"Room service, your maple porridge has arrived!"

Announced the concierge as Ranran opens the door of the penthouse from the inside, surprised as she opened the door of the penthouse and was greeted by the concierge announcing the arrival of the maple porridge and sirloin steak.

The unexpected delivery caught her off guard, as she wasn't expecting it to arrive 5 minutes earlier, but she quickly regained her composure and glanced at Shinichi, who was sitting in the spacious living area. She noticed that he appeared physically better than he was earlier, a sign that he was recovering.

"Thank you," Ranran responded to the concierge with a polite smile.

She stepped aside to allow him to enter the penthouse and deliver the meal to Shinichi. As the concierge set down the tray of maple porridge, Ranran couldn't help but take in the luxurious surroundings of the penthouse once more.

The elegant furnishings, the breathtaking view from the large windows, and the sense of comfort and safety it provided were a stark contrast to the harsh conditions outside.

Shinichi looked up from his seat, a grateful expression on his face as he saw the tray of food. "Thank you," he said to the concierge, his voice still weak but filled with genuine appreciation.

The concierge nodded politely and exited the penthouse, leaving Ranran and Shinichi alone once more. Ranran walked over to Shinichi, concern etched on her face. "How are you feeling, Shinichi? Is your appetite coming back?"

Shinichi nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'm feeling better, thanks to the rest and the food they've been providing here. The maple porridge smells amazing."

"Right?"

Ranran and Shinichi sat down together, their attention focused on the delicious meal in front of them. Ranran picked up her fork and knife, ready to dig into the steak, while Shinichi picked up the spoon to take a comforting bite of the maple porridge.

As they savoured their food, a sense of gratitude washed over them. The contrast between the luxurious penthouse and the hardships their classmates were facing outside was not lost on them, but they were determined to find a way to locate the killer once and for all.

Shinichi paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Ranran. "Ranran, I've been thinking....with our situation, couldn't you have tried to convince your client to allow our classmates to join us here at the hotel? It's much safer and more comfortable than the campsite."

"Eh?"

"I mean if you think about it." Shinichi muses, "Since the serial killer might be aware of the hotel's existence, it wouldn't make a difference if we move all of our classmates and friends from that campsite all the way here, right?"

"Actually, I did consider that, so I contacted my client to talk it out," Ranran sighs, "They will, under certain conditions, the problem is I can't fill it. But the terms ain't unreasonable though."

Ranran's response piqued Shinichi's curiosity, and he leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on her. "What conditions did they set, Ranran? And why do you say you can't fulfil it?"

Ranran took a deep breath, her expression filled with frustration. "No. 1, they insisted that I must prove that the deaths are actually committed by a serial killer."

"Why?"

Ranran sighed, her frustration evident in her voice. "Without solid proof, it could just be a series of unfortunate accidents rather than the work of a serial killer, and it is equivalent to them spending money unnecessarily for a bunch of freeloaders. And if word ever gets out, more people might do the same to exploit their generosity."

Shinichi nodded, understanding the reasoning behind the hotel's conditions. He knew that without concrete evidence, it would be difficult to convince anyone to provide such luxurious accommodations for a group of people claiming to be targeted by a serial killer.

"And what's the second condition?" Shinichi asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Ranran hesitated for a moment before continuing, her tone slightly resigned. "The second condition is...if I can't prove it, our classmates would need to fork out their stay with their own pockets to stay here."

Shinichi's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he processed the implications of the second condition. The idea of their classmates having to pay for their stay at the luxurious hotel was certainly a significant hurdle. "But Ranran, not all of our classmates may have the means to afford such accommodations," Shinichi pointed out, his voice filled with worry. "It wouldn't be fair to expect them to bear that financial burden, especially considering the circumstances we're in."

"Actually, there is a way for them to afford it without burning a hole in their pockets."

Ranran's response intrigued Shinichi, and he leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "How? You are not expecting to pay through our family, right?"

"Are you kidding?! That is our family's money! That is off limits." Ranran scoffed, gathering her thoughts before explaining her idea. "Do you remember the emergency funds from Teitan Elementary School?"

Shinichi's eyes widened as he remembered the emergency funds at Teitan Elementary School. It was a sum of money set aside for unexpected situations or emergencies that might arise during their school activities. This fund was established when Reina became president of the student council.

