The revelation hung heavy in the air, each member of the Tantei Association processing the magnitude of what Ranran had just disclosed. The son of a crown prince? It was beyond anything they could have anticipated.

"Wait... Norway?" Takuma finally broke the silence, his eyes wide with astonishment. "As in, the actual country?"

Ranran nodded, her expression grave. "Yes. Thomas Lockwood, Landon's father, is the Crown Prince of Norway. He comes from a long line of royalty."

The implications of this revelation were enormous as all of them grabbed their own seats. The children of Tantei Association exchanged wide-eyed glances, their minds racing to grasp the gravity of the situation. They were now involved in a case with international implications, one that reached all the way to the highest echelons of royalty.

"Wait, a real life prince!? From the 21st century!?" Ran asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Why would the son of a crown prince be here in Japan?" Takuma was asking no one in particular, letting his bird Hikari fly about the HQ, much to the frustration of Junko who had a fear of birds, but she was far more curious about the prince's presence here to think of that at the moment.

"A real-life prince," Junko echoed, her voice tinged with astonishment. "This is like something out of a novel."

Shinichi's analytical mind was already at work, processing the information. "May I ask how did you recognize him?"

"We used to be in Edgewood Academy, the school I was in," Ranran explained.

The mention of Edgewood Academy seemed to trigger a realization among some of the members. Emiko's eyes widened in recognition. "Edgewood Academy... That's one of the most prestigious schools in the UK, right?!"

"Right, I remember now," Michio chimed in. "Ranran once mentioned Edgewood is known for educating the children of nobility and royalty."

"No way...at the same time....woah. " Shinichi concluded, a note of awe in his voice.

"How did you know him by the way? Were you friends, or......?" Ran prompted her to continue.

"We are not," Ranran denied this before revealing, "But his name often popped up from other students all the time, which ain't surprisingly why I knew him."

"How old is he?" Michio asked.

"10, the last time I heard of him, I was 3 and he was around 7 years old," Ranran recalled.

"Eh!? So he is the same age as us!" Junko's glasses almost slipped while Michio was in awe.

The information continued to unravel, painting a picture of a world far removed from their own. The mention of Edgewood Academy and its reputation for educating the children of nobility and royalty only deepened the mystery.

"He was a student at Edgewood Academy?" Emiko's eyes widened in further astonishment. "This just keeps getting more incredible."

"I mean it would've been incredible if he wasn't a liar." Ranran rolled her eyes.

The Tantei Association members sat in stunned silence, "What do you mean he is a liar?"Shinichi inquired, his detective instincts kicking in.

"Landon has a reputation for being...creative with the truth. He's been known to spin elaborate stories and sometimes exaggerate things. Then again, it ain't odd since he became this way, because the queen of Norway, his biological mother, passed away due to a terminal illness."

"Really?" Emiko gasped along with the others.

"I heard he was around 8 years old when his mother passed away." Ranran frowned.

"I see," Emiko spoke gently, recognizing the depth of pain that must have shaped Landon's behaviour. "It sounds like he went through a lot."

"It's tough losing someone you love," Ran murmured, her eyes downcast.

"Had he always been a liar before this?" Takuma quipped.

"Before I wouldn't be too sure," Ranran admitted while rubbing her chin in a thinking posture, "But he was an unusually intelligent boy for his age, which is how he ended up in Edgewood Academy to begin with, especially when it came to politics, he is very exceptionally gifted."

Takuma's eyes shone with curiosity. "Why is it he ended up being called a 'liar'?"

"Because of his birth origins through his father's side, who is the Crown Prince," Ranran answered, "Landon's paternal grandmother...was the second wife to Landon's paternal grandfather, and from what I had gathered at that time, the grandmother comes from a family of con-artists."

"Eh?!" Everyone grew starled.

"So, he comes from a family known for...well, bending the truth. Damn, kinda explains why that man called him a 'thief'."  Michio summarized his expression as a mix of surprise and understanding.

