"Let's start with...how did your royal tutor career begin with the Lockwood family," Ranran questioned the teacher.

Mr. Moseby took a deep breath, his gaze distant as he began recounting his story.

"It all started decades ago when I was working as a tutor for a noble family in Norway-"

"Wait, noble families exist in Norway too!? Even though it is now the 21st century!? I thought they only existed in the UK!" Takuma was shocked, and so was Shinichi.

"Yes, noble families still exist in Norway, although their influence has waned over the years. The Lockwood family is one of the few remaining noble families in the country. They are not as prominent as some of the noble families in the UK, but they still hold a certain status and tradition." Mr. Moseby chuckled at their surprise.

He continued with his story. "Anyway, after the family's son whom I coach finally graduated from university, and I was paid a decent sum enough for retirement, the same family who had connections to the royal family contacted me. Around that period, Crown Prince-no at that time, King Leif Lockwood who was still a child needed to be straightened out. Apparently, he disliked studying back then, and they were looking for someone to educate him. They came to know of my reputation as a tutor for that family, and that's how I ended up in the Lockwood household."

"Did you immediately become close to King Leif?"

Mr. Moseby shook his head, a nostalgic smile on his face. "Not at first. He was quite a handful, rebellious and full of energy. Which is why I had to use a different approach to educating him. Over time, we developed a bond, and I became more than just a tutor to him. I became a mentor, a confidant, and even a friend."

"Enough to end up teaching his son, Thomas, then grandson Landon?" Shinichi prompted.

"That's right," Mr. Moseby nodded. "I've been with the Lockwood family for generations. It's been a privilege to see the family grow and change over the years."

"What do you....personally think of Landon's personality at that time when you got to know him?"

A faint smile played on Moseby's lips. "A bit of a troublemaker. Occasionally tell stories here and there, but that is about it."

".....but is he not a liar and a thief?" Shinichi confronted.

"If he began doing so, he probably did it after his mother passed away 2 years ago," Mr Moseby grimaced at that moment, "I remembered when she passed away, he was deeply affected by it. She meant the world to him, and her death left a profound mark on him. He became more withdrawn and distant."

"I heard she died of a terminal illness, what is this disease that cost her life?" Takuma inquired.

"It was a family-inherited illness," Moseby replied solemnly. "His maternal family has a history of a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. It's a cruel disease that slowly takes away a person's mobility and eventually leads to paralysis.

"So she had such diseases, huh? Similar to Emiko's aunt," Shinichi guessed as the deafening silence from the teacher was obvious. "Is Landon aware?"

"He is, which is why there were multiple talks surfacing from King Leif wondering whether should switch someone else to be the next Crown Prince after his father."

"Why? He doesn't have the disease, right?" Ranran pointed out, "He is walking, talking and doing fine."

"No, he doesn't have it," Mr. Moseby confirmed. "But that kind of disease, there are chances it may be inherited through the maternal family, which is why it surfaces a lot."

"Come on, that ain't fair," Takuma pouted, "I am gonna bet that if his dad, Thomas Lockwood, who is the Crown Prince, is the one with the disease, the King would've acted differently."

"Unfortunately, that's how royalty works," Mr. Moseby sighed. "You can't be king if you are not strong and healthy, or worse, disabled."

"So Stephen Hawking who dealt with the same thing was able to achieve his dream as some Professor, but Landon can't be king? What sort of nonsense is this?" Shinichi was in disarray over this revelation.

"Of course, that is the only thing that could get in the way of him becoming King. But that is the least of King Leif's concerns," Mr. Moseby nodded sadly. "Truthfully, he had a secret test sorted out not long ago."

"Eh!? What sort of test!?" Ranran blinked.

"A test to confirm whether Landon inherited the disease from his mother."

"And did he have it?" Takuma is dying to know.

