Aeron: “Spill! How'd you do it?!”

Noel: “Mmmph... Let go!”

Aeron: “Then talk!”

Noel: “Never!”

Aeron: “That's because you're lying! Right?!”

Noel: “Hm-hm-hm~ You said you knew me well brother, can't you tell if I'm lying or not...?”

Aeron: “THAT'S what is so infuriating! It SEEMS like you aren't lying... but that's what sounds so ridiculously impossible! There's NO WAY you got him to take your side! He NEVER takes anybody's side! Except dad's!"

Hearing those words would only serve to make his little brother's head swell. He knew that, but still, he felt the need to vent out his frustrations!

Just as he thought: the moment he heard those interesting words, Noel grew cockier over his accomplishment.

Noel: “Brother, please. You are disrespecting him! Boman is human too! He is NOT some kind of... of unfeeling robot! And being human...

.

.

.

That means he also has a weakness~ Heeheeheehee~”

Noel snickered, while Aeron's vented stress returned at full ferocity. Boman had a weakness that HE the Devil's Tongue didn't know about? Everyone that knew about Boman thought he was unshakable! He never reacted, be it to torture, hostages, threats, blackmail... even persuasion and temptation have all failed!

Aeron: “Nonsense! For YEARS!! YEARS!! We have ALL been trying to win him over. Winning his trust is the same as knowing dad's EVERY action! His every move is discussed with Boman! Having Boman as an ally is having the right hand man of the BOSS of the ENTIRE Malierano Family as your very own ally! Nothing is impossible with that kind of connection!”

Noel couldn't help but scoff at his brother's notion. Nothing's impossible? Can Boman help make his Father bow to him and hand over the position of 'Leader'? Can Boman make his mothers give control of the rest of his siblings' finances to him, for his own personal use? Surely not.

.

.

.

Not that he wants either of those two things, anyway. Nope. They're too much trouble to own alone, so forget about having that much money and authority back to back.

Noel: “You're exaggerating, right? I don't see how BOMAN could possibly know dad's every-”

Aeron: “Once upon a time, Dad made all the core members of our family undergo a training exercise to test everyone's instincts, intuition. Analytical skills and just our senses as a whole. This was before you were born, by the way. The goal was to try to find him after he hid inside one of the rooms of the mansion...

one of the rooms...

out of 985 floors! That was impossible! At least, that's what we all thought, including Durandez and Graciabeth, his own siblings. For Auntie though, she wasn't allowed to use her psychic abilities or intuition, but analytical skills. She had it harder then all of us, I would say.

But guess who managed to accomplish the seemingly impossible task? That's right: it was Boman. And he did it quite easily as well.”

Noel: “...”

Aeron: “So? How do you think he did it? Take a wild guess: go ahead – feel free! Because the rest of us don't know. Even Father looked surprised when the monitor that was connected to Boman's bodycam back then showed us his reaction. He didn't even take a moment to stop and think either. It's like he knew Father's location beforehand.”

Noel: “Um... maybe he did? I wouldn't put it past Father to do something like that...”

Aeron: “I don't think that was it. Father took a Soul Oath. That means if he was lying or purposely forgot the truth in order to hide information – like erasing or overwriting his memories for example, His 'soul code' which is otherwise known as the 'DNA for the soul' would've shattered like glass back then. The fact remains that it didn't, even after he claimed he gave no special privileges to Boman during the hide-and-seek of death.”

Noel: “I don't think I wanna know what the 'of death' part stands for, do I?”

Aeron: “It means you could actually die if you're not prepared or chose the wrong room.”

Noel: “I knew it! I don't wanna know!”

Aeron: “Which is why it was so surprising that Boman didn't die and actually managed to win without choosing a misleading room. Durandez almost exploded with rage when he almost got killed 3 times because of that. Our mothers made Father sleep outside for a month after that little event.”

Noel: “I see-AAH!”

Aeron: "Okay~ enough talk. Time to – hm...?”

The moment Noel relaxed his guard, his 'big brother' appeared behind him and started twisting his right forearm backwards. There was no chance he was about to drop their previous topic or that juicy information, for a silly little tangent or attempt at distraction like this!

