So unlucky he questioned his whole life

Swan had repeatedly disrupted the interview, seriously hampering Operation Strix.

Twilight took action that very night, and by the following morning, Swan's reputation was in ruins.

As the old saying went, "Night has fallen. It's time for Swan's reputation to be ruined."

As Housemaster Swan's reputation collapsed, reporters also revealed that he had been murdered the previous night.

The news caused an uproar throughout Ostania, and Eden Academy's reputation suffered some damage as well.

Twilight was still wondering about what had happened the night before. Who had eliminated Swan with such perfect timing?

Yor, on the other hand, gave it little thought. After completing the assassination, she had cleaned the scene thoroughly. With her professional expertise, she would never leave any clues for the police, so she wasn't worried in the slightest.

Swan's disgrace had simply come at such a convenient time that she didn't even need to handle the aftermath.

Yor didn't need to worry about how to deal with a teacher quietly disappearing from Eden Academy, either.

At first, the public was puzzled by Swan's death, watching the spectacle with idle curiosity. Later, when they learned about all the shady things Swan had done, public opinion shifted:

Good riddance to that fat bastard Swan. He deserved to be killed...

"Today's the day Eden Academy posts the results." Richie and Anya walked excitedly ahead, with Twilight and Yor following behind.

The list of successful applicants would be posted at noon. Richie had already told Anya that she would be first on the waiting list, so she didn't need to worry even if her name wasn't on the main list.

Twilight held the brim of his hat with one hand and Richie's hand with the other. His nerves wouldn't settle, and even his steps were slightly uneven.

Before Twilight could lower his hand from his hat, Yor suddenly cried, "Why did my bracelet break?" shattering the quiet as they walked down the street.

"Why did it have to happen today?" Yor blamed herself terribly.

Twilight forced a reassuring smile. "It's fine. It's just a coincidence."

Richie also teased Yor to comfort her. "Mother, the bracelet's reminding you it's time for a new one."

Richie waggled his eyebrows, making Yor cover her mouth with an amused smile.

Yor took off the bracelet, and the family resumed walking. Then she looked up and saw a black cat dart across the middle of the road.

"Mr. Loid, did you see that?" Yor covered her mouth, her cheeks flushing with anxiety.

Yor's reaction made Twilight nervous too, and he began to stammer. "P-please don't be like that, Miss Yor."

"The idea that black cats are unlucky is just superstition. You can't take it seriously," Twilight continued.

Richie chimed in to smooth things over. "Exactly, exactly. There's no such thing as luck in this world. Everything comes from hard work. Whatever seeds we planted at some point are bearing fruit now. Mother, we have to believe in ourselves."

Twilight agreed. "Richie's right."

Yor breathed a sigh of relief. "You have a point!"

The mood returned to normal, and just as the family relaxed and prepared to continue, Anya called softly, "Father~~"

Twilight asked, "What is it?"

Richie swallowed and glanced uneasily at the bottom of Anya's shoe.

If Anya's face were a frying pan, her eyes were fried eggs-and not fully cooked ones, either, with the whites still runny.

"Anya stepped in poop----" Anya's jaw dropped impossibly far, her face clouded with dismay.

Twilight and Yor were so tense they didn't know whether to laugh or what else to do.

"In the mysterious land of Huaguo, black cats are called mystic cats, and they're a symbol of good fortune. Their country even has a legend about the Black Cat Sheriff. Filth wards off evil, too,

so we haven't been having nothing but bad luck today. At least several good things have happened." Richie stood before the other three.

Hearing Richie's impassioned declaration, the three remained skeptical about the legends he had mentioned. "Really?"

Richie nodded solemnly. "It's true. I guarantee it!!!"

Richie nodded like a bobblehead. As he lifted his head, he saw a line of crows flying over the street.

Richie felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. Something wasn't really going to happen, was it?

What if Anya got in, but I failed?

After all, Anya had the protagonist's halo. He didn't.

Richie, who had been brimming with confidence just a moment ago, now looked deflated. He hung his head and walked on without looking back.

"Richie, didn't you just say all this was superstition? You have to trust your abilities. You did so wonderfully during the interview that even I, as your father, couldn't help wanting to praise you."

Twilight walked beside Richie, bending slightly to speak to him.

Richie said nothing, merely offering Twilight a polite smile in response.

The family of four fell silent again, with only the cawing of crows following them along the way.

At noon, Eden Academy began posting the results.

The four stood beneath the enormous list and read it from beginning to end, but they couldn't find "Applicant K212" or "Applicant A319."

K212's absence was normal. Anya was surely on the waiting list.

Richie couldn't understand why he hadn't passed either. Did this mean he would have to leave this family, never get into Eden Academy, and never enjoy the juicy secrets in the second son Damian's mind...?

Richie was stunned. Where exactly had things gone wrong? Where had that Old Man Ma, Madehua, gone? Hadn't that old man kept insisting he wanted to take Richie as his apprentice?

Richie was beginning to question his whole life.

Twilight, Yor, and Anya were questioning their lives too.

Good night, boys and girls. If you've read this far and still haven't gone to bed, here's a friendly reminder from Xiao Qi: it's bedtime! A good night's sleep keeps you healthy!

Last but not least, thank you to the sweet "Liu Shumei of the Seven Star Islands." Xiao Qi received your flowers. Love you! Sending you a heart!