Twilight arrives

Richie took Anya's little hand. Holding his little sister's hand was that simple.

The next step was to wait for Twilight to arrive.

Until Twilight came to adopt Anya, Richie had to make sure he wasn't adopted by someone else.

As the protagonist, even if Anya were adopted, her plot armor would ensure she was sent back.

But Richie didn't have that luxury.

He had no plot armor. Things wouldn't always go his way, and he could die at any moment.

His immediate priority was to find out what time it was and roughly when Twilight would arrive.

Richie vaguely remembered that an assassination had taken place before Twilight began Operation Strix.

Holding Anya's hand, he asked, "Anya, do you have a newspaper?"

At that moment, Anya was still absorbed in trying to hear Richie's voice.

Once she was sure she really couldn't hear this boy's voice, her signature little smug smile crept onto her face.

Yay! Anya found a big brother who doesn't talk.

Exciting, exciting.

Anya didn't answer Richie. She simply let go of his hand, pattered over to the table, picked up a newspaper, and handed it to him.

Richie took the newspaper and opened it. There was a crossword puzzle, with the words "Ostania Daily" printed prominently above it...

Richie took one look. Wasn't this the very puzzle Anya had solved in front of Twilight to prove herself?

Richie took in the light outside and thought of the drunken, chubby director.

Everything about this scene looked like the moment Twilight had adopted Anya.

Richie's heart jolted. Thank goodness he had sought Anya out as soon as he arrived.

A little later, and he wouldn't have gotten to see her.

Just as Richie was congratulating himself on arriving in time, he heard a voice nearby. "Well, Director, I'd prefer a child who can read and write."

The voice was faint. Twilight must have been just a short way down the corridor.

He stared at the newspaper and Anya. He had to come up with a way to persuade Twilight to adopt them both, fast.

"One who can write, huh-"

"Hey, Anya. She's the smartest one here. Doesn't talk much, but she's well-behaved. Come on, say hello."

The director had already led Twilight over to Anya, and the plot began unfolding without warning.

Anya stood beside Richie, clutching Chimera.

Twilight approached Anya. Tall and handsome, he immediately caught Richie's eye, and Richie silently resolved to make Twilight his dad.

Twilight clearly hadn't noticed Richie beside Anya. He only looked at her. "Hello there, little one!"

Richie watched everything unfold from the sidelines. Twilight was thinking, and Anya was reading his mind.

In another moment, Anya would blurt out, "Six! Six!"

Then she would stretch up onto her tiptoes, trying to tell Twilight she was already six years old.

Seeing that Twilight still looked puzzled, Anya turned and pattered over to Richie.

Richie knew the newspaper was the key prop Anya needed to prove herself, so he held it out before she even reached him.

Anya returned to Twilight and showed him the crossword puzzle in the newspaper.

Anya went back to the table, picked up a pen, and began solving it.

Twilight moved closer to watch her work.

Richie moved closer too, watching Anya solve the puzzle.

As Twilight finished reciting the answers in his mind, Anya filled in the puzzle in no time.

Richie stared at the puzzle in amazement. He could actually understand it.

Unlike Anya, who was copying the answers Twilight recited in his mind, Richie genuinely understood it, and his brain automatically worked out the answers.

Is this what being a genius feels like? Richie's face lit up with excitement.

He never wanted to return to real life again. He wanted to play with Anya and play house with a spy.

Anya showed Twilight her finished work. Bracing his hands on his knees, he examined it closely, looking delighted.

Twilight signaled to the director. "I'll take her!"

The director said from beside him, "You don't even need to sign the adoption papers. Just hurry up and take her!"

Anya's eyes widened as she looked up at Twilight. A spy! A mission! Exciting, exciting!

Anya hadn't known Richie long, and in the blink of an eye, she forgot he was there.

Going with this man felt much more exciting to her.

Anya turned to Richie. "Anya's going on a mission. Exciting, exciting. Bye-bye."

Richie knew he couldn't wait any longer. Just as Twilight was about to leave with Anya, Richie rushed forward, spreading his arms to block Twilight with his tiny body.

"Sir, wait! I'm six too. Would you consider adopting me along with Anya?"

Twilight looked at the child in front of him, then at Anya. Anya could pass Eden Academy's entrance exam just fine on her own. There was really no need to adopt another child.

"Sorry, little one. I only need one child."

Richie knew Twilight's main reason for adopting Anya, but he couldn't say it out loud. He could only steer Twilight toward one idea: making him Plan B.

If Anya failed the entrance exam and couldn't secure an opportunity to get close to the chairman, Richie could serve as a backup.

"Sir, what if your wife doesn't like Anya, or isn't happy with her? You could take me along as a substitute. That way, you'll have all your bases covered."

Richie knew Twilight didn't have a wife yet, so there was no chance of his wife disliking Anya. But he was saying this to give Twilight a reminder.

He wanted Twilight to adopt one more child and make him the backup plan, ensuring Operation Strix would go off without a hitch.

Twilight pondered it. Indeed, pinning all his hopes on one child wasn't a safe bet.

But another child would mean another burden. Adopting one was risky enough; adding another would introduce even more unknowns.

Twilight stood firm. "There's no need, little one. I don't have a wife. One child is all I need. Thank you!"

Richie didn't back down at all. "Please adopt me. I don't eat much, I'm easy to look after, and I can solve that crossword puzzle too."

"If you adopt me, you'll have both a son and a daughter. Your family will definitely be the envy of everyone else."

Twilight hesitated. If this little girl couldn't help him complete the mission smoothly, having a backup might be useful.

When Twilight fixed his gaze on him, Richie knew he was tempted.

But Twilight still shook his head. "Little one, we're not meant to be. I'm sure a better person will come along to adopt you."

Richie had already anticipated that Twilight might reject him. If there really was no other way, he would...

Standing beside Twilight, Anya said, "Anya likes this little brother. A special little brother. Very special."