Chapter Summaries

The Forger family went for a stroll, but Yor leaped after a thief who stole an old woman’s wallet. With Richie and Anya helping track him down, Twilight and Yor caught the thief, though Yor accidentally kicked him after Twilight pinned him.

• Twilight dismissed Richie’s remark about wanting to be a spy, and the family went to a quiet park overlook.
• Yor spotted a thief snatching an old woman’s wallet and jumped over the railing with Richie to chase him.
• Richie directed Yor through the streets while Anya used her mind-reading to locate the thief near a cake shop.
• Twilight and Yor reached the thief at the same time, and Twilight pinned him beneath his foot.
• Yor kicked the thief after he was caught, then shyly apologized to Mr. Loid in front of the gathered onlookers.

After Yor helped Twilight recover an old lady’s stolen wallet, the family enjoyed her gratitude and returned home. Twilight continued preparing Anya and Richie for tomorrow’s interview, ending the day feeling that their family preparations had made meaningful progress.

• Twilight recovered the old lady’s wallet after Yor caught the thief, and the family returned it to her.
• The old lady thanked Twilight and Yor, and Anya and Richie teased their parents about acting lovey-dovey.
• The family returned home, where Yor made drinks and Twilight started another practice interview for Anya and Richie.
• Richie answered that he would beat up a misbehaving friend and send him to eat prison grub, embarrassing Twilight.
• Twilight remembered the old lady calling them a wonderful family and thought they had completed one percent of their preparations.

Richie woke late on the day of Eden Academy’s second admissions round and spent the morning preparing for his own interview so he could stay with the Forger family. After Twilight, Yor, and Anya returned believing they had failed, Richie comforted Anya, and Twilight realized Richie still had a chance to save the mission.

• Twilight, Yor, and Anya left for Eden Academy while Richie stayed in bed, then he got up and prepared for his interview.
• Richie ate the breakfast Twilight had left and spent the morning rehearsing and refining his answers.
• Twilight, Yor, and Anya returned home dejected, and Twilight told Richie they had failed.
• Anya apologized to Twilight and admitted she still wanted to go to school, while Richie comforted her and said she would pass.
• Twilight regained hope and declared that Richie still had a chance.

Richie tried to reassure Anya before heading to Eden Academy for the second round, while Twilight prepared him and Yor for the exam. At the academy, Henry praised Richie's perfect papers and elegant handwriting as the family approached the headmaster’s statue, where Richie admitted he had quietly let out a fart.

• Richie reassured Anya that Eden Academy would accept her and secretly told her something that restored her confidence.
• Twilight, Yor, and Richie arrived at Eden Academy for Richie’s second-round exam, and Twilight reminded them to maintain their elegance.
• Henry examined Richie’s papers, saw that he had scored sixty-one in every subject, and praised his flawless answers and graceful handwriting.
• Richie hesitated during the family’s walk because he needed to let out a fart, but Twilight urged him to hold it in if it was inelegant.
• Richie told Twilight he had already let out an ordinary, not very smelly fart, and the family bowed before the academy’s first headmaster’s statue.

Twilight, Yor, and Richie faced a hidden test on their way to the second-stage assessment when they stopped to help an elderly man with scattered rubbish. The man was Honorary Headmaster Madhava Aristotle, and the family left him impressed after Yor cleaned the area at remarkable speed.

• Twilight noticed someone watching the family as they entered Eden Academy for the assessment.
• Twilight recognized the elderly man's rubbish ordeal as a test, and the family chose to help while other candidates passed by.
• Twilight realized the old man had the hands of a professional artist, while Madhava pretended to be distressed and urged them to hurry to their exam.
• Henry discovered through his binoculars that the old man was Honorary Headmaster Madhava Aristotle, who was serving as a chief examiner and seeking a final pupil.
• Yor swiftly gathered the rubbish, and the family appeared in matching fresh clothes, leaving Madhava astonished.
• Twilight and Richie praised Yor, and Madhava smiled meaningfully as the family said goodbye.

Twilight, Yor, and Richie began Richie's second Eden Academy interview, where Twilight answered questions about parenting and praised Richie's abilities. The interview was still underway when the examiners asked about Richie's weaknesses.

• Twilight, Yor, and Richie entered the interview room and greeted Henry, Swan, Madehua, and the honorary headmaster.
• Henry asked how Twilight and Yor handled disagreements between their children, and Twilight explained that he helped them communicate and resolve problems.
• Swan challenged Twilight about how he would respond if the children fought, and Twilight said he would separate them and investigate the cause.
• Twilight told Henry that he wanted Richie to attend Eden Academy for its education and its emphasis on refinement and patriotism.
• Twilight praised Richie's musical, artistic, and academic talents, while Swan demanded to hear about his weaknesses.
• Richie stopped Twilight from losing his temper, and Twilight began to answer the question about Richie's weaknesses.

Twilight and Yor answered questions about Richie's personality and how they raised him during the Eden Academy interview. Richie responded confidently to the headmaster's questions, then began explaining what he would do if admitted.

