Saturday was a day unlike any other in the Mayfair at Brampton Hotel.

In a way, it was a little bit more liberating to the class of 1-A, since they no longer need to wake up in some small little tent at the crack of dawn, squished together like a bunch of sardines. Instead, they found themselves in the lavish suites of the Mayfair at Brampton Hotel, basking in the luxury they had never experienced before.

The day began with the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air, though it was a shame that the kids are too young to drink it. Still, mingling with the aroma of a delectable breakfast spread was something way better than campsite food. The class of 1-A gathered in the hotel's elegant dining hall, their eyes wide with wonder as they surveyed the decadent array of pastries, fruits, and mouthwatering dishes.

In the restaurant, Reina couldn't help but marvel at the opulence around her. "This place is like a dream," she whispered to her classmates, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

Takuma, ever the firecracker, snorted dismissively. "Dream or not, I'm starving. Let's dig in!"

The group including Reina, Takuma, Ranran and Shinichi chuckled, their spirits soaring as they indulged in the feast before them. For once, the weight of their detective responsibilities felt momentarily lifted, replaced by the joy of being carefree children.

"Sonoko hasn't recovered from her dengue yet?" Shinichi frowned at Reina and Takuma, seeking answers since the two are based in the same hotel suite as Ran and Sonoko, "She isn't around here to have breakfast."

Reina shrugged, a concerned expression crossing her face. "Yeah, she's still recovering. Ran said she needs a few more days of rest before she can join us, despite being able to eat toast of jam. It's a shame she's missing out on all this delicious food."

Takuma chimed in, "Yeah, it sucks. But her health comes first. She can always eat the food we are eating back at her little mansion when this camping trip is over."

Reina's face brightened as she took a bite of a delectable pastry. "Speaking of the case, have you made any progress, guys? Any new leads?"

"We did," The boy swallowed his food before responding, "In fact, we have a 99 percent idea over who the killer truly is."

The athlete's eyes widened with anticipation as he leaned forward, eager to hear the details. "Who is it? Do we have solid evidence?"

"Roughly," Ranran answered, taking another bite of the food, "Problem is...we may need to bring the killer, dead or alive."

"Plus Emiko's artwork," Shinichi explained, "We need her sketch detail of the photos Ranran sent to her the other day to confirm what we had long suspected all along. She should've completed it in an hour's time."

The head monitor/president of the student council then leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I hope Emiko's artwork will provide the missing piece of the puzzle. It's about time all of these shenanigans be caused by the killer be brought to an end!"

Takuma nodded in agreement, a determined glint in his eyes. "Once we have that confirmation, we can confront the killer head-on. No more playing cat and mouse. It's time to bring justice."

"Another good news," Ranran rolled her eyes to herself over this matter, but she had to bring this up, "Thanks to Ran hanging those ghosts, the sky seems to be finally clearing up. Michio and Junko informed me yesterday around midnight that it is a good day for Genzo to send out police help over to the island, finally, no more camping! Hell yeah!"

Excitement rippled through the group, their faces lighting up with renewed energy. The prospect of police reinforcements arriving meant that the end was in sight. No more endless nights in cramped tents, no more lurking shadows of danger. The arrival of help signalled a turning point in their investigation.

Reina let out a cheer, her voice filled with relief. "Thank goodness! I don't think I could handle another night of sleeping on this island anymore!"

Takuma grinned, his enthusiasm contagious. "You said it, Reina! I'm ready to bid farewell to these mosquito-infested woods."

"I can't believe I would be hearing this, from someone who loves the outdoors among everyone in Tantei Association," Shinichi is a bit disbelief at Takuma's proclamations.

Takuma shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, even the biggest outdoor enthusiasts need a break sometimes. Besides, after all the excitement we've had, a cosy bed and a hot shower sound pretty appealing right about now."

Ranran chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Neither do it, I never thought I'd see the day when Takuma would be so eager to leave the great outdoors. But hey, who can blame him? A little comfort goes a long way."

