Vol. 6 Ch. 124

Operation “My Dad’s Not a Dragon” Plan A:

In the Imperial Central Park, Leon was holding Moon, while Rosvisser carried Muse. The family of four strolled leisurely by the small lake, enjoying the afternoon.

Not far behind them, beneath an old locust tree, three small heads peeked out from bottom to top in a vertical stack.

At the top, Xiaoxue whispered, "Are we really doing the right thing, tailing Aunt Rosvisser and Uncle Leon like this?"

In the middle, Noa calmly replied, "When she suspects something might be off, she’ll go to any length to verify it."

At the bottom, Aurora added, "That’s the scientific rigor we scientists must uphold, big sister."

Noa blew a strand of hair out of her face and glanced down at the pink fuzzball beneath her. She couldn’t help but sigh internally.

Last night, Aurora had suddenly summoned all the sisters together and announced that there was something serious they needed to discuss.

And that serious matter was: “Our dad might be a human. Not a dragon.”

Noa had already known that she and her sisters were human-dragon hybrids.

But their parents had said they weren’t planning to tell Moon and Muse just yet. After all, unlike Noa and Aurora, those two were a bit too loud and impulsive. They might not take it well.

Still, given how many times Dad had insisted they go on a family vacation to the Empire lately… maybe something really was off.

To Aurora, this was a freebie of a test question.

Last night, she laid out all the suspicious details she’d gathered over the past few days and crafted a full “My Dad’s Not a Dragon” operation plan.

Today, she had already begun executing it step by step.

Noa didn’t know how long Dad could keep this up.

But looking at the fire in Aurora’s eyes, it was obvious—she wasn’t going to let this go until she had an answer.

"So Aurora, what exactly is your Plan A?" Noa asked.

"Big sis, haven’t you noticed? Every time Dad goes out to play, someone shows up asking for a photo or a signature."

Noa nodded. "I did notice. But Dad said it’s because he has one of those common faces. He just happens to look like that guy on the Empire Square statue, right?"

"Exactly."

Aurora stared at Dad’s back with a sly, confident smile.

"But yesterday, I found the artist who made that statue. Normal people might get it wrong, but the creator himself? No way he wouldn’t recognize his own work!"

"...Aurora, how did you even find the statue’s designer?"

"Criminals always return to the scene of the crime to admire their handiwork. Artists are no different. I asked around the square for four hours yesterday—eventually, someone gave me his name."

Noa covered her face silently.

"Your biggest strength is that you’ll actually work for any crazy idea you have."

"Then I snooped around and learned the sculptor’s daily routine. Turns out he comes to Central Park for a walk around this time each day. So I arranged for second sis and Muse to bring Dad and Mom here today."

Aurora lifted her chin proudly.

"I’m betting he won’t be able to resist. If that sculptor walks up to them for an autograph or a selfie, then that means—"

"The statue in Empire Square is Dad!"

Noa chuckled and curled the corners of her lips. It reminded her of the time Aurora became convinced their ancestor was a ghost and tried all sorts of ways to exorcise him.

Even an ancestor who’d lived tens of thousands of years couldn’t handle Aurora.

Who knew how long Dad could hold out?

…

…

"Crabs catching crabs, but here comes the yellow sparrow."

On the bench across the lake, Rebecca put down her binoculars and raised her hand. A man behind her stepped forward.

"Alert the squad. Time to move."

He nodded. "Understood."

"The statue had lipstick marks on it yesterday, and the trumpet by it couldn’t even be blown anymore. Didn’t the captain say he wanted the girls to find out he’s human? Isn’t that why he brought them to the Empire?"

Rebecca lounged cross-legged on the bench, munching potato chips Martin had just bought for her.

"He also said they can’t find out too easily. Otherwise, that little pink-haired menace will sniff out something suspicious."

"Huh. That actually makes more sense." Martin nodded thoughtfully.

"An accidental reveal seems more natural. Less suspicious."

"Mmhmm~ That’s the idea~"

Crunch—

"Don’t buy cucumber flavor next time. It’s awful."

"Got it."

…

…

As one of the Empire’s renowned designers, Robert spent most of his days «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» inside his studio.

But even so, he made it a point to set aside an hour every day to take a walk in Central Park, breathe some fresh air, and maybe spark a little new inspiration.

Today, like always, Robert had come to the park, intending to admire the swans by the lake.

His latest piece was inspired by birds and feathers—maybe this would help.

But as he walked, he noticed a large crowd gathering near the lake.

Curious, he looked over. Too far away to see anything clearly, he turned and politely asked a passerby,

"Excuse me, what’s happening over there?"

"You don’t know? Leon Casmod is over there! Go get an autograph!"

"Ah!"

The person dashed away.

"...He’s here."

When the Lionheart Order first contacted Robert to commission a Leon statue, he had been over the moon.

Leon was a national hero—even someone like Robert, who barely followed the news, was a fan.

Now that he knew Leon was in the Empire…

He patted his pants pocket.

"Good thing I brought a pen."

Muttering to himself, Robert began walking briskly toward the lake—he wanted that autograph.

But before he could go far, he heard a weak voice nearby:

"Oww—"

He turned and saw an elderly woman.

"Oh dear… I’m too old, I fall just walking around… I can’t even get up by myself… oww…"

She lay curled on the ground, groaning softly.

Robert looked from the woman to the lake.

The crowd around Leon was growing. If he didn’t hurry, he might miss his chance.

"Aiyaa… it really hurts… If only a kind-hearted young artist would help me up, that’d be so wonderful…"

…

Robert exhaled slowly, then turned around and jogged over to the old lady, helping her to her feet.

"Auntie, are you alright?"

"I’m fine, I’m fine—thank you, young man. Here, this is some fruit I just bought. Take some."

"Ah, no need, Auntie. I still have to—"

Before he could finish, she shoved a whole basket of fruit into his arms and skipped away with such a spring in her step she didn’t look like she’d ever fallen.

Robert stood frozen in the wind, utterly bewildered.

Then he finally remembered he was supposed to go get Leon’s autograph.

But when he looked back toward the lake, Leon and his family had already been mobbed by the crowd and moved somewhere else.

That wasn’t a part of the park Robert normally went to. If he ran over now, waited in line, got the autograph—it’d throw off his whole work schedule.

After a moment’s hesitation, Robert sighed quietly.

"...Forget it, forget it."

He turned around, holding the fruit basket, and left the park in silence.

Robert wasn’t even fond of fruit. At the park gate, he gave the apples, oranges, and everything else to passing kids, one by one.

It wasn’t until the last apple was handed out that he noticed—

There was a card tucked at the bottom of the basket.

Raising an eyebrow, Robert picked it up.

And on it, written clearly:

Leon Casmod.

…

"WHY DID HE LEAVE?!"

Aurora clawed at her hair in disbelief, utterly refusing to accept that things hadn’t gone as planned.

Noa blinked, trying to offer Dad a bit of cover.

"Maybe… maybe he realized Dad wasn’t the guy from the statue. So he left."

"No no no! It’s because the crowd was too big. That’s why he didn’t go!"

Noa shrugged and asked,

"So, Plan A looks like a bust. Do you have a Plan B, Aurora?"

"Of course!"

Aurora instantly shook off her gloom and brightened with renewed energy.

"Plan B: we go confront that organization called the Lionheart Order!"