"Yes and no, he is more a carrier. Which is fine, but for his future kids with whoever he has...this is going to be a huge problem for the royal family. After all, even though medically we are as advanced as in the past, the lifespan of such a disease is very unpredictable. Also, a royal family can't continue their regime without heirs, so you can see why." Mr Moseby pointed out. "Living that kind of disease....there is no way out unless one dies, and that is a harsh reality no one....even if one has privilege under their family name, there is no escaping it."

The children exchanged sombre glances.

"Is General Stefan aware of this?" Ranran asked, her mind racing to connect the dots.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he does," Mr. Moseby confirmed. "He is close to King Leif after all."

Deciding the topic was getting dark, Ranran switches the topic, "About you having been assaulted, do you plan to report to the police?"

"No," Mr. Moseby dismisses that idea, "As I mentioned before, it won't do good to multiple people, mainly, I made a living through them. I won't have a career to go back to if I say a word."

"But you can't just pretend it didn't happen," Takuma argued. "Someone is out there to murder you!"

"And what if he comes back to finish when it started?" pressed Shinichi.

"I know that," Mr Moseby held up a hand. "But I am used to it. After all, I don't want to create any more trouble. Mainly towards Landon."

The room fell into a heavy silence. The weight of the situation was palpable. The children could feel the immense pressure that Mr. Moseby was under, torn between protecting Landon and safeguarding his own livelihood.

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

"Tell me, Mr. Moseby, do you know the reason Landon ran away from Edgewood Academy?" Ranran fired the following question.

"I think it was because the letter from his father that was delivered to Landon a month ago was the beginning of everything." The tutor answered. "When he opened the letter, he was shocked."

"Did he notify as to what was contained in the letter?" Ranran asked casually.

"Truthfully no, I've no idea," The teacher denied this.

The two boys who are listening to this shared a look."He really didn't tell you a thing?" Takuma wanted to know.

"Why should he?" Moseby shrugged. "It was a private letter, but I could tell it had some kind of bad news judging his expression."

Shinichi looked up sharply from his notebook, "He said he received it a month ago through a messenger of his father. Do you happen to see his face?"

"No, but I was in the office when it arrived." He wrinkled his brow, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as he tried to recall what had happened. "It was early morning before classes got underway, and normally it ain't odd for Landon's grandfather to send me over to the U.K. to check up on Landon, so I waited at the office in Edgewood Academy. To kill some time while waiting for Landon to wake up and leave his dorm, I spoke to some of the staff there, then I seem to remember seeing this man handing it in at the front desk."

With the two boys scribbling furiously, Ranran asked. "What was he wearing? And what did he look like?"

"Definitely a Caucasian," Mosby's frown deepened. "Dressed in a suit, a dark one. And dark glasses. And he had a beard, a grey beard."

Takuma fiddled with his cap. "Was it a disguise? That he could've been wearing a false beard, dark glasses?"

"I ain't sure," Moseby shook his head as he admitted."I can only tell you what I saw that day last month."

As they listened, a thought occurred to Ranran, "If this incident took place a month ago, why is it neither you nor Landon bothered to contact the police? I mean his father is in serious trouble, in his not?"

"I did," Mr Moseby insists, "But Landon reassured me not to."

"Eh!?" The trio's eyes grew wide with that revelation.

"Considering he belonged to a powerful royal family back in Norway, Landon was certain things would turn out well at first. After all, his father was the Crown Prince at that time, and His Royal Highness, King Leif, was around the palace before he had to be sent to the hospital due to deteriorating health out of old age. I didn't think during that period, it got so bad that The General ended up doing the things he did."

The revelation left them all in stunned silence.

"That reminds me," Shinichi suddenly remembered, "Were you there at Edgewood when Landon fled away from the men The General had sent them to?"

"No, I only found out after he rushed out and contacted me over the smartphone. When I arrived shortly, it was too late."

"Then....the moment you set foot there, you definitely ask the teachers and students who witnessed all of that at that time, right?" Moseby appears surprised as Ranran confronts him, "Did anyone see anyone else following him besides General Stefan's men?"