But just as he was going to try forcefully squeezing his desired information out: His soul started to 'beep'... and following a *Fwish!* noise... a strange hologram began to materialize.

?: “Mr. Aeron! Did you not promise to never lay a hand on a st- guaah! Wh- What are you doing to that poor little child! Let go right this instant!”

The holographic projection displayed a curvaceous figure hidden behind a black female blazer and a beige formal skirt. Her large pointed glasses accentuated her face quite well: at least that was what Noel thought. She appeared so suddenly, that both wound up freezing in place...

Yes, freezing right as Aeron was twisting the 12 year old's arm.

Aeron: “Mrs. Duboise! Hehe, what if I were to tell you that this isn't what it looks like...?”

Mrs: Duboise: “Oh, I know exactly what it looks like! You were TWISTING that... that poor, little boy's arm... SHAME ON YOU! Let go of him right now or else--”

Noel, seeing his chance finally come, began faking a sob and complaining about the pain.

Noel: “Oww... *Sniff* The pain...*Hic* ...waah let go mister! I'm sorry for calling you old!”

Naturally, Aeron had to let go of the 'student' proving his complete compliance by putting both hands up.

Aeron: "Ha ha ha...HA HA HA. I'm terribly sorry you had to witness such a debacle Mrs. Duboise, But I would like to point out that we aren't strangers to one another. He is my little brother.”

Mrs. Duboise: “I don't care if he is your child, mother or even FATHER in disguise! So long as you are a teacher and he a student you must honor that time – old traditional relationship by aiding his growth! NOT by attacking him!!”

Aeron: “...”

Mrs. Duboise: “Haah, look, I get it. No need to give me that aged excuse that 'he's actually related to me!'. I get it.”

Aeron: “...What – What do you get exactly?”

Mr. Abrams: “...”

Mrs. Duboise: “I understand, now there's no need to feel embarrassed! It can be hard, for newcomers of your high caliber that are used to getting your way on the outside to suddenly start over and devote your life to teaching children! I understand everything, but Mr. Aeron, just because he calls you ugly is no reason to break his arm. Don't let me catch sight of this behavior again.”

Noel: “Pffft...”

Aeron: "...He said I was old, not ugly..."

Mrs. Duboise: "WHATEVER!"

Aeron: “I...I understand, Mrs. Duboise. You are looking striking, as usual! Please relax with the knowledge that I will never harm another student on campus, again.”

Mrs. Duboise: “Good! I do hope your promises are much better than your flattery. I don't wish to have to go down there to Hero High, and alter the RULES on your restrictions. You DID allow me this privilege, should you break the rules too many times. Now, you have one strike! Reach 5 and I will show no mercy~”

Aeron: “...I don't know if I should be happy or scared by your answer Mrs. Duboise but I assure you that a Malierano never goes back on their word twice. Rest assured.”

Finally her hologram disappeared... for about one second before coming back.

Mrs. Duboise: “By the way, you mentioned not hurting a student while you were on campus but that wasn't in the rules. So LONG as you are a teacher and THEY are a student, you shall not touch them. Hmph! Hopefully I don't have to remind you of this simple difference again!”

And with another 'Beep!' her hologram was gone - generating that strange *Fwish* sound once more as it dissipates.

Noel: “...Are you okay, big brother?”

Aeron: “Ah little Ty, Your brother is Peachy~ your big brother, here, is just contemplating how to win her over. That's all!”

Noel: “Pfff.... good 'cause... haha... it was getting hard to hold it in... Hahaha! So much for the devil's tongue I heard so much about! She was completely immune!”

{Now that I know he can't harm me here because of some rule or other, I feel a lot safer in this school! This is gonna be so awesome~}

Aeron: “Oh don't worry. This isn't the first time I've met a tough opponent. And she certainly won't be the last. Do you know how I came to be known As 'Devil-Tongued'?”

Noel: “...Mm-mm....”

Aeron: “Hehehe, I never failed to persuade an opponent. Ever~ Speaking of which, how about we strike a 'deal' over your information? I assure you that you're going to love it~”

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