Villain Retirement

"Are you… just going to sit there?"

"Yes."

"...Until when?"

"Until I get bored."

"..."

3 hours.

Riley has been sitting a distance away from the base of the House of Super for 3 hours now, just watching. Sometimes he would let out a small chuckle, and sometimes just a smile — almost as if he was enjoying the people panic.

No. He is enjoying it.

The people inside have been trying to find a way to leave the base. But no matter what they do, they were stuck inside… the aquarium. Some of them even tried drilling through the other walls, only to find that the entire base was covered in an invisible box.

It was literally as Riley said it to be, an aquarium.

Angela… prepared herself to die.

Matthew, George. Both of her comrades were dead as they fought this foolish war against lunatics. And like them, she was ready to lay down her life to erase them from the surface of the planet… even if she had to die to do it.

Of course, she knew she was fooling herself since Riley was basically fighting on her side. But she was ready.

She was expecting a grandiose battle, she prepared herself to see an endless amount of blood.

An epic battle between the biggest terrorist organization the world has ever seen and the living calamity.

The Living Calamity. Now she knew what that title really entailed— throughout the years, humans have been trying to tame the calamities the universe throws at them. But no matter the technology, no matter their powers, calamities will always win… that's why they're calamities in the first place.

Fighting against Riley was just… a lost cause.

"Do you think they'll do it, Angela?"

"...What?"

"Do you think they will resort to cannibalism once they run out of food?" Riley asked; his voice, truly seemingly curious, "I have seen a couple of documentaries about it before, but humans don't think of eating their kind until they are on their last breaths. And even then, they would hesitate."

"If you were put in the same situation, what would you do? Would you… resort to eating someone?"

And very slowly, Riley turned his head towards Angela; just staring at the bridge of her nose as he seemed to come up with an answer. A few seconds later, however, he shook his head.

"I probably would not, Angela. It's disgusting."

"...But you have fun torturing people."

"Do you have fun swinging your sword?"

"...I think I know where you're going with this."

"Oh, that is unfortunate," Riley quickly let out a sigh, "I was going to ask you if you eat your swo–"

"No. No," Angela did not let Riley finish his words. Riley seemed to still want to continue the conversation, but she quickly moved away so as to not be asked about her eating her sword.

Minutes more passed, and Angela was starting to contemplate on why she was still even here in the first place. It is over— they basically have the ringleader of the House of Super in the most impenetrable prison in the world, Riley's box.

"I… should start getting back to his Holiness."

"Okay."

"..."

"..."

"Are you not going to float me there?"

"No. I'm busy watching them."

"How am I going to—"

And before Angela could finish her words, the sound of helicopters started drumming in the air.

"More members of the House of Super!?" Angela quickly grabbed her sword from the ground as she focused her eyes on the helicopters. As soon as her eyes landed on the aircraft, however, she lightened her hold on her weapon,

"Wait. Don't do anything to them. I think they're from the media."

"I… wasn't going to do anything," Riley said as he slowly lowered his finger.

Although Angela already had a glimpse of the people inside, her eyes still completely followed the several helicopters that landed only meters away from them. How could she not, when she finally realized that the reporters were faster at responding than the people of the law?

A third of the human population is now presumed dead, and yet the number of people from the media seemed to have remained the same for some reason.

It wasn't until the last helicopter touched the ground that Angela started hearing the sirens of law humming in the air.

And soon, more and more helicopters started arriving at the scene. Angela was expecting to be bombarded by a barrage of questions, but most of them went straight to the aquarium that was the base of the House of Super first — Angela didn't even have to look at their hearts to know that they were completely nervous.

The media people were supposed to be relentless, and yet not even one of them volunteered to be the first to approach Riley.

But finally, after a few more minutes, a brave soul started to step in. Taking in a big gulp as his steps seemed to be the heaviest thing in the world. But alas, his confidence came too late as Riley was now suddenly surrounded by a bunch of people wearing what seemed like a soldier's uniform.

The soldiers also surrounded Angela, but instead of looking at them and asking them questions, they all turned around — stomping their feet on the floor loud enough for everyone within the vicinity to hear.

Were they… actually being protected from the media? Why? She heard from Riley that Empress had become radio silent ever since the World Government's space station was attacked, but could it be that she was still operating from somewhere?

The soldiers also seemed to be trying to make the media people leave, but were, of course, unsuccessful. In fact, their presence seemed to have given the people from the media peace of mind as they all started trying to approach her and Riley with their multitude of questions.

Is Riley working with the Pope?

Was Riley being hidden by the church?

How was Riley still alive?

Is there no connection between Riley and the House of Super?

What was Riley's plan with the members of the House of Super?

They all asked different questions, but everything had to do with Riley. She remained completely silent, however. And so did Riley, who was just tilting his head from side to side almost as if he didn't want to miss anything that was happening inside his aquarium of humans.

The questions continued, and the military also continued to try and fend them off. But then… a question came that completely silenced everyone.

The soldiers, the other reporters — everyone became silent as they all looked at the reporter that asked the question. It was a woman, probably in her 50s… and this was her question;

"My… my son is inside. Can you… can you please let him go?"

"..."

And as soon as her words reached Riley's ears, he stood up from his seat and approached her, causing some of the people from the media to take a few steps back as they all pointed their cameras and microphones toward the two of them.

Even the soldiers stepped to the side to make way for Riley; their eyes, seemingly trying their best not to look curious.

"Are you also from the House of Super, madam?"

"N… no!"

The woman could not help but take in a deep breath as she heard Riley's words.

"My… my son just called me that… that he's trapped inside," she then said; her breaths, trying their best not to emerge as stutters, "Please. I… I think he's just in the wrong place. I don't believe my son is a part of this… this evil organization. Please! I will do any—"

"Come with me."

A hint of a smile quickly formed on the woman's face as she heard Riley's words. She then quickly followed Riley from behind as he started walking toward the transparent prison he created.

"..." Angela also followed from behind, along with the other reporters that were still being held back by the military. It never really entered Angela's mind… but the people from the House of Super should all have families.

"M… mama!?"

"Jonathan!"

The woman quickly rushed towards her son as soon as she saw her — but alas, their embrace could not even touch each other as the invisible wall stood in their path. There were also other people besides her son, begging to be let out.

But before they could continue to scream, Riley slightly flicked his finger; causing them to all be blown away and leaving only the woman's son standing inches away from freedom.

"Ma… I'm… I'm so sorry, ma."

"No," the woman quickly shook her head as tears quickly trailed on her cheeks, "Please… please tell me you're not part of this… this cult."

"I…"

Her son couldn't really form any words; his eyes, trying their best not to look away from her mother's mournful eyes.

"R… Riley— Sir… Sir Ross," the woman then once again turned to Riley, before rushing towards him and kneeling to the ground, "Please… my son… Please let him go. You… you can put me inside instead if you—"

"Ma, no!"

"Jonathan! Please, just shut the fuck up!"

"But—"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, madam."

"W… what?" The woman slowly turned her trembling eyes towards Riley.

"You are free to talk to your son. You can even sleep in front of the aquarium to watch your son as he grows old if you want to, but he is never going to get out. As a matter of fact…" Riley then turned to look at the cameras of the other reporters, 

"...Those who have family inside can visit here to check on them. It's…

…completely free, forever."