"No, of course not. Aside from those men, strangers aren't allowed to enter the prestigious grounds of Edgewood Academy, as a former student, you too should be aware of that, right?"

Strumming her fingers once more, Ranran pressed for further answers, "Then what about his friends? Anyone we could talk to?"

Moseby thought for a moment. "He didn't really have any. There was nobody he was close to."

"Seriously? He has no friends?" Takuma frowned.

"Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying he was a loner, he has. It's just that I wouldn't call it as personal friends that he would hang out with."

"What about his second ex-fiance?" Takuma brings her up.

"Oh that one," Moseby laughed emptily to himself before shaking his head, "They barely interacted after that infamous incident of her ditching the ring in front of his face at school, just no way." He glanced at his watch. "I have a class in ten minutes. I have a lot of things to sort out here later on."

Before leaving, they both greeted their goodbyes before Shinichi handed him his card to the teacher. "If you think of anything else, please call us."

"I will," Moseby nodded, turning to leave. Abruptly he stopped. "By the way, the last time I saw him, I recalled he threw away his smartphone sim card to avoid getting caught. If you see Landon, could you have him give you guys his disposable number or anything?"

"I'll ask Landon later," Shinichi promised.

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

"Only 2 hours went by, and Landon's lies are easily falling apart."

As soon as the children left the building, the two boys were stunned by Ranran's choice of words. "Ranran, what are you talking about?!" Takuma questioned the girl's remark.

"Let me show you something interesting," Ranran suggested before scooping up her smartphone to show them a couple of interesting photos. One of them is a class schedule. "This is Landon Lockwood's class schedule, he claimed earlier that he left art class to head to the restroom, then as soon as he came out, he saw those men and fled for his life out of Edgewood Academy."

As the two boys peered where Ranran was pointed at, they wondered where was Ranran heading with this.

"On the day when he was being chased, there was no art class, because the teacher in charge came down with the flu, I know this because one of my Edgewood friends was friends with one of Landon's classmates," Ranran revealed. "That is lie number 1."

"Wait, there are other lies?!" Takuma began to wonder how much more Ranran had uncovered.

"Lie number 2, the restroom," Ranran showed them photos of it, and the two boys gasped.

Unlike the normal restroom in Teitan Elementary School, Edgewood Academy's washroom has up its game with a state-of-the-art design. Gleaming tiles, touchless faucets, glass-stained windows, and spotless mirrors reflected an image of luxury. The restroom in Edgewood Academy was luxurious, with marble countertops, polished chrome fixtures, and ornate mirrors. It looked more like something you'd find in a high-end hotel.

"Holy cow! Is this the washroom of your old school!?" Takuma gasped while pointing at the screen, "It looks like a freaking five-star hotel!"

"Honestly, this restroom is fancier than half the hotels I've been to!" Shinichi added, equally astonished. "Even the hotel I head to has no such windows!"

"That's Edgewood Academy for you," Ranran smirked. "They don't do things by halves."

"And your mother withdrew you from this very school in the photo!? With luxurious toilets?!" Takuma who is borderline money-minded was in shock, at the same time, a bit annoyed over one thing, "She is an idiot to do this to you! No wonder you despise her, Ranran! I too would be mad if my own mother dragged me out of this luxurious place!"

Shinichi couldn't utter a word, as he was beyond speechless. Don't get him wrong, he too grew up in privilege like Ranran, but never once grew up in a privileged school as Ranran did. The more he eyes on the photos, the more annoyed he grew. Why didn't his parents send him to such a privileged school? He decided to question his parents someday. "Ranran, what does this have anything to do with Landon lying?"

"Landon claimed he ran straight out of the restroom and he was chased by those goons, right?" Ranran raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's what he said," Takuma confirmed.

