In the Tantei Association main HQ, seven members were anxiously waiting for the arrival of Ohta Bunko to arrive with the Muniko's vehicle. And most of them had one thing boggling on their mind.

"What car do you think is she going to drive by with?" Takuma asked the other members, his eyes scanning the members, who remained in their respective seats around their meeting table. 

"I think she'll probably arrive in the same grey car she used the other day when she rushed to stop her fiancé from nearly killing Mr. Muniko at the mine," she said, her voice filled with concern. 

Emiko vividly remembered the frantic moments she and Ran experienced as they sat in the backseat of the car, desperately trying to prevent a tragedy. Emiko thinks, recalling the time she and Ran were at the back seating being all so frantic.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," she retorted, crossing her arms. "After that incident, her 1969 Toyota 2000GT was towed away."

Bewildered by this revelation, Ran couldn't help but interject. "Hah!? Why!?"

"Well, to be fair," Ranran began, "During the movie preview, she and her fiancé went to great lengths to ensure his 'death' appeared real. Let's not forget that he did fake his death, after all, to avoid paying back the money he stole. Considering that his face appeared in that movie by accident, it isn't surprising why Ohta ended up stealing the film reel, causing quite a stir. The authorities needed to investigate whether any other crimes were committed using that vehicle. As a result, she probably won't get it back for at least a month."

"But she was declared innocent later on, correct?" Shinichi pointed out. "Why tow away her vehicle regardless?"

"Well, after the mine incident, legally the authorities arrested her under charges of robbery," Ran explained. "But Mr Muniko, our client, ended up paying for her bail since both he and Ohta, along with his half-brother Nam-no - we can't call him Namba anymore - and Seto Benjiro, were practically victims of the manipulative schemes of Seto's biological mother, Tadashi Sora. To some officers, it didn't sit well that they could just easily pay their way out of the crime because of their connection to Muniko Tomio, a wealthy influential movie investor. So they want to pin something on Ohta by possessing her car."

"That is cruel!" Junko pushed up her spectacles in anger, "I know what she did was wrong, but anyone in her shoes would do the same thing if their love one was in danger!"

"If that wasn't bad enough, that Toyota car was a gift from Seto Benjiro and his late sister when Ohta graduated university, earning it through multiple part-time jobs before the events took place. And that car meant everything to her." Shinichi exhales his breath at that information.

"Why does it matter? That car?" Michio grew baffled, "It's old."

"It may be, but it is something you can't put a price on," Shinichi then explained the reason, "And for Miss Ohta who is born an orphan, gifts coming out of good people rarely come by."

The room fell silent as Shinichi's words hung in the air.

"Now, I am not in a position to say how it feels like being an orphan, but you all heard all those horror stories on what happens to kids who become parentless." Shinichi explain with caution, "But roughly from what I had gathered, she was never adopted by anyone. Hopping from one foster family to another. All of that changed only after she met Seto's family, and then they celebrated her birthdays yearly, even though they were not rich, it was eventful to her. Which is why when Seto Benjiro and his eldest sister pooled up the money to buy this car from a second-hand store, then surprised her, it was her first gift as an adult."

Everyone's eyes except Ranran's grew big at that bombshell, at the same time, their expressions are now softening with empathy. They could now understand the significance of the car to Ohta Bunko, and the pain she must have felt when it was taken away. 

"Anyway, don't worry about the car." Shinichi reassured them, "Legally, she will get the car back. And if she doesn't, she plans to recruit us to get it back, which is merely a piece of cake, right Ranran?" He shifts his attention to his partner-in-crime.

"Obviously!" Ranran grins.

The tension in the room eased, "Actually, Mr Muniko did suggest buying her the same model, but the new one. She turned him down, cause as she said: That car had too many memories that not even millions of yen can bring it back." Ranran adds, "So he is lending her one of his cars, now that she is working as his secretary till her car gets released."

"Really? Then," Michio turned to the others, "Considering Mr Muniko is a wealthy businessman, that meant Miss Ohta is gonna drive over a vehicle that is luxurious, right?"

