Now Ranran had personally seen this intense gaze from Primrose Everly before, the same gaze that is currently being directed towards her through the rear-view mirror.

The first time the child detective had witnessed this, was during Valentine's Day when she was 3, in Edgewood Academy.

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

Like most schools, it was a day filled with excitement and anticipation as the students exchanged handmade cards and small gifts. In Edgewood Academy, a school filled with children of nobility and royalty, it was no different when it came to the romance department.

But there was one thing Edgewood Academy does differently unlike most schools, since the school does not allow dating in general, especially because they didn't want to promote the temptation of 'cheating', considering the majority of the students here were arranged to be married off to someone else, the student had no choice but to do a 'creative' way of celebrating Valentine without violating the rules.

The school wasn't that heartless to ban it, though the previous seniors did put up rules that are so ridiculous, it made it impossible to celebrate Valentine's Day. This is where the special tradition comes in.

The way Edgewood students do it is simple: Each student had the opportunity to send a message or gift to someone they admired or had a crush on, provided that their identities must remain anonymous.

And considering it is also a prestigious school filled with wealthy children, all of the ways they had come up with stunts that involved millions of pounds.

There was one epic incident, it was later known to Edgewood as 'The Rose Tower' incident Ranran recalled reading, in the secret school record room in their school.

One student, a 16-year-old boy from the gardening club wanted to make a lasting impression and decided to create a tower made entirely of roses.

The tower itself consists of thousands of carefully arranged roses, each individually placed to form a magnificent structure. It required a team of skilled florists, weeks of preparation, and an enormous budget to bring this breathtaking display to life. The student then later revealed anonymously that the person he had a crush on, their identity will be revealed at the top of the towel in a hidden note.

Another student with a musical inclination hired a full symphony orchestra to serenade their crush. The student arranged for the orchestra to perform a personalized composition, written specifically for the recipient. The performance took place in a lavishly decorated ballroom, where the recipient was invited under the pretence of attending a special event. The orchestral performance culminated in the reveal of the anonymous sender, leaving the recipient in awe of the effort and talent behind the gesture.

Then, this one was around that time when Ranran started enrolling in Edgewood Academy, one particularly adventurous student orchestrated an elaborate treasure hunt that spanned the entire campus. The hunt involved intricate riddles, hidden clues, and a trail of extravagant gifts. Each clue led the recipient to a new location, where they would find a luxurious gift waiting for them. From designer accessories to rare artefacts, each gift showcased the sender's dedication and wealth. The final clue revealed the sender's identity, leaving the recipient thrilled by the adventure and impressed by the lengths taken to express their admiration.

These were just a few examples of the extravagant Valentine's Day gestures that took place at Edgewood Academy.

For the then 17-year-old Primrose Everly at that time, she too was no different.

At that time, she had a crush on an 18-year-old boy, his name was Percival Frostbourne whose family rank was marquess.

And damn, Ranran could recall the time Primrose had gone to great lengths to create an unforgettable Valentine's Day experience for Percival. She had meticulously planned a romantic evening under the stars, complete with a candlelit dinner, a string quartet playing their favourite melodies, and a surprise fireworks display. The entire event had been orchestrated to perfection, with every detail thoughtfully considered.

Why did Primrose have that intense gaze back then at that time?

Simple, cause this confession itself wasn't your typical high school crush, frankly speaking, she knew that Percival had a crush on someone else whom she deemed not worthy of Percival.

Ranran had watched from a distance as Primrose, disguised in a flowing gown and a delicate mask, anxiously awaited Percival's arrival. Her eyes sparkled with excitement and nervousness as she anticipated the unveiling of her grand gesture.

When Percival finally arrived, he was taken aback by the sheer extravagance of the setting. The scene had been set in a beautifully decorated garden, adorned with countless roses and twinkling fairy lights. As the string quartet played a melodious tune, Primrose stepped forward, her heart pounding with anticipation.

She had handed Percival a handcrafted envelope, sealed with a wax stamp bearing the initials "P.F." Inside, a heartfelt letter expressed Primrose's admiration and affection for him, carefully written in elegant calligraphy. The letter also revealed her identity as the anonymous sender of the grand gesture.

Ranran recalled how Primrose's face had flushed with a mix of hope and nervousness as Percival read the letter. The atmosphere had been filled with anticipation as everyone held their breath, waiting for his response.