As they continued to enjoy their breakfast, laughter and chatter filled the air, momentarily masking the underlying tension of their investigation. For a brief moment, they were just a group of friends, enjoying a luxurious hotel experience.

"You can't go out, remember!? Ranran and Shinichi say no since there is a serial killer out there! Including Arima-sensei!"

A voice could be heard confronting outside of the restaurant. Their heads turned to see Mana standing at the entrance of the restaurant, who is with their other classmates of 1-A with their bag packs on. "It won't be bad! The hotel provided a nature guide service around this area! We could use a bit of fresh air, you know? Especially after being cooped up in the tents thanks to several days of typhoon!" Mana argued with the other kids against Ran.

"Look, I get it. We've been cooped up for days, and fresh air sounds tempting. I too was there, remember? We can't risk jeopardizing everything we've worked for, all because you all wanted fresh air!" Ran reminded him.

Mana huffed, clearly frustrated by the cautious approach. "Fine, be that way. But don't blame me if you miss out on all the fun. I'm not scared of some silly serial killer."

Annoyance evidently crossed Shinichi's face. "This idiot obviously didn't learn his lesson after-"

"Shinichi," Ranran stopped him before he could confront the idiotic Mana, "Allow me."

As soon as she left the table, she approach them to tell Ran, "Let Mana go, Mouri Ran."

"Eh!?" Ran was started, and so were Mana and the other children as the little red lip detective girl arrived.

Looking directly at Mana straight in the eye, as well as with the other children who are with him, a total headcount of 10 of them, which Ranran assumed were the same crew who broke into the abandoned wooden cabin where the serial killer is currently residing in, she goes, "You can't stop a boy who is headset on escaping the clutches of responsibility, can you? It's like trying to convince a squirrel not to hoard its nuts for the winter. Pointless, really."

Mana crossed his arms, a defiant smirk playing on his lips. "Damn straight! I'm like a squirrel, always on the move, gathering adventures instead of nuts."

"Ranran!" The long brown-haired girl rushed to Ranran's side, her bewildered look etched on her face. "You can't be serious, right?! Are you..."She gazes at Mana quietly before whispering to Ranran, "Are you saying this just so as to get him to quit?"

"No I ain't," Ranran shook her head, her voice resolute. "You can't tell a bull to remain in a shop full of antiques, knowing that it will eventually wreak havoc."

With Mana set in Ranran's sight, she confronts, "Let me ask you something, you won't be heading back to that abandoned cabin with them again, will you? After the mess you had caused the other day."

Mana's smirk faltered slightly, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.  "N-n-no! Of course not! I learnt my lesson!" Mana argued.

What a liar..... Ranran can't help but secretly scoffed.

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

Yesterday around 7 pm on a Friday, while the entire class of 1-A and Arima-sensei were dining happily at The Crown and Caviar, Ranran gave Shinichi the signal. "Try to steal Mana's phone."

With a knowing look, he left her table and purposefully held a glass of drink, then while walking next to Mana who was busy bickering with another classmate,  Shinichi deftly manoeuvred his hand and slipped Mana's phone out of his pocket.

The plan was set in motion. Shinichi discreetly made his way to a secluded corner of the restaurant, where he examined the phone, his eyes scanning the screen for any incriminating evidence. Ranran watched from a distance, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Meanwhile, Mana remained oblivious to the theft, engrossed in his heated debate with his classmate. "Penguins can fly!"

"They can't fly!"

The conversation escalated, voices rising and gestures becoming more animated. Ranran couldn't help but find it amusing how quickly Mana got carried away in arguments.

As the chaos unfolded, Ranran's mind raced with possibilities. What secrets could be hidden within Mana's phone? Messages, photos, or perhaps even clues related to the serial killer? She couldn't wait to use this to their advantage.

Minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity, and finally, Shinichi returned to the table, a sly smile playing on his lips. He discreetly handed the stolen phone to Ranran under the guise of a casual gesture, their actions concealed from the oblivious Mana.

Ranran's fingers danced across the screen, navigating through the labyrinth of apps and messages. Each tap held the promise of a revelation, a glimpse into the hidden world of Mana's secrets.