"You have a point!" Takuma snap his finger, before wondering about the possibilities as to what sort of car would arrive. "I bet she'll show up in a sleek black sports car," Takuma suggested, eyes shining with excitement. "Something like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari."

"You do know that they are 7 of us, right? It ain't possible to simply do so if she turns up with a sports car." Shinichi refuted.

"No," Ran shook her head. "I think she'll go for something more elegant and sophisticated, like a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Ohta has always had a refined taste."

"Not possible," The artist of the association Emiko argued, "It doesn't fit 7 people!"

"Yes, it can!" Ran refuted, "The other day I overheard Rolls Royce had a vehicle that could do such a thing! I think it was called Rolls Royce R...." Ran suddenly stopped, struggling to remember the name, "Rolls Royce.....ugh, I forgot what the name was."

"Rolls Royce RR Cullinan, right?" Ranran answered.

"Yes! That's it!" Ran exclaimed, relieved that her memory had been jogged. "The Rolls Royce Cullinan. It's an SUV that can easily accommodate seven people."

"I doubt that would be possible," Michio disagrees.

"Why?" Ran gave a tilted look.

"Mr Muniko's wife is no different than their daughter, Mouri. " Junko explained the logic. "They are so vain over how they present themselves, the last thing they would want is to be seen photographed by the press in some heavy duty adventurous looking SUV that is more suitable for camping purposes."

"But Ran might not be completely in the wrong," Emiko interjected, "Nowadays high-end SUV exists, like a Range Rover or a Porsche Cayenne."

"I think a limousine would be suitable," Michio guessed. "It can fit multiple people, not to mention, more than 7 of us." As soon as everyone stared blankly at Michio's suggestion, the whole room erupt into laughter over how ludicrous that sounded. "What is so funny!?"

"Michio, a limousine? Really?" Emiko managed to say between fits of laughter. "We're detectives, not a group of celebrities attending a red carpet-event."

"Even if Mr Muniko has one, it wouldn't be practical. And I tell you why," Ranran snickered in between while explaining, "First and foremost, parking would be a huge issue."

"Oh yes, I definitely agree with Ranran on this part," Ran nodded with a smile, "Imagine, Mr Muniko, bringing his entire family over to have dinner at some fancy restaurant. Then, upon arriving in a long, sleek limousine, the valet from the mall would then eventually asks, 'Where should I park this monster?'"

Laughter filled the room once again, imagining the perplexed faces of the valets trying to manoeuvre a massive limousine into a tight parking spot.

"And besides that, there is more," Shinichi too struggled to contain his smile, but he had to bring this up, "Japan itself is already a small country in general, so you should know that the roads around the city at times are narrower. So how would Mr Muniko's chauffeur navigate through those narrow streets with a limousine?"

"Exactly," Junko chimed in, wiping away tears of laughter. "Can you imagine the chaos that would cause? The poor pedestrians trying to squeeze past that enormous vehicle on the sidewalk."

"Plus, those poor vehicles at the back, he is going to cause massive heavy traffic in every corner he turns. And their face is going to end up like this," Takuma interjected, mimicking the frustrated expressions of other drivers stuck behind a limousine.

His expressions were enough to trigger more cackles and giggles.

While everyone is busy giggling, Ranran and Shinichi spoke privately away from their ears. "Ranran, is everything going to be alright? I mean you mentioned that you ruin Primrose's niece's entire acting career as a child star. Considering that she is going to be there, she may make things difficult for you."

 "I won't deny that it could be a delicate situation, but I didn't do anything wrong. Her niece is a bully, and she was asking for it. If she tries to be funny with me, I will make Primrose lose her entire supermodel career."

"To make her lose her career is one thing," Shinichi sighed, his gaze fixed on Ranran. "But people can hold grudges, Ranran. Eventhough it happened years ago, I am worried she will make things difficult for you."

"She won't be able to," Ranran slyly smile, "In case that may happen, I prepared a little insurance policy." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small envelope.

"What's that?" Shinichi asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Fishing out her smartphone, she revealed a series of carefully organized photographs. "These are some compromising pictures of Primrose. Let's just say she has a few secrets she wouldn't want to be exposed."

