Throughout the experience on becoming an apprentice, he felt like he had grown up a little.

Mainly what he is about to do through the video announcement is either make or break his reputation to shreds. It was so high risk, even his mentor think this plan may backfire on him in many ways beyond imaginable. Hell, there will be blood bath.

But he has to do it. If one beats around the bush, it can drag on forever and others might think he was gaslighting them, so he is to be blamed. But if it was a straightforward answer, even if they refuse to accept it, they would be seen as delusional and unreliable kids.

That's right, he is about to block all the routes whereby Ran, Sonoko and Mamiko will become public enemy no.1, by answering the questions that have been plaguing the entire school with a straightforward answer.

Sitting before the IpadPro, he gave a serious tone:

"Now those issues had to be address, since they are connected to the the elephants in the association. Let's begin with...those 'marriage rumours' with my kindergarten friend, the same one who later harassed me and my mentor since joining the association."

Shinichi reminded himself that this strategy must be executed properly.

From the book Ranran borrowed the other day, 'Art of Deception', he read that in order to win people to one's side, one must be upfront and honest. Especially if the truth itself is brutal to the core.

The main girl character was peasant and the illegitimate bastard of a royal family in the story. She specifically use this specific tactic to win the hearts of her people. Starting out by becoming the one public figure everyone place their trust on despite her status, then do things that not even the king or queen, or even their kids never bother to do to benefit the poor, then finally...when they see the despicable royal family for what they are, they are later exiled while she later became king.

In a way, it's hard for him to believe that such strategy works in real life. But then he recalled reading about a real life princess in the news reported back in the U.K. When she became a royal as soon as she married into the royal family, she was loved by the entire nation, and fought for important causes than the royals never bothered to relate to the common people.

This later resulted her popularity to soar and surpass her own husband who is crown prince, and even her mother-in-law, the queen. When she passed away in a violent car accident, although she was divorced by then and no longer a royal, she was called the 'People's princess' and the country's people literally spewed hate onto the royal family when they refused to give her a state funeral since she divorced them.

If Shinichi play his cards right similarly to that notion, it won't just him be alone who thinks they are crazy. What is he going to do is to get the majority to make her leave. Similarly in the way where the majority teased them to marry each other, he is going to reverse UNO this madness back to the originator.

"I did consider discussing all of this behind close doors, and I did try. But...this isn't working out, otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up deciding to do this video."

He could be heard chuckling, but the way it sounded, it was evident to everyone in school that it sounded painful and above all: Sad.

"To the one who manipulated everything, the one who pinned me against my own mentor. You know who you are. I only had two tiny interactions with you in our entire lifetime, yet, you were so desperately in love with me, you not only turned two of my former close friends against my dream as a detective, you even went as far as to frame an innocent girl to make me hate her. Why? So you can manipulate me to rely on you with no income? You are a coward, you definitely are. Only a coward would do this to make me fall for someone like you. Also, humble me? No, thank you."

Ranran shook her head in the association, feeling bitter while her apprentice discloses this painful revelation on live stream, feeling sad before contorting to anger.

"I never will like you, even if you force me to marry or make those two hate me, I rather marry my own mentor if I had to flee from the disgusting piece of sociopaths you all are! Who do you think you all are to dictate what I should and shouldn't do? You ain't my mother. And don't tell me that I was wrong to choose Tantei Association over you, it ain't the founder's fault on how one runs the association, it's all of you who choose to be ignorant."

The school falls silent at the video announcement. Nobody says a word.

Even Eri Kisaki was shocked that he would call her daughter a sociopath while she froze, silently hearing all of this from the principal's smartphone. Although Shinichi would at times be obnoxious when it came to him and Ran, it was usually childish banter for Eri. But this was the first time he actually voiced out how tormented her felt over what her daughter has been putting him through without her knowing.

For him to say those things, despite knowing this will hurt her daughter, meant Ran did far worst than harassing him and Ranran.