But as she delved deeper into his digital life, something unexpected caught her attention. Amidst the mundane messages and innocent photos, Ranran stumbled upon a hidden group message tucked away in a corner of the phone's storage. Intrigued, she opened it, her eyes widening in disbelief.

In this messaging group, showed messages of him with Mamiko, who is supposedly at the rehabilitation centre after attempting to stab Ranran the other day. There, there were messages from Mamiko's side, telling him the plans that he should organize a scheme that would portray him in a heroic light.

He should duped 10 other kids from class 1-A, to go into that abandoned cabin where the serial killer was and try to attack them, despite the teacher and themselves telling them not to after their horrible episode. That way, Mamiko convince Mana not only Ranran and Shinichi would look like pathetic cowards, but Mana would also be perceived as a hero.

But Ranran sees this differently.

The purpose of Mamiko's manipulation was to make Ranran and Shinichi's club Tantei Association, a detective agency that works on cases of dark serious nature appear as failures, incompetent in the face of danger. It was a twisted ploy to tarnish their reputation.

And should Mana happen to die, it will make things worst.

Anger simmered beneath the surface, fueling Shinichi's resolve to expose the deceitful plan. The apprentice then whispered to his mentor, "Should we tell Arima-sensei?"

"No," Ranran told him, "Doing that would just encourage him to do it no matter what."

"Then what!? Should we...should we confront Mana alone in his hotel room?"

"No, I have a better plan," Ranran smirked menacingly, "One that would ultimately make up stories look like stories one would simply believe as a kindergartener."

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

Rather than confront the liar's lies, her voice dripped with a dark tone as she spoke, her gaze piercing through Mana. "Once bitten, twice shy. And in our case, once stalked by a deranged serial killer, never willingly stepping into their lair again."

The other classmates shifted uncomfortably, exchanging nervous glances.

"I don't believe that what you said is the truth, honestly," Ranran continued, her tone low and ominous, "But if the killer arrived here at this very hotel, and I meant it, all thanks to all of your meddlings...." Ranran paused for a moment, letting her words hang in the air, creating an unsettling atmosphere. She then broke into a wicked smile:

"You see, I've learned a thing or two from our dear serial killer. The art of hunting, the thrill of the chase. I've been observing, studying, and I've become quite adept at it." She took a step closer to Mana, her gaze unwavering. "So, if any of you dare to venture out into the darkness, thinking you can outsmart the danger lurking, just remember this: I will be watching, waiting, ready to unleash a game of terror you've never experienced before. Like for example..."

She chuckles casually, "A real-life game of Clue, where I'll be the mastermind and you'll be the hapless victims!" she hissed, her voice laced with a chilling blend of determination and amusement.

The atmosphere grew heavier, suffocating under the weight of Ranran's threat. The other children shuffled uncomfortably, their bravado fading into apprehension.

Ranran's lips curled into a wicked smile, her eyes glinting with a mix of determination and a touch of madness. "Oh, the things I have in store for you. The puzzles, the riddles, the surprises. I'll make sure your every step is filled with dread, your every breath a reminder of the imminent danger."

Mana swallowed hard, his earlier defiance now replaced by genuine fear. The realization of the consequences of his actions had finally sunk in.

With a final warning glance, Ranran turned on her heel and walked back to the table, leaving Mana and the others standing there, shaken and contemplating the consequences of their actions.

Little did they know, Ranran's threat was not merely an empty promise.

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

"Wait.....no, Emiko, are you sure this is what Eiji looks like?!"

Michio and Junko had gathered in the Tantei Association HQ, refusing to believe that the sketch work she had presented through the projector was the real deal.

Although he was minus scars now in appearance, appearing as a good looking man, for some reason...."But Eiji....he looked like the deceased victim in the expedition: Kichiro!" Are you sure!?" Michio argues, not wanting to believe that is the truth.

Emiko, the skilled sketch artist of the Tantei Association, sighed in frustration as she faced Michio's scepticism. "I know it's hard to believe, Michio, but I've cross-referenced the details multiple times. This is the face of Eiji, without a doubt."