"Wait, the second wife?" Shinichi caught on to this detail, before probing, "Landon's grandfather married before?"

"Yes," Ranran replied before adding, "I also forgot to mention, that while still being married to the first one, he had an affair with the second one, which is what led to the divorce later on."

The members of the Tantei Association exchanged astonished glances.

"Wow, this is like something out of a soap opera," Ran remarked, her eyes wide with amazement.

"No kidding," Michio agreed. "This is a lot to take in."

"But that falls on the grandparent's side, right? Nothing to do with Landon's parents, so how does this justify calling Landon a 'thief' and a 'liar'?" Shinichi grew curious.

"Well, Landon's deceased step-grandmother, the first wife of his grandfather, was a queen loved by many. When that scandal came about, the people there were furious as hell." Ranran crossed her hands while explaining this bit, "Especially years later when Landon's Tousan was still a child, the paparazzi interest towards her was rather....extreme at that time. It got so bad, that she eventually died in a boating accident when she was there with her family on a holiday while attempting to flee from them, without realizing the boat ran against some rock. When that incident happened...you can say it almost led to many angry haters wanting their country to go....republic."

"Wait, what do you mean republic?" Ran who has no knowledge about royalty asked the founder of the association.

"Let me explain to you how royalty works," Ranran sighed deeply, before explaining to her, "A country that still happens to have an existing queen and king, we call that system a monarchy. In a monarchy, the power is typically passed down through generations within a rich royal family. The reigning monarch is usually the head of state until they either abdicate or pass away, at which point the position is inherited by their direct successor, often their child. Their job is to check on the affairs of the people, such as improving the economy and quality of life. The threat of losing all of this is if the country goes republic."

"I don't understand." Even Takuma grew perplexed, "How can a country go 'republic'? As in....they don't want royalty anymore? And why would they want that?"

"Why they want that is simple: If you guys recalled that conversation about royalties during the 'King of Rubies' case, people like us are forced to pay tax, and that tax money....a portion of them normally ends up in the hands of those royal family members in general. And rather than spending it to build several schools, hospitals and underprivileged people, nowadays, they rather spend it on themselves, why? In the first place, it is stressful to handle projects like that, and second, doing whatever you want with unlimited funds like the money we pay through tax is stress-free."

Michio's eyes widened as he began to understand the implications. "So, by going republic....what would happen to the royal family?"

"Well," Ranran continued, "If a country decides to transition to a republic, it means that they would no longer have a monarchy. The royal family's role would come to an end, and the country would be governed by elected officials chosen by the people. The royal family would likely lose their official titles and responsibilities."

"So, in other words, they not only become regular citizens, but they are jobless, right?" Shinichi asked, seeking clarification.

"That's right," Ranran confirmed. "They would no longer have the special status and privileges associated with being part of the royal family. They would live like any other citizen, without the ceremonial duties and financial support provided by the monarchy."

"Damn, that is awful," Shinichi pondered this for a moment. "Becoming from someone who is used to a life of luxury and privilege, only to lose everything...that is an extreme reaction for a queen they love."

"To be fair, the people of Norway had every reason to do so. When the news broke out after learning that the scumbag cheated on her with another woman, during the divorce, she was later stripped out of her privilege as queen."

"Nani!?" Everyone gasped in response before Junko retaliated. "Why must she lose all of that!? That scumbag cheated on her!?"

"She only became queen because she married into the royal family, not earn or born into it. Therefore, she had no right to keep those privileges, since she wanted a divorce." Ranran detailed her explanation.

"That's incredibly unfair!" Ran slams the table with her fists.

"It is what it is," Ranran scoffed, before adding, "Anyway, when that divorce was finalized, since she no longer had the privilege of a queen, there were no guards to protect her from those pesky paparazzi. That meant whoever she dated or whatever activities she was involved in, would end up on the news. Which is why when she was on that boat in an attempt to flee from the paparazzi, the boat ended up hitting a rock." Ranran grimaced at the tragic turn of events.

