Melissa was reading her book with a serious look, sometimes agreeing, feeling that it made a lot of sense.
She thought she should have read books like this sooner, if she'd had a steadier hand, none of this would have happened to Ringo.
The motto of the iron fist mom is. -"Do not spare the son from the belt!"
Melissa was unsure whether she should use a belt.
But considering Ringo's strength, she didn't think it would be very useful.
Well, she missed her chance.
While she was reading the chapter about prolonged stays in the bathroom, she heard a knock on the door.
Startled, she almost jumped out of bed, quickly hiding the book under the covers.
-Liz?- She asked, curious as to why someone was calling her at this hour, if there had been a problem, Liz would have called.
-It's me.- Ringo said reluctantly.
Melissa jumped out of bed immediately, wearing camouflage-patterned pajamas, she ran to the door and opened it at high speed.
As soon as she saw Ringo, Melissa paused for a moment, after all, Ringo now resembled Death Scream, the old features were still there, but faded.
Melissa pursed her lips and thought about the chapter - "My idiot son dresses like a punk."
For a moment, Melissa wanted to use the book's content, but she quickly dismissed the idea.
Ringo was no longer a teenager and she couldn't defeat him either.
Trying that now wouldn't be helpful, but it might scare him away, sighing lightly, she regretted not having met her iron fist mom sooner.
Ringo knew nothing of his mother's inner turmoil, instead, the pair stared at each other in silence once more.
Melissa because she wasn't good with words, Ringo because he was still thinking about the book.
Finally, he sighed, seeing the woman's increasingly hard gaze, if he didn't speak, they would probably remain there like that for quite some time.
-Mom.- Ringo nodded, unsure what to do. He didn't know if he should hug her, greet her, run...
If it were his former mother, he would have already embraced her, but even if he had accepted Melissa, he still didn't feel 100% comfortable with her.
Melissa froze when she heard him call her "mom", the next moment, her lips tightened and she stopped hesitating. She ran to him and hugged him tightly.
Melissa wasn't short, in fact she was almost his height, she also had a strong and toned physique, as well as calloused hands.
If Ringo hadn't been a Grade B Super, he's sure his bones would have cracked from that hug.
Even so, he froze for only a fraction of a second before putting his hand around her and sighing, embracing her back.
Melissa held him tight for a long time, it took several minutes of silent embrace before she let go.
When she let go of him, she quickly turned her head and wiped her eyes at an angle so he couldn't see her face.
Ringo narrowed his eyes, it seemed like a motherly thing, they never want their children to see them cry, his previous mother did the same.
She often cries in the shower, but RIngo remembers how much she cried when her uncle died.
He felt heavy for a moment, but soon shook his head, looking at Melissa who turned to him, she didn't seem to have been crying, she probably used her control over her body to force herself into a state of normalcy.
Even her eyes weren't red.
Ringo didn't comment on it, instead, he stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment.
Melissa noticed and smiled slightly, letting out a soft, ironic snort. - Come in.
Ringo finally felt relieved and went inside, his movements were a little mechanical, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
Melissa wasn't much better, Ringo figured if Eva were here, she'd already be rolling her eyes and complaining.
Melissa led him to the bedroom table and offered him a seat. Sitting down opposite him, she subconsciously wanted to adopt a rigid and authoritative posture, as she was accustomed to doing, but she quickly restrained herself.
Iron fist mom - "Rebellious children are more fragile than they seem, a mother must know when to act with affection. Violence is not always the answer, even though it usually works in 99% of cases."
Melissa took a deep breath and moved her chair back a little, adopting a posture she felt was more relaxed. -What happened? Why did you come to see me?
Melissa regretted it as soon as she asked that, had she been too direct? Did it seem like she was saying he would only come to see her if he needed something?
Ringo, on the other hand, was thinking that the woman's intuition was very good, he really wanted something!
So Ringo wasn't offended, instead, he started talking about the important events.
Melissa seemed serious and understanding at first, but the more she listened, the more shocked and confused she became.
Finally, she looked at Ringo with her mouth slightly open and a stunned expression.
Ringo felt uncomfortable for a while.
So, how does it feel to tell your "police officer" mother that you've become a criminal, or rather, the leader of a group of brainwashed criminals?
Melissa remained quiet.
Ringo remained quiet.
The room fell silent.
-What?- That was all Melissa managed to say after a while.
Ringo pursed his lips and repeated clearly. -I am the leader of Hell, an organization founded from Germinal. I took down the Leader, brainwashed the rest and now I am practically the ruler of Andrea. A war maybe is about to begin because of this.
Melissa didn't answer for a while, her mouth shut, thinking that maybe it was a joke, but it wasn't, she could feel Ringo's seriousness.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and took off her reading glasses, massaging her temples.
Finally, she calmed down enough, and with a hard, not very happy look, she asked. -So?
-Well, I don't want a war, so I'm going to threaten the leaders of the six nations, but when I do that, someone might put two and two together and figure out who I am eventually. At that point, they'll know you're my mother, which means I'm here to take you away,- Ringo concluded.
Melissa froze again, blinked, looked at Ringo, blinked again, brought her hand to her thigh and pinched herself.
Well, this was no dream.
If she hadn't already been through so much and wasn't a Pugilist with firm control over her body, she would already be hyperventilating.
Instead, she stared at Ringo.
Ringo stared back at her.
It was such an intense scene that anyone else there would have already become furious with the two of them.
Finally, Melissa looked away and began to think.
If what Ringo said was true, the chance of her being used against him was not small.
But should she go with him? Melissa began to think about everything she had been through in Hesla at that moment, she had fought alongside her husband in the war for that nation.
She spent most of her youth serving Hesla.
Now she was there, between her son and the work of her life.
Ringo knew it was cruel, but there was no way around it, eventually things would become clear and he couldn't be with Melissa all the time.
Even if the six nations feared him in the future, there were instances of mind control by foreigners targeting Han Xiao, so who knows if the same wouldn't happen to him?
Therefore, taking Melissa with him would have to happen sooner or later.
Either that, or he should completely cut off relations with her, just like Han Xiao did with the father of her current body.
If Melissa didn't want to go with him, he would do that.
It was a shame and it would hurt, but this would be better for her safety.
But Melissa, who was walking a tightrope, suddenly thought about the few months she had lost Ringo.
For a moment, she seemed to understand something.
Hesla is truly her homeland and she harbored a deep love for it.
But she loved her son more.
If she had to choose, no, now she really has to choose.
She shouldn't have hesitated at all.
Melissa stood up and went to a nearby cupboard, under Ringo's watchful eye, she began packing her bags.
Ringo paused for a moment, his hand, which had been clenched on the table, opened.
A sigh that he didn't know he was holding back was released.
-Mom... thank you.- Ringo finally said softly.
Melissa heard, but she didn't answer, she just continued packing her suitcase.