Six-year-old Shinichi stood beside his partner-in-crime, Ranran, staring at the lifeless body of Peggy Punchard. Despite his young age, Shinichi felt compelled to examine the details surrounding her death.

As Shinichi closely observed Peggy's features, he couldn't help but be surprised by her appearance. Despite her age, her face exhibited fewer wrinkles than he had anticipated. It was evident that Peggy took great care of herself, maintaining a youthful look.

Ranran, too, noticed Peggy's petite frame and deduced that she was a woman who paid attention to her appearance. Her well-manicured fingernails and neatly slicked lips showcased a sense of elegance. The long, white silk dress she wore, adorned with a red-and-white striped sash tied in a large bow at her hip, gave her an air of glamour fit for a red carpet event, with photographers eagerly capturing her every move.

However, Ranran's attention was drawn to a flaw amidst Peggy's otherwise impeccable presentation. She noticed that the heel of one of Peggy's shoes had snapped, leaving it hanging by a strip of leather from the sole. It was a small but noticeable detail, hinting at a possible mishap or struggle before Peggy's untimely demise.

Ranran's gaze then gravitated to Peggy's neck, her expression turning solemn. The angle of her neck was unnaturally twisted, indicating that it had been snapped, adding a chilling element to the scene before them. But the scene itself was way more terrifying towards the other member of Tantei Association, Takuma, for good reasons.

As a kid who is planning to become an American Football Athlete, physical health is everything to sustain a long-term career. The twisted neck served as a haunting reminder of the fragility of the human body and the potential dangers lurking in their pursuit of dreams. His aspirations for a successful career in sports now seemed juxtaposed against the grim reality of mortality.

"Just look at her neck, Shinichi," Ranran whispered to Shinichi, "Can you imagine how twisted someone's mind must be to do something like this?"

"Tell me about it," Shinichi shivered, his eyes fixed on Peggy's lifeless form. "She reminded me of those Barbie dolls Ran and Sonoko used to play with." Seeing his mentor's confused face, he then explain to her, "When we were in kindergarten, they used to play with these dolls, and sometimes out of boredom, those two would twist their heads around just for fun. But this... this is something else."

In a way, Ranran can't deny this, "I roughly get it, I mean she is literally the real-life version of Humpty Dumpty."

"Hah!?"

"No, I don't even think Humpty Dumpty is the appropriate word." Ranran rub her chin thoughtfully, "More like...an antique doll that got possessed by an evil spirit and decided to go on a twisted neck spree."

"Oh damn, please, no supernatural," Ran who is listening to this felt sick. The last thing she needs to hear is that there is some ghost in the middle of nowhere.

"Who does that? It's like a macabre art installation gone wrong." Emiko muttered.

"I am sorry, what is a macabre art?" Michio found himself asking.

"It's hard to explain, so I will google it for you," Emiko quickly did on her smartphone before showing the other children.

As soon as Junko, Michio, Takuma and Ran surrounded Emiko to take a look, they were greeted with a series of disturbing images that made their stomachs churn and their minds reel. The artworks were a bizarre mix of twisted bodies, decaying flesh, and haunting expressions, all captured in various forms of morbid creativity.

"Whoa! That's messed up!" Junko exclaimed, her eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and repulsion. "I never knew art could be so... twisted."

"Yeah, it's like someone took their dark, twisted fantasies and turned them into these grotesque masterpieces," Takuma added, unable to tear his gaze away from the screen.

Ran, on the other hand, felt a sense of unease creeping over her. The surreal and macabre nature of the art stirred something deep within her, awakening a primal fear that she couldn't quite shake off. It was as if the images held a mirror to her own inner demons, reflecting back a darkness she never knew existed.

"Why would anyone make such scary art? I don't get it." Michio looked puzzled and slightly disturbed.

"Emiko, I didn't think you are the type to like that sort of art," Ran can't help but think.

"Oh no, it ain't me, it's my mother," Emiko answered, making their jaws drop, while Ranran and Shinichi continued inspecting the comedian's corpse, ignoring them, "She always had a thing for them, no clue why."

