Class assignments

"Next, we will announce the class assignments and homeroom teachers. Students whose names are called, please come up to the stage. Class One, Speckter Academy."

"William Howard."

"Theodora Lasser."

"Grace Fine."

"Jessica Carrack."

"..."

Anya fidgeted in her seat below the stage, looking a little nervous. "Which class will Anya be in?"

Twilight folded his arms, his expression unchanged. "I don't know."

Richie had no doubts at all. He trusted that his Twilight Dad had arranged for him and Anya to be in the same class.

Sure enough, Richie and Anya both heard Twilight's inner monologue:

No, I already know. To make the mission run more smoothly, I altered the class roster so Richie and Anya would be with him...

Just then, the elderly administrator read out Damian Desmond's name.

The handsome little boy rose from his seat alone, wearing a haughty expression. Dressed in the same uniform as every other student, he slowly made his way over to his assigned class.

Richie and Anya heard Twilight continue in his mind: The target: Donovan Desmond's second son, Damian.

Richie chuckled inwardly. You and Anya were never destined to meet. It was all thanks to my Twilight Dad.

After Desmond's eldest son, Damian was the second son of the National Unity Party's chairman to enter Eden Academy. Twilight Dad had set his sights on him the moment he spotted that name on the initial list of applicants.

If Plan A, becoming an Imperial Scholar, ran into obstacles, he would activate Plan B, called [Operation Friendship].

Upon hearing Twilight's thoughts, Anya's pupils suddenly contracted, and her face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Step one of Twilight's friendship plan: put Anya in the same class as him so they could become good friends.

Step two: get invited to his house with her parents.

Step three: make direct contact with the target.

Still, it probably would not go that smoothly, but the more backup options, the better.

Richie would carry out Plan A, and Anya would carry out Plan B.

Anya had grown up in an orphanage, so Twilight must have had great faith in her social skills!

Hearing this, Anya could not help shrinking into herself a little. For the sake of world peace, she had to work hard to befriend the second son.

Richie could not help smiling. Not just difficult-the whole friendship process was downright hilarious.

In a little while, the second son would start picking on Anya. As her brother, Richie would finally have a chance to show what he could do.

Just watch me beat the crap out of that second son today!!

"Anya Forger." When her name was called, Anya's little mouth fell open in disbelief. She had to leave her father and start the mission already.

Twilight remained expressionless, but his tone was affectionate. "Go on!"

Anya beamed, nodded, and walked down from the stage. Her movements were terribly awkward, her nerves making her swing each arm with the leg on the same side.

Still seated beside Twilight, Richie could not help bursting into laughter at the sight of her. "Hahahaha!"

Twilight gave Richie a puzzled glance, and Richie instantly fell silent.

After reaching her designated spot, Anya stood before the second son and studied him closely several times. So this is the evil boss's son.

Damian noticed Anya staring. Proud as he was, a smile crept onto his lips:

What's this girl doing? Oh, I get it! Haha, she must have discovered my charm and fallen for me! She has good taste!

Anya's eyes went as wide as saucers. How could anyone in this world be so shameless?

She turned straight around, refusing to spare another glance for the second son, who was busy winning himself over.

The second son continued deluding himself. Now she's shy. Pretty cute!

Richie was practically laughing himself sick up on the stage. He clamped a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing aloud, holding it in so hard that tears almost came out.

At last, under Twilight and Yor's puzzled gazes, everyone heard Richie's name:

"Richie Forger."

Relieved, Richie scurried away from Twilight and Yor's questioning looks.

Twilight spoke gently, full of expectations for his eldest son as he entrusted him with this important task. "Go on, Richie!"

Richie became serious again and nodded solemnly.

"Becky Blackbell."

Another familiar name. Richie had not expected Becky to be called after him rather than together with Anya.

But Becky seemed not to notice Richie at all. She walked straight toward Anya, putting herself between Anya and Richie.

"Nice to meet you." Becky smiled politely at Anya and nodded in greeting.

Up on the stage, Twilight was losing his mind. The daughter of the president of the Blackbell Company, a giant in the defense industry! Behind her is Sian Evan, the son of Merson Evan, speaker of the People's Parliament.

And behind him is the son of a high-ranking State Security Service official. Their classmates are a treasure trove of intelligence!

Twilight could no longer sit still. He unfolded his arms, wishing he could rush over in Richie and Anya's place and get on good terms with them.

Watching Twilight from beside him, Yor could not help smiling. Whenever Anya and Richie were involved, she felt that Twilight gave it everything he had.

Indeed, even from far away, Richie could feel his father's burning gaze and hear his inner roar of frustration as he wished he were the one enrolling right now.

Meanwhile, Becky had already begun chatting with Anya. "My name's Becky. What's yours?"

Becky thought Anya looked awfully childish. I suppose she could be my servant.

Hearing Becky's thoughts, Anya dismissed her, turned straight around, and spat out a single word: "Scram."

Becky fumed, letting out a quiet, "Aah-"

Twilight was even more frantic. Why was Anya rejecting Becky? "Hey-"

Their homeroom teacher was Henderson. He had not been fired. Having a housemaster teach the lower grades was something of a waste of his talents, but getting away with a punishment like this was already a stroke of luck.

Henry approached the two rows of children and quickly singled out Anya and Richie. He would make sure to discipline the two Forger children properly.

Henry's unspoken message was: Just watch how I make your lives miserable.

"Next, new students will follow their homeroom teachers on a tour of the school before proceeding to their classrooms. In the meantime, parents are welcome to chat in the lounge area in Building C."

The parents in the audience applauded long and hard, celebrating and encouraging their children for successfully gaining admission to Eden Academy, the finest public school in the country.