beauty at first sight. The best part of all of this is 'D' knew about her father vaguely as a criminal, but never judged her. And above all, he had no idea what she looks like, so they often had honest conversations like this one.

I also think you should tell your date that both of their parents should be neutered. We are lacking more little girls like her because of those two idiots. Let alone, more intelligent adults are falling for idiots, breeding more idiot children in the process to torment the smarter ones. ~ D

Once more, Adeline chuckled in response to 'D's words. Whenever she tried to have such conversations here in one of the private schools she attended with girls her age, it always earned her odd looks. In her old school back in her hometown, these conversations were common.

But then, 'that incident' forced her to leave everything behind.

Speaking of smart little girls, Adeline can't help but wonder if 'she' is ok?

The last time she saw her years ago, Adeline promised to see her again. But then the fire changed everything and later she realized this would be the last time she sees 'her' ever again.

Looking back, if 'she' had assumed Adeline abandoned her, 'she' probably be resentful. Perhaps this is for the best, even if they meet again, 'that girl' will never be able to recognize her, now that her face is no longer the same one imprinted in her mind.

Also, imagine if 'she' finds out what Adeline has become...'she' will be devastated. And Adeline doesn't want that, despite being the daughter of a criminal.

A moment later, Adeline was startled by the angry screams coming from the same floor, which made her stop what she was doing before rushing out of the bedroom to reveal a vast, ornately furnished hallway in the mansion they lived in. Wide awake, The Snake was dressed in a silk dressing gown embroidered with colourful snakes as he thundered down the hallway, his reptile-skin mask wrinkled with rage while marching in front of his daughter's bedroom.

To anyone, it may seem odd that a father would be wearing a mask in the middle of the night, let alone, in their own house of all places. Then again, she had never seen her father's face growing up. Even as he slept, the mask remained on his head, and then ask why, he claim he had a skin medical condition that can't go without a mask.

"Father, what has gotten into you? Did someone screw up at work again?"She asked, trying to calm him.

For Adeline, The Snake having such episodes was rare but she was used to it, as he was in fact a very intelligent leader who appointed intelligent criminals at his disposal. "Adeline? Why are you still awake? Aren't you supposed to go to school tomorrow?"

"I am chatting with my online friend to double check on my art homework for tomorrow, I needed his opinions," And that was not a complete lie. 'D' is usually the friend she relies on when it came to one subject: Art.

One time, when she drew a picture of her father 2 years ago as it was a school assignment since she has never once seen his face, the father suggested she submit an Anthropomorphic snake since he refused to remove his mask with claims that his enemies would come after she should she knows. Since the school she studied here was notified about her dad's medical condition, the teacher agreed to let her draw just that.

Stump of ideas, she had the intention of using an A.I software to type out the prompt before submitting the picture as her homework assignment. However, 'D' warned her that there are people nowadays who developed A.I programs that could detect it were derived from the computer. If the teacher uses this, it wouldn't do good for her.

The following day, initially the teacher was impressed when she received this:

But then Adeline mentioned this artwork is submitted as an inspiration of reference and proceeded to produce her real work:

"Fools, fools, I'm surrounded by fools!" Her father's cries burst Adeline's memories over how much she loathed art, "That little prick did it again!"

"Prick? Who are you referring to?"Adeline tilted her head in confusion, trying to process who is it this time that is pissing her dad off. Was it those underlings again?

"Those little pricks who been interfering with our plans! Tantei association!"

Recognising the name, she laughed, "Ah, those wannabe detectives, huh?" She then arched an eyebrow."Let me guess, did they burst one of the tires of your car again?"

During the events of the extension heist case, Adeline was in the loop when she got word one of the children was revealed to have burst one of her dad's cars he lend to one of his henchmen, and it was an expensive costly damage. Her dad was so pissed off by this incident, she recalled he had those men killed when he learned one of their mistakes resulted in one of the association members sabotaging their car.

The snake swung round and cursed scornfully, "Oh you have no freaking idea!" he yelled. "They not only have managed to steal the Rajah's Ruby, one of them flew off with one of my airplanes as well!"