"That's so tragic," Ran whispered, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"I can't imagine how hard that must have been for her," Junko added.

"It's a harsh reality for someone who was once a queen," Shinichi said, his expression sombre before realizing, "Wait a minute....with her dying under such circumstances...."

"It gives them the right reason to go republic. Because in their eyes, if it wasn't for that affair, she wouldn't have died that way. Also, there was evidence to suggest that his grandfather's family knew about his dirty affair and, hence, tried to convince the ex-wife not to divorce him to avoid tarnishing their image. Which angered the public further, as they realised their money which they paid through taxes having given to the royal family was doing not much help for the queen they cherished." Ranran confirmed his suspicions. "By making the country republic, it will strip them of everything."

The room fell into a contemplative silence as the weight of the story sank in. After a moment, Takuma spoke up, breaking the silence. "But you mentioned Landon's grandmother is the second wife of the family-"

"That is right, which is why she was hated for causing all of the sadness."

"That is uncalled for," Michio murmured, his brows furrowed in thought. "He is the grandson and future heir to the throne."

"The grandson of the mistress to be exact." Ranran pointed out. "And no one is happy."

"So, if Landon's here in Japan, does that mean he's trying to escape from all of this?" Emiko asked, her voice soft.

"That is the unanswered question no one knows," Ranran shook her head in deep thought.

"Why are you telling us this by the way?" Shinichi questioned the founder.

"The reason I am telling you all this is simple," Ranran gave them a warning look, "If he ever comes by our association, whatever he is dealing with, I don't want anything to do with it."

The others exchanged glances, absorbing Ranran's words. "Why!? Is it because he is the grandson of a mistress!?" Junko confronted the founder.

"If you think about it, even up till now, the people of Norway can't let go of that betrayal that scumbag has done." Ranran voiced out as she explained, "Whatever case he is dealing with, if the truth favours Landon's stead, it won't just be angry Norwegians we would end up dealing with, it may even warrant us to shut down our association because of what his grandfather did. That we are supporting the adulterer's family."

"That is cruel!" Junko disagrees with Ranran's words. "Just because his grandmother is a mistress, doesn't mean it should be a reason why we should avoid it!"

"But Ranran isn't wrong," Takuma pouted as he recalled something, "When I went back to South Korea one time to pay my maternal grandmother a visit, there was this woman who used to run a pancake shop near my grandma's place. She was telling me about how she had to close her shop after her daughter was caught being the mistress, having ruined the marriage of a K-pop Idol. It's like...the whole community turned their backs on her, just because of something her daughter did. And when the daughter gave birth to that K-pop Idol's child, they became social outcasts. Including that child."

"I didn't forget that one time when I headed over to buy some groceries at a marketplace," Ran recalled, "While I was out purchasing fruits, I happened to overhear some gossiping neighbours talking about how this adulterer in the neighbourhood ran away from her hometown because she seduce a married man when the wife was ill, dealing with cancer. When the public found out, they tracked where her family lived, and threw eggs at her place!"

Emiko's expression was troubled as she considered their words. "It's clear that society can be unforgiving, especially when it comes to matters like these. But that doesn't mean we should turn our backs on someone who might genuinely need our help. We have to be careful, yes, but we can't let fear of public opinion dictate our actions."

"It's one thing if he was one, but he didn't have a good reputation." Ranran gave Junko a stern look, "He is a liar and a thief like that man said, and I don't think those rumours about him in Edgewood Academy were mere rumours."

"What makes you think so?" Shinichi asked.

Strumming her fingers, as Takuma's eagle continued to fly around the room, Ranran confided to them, "When I was 3, and this was back when I was living in the U.K. and still attending Edgewood Academy, he used to be arranged to be engaged to this girl around his age." The mention of the engagement caught everyone's attention. "Anyway, the engagement didn't last long, it was what you would expect: Stereotype villainess arranges fiance being possessive over him and stuff."