Shinichi raised an eyebrow, realizing what Ranran was implying. "You're saying that if she tries to make things difficult for you, you'll use these pictures as leverage?"

"Of course, "A mischievous glint in her eyes lit up in her, "I want to remind her that as much as I am a 6-year-old child, while she is no longer a teenager but a 19-year-old woman, the last thing she should be doing is trying to mess with a child like me. I want her to relive that same moment when her niece lost everything before her eyes."

 "You really think ahead, don't you?" he remarked, a mixture of admiration and concern in his voice, amazed at Ranran's cunning and resourcefulness. 

"Just be careful, Ranran. I don't want this situation to escalate further." 

"Don't push me, and I won't push her back." Ranran shrugged nonchalantly.

Amidst the laughter and banter, the sound of an approaching engine caught their attention. The members of the Tantei Association turned their heads towards the entrance, anticipation evident on their faces.

As the sound grew louder, the door swung open, revealing Ohta Bunko standing beside a sleek, silver sedan. It was a BMW X7 2020, exuding elegance and sophistication.

"Well, it seems like Ohta-san chose something luxurious after all." Takuma's eyes widened, and he turned to Ran with a grin.

"No way, it is truly an SUV!" Junko was shocked, wondering what was truly going through the Muniko's family mind when their former client bought this.

"I guess Mr Muniko must found a way to balance his wife's refined taste and his practicality so to speak." Emiko grew to be amused at this revelation.

With the emergency door knocked, Ranran rushed over to open the door, which is in the disguise of the bookshelf, revealing Muniko's secretary, "Sorry children, the traffic was heavy when I arrived."

"It's alright," Michio is always raised to be respectful towards adults nodded understandingly while peering at the SUV, "But I am surprised, who knew Mr Muniko's wife allowed him to buy an SUV?"

"She allowed, provided it didn't look 'macho' in her eyes," Bunko chuckled softly while staring at the parked SUV, "This BMW X7 was something she and the daughter were willing to put up with."

The members of the Tantei Association gathered around near the window, their curiosity piqued. They marvelled at the sleek design and polished exterior of the vehicle. "But hold on a minute," It suddenly dawned on Ranran, "This SUV although had the capacity to carry 7 passengers, Muniko only has one wife and a daughter, why did he need to purchase this vehicle? I mean even with his chauffeur joining in, it would be a total of 4."

"That's right," Shinichi can't help but agree, "Why did he buy such a large SUV?"

"Well, it can't be helped," Bunko sighs as she explains why, "Although he works as a movie investor, he at times would meet up with all sorts of entertainers to discuss the projects. And most of the time, to get privacy from fleeing from those paparazzi, lately most of those entertainers have moved into those mansions up in the hills. In addition to that, all those entertainers have their staff following them around, so he needed a spacious vehicle to accommodate everyone comfortably."

"Ah, I see," Ran nodded in understanding. "So, it's not just for his immediate family, but also for business purposes."

"So much for entertaining those hot shots," Takuma couldn't help but mutter.

"And is the investor who is part of the anime project that showcases our real-life adventures lived there? Around those hills? Which is why you choose Mr Muniko's SUV to pick us up?" Emiko guessed.

"Not really," Again, the secretary sighs, "After that incident with Benji-chan," She called out her jailed fiance fondly, "The public scrutiny of the Muniko family situation has grown from the press. After we travel around the hills midway, we may be switching to another vehicle with another client of Mr Muniko, who will come to pick us up. That way, the paparazzi can't get to us."

"Eh?! But that incident with us took place a month ago!" Shinichi was stunned.

"That's true, but the media's interest in our activities hasn't died down. Don't forget, the events that had taken place involved two women from powerful influential movie production companies," Bunko explained. "The press loves a good scandal, and the press having discovered that Benji-chan was the secret Tadashi's illegitimate son certainly created a lot of buzz. So we had no choice taking extra precautions to ensure our safety and privacy during our travels."

Ranran chimed in, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, who is this other client who will be picking us up?"

Bunko smiled mysteriously. "That's a surprise for later. You'll find out soon enough."

The team members exchanged glances, impressed by the thoughtful planning that had gone into their meeting arrangements. "Now, everyone, let's get in the car," Bunko invited them, holding the car door open. "We have a lot to discuss and plan for the upcoming case."