Adeline leapt up, her face torn with horror "Eh?! Wait, I am sorry: Flew off?! With one of your airplanes?! A child?! Stealing a plane? You mean a man hijacked it, right?" She was certain she was hearing things that didn't make sense. How can a child learn to fly an aeroplane? That is ludicrous!

"Although it is possible for them to steal a ruby, but steal and fly an aeroplane?!"She said in disbelief, "You do know they are too young to fly, let alone, operate one, right?" she gasped, still not digesting the fact that a child was able to fly a plane.

"Well somehow, one of them was actually able to do so! And they've got that German police inspector with them!" her father howled."All my plans are ruined. And thanks to one idiot who left the key behind!"The snake picked up an antique porcelain vase covered with pictures of coiled snakes and hurled it onto the marble floor It shattered into tiny pieces."They will pay for this! They will wish they had never been born, especially that damn Majima Michio!"

Adeline stared fearfully at her father. She had seen him fly into rages before, but never like this. She knew he was capable of any violence at times, and she secretly prayed that he would never turn against her on occasion. Living with him was like living on top of a volcano.

Still....her father's words still bother her.

A child their age stealing the ruby is something she knew was possible, but to fly a freaking aeroplane up into the sky?! How is that even possible? Not even Adeline herself is able to fly a freaking plane of all things! There are laws that make things difficult for underage children to be able to fly in the first place!

The more she thought of it, the more she thinks about her suspicions about the identity of the true founder behind Tantei association. a wannabe Tantei club run by silly little children wanting to play cops and robbers. That first impression Adeline initially had, fell into the drain just like that.

For a child to be able to learn how to operate an aircraft...wait, could it be...that this child used to study under Edgewood Academy?!

It did occur such a thought since she was a former student there herself.

When the announcement of an aviation club was made within the school, the 8-year-old at that time recalled all of her classmates were very thrilled with the prospect of flying an actual aeroplane. Sadly before that could happen for her, 'that incident' forced her to leave the school she held dear. And she remembered Edgewood was the only school that had the connections to pull this off.

That meant in other words, one of the members within the association is formerly an Edgewood Academy student.

It also means the child they are dealing with is unusually intelligent, beyond average, since Edgewood itself had strict regulations on enrolling students who perform below average, regardless of their family status. And it confirmed her suspicions that the real identity of the founder could never be Majima Michio. From their interaction throughout their two dates, he did not have the capability to learn how to fly one, even more so given that he worked his whole life as a part-time babysitter, adding to the fact that he was raised by a single mother.

No, Adeline could tell the real founder can never be the type to have his or her nose into every single criminal activity and go vigilante recklessly. If that were truly the case, one wouldn't even have the confidence to hijack her father's plane. Even if there is a possibility that one could use connections here to learn how to fly despite being underage, Michio's family wasn't what you would say influential enough to have such lessons.

So who is it Adeline wonders. Who is the true opponent she and her father going up against?

If she recalled correctly, Michio was kicked out and all of the victims were all girls, not boys. Maybe she should question her father's men and ask for their names. Now she is more certain than ever that the founder is not a boy, but a girl. But a devious little girl not to be underestimated.

Suddenly her smartphone rang from her bedroom as soon as her father stormed off to deal with the mess. Rushing back into her bedroom to answer, her face twisted into a venomous smile. "Why Michio..." she breathed huskily "What a pleasant surprise.."

....

"Why are we to write down whatever Michio reads to tell him what to say?"

Junko questioned as she observed the apprentice positioning himself opposite Michio in their seating arrangement. Takuma is sitting next to Junko feeling puzzled by Shinichi's decision while Michio awaits for The Snake's daughter to pick up the call, with his smartphone pressed to his right ear.

"Right now, that girl believes Michio is still the founder of the association. If she finds out Ranran is the true founder, The Snake and his daughter are obviously going to target her, and I can't afford that." Shinichi responded in a gruff, tensions are rather high at this point, "Writing it down and directing him what to say silently would give her the impression that Michio had the capability, and he did agree when we signed for a room in our school at that time to do it."