But to Primrose's dismay, Percival's reaction had been far from what she had expected. His face displayed a mix of surprise, confusion, and a hint of discomfort. He had thanked Primrose politely but had made it clear that he did not share the same romantic feelings since he had a crush on someone else.

The following day at school, while everyone was at the cafeteria, although nothing much had happened while all the students of all ages gathered there, from her seat, Ranran could see the contempt look, not directly at Percival, the boy who rejected her feelings. Still, the contemptuous gaze was directed at the girl Percival is sitting next to, the same girl he had a crush on.

Only one incident had occurred after the failed confession later on, which was a dead rat discovered under her love rival's desk.

The child detective vividly remembered the chaos and panic that ensued after the discovery of the dead rat. Students screamed, some fainted, and the cafeteria turned into a scene of pandemonium. The incident was quickly reported to the school authorities, who launched an investigation to determine the culprit behind the unsettling act.

While no concrete evidence could be found linking Primrose to the incident, Ranran knew it was her, because the CCTV her late mentor installed around the school premise had video of her committing the act.

While the video was never released to the public, since her mentor say it will be too troublesome to the both of them should they ever interfere, since they were both secretly running Fox and Deer, their online revenge agency at that time as didn't want to attract attention, it eventually became one of Ranran's blackmail materials, considering the girl too was from a family of a marquess, while Primrose's family had a rank of an Earl. If Ranran release it one day to the press, Primrose would be so screwed.

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

The second time Ranran witnessed this gaze from Primrose, was when the 'Baby project' came up.

The "Baby Project" was an assignment given to the students at Edgewood Academy, designed to provide them with a glimpse into the responsibilities and challenges of parenthood. Each student was paired with a partner, and they were tasked with caring for a lifelike baby doll for a designated period of time.

Now this program itself was mandatory in Edgewood, to discourage teenagers from committing 'adulterous acts' in the school's words and ended up becoming parents at a young age. Thanks to this program, their school were one of the few in the whole of the United Kingdom to have unplanned pregnancies among teenagers at about 80 percent.

It was an opportunity for them to experience the demands of raising a child, from feeding and changing diapers to soothing a crying baby.

As fate would have it, Primrose and this classmate of hers, a boy, were paired together for the project.

Ranran couldn't remember the name well, but she thinks his name was Aaron.

Anyway, this boy Aaron had a reputation: He was never on time when it comes to doing group assignments, and he was one of those rich kids where one would say party till dawn. The last person you would want to rely on, let alone, become a father to anyone's child.

And although he is an educated party boy who is responsible for not impregnating anyone unlike most party boys in this school, he is probably the last person one should rely on when it comes to looking after a living thing, let alone, a baby doll.

When rumours spread across the campus, Ranran recalled the apprehension in Primrose's eyes, everyone assumed that she was naturally going to fail and repeat in the semester.

And Primrose naturally doesn't care if she had to repeat another semester, she was born into a wealthy family and can afford to remain in Edgewood after all. The problem with this is that 2 fails are enough to earn a kick out of the academy, and it gets humiliating if one ends up in an average school, and everyone learns they were formerly an Edgewood student.

In the U.K., it is common for children to learn that any child who used to be in a prestigious school, only to be kicked out under disgraceful behaviour ends up getting bullied severely. Edgewood is after all a famous school. Though they were not necessarily bullied out of 'disgrace', most of them were bullied under such pretence to mask their 'envy'.

And their form teacher didn't do this without a reason, you see he wanted Primrose to grow out of her immaturity and dimwitted brain.

Most of them would've assumed that after pairing them up together, Primrose would eventually take charge of everything, and grow to become independent without Aaron while looking after the baby doll to avoid failures. Especially after seeing that intense anger in her eyes directed at Aaron, who couldn't be bothered even though her lectures fell on deaf ears for Aaron.

However, that didn't happen.

Instead, she meticulously organizes a plan so devious, it was enough to land Aaron to stay back for a semester in Edgewood while she gets the credit.

She would discreetly tamper with the baby doll's programming, causing it to cry at inconvenient times or malfunction in Aaron's care. Primrose would then swoop in, offering her assistance and taking over the responsibilities, all the while portraying herself as the responsible and capable partner.

To the outside world, it seemed as though Primrose was taking charge and stepping up to the challenge, while Aaron was seen as unreliable and incapable. Ranran noticed how Primrose's intense gaze, filled with a mix of determination and satisfaction, would often linger on Aaron during their interactions.