The other three children exchanged looks, deciding mutually that Emiko's mother might need to check into a mental hospital.

While Ranran and Shinichi continued to inspect Peggy's corpse, Primrose Everly who is a supermodel/ Peggy's temporary secretary, barked, "Hey! What are you doing there!? Did your parents not teach you not to touch things that don't belong to you!? You are children for Pete's sake!"

"It's alright," Ohta Bunko, Muniko's secretary reassured the other, "They are used to this sort of thing. That is how they prevented my fiance from committing the worst mistake of his life."

"Wait, seriously!?" Primrose exclaimed, knitting her brows into a frown, "I heard details about their roles in Tantei Association, but did they really investigate cases of dark nature!? Murder too!? I thought that was a joke!"

"Well, welcome to reality, Miss Primrose," The little founder replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "This is our everyday job, unless you are still living in a gold cage to not noticed that we ain't playing detective as a joke?"

Primrose's eyes widened in disbelief as if she is denying the reality before her eyes.

Slowly, Primrose's tight-laced shoes padded over the marble floor towards the two, closely followed by the soft thump of Bunko's trainers.

"Miss Peggy, is she really dead?!" gasped Bunko.

Then Primrose took a good look at her employer before stating, "Oh dear, poor Miss Peggy. Dear, oh dear. What a ghastly accident!"

"Accident?" Ranran retorted, her voice tinged with scepticism, "How do you know that?"

"I mean...." The supermodel/secretary pointed at the snapped shoe of Peggy, "Her heels strap has snapped. Also, she ain't far off from the stairs over there."

Everyone cast their glance at the staircase. It was certainly steep enough to kill anyone. If her shoe had given way at the top and she'd fallen, she could easily have broken her neck on the way down. Broken all her bones, in fact.

Then again, Ranran didn't buy it, if Peggy's death was indeed an accident, a tragic fall down the stairs, then why was her neck twisted at such an unnatural angle? It didn't add up.

Ran then slowly approaches the corpse of Peggy, a puzzled look etched on her face, "Eh, so this is what she looks like with her hair flattened."

"Hah!?" Ranran and Shinichi turned back to the other girl.

"I mean...." Ran scooped out her smartphone before showing the photo search of Peggy, "I was confused over who this Peggy comedian is, so when I googling about her, every single photo of her hair is always in a beehive style."

"Eh?!"

"Here," Ran showed her phone that produce the results, "The reason why she never once changed her beehive hairstyle is because this is her signature look."

Both founder and apprentice's eyes widened as the two stared at the screen of Ran's phone. It was true. Every single image of Peggy showed her with the iconic beehive hairstyle, perfectly coiffed and voluminous. But the Peggy they were looking at now had her hair flattened, devoid of its trademark style.

The two then took a good look at the comedian's corpse, she was immaculately dressed, from her dangly diamond earrings to her pedicured feet, then at her hair.

Her hair, once a symbol of her quirky style, now lay lifeless and devoid of its usual flair. It was as if someone had deliberately deflated the essence of Peggy's identity, leaving behind a hollow shell of what she once was.

The hair was badly squashed, not to mention, oddly slightly damp. Had she taken a shower?

Ranran bent down to sniff, oddly a pungent smell came out of the hair, the same kind of smell her maternal grandmother would have whenever Ranran witness her mother dying her hair. Like the smell of bleach.

In other words, was Peggy bleaching her hair?

Primrose had bent down and was now extending a hand towards the corpse. "I'll carry her to her room," she said. "A couple of her guests is coming over, and I don't want them to be disturbed-"

"If you ever lay a finger on her corpse, I am going to get Sergeant Genzo over to throw you in jail for tampering with evidence!" Ranran warned sharply.

The supermodel looked at Ranran, astonished. "Excuse me!?"

Ranran stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. "You heard me. Don't make me repeat myself!"

"How dare you order me around and tell me what to do! You are a child! Not working for the cops! Also, I am Miss Peggy's temporary secretary, and I have every right to take care of her affairs!" Primrose's expression morphed from astonishment to a mixture of anger and disbelief, "Also, she tripped and fall from the stairs! Not as though as if she was murdered!"