"Yes, I remember," Shinichi replied, his voice filled with realization. "The emergency funds were collected from various sources, including contributions from parents and fundraising events. It was meant to be used for the well-being and safety of the students. Are you suggesting that we use that money to cover our classmates' stay at the hotel?"

Ranran nodded.

"But Ranran, their terms do not cover suspect serial killer on the loose, right? I read through the rulings of this," Shinichi was in doubt, "Are they going to release this to us despite us having no proof that there is a serial killer on this very island we are on?"

Ranran sighed, understanding Shinichi's concern. "Which is my no.1 concern, funds were likely not intended for situations like this. And without concrete proof, it would be difficult to convince the school administration to release the funds for our specific situation."

"Also, this is a five-star hotel we are on. I don't know if the funds are enough to cover our classmates plus teacher." Shinichi's frown deepened as he considered the financial aspect of their plan.

Ranran nodded, understanding the limitations of the emergency funds and the potential insufficiency to cover the expenses for their entire group, including their classmates and teacher. The cost of staying at a luxurious five-star hotel for an extended period could be quite substantial.

"Plus, the emergency funds were meant for general well-being and safety, but they may not have anticipated a situation like this. And even if we manage to convince the school administration to release the funds, there's no guarantee that it would be enough to cover everyone's stay," Shinichi acknowledged, his voice tinged with concern.

Ranran sighed, her frustration evident. "Anyway, I was going to send in a report to the interim student president in charge through email when I first arrived at the hotel last week."

"Really!?" Shinichi blinked. "Why didn't you then?"

"At that time, although I had the foresight that the killer would strike again, I didn't think we would end up having discovered 6 deaths based on the reports."

Shinichi nodded, understanding Ranran's reasoning. The gravity of the situation had escalated since their arrival at the hotel, with the discovery of multiple deaths. It made sense that Ranran's initial assessment of the threat level had changed. "So I had to change a different style of approaching them to seek emergency funds."

".....by a different style, you mean-"

"I told them we had bears around the campsite. And it killed a person."

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise as he processed Ranran's words. "Bears? But there were no bear attacks in that area!"

Ranran nodded a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Yes, I may have exaggerated a bit to grab their attention and highlight the potential danger we were facing."

"But wait a minute, if you were going to come up with such a lie...won't they need proof before releasing the money? And it's February, bears around this time hibernate when I did the research!"

"I know you would say this, so I compiled a series of news reports that they were mauled by bears around this island for 2 years, before emailing straight to them."

"In other words, you attempted to commit insurance fraud and fabricated evidence?!"

"Hey, what can I say? But don't worry," Ranran reassured, "If they bothered to read the attachment below the email, I even send the video Takuma sent me."

"What video-" A dark thought set on his head, "No way, Ranran, you did not-"

"I just did," Ranran gleefully smiles, "I even sent that video of Mr Eiji falling to his death from the cliff during the safety demonstration with Miki."

Shinichi was taken aback, a mixture of shock and disbelief crossing his face. "Ranran, you can't just manipulate evidence like that!"

"Technically it ain't lying," Ranran justifies, "We have a total of six deaths, and though it may sound like an accident, it's murder, you and I know it."

Shinichi's expression hardened as he realized the extent to which Ranran had gone to make their case for the emergency funds. While he understood her intentions and the urgency of the situation, he couldn't help but feel conflicted about her methods. "When were they supposed to get back at you?"

"Tomorrow, after spamming for days with no reply for some reason, they did not bother to reply at first."

"Ranran, in the first place, the entire school is aware that you hate camping. So it wouldn't be surprising that they ignored your spam in the first place. And even if they did listen to you, it would be like the girl who cry Fox." Shinichi pointed this out.

"Not really, after you moved into the penthouse, I gave them an updated email following your report. Even send it the photos you took, when Mr Iwao's corpse was in the walk-in fridge." Ranran answered.

Shinichi sighed, facepalming in frustration which was far too evident on his face. "Ranran, they are children seeing those photos!"

Ranran crossed her arms, a defiant expression on her face. "So what? We are all 6-year-olds who are used to seeing them." Ranran could not be bothered to care.

By this point, Shinichi decided reasoning with her is pointless at this stage, since whatever he says often yields no results. He needed to focus on the current situation and find a way to ensure the safety of their classmates.

Tomorrow was the day they would find out whether the school administration approved the use of the emergency funds for their classmates' stay at the hotel. It was a crucial decision that would determine the level of safety and comfort their classmates would have amidst the ongoing danger.