Ranran couldn't help but wonder about Primrose's motives. Was it solely driven by a desire to succeed and avoid the humiliation of failure? Or did her intense gaze hide deeper emotions and a thirst for control?

But after she succeeded, that gaze left Ranran a dark impression on her since.

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

Now, as they walk before the grand mansion of Punchard Land, Ranran couldn't help but wonder if Primrose's intense gaze and calculated actions were driven by more than just a desire for success and control.

The child detective girl's instincts kicked in, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. She furrowed her brows, analyzing Primrose's expression for any hint of hidden intentions or motives. Ranran is certain she lied about the deer being on the main road, so what is her reason for doing that to her?

To get back at Ranran? For ruining the future her niece had as a child actor? It happened years ago, as much as she showed signs of grudge, it was too extreme for Primrose to endanger the lives of her fellow members of Tantei Association, plus one Ohta Bunko who is sitting next to her at that time.

No, Ranran now thinks Primrose had a bigger motive, one so big, it is beyond herself alone.

Takuma, oblivious to Ranran's observation, broke the silence with a playful tone. "Punchard Land, huh? I wonder what kind of adventures await us there! Maybe there's a secret treasure hidden in the mansion!"

Ranran turned her attention away from the mirror and responded, trying to keep her voice calm and composed. "We'll have to wait and see, Takuma. But remember, we're here to consult how we appear on the show when they draft our characters in real life, not go on a treasure hunt."

Primrose's smile widened, though there was something unsettling about it. "Oh, don't worry. There's plenty to discover in Punchard Land. But first, let's get settled in the mansion. I'm sure you'll find it quite... intriguing."

As the vehicle slowly made its way through the open gates and approached the magnificent mansion, the children couldn't help but be in awe of its grandeur.

Cruising along the drive,  it was vast: The Punchard mansion stood tall and imposing, with its intricate architecture and sprawling gardens, as there is an elegant series of terraces linked with flights of broad stone steps. Columns of tall, pointed cypresses were interspersed with strategically placed orange trees and huge cacti in beautifully crafted terracotta pots.

It exuded an air of mystery that both fascinated and unnerved them.

Ranran's mind raced, considering the possibilities and potential dangers that awaited them within those walls. She made a mental note to stay vigilant and keep her detective senses sharp.

After the third or fourth bend, they caught a glimpse of the mansion and even Shinichi who had grown used to seeing mansions thanks to his privileged background gasped in astonishment. It was amazing: a construction of stone, glass and steel that looked incredibly modern but also seemed to blend so well into the landscape that it might have grown there all by itself.

While all of this is going on, something else caught Shinichi's attention.

A man was sprinting across the terrace nearest to them and then down the steps towards the iron gates two at a time.

Now Shinichi is a bit of a soccer maniac.

Before the infamous incident with Rokuro, he used to wake up early and head to soccer practice with the other members of Teitan Elementary School. And depending on the previous soccer leader's mood, this was before Rokuro took over, he choose the park venue whatever he deem was suitable for the group to play soccer.

And there was this park that the group leader use to enjoy taking them to, it was a place where Shinichi was used to seeing joggers running around the park while they play soccer around the field area. In fact, he was so used to their presence, that it was pretty obvious to Shinichi that whoever this mysterious man is, he had no intention of exercising around this area.

For starters, the man he witness is currently dressed in crisp, white trousers, with a scarlet waistcoat and matching carnation that dangled precariously from the buttonhole of a red-and-white striped blazer. A once neatly knotted bow tie was rapidly unravelling, the ends flapping against his shoulder.

Thinning grey hair was revealed when he stumbled and his straw hat fell onto the ground. He didn't stop to retrieve it. When he saw their vehicle, he froze for a second. But then he took off once more, his pace increasing even though his gait was lurching and uneven, and he had a hand to his side as if he had a stitch. He was some distance away, but Shinichi could hear what his body language was saying as clearly as if he'd shouted the words aloud. He was panicky, desperate. Terrified.

Shinichi's curiosity was piqued by the mysterious man's frantic behaviour. Something about his demeanour conveyed fear and desperation, and Shinichi couldn't ignore the instinctive urge to find out what was happening.

As the van approached the mansion, Shinichi leaned closer to the window, trying to catch another glimpse of the man. His eyes followed the man's movements, analyzing every detail, and his mind raced with possibilities.

Tugging Ranran and gaining her attention, he pointed to the man out of her window, "Are you seeing what I am seeing, Ranran?"