"Yeah, but Michio can't be the association's shield for life! It would be a matter of time before she finds out Ranran is the one." Junko pointed out.

"As much as I don't agree with her all the time, I agreed that this sort of thing can't be hidden from them forever. Don't get me wrong, but Michio is...Michio for a reason." The capped boy frowned, wondering if Shinichi's plan would go smoothly.

Being watched by the three children, Michio gripped his phone so fiercely that his knuckles turned white. Finally, the phone picked up. With Michio setting the smartphone to speakerphone, the members listen to her words for the first time. "Why Michio..." she breathed huskily "What a nice surprise.."

And Junko never felt the rising urge to kill this prick.

Junko seriously resent these types of girls, the one that played innocent but secretly is rotten to the core. She encountered them every single day whenever one of them tried to approach Michio, and out of all the girls she had ranked her level of hate, this one definitely dethrones all of them in combination.

She was this close to yelling at her, till Takuma grabbed her wrist and gave her a warning glare. Once more, she stopped.

With Shinichi raising the whiteboard to Michio's direction, he reads Shinichi's writing that directed him to confront the girl, "Adeline, I don't want to play games anymore, but tell me what did your father do with the rest of the girls?" he demanded.

"Girls?" Adeline's voice purred, and the urge to slap her rose in Junko's head, "Michie, what are you talking about? I thought you are calling me because of our third date."

Even Takuma was pissed as hell, given that the way she downplayed this reminded him of his opportunistic ex-girlfriend. The same was evident in Shinichi's expression since she reminded him of Mamiko who manipulated him behind his back. But he reminded himself to remain as calm as his mentor.

Erasing the words, he then showed Michio on the board that he should confront her, not beat around the bush.

"Adeline, enough talk! I know you're The Snake's daughter, and you were merely using me, since the beginning of my first date!" he challenged her. "Especially the attempted kidnapping, how cowardly could your father be to have targeted us while we were grabbing a fake cab!? Do you have no shame!?"

"Shame? What is that? At least I am better at hiding it like a classy lady, unlike someone like you. Boys like you...you would be sent to the slaughterhouse by girls like us, "She laughed harshly while his fist trembled, and so did Shinichi who was hearing this, "You really do have such a fantastic imagination. I think that's why I like you the first time we met: Too innocent to understand the realities of life. Like that little wife who is with you all the time, that Junko girl."

Ok, this is where Junko decided that idiot girl cross the line.

Again, Takuma makes a quick grab of the wrist, reminding her not to ruin the operation.

Shinichi hastily wrote out his thoughts, with a quick read, Michio responded, "If you are not as cowardly as your father, tell him this, " Michio tried to calm himself down, a thing he was forced to practice by Shinichi while interacting with the little girl from hell to led her to believe he had everything in control, "A deal with your father, let him know...we have something he wants more than anything in the world. In exchange for the lives of our fellow members, otherwise, kiss that thing goodbye."

Takuma and Junko gasped in low volume at Shinichi, wondering what he had of value that The Snake would want. As far as they had attended the meetings, they barely had anything!

"Aww Michie, I wish I knew what you were talking about," Adeline taunted him before Shinichi noted there was a tiny gasp in the background coming from her. Is there something The Snake genuinely wants but couldn't obtain with his own hands? "But since I am desiring another meeting with you...since I felt like you are such a cute little idiot, why not we meet again in the middle of the night?"She giggled. "Especially outside Atsuko Gallery...you and me? Within an hour's time?"

With Shinichi giving Michio the thumbs up, he quickly agreed and cut the call.

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

Adeline set down her smartphone before rushing out to call her father, thundering the hallways as she rushed downstairs to her father, who was sitting on the sofa having just hung up from talking to one of the criminals, "Father, good news! While it seems as though that Michio wasn't that much of an idiot to realized that I am your daughter, it seems like those idiots had no idea their friends have escaped," she explained.

"As I thought, I was right to suspect that boy was merely pretending to be an idiot! Who knew he was devious and manipulative!" The Snake figures.

"Anyway, he wants to see me now at the gallery. This is your chance. As soon as we capture him, we can hold him hostage for the ruby!"

