Villain Retirement

Hours once again passed — and any noise, groans, and wails of pain that could be heard from outside the building were no more.

A thousand? More than, definitely.

Riley's so-called subordinates also arrived to refresh themselves in the bar and rest a bit, before once again quickly leaving. And seeing the wide smiles on their faces, they were more than likely to be lunatics.

Of course — one would have to be crazy to befriend someone like Riley. And so, with everything seemingly peaceful and no signs of any House of Super members intruding or invading, the two just remained sitting in the lobby.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...What is it?" And after another hour of silence, Crimson Paladin could no longer hold her tongue as Riley has been staring at her without pause, "If you want to say something, then say it."

"I am just curious, really," Riley muttered, "Your eyes — they weren't stitched when we met in Los Angeles."

"..." Crimson Paladin did not really answer; only letting out a short breath as she slightly turned her head away.

"Did the Pope do it to you?"

"No, what?" Crimson Paladin quickly returned her invisible gaze towards Riley, "The Holiness would never do anything like this. I…

…did it to myself."

"Why, Crimson Paladin?"

"..."

"..."

"Did the Pope order you to—"

"No!" Crimson Paladin quickly shook her head, "My… power becomes stronger as I age. I used to only see through things whenever I want to — but now I have lost control of that. I needed something to cover my eyes, and so I did this."

"...You could have just covered your eyes with a blindfold. You're not very smart, Crimson Paladin."

"I did not want the temptation of being able to take it off whenever I want to," Crimson Paladin's breaths started to become heavy, "There are things in the world that we are just not meant to see."

"Hm," Riley nodded, "X-ray vision, super strength and speed, and you grow wings. What other abilities do you have? 

"...No, I don't grow wings."

"...The Pope said you did."

"When did you even talk to the Pope about that?" Crimson Paladin only shook her head and sighed, "And I do not have super strength."

"Hm?" Riley immediately looked at Crimson Paladin's sword, which was already penetrating the floor solely due to its sheer weight. In fact, even her helmet had already left a mark on the table.

"It's not super strength. I guess you can call it… a distinct form of matter manipulation. I can't fully explain it," Crimson Paladin muttered before lightly touching her stitched eyes, "It's the same reason why I can see through things."

"..."

"The world works differently for me. That's all you really need to know."

"Matter manipulation. I have a few abilities belonging to that category," and as Riley said that, he grabbed something from the inner pockets of the cardigan he was wearing, before placing them on the table and causing a series of clicks to whisper in the air.

"..." Crimson Paladin did not really say anything as she just watched as Riley tapped one of the metal-like shavings he placed on the table, and as he did so… the small shaving suddenly turned into a spoon.

Crimson Paladin looked closer at the rest of the metal shavings, only to find out that they were… micro utensils and cutlery.

"...Do you know why you're evil, Riley Ross?" And for some weird reason, this was the question that suddenly popped up inside her mind.

"Because I just am. I was born like this and there does not need to be a reason for me being so, Crimson Paladin."

Riley did not seem to mind the sudden change of topic, as he immediately answered Crimson Paladin's sudden and random question.

"Do you think you can still be redeemed?"

"Redeemed for what?"

"For taking the lives of millions of people."

"...One needs to ask for forgiveness to be redeemed," Riley shook his head, "I will never apologize for something I enjoy doing."

"...Then what are you doing now? Killing members of a supremacist group that has killed billions of people. Surely, there is something inside you seeking even just a tiny bit of redemption… that wants to pay for his sins and become a hero?"

And as soon as Riley heard Crimson Paladin's words, a small smile crawled on his face,

"I am merely doing this because I am bored, Crimson Paladin."

"..."

"Aerith — Megawoman once told me I could just end it all. That I could throw the moon at the planet and that will be it," Riley then slightly raised his hand; his fingers, touching each other.

"..." Crimson Paladin turned her head towards Riley's fingers; her breaths, slightly perturbed and anxious.

