The Armed Detective Agency had grown used to strange cases… but not easy ones.

Recently every investigation had been solved almost before it began — evidence appearing in just the right place, suspects conveniently exposed, traps avoided before they were even noticed.

Kunikida closed his notebook with a sharp snap.

Kunikida: “This is not coincidence. Someone is interfering with our cases.”

Atsushi: “Interfering…? But they’re helping us.”

Dazai hummed from the couch, eye half-lidded.

Dazai: “Help is rarely free, Atsushi-kun. Especially when our files have also started disappearing.”

Ranpo, lazily spinning in his chair, suddenly stopped.

Silence.

Then he looked directly up toward the ceiling vents.

Ranpo: “You can come out now.”

Every head in the room lifted.

A faint sound — a small shift of metal.

Ranpo (smiling): “Our little helper has been listening this whole time.”