Ranran who is listening to all of this was giving Shinichi the disapproving look, writing on the board to tell him silently, "You didn't need to take it that far about 'marrying me'! If people find out we are related-"

Shinichi dismisses her in a low voice, "I can't help it, I had to use you to put an end to their madness. Also, no one knows our true relations anyway."

He is not wrong. Ranran muses at that thought.

"I know, people around me said that...all this was overly dramatized and exaggerated. But when...you are being put into a corner and belittled, while they brush it off as 'normal'...the truth is, it never was. It's just plain bullying in the disguise of 'normal'. That itself... drives you up the wall. And I owed my partner-in-crime for listening to me all those times. Something those idiots can never understand."

Some kids were putting their heads in their hands, while some of their mouths falls open. Those statements coming out from Shinichi as 'The Wolf' sounds damning.

At the same time, for some reason, the kids felt like they could relate to that.

Gaslighting into thinking it is their fault when it was truly the other way around... sounds cruel, but it happens a lot.

"Also, I am still a first grader who is very into detective books, she is more into fairy tales that can never be cemented to reality. Tell me, what sort of future do you all see us having?" Shinichi chuckles mirthlessly. "I can't even envision ourselves into that kind of relationship, not even romance for that matter. I am still a kid, and so is everyone. But you know what made me pissed off besides all of this?! The harassment my partner had to go through because of her lies."

If Ranran set the video to show his facial expression live, it was downright terrifying.

"I know, the two former friends of mine, you think I should've had a private conversation with you instead of doing this. But what choice do I have? Have you ever listened to me for once in your life?! Before you all began harassing every single moment of her life the way you did to me? What did she do you wrong that you all had to blame her for every single thing that has nothing to do with her? If anyone brought this on themselves, it's the whole lot of you!"

His voice then takes on a bitter tone.

"Even my mentor was very against this idea. But I had to, you know? Before, you and I were fine. But then as soon as you started to side with the wrong person, and I decided to pursue my dream, you have it all out on going after her. You don't seem to care about any of this detective thing? Fine, you can do that. But you can't keep meddling in my life. Not anymore. The reason I am against you, well...you are the type to follow whatever anyone else says, then you believe them 100 percent."

Ran's composure cracks, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Staring in front of the camera with a stony expression ends the video with, "Tantei Association shall remain as it is. For I, The Wolf had no regrets about joining. And if I had to turn back the time, I would make this decision all over again. If you don't leave today or tomorrow, that's fine. But be prepared to face further disciplinary actions from my partner, 'cause I won't stop her punishing all of you, not anymore!"

As soon as the video ended, the whole school is now giving sympathetic thoughts over what he had just said while they murmured among themselves.

"I used to hate Kudo Shinichi for acting high and mighty since he is born rich, but after this video about him defending Ranran...I think I might see him differently now."

"Right? This is a good man defending the pride of a girl." One of the howled.

"Poor Kudo, all thanks to that pervert girl and the manipulation she was doing behind the scenes...even Ranran is paying the price for taking him in! I mean two interactions!? Come on man! How is this love?"

"That is never love! It's an obsession! Mamiko had a sick obsession towards Kudo Shinichi, so she misused Ranran's name! That is what happened!" The other bellowed.

"I bet she assumed Ranran was also a huge threat to stealing Shinichi away from her, that's why she schemed all of this! Since Ranran is unusually beautiful and talented, it's no surprise why she would scheme this far!"

"Damn that Mamiko girl, what a creep!"

"Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko...what other things they have been doing wrong to Shinichi? Can't they just leave him alone? It's getting sickening, now I am feeling bad for that boy." Some of the boys even clicked in disapproval.

"If I were his partner, and forgive me for saying this, but I will personally get that Mouri girl expelled!" Another boy blasted in anger after hearing the contents, "I mean what sort of nonsense is this!? She spitefully tampered with that Kudo boy's phone, and they almost died because Ranran couldn't call for help! Girls like her can't study in this sort of school!"

