The plane slowly took off amid everyone's cheers.
Its takeoff was just so, so, so, so elegant!
Of course Dad looked elegant flying a plane. That's my dad for you! Richie heaped praise on him inwardly.
He just wondered how many points you lost for flying drunk, or how much the fine was. Hopefully, they wouldn't run into any traffic cops.
"Anya is so excited! Waku waku!" Anya's voice pierced the plane's windows, echoing ethereally through the lonely night sky.
Richie had felt a little unwell as soon as he boarded. He endured the discomfort, figuring they would arrive soon anyway. He was probably just a little airsick.
His little body really wasn't in great shape. He looked every inch a sickly beauty.
"Yaaaah!!! Whoooo!" The mopheaded Franky was as excited as a child, reverting completely to his natural state-commonly known as an evolutionary throwback.
The amphibious plane kicked up spray from the lake, then banked elegantly in midair.
Twilight was an exceptionally skilled pilot. After all, even Conan could fly a plane, so it was perfectly normal for a psychiatrist to know how, right?
Richie got to experience flying on the company dime. Who knew going out could be so elegant?
Yor pressed herself against the window and looked down. The night was as black as ink, swallowing everything.
Clusters of city lights gathered together or stretched into lines, like pearls scattered through the darkness-a patch here, a strand there.
"So beautiful!" Yor exclaimed, even shaking the wine bottle in her hand. After shouting, she didn't forget to let out a drunken hiccup.
Richie's face was pale as he said weakly, "Off the charts and out of this world. This just keeps getting more ridiculous."
"Like a jewelry box," Yor continued, narrowing her eyes.
"Papa is amazing!" Anya's eyes shone.
Richie couldn't help remembering what Twilight had asked before takeoff: Had everyone buckled their seat belts?
He wanted to know how Anya, supposedly buckled in, had ended up by the window.
"Look, people are like ants," Richie said feebly, pointing out the window.
Everyone was so excited that no one noticed anything wrong with Richie.
Anya nodded vigorously. "Big Brother Richie is right!"
The plane passed over a pitch-black stretch of primeval forest, and Mophead cried out, "Hey! I can see it!"
In the back, Richie couldn't behave even with his headache and nausea. "Dad, press F to launch the Melon God missile!"
Twilight concentrated on flying and ignored Richie's shouting.
Anya, however, was intrigued. "Big Brother, what's a Melon God bomb? Is it a really powerful bomb?"
Richie snapped his fingers stylishly, though no one heard it. "Yes, Anya. Really powerful."
"This is amazing!" Franky's eyes practically popped out.
Anya leaned over one of the front seats. "The castle is so cool."
"Why does this feel like Hogwarts?" Richie narrowed his eyes, taking in the whole castle through the plane's window.
If Dad Twilight and Anya hadn't been right there, Richie would have thought he'd transmigrated into Harry Potter rather than Spy x Family.
Anya excitedly ran all over the place. Twilight felt the rear of the plane becoming unbalanced, and his low voice reached Richie's ears:
"Stop moving around."
"We're landing. Sit tight," Twilight warned everyone over Anya's shrieks, reminding them to stay safe.
If headquarters could talk, it might have complained right then: What on earth are you doing with our equipment?
Richie was happy from the bottom of his heart. Having a dad like this is just the best!
"A castle!" Anya screamed as she raced around the vast, empty castle, running wild. The frizzy-haired Franky chased after her, roughhousing with her.
Twilight's brow furrowed slightly, revealing his authority as a father. "Don't join in her antics."
Twilight really couldn't take it anymore. Franky was a grown man. Why was he even more rambunctious than Richie?
Richie?
Only then did Twilight notice Richie sprawled motionless on the castle's cold floor.
Twilight hurried over in a panic, reaching Richie in a few quick strides. He crouched down and carefully gathered him into his arms.
First, he checked for breathing to make sure Richie was still alive.
Richie wasn't fully asleep. Feeling Twilight's anxious movements, he couldn't help smiling.
"Richie, are you feeling unwell?" Seeing the smile at the corner of Richie's mouth, Twilight finally felt his anxiety subside.
Richie shook his head. "Dad, Richie's fine. Richie's just really tired."
"Shall I find somewhere for you to sleep?" Twilight asked affectionately.
Richie pursed his little lips and shook his head again. "No, Dad. Richie wants to play with Dad. Richie doesn't want to be all alone. Don't leave Richie behind."
Richie's words moved Twilight. "All right. We won't go back, then. If you feel unwell, tell Dad right away."
Richie nodded obediently. His green eyes were clear, pure, and lively, without a trace of cloudiness. As he blinked, his lashes looked like living butterfly wings.
Even his gaze seemed capable of speaking.
Richie rested in Twilight's arms, his little head against Twilight's shoulder and one small hand clutching his clothes tightly.
"This is just wonderful! Richie? What's wrong?" Yor swayed her head, slurring her words.
"Children tire easily. Richie's a little sleepy," Twilight said softly.
"Ahh, I see," Yor said, waving the bottle of red wine in her hand.
Anya cheered like a little lamb that had never left its pen, frantically exploring a new world.
"Aaah!" Anya's excited shriek came to an abrupt halt.
"What is it?" Twilight asked, puzzled.
Anya's little figure looked especially tiny in the empty castle. Now she was like a deflated doll, her head drooping. "Something feels wrong."
"What feels wrong?"
"A castle without enemies and retainers... isn't a castle. Anya is so disappointed. Anya doesn't think she can go to school now!" Anya didn't look at Twilight, only fidgeting with her little hands in front of her as she hesitated.
"Exactly!" Mophead began backing her up, adding fuel to the fire.
"You really wouldn't feel like going to school now! Papa has to think of something." Explosionshead bent down and gently stroked Anya's little head.
From his elevated vantage point in Twilight's arms, Richie watched the show and nearly laughed aloud.
Anya had unlocked a new skill: acting cute to get her way.
That frizzy-haired guy was practically holding the emperor hostage to command the lords, taking a mile when given an inch.
Immediately afterward, the intelligence headquarters in Ostania received a message from Twilight: "Requesting additional personnel. The more, the better."
The female superior folded her arms and said coolly, "It's time to put Oko's capabilities to the test."
"All agents within Ostania, attention. Proceed immediately to Heartstone Castle for an emergency operation. This is a matter of utmost importance to Operation Strix."
Spoiling his daughter on the company dime. The company funds were going up in flames.
Oko spoiled Twilight, and Twilight spoiled his two children. By extension, Anya and Richie were the darlings of all of Oko.
Other people spoiled their children out of their own pockets. Dad Twilight did it on the company dime.
A company team-building event-a castle murder mystery game. The elite playmate squad would be there any moment, and the classic tale of summoning the lords with beacon fires for a laugh was about to unfold.
Before you continue