"You really are your father's daughter," The Snake told her proudly before petting her hair with affection, "Indeed you are..." He then strode to the door. "I'll get some men to come with us to ensure everything will not go accordingly to that boy's plan. It's about time that his luck comes to an end!"

While The Snake left his daughter of his own in excitement, her expression switches from happy to suspicious.

The boy I spoke to over the phone, and the one I spoke with while we were on a date...is that really Majima Michio?

When she was talking to Michio over the phone, she recognizes that it was definitely him, she can't feel but think there is something going on behind the scenes when Michio was interacting with her. The Michio she met when she was in character was very shy when it comes to beautiful girls, and he was by far decent, honest to a fault. A boy that she is certain any girl who ends up with him would be more than happy to bring over to her parents, and they would be proud if he ever marry their daughter.

Compared to all of the boys Adeline had duped, he was someone who left her that deep impression to be a thoughtful boy who put others before himself. During their first date, when she intentionally told Michio she wanted to order the most expensive meal, he didn't stop her despite knowing it may break his savings. Fortunately, she later changed her mind on purposed and picked the cheapest meal.

When the aircon grew cold while blowing onto Adeline, he actually headed to the manager and requested to increase the temperature. And even when she offered to pay for half of the meal, he refused and paid for both. No matter how she looks at it, if she were not The Snake's daughter, she would've snagged him in an instant. The previous boys The Snake ordered her to fool lacked such consideration and treated her as if she was some trophy wife.

So it was surprising to hear a furious Michio over the phone, even more so when he revealed he longed knew that she was his daughter. Though she didn't carry any feelings for him, she felt like Michio over the phone sounded angry, but at the same time: a little off.

She ain't sure how to put this, but it felt like someone is making Michio say those things. As much as she was able to detect anger when she intentionally taunted him, she realizes something.

During the case involving the white tiger, when her father told her someone cut the tires of his car when his henchmen attempted to break into the association, she checked on the car personally. And it wasn't just one cut, but several as if it was deliberated to ensure that every single air leaves the tire flat.

If a child is aware that the car belonged to a bad guy, one wouldn't be too sure how long they are to return while one sabotaged them, they get agitated when time is running out. And Michio on the phone sounded that way, fair enough. But the person who cut the tire...it was a very clean cut despite those circumstances against them. As if the kid is used to dealing with stressful circumstances.

Running an association involving the investigation of cases of dark nature...it takes a lot of courage to deal with the cruel nature of adults, even more so dealing with 6 additional children of various personalities. If a founder is to run the association successfully, one must be level-headed despite the odds against them.

Adeline may not have studied psychology, but it was thanks to this reasoning, that it gave her doubts that Michio had the capabilities as a true founder would. Someone within the association is trying to make it as if Michio is the founder, and that must be none other than one of the girls who hijacked the plane.

Whoever this girl is...Adeline must get to the bottom of it. It seems like she cannot be underestimated.

.....

Takuma and Junko remained baffled, then Junko questioned the apprentice, "Kudo, what do you have that The Snake might want?"

"Nothing, it's just a lie to lure them over," Eyes glowing with a steely determination while the rest were a little appalled that the interim founder had just lied to the criminal's daughter with empty promises, Shinichi announced, "So here is the plan, at the gallery outside the same bus-stop, Michio will sit there alone. Meanwhile, Takuma and Junko will remain on standby around the alleyway where I last do the stakeout. When the idiot girl shows up, you both pounce her from the back and snatch her gun."

"Wait, just out of concern, what if we can't find her gun?" Junko raised her hand with a pause, "Don't get me wrong, but did you all not watch movies where some people wrestled over the gun? Someone always dies regardless."

"I knew you would say that, that's why I brought in the big guns," With a sly smile, he told them to wait as he left the HQ and to the storage room, which was to the right of the hallway, only to return with a box and placed it on the table.

With everyone gathering around the box, Shinichi took out to reveal guns being set on the table.

"Kudo...is that...a real gun!?" Michio was horrified, pale even.

