T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 48 - Feathers in the Sky

"When Professor Shibuya hired us to locate that taxidermized eagle, the value itself as we were looking into it was although expensive, it wouldn't have warranted us a good reason over why he did not want cops to be involved, despite knowing The Snake has an interest towards it."

Ranran's gaze remained unwavering as the children and adults stared at her as if she were the main star of her own show, "The Snake can easily obtain this from the black market rather than simply target Professor Shibuya, yet, why did he send a man there to break in the second time? The answer was pretty straightforward actually: It's that 'something' Professor Shibuya secretly took from his former workplace in NASA that The Snake is after, concealed in that eagle, that was enough to get The Snake to kill his own men when the plan backfired."

Ranran's deduction echoed through the souvenir shop, each word landing like a revelation. The atmosphere grew charged with anticipation.

"So, you think you're quite the little detective, don't you?" The Snake's voice held a hint of begrudging admiration. "Go on, tell me what you think I'm after."

"You don't know what you're talking about!"Professor Shibuya cried.

"I do," Ranran met his gaze with confidence. "And to confirm my theory, during a school trip to New York City, Shinichi and I infiltrated a fancy event of your former workplace, where there were rumours that since that 'project' was the one that held the most promising results had secured fundings, it was rumoured that you faked one when that scandal of you allegedly embezzling money forced you to resign."

The professor's eyes widened in shock. "You...you two did what?"

"Let's just say we have our ways of finding the truth," Shinichi interjected, his voice steady.

"Wait, so that is why you both lied during that event?!" Ran found herself asking no one in particular.

But Ranran ignored their former member's question as she probed the professor, "You worked in that company, devoting your blood, tears and soul for so many decades. From the moment you graduated to the time those false allegations surfaced, you felt cheated. You'd been publicly disgraced with lies as they marred your dream as a distinguished rocket scientist. Your reputation was ruined by mere words alone, let alone, jealousy. Which is why....you have to seek revenge. So you stole the real blueprints of that new nuclear rocket plans you'd been designing for them, and then have it hidden in the eagle."

The Snake's eyes narrowed, his mask unable to hide the surprise in his gaze. "Those idiots at NASA told you?! Upfront!?"

"In the first place, they were very drunk when the two headed there," Takuma adds.

Emiko and the others watched her with admiration. They were always amazed by the way she could put a theory together from lots of different facts. Ran meanwhile had mixed feelings, since she still had some inferiority towards Ranran, she found herself caught between irritation and begrudging respect. She always seemed to get the better of her.

"Can you blame me!? After everything that had happened!?" Rated Professor Shibuya, "It's one thing if I did them wrong, but the fact that they spoke ill of me out of jealousy.....where is the professionalism in that!?"

"So a year ago, you decided to return here and brought this little secret with you," Ranran carried on. She began pacing while meeting the professor's rage with a steely gaze. "Too bad, somehow The Snake found out about this secret, he had to have his hands on it. But Professor, you knew calling the cops would not do you good, since you technically stole something meant for NASA after all. And if you do mention any of your rocket scientist past, then your former workplace would be alerted. The last solution was to see our service towards the bitter end."