Hazama had really outdone himself; surely, this was blackmail, and Noel herself could run to the board for help, but in the end who was it that had more power? Not her, if there was ever any confusion. Realizing this, too, Noel couldn't help but feel trapped, frozen in fear as she was gradually forced into something she wasn't so keen on doing in the first place.

The lieutenant frowned, knowing full-well that she had taken his bait -- that it was now him who held the balance between saving her position or getting her removed from the NOL. It wasn't as if she could simply walk out, either -- she needed this career. She knew he knew; otherwise, why else would he have brought her biggest weakness into this?

Bringing her mother and father into this... it was true. If Noel was fired, there would be nothing left for them. Things would return to how they originally were, and with how her father was in such a poor condition, Noel couldn't afford it. Hazama knew, and was reaping it for his own benefit.

A moment passed as she considered his words.

"...how do I know this isn't just another trick?" She quietly asked him, wanting to be sure. Perhaps it was the dim light of the lamp that made his figure more intimidating than usual, and it showed as her nerves stood on end. "That you're going to hold that against me, too?"