• Twilight described Richie as gifted and unusually mature, and said he wanted to give him a loving home.
• Yor explained that she had stopped spoiling Richie and tried to encourage his curiosity by taking him to experience new things.
• Madehua asked Richie to give his name and address, and Richie answered, "Richie Forger" and gave his home address.
• Richie listed his many lessons and activities on days off, including opera, art, calligraphy, piano, singing, sculpting, sketching, and reading.
• Madehua asked what Richie would like to do at Eden Academy, and Richie began his answer.

During Richie's Eden Academy interview, he improvised answers that impressed Madehua and Henry despite Swan's attempts to undermine him. Madehua considered taking Richie as an apprentice and was determined to secure his admission if Richie had painted a work displayed in the Art Museum, but Richie realized he had no such painting there.

• Richie told the examiners he would seek guidance from the principal and work hard, but Swan twisted his answer into an insult and threatened to reject him.
• Madehua defended Richie, praising his ambition, and Twilight explained that Richie was eager to improve.
• When Henry asked Richie to name the principal among the examiners, Richie addressed Madehua as the Honorary Principal without saying his name, earning Madehua's approval.
• Richie said he would pursue something he genuinely loved rather than prematurely deciding to become an artist, impressing Madehua further.
• Richie read Madehua's thoughts and realized his admission might be assured if Madehua believed he had painted a work in the Art Museum, then remembered he had no painting on display there.

Richie endured Swan’s provocative interview questions by affirming his love for both his former and current mothers, moving Yor and angering Madehua. The interview continued with questions about the Art Museum, and Richie began to explain that he had drawn on its graffiti wall.

• Richie said his father was a psychiatrist and described his mother as gentle but sometimes frightening.
• Richie declared that he loved both his former mother and Yor, and Yor was moved by his words.
• Madehua reprimanded Swan for his inappropriate questions and threatened to report him to the headmaster.
• Richie comforted Twilight, who was furious and had blood seeping through his bandage.
• Madehua asked Richie about the Art Museum; Richie struggled to recall its exhibits, then admitted he had drawn on its graffiti wall.

Richie explained the abstract painting he had drawn at the Art Museum, impressing Madehua and securing his admission to Eden Academy. Swan tried to stop the Forgers from leaving, but they went home while Twilight and Yor planned to retaliate against him.

• Richie described how his blue abstract painting had expressed his distress, and Madehua recognized him as the child he wanted to teach.
• Madehua ended the interview and told the Forgers to await good news, while Henry was impressed by Richie’s performance.
• Swan objected to the Forgers leaving, but Madehua defended his authority and condemned Swan’s conduct.
• Twilight resolved to gather evidence against Swan, while Yor considered killing him that night; Richie read their thoughts and feared for Swan.
• Madehua invited the next family in, and the Forgers went home confident that Richie would enter Eden Academy.

Twilight’s family celebrated their hopes for Anya and Richie’s Eden Academy exam, but after the children went to sleep, Yor went to Housemaster Swan’s home and killed him for mistreating them.

• Twilight regretted how he had handled Anya’s situation, but Anya and Richie reassured him that their family would pass the exam.
• The family raised their teacups to their bright future, then picked up and rehung the fallen family portrait.
• After Anya and Richie fell asleep, Yor went to Swan’s home in her assassin attire.
• Swan insulted Yor’s children and offered to help them in exchange for her favor, but Yor refused to spare him.
• Yor killed Swan, cleaned up, and left without a trace.

Richie, Anya, Twilight, and Yor waited for Eden Academy’s admissions results after a string of supposed bad omens. When the list appeared, neither Richie nor Anya’s applicant number was on it, leaving the family stunned and Richie questioning his whole life.

• Twilight wondered who had murdered Swan, while Yor stayed unconcerned because she had cleaned up after the assassination.
• Richie and Anya went with Twilight and Yor to Eden Academy to await the admissions results, and Yor’s bracelet broke along the way.
• Yor saw a black cat and Anya stepped in poop, while Richie tried to reassure the family that the omens could mean good fortune.
• Richie grew anxious when he saw crows overhead and worried that Anya might pass while he failed.
• The family searched Eden Academy’s posted results but found neither Anya’s nor Richie’s applicant number, leaving them all stunned.

After Richie and Anya failed to make Eden Academy’s accepted list, Henry revealed that they were both first alternates and reassured the Forger family that places would likely open up. Three days later, the children prayed for admission when a phone call arrived, leaving Twilight poised to answer it.

• Richie, Anya, Twilight, and Yor saw that the children had not been accepted, and the disappointed family started to leave.
• Henry stopped the Forgers and revealed that Richie and Anya were both first alternates because of their overall scores and the incidents during Anya’s interview.
• Henry explained that the children would be admitted if two accepted students declined their places, and he told the family to wait for the news.
• Henry said Swan’s influential father might force him out of the academy, and Twilight offered to help him.
• Three days later, Anya and Richie performed rituals and prayed to be accepted while Yor watched and Twilight listened to their explanations.
• The telephone rang, and Twilight hurried to answer it.

Anya and Richie learned that they had both passed, and the Forgers celebrated with Franky. As the party began, Yor became drunk, and Twilight promised the children a reward, setting the stage for more trouble.