Ranran didn't flinch. "So eager to decide that she trip and fell, I am starting to wonder...Primrose-no," Ranran corrected herself, "You are about to turn 20 anyway, so Miss Primrose," Ranran confronts the shocked woman, "Were you there when she fell?"

The founder's bold accusation hung in the air, causing a momentary silence to envelop the room. All eyes were fixed on Primrose, waiting for her response. The supermodel-turned-secretary shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the accusation, her composure wavering.

"I... I wasn't there when she fell," Primrose stammered, her voice betraying a hint of unease. "I was in another room attending to some last-minute preparations for the guests."

The child detective girl narrowed her eyes, sensing a hint of deception in Primrose's response. Even so, "You just admitted this to me upfront, and yet, so certain that this woman here," She pointed to the deceased comedian's corpse that lay on the floor, "Had allegedly tripped and fell to her death. Tell me, Miss Primrose, is there something about her death that we should know about?"

The facade of her confidence began to crumble further as she struggled to maintain her composure under Ranran's piercing gaze. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she hesitated, weighing her words carefully.

"I... I don't know what you're insinuating," Primrose replied, her voice quivering slightly. "I've already told you what I guessed from here. Miss Peggy tripped and fell down the stairs. It was a tragic accident. And anyway," She gave the child a cold smile, "I don't really have to listen to you. Unless you want me to oust your identity as the founder of Tantei Association to the press!"

The 6 other members grew pale in horror at that while Ranran remain unfazed.

Right now, they are still at war with The Snake, a criminal mastermind who had corrupted police officials in their district, let alone, his cunning daughter Adeline. If Ranran's identity as the founder was ever released, it's one thing that Primrose's words alone would put her in grave danger, but considering they are all under the same roof as Ranran, it could potentially expose the identities of the other members of the Tantei Association as well. The consequences would be dire, putting their lives and the lives of their loved ones at risk.

Even Ohta Bunko was stunned to hear this from Primrose for the first time.

Shinichi who had worked closely with Ranran was shocked, to hear from his mentor that the things she knew about Primrose back in Edgewood had displayed itself before him, a lot of things were running through his mind.

"Oh, come on! Are we seriously going down this blackmail route now?" Shinichi exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Should he dig up something about Primrose that would make her back away?

Wondering what he could've said to stop her, Ranran remained unfazed while she casually challenged her, "Go ahead."

"Eh!?" Primrose's confident facade wavered for a moment, wondering why this child before her isn't intimidated.

"Blackmailing a bunch of child detectives? Classy move. Then let me return the favour," Ranran smirked, her eyes gleaming with glee, "Your brother-in-law, Millie's dad....the moment I contact your brother-in-law, the Earl, back in the U.K, that you tried to blackmail a child detective, especially an Edgewood Academy student who left with dignity and honours, I wonder what will he say about the title he had blessed you and your mother back there? It would be lovely if he revoked it, right?"

Primrose's face turned pale, her eyes widening in disbelief. "W-w-what did you just say!?"

"You want me to refresh your memory? Sure, let me explain,"

Ranran smirked while pacing around the mansion, "You see, after that little episode your sweet little niece having caused a bullying ruckus, your dad felt bad for me, as well as the other more qualified child actors who had their lives ruined thanks to Millie. So the only logical solution for him was to donate a huge fund to the theatre club."

"Of course," The detective girl scoffed a bit, "He felt like he couldn't just simply make it as if he is paying off to wipe out his daughter's sins, so to make amends, he even went as far as to sacrifice all of the top prominent roles for high profile projects that were initially meant for Millie to the members of the theatre club as a prominent casting director, me no exception. Are you seeing where I am heading with this?"

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Ranran's words sank in.

Primrose's expression transformed from anger to shock, her face contorted with a mix of emotions.

"Again, if you are dimwitted to understand. Let me simplify for you," Ranran chuckled innocently, but it was clearly laced with deviousness.