"But," Ranran zoomed in to the photo before pointing at one of the cubicles of the door knob, "Look at the doorknob."

The two boys stared at the photo, their eyes wide with realization.

"Neh Ranran, what is with the doorknob looking all so twisted?" Shinichi pointed to where Ranran was directing their gazes.

"I should explain, you know my friend, Ellis in Edgewood?" Ranran brought up the name.

"Your V-tuber friend, right? What about it?" Takuma figures.

"Well, the other day he ran out of ideas to film some sort of video for his YouTube channel, so I suggest messing around with the school facilities to get some millions of views through phone calls. To cut a long story short, he took the blow torch from our school lab and melted the doorknobs of the restroom cubicles." Ranran explained nonchalantly.

Both Takuma and Shinichi's eyes widened in shock. "He did what!?" Takuma exclaimed.

"Seriously, was any of this worth the views?" Shinichi asked incredulously.

"I mean he earned 5 million views out of it, so it was worth it I guess." Ranran shrugged.

"How much were those door knobs worth, honestly?" Takuma asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, they were pretty expensive to replace," Ranran replied with a mischievous grin. "I think the school had to cough up quite a bit for those fancy doorknobs."

"How much is it if it were converted into yen, seriously?" Shinichi demanded answers.

Ranran paused, pretending to calculate. "Hmm, let's see... If I remember correctly, it was around 200,000 yen for each doorknob. And there were, what, 300 plus toilet cubicles besides this one? So, about... two million yen?"

"Two million yen!? Just for the doorknobs!?" Takuma's eyes practically bulged out of his head.

"That's one expensive prank," Shinichi muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the absurdity of it all. "What kind of doorknob did your school use that would amount ot 2 million yen!?"

"Oh, they were these fancy imported ones made from some special alloy or something. The school really splurged on them for some reason," Ranran explained, her tone nonchalant. "Unfortunately, Ellis got caught despite having covered up his identity by the teachers, so his furious parents had no choice but to take a huge chunk of the revenue he earned through the video to pay for those fancy doorknobs," Ranran replied casually.

Takuma shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing. "This is some next-level chaos, Ranran. Your friend Ellis really knows how to stir things up."

"But how does this connect to Landon's disappearance?" Takuma asked, still trying to find the link.

"That's the thing," Ranran replied, her expression turning serious. "On the very day, Landon claimed he was in this washroom in particular, the door knobs had yet to be replaced in the very washroom Landon claimed to be. Thanks to the courtesy of Ellis at that time, the doorknob malfunctioned for the worst, and a lot of the boys who went into it couldn't get out of the cubicle. And as a result, the principal had no choice but to make an announcement to not use any of those restrooms with the melted door knob."

"Wait a minute, if that is the case-" Shinichi clarified.

"Exactly," Ranran confirmed. "There was no way Landon could've headed to this washroom not far from his classroom. He must have been somewhere else entirely."

"What is the purpose of making up this story then?" Shinichi rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Does this mean the men chasing after Landon back in Edgewood happen to be a lie?"

"I doubt it, that is the only truth I was able to verify," Ranran argued, "I asked my friends in Edgewood, and they were able to confirm seeing him fleeing out of the school being chased by The General's men."

Suddenly, Ranran's smartphone rang from her skirt pocket.

Wondering why, she answered the phone before her friend from Edgewood replied, "Ranran, I asked around the students there, apparently, while he was fleeing from those men, there were sightings he was seen speaking to a man."

Ranran's eyes widened in surprise. "A man? Who was he talking to? Was it...General Stefan?"

"I didn't get all the details, but some students mentioned seeing him with a stranger near the school gates. " The said friend explained. "It seemed like an intense conversation. They think it might have been his dad, judging their interaction."

".....in what way?"

"Truthfully, everyone in Edgewood barely knew what Landon's father looked like. Admittedly, Landon didn't directly him call his father directly. However....."

"However.....what, Tiffany?" Ranran prompted her to continue.