• Twilight announced that Anya and Richie had both passed, then celebrated by lifting them in turn.
• Richie hid how worried he had been and assured Twilight that he was happy to have passed.
• Franky arrived soon after with wine and takeout, claiming he had helped by stealing the exam papers.
• Yor became drunk while Anya focused on eating and Richie anticipated an entertaining scene.
• Franky challenged Twilight about drinking, and Twilight offered Anya and Richie anything they wanted as a reward.

Anya asked Twilight to take her to Heartstone Castle to play a rescue game, and Franky and Richie helped persuade him to agree. Twilight reluctantly gave in, leaving Franky to book the castle and himself to arrange transportation for that night.

• Anya watched Bondman rescue Princess Honey and eagerly asked Twilight to play a castle rescue game with her, but he immediately refused.
• Franky explained that Heartstone Castle had become an animation theme park where visitors could rent the whole place, and he urged Twilight to take Anya there.
• Richie comforted Anya and backed Franky’s plea, saying that her sadness had made him lose motivation to go to school too.
• Twilight reluctantly agreed to the trip, and Franky volunteered to reserve the castle while Explosionshead assigned Twilight the transportation arrangements.
• Anya hugged Richie and shared a knowing smile with him as Twilight protested that they were going that night and he had to make the arrangements.

Twilight took his family and Mophead on a helicopter trip to Heartstone Castle, with his intelligence agency arranging an aircraft for him at once. As Twilight flew into the night, Richie quietly reflected on how much he wanted the affection his parents never gave him.

• Twilight sent code GO 005, and his superior ordered the intelligence agency to arrange his request immediately.
• Mophead showed Anya and Richie a map of Heartstone Castle, and Anya proposed making riddles for Richie to solve.
• Twilight brought his family and Mophead to an aircraft waiting on the Nain River in Laineck, where Anya and Richie prepared for their first flight.
• Twilight lifted Anya and Richie into his arms, and Richie briefly grew sad as he thought about his distant parents before smiling again.
• Yor asked where Twilight had gotten the aircraft, and he claimed he had borrowed it from a wealthy colleague.
• Twilight took off with everyone aboard and piloted the aircraft through the night.

Twilight took Anya, Richie, Yor, and Franky by plane to Heartstone Castle, where Anya complained that a castle needed enemies and retainers. Twilight requested extra agents from Oko to stage a castle game for her, leaving Ostania’s intelligence agents on their way to join them.

• Twilight flew the group over the nighttime landscape to Heartstone Castle while Richie felt sick and the others admired the view.
• At the castle, Anya and Franky ran around until Twilight noticed Richie lying motionless and carried him, then learned he was only tired.
• Anya said the empty castle felt wrong without enemies and retainers, and Franky backed up her complaint to persuade Twilight.
• Twilight messaged Oko requesting additional personnel, and Oko ordered agents across Ostania to assemble at Heartstone Castle for an emergency operation.

Twilight’s colleagues turned the castle celebration into a company-funded obstacle course for Operation Strix, with Twilight cast as Loidman rescuing Princess Anya. As the game began, Mophead carried Anya away in a cable car, and Twilight set off after them with Richie in his arms.

• Twilight’s colleagues filled the castle and prepared for a murder mystery game after Oko rated the mission SS+.
• Twilight used Morse code to tell the agents to await orders and follow Explosionshead’s instructions while he gave a speech.
• Explosionshead assigned Anya the role of Princess, Twilight the role of Loidman, and Mophead the role of the evil boss, while Yor was left without a role.
• Mophead ordered the agents to create obstacles for Twilight, and the excited agents agreed to put Loidman through hell.
• Mophead declared the game underway and took Anya away in a cable car; Twilight followed in another cable car with Richie.

Twilight answered Anya’s questions during Mophead’s challenge but failed the last one and had to put on the Bondman mask. The Cable Car then reached the organization’s assessment grounds, where masked agents waited for the next stage.

• Twilight answered that Anya liked Bondman’s silent gun and peanuts, getting both questions right.
• Richie advised Twilight that Anya wanted water, but Anya declared she wanted to pick her nose, making Twilight lose the final question.
• Mophead ordered Twilight to wear the Bondman costume, and Twilight reluctantly put on the black mask as Anya watched excitedly.
• Twilight and Richie’s Cable Car stopped at the assessment grounds, where masked agents awaited them and Richie looked forward to the slide.

Twilight played the hero in a castle rescue stunt show, battling his fellow agents while carrying Richie and trying to save Anya. After Yor’s drunken fight and the rescue, Richie warned Twilight that the Westalis Intelligence Agency was coming, leaving him horrified.

• Twilight carried Richie through the agents’ obstacle course and dodged their jelly bean guns while Anya cheered from the castle.
• Twilight shot down his colleagues and struck Explosionshead with jelly beans, then pursued him across the castle by zip line.
• Twilight reluctantly performed the rescue scene before his fellow agents, and Yor attacked him as the mighty witch before falling asleep.
• Twilight knocked Franky down, rescued Anya, and hugged her with Richie as fireworks celebrated them.
• Richie told Twilight that the Westalis Intelligence Agency was coming, and Twilight was horrified.