Ran's eyes widened. "You mean, like something out of a drama?"

"Exactly. He ended up getting engaged to this other girl, the daughter of a baron. But here is the real kicker," Ranran pointed out, "When she sought out my late mentor and my services, I learnt that she was gaslighted by him."

"Gaslighted?" Emiko asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"It means he manipulated her perception of reality," Shinichi explained. "He likely made her doubt her own thoughts and feelings, causing her to question her own sanity. It's a form of evil manipulations to make the liar play as the victim while painting the victim as the aggressor."

Ranran nodded. "Exactly. He made her believe that she was in the wrong, that she was imagining things, and that she should be grateful for his 'love'. For example..." The founder glanced around the room before focusing on Ran, "Mouri-san," Ranran began, adopting a gentle tone, "You made a mistake with the files again."

"E-eh!? What files?"

"Come on, Mouri. We had this episode before, you got the witness account on our previous case: 'The Feathers of Fury' wrong again. If I didn't check, should the press get word of this, they are going to blame us for seeking fame as child Tanteis! Are you back to your delusional self on wanting to take Shinichi away from me again?"

"W-w-what!? No! Of course not!" Ran felt a twinge of guilt, recalling their past bad blood. "I...I didn't realize-"

Ranran pressed on, her voice taking a slightly accusatory tone. "You should have known better. You're always doing things like this, and you never think about how it affects others. Especially Shinichi."

Ran's brows furrowed, her expression growing more uncertain. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Stop," Ranran suddenly stopped her from apologizing before asking Ran, "How do you feel now? When I said those things?"

Ran's eyes widened as she processed the scenario. She felt a mixture of confusion, frustration, and a touch of guilt. The accusations seemed unjust, but there was a small seed of doubt planted in her mind.

"I feel... upset and confused," Ran admitted, her voice reflecting her uncertainty. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I was just trying my best to....make amends, as I did before. But...."Her eyes grew downcast, "When you kept going on with those accusations, I was scared all over again, as if...I caused us all to be endangered once more."

Ranran nodded, her expression serious. "That's how gaslighting works. It's a manipulative tactic that makes the victim doubt their own perception of reality and question their own sanity." The room was filled with a heavy silence, each member of the Tantei Association absorbing the gravity of the situation. "We were never able to obtain solid evidence of him allegedly doing so, but after my late mentor and I sent her to rehab and she got hold of her life once more, ironically, the baron girl he was engaged to not long ago ended up breaking the engagement as well, under claims that she felt uncomfortable about his choice of words."

"That's chilling," Michio remarked, his expression sombre.

"He sounds like a master manipulator," Emiko added, her tone reflecting her concern.

Ran's fists clenched in a mixture of anger and frustration. "So, he not only lied but used emotional manipulation to control people... That's despicable."

Shinichi's gaze was sharp, his mind racing with implications. "If he's capable of this level of manipulation, if we were to get involved, his lies may end up endangering us all, is that what you are trying to imply, Ranran?"

Takuma's eagle, sensing the tension in the room, landed on his shoulder, as if offering silent support. Ranran nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. We can't afford to underestimate him. If he's willing to go to such lengths to protect his own interests, then it ain't worth getting involved in this case."

All of the kids nodded to her in silence.

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

By the time Landon arrived just after sunrise the second time around, Tantei Association's headquarters was in darkness. The door to the boutique shop was locked, but the GPS in his smartphone told him he had come to the right place. The first time he had to flee, was due to odd noises he heard at the HQ, which deterred him from opening the pink vending door machine.

Another reason was that he could sense that someone had followed him.

Since he is the son of a Crown Prince, it ain't surprising why Landon is trained to be cautious, and the keen sense to detect when he's being watched or pursued was part of that training.

