(12) Adopting Syuzia

"Right, father. The director or other employees of the orphanage might try to dissuade you by explaining Syuzia's background, but it's not a problem. I already know it and I still want to adopt her." Lucas cautiously spoke.

"Okay," Terence answered simply. It didn't matter to him much, if his son wanted something, he just bought it for him. 

That was the kind of father Terence was. He couldn't properly raise Lucas with affection because of his work. And his wife died long ago too. Therefore, he was sure to at least fulfill his son's wishes, using money.

After knocking, all four of them entered the director's room, which was very spacious. 

The director spoke stiffly to Terence: "It's an honor meeting sir for the first time. There was no need to come in person if you had called, we could have finished the adoption procedure online." 

"My son called, so of course, I have to come. Now, show me the adoption paper quickly, I don't have unlimited time." Terence gave out orders like the director was his servant already. 

"Yes, here they are. You can read it for confirmation." The director handed over a bundle of paper that Terence passed to his secretary. 

Lucas's mouth was agape, '...What? What happened to fostering, registering, or counseling, to adopt a child? Being rich is a cheat...'

Lucas understood immediately that the director directly skipped those procedures, seeing his father. 

As Lucas was lost in his thoughts, suddenly the sound of the door opening rang out. 

"It's them." Levon entered and pointed toward Lucas and the others. Behind him stood a middle-aged man, with clothes the same level as Terence and Lucas. 

"President?! I would have sent someone to pick you up if you notified us early." The director began bootlicking the president immediately like nothing. 

Lucas didn't know whether to admire the director's skill in bootlicking or curse his current situation. 

[Ding! Supportive character found!]

[Name: Ethan Bossmec

Age: 32

Supportive aura: 11,250]

The protagonist's aura was too unfair, it pulled out the president's card in no time!

Lucas was now stuck in an awkward position, he didn't know what to do if the president directly tried to stop the adoption. 

"Long time no see, sir Terence," Ethan spoke respectfully to Lucas's father. 

"Yeah, can you wait for a second? We can talk after I finish this adoption process." Terence showed basic acknowledgment toward Ethan. 

"Truthfully, I came to talk about this adoption," Ethan said seriously. 

"Oh, what is it?" Feeling impatient internally, Terence questioned. 

"It's about the past of the child you are trying to adopt." Ethan's eyes stared dagger at the director. 

The director broke into a cold sweat immediately, understanding his deed was found out. 

Terence raised his brow but then shook his head: "It doesn't matter. I will adopt her as my family even if she was a beggar in the past." 

Levon looked at everything from behind the president. He secretly showed a hostile look to Lucas in the middle too.

Ethan squinted, "It's something worse than that. She is a child who was put in special care by the cardinal investigators. She has murdered people by her own will multiple times in the past, so I want you to consider this point before adopting her." 

He began writing her story about the underground arena.

Ethan spoke with a heartfelt voice, showing that he wanted Terence to reconsider.

The cardinal was the main organization maintaining the peace in the whole Survile, using many talented awakened public. 

Syuzia, who was hearing everything from the side, felt annoyance rising within her too. She could understand what Ethan was trying to do. 

'...Why are they getting in between me and Daddy? Is he the reason?' Syuzia looked at Levon, feeling him to be the most likely culprit. 

[Syuzia felt hatred and killing intent towards the protagonist. Obtained 200 villain points.]

Lucas sighed seeing this notification, Syuzia was by no means stupid. She could understand matters as fast as lightning. 

From the prior talk in the car, Lucas found Syuzia's potential too. 

It was +SS.

It was the highest rank attained by humanity currently. 

Terence turned to Lucas, hearing what Ethan said, there was worry present in his eyes. 

Lucas nodded his head with no hesitation. 

"I will not change my mind. I want to adopt this child." Terence went along with Lucas's wishes. 

"What...?" Ethan was bewildered. 

He just said that Syuzia was a murderer and her past deed, a secret that would make anyone disgusted or at least disgruntled. However, Terence showed a plain attitude, appearing it was just some small matter. 

Ethan looked at Lucas, but he didn't find any change in his expression either. 

Abnormal! 

Both of them were abnormal! 

"I see, then it can't be helped." Ethan pulled himself together. 

"However, is the child willing to be adopted by sir?" 

Ethan looked at Syuzia instead, "Hello, it's our second time meeting if I am not wrong. Tell me truthfully, do you want to be adopted by this sir?" 

"Yes." Syuzia simply nodded her head, not having the intention to talk to Ethan.

Getting such a firm answer, even Ethan was left speechless. 

He had decided to help Levon the moment he heard the story about this adoption. However, nothing was going according to the plan. 

If he were to offend Terence, the orphanage might cease to exist before Levon can even get the chance to become famous in the future. 

Without care for Ethan's intention, Terence signed the paper and handed it over to the director. 

If Ethan were to try stopping Terence now, it would not be different than pitting himself against him. So he just stood his ground strong.

Surprisingly, The things Lucas worried about didn't happen. The President of the orphanage didn't use any heavy-handed means. 

People were rational, yeah?

'I guess, it's possible to fight against the protagonist as long as I have strength in position and as an individual. The protagonist's aura can't turn people stupid, at least not totally.' Lucas contemplated. 

"There's no problem if we take her with us now, right?" Terence asked intimidatingly.

"T-there's none!" The director answered stutteringly.

[Levon lost his trust in Ethan. Supportive aura -500, villain aura +250. Obtained 2,500 villain points.]

It seems like Levon suffered quite a mental attack seeing it was not possible to stop Syuzia from leaving. The president, the ever so trusty figure failed to do it too. 

[Syuzia has fully deviated from the original path, the protagonist can't woo her temporarily, delaying and changing the progress immensely. Female lead aura -500, protagonist aura -500, villain aura +1,000. Obtained 8,000 villain points.]

'...It's a festival of villain aura and points.' Lucas heard the notification like a heavenly song. 

[ding! The host has attained a 1,000 villain aura.]

[Obtained perfect body! Does the host want to accept?

Yes/No]

'Ohh! Something interesting came out.'