Arriving at that thought, Alpha Kilian turned him. “I'll allow you to participate, and you can be in charge of DX's dark web system, but Tony , I need you to promise me something.”
Tony would have agreed to ten promises.
He turned to meet Alpha Kilian 's gaze. His eyes sparkled with excitement. “I promise!”
“You haven't even heard it yet!”
“As long as I'm involved, I'm in, no matter what it is!” Tony declared enthusiastically.
At this moment, nothing was more important to him than getting involved.
Alpha Kilian studied his son with his beady eyes. Despite the boy's conviction, a request like this should be stated upfront.
“Obey orders during the mission. Never act on your own accord,” Alpha Kilian said, meeting the boy's gaze.
Tony nodded at once. “Of course!”
Despite Alpha Kilian 's extreme reluctance to involve Tony in this, he knew that Tony 's abilities had already determined the course of this event; his involvement was inevitable.
With that thought in mind, Alpha Kilian stroked the boy's head.
It was something Nelly would do.
Tony looked at him. A faint smile was playing on his lips.
Dave sighed helplessly. “So, are you handing over DX's dark web system just like that?”
Alpha Kilian turned to regard Dave at the mention of the matter. “Just give him some administrative rights. He won't be able to see the core secrets anyway.”
“Given his abilities, do you really think we can keep it from him?” Dave retorted.
Listening in on the conversation, Tony chimed in, “Do you lack confidence in your dark web system, Alpha Dave?”
“I... of course I'm confident!”
“So, what are you still worried about?” Tony retorted. “Besides, I have professional integrity. I wouldn't pry into secrets that are not mine without permission.”
Dave snorted. “The first time I heard the term 'professional integrity' was from your father's mouth. Yet, he was nothing but unprofessional.”
Tony turned to look at Alpha Kilian , looking surprised.
The latter explained, “All's fair in war.”
Glaring at him, Dave retorted, “More like shamelessness.”
Alpha Kilian pursed his lips, about to say something, but Tony interjected, “Hold it, Daddy, Alpha Dave. Now is not the time for an argument!”
“Then when is?”
“Then when is?”
Both adults asked in unison.
Even their voices were surprisingly in sync.
Tony looked at them. “I want to know your entire plan!”
At the boy's request, Alpha Kilian and Dave exchanged another glance.
The pair were looking at each other as if trying to figure something out.
Naturally, Tony knew what they were doing. Gazing at them, he said earnestly, “Since you've decided to involve me, Daddy, Alpha Dave, shouldn’t you tell me the truth? That way, I can manage my schedule better and allocate the most time for you!”
Dave leaned back lazily onto the leather chair as he turned to Alpha Kilian . “You decide. He's your son, so you have the final say.”
Tony then turned his gaze toward Alpha Kilian .
After much hesitation, Alpha Kilian met his gaze and nodded.
Only then did they reveal their entire plan to Tony .
After he heard it, Tony narrowed his eyes, turning his gaze back to Dave.
“Alpha Dave...”
Dave chuckled lightly. “What? Are you worried about me?”
For a moment, Tony did not know what to say. After hesitating for a while, he began slowly, “I promise you, Alpha Dave, if DX ever needs my help, I will not refuse.”
Dave laughed. “If you say so. I'll be holding you to that promise. With you and your mother, DX will be famous!”
“I'm serious, Alpha Dave,” Tony said earnestly.
Dave met the boy's gaze. “I know you meant it,” he said seriously. “I'll remember what you said, and I won't hesitate to hold you to it. Of course, I hope that day will never come.”
Tony met his gaze. “Me, too. I hope that such a day will never come.”
Gazing at each other, the pair shared a laugh.
Then, they spent a long time going over the plan in the room.
After a good part of the day, Alpha Kilian and Tony finally emerged from Dave's study.
The pair walked side by side.
“Does Nelly know about this, Daddy?” Tony asked.
Alpha Kilian nodded. “She does. The position you're currently in was originally meant for her, but since she is... So, it has to be you now!”
Alpha Kilian knew very well what the omission implied, and so did Tony . Like an unspoken agreement between father and son, neither of them brought it up. Tony gazed up at him. “So, Daddy, were you planning to have me as a substitute all along?”
“You were the one who volunteered,” said Alpha Kilian .
“That's because you know I would ask to join,” Tony replied.
Alpha Kilian remained silent.
Tony pursed his lips as they walked on. “How could he even scheme against his own son?” he muttered instinctively.
Alpha Kilian grabbed his son by the collar when he heard that. “Wait a minute. How was I scheming against you?”
“Um... You took advantage of my thoughts!” Tony said at once, rearranging his expression as he did so.
Alpha Kilian gave a light chuckle. “Two-faced, I see.”
“You ask for so much, Daddy. Isn't having two faces the least I deserve?” Tony retorted.
Alpha Kilian patted him lightly on the head. “Nonsense.”
Tony chuckled. A rare smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“If you're unwilling, you can opt out at any time,” Alpha Kilian said as he marched forward.
“Where else can you find someone as qualified as me, Daddy?” Tony argued at once.
“So, you think the world would come crashing down without you?” Alpha Kilian asked in a soft, mocking tone.
“The world will keep revolving without anyone, but Daddy, you wouldn't entrust Nelly 's safety to a stranger. You don't trust anyone else but me,” Tony said, enunciating every word.
Alpha Kilian was slightly taken aback by those words.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, “You know everything.”
It was only then that Tony realized what he had said. He averted his gaze, lowering his eyes. “Know what?”
Aware that Tony was trying to avoid the confrontation, Alpha Kilian did not expose his son. Instead, he pulled Tony 's head into his embrace and stroked his head as a gesture of comfort.
Tony 's nose soured. He was on the verge of shedding tears again.
However, as a man, Tony refused to show his vulnerable side.
With the mission so close, he had to prove that he was a man capable of standing on his own.
“Rest assured, Daddy. We will succeed!” Tony asserted in a muffled voice.
“Mm!” Alpha Kilian nodded, his gaze fixed elsewhere. Then, he murmured, “ Nelly will be fine too, I promise!” As he spoke, he gazed down at Tony , who leaned into Alpha Kilian 's embrace, his face half-hidden, rendering his emotions unreadable. Alpha Kilian 's lips curled into a strained smile as he stroked Tony 's head a little more forcefully.