"What time will the email arrive?" Shinichi asked.

Ranran checked her watch, her brow furrowing slightly. "The email stated that they would get back to me by noon tomorrow. We should receive a response from them around that time."

Shinichi nodded, mentally noting the timeframe. "Alright, we'll need to be prepared to act quickly once we receive their decision. If they approve the use of the emergency funds, we'll have to make arrangements with the hotel as soon as possible. And if they don't, we'll need to come up with an alternative plan to ensure our classmates' safety."

Ranran nodded to him.

"In the meantime, let's focus on gathering as much evidence as we can to support our claims about the serial killer," Shinichi said, trying to keep his voice calm despite the underlying tension.

While all of this is going on, the walkie-talkie on the table started making sounds.

As the walkie-talkie on the table emitted sounds, both Shinichi and Ranran turned their attention towards it. They exchanged a quick glance before reaching for the device simultaneously, their curiosity piqued.

Shinichi picked up the walkie-talkie and pressed the talk button. "Hello? Who is this?"

A voice crackled through the speaker, sounding distorted and faint. "Shinichi... Ranran... Can you hear me?"

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise. "Mouri? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me," Ran's voice confirmed. "First of all, are you alright? I heard you caught a cold."

Ranran leaned closer to the device, "Yes, he is perfectly on the road to recovery by tomorrow."

"What!? How is that even possible!?"

"I gave him strong medication, which is why he will make a full recovery by tomorrow, Mouri Ran," Ranran explained, rolling her eyes.

"Strong what!? How strong is strong!? He is only six!" Mouri Ran blasted at Ranran. 

"We have a serial killer to go after, so I speed up the recovery within a day, you are welcome. And in case you are wondering, I have Shinichi's permission." Ranran justifies.

"It's not as serious as Ranran makes it sound," Shinichi reassured her. "I'll be back to normal soon."

"I doubt it, you had thick green phlegm coming out of your throat and nose." Ranran doubts.

"What!? Green phlegm!? That is a serious infection!" 

Deciding that Mouri Ran might make a big deal out of Ranran's truthful words, he diverted another topic, "Anyway, why did you contact us? Did...did someone die at Kodama campsite?"

"Ah no, I have to talk about something, it's about Sonoko."

"Right, her dengue situation," Ranran remembered, "How is she now?"

Shinichi and Ranran leaned in closer, their attention fully focused on the walkie-talkie.

Mouri Ran's voice came through the walkie-talkie again, her tone filled with concern. "Sonoko's condition has worsened."

"I ain't surprise," Ranran's expression turned solemn as she listened to the news. "Even with careful treatment, dengue itself needs to be worst before it gets better. It is what one calls the 'Fight or flight' situation."

Shinichi nodded in agreement, "Is she coughing out blood?"

"Ah no, it ain't as bad as it sounds." Ran reassured, "However...it got to a point that she can't eat solid food. Which is why I am attempting to contact both of you."

"Let me guess, send you the meds, right? I will ride on the horse over tomorrow at the campsite, according to the weather forecast I watched on the tv in the hotel, it should have gone down a lot," Shinichi said while Ranran lookout out the window, the heavy typhoon is raging outside.

"I did consider that, but..." Ran quietly observed Sonoko to be asleep, "Sonoko wanted something else."

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a puzzled look, their curiosity piqued. "What does Sonoko want?" Shinichi asked, his voice filled with concern.

Mouri Ran's voice came through the walkie-talkie, sounding slightly hesitant. "Shinichi, Ranran, be honest with me, you are both in a luxury 5* hotel, are you both not?"

Ranran glanced at Shinichi, uncertainty etched on his face. "Tell her," Ranran mouthed quietly to the apprentice.

Shinichi nods before he answered. "Yes, we are at a luxury 5-star hotel," he confirmed.

Mouri Ran's voice sounded troubled. "I thought so. Sonoko...she said she wants either of you to book her a room, and take her to the hotel where you are both in."

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a surprised glance. "Mouri...you do know that the serial killer might have used the Wi-fi here to delete the social media account of the first murdered victim of this island, right?" Shinichi replied, his voice tinged with concern.

Ranran nodded in agreement. "And I don't know if you are aware, but I ain't close to Sonoko, so I ain't going to pay for her stay here."