"No wait, but if Eiji's face looks like Kichiro's...does this means for the past 12 years....Kichiro was alive the entire time!?" Even Junko was this close to tossing her spectacles aside in response to seeing this.

The revelation hit them like a ton of bricks, shattering their previous understanding of the case. Emiko nodded solemnly, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "I mean if you think about it, Genzo called to say Kichiro's corpse was never discovered till now!"

Michio's hands trembled as he processed the implications. "But... but why? Why would he fake his own death and assume a different identity?"

"Isn't that pretty obvious!?" Junko was dumbfounded over how dumb her crush could be at times, "His fiance Jun married his best friend, Miki, the same guy who cut the ropes while Kichiro plummeted to his supposed death to save Jun, Kiryu and Iwao!"

The artist then chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, yeah, totally obvious. Because when your best friend steals your fiancée, the logical course of action is to fake your own death, assume a new identity, and live in hiding for over a decade. Classic move, right?"

"But hang on a minute, one thing doesn't add up," Everyone turned to Michio, who remains baffled by the turn of events, "I understand why he had to do the things he did, but then...Ranran and Shinichi called to have reported finding news clippings of Miki's family, mainly his mother who died in a lift accident, the death of the family's heir, Yasuo Tatsuo, as well as everything he need to know about Miki's family. Why?"

"About that...I think I may have a reason why," Emiko tore out a paper from her sketchbook, before plastering it on the board, revealing the appearance of a little boy.

The room fell silent as everyone's attention shifted to the sketch of the little boy. His innocent face stared back at them, unaware of the turmoil that surrounded him. "Who is this boy?" Junko pointed at the drawing, dressed in a little tux.

"That....is Kichiro as a kid," Emiko answered.

"Eh!?" The children's brows shot up while Junko probed, "Why did you draw him as a child?"

"I didn't, Ranran requested me to,"  Emiko and the others cast their sight on the drawing.

"Ranran did?" Michio quipped, "Why?"

"I don't know...but I have a hunch over why she told me to," Emiko rubbed her own chin.

"Which is?" Junko begins to question where the artist was attempting to head with this.

Emiko paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before taking out the art of the little boy, pasting next to Kichiro's photo from the expedition to the left, then places Eiji's drawing to the right, "There, this should give you all the answers we have all been seeking."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone's eyes darted between the three images on the board. The innocent face of the little boy, the younger version of Kichiro, stared back at them, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability.

Emiko cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Look closely at these pictures, and you'll notice something peculiar. The resemblance between the young Kichiro and Eiji is uncanny."

Junko leaned forward, squinting her eyes. "Wait, are you saying that Eiji and Kichiro are related?"

"No, you all did a background check. Think again," Emiko encourage them to think better, "Here, maybe I should put this photo next to Kichiro's."

The gears in their minds turned, attempting to make sense of the puzzle before them. Michio's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Wait a minute....why did...why do Kichiro look a bit like...Yasuo Shizuku? That matriarch of the Yasuo family? I mean....his eyes look like hers?"

"Maybe....the dead heir of the Yasuo family: Yasuo Tatsuo...was Kichiro all along!"

Finally, Michio's words clicked as the room erupted with gasps and exclamations of disbelief. Junko's glasses nearly slipped off her nose as she blinked rapidly. "No way! Yasuo Tatsuo drowned when he was around 9! How can he be Kichiro!?"

"Think about it," Emiko snaps her finger, "Sergeant Genzo made the call to let us know, that so far, Tatsuo, Kichio and Eiji....the three had in common was all of their corpses remain undiscovered throughout these 12 years, does it not made sense now?"

She paced across the room before the two, "If Miki is the serial killer, it wouldn't make sense for him to have the news clippings plated at the abandoned cabin, let alone, in the office of Kodama Forest camp. But if the killer is Kichiro however, it made sense. Even more so that if he was Eiji."

As she cautiously explains, she has no idea of the danger looming back at the island.