"Your mother, your niece Millie who had no biological ties to her dad, his missing useless ex-wife who is also your sister, and yourself all benefitted these connections to Hollywood through the marriage through your capable kindhearted brother-in-law. Considering that I am still in contact with him on whatever high-profile gigs needed a child actor, and we have a very close relationship as actor and director, wouldn't it be a shame if he knew that his sister-in-law attempted to cover up a potential murder? After all...." Ranran finished it by saying, "A family member of an Earl, be it in-laws or not, can not be associated with any form of crime. Cause if he knows, it will ruin his career. And I am certain you are aware that if word gets out, do you think he will continue to let you and your mother stay under the very mansion you are all living in?"

By this point, the sister-in-law of the Earl's face contorted with fear and desperation as she realized the magnitude of the situation. Meanwhile, Takuma and the others gasped in shock.

"Wait, Millie, that child actress ain't blood-related to her dad!?" The others were dumbfounded by Ranran's revelations.

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone held their breath, exchanging bewildered glances, struggling to comprehend the unexpected turn of events. The atmosphere in the room grew tense as if time itself had frozen, waiting for Primrose's next move. "Dude, so Miss Primrose comes from a family of Earls?!" Takuma found himself wondering, and so did the others.

As others whispered among themselves, the atmosphere in the room grew tense as if time itself had frozen, waiting for Primrose's next move.

Right now, the woman's voice is barely above a whisper, finally speaking, "You... you wouldn't dare."

"Why shouldn't I? You had no hesitation in feeding us to the wolves, so I am just doing you a favour," Ranran mocked, "Also, recognize these photos?"

Ranran showed it on her smartphone and displayed a series of compromising photos of Primrose engaged in illicit activities, caught in compromising positions with various individuals. The supermodel-turned-secretary gasped, her face turning a shade of crimson.

"Where did you get those?!" Primrose exclaimed, her voice filled with panic and disbelief.

"Where I obtain them doesn't matter," Ranran grinned mischievously, her cold eyes reminded the woman of a whirlpool of death, it was enough to make Primrose tremble. "What matters now is you have quite the colourful past, Miss Primrose. I wonder how your esteemed guests would react if they were to see these delightful snapshots. Oh, wait," The detective child snap her finger, "Not your 'esteemed guests', but to everyone in Edgewood Academy."

"E-excuse me!?"

"You know, the academy kept claiming how proud they were, that one of the students who used to study under their prestigious grounds had become a successful model. If those photos arrived at the principal's doorstep, it would be a sight to behold."

"You... You wouldn't dare!" Primrose finally managed to stammer, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and frustration.

"I would," Ranran taunts as she enjoyed the moment of triumph. "I can imagine the headlines within the school's bulletin board, it will be titled "From Model to Prostitute: The Fall of Primrose, Edgewood's Finest. Oh yeah, I also remembered that the school had connections to the press, the modelling industry you work there, especially Daily Mail." Ranran said, revelling in the chaos she had unleashed.

Now on the verge of falling apart, Primrose looked around the room, hoping to find an ally among the shocked onlookers. But their expressions ranged from disbelief to amusement, leaving her no room for solace.

Even Ohta Bunko was rather amused at the rate things are going.

The mention of Primrose's family and their connection to the Earl sent a shiver down her spine. She knew that any hint of scandal or wrongdoing could tarnish their prestigious reputation and jeopardize the privileges they enjoyed. Her eyes darted nervously between the determined child detective and the lifeless body of Peggy Punchard.

"So go," Ranran greeted her menacingly, "Go ahead, run along with that idiotic mouth of yours, tell everyone what role I play in Tantei Association. I will sit back with a nice cold drink, as I watch your supermodel career crumble the way Millie did with her acting.

Primrose stood frozen in place, her mind racing with the implications of Ranran's threats.

"So Miss Primrose, which will it be? A proper police investigation? Or a trip to Edgewood Academy, let's go down memory lane of your life."

By this point, it was then Primrose realized that she had severely underestimated the child detective and the depths to which she was willing to go.

When she heard rumours that the red lip child before her had left the acting scene to become a detective that day, she laughed happily that Ranran had lost her dream and assumed that girl had no chance of becoming a full ledge child detective. Even if Ranran did, it will only be as pathetic as those Enid Blyton stories she used to read as a child.