"...When the witness quietly eavesdropped on their conversation, Landon called him 'Father'," Tiffany's voice held a hint of uncertainty. "So, that might have been a clue."

Ranran's heart raced. This was a significant development. If Landon had indeed met his father that day, it could shed light on the reasons behind his disappearance. But it also raised more questions. Why did Landon keep it a secret? And what was the nature of their conversation?

"Did they get a good look at what his father looks like? And when did that happen?" Ranran probed.

"Well, as it was raining heavily at that time, the only thing the witness could see was from the back, Landon's father's head was shaved. Muscularly fit too if I may add. And I think it took place last week."

"Thank you, Tiffany," Ranran said, her mind whirling with possibilities. "You've been a huge help. If you hear anything else, let me know."

As she ended the call, she turned to Takuma and Shinichi, excitement and determination in her eyes. "This third recent lie I found out from my friends who studied there, Landon had met up with his father." Ranran's voice was hushed as if she were sharing a secret.

Takuma and Shinichi exchanged surprised glances. This was a significant revelation, and it added another layer of complexity to the case. Why had Landon kept this meeting a secret? And what could they have possibly talked about?

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

As they walked to the main gate, Shinichi shot Ranran a puzzled look. "Ranran, do you still think that Landon lied when he said that he hadn't shown the letter to his teacher?" he began.

"Or maybe Landon wasn't lying, but his teacher did by reading the envelope without his knowledge," Takuma countered. "Perhaps after learning the existence of the diamond mine, he kept quiet, but secretly plotted with General Stefan to split the profit. I still think that he could've likely done so to make more money."

"Anyway, aside from the letter's existence, whether Moseby knew about it or not, I can't help but wonder why didn't Landon bring up his father dropping by to pay him a visit at Edgewood Academy, I mean he paid Landon a visit last week. Something about this case is really strange." Shinichi wondered in silence.

Before Ranran could answer, her smartphone began chirping. She noted the caller ID was from Ranran before answering it, and as she set to speaker mode, Ran's agitated voice greeted them.

"Ranran, Landon is gone!"

Takuma and Shinichi's eyes widened in alarm, mirroring the urgency in Ran's voice. "What do you mean, he's gone?" Takuma blurted out.

"He's not at the guestroom! The room's empty!" Emiko's voice could be heard overlapping Ran's, as their voices were tinged with panic.

Shinichi's heart raced, her mind racing to process this new development. "What happened by the way?! Did Mouri and Junko not make sure he slept well in the guest room!?" he urged.

"Well, earlier Landon asked Ran to fetch him a glass of water. When she headed to the Mouri Tantei Agency to do so, since the kitchen piping system was faulty, he told me to go make him a sandwich, and reassured me that he would remain there." Junko responded frantically.

"But when the two girls were done, I was going to open the door for Junko and Ran, since they were worried about spilling the food and all, when suddenly, the door upstairs we heard went open before my hand reached for the doorknob. Worried, I hurriedly opened the door to check who it was, only to see the door upstairs was left open."

"And by the time we rushed upstairs, he was already gone!" Emiko groaned.

"No way! General Stefan's men....don't tell me they had kidnapped him!?" gasped Takuma. Beside him, Shinichi remained shocked while Ranran had an indifferent expression.

"Oh, that is nothing. He didn't get kidnapped alright!" replied Junko angrily.

"And you know this, because.....?" Shinichi encourages her to share.

"Not long ago, her Tousan made some decent money from a client through one of his private investigation work. Since Ran-san is in charge of the financial matters within her household after her mom left them, not to mention, her Tousan usually splurge his money unnecessarily on booze, cigarettes and hostesses at some bar, the money was placed in her bedroom for safekeeping. But because you all made the decision to place Landon to hide at her place, she quietly placed the money in her father's bedroom, since she doesn't feel comfortable leaving her money with a stranger."