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

Back in the penthouse suite, after Ranran and Shinichi had their eventful breakfast, as soon as Shinichi received the sketch art upon returning, he nearly dropped his smartphone.

Ranran, who was lounging on the couch, raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Shinichi? You looked as if you had seen a ghost."

"Oh, you are so spot on!"

He handed the phone to Ranran, who took it eagerly and examined the sketch art. Her eyes widened in surprise, her lips curling into a confident smile. "As I suspected...Kichiro was not only Eiji but also Tatsuo, the heir who died years ago."

The apprentice's mind raced as he analyzed the sketch, connecting the dots and forming new theories. "How did you...when did you figure out that Eiji, Tatsuo and Kichiro are the same people?!"

"When he came up with that ghost story about two men who are as close as brothers, only the poor one got betrayed as the girl he loved married the rich one, it only made sense why Jun made that face before rushing to lock up her bedroom back at Kodama Forest camp last week: Since the details of that story closely mirrored certain details  about that expedition that took place 12 years ago, which is why Jun may have figured out that Eiji was in fact her late fiance!"

Shinichi's eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "So, feeling betrayed, Kichiro assumed the identity of Eiji, a man filled with scars, and Jun somehow realized the truth during the recent expedition. That would explain her reaction to that night." He ponders about this, "It wouldn't be odd for her to put it together, given their relationship. Especially those scars that he claimed he got from an 'accident'....it was that expedition that led him to be that disfigured, which made sense. But then..."He turned to Ranran, "What about the connection between Eiji and Yasuo Tatsuo, the only heir of the Yasuo family who allegedly drown at his home!? How did you figure this out?"

"When his photo was never published on the news." Ranran explained, before hopping away from the couch, pacing, "You see, Shinichi, most rich families tend to flex their children's photos in the media, especially if they're heirs to a prominent family like the Yasuos. They do this, to let everyone know that they had a secured heir so that those opportunistic board of directors or anyone won't push their children against rich families to take their kids as heirs. While I admit not all of them do this to protect their privacy and for safety purposes, it's still highly unusual for a family of such stature not to showcase their heir in public. It raises suspicions. There are reasons why a family would do this."

Ranran listed it as she lift her finger one by one, "One: The heir was born an incompetent fool, or he or she is deformed or mentally disabled, which is embarrassing for their reputation. Two: The heir was involved in some scandal or criminal activity, and the family wanted to distance themselves from him. Three: They are not blood-related, and fourth: the heir is a bastard child from an affair. Judging from the lists I mentioned, which is the right reason?"

Shinichi listened intently, his mind absorbing Ranran's analysis. "Judging Kichiro's earlier photos back in university....he is good-looking and exceptionally fit so that disability theory is out. Also, for him to end up being able to commit all of the murders and stage them as accidents....he isn't lacking in the intelligence department. As for reason no.2....although his adoptive family did commit insurance fraud.....this happened only after Tatsuo died, not before. Even if he was an overly naughty nine-year-old at that time...it would've been ridiculous to simply not acknowledge him as the heir and cut ties completely because of this. He is still a child at that time to grow out of it. That leaves us with reasons three and four."

The more he thinks deeply about this, the more he frowns, "I would've bought theory number 3, but the resemblance between Kichiro and Yasuo Shizuku is too uncanny to deny this, which leaves us with no.4....an illegitimate, huh?" He scoffed, "So judging if this is Tatsuo, I am assuming Shizuku cheated on her husband."

"And....you know this because?"

"If Tatsuo/Kichiro was truly the biological child of the late patriarch of the Yasuo family, it wouldn't make sense why the Yasuo family ended up taking in Miki, also an illegitimate bastard who is from the father's side, correct?" Shinichi justifies, "If Tatsuo is from the matriarch side, however, then it wouldn't justify the purpose of making Tatsuo the heir, since he doesn't carry the Yasuo blood. This is why when Tatsuo allegedly drowned, or in this case, fake drowned, no photo of him, not even an obituary about him was even published on the news."