Instead, this girl before her is cunning, ruthless, and definitely a psychopath.

The weight of the situation pressed heavily upon Primrose, and her earlier confidence evaporated into thin air.

With a mix of anger and fear, Primrose finally composed herself enough to speak. Her voice quivered as she addressed Ranran, "Y-y-you....." Primrose stammered, her voice trembling. "It was truly an accident. I would never do anything to harm Miss Peggy."

Ranran held her gaze, her resolve unyielding. "If that's the case, then there's no harm in allowing a proper investigation to take place. Let the authorities determine the cause of Peggy's death."

Primrose hesitated for a moment, her mind racing as she weighed the potential consequences. Finally, she let out a defeated sigh and nodded reluctantly. "Fine, I won't touch anything, let alone, move Miss Peggy's corpse." Ranran nodded, satisfied with Primrose's response. "But those things you say to me right now, don't think I will ever let you get away with it!" Primrose spat, her voice filled with venomous determination.

"Of course," Ranran chuckled darkly, "I too have no hesitation on letting go of you either, especially what Millie did to 'that boy'."

The room fell silent once again, the air thick with uncertainty. The battle lines had been drawn, and the dark tone of the story had taken a sharp turn.

Suddenly, a dramatic exhale reverberated through the room, carrying a palpable sense of exhaustion. It was accompanied by a series of heavy thumps, as weighty bags crashed onto the polished marble floor, disrupting the stillness.

All eyes turned toward a woman in her thirties, her lustrous blonde locks framing her face flawlessly. Amidst the chaotic pile of designer shopping bags, she stood with an air of extravagance. Her attire exuded opulence, adorned with sparkling jewelry and layers of extravagant makeup. Towering high heels added an extra edge to her already imposing presence. As Ranran gazed at her, it seemed as if her excessively coated lips were on the verge of being sealed shut by the sheer amount of lipstick she wore.

Her entrance created a striking contrast to the tense atmosphere in the room. With a composed expression, she surveyed the scene, her eyes scanning each person, grasping their expressions and the gravity of the situation. Her mere presence demanded attention, and the room fell into an uneasy silence.

"What's happening here? Is Mother hosting a party without my knowledge?" The woman couldn't help but inquire in British English.

Her voice cut through the tension, injecting a hint of levity into the room. Shinichi, proficient in English, asked, "Who are you?"

"Shouldn't I be asking that question? This is my house. Anyway, Primrose," she called out to the other woman while offering her shopping bags, "Take them to my room, would you? And then prepare something refreshing for me to drink. I'm utterly exhausted."

"I apologize, but it's your house!?" Shinichi and the others were taken aback, and Ranran questioned in English, "I thought this mansion belonged to Miss Peggy?"

"Indeed, this house belonged to my mother, and we lived together."

Before Shinichi could delve deeper, Takuma discreetly pulled him aside and whispered, "She's Aurelia Berrycloth, Peggy's daughter from her tenth marriage."

Ranran stood nearby and was slightly shocked by this revelation.

Peggy's daughter called out to Primrose, "Prim, please take my bags to my room." At first, Primrose hesitated, but Aurelia looked at her with an annoyed frown. "Did you not hear me?" she remarked. "Why are you just standing there?"

"Miss Aurelia," Primrose spoke slowly, "something terrible has happened—"

"Yes?"

"I'm afraid there has been a tragic accident." The supermodel/secretary stepped aside, revealing Aurelia's mother's lifeless body.

Aurelia's eyes narrowed momentarily as she absorbed the scene. "Oh, is Mother shooting a film? The neck twist looks realistic."

"I'm sorry!?" Ranran and Shinichi's jaws dropped at Aurelia's words, wondering if this woman had suffered a severe head injury during her luxury shopping spree.

Meanwhile, the children, who struggled to comprehend the conversation, remained puzzled. With Shinichi's translations, one jaw after another dropped, including Ohta Bunko, who couldn't make sense of the situation.

Shinichi couldn't help but ask the others in a hushed voice, "What does she mean by saying Peggy is 'filming'? What is she referring to?"

