Was all the time Cran spent with the agency just a facade? Did he care at all or did this mean nothing to him the whole time? When did this start and how did he pull off so many crimes while still being there at the agency?

"None of that matters to me now." Cran outstretched his arm "If you desperately want to know then take it up with the real Soap down there." he eyed Sho.

The real Soap..?

Sho laughed and stepped back to summon a scythe with a megaphone tied to the back of the blade. Ibuki analyzed him further and saw that this was the one who took her eye and replaced his own with her. There were two Soaps acting in accordance with each other the whole time!

"Right on the mark!" Sho shouted "Akira, Toru, let's make sure Cranny boy gets away safely."

Cran quickly took his leave down the halls leaving the detectives to deal with Sho. They just needed to buy enough time for Cran to get away and that was going to be a piece of cake since the detectives were unarmed and had no tricks up their sleeves. In fact they could get rid of them entirely right here and now.

Sho pulled back his scythe and swung it forward sending a horizontal wave of darkness towards them. "This is the end of the road!"

Midare pulled Reanne back and let Mary step forward to shoot out a large fireball from her hands that blocked the wave of darkness. If there was any moment to show the world that the detectives were capable of redemption then it would be now. With the crowd's eyes on them.

Sho high jumped back, landing on the balcony to avoid the wave of frost that came from behind, trapping Akira and Toru's feet in solid ice. Yet again Evelynn came to help one last time before passing out from exhaustion.

"See you later detectives, or not!" Sho taunted one last time before going after Cran.

Mary tried to chase after but Midare stopped her because it was going to be impossible to catch up.

"What do you mean?! We can stop him right here and now. This is what you've been waiting for." Mary's tone sharpened.

"He's too dangerous of a threat for now." Midare bluntly replied.

Mary growled "Too dangerous!? That's what you've been saying forever Midare! We have stronger weapons and magic, we've been training every day so that one day we can catch him and you say it's too dangerous now?! You're ridiculous--"

Midare grasped her by the cheeks with both hands(using all her magic to make her limb arm move) making her shut up "Mary please, think smartly for one second. "

Mary felt a sharp snap alert in her mind and flashes of various images that were impossible to describe visually but contained raw emotion. She could see, from Midare's perspective how stupid she was being and when Midare removed her hands, Mary eyelids grew heavy almost passing out from the mental break.

The other detectives knew they weren't going to be able to catch up to them and they needed to focus on finding a way out of the building. The coldness in the room had lifted meaning the blizzard which was most likely caused by Evelynn was dispelled. There were many revelations revealed but now the question was where Cran was going to go next. The strange object in his hand looked important, familiar to Midare, Yamiko, and Reanne since they had seen something like it before.

By the time the detectives stepped outside the mansion, it was the crack of dawn. Much of the snow had melted away but still gave the world a scenery of winter despite still being late October.

The still coldness touched Mary's neck making her completely freeze in place to continue thinking about what happened when Midare touched her cheeks. She could most if not all of Midare's emotions in that moment. As her friends passed by her talking amongst each other, she was left alone until Yamiko came by her side and brought her back to reality by touching her shoulder.

That's when Mary looked at her hands with tears welling up in her eyes "She was concerned about me because of the car accident. How... how did I not put the pieces together?"

"It's not too late to apologize." Yamiko said "It's never too late."

Mary looked up and saw Midare occupied in a discussion with Hyde and Mikael, "I'll apologize when the time is right." she sighed.

The two boys(mostly Hyde) were restless after finding out the truth of their friend being the culprit all along but their bodies were weak from hours of investigating. For Reanne, this ceremony was an embarrassing disaster. She could never live this down which was humorous to Midare. But for Hyde, it was painful to bear.

He opened his lighter then closed it "Midare I still don't get why you killed thousands that day. Yamiko told us everything and I still don't understand…"

Midare was going to have to punch Yamiko for telling them the truth of her past. But it was clear Hyde wanted some kind of reconciliation for killing Sasaki and in turn, getting the detectives arrested. Though that was everyone's fault not just his own "If I told you, it still wouldn't sway your perception of me. People will want to do good for the sake of the future but that idea of good is different in everyone's minds. Sometimes you will have to assess whether or not your justice is more good than theirs."

"...Thank you." Hyde now had a clearer picture of his action. As for his and Mikael's past, it was something they could at least move past for what lied ahead. The sky was beautiful, dark, but like a signifier of what the future could be.. They found who Soap truly was and it hurt that it had to be one of their friends but at least they found out. Maybe there was a chance of convincing him to change his ways if his motives for all of this charade were just.

