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.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Adorable Kids Asking for Bear Hug