After Junko finished ranting and was about to continue on and on, she was out of breath as she panted.

"To cut a long story short, Ran's instinct told her to check whether the money in her father's bedroom was stolen, and it was. Landon definitely took it. Without a doubt." Emiko sighs.

Takuma and Shinichi exchanged alarmed glances. This was a sudden turn of events that none of them had anticipated. The disappearance of both Landon and the missing money raised even more questions.

Ranran's face hardened. "So, you're saying Landon took the money and left?"

Junko nodded, frustration was evident in her voice. "Yes, that's what it looks like. I can't believe he would do this to us!"

"I knew it, "Ranran let out a heavy sigh.

"You knew....you knew he was going to steal!?" Junko grew mad at Ranran's casual response, "If you knew, why did you order us to have Landon at Ran's place!?"

"In the first place, the reason for this is to set up a trap for Landon." The founder replied.

The revelation left Junko, Michio and Emiko speechless while Ran sat on her bed, feeling blank with everything that had transpired. Even Shinichi and Takuma froze at Ranran's unexpected statement. "Ranran, what are you talking about!?" Michio grew confused at Ranran's statement.

"Let's meet up in the main HQ, I will explain everything to all of you upon arrival," Ranran reassured the children.

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

As they gathered in the main HQ an hour later, The tension in the room was palpable. The revelation that Ranran had orchestrated this situation to trap Landon left everyone in shock. Questions buzzed through their minds, and they couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and frustration.

Ranran and Shinichi were facing the rest of the members across the table at headquarters, as 6 of the members were confused about what to make of her statement.

Soon, Ranran began to explain her thought process. "When Landon dropped by our association door entrance yesterday, but didn't enter, I knew I had to dig deep. I mean this is Landon Lockwood, the future prince of the royal family in Norway. Also, a rumoured gaslighting liar/thief as General Stefan said. This is the same boy who had an alleged history of gaslighting his first ex-fiance out of jealousy to win the heart of the second one before both engagements fell out. In order to see what are his true thoughts, I decided to take matters into my own hands."

The magnitude of what she had just disclosed was sinking in, and the implications were enormous.

"Now the reports I had received from Edgewood Academy regarding Landon, as well as the reports in Norway regarding Landon's situation....it sounds bleak for his part. He is now at risk of being dethroned thanks to his grandfather's health, which sounds pitiful, really. At the same time, however...." With a sinister smile formed on her red lips, she taps the table, "That would ultimately make him a prince in waiting, which means he had a lot to lose."

"I don't....understand." Ran became perplexed at Ranran's words, "What does he stand to lose just by not becoming King? He will still end up getting to live a life of luxury for a prince."

"Exactly!" Junko nodded vehemently, "Even the previous royal family I read about in the U.K. had it lucky. Those who didn't end up becoming King get to live a life of freedom with the privileges of a prince or a princess."

"That is true, however, you are all forgetting one thing," Ranran replied.

Ranran's cryptic response hung in the air, leaving everyone in suspense. They leaned in, eager to hear her explanation.

"The thing you're overlooking is this, having all of those privileges stripped out in an instance." Ranran continued, her gaze sharp and calculating. Not getting the full picture, Ranran decided to test them, "Tell me, during the 21st century when times had changed, how does the royal family make a living since war is no longer an option?"

Emiko scratched her head, pondering Ranran's question. "Well, they probably have investments, or maybe they generate income from royal estates and properties?"

"Perhaps they got lucky? Investing in a company that would give us extra money?" Ran added, still trying to piece together where Ranran was heading.

Takuma joined in, thinking aloud. "I guess they could also get income from tourism, like opening up certain properties or landmarks to the public for a fee, through the castles they raided and stole from others, or probably the ones their ancestors built."

Ranran nodded, seemingly satisfied with their responses. "Exactly, you've all hit the mark. Besides all of that, where else do they get their income from to pay all those staff members in their palace?"

