A/n: I hope you like this chapter! Thank you! Places mentioned are fictional.

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Arima Kousei POV:

It was never easy to be an Ashworth. Ever since I became one, his servants began to be my servants, too.

All of Jupiter's servants- from his private army down to janitors- all knew that I had to be respected and protected since if something happens to me, it will be them who would see Jupiter's rage.

Right now, I don't really know what to do while I was walking with August and my bodyguards inside Las Vegas Central Hotel where a beauty pageant will be held. I was invited to be a judge even if I'm still eighteen years old. I call them my bodyguards now but they were my prison guards for so long until I gave myself up to my uncle and accepted my fate. It was a difficult decision but I couldn't live in isolation forever.

Obeying Jupiter was the only last thing I know I could do for my sake and for my friends' sake. I can't lose my freedom already. I want to live free even if I do follow and be obedient to my uncle. I am his right hand and I am honored. I don't care if it was given to me just because we share the same blood.

"It's an honor to have you here, Mr. Ashworth. Let me introduce myself. I'm Hernandez Vancouver," the Latin American man told me who welcomed me in the venue of the pageant. He's older and he's more robust than any of the guards I have.

As I was given freedom, I know that I can tell so many people about my real situation but I chose not to speak about it. I have to resist myself from talking about what I have to do to live. I had to keep my mouth shut and not do anything stupid. Most especially, even if August and June abducted me long ago, they were the ones with me right now who were actively supporting me in the world I chose.

"Are you alright, Young Master?" August asked me. "Do you need medicines?"

"I'm fine," I answered her. "Don't worry about me."

"I'll lead you to your seat, sir," Hernandez told me.

"He's the host of the show, young master," August whispered to me. "We'll be behind you and we'd immediately get you out when our mission begins. Stay out here and wait for me to tell you when you can begin the negotiations."

"I trust you," I told her after I was already seated near my table where I would be watching women in the beauty pageant. "This is my first job for the Ashworth Group after all."

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For about a few hours before the event begins, I was introduced to more important people like John Olives, the CEO of ED Pharmaceuticals, and Martin Andrews, his nephew. The sponsor of Las Vegas Beauty Competition was a woman named Abigail Charlotte Horn. She has a very smooth long blonde hair and she's a successful entrepreneur. She's also a renowned supermodel and an influencer as she's a novelist. She also welcomed me upon the time I arrived. I was able to breathe after meeting with them. It shocked me though when August stood behind me and gave me a piece of paper saying: 'Your client is coming.'

"The Mafia Leader of Egorth Family?" I whispered back to her.

"Yes. He's here," she said to me. "We've notified him that it's you he'll meet and not boss."

I took a deep breath and clasped my knuckles. "Do you think I can do it?"

She smiled at me. "Boss trusts you. Hasn't he trained you enough to face obstacles like this?"

Yes. Jupiter has trained me to talk and move like him for years. My training inside his mansion wasn't all about gold and silver. He pushed me to my limits. I wasn't sporty and my mother never wanted my hands to have any wounds and scars since I am a pianist but my uncle threw me on mud. I had to train alongside new recruits of Big Dipper Syndicate. I was kept drilled on shooting firearms. Jupiter never allowed me to just eat egg sandwiches like at the time I was in Japan. Now, I wasn't just a pianist. I'm also his heir.

"Thank you," I told her. "Can I know his name?"

"Mr. James Egorth, Young Master," she told me. "You'll be able to talk to him while the beauty pageant is on going."

I gripped up my fists tight on the table. I have to act strong in front of him or he'll dominate me. I can't make him feel that I am a weaker specie than him.

"You'll be able to do it. Boss trained you well, after all. Also, we will back you up no matter what, " August assured me. "Boss knows that I am the one with you."

"Thank you, August," I told her. "What if I fail?"

August laughed. "Don't think about failing right now. I know that you will be successful. I saw how you transformed into the boy you are, now."

I gulped hard. "Thanks."

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A/n: Hope you like this chapter! I'd still keep on writing this till I'm done! Tell me what you think of this book on the comments below! Thank you for reading this chapter!