"Teacher, you're so smart!" Anya stared at Karen with wide eyes, her face full of amazement. She silently marveled that her teacher really did live up to his title.
"Of course. Those little schemes of yours can't escape your teacher's keen eyes. Hahaha!" Karen laughed smugly and ran a hand through his hair, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"So what exactly did you want to tell me?"
Anya cautiously glanced at her parents. Twilight's brow was slightly furrowed, as though he was still thinking of an excuse to get Karen to drink, while Yor was busy serving rice nearby.
Yep, all clear!
Anya quickly leaned closer to Karen and lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "Mr. Karen, Father wants to get you drunk in a bit and ask you a few questions. Could you play along?"
Karen raised an eyebrow. "That depends on what sort of questions they are."
Anya nodded earnestly, a pleading note in her voice. "It's about class assignments at school. Could you help, teacher?" She stared straight at Karen with her sparkling eyes, full of hope.
Anya used the Cuteness Technique.
It was super effective!!
Karen held up his fingers in an okay sign. A brilliant smile immediately lit up the little girl's face, and she skipped away.
After Anya left, Karen leaned back against the sofa, his gaze turning thoughtful.
He recalled the manga he had read. The original seemed to have mentioned in passing that Twilight had altered some of the class assignments to make his mission easier. Apparently, this part had posed some difficulties too; the author simply hadn't gone into them.
"Mr. Karen, dinner's ready!" Yor called.
"Coming." Karen answered and walked over to the dining table, taking a seat with easy familiarity.
The moment he sat down, he saw Anya blinking insistently at him. Karen gave a discreet nod and silently assured her, Don't worry. I'm a man of my word.
Twilight brought out a finely packaged bottle of liquor and set it on the table. He twisted off the cap with a click, took out two glasses, and slowly filled them with amber liquor.
"Mr. Karen, thank you so much for helping my wife and daughter. I made a point of digging out a good bottle for the occasion." Twilight gently slid one glass toward Karen.
Karen brought the glass to his nose, inhaled deeply, and took a small sip. As the liquor slid down his throat, his eyes instantly lit up. "This flavor... this mouthfeel... it's really good."
Twilight raised his glass with a warm smile. "Mr. Karen, here's to you."
With that, he tipped his head back and drained his glass.
Not to be outdone, Karen also tipped his head back and emptied his glass. Liquor trickled down his chin, and a flush quickly spread across his cheeks.
At the sight, a barely perceptible calculating gleam flashed through Twilight's eyes. He refilled Karen's glass and coaxed, "Mr. Karen, how about another?"
Karen accepted the glass and drained it again without hesitation.
With two glasses in his stomach, he deliberately swayed, his feet unsteady. He seemed about to fall but caught himself just in time, then leaned against the back of his chair and gazed blearily at Forger, a faint smile playing at his lips.
Watching Karen show every sign of drunkenness, Twilight's eyes flashed with satisfaction.
He had placed all his hopes on Anya lately. Now it was finally his turn to take action again.
Relying on himself put him more at ease and gave him greater confidence.
After sharing a few more drinks with Karen and seeing that he was thoroughly drunk, Twilight decided to put his plan into motion.
He set down his glass and asked with apparent casualness, "Mr. Karen, have there been any changes to Eden Academy's class assignment process this year?"
Karen narrowed his eyes slightly, his tongue stumbling over his words. "Oh, class assignments. This year they're random. They should be..."
His speech was slurred, but he pronounced certain key words very clearly.
From those key details, Twilight still managed to piece together the information he needed.
Karen deliberately leaned sideways, let out a long yawn, and rose unsteadily to his feet. "It's getting late. I should head back..."
Twilight immediately stood and supported him with concern. "Mr. Karen, you've had quite a bit to drink. Why not stay here tonight?"
Karen waved a hand, barely able to get his words out. "No, no, I have to go back... school..."
He paused, making an effort to look more sober. "I'm the PE teacher. I have to patrol at night... keep the school safe..."
Then he lowered his voice, muttering as though in a drunken ramble. "Especially the student records room... all the students' records are kept there... the class assignment records are there too..."
After saying that, he deliberately stressed his next words. "I have to patrol properly. Can't let anyone steal confidential information..."
Twilight frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on Karen's swaying back as he walked away, and sank into thought.
Karen stopped at the door and turned back to smile at Forger.
Then he opened the door and stepped into the night, leaving Twilight standing in the doorway with a conflicted look in his eyes.
Twilight turned and went back inside, only to find Anya gazing at him with wide eyes and a delighted expression.
His eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at Anya. He walked over and gently patted her head. "All right, go get some rest. You need a good night's sleep. School starts tomorrow."
Anya nodded, feeling very proud.
This time, Anya successfully helped Father get the crucial information!
Twilight returned to the dining table and stared at the glass Karen had left behind, his gaze resolute.
He took a deep breath and began planning his next move.
It seemed he would have to make a trip to Eden Academy. As long as he could keep up with Karen, he could put Anya and the second son in the same class.
Meanwhile, Karen was already sitting in a taxi.
Outside the window, the night breeze swept down the street, rustling the leaves.
He smiled up at the softly glowing lights of the Forgers' apartment, showing no sign of drunkenness at all.
I've already made the hints so obvious. You should be visiting Eden Academy tonight... Mr. Forger.
Before you continue