"Can't they just kick Mouri Ran out? Cause if I were Kudo Ranran, I would've done so easily!"

"Is easier said than done, our school rules made it difficult to kick anyone else out unless someone does wrong. Talking crap of others isn't covered as bullying, that is why she and that poor Shinichi can't kick her out. Or else they could've done so a long time ago."

"Woah...this is deep, I mean for her to even endanger others which led to kidnapping..."One of the girls even voiced out her disgust over this, "This is gone too far!"

"You know, even though Mamiko was at fault for manipulating the two girls, which can all agree it isn't completely their fault for falling for their lies. But you got to admit Ran and Sonoko would not have easily fallen for that pervert girl's lies in the first place, had they not had such malicious thoughts."

"I agree! I definitely agree with you on this opinion!"

With words exchanging of anger, hate, and disgust, Eri could see Mouri Ran biting her lip and looking down, feeling embarrassed that everyone is thinking she is a monster, rather than ashamed of her own actions. "Mouri, what Shinichi said...is it true!?"

In the mix of it all, a fit of fiery jealousy was burning in Ran's heart, nowadays Shinichi has become more determined than ever to distance himself further from her. It was something that stunned her when she realized this video came up out of the blue without warning.

Sensing her daughter did not answer straight away, Eri barked in the principal office while the adults gasped at the lawyer's booming voice, "Mouri Ran! Can't you just leave Shinichi and Ranran alone!? What in the world...why must you hate Ranran so much so that you had to harass them both!?"

Before, she thought that the days of Shinichi laughing alongside her and Sonoko wouldn't change. He thought that they'd stay by each other's sides, supporting each other's dreams. But then, all of a sudden, Ran and Sonoko were no longer allowed to see him outside the office with a bitter explanation from the detective girl after trying to confront him.

Not receiving a response, Eri declared, "Mouri Ran, I think it's best for everyone that you quit the association!"

Startled, Ran shouted, "Why should I!?"

"You don't have a choice! The things that Shinichi said were pretty clear he wants nothing to do with you!" Eri stated flatly, at a loss for what to say from the video.

She had never seen Ran so upset or so angry, but if there was one thing that the little girl did not tolerate, it was giving up. She had never given up fighting against anything; Martial arts, bullies, including Shinichi,  she wasn't going to let go of him to that villainess. She didn't want him to show that girl his smile, she didn't want him to leave her side.

"Mouri Ran, you come back here this instant! Where do you think you're going?"

Eri's tone was sharp, strict and cold, but Ran's stubbornness had grown immune to that tone.

"To chill out," Came Ran's flat reply. "I am not going to let him go, not to that she-demon!"

Everyone else was simply watching the scene with a delayed reaction as if neither of them could understand what was going on. "She-demon? You mean Ranran!? Why do you call her that!? What have I told you about calling her names!?" Eri declared with a stern voice, the volume raising slightly as her hands rest on her hips.

"She is what she is! That she-demon has manipulated everyone, and you are all siding with her! Including Shinichi! I am certain she got Shinichi to make this video to send a witch hunt against me! Before, he was never like that!"

Unfortunately, had she known it was him, it would've devastated her.

Ranran barely had any influence, the only time she did had such influence was when he requested her to review the content Shinichi was going to deliver on live stream, and she had to tone down tons of his content of aggression towards Ran, Sonoko and Mamiko into a sympathetic victim. And thank God Ranran did, because almost the entire school now thinks Ran has gone too far with her antics towards the association.

"Shinichi is a reasonable boy! You saw all of it yourself! Who are you to control who he should meet or not? It's his life! Why can't you let him go or be happy!? Is there something more to it? Or is it...you hate that girl who works harder than you?" Eri questioned critically.