"Well, there's an explanation," Takuma began, frustration evident in his voice. "To earn extra income as a comedian, she had her own YouTube channel, where she uploaded comedic skits and even pranks, sometimes involving faking her own death to capture the reactions of her kids, pets, and even strangers."

Shinichi's eyes widened in disbelief as he processed Takuma's explanation. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock and confusion at Peggy's unusual pranks. The notion that someone would go to such extremes for YouTube content, including faking their own death, seemed unreal.

Simultaneously, he found himself disturbed by the fact that faking deaths could generate revenue.

"No, Aurelia, this isn't a YouTube skit. Your mother is actually dead," Primrose solemnly explained. "Do you see any cameras around here since you arrived?!"

Aurelia's eyes widened, and for a moment, the playfulness vanished from her expression. She stared at her mother's lifeless body, then turned to the temporary secretary and asked, "How on earth did this happen?!"

"Well, it appears she fell down the mansion's staircase while wearing heels," Primrose replied.

Initially, the children of the Tantei Association and Ohta Bunko observed Aurelia's response, while Ranran and Shinichi anticipated the worst.

To their surprise, a peculiar expression crossed Aurelia's face—not sorrow, not shock, but satisfaction. She struggled to conceal a pleased smile as she approached her mother and commented, "Oh, for goodness' sake! Did she have to stain the floor with her blood!?"

A heavy silence engulfed the room as Aurelia's words hung in the air. Her reaction to her mother's death defied expectations. The members of the Tantei Association and Ohta Bunko exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend Aurelia's apparent lack of grief or sympathy.

But Michio and the others who knew Peggy the comedian didn't seem surprised in the least. Takuma let out a sigh. "It's not surprising," he said. "Aurelia genuinely hated her mother."

"Eh? She did?" Ranran and the others turned their attention to him.

"It's an open secret," Michio explained to Ranran, Shinichi, and Ran. "I wasn't born at the time, but this is what my mother told me. Whenever Aurelia was mentioned on TV, Peggy would always say how headstrong she was, getting that from her father."

"Is that so?" Ranran blinked in surprise.

"Very much so," Takuma confirmed, then proceeded to share more details about Aurelia. "When Peggy was still married to Aurelia's father, the two of them had conflicts about how to raise her. Peggy had a strict reputation, while her father would often spoil Aurelia whenever things didn't go her way. Eventually, it led to their divorce. Originally, Aurelia had planned to go with her father to escape her mother's strictness, but since Peggy was wealthier than her father, she could afford a highly qualified lawyer. In the end, Aurelia ended up staying with her mom and never saw her father again."

"That's tough," Shinichi muttered.

"Not exactly," Emiko chimed in. "Aurelia's father, like all of Peggy's 25 husbands, demanded high alimony. But it wasn't without reason. At that time, according to my father, his start-up toy company was on the brink of bankruptcy due to the rise of video gaming. He needed the money to settle the debt. Aurelia, who was in middle school at the time, begged for the freedom to be with her father and also to help pay off the alimony. Naturally, no ex-wife, let alone any mother in the world, would agree to that."

"Eh? Even so, hating her own mother just for that reason seems extreme," Ran reflected, while the children quietly glanced at the younger woman conversing with the secretary from a distance, and Ohta Bunko attempted to mediate from afar.

"Well, it didn't become this bad until 'that incident' happened," Junko interjected.

"What incident?" Ranran inquired.

"Well, Aurelia's father took his own life," Junko said solemnly. "He committed suicide by jumping off a building, as his company was drowning in debt."

The others were in shock at that bombshell.

"I believe it was out of guilt that Aurelia later became what she is now," Takuma analyzed. "The press always reported her extravagant lifestyle, thanks to Peggy spoiling her. I don't think she ever let go of the fact that her mother's actions indirectly caused her father's death. That's why she doesn't seem fazed right now," he pointed at the comedian's lifeless body, "by her mother's passing."

Ranran and the others exchanged glances, trying to piece together the puzzle of Aurelia's complicated relationship with her mother. The tragedy that befell her father seemed to have left a deep scar, shaping Aurelia into the person she had become.