Don't get him wrong, he was no stranger to seeing guns since Genzo always had one with him, but to see that cold hard weapon on their table was...extreme. Even Takuma and Junko were overwhelmed by what they are looking at.

"Kudo, I know that girl is hateful. And she deserves the worst that is coming towards her, but to use a real gun...are you serious!?" And for a moment, Takuma had assumed Shinichi had skipped the outrageous gene pool of using out-of-the-box ideas to tackle enemies within the Kudo family while his friend, Ranran, did not. How wrong he was, so damn wrong.

"Where did you even get all of these weapons!? I mean sure...oh lord!" Junko then realizes where Shinichi probably got it from, "Please don't tell me Ranran actually accepted 'his' payment from jail!?"

Not long ago, the association were told that they received the intel on Adeline from Watanabe Ikeda, the old jailbird who escaped from prison thanks to The Snake to smuggle out a white tiger. The same man betrayed their HQ in the name of profit due to personal circumstances. In exchange for sending his formerly drug smuggler nephew, Botan, to Edgewood Academy, and being eternally grateful, he worked hard in prison and managed to earn enough money there, then paid someone anonymously to buy a couple of guns in the underground market, and had it shipped it to their HQ.

When Ranran first received it, she was happy. The same couldn't be said for Shinichi however since the flashback of Ranran having tortured him with a gun remained a nightmarish dream for him.

So he did the only thing logical which was to hide the box somewhere not even Ranran could find it, to prevent her from misusing the gun on anyone who crosses her. He did consider reporting to the authorities, but then Ikeda's letter that came attached to the box sounded genuinely apologetic for the betrayal.

Especially at that time, she commented on hating Ran and Sonoko and considered burying them alive, then putting a bullet to both of their heads with a cold expression. Back then, Shinichi assumed the reason she said it is because she had it with their lunatic brains, but then after learning of what happened in the U.K., he could only feel nothing but sympathy for the poor noble girl as in some way, their sufferings are relatable since they come from the same people.

Now that things had come to this, he knew this was a necessity. "The other day, did you all wonder why I had us gather that one time to go for shooting lessons? This is why, so choose your weapon wisely, cause if she thinks she can get away with it, she is badly mistaken!"

With a huff, he took the Desert Eagle gun and ensured the bullets were filled, including triple-checking the safety pin. After the 'illegitimate Extra' case where he witnesses his mentor having experience handling a gun, he initially begs his father for a week to give him lessons as to how to handle one. When he refused since he is a child, he went all out.

Having contacted Ohta Bunko, the current fiance of Namba Katsumi/ Seto Benjiro from their 2nd major case, 'The illegitimate Extra', who is now currently working under his half-brother's movie company until Namba finishes serving his sentence, she taught all 7 of them how to handle a gun through another friend who owns a private gun shooting range. If it wasn't for his mentor to teach him how to utilize their client's abilities, he wouldn't have thought this far ahead.

Reluctantly, Michio chose a small revolver, while Takuma picked a Pistol. Junko was the last one to pick since she was honestly scared of holding a weapon that can potentially end the life of a person. And she doesn't want that.

Junko could recall the last time she witness Ranran hold a gun directly pointing at a murderess during the second case, with eyes so cold and ruthless, she can't help but wonder what does it take to become Kudo Ranran, to have this much bravery to hold a gun with confidence, let alone, fire the trigger without feeling bad that the person could've been wounded by the piercing bullet, let alone, die before her.

But then she thought of Adeline mocking Michio and taking the lives of the others for granted, it makes her tempers flare at that. Rich girls like her, especially one who has a corrupted father like The Snake...Junko will make her pay!

With the determination that she deserves the worst to happen to her, she used a long barrel magnum, much to Michio and the rest of the boys' horror. Shinichi wasn't stupid, he knew why she specifically picked this gun on purpose. Judging the size of the bullet is slightly longer than the rest of them, he guessed, "Are you choosing this to aim at her face?"

"I want to do far worst things than ruining her face to seduce other boys," Junko responded while inspecting the gun in her hands, "I also want to make her beyond disabled, to the point she becomes bedridden. That way, even if the cops set her free, she will no longer be able to cause mayhem ever again, let alone, bewitch anyone with that vixen face!"