"That's right! I hate her! I hate every single bone of her existence! She is too beautiful, too talented than me! So I prayed every single day that she dies, so Shinichi would come back to me!" Ran protested with a hint of an emotional whine interweaving with her accusing tone.

The comment stung the lawyer on the receiving end of the blow. This behaviour, this attitude, it wasn't tolerated, not even if it was her daughter.

Before Ran knew it, Eri raised her hand and slapped the girl with just enough force to turn her head from the impact. Her cheek flamed and for a moment Ran glanced at her mother in disbelief.

Even the principal was stunned, "Miss Eri-"

"Sir, if you mind? I'm disciplining my daughter, " Eri's warning glare was enough to stop him before glaring down at her daughter, even the kids outside the hallway were stunned by this development, "Mouri Ran, no matter how much you hate a person, she is someone else's daughter. And I taught you this before that jealousy brings nothing but destruction, and that beauty never lasts forever. So why do you still believe that this is her advantage!? Did you think Shinichi is that lowly to be easily fooled by a beautiful little girl in appearance?"

Silence.

"Ran-san, when your father comes back, we are going to have a word about this, whether you like it or not, if we hear one more incident like that, we will transfer you out of Teitan Elementary school permanently should this continues."

This obviously made Ran's jaw drop, "You wouldn't dare!"

"I would! If it means protecting Yukiko's son from being harassed, especially that poor girl who you wished for her death! Oh, my Lord!" Eri was in dismay and distraught that Ran is becoming destructive towards herself over a boy, and she is only 6! "Your behaviour is endangering their lives, and it happened many times! So who are we to say we shouldn't interfere!?"

Ran wanted to refute, but then Eri cuts in further, "As for that Suzuki girl, she too become too much of a bad influence to you! I better let her parents know once their bail date is set on how poorly raised she is!"

While Eri uses her smartphone to contact her ex-husband and let him know about Ran's misbehaviour, all she felt was nothing but helplessness and anger. Adults and kids she is seeing are all whispering and talking about what a monster she is to Shinichi, even more now that she even admits wanting Ranran to die...that is enough to stir the pot.

Ever since Shinichi joined the association, Ran's thoughts would always wonder why he never seek her back, and Ranran is only the sole reason to be blamed.

Why!? Is it because you found someone better than me and Sonoko!? Why can't you just turn my way and realize who's been beside you from the start? Why can't you see Ranran for her true nature!? You are a detective! Are you that blind!?

Ran did scream out her feelings. She did.

But now, everyone thought of her as a huge annoyance to him, especially to the Kudo Ranran that the entire school sympathized. Even her parents sided with her over their own daughter!

Mouri Ran cursed her own personality, wanting to start over from the first page of the story. If she could, she would have started the personality of the lovable main heroine.

But it was too late for that, wasn't it?

Before she knew it, Shinichi went with Ranran and never looked back.

Towards the very end, Mouri Ran had no choice but to swallow all her bitterness and jealousy, telling herself this time she isn't going to tell him to quit anymore. She is on the losing end now, and she didn't need to add fuel to it any further. Ranran is beyond manipulative in nature, and she truly was naive to think she could tackle a she-demon who is unusually crafty despite her age.

But no matter what, one thing remains.

She didn't care anymore, even if her parents threw harsh words at her calling her 'the true villainess', she wouldn't waver. One day, she will expose Ranran for who she truly is. She will get Shinichi back.

...........

Finally, Osteria was crowded on a Friday night. The waiters hurried around with trays of food.

To celebrate the recovery of the Rajah Ruby case, Genzo threw a celebratory bash for the members of Tantei Association in the fancy yet affordable restaurant. Admittingly, he knew that the children were not wrong about the laws regarding making an arrest on The Snake's daughter and that he had no idea about the German officer being a fraud.

The reason why the deception was able to work out for The Snake as police investigation revealed, was due to circumstances.