There had been the furtive scrape of a boot, the movement of a shadow that didn't belong. With the instincts of a hunted animal, he went to the ground. He hid himself at a manga cafe opposite where the association happened to be, then, around the second floor, he had a clear view of the whole area.

An early morning storm had helped him avoid his pursuers this morning. Driving rain had kept the watchers from searching the car park. Low scudding clouds had sealed the area in a forbidding gloom.

Even when the lights in the Tantei Association office had come on, Landon still didn't move. It would have been so easy to run across and knock on the emergency door.

But he didn't.

Landon was no fool, he knew this was the most dangerous time when he would get caught. His observers would expect him to show himself now: They would be ready to spring their trap. He would never make it to that door.

As it turned out, Landon's instincts proved correct. He saw The General arrive and enter the office. He saw the man's towering figure through the window and wondered what was being said. What sort of stuff would he be telling the rest of the children in Tantei Association, especially that girl who is formerly known as 'The Fox'?

His immediate instinct was to abandon the whole venture. If The General convinced Ranran not to help him, then Landon was in even greater danger.

And it wouldn't be any less surprising if Ranran turned the case down.

His former arranged fiance had told her things, and in retrospect, Ranran had every reason to distance herself from taking such a case. Especially after that infamous incident of that boy who died before her eyes 2 years ago in London, there was not a single 1 percent chance that she would ever take in his case.

Yet, ruefully though, he realized that he had no other choice. If he kept running in a foreign city, The General's men would find him. Or the local police would, and they would certainly hand him over to The General, and then his fate would be sealed.

Also, he figured out a way to convince that girl why she should.

And when The General left, Landon still didn't move. Not yet. It was too soon.

Tomorrow, he will sneak around tomorrow early in the morning. The weather forecast mention it would be raining heavily, which is just what he needs.

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

The following day at around 1 pm, after another long boring day at school, Micho, Junko and Emiko were the last to leave Teitan Elementary School.

Another storm had descended on the city. Rain sheeted down, pelting the roadway, and turning the gutters into raging torrents. Fortunately, they brought their umbrellas this time as they headed their way to the main HQ of Tantei Association, discussing the events of Landon's past as told by the founder, Ranran.

The three of them huddled under their umbrellas, raindrops drumming heavily against the sturdy fabric. Emiko adjusted her glasses, peering out from beneath the protective shield of her umbrella.

"Can you believe all of that?" Emiko exclaimed, her voice slightly muffled by the rain. "It's like a drama plot!"

"I know, right?" Michio chimed in. "I can't believe someone's life could be so... complicated."

Junko nodded in agreement. "It's a lot to take in. Poor Landon, going through all of that. I know he had a reputation, but still...."

"But Ranran-san's right, isn't she? If Landon's biological grandmother is capable of such manipulation and deceit, getting involved could be extremely risky for us." Emiko's expression grew serious.

Michio frowned, deep in thought. "It's a tough situation. On one hand, we want to help someone who's clearly in need. On the other, we have to consider the potential dangers involved."

Junko's gaze flicked between the two children, concern etched across her face. "I can't help but wonder where is he right now."

As they walked through the rain-soaked streets, the weight of the decision hung heavy in the air. They edged around parked lorries and passed by a car where two men studied them as they hurried by. "Man, I know that rude guy said he would station men around the area to ensure that they would capture that boy if he went out to seek us, but isn't this too extreme?!" Michio pouted.

Emiko glanced at the men in the car, her brows furrowing in concern. "It does seem excessive. But if they're willing to go to such lengths, it shows just how determined they are to capture Landon."

"But now I am more curious than ever over who that man was," Junko's grip on her umbrella tightened. "After Ranran revealed that Landon is a prince, what is this man's connection to him?"

Before anyone could reply, all of a sudden, a fourth person was under the umbrella of Junko's.

Startled, they turned to find Landon, drenched in the rain, standing there with a mixture of determination and anxiety in his eyes. "You all knew who is Kudo Ranran, right?"

