Enrollment

Twilight grabbed Richie, his expression urgent. "Richie, what did you just say? Why is the Westalis Intelligence Agency coming?"

Richie shook his head from side to side. "Nothing! Father, I didn't say anything! What intelligence agency? What's an intelligence agency?"

Richie stared up with wide, inquisitive eyes, his smile innocent and guileless.

Twilight was still shaken. He hadn't spread word of this gathering, either.

The agents had been due to leave after this organization-funded team-building event anyway. By now, they had scattered, leaving hardly anyone in the castle.

Twilight let out a deep breath, unease stirring inside him. He knew Richie might just be saying childish things, but nearly two-thirds of the organization's agents had gathered here. If the government discovered them, it would be a catastrophe.

Childish talk or not, Richie's words set alarm bells ringing in Twilight's head. Once the fireworks ended, he hurried away with his family of four and the afro-haired Franky.

Just three minutes after Twilight left the castle, agents from the Westalis Intelligence Agency arrived.

Looking at the deserted castle, the team leader spat viciously. "Damn it, they played us again."

The man leading them was the same one who had visited Twilight's home last time, been run in circles by Richie, and then beaten up by Twilight.

In a frantic, furtive rush, they searched the entire castle.

Along the way, they triggered countless traps left behind from Twilight's organization's team-building event. The Viko elites who had come to arrest Twilight were caught completely off guard, and the traps sent them sprawling.

The center of the castle was a complete mess.

Far away, aboard the plane, four of the group had drifted into sweet dreams while the fifth flew the aircraft.

The culprit behind the castle farce looked adorable in his sleep, occasionally smacking his little lips.

Earlier, during the brief stretch when Twilight and Yor were fighting, no one had noticed that one child had gone missing.

Richie had slipped away, found a telegraph belonging to some agent at the gathering, and sent a telegram to the Westalis Central Intelligence Agency:

"Ostania's number one spy, Twilight, is holding a victory party at Heartstone Castle. You are all cordially invited to attend. Ahahahahahahahaha."

After sending the telegram, Richie had hurried back to warn his dad that the local government was coming.

Richie had only wanted to mess with the bearded man who had kidnapped him last time. He had timed his message to the Westalis Intelligence Division precisely, calculating that they could leave before Viko arrived.

Had Twilight stayed at Heartstone Castle even a little longer, Viko would have caught him there.

Richie was the undisputed king of throwing his dad under the bus, outdoing even Anya.

Years later, the Ostanian spies hiding in Westalis would still talk about this incident with relish, recalling the lightning-fast exchanges when they had sparred with their idol, Twilight.

Their juniors were all green with envy.

Years later, a certain agent said, "An S-rank mission left you this badly hurt? Back in my day, I completed an SS+ mission without a scratch."

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Richie and Anya to start school.

"All you chosen children gathered here," an elderly administrator said as he delivered the opening address onstage, dressed in something resembling a modern academic gown, yet also rather like a hopping vampire's robes.

"Through your own efforts or those of your parents, you have passed through Eden Academy's narrow gates. To the 228 distinguished new students seated here,"

"Congratulations on your admission!"

The moment the elderly administrator finished speaking, thunderous applause filled the auditorium.

Twilight stood expressionless with his arms folded. Yor looked perfectly normal, while Anya and Richie were a little nervous.

As the ceremonial music swelled, the elderly administrator raised his voice again. "All the faculty and students of Eden Academy welcome you from the bottom of our hearts."

I've finally made it this far, Twilight thought.

Hearing Twilight's thoughts, Richie nodded to himself in satisfaction. Good, good. He's finally made it this far. Now I can help Father maintain world peace.

Anya's little head turned from side to side. "Father, lots of people are wearing the same clothes as Anya."

"Yes, those are school uniforms," Twilight explained, his arms folded.

Though problems still piled up like mountains, there was one condition they had to meet to attend the social gatherings Desmond frequented: becoming Imperial Scholars. Richie and Anya would need to earn top marks in numerous subjects.

The future of both countries depended on it.

As for turning Anya into an honors student, Twilight had no confidence whatsoever. He had all but given up on the idea.

But there was still some hope for Richie. Richie could handle the mission, while Anya could focus on growing up happy and healthy!

Listening to his Twilight dad's assessment of him, Richie felt alarm bells go off inside his head. Don't tell me I've changed the course of the plot!

If this has a bad effect on the later plot and makes the world collapse, or sends things spiraling out of control, that would be disastrous.

Richie silently resolved that he would work hard to become the Raiden Shogun and collect all the "bolts" in Anya's place.

He would firmly uphold Anya's position as the protagonist and make sure she became the linchpin of this mission.

Dear readers, Xiao Qi got told off. My roommate said they'd buy me a fire-breathing keyboard so I wouldn't start frantically typing at eleven every night, hammering away as though I wanted to smash the desk and destroy the keyboard.

Gee, thanks. Good night, everyone. Go to bed early, and don't be like me.