Since Anya had opened the Gate of All Worlds directly in her bedroom, Gustave found himself having to exit her room and approach the apartment through more conventional means.
Knock knock knock!
The sound of knocking drew Yor quickly to the front door, expecting perhaps a neighbor or delivery person. Her expression shifted to pleasant surprise when she opened it.
"Mr. Gustave! What a wonderful surprise!"
"Good morning, Mrs. Yor. Is Mr. Loid home by any chance?"
"Yes, of course! Please, come in," she said warmly, stepping aside to welcome him.
From the kitchen came the sound of sizzling and the aroma of breakfast preparation. Loid appeared in the doorway, spatula in hand, his expression shifting from casual morning routine to heightened alertness the moment he recognized their visitor.
Gustave again? So soon after our last meeting? His spy instincts immediately began cataloging possibilities. This can't be coincidence. He must be using some pretext to get close to our family, probably trying to uncover our real identities.
Despite his internal suspicions, Loid's external demeanor remained perfectly cordial as he wiped his hands on a kitchen towel and extended one in greeting.
"Mr. Gustave, what a pleasant surprise. Have you had breakfast yet? I was just preparing a morning meal - you're welcome to join us."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Loid, but I won't impose on your family time," Gustave replied, shaking the offered hand and once again admiring the man's impeccable social graces. "Actually, I came here because I have something important to discuss with both of you."
Important to discuss? Loid's mental alarm bells intensified even as his smile remained steady.
"Oh?" he said aloud, his tone carefully neutral. "Well then, why don't we make ourselves comfortable? Yor, would you mind taking Mr. Gustave to the living room while I prepare some tea?"
"Of course," Yor agreed, gesturing for their guest to follow her.
A few minutes later, Loid joined them with a perfectly arranged tea service, his movements precise and controlled despite the questions racing through his mind.
"Now then," he said, pouring tea with practiced elegance, "what did you wish to discuss, Mr. Gustave?"
Gustave accepted the offered cup and took a thoughtful sip before responding. "Actually, I need to come clean about something. The story I told you about finding Anya lost on the street - that wasn't entirely accurate."
Both Loid and Yor felt their hearts skip a beat. Every defensive instinct they possessed suddenly activated, though neither allowed their alarm to show on their faces.
Here it comes, Loid thought grimly. He's about to reveal his true agenda.
"Please don't be alarmed," Gustave continued, noting their subtle tension. "Let me explain properly. Anya!"
He called toward her bedroom door, knowing she was undoubtedly listening to every word.
The door creaked open slowly, and Anya emerged looking distinctly guilty, moving with the careful steps of a child who knew she'd been caught eavesdropping.
"Now then, Anya," Gustave said gently, "would you like to tell your parents what really happened, or shall I?"
"Anya will tell!" she declared immediately, raising her hand with sudden enthusiasm.
"Go ahead then."
With that encouragement, Anya launched into the full story - her genuine confusion after becoming separated from her father, her discovery of the mysterious Gate, her accidental journey to another world, and most importantly, her invitation for her parents to join today's interdimensional picnic adventure.
"So you're saying," Loid said carefully after she finished, "that when you got lost, you actually traveled to... another world?"
It wasn't that he didn't believe Anya - the child's earnest expression and detailed account were convincing. But the implications were so far beyond his experience as a spy that his mind struggled to process them.
"Anya didn't lie!" she insisted, her voice small but determined.
This was Gustave's cue. With a casual snap of his fingers, a door materialized in their living room - ornate, mysterious, and definitely not part of their apartment's original architecture.
"This is the Gate of All Worlds," he explained matter-of-factly. "Open it, and you'll find yourself aboard the Bamboo Staff in my world."
Loid and Yor exchanged glances, their hearts racing. In all their respective careers - espionage and assassination - neither had encountered anything remotely like this.
"I understand your hesitation," Gustave said, reading their expressions perfectly. "But there's no danger involved, I assure you."
The couple stood slowly, moving toward the Gate with the careful precision of people accustomed to evaluating threats. Their caution was understandable, even admirable, but it made Anya fidget with impatience.
"Papa! Mama! Anya will open it for you!" she declared, unable to wait any longer.
"Anya, no!" both parents called out simultaneously, reaching toward her.
But she had already grasped the handle and pulled the door open, revealing not another room but a swirling vortex of stars and cosmic energy that seemed to contain entire galaxies within its depths.
Faced with this impossible sight, Loid made an instant decision. "Yor, wait here. I'll investigate first."
Without another moment's hesitation, he stepped through the Gate and vanished into the cosmic swirl.
"Loid!" Yor cried out, her voice filled with genuine distress.
This Gate isn't going to eat anyone, Gustave thought with amusement. They're acting like he's marching off to war.
Before Yor could work herself into a proper panic, the Gate shimmered and Loid stepped back through, his expression transformed from cautious suspicion to barely contained excitement.
"Yor, it's real!" he exclaimed, his carefully maintained composure cracking to reveal genuine wonder. "There really is another world on the other side. Mr. Gustave wasn't lying about anything!"
He looked like a man who had just discovered that fairy tales were documentaries and magic was simply advanced science he hadn't learned yet.
"Really?" Yor asked, her own eyes widening with curiosity.
"So," Gustave said with a warm smile, "would you be willing to accompany Anya to an interdimensional picnic?"
"Absolutely!" Loid replied without hesitation. The spy who had spent years maintaining perfect covers and calculated responses was practically bouncing on his heels. "Though I hope you don't mind if we take a few minutes to prepare properly. This seems like the kind of occasion that requires appropriate planning."
"Take all the time you need," Gustave assured them, settling back into his chair with his tea.
Twenty minutes later, when the Forger family announced their readiness, Gustave nearly choked on his drink. They had transformed themselves into what looked like a professional expedition team - matching outdoor gear from head to toe, multiple backpacks filled with supplies, and equipment that suggested they were prepared for anything from mountain climbing to arctic survival.
"Mr. Gustave?" Loid asked, noticing his stunned expression. "Is something wrong with our preparations?"
"Not at all," Gustave managed, stifling his laughter. "You're certainly... thorough. Shall we go?"
As they prepared to step through the Gate, Gustave began his orientation speech. "The Bamboo Staff serves as both a restaurant and a hub connecting multiple worlds. We're currently anchored in an ocean, and you'll find the facilities quite comfortable..."
He continued explaining as they descended toward the main deck, noting how intently Loid listened - the man looked ready to take notes if he'd had a notebook handy.
"Oh my, what a beautiful ocean!" Yor exclaimed as they reached the second floor and she caught sight of the vast seascape through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her eyes sparkled with genuine delight at the endless blue expanse.
"Feel free to visit anytime," Gustave offered as they continued downward. "Whether for dining or simply relaxation, you're always welcome aboard the Bamboo Staff. Consider it your escape from the everyday world."
"Thank you, Mr. Gustave," both parents replied in unison, and Gustave could see the genuine gratitude in their expressions. Given the high-stress nature of their secret lives, having a peaceful refuge in another dimension might be exactly what they needed.
As they approached the bustling main deck where the picnic preparations were in full swing, Gustave couldn't help but smile at how the day was shaping up. Between interdimensional guests, tennis champions, child detectives, and now a spy family equipped for Antarctic exploration, this was definitely going to be a memorable gathering.