"What the-" Michio let out a startled gasp. "Hey, are you that boy-"

"Yes," The boy cuts him off immediately before urgently stating, "You're all heading to Tantei Association HQ, aren't you? I know she is in there." The 10-year-old prince asked. "Let me hide under your umbrella. There are people trying to kil me out here."

The sudden appearance of Landon, drenched and urgent, sent shockwaves through the group. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, their hearts pounding with a mixture of surprise and concern.

Junko's eyes widened in alarm. Without a second thought, she shifted to make room under her umbrella for Landon. "Come on, get in here quickly," she urged, her voice low and urgent.

The group huddled together, their umbrellas forming a protective shield against the relentless rain. Junko's grip on her umbrella tightened, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

Michio's brows furrowed in concern. "What happened?"

"I will explain everything, as soon as you take me over to the main HQ immediately!" The boy replied in despair.

"Even if you say so...." Emiko cast a quick glance over her shoulder Nothing suspicious caught her eye, but the boy's fear seemed genuine and there was no reason not to trust him. "Walk in front of me," Emiko told him.

With her blocking anyone's view of the boy they quickly crossed the last few meters in the heavy rain and entered headquarters. The door slammed behind them and eventually, four faces back in the HQ would eventually meet their arrival with shocked silence.

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

"Another day of heavy downpour." Takuma slept on the table, his head buried in his arms as he groaned, "I wish Hikari was with me."

"You don't have a choice," Ran had her hands on her hips while chiding the 6-year-old, geared up in an apron and head gear that covers her hair while cleaning up the HQ, "After bringing over that Harpy Eagle, you know Junko had a severe fear of birds, right?!"

"Also, you know better that you need a license to take the bird around. Those kinds of birds are exotic after all." Shinichi is busy playing chess with Ranran.

"Then how is it that Ranran is allowed to do so?" Takuma mumbled.

"Her family had applied for that license for years, so she has no problem." Shinichi refuted, while Ranran had another of Shinichi's pawns removed from the chess board.

"Therefore, you had no choice but to leave the bird back at the animal hutch in Teitan Elementary school." Ranran finished Shinichi's sentence before declaring, "Checkmate."

"Damn it," Shinichi cursed, "5 wins in a row, how do you keep doing that?!"

At that moment, the door slammed open, startling all of them. Their heads whipped around to see Emiko, Michio, Junko, and an unfamiliar boy standing in the doorway, drenched from the rain.

"Oh, you guys made it." Takuma blinked, sitting up straight and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Who's the kid, by the way?"

The boy's eyes scanned the room, taking in the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "I am Landon Lockwood, looking for a Kudo Ranran."

Rising from her seat, Ranran frowned before she was able to recognize him, "So the Prince of Norway had decided to finally show up."

Shinichi then shot Ranran a puzzled look. "Do you expect this to happen?" he asked.

"Of course not," Ranran shook her head. "But considering the mess that man was causing yesterday seeking out your presence, it only made sense for you to come all the way here to drag us into your mess, right?"

Landon Lockwood met Ranran's gaze, his expression a mix of determination and apprehension. "I had no other choice. The General's men are relentless, and if I stayed in hiding, they would have eventually found me."

"You do know that I no longer do investigations involving royalty or nobility anymore, right? Especially after what happened to me 2 years ago back in the U.K.? Cause I do remember spotting you when the funeral service was going on."

"How can anyone forget? A Duke died because of this," Landon's eyes held a hint of regret. "But at the same time, that is more of a reason why I had to seek your service, cause I refuse to die the way he did."

"The way he died and the cause behind it is way different than whatever you happen to be dealing with at the moment." Ranran narrowed her gaze at the Prince of Norway, "And I refuse to get involved in it."

Ranran's resolve was firm, her stance unwavering. She had already made up her mind about the dangers of getting involved with cases entangled with royalty and nobility. The memories of the Duke's death and the complexities surrounding it were still fresh in her mind.