"No, I know both of that, you and I aren't that close to that point. I know that if you were in Sonoko's shoes, you wouldn't even beg Sonoko to pay for your stay in the luxury hotel." Ran answered this in bitterness, but she knew Ranran so well, "But she proposed a suggestion."

Shinichi and Ranran leaned closer to the walkie-talkie, their curiosity piqued. "What suggestion did Sonoko propose?" Shinichi asked, his voice filled with intrigue.

Mouri Ran's voice came through the speaker, her tone hesitant. "Sonoko suggested that if either of you can book her a room at the hotel, she will pay for her own stay."

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise. "Sonoko wants to come to the hotel? But why? It's dangerous here with the serial killer on the loose."

Ranran nodded in agreement. "It doesn't make sense for her to put herself at risk like that."

Mouri Ran's voice sounded determined. "I've tried to reason with her, but she said something that makes a point." Ran thought hard about it, "Do you remember that we told you that Takuma's tent was destroyed by the suspected killer when he tried chasing after the killer the night before?" 

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a glance, recalling the incident Mouri Ran mentioned. "Yes, we remember. Takuma's tent was torn apart, and the idiot narrowly escaped from Takuma," Shinichi replied, his voice filled with concern. "But what does that have to do with Sonoko wanting to come to the hotel?"

"Also, Sonoko has no money with her. She is six like us!" Ranran pointed out.

Mouri Ran's voice carried a hint of determination. "Considering...that the hotel had a warm bed, warm food that didn't come from a walk-in fridge with a corpse unlike the campsite we are at, and that it isn't as cold as what we had to deal with since last week...it wouldn't be unreasonable for you guys to just book the room for her, right? And don't worry about the money," Ran insists, "I have Sonoko's number with me, if you dialled it, it will lead you both straight to her family residence. Ask for the money, explain the situation, and they will fork it out and pay for her stay there. Including mine."

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a perplexed look, understanding the reasoning behind Sonoko's request. Even so, "Does it not bother Sonoko that the killer might still be hiding out here? It's not that we can't, but I just wanted to give you both a heads-up." Shinichi reminded her.

"Also, don't forget...Sonoko and you moving to the hotel....you are going to piss off all of our classmates in 1-A, who are struggling alongside you and Sonoko. Even my two friends, Reina and Takuma are there." Ranran too reminded her. "If Sonoko is going, it would be justifiable since she is sick. But you Ran are still healthy, the kids will hate you as if you are moving in for comfort, as if you are abandoning them to fend for themselves thanks to the serial killer."

Mouri Ran's voice paused for a long while, for a moment, the Kudo children assumed as if Ran can no longer argue in Sonoko's stead.

After a while, the first thing Ran said was, "Neh Ranran, when you...booked this hotel before joining this camping trip, last week Tuesday around midnight...when you hijacked the horse and rode all the way....aside from trying to locate the serial killer, you also did so because you hated camping, correct?"

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a glance, realizing the significance of Ran's question. "Yes."

"Exactly, you....live life selfishly. You keep on living the way so much so...I resented you. Especially when you became mad that all of the girls in our class moved into your bunkbed room that you have all to yourself without telling you, just because we feared that a ghost will kill us all after hearing that ghost story from Mr Eiji....and we expected you to protect us...I felt like you abandoned us to die." 

Ran admits all of this for the first time, "At the same time, however...." With Ran eying on Sonoko who is deep asleep, she goes, "...for the past several days since we had pitched out tents and endured severe typhoons, insects, witness two murders in front of us...I kinda realized...why what you did was in the right."

Ranran listened attentively, her expression a little taken aback as she heard Ran's words. She could sense the sincerity and vulnerability in her voice, no defiance, no hatred, no biases, as Ranran was accustomed to during their days in Tantei Association.

Even Shinichi is surprised to hear all of this, coming from someone who openly hated Ranran in the name of jealousy.

Ran took a deep breath before continuing, her voice filled with a mix of emotions. "To look after someone else, one must look after themselves well. Which is why...you choose to live that way," Ran took a deep breath before continuing, her voice steady. "I've been reflecting on my own actions and feelings throughout this ordeal. I've seen...the way you do things, make tough decisions and protected us from every dangerous situation, hell, even the things I messed up, you ended up having to clean it up. And I realized that it wasn't just about you hating camping. It was about you knowing the dangers that came with it, you ran away to protect yourself."

Ranran's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in her gaze as she listened to Ran's words. It was evident that this revelation had caught her off guard. She had expected Ran's resentment and anger, but instead, she was met with introspection and understanding.