Excitement filled the air as the members of the Tantei Association filed into the luxurious BMW X7. They settled into the plush leather seats, taking in the elegant interior. The atmosphere was a mix of anticipation, determination, and the underlying thrill of adventure.

As Bunko took her seat behind the wheel, the engine purred to life. The car glided smoothly onto the road, the team members bracing themselves for the mysteries that awaited them.

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

As the SUV cruised along the road, the children couldn't resist speculating about the identity of the mystery client of Mr Muniko that would be picking them up in the hills. Excitement filled the air as they engaged in a lively discussion, each sharing their own theories.

"I hope it is a famous actor or actress," Ran hoped, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Someone who has worked with Mr Muniko on his movie projects."

 "What if it's a pop star? Someone with a huge following and a flair for drama. That would definitely make our journey more interesting!" Emiko chimed in, her imagination running wild.

"No, the person could be a Youtuber for all we know," Michio adds.

"Considering the recent scandals surrounding the Muniko family, it could also be a high-profile lawyer or a PR expert. Someone who can handle the media and protect the family's reputation." Shinichi, ever the detective, pondered the possibilities.

"Maybe it could have been a renowned journalist or an investigative reporter. Someone who can provide us with valuable insights and help us uncover hidden truths." Junko figures.

"Or a reality star? Or an athlete?" Takuma thinks. 

As their guesses continued, the children's excitement grew with each passing moment. The anticipation of meeting this mystery client added an extra layer of intrigue to their adventure. 

Ranran meanwhile remain silent, as one possibility was obvious in her head.

Judging from what she suspects, Primrose is definitely going to be the one to pick them up.

When Ranran was an Edgewood Academy student, the then 17-year-old Primrose who wasn't a supermodel at that time was always poking her nose where it doesn't belong on anyone's business. The soon-to-be supermodel would constantly eavesdrop on conversations and try to gather gossip to fuel her own popularity. Ranran remembered how Primrose had a knack for twisting words and creating drama out of thin air on social media.

In addition to her nosy nature, Ranran is certain Primrose is now rather curious about why Ranran retired as a successful child actress to become a detective.

As the thought of Primrose being the mystery client lingered in Ranran's mind, she couldn't help but feel unease. Not because that busybody Primrose is about to dig out Ranran's past that led the former child actress to this path, cause 'that incident' was all over social media at the time when it took place, so Primrose didn't really need to pick them up to dig up this piece of information.

No, if anything, Primrose is going to wanna flex, which is annoying. And that supermodel might want to dig around certain things that not even social media at that time was aware of that 'incident'.

Although the photos are at Ranran's disposal, the founder of Tantei Association would've preferred to handle the situation with finesse and prove to Primrose that she was not one to be underestimated.

The SUV made its way deeper into the hills, the children realized that their speculations could only go so far. The true identity of the mystery client would soon be revealed, and they would have to wait a little longer to satisfy their curiosity.

In the meantime, they leaned back in their seats, enjoying the comfort of the luxurious SUV and eagerly awaiting the moment when they would finally come face to face with the person who would join them on their journey into the hills, where secrets awaited their discovery.

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

As the BMW X7 approached the hills, anticipation filled the air. The driver expertly manoeuvred through the winding roads, leading them to a rest area not far from there, where they were scheduled to meet the mystery client.

Finally, the vehicle came to a stop, and the children eagerly looked out the windows, expecting to see someone of significance stepping out of another luxurious car. But to their surprise, there was no sign of anyone.

Confusion washed over them, and they turned to Bunko for answers. "Where is the person who is supposed to pick us up?" Shinichi asked, his detective instincts kicking in.

"She is coming," Muniko's secretary checked the time on her watch, "Just that she is stuck in traffic, that is all."

"She!?"

The children exchanged surprised glances, their anticipation growing as they awaited the arrival of the mystery client, who turned out to be a woman. Speculations and guesses filled the air as they wondered who this woman could be.

Ranran's mind immediately jumped to Primrose. Could it be her after all? The possibility seemed too uncanny to ignore. However, she couldn't be certain until the woman arrived and revealed herself.