Landon Lockwood met her gaze with a mixture of frustration and desperation. "You have to understand, Kudo Ranran, that my situation is dire. I wouldn't have come to you if I had any other option."

Junko, who had been observing the exchange in silence, finally spoke up. "Ranran, just try to hear him out first, alright? I mean it wouldn't be fair to simply turn him down without getting to the bottom of it."

"I don't side with anyone on this, but Junko is right," Michio said, "He travelled all the way from the U.K. to Japan to seek your help, rather than to hire their own private investigators, this is an extreme way to say that he might be dealing with something a lot sinister that one might admit, right?"

Ranran's gaze flickered with reluctance, but she ultimately nodded in agreement. "Fine. Tell us everything. But be aware, Landon, that this doesn't guarantee our involvement."

Landon took a deep breath of relief, as Emiko stated, "By the way, do you know of this man here? He paid us a visit yesterday seeking you out." Emiko added and held up a sketch of The General's face that she'd drawn after he'd left. When he saw it, Landon's eyes filled with fear.

And that was all that needed to be said and done.

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

Once Landon grabbed a seat upon having been introduced to the members of the association, the first thing he did was look at Ranran questioningly before questioning in Japanese, "What did General Stefan have to say?"

"He's a general?" Emiko snapped her fingers and eyed her sketch. "No wonder he was rude and was so bossy.

"He treated us like dirt," confirmed Junko.

"What is his role in the royal family you were brought up in?" Ranran inquired.

Landon took a deep breath of relief, as Emiko stated, "By the way, do you know of this man here? He paid us a visit yesterday seeking you out." Emiko added and held up a sketch of The General's face that she'd drawn after he'd left. When he saw it, Landon's eyes filled with fear.

And that was all that needed to be said and done.

Once Landon grabbed a seat upon having been introduced to the members of the association, the first thing he did was look at Ranran questioningly before questioning in Japanese, "What did General Stefan have to say?"

"He's a general?" Emiko snapped her fingers and eyed her sketch. "No wonder he was so rude and bossy.

"He treated us like dirt," confirmed Junko.

"What is his role in the royal family you were brought up in?" Ranran inquired.

Landon's expression darkened as he heard the name 'General Stefan'. He glanced at Emiko's sketch, recognition flickering in his eyes. "He's a high-ranking general in the Norwegian military. But he's also much more than that. He's my grandfather's right-hand man, and he wields a significant amount of power within the royal court."

"Really?" Shinichi blinked.

"In fact, he is so powerful that he is put in charge of National Security."

"In other words, the secret police?" Shinichi probed.

"What is the secret police?" Ran asked.

"Intelligence or security agencies, they are what we call specialized law enforcement organizations responsible for national security matters, including espionage, counterintelligence, and internal security," explained Ranran. "They operate in secrecy and often handle sensitive or classified information. In some countries, they may be tasked with surveillance, counterterrorism, and other covert operations."

"Wha!?" Takuma's jaw dropped, "Wait a minute, if he works for them, how can he be working for the royal family as well!? Cause doesn't this mean that the royal family technically own the police!?"

"Wah, if that is the case...if they committed any crime such as murder for example, wouldn't it be easy for them to cover up!? Since they own the secret police!?" Emiko's eyes widened in realization.

Michio and Junko exchanged horrified looks at that thought.

"Exactly. It's a concerning situation, which is why things are probably what it is now." Shinichi muses about this.

"What did he ask about when he dropped by the association?" Landon asked Ranran nervously.

"Simple, hand you over as soon as you set foot here," Ranran grinned.

Fear fared in Landon's eyes. "And will you?"

Before Ranran could reply, "No way!'' Junko growled from the window. "We wouldn't do anything to help someone like him!

Emiko looked up from the notes she had made in her notebook, "He also called you a thief and a liar, just like your father." she informed him.