Junko furrowed her brows, deep in thought. "I suppose they might receive some kind of government funding or allowance, right?"

Suddenly remembering one of the speeches Ranran gave back then, Shinichi snapped his fingers, "Tax, right!?"

Ranran grinned, impressed with their quick understanding. "Exactly! They receive funding from taxpayers in their respective countries. The royal family's finances are closely monitored and funded by the government, and this is something the public often has strong opinions about. Cause let's be realistic, who would be happy to pay their hard-earned money to a freeloading family that only knows how to spend lavishly and do little to help the struggles of the people?"

The room fell into a thoughtful silence. 

"There is only one way to stop this nonsense and for all, removing a royal family is not an option. In the first place, their ancestors contributed a lot to the nation's people. Not to mention, the government had more to gain with whatever contracts were made between them."

"Then....if you can't....abolish them, what can they do?" Ran and the others leaned to listen to what she had to say.

"Make them no longer a royal anymore." 

Michio blinked, processing Ranran's statement. "Make them no longer a royal... How would that work?"

"One way would be to sever their ties to the royal lineage legally. This would mean stripping them of their titles, privileges, and any official connection to the monarchy." Ranran answered.

"And who is the one who had to sever the ties? The one who decided not to become one?" Ran looked at Ranran as if she was insane, "What idiot would do that?"

"One did back in the U.K. for love," Ranran revealed, then added, "Another way is if the person in charge, mainly the current King, stripped all of the privileges."

"But ain't possible! According to Landon, King Leif's health had taken a turn for the worst, so he ain't in a position to do so." Junko challenged.

"Then what about his son, the Crown Prince? A.k.a Landon's father? Thomas Lockwood?" Ranran suggests.

"Eh?!"

"He is going to become king after all. If he is assigned as the regent king, it would change everything." The red lip detective leans her small back against the chair.

"But he is missing, remember?!" Emiko reminded her.

"Which he lied, because Ranran's Edgewood friends did their own investigation and found out he was seen talking to a man who he calls 'father'." Shinichi refuted.

"Anyway, with the father now missing, who is the next in line to the throne? Can anyone answer that question?" Ranran encourages them to think with a smile on her face.

Ran racked her brain, trying to think through the royal lineage. "If King Leif and Crown Prince Thomas are both unable to make decisions, then... it would fall to the next person in line, right?"

"That would be Landon," Shinichi replied, his brows furrowed in thought. "But this is the 21st century, even if he becomes King at an early age, legally, he can't since he is 10-years-old."

"Exactly, so who is next in line if King Leif, his son Thomas Lockwood, and grandson Landon Lockwood can't become king?" Ranran once more posed that question to the group.

The room fell into a thoughtful silence. The children exchanged puzzled glances, trying to piece together the intricate web of royal succession.

"Wait, if none of them can become king, doesn't that mean... it would fall to someone else in the royal family?" Junko ventured cautiously.

Ranran's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "Bingo. That's exactly right. When the direct line of succession is disrupted, the next in line would be a member of the extended royal family."

"Wait, but isn't that...?" Emiko's eyes widened with realization.

"Exactly," Ranran confirmed, her voice hushed. "Landon's step-uncle, General Stefan."

The revelation hung heavily in the air, sending shivers down their spines. The implications were staggering. If Landon's step-uncle, General Stefan, were to ascend to the throne due to the disruption in the direct line of succession, it would undoubtedly shift the dynamics of the entire monarchy.

"No, chotto matte. It ain't possible," Michio was doubtful, "He is the brother of King Leif's first ex-wife! They are not biologically related by blood!"

"Exactly! General Stefan is only adopted into the family because of that tragedy. How can someone who is adopted into the family become king!?" Ran's voice wavered with disbelief.

"But regardless, he is the brother of his deceased sister, who was a queen beloved by many through the people of Norway, deshou? Also, Landon's grandmother is the mistress who caused the end of the marriage between General Stefan's elder sister and King Leif. What would not make him a good candidate?" Ranran disputed. 