"I could do it without even snapping my fingers," Riley lowered his hand, "I can split the Earth if I want to…

…but I do not and I will not, because where is the fun in that?"

And with those words, Crimson Paladin's breaths were slowly able to relax.

"And I also care about some things in this world, it is important it stays intact."

"...And what happens if the thing you care about disappears?"

"Then all of you will die," Riley's smile grew, "And then I just move on to another planet. Megawoman has brought me to this small planet, you see. You'd be surprised with the creatures there — you and I wouldn't be the strangest looking in the room, from our perspective, that is."

"..."

"...Do you think if you destroy the world, Megawoman will still allow you to go to another planet?"

"I don't need her to take me back there, I can go back there myself."

"How would you even find your way?"

"Oh, I left… a little something there. I know where it is now at all times."

"..."

"..."

And once again, there was silence between the two. It wasn't until several minutes later that Crimson Paladin once again asked another question.

"Why… do you think the Pope asked me to watch over you?" Crimson Paladin said as she lightly brushed her gigantic sword.

"...Should you not know the answer to that?" Riley once again raised his finger; this time, however, a pair of cups floated towards their table… followed by a bottle of milk which poured itself into the glasses.

Crimson Paladin picked up a cup and started drinking, before letting out a long and very deep sigh as she wiped her lips,

"He… didn't tell me the reason. I figured maybe you would know."

"Why not just ask him?"

"I… can't," Crimson Paladin shook her head, "There's a certain hierarchy that I need to respe— what are you doing?"

And before Crimson Paladin could finish her words, Riley suddenly placed his phone on the table and started fidgeting with it.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling the Pope."

"...You have his number?"

"Of course," Riley shrugged, "He also watched Italian Mafia Reborn."

And soon, a ring reverberated in the air as Riley put the phone on speakers.

"W… wait, you can't just—"

"Hello, Louise."

[Riley Ross.]

"!!!" And as soon as she heard the Pope's voice, Crimson Paladin could really only cover her mouth in fear that the Pope would hear her.

[It has been a long time. Have you been well, my child?]

"I'm having fun right now. What about you?"

[The same as always, one foot on the grave. I am not getting any younger,] Crimson Paladin could hear the Pope chuckling,

[I trust Angela has not been giving you any trouble?]

"..." Riley blinked a couple of times as he looked at Crimson Paladin, "Her name… is Angela?"

[Yes. You could say… she's my guardian angela.]

"...Pft," Riley let out a small chuckle. As for the Pope, he also burst out in laughter — almost causing the speakers to scratch from how robust and loud it was.

"..." Angela could really only have her mouth open in shock. Of course, she had already seen Riley interacting with the Pope a couple of times as Darkday before — but to think they even have each other's numbers?

What are they… friends?

"I actually called you to ask something, Louise. Why did you send Angela to watch me?"

Angela gestured to Riley to cut the call, but Riley was just waving his hand.

[Watch you? No… It's the other way around.]

"..." Angela then turned her head to Riley, no longer gesturing to Riley to cut the call but instead continued to ask what the Pope meant.

[Do you know the little girl is actually one of Megawoman's disciples?]

"..." Riley once again blinked several times as he returned Angela's gaze, "I was not aware of that, no."

[She's special, that Angela… but she's also a very fragile child.]

"..." Angela wanted to cover her ears. Why does it feel like she was listening to something she shouldn't?

[I did not order her to go there so she can watch you,] the Pope let out a short but deep sigh, [But for you to watch her — !!!]

Crimson Paladin's eyes started to widen as she heard several people shouting from the background.

[I… am the human with the highest authority in the world. Do you know what that entails, child?]

"...You are a thorn for the House of Super."

[Yes, I am their biggest target. I am an old man, Riley. The people think I am immaculate and holy — but I bore a sin.]

"..."

[And that sin, I asked Megawoman to carry… but to think that sin brought itself back to my world. And that sin…

…is with you right now.]

"..."

[I did not order Angela to go there because of some grand scheme or holy quest, Riley…

…my daughter, she is safest with you.]