Apparently, Schmidt and Masumi were the only ones who rarely met face to face, since one lived in Japan and the other in Germany, and since they were both old-schooled when it came to not wanting to use Facetime to chat online, they didn't really see each other's face for many decades.

In addition to that, both officers used to work under the cyber division before and witness the horrible repercussions of social media when one shares their personal photos, so to avoid such catastrophe, they both agreed never to share photos of their faces, even as years went by. A move that eventually became a loophole for The Snake thanks to the spies he planted in the police community last year before the corruption takedown took place.

So when this ruby case came into play from Interpol, Masumi was only granted by his management the last recent photo of Schmidt on file. Having Rudolf, their only German native within the Snake's crew impersonate him was a no-brainer. And Rudolf had no issues having done plastic surgery, as well as done intense research about the real Schmidt before the kidnapping took place.

The only flaw within this plan was that The Snake didn't know a thing about Rudolf's motives for doing so.

When a criminal first joins his crew, The Snake usually never leave a single stone unturned. For Rudolf, it was no different, his background revealed having hopped from one foster home to another. Which was truly the case. Except for the Rajah Royalty part, neither Rudolf nor The Snake knew about it till the last month, when Rudolf decided to dig into his ancestry, which later led to the events of Rajah Ruby.

The motive behind Rudolf's decision however to betray the snake was beyond just money, let alone, some crazed act of wanting to become royalty again.

One of the foster homes Rudolf used to reside in, the last one he remained before leaving as an adult, had a madam who run it. He was close to her back in Germany, often chatted over social media and used to send her money. Unlike Rudolf, she lived a very decent life. Although he was raised with love, becoming The Snake's man was a choice he made without telling her, mostly to earn a quick buck to send funds that give the ailing selfless woman better facilities for the foster home, as well as those orphans who only knew him as 'Uncle Ralphie'.

Then, a month before the events of the ruby case, the foster home was at risk of foreclosure due to mounting debts. Making matters worst as she was close to death's door, having battled with stage 2 breast Cancer.

Instead of using the money to treat her illness, she contributed to the foster home and did not turn down a single child away from being sent there. When Rudolf found out about it, he didn't have the heart to tell her to close it down, since he knew those kids would end up in far worse homes with crueller conditions, but he knew time was running out for both sides.

Then he remembered the ancestry test he did not long ago, which led him to the Ruby, thus, tipping The Snake about the ruby.

All of this was revealed only after he intentionally instigated a gang fight in prison, since he applied for several insurances, he named that woman the beneficiary. Junko could only assume that this was his supposed backup plan, should the ruby plan fail. The poor woman didn't take it well when she learned of his double life, passed out and ended up in ICU for several days.

Towards the end, Ranran did the only thing logical to settle this situation.

The ruby was never returned back to the original company that owned it since that company besides the swiss too had shady records in store. So Ranran somehow managed to sell it, with a decent amount of money made and had it sent anonymously to the foster house plus madam where Rudolf used to be raised. Who she sold it to was unclear, but the members of the association could agree that the kids and poor lady need money badly.

While Michio's mom and Sergeant Genzo shared a table in a corner, Michio and Junko had chosen a table by the window. Looking across the flickering candle in front of Junko, the boy kept blowing it off, only for the waiter to come across аnd lit it again.

"Michio, you aren't supposed to be blowing candles off! Especially in a posh-style restaurant!" Junko hissed at her friend, "Don't tell me you are that dense when you first came with that vixen!?"

"To be honest, the candle smells bad." Michio pouted, "It's evident when one burns for several hours, it's unbearable. As for that time I was with the vixen, there were no candles burning at that time."

"Is it?" Junko then recalled his sense of smell is on the sharp side before calling the waiter, "Sir, could you put it off, please? My friend is sensitive to the smell."