As the vehicle slowly made its way through the open gates and approached the magnificent mansion, the children couldn't help but be in awe of its grandeur.

Ranran's attention snapped back to the window as Shinichi pointed out the frantic man. She leaned in closer, observing his panicked movements and the evident distress on his face. Ranran's detective instincts heightened, and her mind began to race with questions and possible scenarios. "Bruh, is that a clown I am seeing?"

"What!? Where!? Let me try to record this with my new smartphone," Takuma and the 4 other members who were sitting behind Ranran and Shinichi all had their smartphones whipped out, eager to record whoever this person is.

"It ain't a clown," Shinichi quickly corrected her, realizing that the man was not a clown, but rather his attire had clown-like elements. He scanned the man's appearance again, noting the red-and-white striped blazer, the dishevelled bow tie, and the scattered accessories.

"What clown are you guys talking about?" Primrose who is in the driver's seat began to frown in response.

"You can see it through the rear mirror," Ranran pointed out, "There is a man in an odd get-up around Peggy Punchard's garden."

"Is it meant to be a surprise to the children?" Ohta Bunko couldn't help but ask.

"What!? Miss Peggy won't do that because she is-" Primrose glanced at Ranran in the rear-view mirror, wondering if she was making things up, and then looked out across the grounds. "Hey, hold on a minute...who is that man!?" she exclaimed, slamming on the brakes again.

But by the time the van had come to a halt, the man had slipped through the iron gates just before they clanged shut and disappeared from view.

"Could it be one of the staff who works here?" Michio suggests.

"Definitely no, the last thing Peggy would want is to have her staff dress up that way unless she is throwing a party. Which we don't," Primrose's smooth forehead creased in a puzzled frown that made her ears jerk.

"Maybe she is having a guest over," Emiko thinks.

"Even if she does, definitely not anyone who dresses up that way," The driver spoke crossly, "If she did, Peggy would've notified me in advance."

Out of curiosity, Ranran decided to ask, "Does this include her friends, work colleagues, as well as her lawyers and her adult children?"

"Of course, Ranran," Primrose's expression turned stern as she replied, "Why? Is there something wrong?"

"No," Ranran shook nonchalantly at the driver, "Just asking."

Primrose grows rather uneasy, her gaze flickering between Ranran and the van's rear-view mirror. "What is going on, Ranran?" Shinichi pulled her a bit to his side to ask quietly.

"Shinichi," Ranran paused before asking her apprentice, "How many times Peggy had remarried?"

Shinichi furrowed his brows, contemplating Ranran's question. "You know the answer, 25. Why?"

"And what is the same main reason for the divorce all of them had in common with Miss Peggy?" Ranran pressed.

Shinichi thought for a moment, trying to recall the information he had gathered about Peggy Punchard. "Money, she is worth around 4 million pounds. Which if convert to Japanese currency, would be around 560 million yen. Many of her ex-husbands demanded alimony or settlement payments from her, even though they themselves are wealthy, but not as equally wealthy as her."

"Precisely," Ranran made sure Primrose didn't hear a word she utters before lowly speaking to Shinichi, "This is a comedian who had to deal with 25 exploitive dickheads who want every single penny from her. So why would a comedian who is always been cautious of someone, would simply allow a supermodel who is also likely her son's girlfriend, to be in charge of all of the secretarial affairs!? Mainly giving her the reigns to have access to knowing who Peggy's friends, lawyers and work colleagues are. Primrose herself is a dimwitted fool, even an idiot could see the way she carries herself till now...I wouldn't put her in charge if I were Peggy."

The apprentice's eyes widened as he realized the implications of Ranran's words. "Then....are you implying that Primrose might be lying?" Shinichi whispered, his voice filled with a mix of suspicion and disbelief.

"This is something my late mentor taught me, Shinichi. The smart ones who hire incompetent secretaries will not let them be put in charge of their personal lives, because by doing so, you are giving them the opportunity to sell secrets on those entertainers to the press. Ultimately, the one who earns the bacon would be those secretaries, and those entertainers suffer the fallout. Even if one brings out a lawsuit and the celebrity wins, people only want to hear what is written and heard about them behind the scenes. Basically, lies can become the truth."

Silence.