Before Michio tried to convince Junko not to let her personal grudge get the better of her, Shinichi's phone notified out of the blue that he had received a text.

The first shock he had was that a video he received was from Mouri Ran.

What came next was a scene the children were not expecting to see on the screen. Assuming it was The Snake, he downloaded the blurred video, and as he did, his eyes widened at the view of what seemed to be a cockpit of a small aircraft, as well as Ran with the man next to her, with Ranran and Emiko sitting in the front, flying the plane.

Wondering what was with Shinichi's reaction, they surrounded him to see the video. It was then horror blinked from the rest of the kids in response. "Is that...Ranran flying an aeroplane!?" Junko was the first to break the silence since the rest of them were shaken to the core that no voice was uttered.

"Hey Shinichi, it's Ran here. Long story short, we managed to escape and as you can see...Ranran is flying the plane with Emiko, yeah. I know, it's odd. I just found out that apparently, she had experience flying a plane back in her old school. Also, the man in the video is Mr Werner, who was kidnapped here."

"Mr Werner...?" Then Junko snapped, "Oh yeah! The German officer Genzo said went missing this morning, right?"

But Shinichi was far too distracted by the fact that Ranran is operating the plane, that was until Takuma recalled, "Oh yeah! I think I recalled Ranran telling me that she flew a plane back in her old school. At that time Reina and I thought she was making up stories. Who knew it was true?"

"Say what now!?" Both Michio and Junko reacted in unison.

It became apparent that the group who were allegedly kidnapped had a lot of explaining to do. Millions of questions were racing through Shinichi's mind, as he attempted to contact Ran through the wi-fi, hoping someone would pick up.

Finally, Ran picked it up through facetime and ordered her to set it to speaker mode so he could interact with the main pilot. "Hi Shinichi," Ranran responded cheerily without staring back at the phone Ran was holding, knowing her tone would bring him to further confusion.

Genuinely surprised, Shinichi's mouth was agape, and so were the others. "What are you doing now!?"

"Can't you see? I am flying a plane. What else do you think I am doing?" Ranran commented, not understanding what is with their reaction.

"No, I mean...where did you get this plane from?" Shinichi suddenly demanded.

"At the place, we were kidnapped earlier. Someone didn't do a good job locking the door, then we bumped into Werner who recently escaped from his room, and knock unconscious a man with a gun who was planning to end our lives. Oh yeah, did I bother to mention we found in this passed-out man's hand the Rajah's Ruby? Though I ain't sure if the ruby is real though." Ranran thought about it.

"What in the world...?" Takuma and the rest mouthed.

"Ranran, how did you even...no wait, did you hotwire the aeroplane!?" Michio was the next to ask.

"Ah no, someone left the keys in it. There were cars parked nearby the plane, but no keys, so we went for the plane. Nobody knows how to fly, and I needed a co-pilot who isn't an emotional roller coaster. Oh yea, the plane had a snake emblem on the tail, so...."

"Wait- did you say a snake emblem on the...oh hell no!"Shinichi flicked his eyes up, putting together who that plane belonged to, "Ranran, you did not just hijack The Snake's plane, did you!?"

A lump rose in everyone's throat, things were beginning to make sense now for them.

Suddenly Junko's head snapped back, and Takuma watched in fascinated horror as Shinichi's head began to bob slowly up and down. Ranran, she did not just-

"If I didn't, how do you expect us to be on our way home? Also, he spared no expense in adding an internet hotspot to this tiny aircraft. Or else how do you think Mouri was able to send you this video directly on our group chat?"

Junko's head snapped up. "But wait, if Ranran and the rest of them are now currently in the plane...that meant..."

Takuma laughed in delight. "That meant The Snake lost them and is missing one plane and a ruby! And he must be furious, now knowing he lost his pawns! Especially the damn Ruby! Because in the first place, he was not expecting a first-grader girl to hijack his plane, let alone, know how to fly one!"

"This had to be karma's doing. There was no other explanation!" Everything began to click for them, especially Michio who then adds, "It probably even explains why Adeline accidentally gasped in the phone, because she assumed we had no idea!"