Not many children are aware besides Junko, but she knew that his sense of smell is slightly stronger compared to the rest. The reason she knew this was that when they were younger during kindergarten, there were plans to go on a school trip to the amusement park. Everyone was dressed on the occasion, except to her surprise, he arrived dressed in a raincoat and propped with an umbrella. When ask why he said he smell the rain.

At first, the kids laughed at him. But then within 20 minutes later, it rained heavily and everyone was drenched wet while waiting for the rain to end. After that incident, everyone relied on him to detect the weather through his nose even their classmates to this day. In a way, people would say he was a dog in a past life to have this ability.

"Thanks, Junko," he grinned.

"Any time, Majima," Junko smiled, digging a fork into her pasta and twirling it around, "It's good that Inspector Masumi finally made a complete recovery before heading back to work."

"I agree," Michio nodded to her, "And thank God the real Inspector Werner Schmidt was found alive. I think Genzo said that he paid Masumi a visit as soon as possible before he flew back to Germany. Even left a letter for Tantei Association, thanking us for our contribution."

"Though I didn't think that the fake Schmidt died ultimately," added Michio. "I would've rather he live long enough to pay for his sins."

Junko nodded. "I also didn't think that he had a soft spot for the foster home he used to be raised in. Who knew he did all of that to protect those orphans and the madam?"

"I guess criminals themselves have a heart after all, at least...for their love ones." Michio quietly eats his dinner, "Heroes would sacrifice their own to save the world, but this one...is willing to betray so many people, even The Snake despite knowing of his reputation, just to save that orphanage and the woman who raised him. I don't even know if that is heroic or sad...but on the cruel side of things, I felt like he is giving up the entire world, innocent people as well, just to keep her and those children alive."

She set down her fork and gazed at Michio closely. "Well, think of The Snake having a daughter our age, no one knew about it because he forced everyone to keep their mouth shut to protect her," she said quietly. "Not to mention, she is a dangerous kind."

"A dangerous one of a kind," Michio repeated, knowing what Junko's next question would be.

Junko could not hide her fear, "Michio, may I be honest?" she hesitated, staring at her food. "When you were doing...your undercover work on her...did you not once...had feelings for her? Since...she is unusually beautiful?"

"Her? No way," Michio shook his head and laughed. "No matter how beautiful one is, what is the point if one grows up so twisted and spoiled? She is more interested in destroying anything innocent in sight."

"That's true," She smiled sweetly, thankful that any hope for Adeline to be in his life is completely gone. But then the smile was wiped off her face when she sees the tension on the other table.

"Ranran, why aren't you touching your dinner?"

"I was hoping for a peaceful dinner. Unfortunately, someone's presence came and ruin a little for me."

Shinichi knew Ranran was hoping deep down Mouri didn't join them for their association dinner, judging her horrified reaction. Especially when she watched Ran cursing and wishing Ranran to die in the principal's office on her smartphone, through one of the bugs she planted. Even he himself was self-admittingly stunned. He was curious to know how was Ran's reaction to the video alongside her mother. It was very eye-opening, this isn't the Mouri Ran he knew, the one he used to know would not even consider hurting a fly.

Initially, Ranran had no intention of notifying her about Genzo's celebratory dinner of this ruby case, even Shinichi was on board with this. Mouri Ran cursing her to die had spread across the school, and many kids approached Ranran to offer her sympathy, Shinichi was no exception. Also, aside from the stakeout, she barely contributed much to this case.

But as always, a member can't be left out of celebratory meals.

Ranran would be more than happy to not invite her, sadly, he contacted through Michio, which means Ran will know through Junko regardless. As much as the adults were notified about the school incident, Genzo and Michio's mom thinks one should talk out of their issues and then learn to co-exist together. In a way, this is a mature yet reasonable move.

The problem is Ran isn't mature. And talking to her is like talking to a wall.

And thus, much to their surprise, Shinichi sat with Ranran and Takuma, while Emiko with Ran. It was evident that 'talking' won't do to the highly intelligent Ranran and Shinichi, not when Ran refused to understand. Michio and Junko just observed them from afar, seeing world war 2.5 in the works.

