Like that old saying, "dogs have owners, cats have servants".

That's something done as a career in the military of a nation but not as a mercenary, there is no sick leave nor pregnancy leave, but he should have at least left someone else in charge while seeking a cure for his daughter imho. I've had friends work as private contractors (ie what some call mercenaries as many of these are ex-military) and they have chains of command so to me at least it's odd that these mercs didn't have a similar structure on who's next so to speak.

I'm going to be 100% accurate... the kid will be alive and healthy, and I expect another... dragon.

Beware those who answers questions by "axing" them

While I consider her the worst choice by far she tends to fit the role of the "winner" due to being overly dramatic, most emotionally unstable, manipulative, and yet still he is more attracted to her vs the other more feminine women? Seriously this is why Japan has a population replacement problem and we see it in China and South Korea as well, they make the difficult women the winners when most guys really only want peace in the home.

Don't worry they're from Alabama, Japan so it's legit.

... or it could also be her "little" (younger) brother too. Some of these mangas for some reason likes to make the younger brother a giant for some reason.

From my perspective the worst girl tends to win the most narcissistic, selfish, worst attitude, manipulative, and worst of all violent seems to win often. Seriously like in Nisekoi the MC was attacked so much he got used to being violently struck to the point of flying. Seriously I can't imagine wishing some of these women on some of my enemies because even they don't deserve to be violently mauled anytime the "heroine" gets angry or excited.

Seriously I didn't know this was a girl love manga, I thought glasses was a dude, not a bitch.

Always outnumbered, getting up no matter how many times they go down, against all odds, not doing it for fortune nor fame, and often under the covers of darkness...

Someone's gotta repopulate Japan, a new type of hero emerges...

...or worse she intends to systematically destroy him by framing him because she intensely hates him.

Standard Japanese mother, speaking from experience.

That ominous foreshadowing in the last panel... damn Onodera-lite losing again...

Nope every government mentality, there's no way they'd give credit to anyone other than the government or one of the members working for it.

I guess traumatizing (stick) and no relief (carrot) makes for a dead handler.

Well he is dead...

Most likely his "eggplant".

I bet you can recommend a good restaurant that specializes in "mango" themed dishes and drinks...

I agree, it could be considered a pyrrhic victory decision if they continued fighting, their goal is to beat the worm, while Agito might be able to win their differences is such that he might not survive it well enough to fight other tough opponents in the tournament as well. Like you're implying to stop the guy might require killing him but at what cost? What's the point of killing the guy but weakening yourself so much that it removes yourself from potential victory?