Minutes ticked by, and the children grew restless. But as they wait, Ranran can't feel but felt as though they were all being watched. She discreetly glanced around, scanning the surroundings for any signs of hidden eyes. The dense forest that isn't far off from the resting place and the silence added to her unease.

"You felt it too, right Ranran?" Her apprentice Shinichi whispered, trying to keep his voice low.

"I felt it the moment this anime project thing came about," Ranran noticed the other kids remain oblivion to this, though Emiko as the two could tell from afar is too gazing about, wondering who is watching them.

The feeling of being watched had intensified since their involvement in the anime project, and it was starting to raise her suspicions. Something was off, and Ranran couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this mystery than they initially thought.

"Do you think that Primrose woman might remember that you were the kid who ruin her niece's life? I mean you were 3 when it happened." Shinichi can't help but wonder.

"In terms of how I look? I doubt it, I am now 6 years old." Ranran shrugs casually, "But as to whether she has forgotten about the incident.....no," Ranran shook her head to decide, "It may have been 3 years, but when I leaked it to the press about Millie, her niece's behaviour, let's just say....it caused quite a severe stir to a point if one ever comes into the neighbourhood, they will recognize her as 'Big Bully Millie',"  Ranran continued, her voice filled with satisfaction.

"It sounds bad," Shinichi frowned.

"Oh, I don't go for 'bad', I go for 'chaos',"  Ranran smirked.

Just then, the sound of an approaching car broke the silence, diverting their attention. 

Their eyes scanned the road, hoping for a glimpse of the approaching vehicle. Finally, the sound of an engine reached their ears, and they watched as a sleek black car made its way towards them.

As the car pulled up, the door opened, and a tall, elegantly dressed woman stepped out. It was indeed Primrose. Why isn't Ranran surprised? 

The Caucasian supermodel exuded confidence and elegance, her presence commanding attention. However, Ranran's expression remained calm and composed, hiding her inner satisfaction at seeing one of her client's enemies once more.

"You are here!" Ohta Bunko finally greeted the model in English, before noticing something odd, "Ah reh? Where is Peggy's secretary? Ain't he supposed to be with you?"

"Ah, you didn't hear? I took over their job months ago."  

"Eh!?" Ohta was stunned, "That secretary of so many decades finally left Miss Peggy?"

"No, not left," Primrose clarified with a smirk. "He was planning to retire for a long time, so I took up the job."

The revelation left Ohta Bunko speechless, her eyes wide with surprise. She had been out of the loop regarding the recent changes in Peggy's staff. "But is it alright? I mean don't you have more gigs to work on since you are a supermodel? Also, have you done secretary work before?"

"Honestly, no," Primrose chuckled, a hint of pride in her voice. "But I owed it to Edgewood Academy. It taught me interesting things. and one of them happened to be secretarial skills, also, I am on leave after all. Besides," She lean in to secretly whisper to Ohta, "I couldn't resist the opportunity to be closer to Peggy if you know what I mean."

"Eh!?" Ohta Bunko covered her mouth, before deciding to confront, "So those rumours about you being with-"

"Yup," The model nodded to her, "I had to impress her first, I guess mother's knows best."

Judging their vague conversation, Ranran couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Primrose's words.  It seemed that her suspicions were not unfounded, that Primrose is secretly seeing Felix, the comedian's son.

Ranran then took a good look at Primrose, the last time she saw her was when Ranran was around 3.

When Primrose was a 17-year-old teenager with a hint of immaturity in her demeanour, she had honey-colored hair with loose waves cascading down her shoulders. Her almond-shaped eyes were a deep shade of hazel, and her perfectly sculpted eyebrows framed her face flawlessly. Primrose's features were delicate yet striking, and her porcelain skin seemed to glow under the sunlight.

Now a young adult, she had blossomed into a stunning woman. Her honey-coloured hair still flowed gracefully, but it had gained a touch of sophistication, now styled in a chic, shoulder-length bob. Her almond-shaped eyes retained their alluring hazel hue, framed by long, dark lashes that added an air of mystery to her gaze. Primrose's eyebrows remained impeccably shaped, accentuating her facial features with precision.