Now that Shinichi thinks of this, during the parkour event, he always felt like Ranran should've been forthcoming about achieving the perfect plan to ensure the adults listened to them and not shove them to be as close as they should be under their orders. He always wondered why she never ask him to be on board, since he would be more than willing to despite their situation.

But after the incident with Ran, he finally understood why: The day he followed Ranran to confront her about being The Fox made it evident. In a way, his past hostility towards Ranran was no different than what Mouri Ran is currently doing to him.

"I always knew something was off with that Mouri, she is no different than Suzuki, both of them are murderers." Takuma pointed this with a fork before slurping another strand of pasta.

Meanwhile, at Emiko and Ran's table, the elder girl brought up the events that transpired.

"Why did you say those things? I know you are mad at Ranran, but you didn't have to go that far as to say you want her dead." Emiko heavily sighs at Ran, neither of them is touching their food since they finished it earlier.

"I am just...tired," Ran trembled with every shaky breath she took.

"Mouri, I have been thinking about what happened between you, Shinichi and Ranran..."The last name made the long-haired brunette flinch before Emiko pressed, "Before, I kinda understand the reason why you join the association was to restore Sonoko's reputation. So when you choose to remain, I figure it was to get Shinichi away from the HQ. But then as time went by...you seemed to direct your frustrations onto Ranran a lot more than you used to the more he refuses to listen to you."

Ran remained tight-lipped, but Emiko had to let her know.

"When you silenced Shinichi's phone, although your intention is to prevent any interaction between the two, we almost died, Ran. And that is wrong, cause you are growing obsess with him, as if he were a prize. But he ain't some prize waiting to be claimed, Mouri, he is a normal boy with emotions, not a doll." It's clear exactly when Emiko realizes, "You hate Ranran not because she is a threat between you and Shinichi, but rather, she chose to listen to him why you don't. Rather than accepting your faults, you blamed it all on Ranran. And that itself is worst than jealousy, Mouri."

A statement, not a question, much more certain than she had sounded just moments before.

Jealous? "As if." Ran laughs; it's false and bitter in her throat. She raises her eyebrows. "What does she has that I don't? Wealth? Beauty? If she loses it all, she won't be able to survive since she was born into a world of a diamond spoon. Also, all of this would not have been possible, had her mother not have certain relations with Shinichi's dad. She is a nobody without all of those. If I were born like her, it would've turn out differently. That is why she was lucky enough to be adopted into that family to be married of to Shinichi."

Now Ranran's table isn't far off from where they were sitting, so it became apparent that the boys grew mad at Ran's callous statement. Ranran merely rolled her eyes while Takuma who heard this went livid, it was lucky that the entire venue in this restaurant is booked privately for them, otherwise, they won't be pleased to see this quarter-backer about to pin Ran's neck to the floor!

But before that could happen, Shinichi approaches instead straight to her table. He won't allow Ranran's pride to be trampled over like this, making his best attempt at counteracting Ran's calm words.

A slap would've been justifiable for anyone in Shinichi's shoes, but instead, the apprentice asks directly in front of Mouri, "So you assumed that if you were born with privilege like she is, you will have the same amount of respect as Ranran does? What a joke! Do you even for once stop to think that if she didn't attend a privilege school, you wouldn't even be alive here today having Genzo's dinner had she not learn how to fly a plane there and escape from the kidnapping that you caused by silencing my phone!?"

Everyone stopped over what they are doing before turning to see Shinichi's intense confrontation against Mouri Ran, whose jaw dropped and so was everyone surrounding them.

"Shinichi...."

"Let's not forget that your friend, Suzuki, was born into that as well. But no one respects her now, you know why? Because she is a certified born idiot who only knew how to spend lavishly with her parents' money, but has no idea how to earn! And if that idiot has any talent, the only thing she has is to meddle into people's lives!"