Midare needed to know if Lemon was also behind Cran's actions. He had his own secrets she never took interest in since the matters of France didn't concern her. Unfortunately she could not locate Lemon, or call him on her phone. This made her slightly suspect him being apart of Cran's grand plan but without asking him personally, she was left in the dark.

Heading to the cafe, she ended up running into Lambda and Lan who were looking for her. They had some rather upsetting news and Midare could tell what it was by the wrapped blade in Lambda's hands.

"We've been looking everywhere for you Midare! I er… it seems like Syrup won't be coming back to us anytime soon. She's stuck in her original state." Lambda held out the wrapped blade for her to take. Syrup's true form took the appearance of a sword much like Yulie but since the swor had dulled, Lambda had to restore it to a usable state. She upgraded the weapon in a sense, mixing it with an umbrella to make it a hidden umbrella sword. Special weapons were imbued with the souls of people and some can revert back to their human state. However if killed in their human forms, they return to their weapon form and depending on how severe the injury they suffered, can never change back into a human.

It could be said that returning a special weapon to its owner was a tradition. And their owner would have the choice of sealing away the weapon or donating it to a treasury that held many other legendary weapons. Midare chose neither, "Give it to one of the detectives. She'll come back to us one day."

"A-alright!"

Lambda and Lan bowed simultaneously and took off to the dormitory. Midare meanwhile, entered the empty cafe one last time.

For once she felt lonely in the place she had built from the ground up. Although it's only purpose was to give back to the world she loved so much by catching Soap, she wished the agency could be around for a little longer so she could be with her detectives. The past where it was first her, Levin and Yamiko, then the day she met Hyde, Mikael and recruited them along with Ibuki and Mary. She was hesitant at first and even thought about kicking them out since they were still child-like and messed up a lot. But there was a certain charm to it.

They all looked up to her as a person and not a murderer like the rest of the world did. Especially Mary who wasn't mad at Midare for being a terrible parent. Her memories were erased so Midare could never tell if she harbored animosity or not. Midare wouldn't be here if they hadn't joined but at the same time these truths that were brought to light were heavy to take. And the many deaths along the way still paved Midare's path in the dried blood of her victims.

Once reaching her office, she slumped back in her seat like a potato and stared at the ceiling. She had a personal rule to keep her personal feelings to herself that way she could focus on her cases without fear of death. But reaching the end of what seemed to be her second life was saddening.

"Director… just what are you planning to do with me..?" She felt as if she was speaking to The Director herself. The woman always was a step ahead of everything Midare did like the future was in her hands. She made it clear that the agency has outgrown its usefulness but for what purpose was it to completely erase them from the world itself? The erasure of the world's memories wasn't Midare's fault…

"I suppose I have to see for myself… This time I will outsmart you."

Ibuki entered her dorm room and took off her shoes to leave by the door. Her heart was heavy after Cran had revealed himself to be Soap. Thoughts raced through her mind of her sister potentially being a criminal as well. Maybe she was, which is why she made Ibuki steer away from the path of a knight. Lemon was obviously hiding something but Ibuki didn't want to end up fighting them.

"What am I going to do..? Maybe I'll just have to kill them." She said to no one in particular. Her sister was never there for her in time of need. Why should she have mercy on her life if she was a villain? But the agency's members all had vile pasts...

Ibuki found a letter resting on her bed and snatched it. The handwriting is obviously her sister's. Her eyes skimmed the paper and then balled it up and tossed it back fully getting the gist of the message. Her sister was never coming back, none of the knights were.

They were on their 'final mission' apparently. But what Ibuki didn't fully understand was that it wasn't just a message but a warning to the detectives.

────── 〔✿〕──────

SLAM!

Reanne's fist cracked her hard wooden desk. "This is a national embarrassment Lemon! First my ceremony is ruined and my daughter nearly loses her life but second," she opens a drawer and takes out a rolled up paper, unrolling it showed an elaborate assassination plan to take her life. Lemon had to keep a straight face to hide his panic.

"Secondly, your most trusted knights are all colluding against me. What the hell is the meaning of this?!"

Lemon lowered his head and averted his eyes "I… had no idea."

Reanne circled around him slowly making the hairs on the back of his neck stiffen. "Lemon you aren't… you're not the one who planned this, am I correct?"

Lemon stepped back holding his chest "Your majesty I have no intention of harming you! This entire plan had to be made by Cran behind my back. He must've tricked the Blue Corps into working with him!"

"Is that so..?"

"Yes your majesty!" Lemon's voice was tight, nearly choking on his words when he swallowed. Reanne stopped right in front of him to look him directly in his eye as he said "I never would've imagined the most trusted knights would try to commit treason. I… I'll dispose of them right away!" he kneeled on one knee.