As Ranran observed her former nemesis, she couldn't help but acknowledge the physical transformation that had taken place. But as for emotional maturity wise...Ranran can tell she barely did.

 Soon, the other children made their way towards her before Ohta quickly introduce her to them, "Unexpected, yet not, for the time being, this is Primrose Everly, 19-year-old supermodel/ temporary secretary for one of the investors for the upcoming anime show."

One by one, Ohta Bunko introduced them. Then when it came to Ranran, Primrose suddenly said in Japanese, "Ah yes, I know who this girl is," The supermodel answered crisply, "The girl who ruin my niece's future career for life."

Ranran's expression remained calm and composed, the woman's words had no effect on the child detective. She had expected this confrontation and was prepared to handle it with grace and maturity.

Ohta was obviously confused and turned to Ranran to demand an explanation was written all over her expression.

"Ah, about that?" Ranran smiles sweetly in glee before explaining to Bunko in Japanese, "She was referring to her so-called precious niece, Millie Rose Fisher, the actress who bullied other child actors that are way more talented than her," Ranran replied, her voice steady. "Let's not forget, Millie herself is what ultimately caused the downfall of her own career. I merely exposed the truth."

The comedian's temporary secretary's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger crossing her features while she responded in English. "You still haven't changed I see," Ignoring Ranran's comment, Primrose's angry eyes remain fixed on the 6-year-old founder, "In case you don't fully understand what you did back then, you ruined her chances of redemption."

"Redemption?" Ranran raised an eyebrow back to her native language, her tone tinged with scepticism. "Millie's actions were not something that could be easily forgiven or forgotten. It's important to hold ourselves accountable for the consequences of our choices. Those are the values of Edgewood Academy, unless your same old scattered brain has forgotten about it?"

The model's lips tightened into a thin line as she glared at Ranran. The tension between them was palpable, but the young woman refused to back down. "By the way, it's a waste, ain't it?" The woman chuckled mockingly at the red lip detective girl, "You wanted to become a child actor and worked hard for the past 2 years, then suddenly left after that boy died. If things were going to happen this way, you didn't have to kick Millie off and wastefully let others be the star?"

The young woman was expecting her words to hit a nerve towards the 6-year-old girl.

Much to her surprise, Ranran's chuckled while she goes, "It ain't wasteful for me to leave, and let others take the shine, especially let others who are way more qualified than your pest of a niece would ever be."

And those words obviously struck a nerve in Primrose. Her eyes widened in anger and disbelief at Ranran's response. The smug expression on her face faltered, replaced by a mixture of frustration and resentment. She had expected to rattle Ranran with her remarks, but instead, the young detective seemed unfazed and even confident in her decision.

To those who are listening, Ohta Bunko who only knew the tiny basics of English, as well as the other members, were confused and unclear about what was truly going on. The only thing they could see is witness the tension between child and woman escalated, their words like daggers thrown back and forth.

The tension between the two intensified as they exchanged veiled threats, their rivalry clearly evident. The other children watched the interaction with wide eyes, sensing the animosity between Ranran and Primrose.

But to her apprentice, Shinichi, who does know English, knew that this exchange was far more personal and intense than it appeared on the surface.

"How has your little niece been doing lately since she quit acting? Especially after getting expelled from Edgewood Academy, a prestigious school thanks to the crap she pulled on Salome? I heard that she had been enrolling in some normal average elementary school." Ranran's expression remained unyielding as she sneered.

The supermodel was shocked, "H-How did you know about-"

"I may have been in Japan after that incident regarding that boy happened, but I had my ways of keeping tabs on the aftermath," Ranran interrupted, her voice filled with authority. "I make it my business to know everything, especially when it concerns the people who have caused harm to others."

Primrose's anger was evident as she clenched her fists, her composure faltering.

Before things could escalate, Shinichi deescalates it by saying in Japanese, "Neh, I don't know what you are both talking about, but we are going to be late if are here all day."

His interruption brought a temporary pause to the heated exchange between Ranran and Primrose. The other children, sensing the tension, felt relieved that the situation was defused, at least for now.