Then it suddenly dawned on Shinichi, "Then...the stage drowning incident-"

"That's right," Ranran bobbed her head to him, "I believe his Okaasan was behind this, that she intentionally staged this to avoid drawing suspicion from her husband while giving him a better life. Or that she had every intention of wanting him to die so that no one could test that her son was a product of infidelity."

With the implications sinking in, Shinichi then wonders, "Then how did Tatsuo later become Kichiro?"

Ranran paused for a moment, contemplating her next words. "That, Shinichi, is a question we have yet to uncover. But given the circumstances and the lengths Kichiro went to assume a new identity as Eiji, it's clear that there was something going on between his adoptive family and the Yasuo family. And with that ongoing situation...it was enough to get Kichiro to resent Miki."

"It makes sense," Shinichi figures, "In addition to Jun marrying his illegitimate brother, Miki, after Miki severed the rope to save the majority of the survivors, considering if Kichiro is aware of his parentage and, this would be a whole other level of betrayal and abandonment. By assuming the identity of Eiji, he could distance himself from his past and seek revenge on those who wronged him."

Then another possibility popped up in his head.

"Miki's biological Tousan...who died while hiking at the mountain from an alleged heart attack...I imagine Kichiro wanted him dead because Miki get to live a luxurious life thanks to the fact that he was biologically related, despite both of them being born from illegitimate backgrounds. If we all of the combination of hell he had to deal with....it's enough to set a timebomb in Kichiro." Shinichi pointed out.

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

"It didn't make any sense!"

Michio and Junko were still in shock over what Emiko proposed regarding her theory about the case back in Tantei Association's main HQ.

"Let's say what you mentioned about Kichiro being Tatsuo this entire time is true, then what about that party incident then? A day before the fated expedition when he and Miki were out drunk, Kichiro went over to the Yasuo's residence upon escorting a drunk Miki while calling Miki's stepmother-or rather, his real mom, a B! Say what you said is truly the case,  if Kichiro is indeed Tatsuo and he holds such resentment towards Miki, why would he defend Miki against his real mom by using a degrative word?"

"Exactly!" Even Junko sided with Michio on this point of view, "And even if Kichiro has bad blood over whatever he had with his biological mom, it wouldn't make sense to simply continue using his name 'Kichiro' instead of 'Tatsuo' if his real mom staged his drowning incident just to cover up her infidelity! I could've just purposefully used my real identity out of spite!"

"Oh no, it would be guys, if you were being lied to about it." Emiko clarifies.

Michio and Junko exchanged puzzled glances, waiting for Emiko to elaborate.

"Kichiro's family, the ones who adopted him....what would be the reason for them to simply take him in as their son?" Emiko questioned the two.

The eldest boy scratched his head, deep in thought. "Well, if Kichiro is indeed Tatsuo and his adoptive family knew about it, perhaps they took him in out of pity, then provide him with a better life."

"Hah! That would be naive!" Junko spat, "I bet the most plausible answer, is that this family, the same one who do insurance scams for a living, saw an opportunity to use Tatsuo/Kichiro for their own benefit. It could have been a strategic move, ensuring their own position and influence within the family."

"Junko is right," Emiko snapped her finger at her, "Taking in a child to look after requires tons of money. By adopting Tatsuo/Kichiro, his adoptive family could gain access to the Yasuo family's wealth and resources. They could manipulate and control Tatsuo/Kichiro, moulding him into a weapon they could use to further their own interests. It was a calculated move, a long-term plan that they had set in motion."

Michio's eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. "You can't be serious!?"

"I mean now that Emiko mentioned it," Junko suddenly remembers their interaction, "When we headed over to their place to inform them that Kichiro was likely to have been murdered, they denied this and refuse to accept it while insisting it was a cliff accident!"

Emiko nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. They were adamant about maintaining the narrative of an accident because they knew the truth would expose their own involvement. By denying foul play, they could protect their own reputation and escape any suspicion."

"Seriously!? What deadbeat parents Kichiro had in his life, ugh!" Junko stuck her tongue out.

Emiko let out a sigh. "It's a cruel world we live in, Junko."