Reanne hid her smirk behind her hand "Dispose you say..? Very well. Such an act cannot be tolerated. Likewise with the detectives," she lowered her arm "For The Director interfering with my ceremony, execute the detectives as a warning to her to never cross my goals."

"But then our treaty with Japan will be…"

Reanne cut him off, "That does not matter now..." she stepped past him "We no longer require their assistance. Japan is full of selfish humans who will betray you when your back is turned and their actions have proven that multiple times. We'll be leaving once you execute the holy order."

Once she left her office, Lemon stood up and let out a sigh. There wasn't any way to get around this without compromising his position. Orders were orders and if he wanted to truly get his revenge on Reanne then he'll have to find more competent people to work with him. With the way the world was moving now he couldn't afford to cross his loyalty to the Queen.

"Hello, Detective Agency, this is Midare…" she spun in her office chair to face the window. "Lemon? Hey slow down, what do you need my detectives for?"

She frowned, displeased with the request after Cran's reveal "I have a few questions… What do you mean it can wait? One of your knights--"

He hung up all of a sudden. Midare scoffed at this and stood up in her nearly empty office. She would have to go alone to get answers to her questions regarding Cran and his motives behind acting as Soap; that way she could have a small clue to what action he'd take next. She grabbed her suitcase and rushed out of the cafe.

What she didn't expect was to be greeted by the Blue Corps (minus Cran and Rine) and a few other musketeers in blue all waiting at the front of the stand. The light came from the stained glass on the walls that depicted images of mankind and dragons whether that be slaying or befriending dragonkind. The dim lighting made the room enveloped in an alluring shadow from dark to light. Midare dragged her suitcase to the front of the church to meet with Julius and Cherri questioning their appearance with the other knights here, and more importantly, where was Lemon.

"I'm afraid I don't know." Said Julius before resting his elbow on the sword at his side "I haven't seen Cran or Rine as well. I overheard Queen Reanne was attacked during her ceremony. We weren't able to get there because of the blizzard."

Midare chuckled "You haven't heard? Your friend Cran was Soap all along. He worked with Evelynn to cause the blizzard and took what I think was the super emblem."

Cherri and Julius similarly gave Midare a weird glance as if she told a terrible pun. The first thing they wanted an elaboration on was Cran being Soap, to which Midare didn't know much of. It was a reveal that pulled the rugged from under her and the detectives.

"And he has the super emblem now? That's… there's no way." Julius stuttered and stepped to the side "We have to stop him immediately."

Midare got in his way "Hold on Julius. I want to know if you had a part in his plans or not. Same with you Cherri." She wagged her finger in front of her in particular. "I might have to put you down if you are. Your sis won't forgive me if I have to do that."

Cherri frowned at the idea. "I'm hurt you wouldn't believe us Midare. We had no idea Cran was Soap all along. We thought he spent more time with Ibuki and others instead of us because he was still new just like Rine."

Midare rubbed her head "So no one knew… Then what about Rine? And how did Cran get his hands on the super emblem?"

Cherri shrugged, having no clue of Rine's whereabouts. As for the super emblem "There's a saying that goes, the super emblem appears in a time of need. Maybe it showed up because the Queen was attacked."

Another knight tapped Julius on the shoulder. "Hey captain, do you hear that? It sounds like marching from outside."

"..!"

The doors to the church were opened by Lemon alone at first. Then a group of musketeers with red tabards followed behind, lining up in a row behind him with their rifles aimed down. The eerie silence while Midare stared at Lemon waiting for him to explain what he needed them here for. Lemon silently thanked Midare for coming alone to at least mitigate some of the blood that will be on his hands. But it was a sin for him to bear alone, and Midare would thank him for being the one to take her life later though he'd never get a chance to ask later.

Lemon happily took his role as the foil to all things justice. He fully embraced the shadow of the church's reflection "I Lemon Kaguya, Duke of France, sentence the Blue Corps to death for their treasonous actions against the Queen. Your coup d'etat and attempted assassination of both the princess and queen will not be overlooked with mercy. "

The knights behind him raised their guns as Lemon turned away. He took his first step in shadow as his mark and the musketeers unleashed their fire on the presumed traitors at the front of the church. Lemon didn't look back, he didn't want to see the trail of blood he left behind and the corpses of his friends. But it was the price to pay if he wanted to get his revenge on Reanne, this was just another reason for him to get back at her.

He had a brief thought of how he was going to tell the detectives but quickly forgot about it when he stepped outside. Lemon could never show his face to them again. It was better for them to find out on their own or never find out at all.