"Primrose, you'd better carry her up to her room. And then I guess you should call a doctor." Aurelia's words suddenly made the children pay attention to her.

"I think it's a little late for that—" Primrose began.

"I can see that," The comedian's daughter said waspishly. "But he'll need to sign a death certificate or something, won't he? To confirm how she died? Go on, pick her corpse up to her bedroom."

"Primrose, you'd better carry her up to her room. And then I guess you should call a doctor," Aurelia's words suddenly caught the attention of the children.

"I think it's a little late for that—" Primrose began.

"I can see that," Aurelia responded sharply. "But he'll need to sign a death certificate or something, won't he? To confirm how she died? Go on, take her body up to her bedroom."

Shinichi grew horrified, and before he could tell her not to do so, his mentor jumped right in.

"Oh no," Ranran protested, stepping forward. "You're not allowed to take your mother's corpse anywhere!"

Once again, Aurelia looked at her, her eyes narrowing into snake-like slits. "And who the hell are you?"

"Ah, right," Ohta Bunko interjected, introducing the red-lipped child detective to the young woman. "This is Ranran from the Tantei Association. As you can see, she is here with the other children," Ohta introduced the rest of the group. "They solve cases, including those of a darker nature, like murder. They're here today because-"

"To consult about that anime project featuring them in real life, right?" Aurelia interrupted a sudden realization crossing her mind. "I think I recall Primrose mentioning it once."

Aurelia sneered, her lips curling into a condescending smile. "You think the authorities will solve anything? They're just as useless as the rest of them," she scoffed, dismissing the idea.

Ranran remained resolute. "Regardless, we must follow the proper procedures. It's not up to us to decide how this investigation should proceed."

"There'll be no cops," Aurelia barked. "My house, my rules!"

"True," Ranran admitted, but remain firm, "Then let's think about it from your perspective, if you were that eager to inherit your mom's inheritance through the death certificate first, the police need to be involved.

"But—" 

"If your mother's case is confirmed to be murder, then by the time you inherit her estate while skipping police investigation, it will raise the suspicions of the press in an instant, and you may become an overnight prime suspect. Whether you did commit murder onto your mother or not." Ranran reasoned calmly.

Aurelia's expression turned sour, her eyes narrowing even further. "Are you accusing me?" she spat.

"Hey, I didn't specifically confirm your mom is murdered yet," Ranran shook her head with a sly smile, "I'm simply stating the potential consequences. It's important to handle this situation correctly to avoid any misunderstandings or legal complications."

Aurelia seemed to hesitate for a moment, her previous confidence wavering. The Tantei Association and Ohta Bunko members watched the exchange intently, ready to step in if needed.

Finally, Aurelia let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," she conceded, albeit begrudgingly. "Do what you need to do. But remember, I won't tolerate any unnecessary meddling or delays."

"Don't worry, Shinichi already did it for me in advance." Ranran nonchalantly replied.

"You called the cops already?!" shrieked Aurelia, her frustration turned into a mixture of anger and apprehension. "You can't just barge into my house and make decisions for me," she seethed.

"Technically I did some research, your mom is the one who bought the house, while you barely contributed a single yen so to speak," Shinichi showed her his smartphone with the produced results, "Also, legally speaking, the police have jurisdiction in cases of suspicious deaths. They will need to investigate." Aurelia glared at him, "And in case you think that we are simply kids who meddled, no, we have experience in solving complex cases, including murder mysteries. We are here to ensure the death is truly accidental, not to interfere unless it is a confirmed murder."

As if to back Shinichi up, the sound of sirens drifted in through the mansion doors, faintly distant, but growing louder.

"Just great! If it were not for you meddling kids!" sneered Aurelia. "That's all I need. I'm going to my room."

"If you want to further jeopardize your chances of inheriting anything from your mother, feel free to go into your bedroom as well," Ranran suggests.

"Oh for Pete sake!" She shot a glare at Ranran as she screamed, her face growing as red as her lipstick. "I don't see the big deal over what you kids are making! This is merely a simple case of my elderly mother who took a tumble and broke her own neck because her heels snapped, ain't it not!?"