With her voice softer now on the walkie-talkie, Mouri Ran reveals, "I...can't say that I share the same views with you, Ranran. I still...don't believe in living life selfishly. However....with the situation we are dealing with...I have decided just this one, I need to be selfish for Sonoko's sake, especially for myself. In order to catch the killer! Even if means leaving the other kids of 1-A...I must move into the hotel you are in!"

Shinichi, who had been silently observing the conversation, spoke up. "Mouri...if you are that insistent on making this decision....then we'll come and pick you and Sonoko up," Shinichi finished his sentence, his voice firm. "If you believe that moving to the hotel is the best course of action for Sonoko's safety and to catch the killer, then we'll make the necessary arrangements and ensure that the both of you will join us tomorrow."

Ranran nodded in agreement, a newfound understanding and acceptance evident in her eyes. "I may not fully agree with living life selfishly, but I understand that sometimes, in extreme circumstances, it becomes necessary for the sake of survival. I'll help you, however, I can."

Mouri Ran's voice carried a mixture of gratitude and determination. "Thank you, both of you. I will do whatever you need me to do."

As soon as their talk ended, Shinichi quietly turned to his partner-in-crime to ask, "Can you actually do it?"

"It's not a whether 'Can or cannot', it's more on 'Will they or will they not' do it for them." 

Shinichi gave a small smile, proud of his partner's newfound determination and resolve. "I know you will," he said, giving her a reassuring pat on the back.

Ranran nodded once more, feeling a sense of relief knowing that Shinichi was on her side. 

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

So according to Kudo Ranran, Mouri Ran won't know of the client's decision to let Sonoko check in a room at a hotel till around 12 am.

Mouri Ran anxiously waited in the tent as the time ticked away. She couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness, knowing that her decision to move to the hotel could potentially save Sonoko's life.

Although she trusted Ranran in contacting the person in charge of the hotel, there was still a part of her that worried about the risks involved.

As the clock neared midnight, Mouri Ran's heart raced with anticipation. She knew that Ranran would contact her soon to let her know of their decision. The minutes felt like an eternity, and Mouri Ran's mind was filled with thoughts of what could go wrong.

Finally, the walkie-talkie crackled to life, and Ranran's voice came through the speaker. "Mouri, do you want to hear the good news or bad news?"

Mouri Ran's heart skipped a beat as she heard Ranran's voice. The fact that there was a choice between good news and bad news only intensified her anticipation. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before responding.

"Tell me the good news first," Mouri Ran replied, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety.

Ranran's voice carried a hint of excitement. "The good news is that Sonoko will be able to check in at the hotel. But it would be after tomorrow since there are occupants in the room right now."

Relief washed over Mouri Ran like a wave, and a smile formed on her lips. The weight on her shoulders lifted, knowing that Sonoko would have a comfortable and safe place to stay. At the same time, she grew confused, "Why not tomorrow? Sonoko's family can always book another room, right?" Mouri Ran said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Ranran's tone turned serious as she continued, "Which is where the bad news ..."

Mouri Ran's heart sank, fearing that something had gone wrong. "What is it?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"It's about Sonoko's family....about paying for her hotel room. They are willing to, but half the price."

Mouri Ran's brows furrowed in concern as she heard Ranran's words. Half the price meant that Sonoko's family could only cover a portion of the expenses for the hotel room. "I don't....understand. Do they...they can't afford it? No wait," Ran thought hard with her 6-year-old brain, "They can, but refused to pay for my stay with her, is that it?"

"No, that ain't the issue. They know you well enough to willingly pay for the bedroom," Ranran's voice held a note of hesitation as she continued, "When I informed them about the dengue situation, the first thing they asked me is...is Sonoko physically able to walk now?"

Mouri Ran's eyes widened as she processed Ranran's words. The question posed by Sonoko's family struck her as odd, and it made her heart sink with a sense of foreboding. She felt a knot forming in her stomach as she considered the implications.

"Walk you say?" Mouri Ran repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "She can walk, just wobbling a lot, that is all."

Ranran's voice carried a hint of concern. "After I informed them about it, they have also spoken to their family doctor, and...honestly speaking, after you shared with me through the walkie-talkie over Sonoko's symptoms...they decided the less she moves, the quicker she would recover. Which is why they ended up paying for a hotel room that is located on the ground floor. Easier excess. The problem is.... the majority of the room on the ground floor is fully booked, except the one they plan to reserve for Sonoko won't be checking out till after tomorrow."