Junko and the others covered their mouth in response, even Genzo and Michio's mom's eyes widened. "Kudo!" Genzo stood up to try and break up the arguing, but Shinichi had enough of Ran trash talking his mentor like that.

"Brought over to marry me?!" Shinichi repeated, "Even if it was truly the case, at least she had the qualifications unlike you or that Mamiko for that matter! She is the most hardworking girl I have ever met, and even if she loses all of the beauty and wealth, I know she will survive. You and Sonoko? Give me a break! I can bet that if Sonoko loses it all, the first thing she does is to cry like a baby to her father to give more money to buy her another of those luxury clothes she always flexed around in school!"

"You!" Ran slams the table, gritting her teeth, but Shinichi wasn't done.

"You said she was born with a head start advantage because of whatever connections her mom has with my dad? Would it be any different if you were to be in her shoes? Cause most of them would end up foolishly indulging it without making any efforts in their own life, and I know plenty of them. Far too many." Shinichi challenged before firing one question after another, "For someone who often doze of sleeping on the table during the first lessons of our class, I myself can never see you make full good use even if you were born with privilege," Shinichi scoffed at Ran, "Even if you were to be placed in some prestigious school as Ranran was, you are the type who will doze off and learn nothing."

"You wouldn't know that!" Ran argued back.

"Really?" Shinichi challenged, before adding, "Have you not wonder why her elder sister ended up in a prestigious school while Sonoko ended up in Teitan Elementary school? Simple, because the family knew she was beyond hopeless should they ever place her there! At least Ranran make good use of her days in that school picking up a thing or two. Considering you are both of the same kind, I can't foresee any of you surviving. Let alone, be any smarter than her."

"Kudo-" Even Michio and Junko tried to stop his angry rambling, but it was pointless.

"Mouri, you had achieved nothing in life besides listening to gossips with that scattered brain heiress. Who are you to compare yourself to Ranran, when you barely contributed anything that lead us to having this dinner with Genzo and the others right now!? If you are going to continue to misbehave because of your idiot jealousy over something so petty towards her, you might as well continue to drink all day like your father who does nothing productive in his life!"

Ran doesn't answer. She keeps her lips pressed in a thin line, looking between everyone. She didn't mean to be that hostile, and she actually feels bad, so much that she wants to cry, but she kept her resolve.

"We are leaving, come on, Ranran."

Without warning Ranran stood up from her seat to ask, "Where?"

"Anywhere, away from the person who disrespected you, away from adults who can't seem to grasp the concept that in life...talking it out doesn't always work."

Genzo and Michio's mother who was hearing all of this in silence said nothing, but the 6-year-old boy's comment did sting a little. It sounded as if Shinichi's words were insulting, that they are incompetent people who didn't know how to deal with issues children are dealing with.

"We haven't finish dinner," Ranran pointed to the plates on the table.

"I will buy us dinner. After all, you don't feel comfortable around someone who pray for your demise. You deserved it for the ruby case you had solved. Also, we don't need to associate ourselves with someone who acts like a sore loser, let alone, keeps on discrediting your efforts as a child Tantei. God, I can't believe I used to think the way Ran did." He gave a side eyed of disgust at the brunette, making Ran balled up her fist.

The more Shinichi utter his words about Mouri Ran, the more it make Mouri Ran feel insulted and sad.

"Takuma, tell the waiters to takeaway the dinner and keep it in your house, we will come collect it another day. I won't waste Genzo's money on the food he bought for us," Takuma nodded, the blue eyed boy then turned to bow at the sergeant, much to his surprise, "Thanks for dinner, but unfortunately, it had to be ruin by a rude girl."

Before Ranran knows it, she left alongside Shinichi out of the restaurant, while Ran finally sobbed, not caring that everyone around her, even the restaurant staff members, were staring as if she was the most pathetic thing.