"Right, I am sorry about that, young boy," Suddenly, Primrose revert back to give the apprentice a brief, tight-lipped smile in Japanese. "The van is this way. Follow me, please."

The atmosphere became slightly awkward as Primrose led the group towards a waiting van, the tension from the previous exchange still lingering in the air. The children followed silently, their thoughts consumed by the encounter with Primrose and the underlying mysteries that seemed to surround her.

But before that happened, Primrose glanced over her shoulder and flashed an unnaturally white set of teeth at Ranran, with a smile saying. "And be on your best behaviour."

Now Shinichi had been reading a new book about body language not long ago, under Ranran's guidance, and he couldn't help but notice that her grin didn't reach her eyes.

Shinichi knew about the bad blood feud between her and Ranran, his mentor after all did inform him of everything in advance. So he didn't reply sincerely to the model as he spoke, "Don't worry, we'll be on our best behaviour."

And he is certain the model could tell his words were insincere, seeing that her expression is twitching.

But Shinichi didn't care. He too doesn't like it if someone who is at her age swiftly sweeps the bad behaviour of younger children under the rug.

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

As everyone remains in their seat in Primrose's 2022 Lexus LX600 Ultra Luxury vehicle, to kill their boredom, the children found solace in their smartphones, browsing the internet to pass the time. Each of them engrossed in their own virtual world, they temporarily forgot about the tension and unease that had filled the air earlier.

The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic motion of the vehicle lulled Ranran into a peaceful slumber. She leaned against the window, as she found comfort in the warmth of the sun's rays streaming through the glass.

Meanwhile, the other children remained engrossed in their smartphones, their eyes fixed on the screens as they scrolled through social media, watched videos, or played games. Emiko, with her love for fashion, was browsing the latest trends and celebrity outfits while showing them to Ran, Their eyes wide with excitement at the glamorous ensembles. Michio, ever up to par with the trends of the internet, was deep into researching the latest viral video and was too busy showing off to Takuma a cool Mr Beast video.

Only Shinichi was the only one who did intense research on a person of interest on his smartphone. "Let me see, Peggy Punchard the comedian."

Not long ago, his mentor mentions that Primrose might be seeing Peggy Punchard's son, Felix. And that her name was mentioned in that upcoming anime project that features their lives in Tantei Association.

Shinichi's fingers moved swiftly across the screen of his smartphone, searching for information on Peggy Punchard, the renowned comedian. He delved into various online sources, trying to gather as much information as possible about her career, achievements, and notable performances.

As he scrolled through articles and watched snippets of Peggy's stand-up routines on video-sharing platforms, Shinichi couldn't help but be impressed by her wit, charisma, and ability to captivate audiences with her comedic timing. He discovered that Peggy had a long and successful career, spanning several decades, and had garnered a loyal fan base.

But Shinichi's research didn't stop there. Digging deeper into Peggy's background, he is shocked to learn that the comedian's luck in love was a disaster.

Cause she married not once, or twice, but around 25 times.

"My goodness...." Shinichi can't help but mutter.

"What's wrong?"  Takuma's head popped from the back, the athlete was sitting at the back with the others, while Ranran and Shinichi is in the front.

Shinichi looked up from his smartphone, slightly startled by Takuma's sudden question. "Oh, nothing," he replied, trying to hide his surprise. "I was just reading about Peggy Punchard's colourful love life. I mean, look." He pointed to the screen before the boy in the cap, while speaking lowly so that he doesn't wake Ranran up, "25 times! Who does this!? Also, who knew there were so many stupid men in the world who would willingly marry someone who makes bad decisions when it came to love, Takuma!?"

Ran who overheard this, stop what she was doing with Emiko as her eyebrows shot up, her curiosity piqued. "Wait, seriously? Twenty-five marriages? How is that even possible?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and amusement.

Since Shinichi and Ran are not familiar with the comedic entertainment world, neither of them knew the British comedian's personal life well enough to know about her colourful love life. 

"I know right? When we first Googled about her,  the first thing Michio said was she must be thinking this must be some sort of personal record to break or something." Junko chuckled, recalling his shocked reaction.