When Michio glance at the photos of the cliff back at the island, he goes, "That safety demonstration between Miki and Eiji last week Monday....when Eiji plummeted to his supposed 'death', Eiji is the likeliest to cut the rope on his own, nah? To fake his death, since Eiji is also Kichiro, he had to 'die' in order to commit murder on his victims."

The secretary crossed her arms, "That's right! It only made sense for Eiji to do it, because everyone had an airtight alibi!"

"But then...how do you suppose that Eiji/Kichiro/Tatsuo made it out alive after falling at such a high cliff?" Michio can't help but wonder.

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

"A life net!?" Shinichi exclaimed.

"That's right, a life net, one that is commonly used by firemen," Ranran announced back in the living room of the penthouse, "Remember when Mana stated that he and the other kids were busy hiding in the closet when the killer entered the abandoned warehouse, only to find a circle looking mattress or something with a hole?"

Shinichis eyes widened as he connected the dots. "You're right! Considering Kichiro had done rock climbing in the past, he would've had experience in falling of the cliff safely unharmed, even more so since he is likely to have placed the life net beneath the cliff. It all makes sense now. It's a clever move. By cutting the rope that is linked to Miki, it not only made it appear as if Miki cut the rope to ensure Kichiro, who is also Eiji, having fallen to his death, Eiji could create the illusion that he had met his demise. Meanwhile, he would safely land in the life net and make his escape. But wait a minute...a hole on the life net? Shouldn't life net not have any holes in the first place?!"

"It shouldn't, which could only mean one thing: The fake death situation went wrong, which resulted in a hole." Ranran clarifies."I believed it was thanks to this mistake, that it became the reason why he decided to break into Kodama Forest Camp and stole my painkiller medicine."

Furrowing his brow, his hand hits his fist, "To treat any injuries he might have sustained during the fall. But wait a minute, it wouldn't make sense!" He whipped his head to Ranran's, "At Kodama Campsite, they too had meds as well! Why didn't he go raid theirs then?! Or head to the pharmacy at the hotel we are in?!"

"Because I believe he knew the brand of the painkiller medicine they bought isn't as effective, unlike the ones I have. In addition, you don't forget that Kichiro, who became Eiji, has sustained tons of scars on his face because of the expedition's fall 12 years ago. Nowadays you can't simply purchase painkillers freely if one wears a mask, one must produce their identification or prescription from doctors to be granted those meds. Plus, this is a man who faked his death 3 times in a row, so he will get recognised on the spot if he does either of them. But stealing from a child like me, however, make things easier." Ranran observes.

Seeing the reasoning behind Kichiro's actions, Shinichi then gazed silently at the murdered victims' photos on the table, Shinichi then pointed one by one, "Mr Kiryu, Mr Iwao and Miss Jun....they all benefited from Kichiro's death because of Miki, who chosen to sacrifice Kichiro in exchange for theirs. And since he couldn't live with the result...he decided killing all of them would be befitting, since he felt wronged for over 12 years. But what I can't understand, is this...."

He picked up Miss Rika's photo and showed it to Ranran, "Miss Rika is Mr Miki's childhood friend, and she wasn't there at the expedition when Miki did this to Kichiro 12 years ago, so why would Kichiro try to kill her yesterday?"

"I can guess tons of motives for that," Ranran suddenly brings this up, "Do you remember yesterday that Arima-sensei mentioned not long after Kichiro's death, the entire university students had a huge debate about whether Mr Miki did the right thing in severing the rope of Kichiro to save the lives of others? Miss Rika was fiercely protective over Mr Miki, and I believe Kichiro found out about this later, which is enough of a motive to kill her. Furthermore, you also remembered that Miss Rika suspected Mr Miki and Miss Jun's drinks could've been intentionally spiked to trigger a one-night stand that led to the marriage. I believe Kichiro blames Miss Rika for failing, had she professed her feelings for Mr Miki, or at least done a good job of preventing this, Kichiro wouldn't have lost the woman he loved to Mr Miki."