"And the reason why she suggests meeting Michio tonight! She assumed we now have the ruby her dad is looking for thanks to Ranran! Oh ho ho!" Junko began to air out her laughter before setting the gun on the table, "Serve them right! They had no idea who they are dealing with when they kidnapped Ranran!!"

"Oh, how the tables had turned! This changes everything!" Shinichi chuckled his way into full-blown laughter.

"And it sure does, anyway, did anything happen while we were away?" Ranran's unexpected voice suddenly made everyone realize they were still on call with the children on the plane.

"Ah, right! I almost forgot to mention this," Suddenly, Shinichi was busy pouring about the deal he ordered Michio earlier to The Snake's daughter, as well as the part where everyone was prepping themselves with guns.

"Wait, guns? You didn't throw away the guns Watanabe gifted us, didn't you!?" It then occurred to Ranran that he lied to her about throwing the guns into some unnamed sea. Screw it, she will confront him about this later.

"So now that they are alright, should we call off the plan to meet Adeline?" Michio poses a question, "I mean the reason we did it in the first place is to get you guys back."

Initially, Ranran was going to share the plan, but then she hesitated for a moment. There was a long pause from her, Shinichi grew concerned as to why she isn't responding, "Ranran?"

After a long silence, Ranran decided, "Hang up the phone."

"Eh!? Why!?" Ran, Emiko, as well as the children in the HQ, were appalled by her response.

"Just do as I say, now."

Reluctantly, Ran hangs up the phone. But then Ranran said to her, "Mouri, open our group chat now." Confused, she did just that. "Remember the emojis and sticker pack you kept bragging about the other day?"

"What about it?"

"Key in this before sending it to them," Keeping things in a level-headed manner, she begins, "Send the group a UNO reverse sticker."

"Eh!?"

"Just do it."

As soon as she does so, Ranran orders, "Now key in the emojis in order..."

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

"Why is it that Ranran is having Mouri send nothing but stickers and emojis on our group chat?"

Everyone is bewildered Takuma asks no one in particular, with one UNO reverse sticker popping up, and what followed was a series of emojis.

🐍👨‍👧☞🚏🖼️

"Snake Father-daughter bus stop?" It was then Shinichi finally gets it, "No way! Ranran is communicating our plans using emojis for the stakeout!"

"Eh!? How would you know!?" Junko's glasses almost slipped out of her face.

"Snake, father-daughter emoji, bus-stop plus frame picture..." Takuma was the next to figure it out, "Of course! The plans to meet up outside Atsuko gallery at the bus stop!"

Even Michio is amazed, but then he frowns, "Why did she feel the need to type things in emojis? She could've just called us on FaceTime, or text with proper words. Less hassle."

But he had no time to think, as more emojis followed:

🐺➕👶💺➕🔫☞🚏🖼️

"Wolf? And a baby chair? Plus a water gun? Wait, she wants me and Michio to go there with guns!?" Shinichi deciphers the message, much to everyone's astonishment.

"Eh!? Is that it!?" Takuma blinked before staring hard at the wolf emoji, then at the baby with the chair, "I roughly get the gun and bus stop gallery part, but who are the wolf and the baby?"

It was then Junko snapped her finger, "I guess the wolf refers to Shinichi, God knows why, but the baby and chair are probably referring to the word: Babysitter since it's Michio's part-time job!"

"Oh yeah! Why didn't I think of that?!" Michio said in awe.

Shinichi wasn't going to reveal that he wore a Wolf mask at the bar the other day, before clarifying Ranran's intentions, "My guess is the reason why Ranran is telling us to continue to meet up with Adeline, is because that serpent assumed we had no idea about the girls' escape, so while she assumed Michio is meeting up with her to fulfil the deal with her dad, Ranran wants us to kidnap her instead to lure her dad over. Made sure to bring our guns over."

"Yes! This plan I am very on board with that!" Junko and Takuma gave the thumbs up, while Michio is beginning to question their moral compass.

