You're Out Daddy

Hearing this, Anthony approached Dave and sat across from him.

“So, you were waiting for me, huh, Mr. Dave?” said Anthony, behaving as if the two of them were

having a heart-to-heart talk.

“What do you think? Sounds pretty enticing, doesn't it?” Dave teased.

“Would you actually hire me if I were to join DX?”

“Why wouldn't I? Moreover, I believe you'd do a great job!”

“But you know I won't join DX.”

Dave nodded but continued to persuade the boy, “You can still give it a try. What if you do well?”

Anthony laughed. “Besides... I don't have time to be a kid.”

Dave gazed at Anthony upon hearing that. Narrowing his eyes into slits, he queried, “What do you

mean?”

Anthony remarked with determination, “What I mean is... I want to destroy Vermillion Base and

everything they have, and I'm going to do it right now!”

“Right now?”

“Yes!”

Fixing his eyes on the boy, Dave deliberated for a moment before stating, “Anthony, I know you're

extremely intelligent, but... even if I exhaust all of DX's resources, it would still be difficult to get rid of

Vermillion Base.”

Anthony looked up, meeting Dave's gaze as he said, “Mr. Dave, just because you can't do it doesn't

mean I can't.”

His words were bold and daring.

Dave couldn't help taking note of the striking similarities between Kenneth and Anthony. However, the

father and son duo had every right to be full of themselves, and Dave respected people like them.

The future was limitless.

Thinking back to when he joined the organization, Dave was only seventeen or eighteen years old.

Anthony, on the other hand, had yet to turn ten when he became a valuable asset to Darknetz.

Dave fixed his eyes on the boy once more and attempted to dissuade him from acting rashly. “Anthony,

I know you've made up your mind, but even Darknetz may not be able to escape unscathed. You must

know that even a mighty dragon finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt, let alone Darknetz.”

Anthony mulled over Dave's words. A moment later, an idea crossed his mind. “What if DX and

Darknetz joined forces with one another?”

Hearing this, Dave stilled and continued glancing at the boy. A smile played at the corner of his lips as

he said, “I'm afraid that's harder than getting rid of Vermillion Base.”

“Anything is possible, Mr. Dave!”

Dave quirked a brow. “You have one conundrum to solve right now, but if you proceed down that road,

you'll have two conundrums in your hands. Do you know what two difficult conundrums make?” he

asked.

Anthony knew what he was trying to say, but after giving it a thought, he retorted, “Perhaps two

negatives make a positive.”

Amused by the boy's analogy, Dave chuckled. “Anthony, you're much more optimistic than your daddy.”

“I know you don't believe me, and I have no way to convince you either, but these are my thoughts and

the goal I wish to achieve. I'll annihilate Vermillion Base no matter the cost!” declared Anthony.

Just then, Kenneth's voice sounded behind them. “You sure know how to talk big!”

Anthony turned around to see Kenneth approaching them. Every movement of his was gracious and

elegant.

The sight of his father made Anthony pursed his lips as a complicated gleam flashed in his eyes.

“Indeed. He's even worse than you were!” said Dave.

Kenneth cast the man a glance as he remarked, “One must be capable enough in order to back up

their confidence. Anthony is more than capable.”

Anthony was quite surprised to see his father defending him.

Dave's gaze lingered on the father-and-son duo. As a smile spread across his lips, he said, “You're

right. Since you're here, why don't you two have a chat? I'll take my leave first.” He rose to his feet as

soon as the words left his lips. When he walked past Kenneth, Dave patted the latter on the shoulder.

“He's a promising young talent. You should train him well.”

After Dave left, Kenneth's ebony eyes fell on Anthony.

Adamance was written all over Anthony's little face as he met his father's gaze.

Kenneth sat where Dave was seated earlier.

Looking at the boy in front of him, he asked in a low voice, “So, you know already?”

Taken aback, Anthony looked at his father with a hint of disbelief in his eyes. “What?”

“Are you trying to play dumb in front of me?”

“Does that mean you know as well?”

“That's right.” Kenneth's response came swiftly. He had no intentions of keeping secrets from his son.

Anthony furrowed his brows upon hearing the man's answer. “Since you know already, why didn't you

tell me?”

“I didn't find out much earlier than you did,” explained Kenneth.

“Are you saying that yesterday night...”

Kenneth nodded, confirming the boy's guess.

Anthony pursed his lips. At that moment, it felt as if the pieces of the puzzle were all falling into place.

“No wonder you were acting strange after getting off the phone call.”

“I know how you feel right now because I was the same last night. At that time, I wanted nothing more

than to kill someone and destroy everything.”

Anthony glanced at his father without uttering a word.

“But, Anthony, this has nothing to do with you.”

A crease formed between the boy's brows when he heard that. “What do you mean this has nothing to

do with me?”

“What I mean is this is something I should be doing. You, on the other hand, should do things that are

befitting of someone your age,” said Kenneth.

“What exactly should I be doing at my age?” Anthony retorted; his tone laced with displeasure.

Noticing that his father was silent, he continued, “I've done everything that someone my age isn't

supposed to do. Bombs, robbery, joining Darknetz, none of these are things I should be doing at my

age.”

Kenneth looked at the boy and continued to remain silent.

“Daddy, we had an agreement. We agreed that we'd talk things through, but why do you have to

maintain such a firm position and make these decisions for me?”

All of a sudden, Kenneth expressed, “Because as your father, I don't wish for any of you to be in harm's

way, not even for a second.”

Anthony felt as if he was throwing punches into the air. Since Kenneth had said as much, he couldn't

argue anymore.

After contemplating for a moment, Anthony reasoned, “Daddy, you know my personality. The more you

refuse to let me do something, the more I want to do it. In this case, will you feel more relieved?”

His words hit the nail on the head, but Kenneth didn't say anything in response and merely continued to

look at him.

“Can't you be more like Nat, Daddy? Can't you talk things through with us and not make the decisions

for us? I may be young, but I deserve respect, too!”

After mulling over his son's statements, Kenneth eyed him probingly. “All right, then. What do you plan

on doing?”

Surprised, Anthony stammered, “D-Does this mean you approve?”

Kenneth nodded, causing Anthony to look at him with disbelief.

He was behaving as if he was doing everything for my own good, but he changed his stance in the next

second. Isn't that a bit too fast?

Noticing the boy's doubtful gaze, Kenneth explained, “Anthony, this is my first time being a father, and I

don't have much experience. Nonetheless, the things you said made sense, so I'll trust your judgment

and respect you.”

“Really?”

“You don't believe me?” Kenneth raised an eyebrow playfully at his son.

“I believe you!” said Anthony without hesitation. After all, there was no reason for him to doubt his

father.

“Well then, tell me what are your thoughts.”

The boy fixed his eyes on his father. “Daddy, you found out earlier than I did, so you must have a plan

in mind. Why don't you share yours first?”