Mouri Ran's heart started pounding faster, her worry increasing with every word from Ranran. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was seriously wrong with Sonoko's condition. The mention of a ground-floor room and easier access only confirmed her suspicions.

"Wait, is it that serious!? Sonoko's situation?" Mouri Ran asked, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and urgency.

"One can die if this is mismanaged," Ranran's voice turned sombre. "The problem is the bedroom they plan to pay for...have four beds in total. And although they could afford it, it wouldn't be reasonable to pay the extra expenses for only 2 people, cause it seems there are additional hotel charges they are not willing to pay. And actually, Shinichi read through the terms and conditions, it would not be fair to Sonoko's parents to incur additional expenses for two additional people that didn't exist. , besides you and Sonoko. I mean the expense is ridiculous."

Mouri Ran's heart sank as she realized the implications of Ranran's words. 

"So I asked are any available individual rooms in this hotel, and the answer is no. They are all fully booked."

The hotel room with four beds meant that Sonoko's family intended to accommodate not only Sonoko and Mouri Ran but two additional individuals as well. It became clear to Mouri Ran that they were not willing to cover the extra expenses for only two people.

A sense of disappointment washed over Mouri Ran as she grappled with the situation. She had hoped that Sonoko would have a private room where they could focus on her recovery and safety.

"However," Ranran's tone changed a bit, "I know a solution to fix this."

Mouri Ran's attention sharpened as she heard Ranran mention a possible solution. Despite the disappointment and worry that had settled within her, she felt a glimmer of hope rise within her chest.

"What solution?" Mouri Ran asked, her voice eager and curious.

Ranran's voice was a bit glum, "Bring two kids from the campsite, besides you and Sonoko."

Mouri Ran's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she tried to comprehend Ranran's suggestion. Bringing two additional kids from the campsite to share the hotel room seemed like an unconventional solution, but she was willing to consider it if it meant securing a safe place for Sonoko.

"Wait, you mean bringing two other kids from the campsite to stay in the hotel room with us?" Mouri Ran clarified, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, that's what I meant," Ranran replied. "Since Sonoko's family is willing to cover the expenses for four people, it would be more reasonable to have two more occupants in the room. That way, we can ensure Sonoko's safety and also avoid any unnecessary extra charges."

Mouri Ran pondered Ranran's suggestion for a moment. It was a creative solution, although she couldn't help but wonder who the two additional kids would be. She considered the campsite and the children they had encountered during their time there.

"But who should we bring? And how do we choose?" Mouri Ran questioned, her voice reflecting her uncertainty. "Even if I do pick the two of them...won't they get hated instead? For abandoning the others while there is a serial killer on the loose?"

Ranran's voice held a hint of determination. "That I am going to leave it up to you. But don't pick the ones who will be nothing but troublesome, pick one who will benefit the serial killer investigation, while the other as a supporter."

Mouri Ran pondered Ranran's words, understanding the gravity of the decision she had to make. She knew that choosing the right individuals to accompany them to the hotel was crucial not only for their safety but also for the progress of their investigation. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind and think rationally.

After a moment of contemplation, Mouri Ran spoke with conviction in her voice. "Ranran...you want me to bring your two friends, Reina and Takuma over, do you?"

Ranran didn't say a word, but Ran knew that the real reason she knew this wasn't merely because she wanted her friends over in the name of personal bias.

Mouri Ran's realization struck a chord within her. "Takuma is a member of our Tantei Association, which made sense why you need him to look into the serial killer case. Fair enough. But Reina...aside from being president of the student council, is also our class monitor, Ranran. If you take her alongside you...our classmates are going to accuse you of playing favourites!

"You think I don't know that?" Ranran argued while Shinichi observed from afar in the penthouse living room, "After you made that call over wanting us to help check in Sonoko, when her family made that decision, Shinichi and I went through the name list over and over, and we discussed this for hours, Mouri. We did. No matter how hard we look at this objectively, at the end of the day....even Shinichi admits that Takuma and Reina were the two best options." 

At first, Ran didn't know what to think of it.

After a while, Shinichi's voice erupted from the walkie-talkie Ran holds, "Mouri, among all of the kids in 1-A, who is used to seeing a photo of a corpse besides Takuma?"

