The Clash of Wills

"Are you saying..."

Neon Nostrade's eyes widened as she looked at Moarik in disbelief.

"You just went out for a bit, and managed to recruit the fighter who was just battling in the ring?!"

"Strictly speaking," Moarik corrected with a serious expression, "he was moved by the spirit of mafia honor I conveyed, and willingly chose to join our family."

Neon Nostrade: "..."

Mafia honor? What mafia has any sort of honor?!

Hmph, don't think I can't see through this. You're just saying these things to humor and deceive me because I'm young!

But still~~~

"You actually got that pretty boy to join our family?!"

Neon Nostrade's bright eyes sparkled, reflecting nothing but the image of Castro. Nothing else mattered.

Forget about humoring or deceiving, or honor or no honor.

As long as she could bring such an attractive martial artist, who had fought his way to the two-hundredth floor of Heaven's Arena, here by her side, that was more than enough!

Neon Nostrade screamed inwardly, her thoughts full of mischief.

"..."

Castro felt a bit uncomfortable under Neon Nostrade's intense gaze.

This behavior was quite different from the cold-blooded and ruthless mafia princess he had imagined~~~

"Put away that lovesick look."

Seeing this, Moarik knocked on Neon's head with his knuckle.

"Don't scare him off~"

"Ow! That hurt~!"

Neon instantly grabbed her head, pouting and glaring at Moarik like an angry little hamster.

Nearby, Arisa and the other maids lowered their heads as they saw Moarik's actions. The security detail's authority level was much higher than that of the maids.

Outside, he had full authority over everyone. In Moarik's presence, they had no say at all, especially concerning matters involving the young lady.

"I was just expressing my happiness, that's all~"

Seeing Moarik start rubbing his wrist again, Neon quickly collected herself, muttering a small complaint.

"From now until the start of the Olympia Martial Arts Tournament, you need to inform me of all your plans," Moarik ordered, ignoring her grumbles.

"You can only act if I give the okay."

"I protest!!"

Neon immediately objected, "You're restricting my freedom! How is this different from imprisoning me?!"

"This isn't home. During the tournament, there are all kinds of dangerous people and potential threats around," Moarik said, leaving no room for negotiation. "For the sake of your safety, we need to maintain the highest level of security."

"And what if I decide to act on my own?!"

Neon puffed her cheeks again, her face slightly flushed with anger.

"Then I will have to report the situation to the boss," Moarik replied, crossing his arms. "At that point, I will use my authority and strength to forcefully bring the entire team back."

"As long as you're safe back home, everything will be fine."

"As for what happens after that—whether you complain about me to the boss, whether I get fired—that's up to the boss."

He spoke calmly, "I am fully prepared to accept any decision the boss makes, even if it means being dismissed."

Hmm, anyway, my ID papers that Wright Nostrade gave me are in order. If I do get fired, I can always find another job~~~

"How could you?!"

Seeing Moarik's unyielding demeanor, Neon's eyes began to well up with tears.

"Everyone keeps saying it's for my own good, stopping me from doing this, stopping me from doing that."

"Daddy isn't here to keep me company, and now even you're restricting me! How is this different from being in prison?!"

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, tears spilling out from her eyes.

"You're all mean! I hate you all, waaaaah!!!"

In the end, Neon burst into tears, her sorrowful cries heart-wrenching to hear.

"Miss..."

Arisa and the other maids felt sympathy and wanted to comfort her.

However~

Whoosh!

A glance from Moarik stopped them in their tracks, freezing them where they stood.

"Um..."

Seeing this, Castro raised an eyebrow, wanting to say something.

But when Moarik's calm gaze swept over him, he silently held his tongue.

"Ahhhh!!!"

Seeing that no one around her was coming to comfort her, Neon's crying grew even louder, her grief and anger intensifying.

"I hate you all! I hate you all!!"

She began rolling around on the bed.

Yet no matter how much she cried or caused a scene, Moarik remained unmoved.

"This is just the beginning," Moarik silently watched Neon flail on the bed.

This was their first outing as a team, and it was crucial to establish who was in charge right from the start.

Would it be Neon Nostrade, the mafia princess, or Moarik, the head of her bodyguard team?

When it came to determining who would lead, Moarik wasn't going to give an inch.

Otherwise, in future outings, Neon might act on her own just like in the original scenario. She could run off while shopping, disguise herself, and encounter Chrollo, who would then steal her fortune-telling ability using his Nen.

In the end, it could all be her own doing.