Eight hundred schemes between the two of them

"Hurry, get in!" Mophead Explosionshead had already loaded the artworks into the car and was calling to Twilight from beside it.

Twilight moved like a panther in the night, sprinting nimbly into the car.

Then Twilight sped away, leaving the smugglers with nothing but dust and the smell of gasoline.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Mophead opened the case of artworks and let out an awestruck cry. "Ooh-ah!"

Just then, Richie, who had been waiting in the car for Twilight and Mophead to return, poked his little head up from behind the seat.

"Good evening, Father! Mophead Explosionshead!"

At the sound of Richie's voice, Twilight turned around, so shocked he thought he was hallucinating. "Richie, what are you doing here?"

Mophead glanced back at Richie, then at the road ahead, and shouted, "We're going to crash! We're going to crash! Watch the road! You two can catch up later! It's not like you've never seen each other before. There's no rush!"

Twilight had been staring at Richie, but Mophead's loud warning snapped him out of it. He hurriedly swerved and slammed on the brakes.

Screeeech! Thanks to Twilight's emergency maneuvers, the car avoided the wall and continued smoothly down the road.

Twilight's maneuvers had tossed Richie and Mophead around so badly that they nearly threw up last night's dinner.

Mophead clung tightly to the artworks until Twilight got the car under control.

"Explain yourself, Richie! How did you get out of the house? Didn't I tell you I had very important work today and that you were to stay home and play with your little sister?"

The mention of his little sister startled Twilight into turning around again to scan the back seat. "Richie, where's Anya? Did Anya come too?"

Richie stood on tiptoe, clinging to the seat back. "Father, Anya's being good and staying home! You don't need to worry."

Twilight fixed Richie with a piercing stare through the rearview mirror. "Richie, I'm asking how you got out of the house. If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, you're never going out again."

Twilight was deadly serious. This situation was far too dangerous. What if the child got hurt?

Twilight was genuinely angry, and Mophead hardly dared breathe in the passenger seat.

Richie's eyes darted, then narrowed. He pinched his thigh hard, started sniffling, and covered his eyes as he wiped away his tears.

Twilight couldn't help feeling sorry for him, but he was afraid the boy had followed him simply because he wanted to play. His anger had only come from his fear that Richie might get hurt.

Richie's quiet sniffles grew into full-blown wails. "Waaaah! Waaaah!"

Mophead spoke up to stop him. "Loid, why are you scaring Richie like that? He's just a kid. Maybe he only followed you by accident."

Twilight felt as though a cat were clawing at his heart. Realizing that his tone had been a little stern, he softened his voice affectionately. "Richie, be good. Don't cry. Tell Father what happened, all right?"

"Don't be scared. Stop crying. Be a good boy..." Twilight soothed Richie as he drove.

Richie knew when to quit. He quieted his sobs and, with red, swollen eyes, said between little sniffles, "I was sleeping at home, but I dreamed that Father was driving away, so I got into the car with Father in my dream.

"Then I woke up and found that Father wasn't there. I was so scared, so I stayed in the car waiting for Father to come back. I waited and waited, but as soon as Father came back, he scolded me. Boo-hoo..."

Moved by Richie's tears, Twilight believed his story without hesitation. "Richie, be good. Don't cry anymore. It was all a dream. Don't be afraid."

Mophead hugged the case of artworks. "Loid, this kid sleepwalks. Maybe he's been under too much pressure from his exams lately. Keep an eye on him."

Twilight nodded. "I'll pay closer attention to Richie."

Richie's eyes sparkled, crystalline tears still clinging to his lashes. With his little face flushed red, he looked utterly adorable as he tugged at Twilight with his short little arms. "Father, what are you doing?"

"Mophead, what's in that case you're holding? I really want to see. Can you show me?"

Twilight was about to tell Mophead not to show Richie, but Mophead had already readily agreed and opened the case. "Sure! Pick whichever one you like, Richie!"

Twilight let out a faint sigh as he drove, occasionally glancing back.

Richie's eyes lit up at the sight of the artworks. "Wow! They're so pretty! Can I really pick one? I want to choose a pretty one for Anya."

They're so pretty. I really want to take them all. They must be worth loads of money. I'm rich! I'm rich!

Hearing Richie's words from the front seat, Twilight smiled in quiet satisfaction. Only when the children were involved did Twilight ever truly smile.

Richie sneakily rubbed his palms together. After carefully inspecting the artworks before him, he pulled out something resembling a magic wand, set with an enormous gemstone.

"Anya will definitely like this. With such a big gem on it, she'll be so happy."

Richie took out the wand and rubbed it against his head, perfectly content.

Still driving, Twilight reached over and grabbed something. "Then this one's mine."

Mophead cried out, "Ah! The diamond ring! You're so greedy, taking something that expensive!"

Twilight explained, "It's a prop for my cover."

Unhappy, Mophead reached over to snatch the diamond ring from Twilight's hand. "Cut the excuses. Give it back."

Watching Twilight and Mophead tussle from the back seat, Richie asked with wide, innocent eyes, "Father, what are you doing?"

Twilight faltered slightly at Richie's question. "Ah, well, Richie, Father is helping someone deliver gifts. Once I've delivered them successfully, their owner promised to let me choose any three items as payment."

Richie silently wore a knowing, indulgent smile. Twilight Dad is lying again. The lies just roll right off his tongue.

Screeeech! Bang! Clang!

Their car was rammed. The attackers were riding in a small sedan, and they had a gun, which they used to shoot out Twilight's windshield.

Gritting his teeth, Twilight drove straight at them, battling the sedan with skill and cunning along the road.

Richie propped his chin in his hands and leaned beside Twilight. "Father, what are you doing now?"

Looking at Richie's innocent face, Twilight clenched his jaw as he steered, then smiled at him. "Richie, Father is a psychiatrist. These psychiatric patients have mania and have escaped from the hospital. Father is helping treat them."

Beside him, Mophead reminded Twilight to drive carefully. The scene was utter chaos.

Richie cupped his little face and beamed at Twilight. "Oh, so that's what it is, Father!"

Richie smiled outwardly while laughing wildly inside. Twilight Dad, like I'd believe that! Daddy's a great big liar. A handsome liar. Hehehehe.

While Richie wasn't looking, Mophead pulled out a handgun.