Ran's eyes widened as she heard Shinichi's question. "Well....that would be all of the Tantei Association members, besides me too."

"And how many Tantei Association members are on this island now?"

"That would be four! You, Ranran, me and Takuma-" Then her words died abruptly when she realized, "We are under manpower, are we?" 

"If you recall all of the major cases we used to work on....there always been 7 of us. But now, we are all stuck on an island with no cops and a murderer, the worst part is that there are only 4 of us here, while the 3 others are remotely helping us to solve this serial killer case." Ranran put it bluntly, "Reina, who is also my friend and Takuma's girlfriend, is used to seeing all of this. Which is why we later agreed she had to come with us."

"Even so...."

"Also, there is one more thing we haven't mentioned to you yet," Shinichi bit his lip.

Ran's curiosity was piqued as Shinichi mentioned something they hadn't yet revealed to her. She could sense the gravity of the situation and the seriousness in Shinichi's voice. "What is it? What haven't you told me?"

Shinichi took a deep breath before continuing. "Ranran, you tell her."

"Mouri, the truth is..." Ranran was hesitant to share this, but she had to, "Do you remember the Teitan Elementary school emergency funds?"

Ran's eyes widened as she heard Ranran mention the Teitan Elementary School emergency funds. Memories of that announcement came rushing back to her, reminding her of the significance of those funds.

"Yes, I remember," Ran replied, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Those funds were set aside for emergencies, especially in any unpredictable situations if any trip goes wrong. What does that have to do with our current situation?"

"The truth is...when I arrived at this hotel last week, I requested it to be approved for our class 1-A." Ranran took a moment before she finally answered, her voice sombre.

"Really!?" Ran felt the hope in her eyes lit up, "Why didn't you say so?"

"The problem is, they don't believe Ranran!" Shinichi answered.

Ran's hope wavered as she heard Shinichi's response. She could sense the frustration and disappointment in his voice, knowing that their request for the emergency funds had been met with scepticism.

"What do you mean they don't believe you?" Ran asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Didn't you explain the urgency of our situation and the need for those funds?"

"When Ranran told them, it was around last week Tuesday. This was before Mr Iwao died. So she made up stories about bear attacks around the area, which wasn't a complete fabrication when she sent backup reports about bear attacks surrounding this island." Shinichi's voice held a note of frustration as he replied, "As Ranran had a camping-hating reputation, she went for the client's help, but they were sceptical about the severity of the situation since we could not prove whether there is, in fact, a serial killer. If this wasn't bad enough, even the school council are doubting the necessity of using emergency funds, even after Ranran sent the video of Mr Iwao's decomposing corpse in the walk-in fridge back at the campsite. They seemed to think that we were exaggerating or making up stories."

Ran's brow furrowed as she tried to comprehend the hotel staff's scepticism. "But we really have a serial killer on the loose, and our lives are at stake. How can they not understand the gravity of the situation?! Did you...did neither of you actually try contacting Sergeant Genzo at least?"

"Sergeant Genzo believed us, but not his higher-up subordinates!" Shinichi exclaimed.

"And we won't know the news whether the funds will be released till tomorrow afternoon," Ranran answered.

Ran felt a mix of frustration and worry as she processed the information. It seemed that they were facing challenges at every turn, with everyone, and even the school council doubting the severity of their situation and the need to access the emergency funds. The fact that they had to wait until tomorrow afternoon for a decision only added to their uncertainty.

"So, although myself, Sonoko, Takuma and Reina are stuck in this situation, the others would not know if we'll have access to the emergency funds to check into the hotel, is that what you are saying?" Ran said, her voice filled with a hint of resignation, before deciding, "What about getting your families, or wait! I could get Sonoko's family to foot the bill!"

"That is not happening," Shinichi interjected while shaking his head, "No one would be willing to pay the additional charges for extra individuals, in the perspective of any adult, that would be unreasonable."

"But our lives are on the line here!" Ran screeched, not directly at Shinichi and Ranran, but over how helpless their situation is now.

"Neh Ran, did you not consider one would happen if one feeds peanut to one monkey, while the other monkeys watched hungrily?" Ranran explained the situation, "As dangerous as the situation is now, it may bring in freeloaders, and we can't afford that, although it is selfish."

Ran took a moment to process Ranran's analogy, understanding the implication of their current situation. The other students and families might not be willing to pay the additional charges for extra individuals, considering it unreasonable. It was a difficult and frustrating predicament.