"And it ain't a secret what sort of reputation Primrose had according to the press, regarding her diva-like behaviour. If Peggy still hires her despite all of that, I guess they are both equally dimwitted." With a tense sweat forming on Shinichi's forehead, Ranran's gaze still fixed on Primrose through the rear-view mirror. "This anime project about us...I felt like Primrose did something to Peggy, but I don't know what at the moment. Including....that deer incident earlier."

".....what about it?" Shinichi pressed, wanting to know more.

"She was giving me an intense gaze when the deer accident thing happen, I saw that look before back in Edgewood. Whenever she had that look, that mean she is willing to pull all sorts of shady crap onto someone," Ranran confided to him, "I don't think there was any deer when she was driving the van and pulling the brakes to avoid it. I believe....she lied, she intentionally breaks the van to wake me up."

That made Shinichi's sense tingle for all the wrong reasons, "Why would she want to wake you up?"

"That is the thing," Ranran sighs frustratingly, "I can't figure out what is her true motive."

"Maybe it could've been what you had done to her niece years ago?" Shinichi suggested the other children sitting behind them were too focused on the man in a 'clown' suit.

"No," Ranran shook her head to confirm, "If she had wanted to do so, she wouldn't have endangered you, the others, as well as Miss Ohta who is sitting next to her as the passenger."

"So....what is her real reason for doing this to you?"

As Ranran and Shinichi contemplated the possible motives behind Primrose's actions, the van's occupants continued to discuss the mysterious man they had seen. Takuma and the other members of the Tantei Association eagerly recorded the scene on their smartphones, hoping to capture any clues that might shed light on the situation.

Meanwhile, Primrose was busy sharing her woes with Miss Ohta, oblivious to the children's conversation, "She is so judgemental because of my partying ways. I mean how is that even fair? She herself married 25 times. And don't tell me she never partied in her entire life when she was around my age."

"Oh no, she definitely partied heavily," Ohta nodded to her, "My employer, Mr Muniko, taught me to do research on celebrities. And I definitely am certain that in one of her interviews, Miss Peggy partied for 3 days nonstop."

As Ranran and Shinichi listened to Primrose's complaints and Miss Ohta's response, they exchanged knowing glances. Quietly, they fished their phones and pretended to browse the internet, while they eavesdropped on their conversation.

"She talked as if her son could do no wrong, and kept assuming that I am a bad influence on him. Had she forgotten that he too used to party around when he was around my age?" Primrose continues to rant.

The two children exchanged another glance, realizing that Primrose must be referring to Felix, the eldest son from Peggy's fifth marriage, the same guy who formerly had faced his fair share of controversies and scandals in the past, then was later reported to have checked himself into rehab after a life-altering incident, then changed his ways since.

"Then was it worth it working for that woman?" Ohta sighs at the other, "I mean you are a supermodel who can do better without dealing with someone like her."

"You are right, but I took up this job during the time I had my agent take leave for good reasons," Primrose chuckled, "I didn't want to be seen as a 'pretty face' who can't think for themselves anymore." Ohta said nothing, while the British Caucasian rambled, "But I am not going to lie, she is difficult to work with. Erratic, if I may add. I sometimes wonder how is it someone like her who can make people laugh, can treat others this way."

The van finally came to a stop in front of the mansion's entrance, and Primrose turned off the engine. "We've arrived. Welcome to Punchard Land," she said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Anyway, I'll take you all to the house to meet Miss Peggy first," she told Ohta Bunko as she accelerated up the drive once more. "Then we'll go to the guest wing. You'll need to get some rest, I should think before you all begin work."

Right now, Ranran and Shinichi could tell that their 5 other members who are sitting behind them are utterly nervous. In a way, it made sense since they are meeting a British Comedian who is not only wealthy but is about to likely invest in this anime project that will feature all about their lives.

Which is why the children behind Ranran and Shinichi quickly unbuckled their seatbelts and stepped out of the vehicle, hoping to distract themselves by taking in the sight of their new surroundings.

The mansion loomed above them, its ornate doors beckoning them to step inside and uncover its secrets. Ranran glanced back at Primrose, who was watching their every move intently. She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Primrose's involvement in this case than met the eye.

"What a stunning place!" enthused Ran. "I imagine it would take millions of yen to afford!"

Junko nodded in agreement with the long brown-haired girl's observation. The grandeur of Punchard Land was undeniable, and the expenses required to maintain such a magnificent mansion were undoubtedly substantial.

"Dang, I knew she is a popular comedian, but who knew telling jokes would make you rich?" Takuma found himself saying in awe.