Shinichi then promised over the phone with a text reply, which she later liked his message. Then another emoji message pops up:

🏈➕🤓🚫☞🚏🖼️

"Wait, Ranran doesn't want Takuma and Junko to follow us?!" Shinichi is surprised to read this message.

"What!? Why aren't we joining Shinichi and Michio!?" Both Takuma and Junko were dismayed before Junko became a little piss off that Ranran used a nerd emoji to represent her, "And how dare she use a nerd emoji to address me?! I ain't ugly!"

Another message arrived:

🏈➕🤓☞☎️🕵🏻➡️🛬

An airport sticker then appeared below the message, "Oh? So she wants us to call Genzo for help with the aeroplane they are on?" Takuma thinks.

"No, she wants the both of you to contact Genzo and secure any available airport with an open runway." Shinichi corrected him.

"Eh...so that is why she had Ran send an airport sticker huh...?" But then Junko turns to Shinichi, "Why?"

"When you fly a plane, one can't simply just land somewhere out of the blue. There are laws regarding this. It ain't like a car where you can just park as you please," Shinichi explained.

Another reply was sent, and Ranran had Mouri send more emojis.

☎️🕵🏻➕👮🏻‍♂️👮🏻‍♂️👮🏻‍♂️☞🚏🖼️

"Oh, this is clever of her," Shinichi thinks in amusement before conveying the message to Takuma and Junko, "Tell Genzo to send some men over to Atsuko Gallery and stationed around the area. Since The Snake is very likely to protect his little daughter, I wouldn't be surprised if he had gunmen surrounding the area to kidnap Michio just to get the ruby back."

🇩🇪🕵🏼‍♂️➡️✈️➕👧🏻👧🏻👧🏻

"Also, let them know their missing colleague is with them," Shinichi nodded understandingly.

"I don't understand why Ranran doesn't want me and Takuma to join the two or you, I mean we can physically fight!" The two others were confused as well.

Shinichi texted Ranran to ask why, only for his phone to notify him the explanation.

🏈➕🤓➕🔫🟰👩🏻‍🏫💍⛔️

"Now that Ranran mentioned it, while we were having shooting lessons the other day with Miss Ohta, she and the friend told me you both have a long way in handling guns. It wouldn't had been advisable if you were going to follow us and tackle Adeline who had experience with guns."

"But I can shoot! I have good accuracy!" Takuma argued.

"That isn't the problem with you, but you lack confidence while holding a gun. If there ever comes a hostage situation, you may not be able to save them unless you get a good grip on the gun, Tak-san. One should not let the gun be controlled by emotions. And for that, you have to remain in the HQ unless you can get an alternative weapon to stop her." Shinichi pointed out.

"What about me!? Does it matter if I can't fire a gun!?" Junko raised her voice.

"It does, cause if you can't properly shoot, she can get into your head and steal Michio to herself. Do you want that?" The apprentice's question triggered Junko a sense of irritation Adeline.

Seething with rage while feeling helpless, she replied a reluctant, "No."

"I mean if you think about it, she can easily get us under our skin. With such problems, she can shoot you both in an instant." Michio sighs before adding, "I don't think Ranran is texting this because she felt like you both can't defend yourselves, but I believe she thinks both of your physical prowless can't go against a gun. And that ain't advisable."

Though Takuma and Junko were far more than eager to apprehend Adeline, they both knew Michio wasn't merely saying it to discourage them. The one who wants to capture the Snake's little serpent a million times more than anyone is the founder, and if one could see the fire in her eyes right now, it would be enough to burn the entire world.

"Anyway, though I know everyone else is eager to capture that little serpent now, and I can't promise things won't take a turn for the better, but you can bet your ass that I will never let her see the light of the day and be free to torment any child our age, even though the laws are non-existed to protect us from the serpent!" Shinichi declared, all fired up.

With that said, everyone in the HQ nodded to Shinichi words, the passion to fight against such injustice had fueled their desire further to put an end to The Snake and his daughter, once an for all.

As soon as the call ended, Shinichi swore to himself in a low voice after heading out of the HQ with Michio:

"Wait till that serpent realized...it messed with the wrong Fox and Wolf!"