"At first glance, yes," Ranran admitted as the cops finally entered the residence, "But only people with low brain cells might perceive it that way."

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

As the police began their investigation, everyone was confined to the kitchen while they examined the crime scene. Ranran couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the victim's old-fashioned English farmhouse-style furniture and the modern steel and glass aesthetic of the rest of the house.

Aurelia sat at the long pine table, her anger palpable as she absentmindedly picked off her scarlet nail polish. Primrose stood in the middle of the slate-tiled floor, her hands fidgeting with uncertainty while Ohta Bunko is on the phone, letting Mr Muniko know that Peggy the comedian was found deceased in the mansion.

The rest of the children gathered in the far corner of the kitchen, where a gentle breeze carrying a floral scent wafted through an open window. They perched on high stools by the counter, each engrossed in their smartphones, seemingly watching videos. However, it was just a facade to disguise their secret Tantei Association meeting.

Ranran glanced around the group, making sure they were all present. She cleared her throat, catching their attention. "Alright, everyone," she said in a hushed tone, "We are having our first-ever meeting, not in the usual HQ I am afraid."

"Anyway, before we begin, Ranran, I have to know something," Junko was the first to speak as everyone is having a hasty, whispered conversation. "I know you mentioned knowing Primrose back in your Edgewood Academy days, but you never mentioned anything about her belonging to a family of Earls!"

"That's right!" Ran whispered in curiosity, "Primrose herself is also a supermodel! Why didn't she mention any of this!"

"She didn't mention it because of what I said earlier while telling her off about taking away Peggy's corpse upstairs, the title of Earls was something she obtain through the marriage between her brother-in-law and her missing sister," Ranran explained while adding, "When I was in Edgewood, the reason how she ended up there was thanks to that marriage. So rumours always came about that had her missing sister not struck gold into marrying a prominent director like that brother-in-law of hers, she wouldn't even be where she is now. To prove herself, she purposefully didn't reveal that to make it a point."

Michio nodded, understanding the situation. "I see. That made sense."

"But then what about those privileges you were using against her?" It was Takuma's turn to ask, "She looked horrified when you mention you will tip the director off that she attempted to cover up a murder. Ain't she a successful supermodel already? She had no reason to be horrified if she can do it herself."

"I have a reason for that," Ranran took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. "It's true that Primrose has achieved success as a supermodel, but her position in the industry is delicate because she hasn't reached the 'top tier' of supermodel yet."

Seeing their confused faces, Ranran decided to elaborate.

"Let me explain a little further down," Ranran continued, leaning in closer to the group. "In the world of supermodels, this is what a friend of mine told me: there's a hierarchy."

"A hierarchy!? Emiko and the other girls were shocked, while the boys didn't know what to make of this revelation.

"That is right, and reaching the 'top tier' is a significant achievement," Ranran played another video to keep up her facade on her smartphone, "You all watched influencers on Youtuber that do shout out to those who pay them to promote their product and services, right?"

"Yes, we've seen that," Ran responded, nodding along with the others. "The ones I watched with Sonoko had Chanel, Gucci and Loreal stuff."

"Exactly, but those are only reserved for the 'top tier' supermodels I mentioned," Ranran nodded back. "Those are what we called lucrative contracts with major fashion houses, luxury brands, and high-profile endorsements. Not all models will be chosen to promote their brand unless they have reached a certain level of recognition and influence. These contracts come with hefty paychecks and immense exposure, propelling a model's career to new heights. And so far, did any of you come across videos of Primrose endorsing such brands? Despite having 4 million followers?"

The children shook their heads, indicating that they hadn't seen any such videos featuring Primrose endorsing top-tier brands.

"That's because she hasn't reached that level yet," Ranran continued. "Primrose may be successful, but she's still climbing the ladder in the supermodel industry. She's working hard to secure those high-profile endorsements, but she's not quite there yet. Which is normal, she started out around the age of 17 at that time."

"Where does this connection to her brother-in-law come in?" Shinichi wonders.

"That is the juicy part," Ranran grins, "You will be amazed by what I have in store."