"She is a witty person after all, so it ain't surprise why she is able to get herself to where she is today," Primrose chuckled softly at Takuma's comment, her gaze still lingering on the mansion. "But....it ain't all smooth sailing regardless"

Ranran's curiosity was piqued by Primrose's cryptic comment. She couldn't help but press further, her detective instincts guiding her. "Did it have anything to do with her 25 failed marriages?"

Primrose's smile faltered for a moment, and her gaze shifted away from the mansion to meet Ranran's inquisitive eyes. There was a flicker of something, a hint of vulnerability before Primrose composed herself and responded.

"Well, there was a lot going on in her head that no one knows about," she replied, her voice tinged with a touch of bitterness. "When you lose so many times in life, especially in the world of love, and when you grow old someday to realize you are all alone.....you would wish that the beautiful past had remained as it is, don't you think?"

The founder of Tantei Association sensed the weight behind Primrose's words, the underlying bitterness, regret and anger.

"Neh guys," Ran pulled the other kids aside to talk for a moment, "Do you think Miss Peggy will take our words seriously?"

"It will be fine," Emiko said confidently. "We have Ranran to do our job for us."

"Yeah! Only Ranran can make the adults listen to us!" Takuma grins proudly as her friend.

"I don't know about this," Even Junko, the association's secretary is nervous as well, "I mean don't get me wrong, but what if that Miss Peggy purposefully made our characters in the anime look like morons? Or painted us as some evil character?"

"I hate to agree with Junko on this, but she is right," Michio too was feeling it, "If that happens, we can't go back to school anymore. You know how the kids think of child actors who act as villains, they think they are evil in real life too."

"Don't worry about it," Shinichi reassured them, "If that happens, there are things to our benefit called 'lawsuits'."

"He's right. If Peggy Punchard were to misrepresent us or portray us negatively in the anime, it's called 'slandering', and that is against the law," Ranran nodded in agreement with Shinichi's reassurance. "We may even get paid nicely if they try to do anything funny."

The other members of the Tantei Association seemed to find comfort in Ranran and Shinichi's words, and their worries slightly eased. "I genuinely hope so," Ran bit her lip a bit, "I wouldn't want some angry children coming to us without warning because what they show about us on TV is the 'truth' when it ain't."

As soon as they walked into the vast, marbled entrance hall, the last thing they would be expecting was to see the elderly Peggy Punchard lying in a crumpled heap at the foot of a sweeping staircase.

But unfortunately, that was what it is.

Ranran's eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her. Peggy Punchard, the renowned comedian, lay motionless on the floor, her limbs sprawled in an unnatural position. The other members of the Tantei Association gasped in horror as they too witnessed the distressing sight.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ranran rushed to Peggy's side, checking for vital signs. She pressed her fingers against Peggy's neck, searching for a pulse, closely followed by the horrified Shinichi.

The other children froze, alongside Ohta Bunko, as Ran asked, "Is she....dead?"

Waiting for a response, Shinichi anxiously checked Ranran's expression, desperately hoping to feel a faint beat. But the moment she announced, "Shinichi, call the police, now.", he knew that she is dead.

So this is how their motto goes, if Ranran utters the word 'ambulance and police', the person is alive. But if she didn't mention the word 'ambulance', then there is no point in calling.

Peggy Punchard's body remained still and unresponsive as the apprentice swiftly took out his phone and dialled emergency services, requesting police emergency service. As he spoke to the operator, his voice steady but tinged with urgency, the others watched in silence, their minds reeling with shock and confusion.

Even Primrose was also fixed to the spot, but rather than looking upset, she seemed annoyed at the interruption to her well-planned timetable.

Now out of all of the members of Tantei Association, Ranran and Shinichi were the only 2 children who had seen corpses growing up, so the two weren't as shocked as Ohta Bunko. Though Ran and Takuma did during the events of the 'Blood on the Campground' case, the two still ain't used to it. And for first-timers Michio, Junko and Emiko, it was pretty distressing looking at that poor broken body, and Michio had to take a few deep breaths to steady himself.

Even Junko who is trying to look brave looked as though she wanted to run straight back to the luxury van Primrose drove them away from this hillside.

Overall, thanks to how things had played out, Takuma is able to conclude one thing in his mind: There ain't going to be any anime project made now that the secret investor is dead.

And Ran after having witnessed all of this, decided that the temple Sonoko had taken her to pray was utterly useless.