 The children were grappling with the shocking revelation, trying to wrap their heads around the intricacies of royal succession.

"Even so, that's still a long shot, isn't it?" Junko stammered, her voice laced with uncertainty.

"But Ranran might be right since this idea is not as far-fetched as it may seem." Emiko rubbed her chin, "If the direct line of succession is deemed unfit or unavailable, the extended family becomes a viable option. And in this case, it would be General Stefan."

"It is just a scenario that isn't likely to happen!" Junko scoffed. "No way that could occur! King Leif crowned Landon's father as the Crown Prince while naming his grandson the prince. That ain't possible!"

"But if the public pressures them to do so, the royal family would have no choice but to do so, right?" The founder suggests.

"Eh?" Everyone bewilderedly turned to the founder.

"In the historical records, I read back in the U.K, there was this man who was crowned King. He is the eldest." Ranran recounted what she had read, "One day, he fell for a married actress, so, the two secretly carried out an affair. When the press got word of it, it caused a massive scandal. The public was furious, and they demanded that he step down from the throne."

"And did he?!" Shinichi is dying to know of the outcome.

"Yes,"  Ranran nodded. "Faced with mounting pressure and the threat of public outrage, he not only did so, but as soon as the actress divorced her husband, they got married."

"Wow, that's... pretty intense," Shinichi remarked, his mind racing with the implications.

"Ain't that overly reacting?!" Junko was in shock over the contents of the story.

"No, to the people's eyes, it was very justifiable." Ranran then lists down the reasons why, "In the first place, when he fell for her, he didn't perform his duties as a King well. Kept seeing her behind everyone's back. Second, he took her to his deceased father's funeral at that time, which in accordance with the rules of being a royal, you are not allowed to do so for security reasons. And thirdly, this actress had a colourful love life, seeing married men, which caused friction with other royal families. Lastly, and this is the crucial one: The money they earn is through tax-payers money, now, you imagine working your whole life for decades while being forced to pay a portion of your income to the royal family's mistress, what would've been your response? Would the six of you be happy with that?" 

"I guess when you put it that way... it does make sense," Ran finally admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I already had it difficult in settling the bills with my Tousan regarding his Tantei Agency, learning how my Tousan's hard-earned money is being used for this purpose..."

"...it would be infuriating," Junko finished her thought. "Now that Ranran mentioned it, I too would've wanted that scumbag King and that slu-"

"Junko, language." Shinichi sternly reminded her with a warning glare.

"Right," Junko gulped a bit before continuing, "I would've wanted that scumbag and that cheating mistress out. Cause it ain't right that the money I worked to earn is used to splurge on idiotic things like that."

"So, what you're saying is, if the public dislikes Landon's family, they could potentially demand a change in the line of succession?" Emiko sought clarification.

"Exactly," Ranran affirmed. "Landon's grandmother is the mistress of the entire family, anyone connected to her by blood is considered to the public as 'The adulterer's children'. If General Stefan is deemed a more suitable option, then it's within the realm of possibility."

"In other words....you are implying if General Stefan becomes King...Landon won't even get to be Prince anymore, right?" Shinichi figures it out.

"What...but if that is the case-"

"That is right, Michio," Ranran sighed, "He will become a nobody, an average citizen just like the rest of us. And that itself is bad for Landon, to be stripped out of everything."

The gravity of the situation settled heavily on the room. The children were beginning to comprehend the immense stakes of Landon's disappearance and the potential fallout it could have on his royal status.

"If that were to happen...Landon's life would change forever," Takuma murmured, his eyes wide with realization.

"He would go from being a prince to an ordinary citizen, with no privileges or titles," Junko's lips went dry.

A heavy silence followed as the children absorbed the gravity of the situation. The implications were enormous, and the potential consequences far-reaching.