"Or maybe she's just really committed to finding 'the one', like Arima-sensei with her 84 ex-boyfriends." Ran thought hard.

"Those two can't be compared, considering that Miss Peggy is in her 80's." Emiko pointed out.

"Do you know what Ranran said to me when she first googled about her?" Takuma grins.

Takuma paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "She said, 'My God, she is trying to collect all the wedding cake samples, isn't she? I mean, can you imagine? Those 25 slices of cake?"

The children burst into laughter, but all of them have their lips covered with their own hands at the comical scenarios Ranran had imagined while trying not to wake Ranran up, their spirits lifted by the bizarre revelation about Peggy Punchard's marital adventures 

Suddenly, the squeal of brakes interrupted their laughter, jolting everyone in the van, suddenly waking up Ranran before she was flung so hard against the side of the van, that she cracked her head on the window. 

Ranran blinked, wondering for a moment where she was and why Shinichi was sprawled across her lap. "Hey! What the hell!?" She stares at Shinichi.

Shinichi groaned, trying to untangle himself from the awkward position he found himself in. "Sorry, sorry! It's not what it looks like, I swear!" He hurriedly sat up, rubbing his head where it had collided with the window.

Takuma, still recovering from the sudden stop, chimed in with a teasing grin. "Looks like you two were having a cosy nap together. Should I start taking bets on when the wedding bells will ring?"

Before Ranran could bring it up that it would not be possible, since they are blood-related, her words were cut by an obviously jealous Mouri Ran, "Takuma, the first thing I am going to do is I will let your girlfriend, Reina, know that you have plans to offer your soon-to-be future in-laws when we grow up as adults, that you will gift them a lifetime supply of protein shakes as a joke!"

The sudden turn of events caught everyone by surprise, and Takuma's eyes widened in horror. "No, Ran, you wouldn't do that! Please, Reina will kill me if she knows! I beg you!"

Meanwhile, Junko check at the side of the window to see that the van had stopped and was skewed sideways across the road, about a hundred metres away from a huge pair of wrought-iron gates that had the house name 'Punchard' worked into the design. The Sat Nav had been knocked off the windscreen to the floor and the wrong button must have got hit because it was screaming with electronic enthusiasm, "Suchi-no-Yūrei Lane 4254!" 

By this point, Primrose was scrabbling around in a frenzy trying to find it but the address was repeated five times before she managed to silence the thing.

"What happened?" Bunko who was sitting next to Primrose as the front passenger cried. "Why on earth did you brake?"

"My apologies!" said Primrose, dabbing beads of sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. "A deer ran across the road and I had to swerve to miss it. Are you kids OK?"

"A deer!" Ranran said, looking out at the empty road. "Where?"

"It's gone. It rushed over into the trees over there. It's fine, though – don't worry – there wasn't a scratch on it." Primrose reassured her.

But Ranran felt something was off, then asked the other kids, "Did any of you witness a deer?"

The kids exchanged confused glances, trying to recall if they had seen a deer during the sudden stop. Emiko scratched her head, puzzled. "I don't remember seeing any deer."

"Maybe it was just a figment of Primrose's imagination." Takuma suggested, "Like one of those mystical deer from Japanese folklore. Maybe it's a shape-shifting creature that only Primrose can see!"

"Please no!"Ran's voice was tight with nerves. Anything to do with the supernatural is out of the question, "No ghost please!"

Takuma chuckled, playing along with the randomness. "Who knows? Maybe Primrose has a secret connection with the animal kingdom. She's like a deer whisperer or something."

Junko, always the sceptic, interjected, "Come on, guys, let's not get carried away with the deer theories. It was probably just a normal deer crossing the road. They do exist, you know."

"That is right. Around this area, you might see plenty of deer around the area. You're sure to see one soon." Primrose turned and gave them another of her fake smiles before restarting the engine. She pressed some sort of remote control so the gates swung smoothly open and we entered the grounds.

"We're here," Primrose announced. "Welcome to Punchard Land! At least that this the name she gave the mansion." 

The words were addressed to the other children. 

But in the rear-view mirror, it was evidently clear that Ranran noticed that Primrose's eyes were firmly fixed on the child detective girl.