Takume slumped in his chair, "My father... I hope he is still alive."

"I think you should start at the beginning," prompted Shinichi. "What kind of trouble are you in?"

"Well, you probably are aware that I am the son of the crown prince, let alone....our family history." The boy began. "It all started when my grandfather decided to name me as the next successor of the throne." When he told them its name, everyone looked at him blankly. "You all don't look surprised by this piece of info."

"I mean your father is the crown prince, so it is natural that you ended up next in line to the throne as his son." Shinichi pointed out.

"That's true, but the situation is more complicated than it seems." Landon nodded, acknowledging Shinichi's point. "My grandfather, King Leif Lockwood, has been in power for a long time, and he's getting older. Naturally wanting me to succeed after my father....not everyone in the royal court agrees."

"Let me guess, did it have anything to do with your fallen engagement with that first arranged fiance of yours? Plus the fact that your second fiance ditched you? Due to the quote 'Poor choice of words'?" Ranran commented.

"Ranran!" Junko hissed at her bluntness.

"You ain't wrong," Landon's gaze turned solemn as he confirmed Ranran's observation. "Truthfully, the people surrounding our family knew that she was at fault which led to our bad blood, and the second one....I will freely admit it was a case of misjudgement since I was around 7 years old when I simply wanted to be engaged to the daughter of a baron, thinking that I finally knew what 'love' is, but I truly didn't."

"Is that why General Stefan thinks lowly of you as a 'thief' and a 'liar' thanks to those incidents? Aside from the fact that you're great-grandmother ruined King Leif's first marriage as a mistress." Ranran adds.

"Ranran!" Ran snapped at her.

"No, she ain't wrong," Landon sighed before revealing, "The truth is....General Stefan is my uncle from my grandfather's first marriage, meaning he is my grandfather's ex-wife's younger brother."

"SAY WHAT NOW!?" The revelation hung heavy in the room as all jaws dropped.

"Oh snapped!" Takuma had his hand covering his mouth, as he struggled to digest this.

"Talk about awkwardness to a whole other meaning," Shinichi summarized, his tone thoughtful.

"Awkward itself ain't even the right word to describe this," Michio ponders about this.

"I don't understand," Ranran was in disbelief, "Your grandfather's first marriage was through General Stefan's sister, the same queen that he would later cheat on with your biological grandmother. After all of this had come to light, why on earth is he still working with that scumbag who broke his sister's heart?"

"There is a reason for that," Landon's gaze dropped to the table, a mixture of sadness and resignation in his eyes before staring back at the other kids, "When step-grandmother was fleeing from the paparazzi after the divorce was finalized years ago, she was at that time on a family holiday with her parents at some luxury yacht in Monaco at that time with General Stefan. Sadly, however, when she stirred the yacht to flee from those pesky reporters who later chased them with motorboats, it struck against a rock, causing it to partially sink. In the chaos, her parents were thrown overboard and lost at sea, leaving General Stefan as the last remaining survivor later on. My grandfather who pitied him later took him in."

"Even so, to take in his ex-wife's brother...ain't it like taking in a tiger cub?" Ran expressed her disbelief, struggling to fathom how someone could live with such a situation.

"Don't get me wrong over what I am about to say, but surely....surely there had been some protests about the King taking in someone who would resent him for causing his entire family to perish, right? Due to that affair?" Shinichi confronted.

"Honestly, there were protests made. Not because they were worried that my grandfather was a kind royal looking out for others, but rather, they accused him of taking General Stefan in at that time in order to make up the guilt for cheating on General Stefan's deceased sister, let alone, her entire family who died due to the tragedy."

"That's a lot of history and emotional baggage for one family to carry." Emiko deeply thinks.

"It's like something out of a Shakespearean drama." Junko, still processing the information, finally spoke up.

"And what did...General Stefan think of your grandfather?"

"About that...." Landon is very reluctant to share.