"Damn, that is the most messed up motive!" Shinichi can't help but be appalled by their investigation.

"Indeed, it's a twisted motive fueled by Kichiro's anger, jealousy, and desire for revenge," Ranran agreed, her voice filled with determination. "Kichiro's actions are driven by a deep-seated resentment that has festered for years. I guess after losing his identity as Tatsuo, while he continue to lose the things he cherishes left and right, it was a matter of time before he finally snapped and sought to take revenge on those he perceived as responsible for his suffering.

Shinichi sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "We need to act quickly. Right now, I think Mr Miki and Miss Rika are in danger should they remain in Kodama Forest camp, and we can't let Kichiro succeed in his twisted plans. We have to find her and ensure her safety before it's too late. Ranran," He turned to her, "Did you notify Sergeant Genzo in advance about the findings?"

"Of course I did," Ranran nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "With everything having planned ahead, nothing can go wrong at this point on."

"We better inform Ran and the others downstairs." Shinichi suggests.

"Why don't just we just call them rather than take the lift?" Ranran sighs, "The lesser the hastle, the better."

Suddenly, Ranran's smartphone rang out loud.

Ranran quickly reached for her smartphone and answered the call. "Hello?"

On the other end of the line, Michio's voice came through. "Ranran, it's Majima here, I am in the main HQ alongside Emiko and Junko. We have reason to believe that-"

"Eiji, Kichiro and Tatsuo are the same people?" Ranran answered naturally.

Michio's voice on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment, surprised by Ranran's accurate response. "How did you...?"

"I have my ways," Ranran replied cryptically. "But we don't have much time to waste. We've connected the dots, and it seems like the two other instructors back at Kodama Forest camp are in grave danger. I am going to-"

Suddenly, without warning, the electric appliances in the penthouse suddenly short circuit.

As the electric appliances in the penthouse short-circuited, the lights flickered and then went out completely, plunging the room into darkness. Making matters worst was for some reason, Ranran's signal finally vanished from her smartphone.

Ranran's voice turned urgent as she spoke into the phone, "Hello!? Michio!? Michio!? Can you hear me!? Also, what the heck!?"

In the darkness, Ranran could feel a sense of unease creeping up on her, although the sky is a little gloomy. She quickly reached for a flashlight and turned it on, illuminating the room.

"Something's not right," Shinichi said, his voice filled with concern. "The sudden power outage and the loss of signal on your phone...don't luxurious hotels normally have backup generators!?"

Ranran quickly checked her surroundings, scanning for any signs of intrusion or suspicious activity. The darkness added an eerie atmosphere to the penthouse, heightening her senses.

"You're right, I do remember when I asked my client about it, there are multiple backup generators," Ranran replied, her voice filled with caution. "What in the world is going on!?"

As Shinichi and Ranran stood in the dimly lit penthouse, they could feel a sense of unease creeping over them the moment their walkie-talkie spark to life, "Ranran and Shinichi, it's Takuma here, are you there, over?!"

Shinichi quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie and responded, his voice filled with urgency. "Takuma, we're here. What's happening? We just experienced a power outage and loss of signal!?"

There was a brief pause before Takuma's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie. "Shinichi, Ranran, there is somebody outside the entrance of the hotel right now, and from the side of the lobby, I can see him holding a hatchet, demanding the guards that they let him in!"

Shinichi's eyes widened as he exchanged a worried glance with Ranran. "Takuma, stay calm and keep your distance from that person. Do not let them inside under any circumstances. We're on our way down to assist you."

"Lock yourself, Reina, Ran and Sonoko in the hotel room, fast!" Shinichi ordered.

"Kyaaaaaaah!!!"

Shinichi and Ranran's hearts raced as they heard the terrified screams. "Hello!? Takuma!?"

"It wasn't me screaming, it seems like the guy manage to knock out those guards! And the other kids at the lobby....oh snap! I am fleeing now! Ran, lock the door! I need to look for Reina now!" Takuma could be heard yelling before everything abruptly cut off, leaving Shinichi and Ranran in a state of heightened alarm.