Chương 52: Official Records

Holding Neon, Aren began introducing the Troupe one by one.

"Do you remember her? This is the sister you just met. Her name is Machi."

"Hello, Sister Machi." Neon greeted her obediently. Machi did not really want to respond, but after remembering what Aren had said in the bathroom, she forced out a small "Mm." Aren smiled inwardly. That was already a good start.

"That pretty boy with the black hair is Chrollo Lucilfer. You can call him Big Brother Chrollo." Chrollo looked helpless.

"Aren, do I really look like a pretty boy?" Aren studied him seriously, then nodded.

"You do." The others could not hold back their laughter. Chrollo could only shake his head.

'That is what you get for teasing me yesterday.' Aren enjoyed his small revenge. The relaxed mood around her eased most of Neon's tension. With Aren's teasing introductions and deliberate guidance, she soon became familiar with the Troupe. After all, Neon was going to become his student. In the future, she would inevitably have many dealings with the Troupe. The others understood that as well, so they cooperated. Even Feitan greeted Neon. What surprised Aren most was Uvogin.

When Neon called him Big Brother Uvogin, he actually blushed. It was the first time Aren had seen Uvogin blush since meeting him.

'How strange.'

"Hey, deputy leader! How long are you going to keep staring at me like that?" Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Uvogin grew embarrassed and shouted. Then he turned toward a nearby Nostrade subordinate with a fierce expression.

"Another serving!" The sight of Uvogin hiding his embarrassment triggered another round of laughter. Not long after, Light pushed the door open.

"Everyone, the government official has arrived. If you have finished eating, we can go to the living room and record your identity information." Aren wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"All right. Let's handle the serious business first." He naturally patted Neon's head again.

"Neon, I have something to do. Go back to your room first, all right? I'll tell you a story later." At the mention of a story, Neon's eyes sparkled.

"Okay. Neon will wait in her room. You have to remember, Master." She skipped back to her room in a good mood. Aren noticed that not only he, but Uvogin and Franklin as well, were smiling like fond uncles.

'So older guys really do like little girls.' He laughed silently. Light led the Troupe to the living room. A man who looked like an exhausted office worker had already set up a computer and several devices for collecting biological data. When the official saw Light, he bowed fearfully.

"Mr. Nostrade, everything is ready." Light's control over him was clearly not based on ordinary money.

"Good." Light's answer to the official was cold. Then he turned toward Aren with immediate respect.

"Everything is prepared." The official's expression shifted into panic.

'There are people above the Nostrade Family? I have never heard of that before.'

'Is this something I am allowed to know? Am I going to be silenced?' In a town like Gambi, where every step could be dangerous, his first reaction was to wonder whether he had doomed himself.

"Don't worry," Aren said, seeing through him.

"Just do your job." He was not being kind. He simply did not want the man overthinking things and making a mistake. The process was much like Aren remembered from his previous life: photograph, identity form, fingerprints, and other biological information. Since Uvogin and Nobunaga could not write, the official filled in their forms for them. The procedure was simple and ended quickly. After finishing, the official bowed in panic, grabbed his equipment, and ran as if the Troupe might eat him.

Once he left, Light remained respectfully in place.

"They should be ready tomorrow. Please wait until then." Aren glanced at him. Light was more patient than expected. He still had not directly urged Aren about the promise to replace the Fanobi Family. But for Neon's sake, Aren decided not to tease him any longer.

"Before that, does anyone want to get some exercise?"

"Exercise?" Uvogin asked with interest.

"What kind?"

"Your favorite kind." Aren glanced sideways at him.

"My favorite kind?"

"Idiot," Nobunaga said.

"The deputy leader means fighting."

"Fighting? Great. I want to go!" The moment Uvogin heard that, he became wide awake. He did not even care that Nobunaga had called him an idiot. Light had already guessed what Aren meant. His eyes turned hot with expectation.

"Nostrade," Aren said.

"Yes, Mr. Aren." Whatever Light was like as a person, his attitude when handling business was very useful.

"Give me the information on the Fanobi Family."

"Of course, Mr. Aren. Thank you very much." Light restrained his excitement and went to the study to retrieve the Fanobi file he had prepared in advance. Aren turned toward the Troupe.

"So, who wants to stretch their muscles? Let me make this clear first: this is something I personally agreed to, so it does not matter if you choose not to go. I won't mind. They are only small fry anyway."