Villain Retirement

"Mars… is gone?"

  "...Fuck."

There were more than 10 people in the meeting hall, and yet the only thing that was echoing in the air was the sound of their stuttered breaths. None of the people here denied Riley's strength; everyone knew how strong he was since most of them have already fought with and against him.

They all knew that Riley could lift an entire city from the ground and let it stay there for long periods of time while he does something else completely. But still, even though that kind of feat was ridiculous, it was not like none of them were capable of doing and acting something of equal strength.

Empress could probably level an entire city if she wanted to, Silvie without a doubt could do the same, she was just afraid of using the entirety of her gift. V wiped out the entirety of London, and she was unconscious then. The strongest heat that Hannah could produce was enough to melt steel instantly, and she could probably scorch an entire city just by flying above it.

There were many of them in the room that was capable of destroying cities— but an entire planet?

"Did you guys want to see a recording of when I did it?"

"Huh?"

Everyone then turned their heads towards Riley as he grabbed his phone from the pocket of his coat, before giving it to John and whispering something to his ear.

"..." John only nodded as he grabbed the phone. He then looked around the room for a few seconds, before turning on the projector with his mind and casting the video that was on the phone.

"!!!"

"It's a bit blurry and unclear since it's far, but as you can see, that's Mars," Riley then casually said as the view on the project slowly zoomed and panned out, revealing a bunch of red rocks that were shaped into the head of a beast, "You can't really see me and Megawoman, but we're there somewhere."

"..."

Once again, everyone inside the room just let their breaths do the talking; almost like an orchestra, each breath of a different rhythm and tone. None of them were even looking at each other, they were just so focused on the images being projected in front of them; their eyes, reflecting disbelief and… a hint of serenity.

Most of them thought that Empress was losing her mind, or perhaps Riley had something on her, that's why she granted him immunity. But now, they realized how correct her decision was.

Riley Ross was off-limits. They always thought Whiteking was crazy for trying to protect Riley Ross and hiding his identity. Of course, they also just took into consideration that Riley was his son— but maybe this is the very reason that the smartest man in the world let him roam free.

How would you even stop a being capable of shattering an entire world with a snap of his fingers?

Even if the people come to know of Riley's identity, what of it?

What would they even do… poke a beast and risk destroying their planet?

And so, once again— they were reminded of why Riley was called a Living Calamity. It wasn't just a title that was given to the most heinous villain in the entire world, but to a literal living calamity.

"I hope this gives everyone clarity," Empress then raised her hand; and as she did so, John quickly turned off the projector, "All of you are aware of Riley's identity. But I do truly hope that none of you are stupid enough to provoke him any—"

"I don't really mind, Empress," Riley's sudden and quiet chuckles caused everyone in the room to flinch, "I'm not going to destroy Earth, my sister lives here."

"..." Hannah could really only hide her gasp as she heard her brother's words.

"And also, I think this is the only planet that would ever produce the next seasons of Italian Mafia Reborn," Riley then turned to look at Hera, "Will… there be a next—"

"Yes," Hera did not wait for Riley to finish his question; her eyes, looking at him straight in the eyes, "I will be producing it myself. It… It will be a little late because we still need to recover from the attacks of the House of Super, but we already planned 10 more seasons."

"Oh?" A hint of a smile slowly crawled on Riley's face, "I am looking forward to that, Ms. Hera. It's too bad that we didn't get to work together on that TV show, no?"

"Yes," Hera once again answered without any hesitation, "But… if you want, the character is still open."

"Oh? You hear that, Paige?" Riley let out a small hum, "I'm going to be on T.V."

"R… Really? Like… you'll be an action star? Wait… maybe you could even play a character in Italian Mafia Reborn. Oh my god… you're going to be famous, Riley. Maybe we should just change the Paige and Paragon Superhero Agency into a talent agency?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Paige."

"Congrats, Boss."

"Can I have your autograph now!?"

"..."

"..."

The other people in the room could really only watch as Riley and his group just suddenly started chatting casually with each other. Just… what was wrong with the people surrounding him? They all thought.

"Let's discuss this later," Riley then waved his hand, "I think Empress still has more to discuss."

"..." Empress stared at Riley for a few seconds, before letting out a sigh and nodding, "There's also the matter of your real identity, Riley. No doubt, there are already people out there that suspect you are Darkday— I would just like to know how you are going to handle the eventual reveal. I know one or two in this room are trying to reveal who you are."

"Hm?" Riley turned to look at everyone in the room, with V the only one obviously flinching as she felt his stares, "I don't get it, Empress. Is there something that needs to be done if and when my identity as Darkday is revealed?"

"Are you not going to react… wildly?"

"...When have I been wild, Empress?"

And with those words, everyone's memory of Darkday and his obnoxious manic laughter as he tore people limb from limb resurfaced from their minds. And he just destroyed Mars, how is any of that not wild? They all thought.

"You're actually pretty fucked up, Riley."

"!!!"

Everyone then turned their heads towards Paige; her words, almost like a knife to their ears.

"You like torturing people and feeding them their own limbs, I'd say that's more than wild. I also remembered you telling me that you hid Megawoman in your closet and talked to her mangled naked body."

"..." Gary's eyes widened as he heard his mother's name being dragged into the conversation. But alas, he couldn't really say anything to refute.

"You have like, zero chill, Riley," Paige let out a sigh.

"Wait, how long have you known that Paragon is Riley?" Hannah then suddenly joined in on the conversation.

"Hmm… I think I can say I've always known," Paige closed her eyes before leaning her head on Riley's shoulder, "That's why I'm drawn to him like a magnet."

"..." V, who was sitting frozen beside the two, could not help but take in a deep breath. Just a few years ago, she was the one in Paige's position, clinging to Riley's arms like a koala,

"Wait… you know who he is… and you… that's alright for you?" V then stuttered as her body slowly uncurled.

"...Yes?" Paige blinked a couple of times; her eyes, almost confused, "Why wouldn't it be?"

"He's a mass murderer!"

"He's a man that's capable of destroying an entire planet with a snap of his fingers," Paige breathed out as a hint of a smile could be seen growing on her face, "By all accounts, the people in this room are like ants to him. You see a mass murderer, but all I see is how gentle Riley really is because all of you are still breathing even though you were in his path of destruction."

"That's…" V couldn't really refute. For some reason… she couldn't help but think that Paige might have a point. Riley… really is gentle— that was why she was also attracted to him in the first place.

"Riley is evil, there's no questioning that," Paige then said as she tried to pinch Riley's arm, "But the fact that we're here, sitting with all of you should prove that he is not unreasonable…

…Riley is capable of care," Paige turned to look at Hannah, "He just doesn't know how to show it. And I believe that no matter how much he says it, Riley is also capable of love… and the proof of that is in this room."

"..."

"Anyway; too long, didn't listen— Riley can care, that's why all of you are alive today."

"...Is that what it is, Paige?" And out of all the other people in the room, Riley was the first to question Paige's words.

"...I actually have no idea," Paige let out a quiet chuckle before once again resting her head on Riley's shoulder, "But it's nice to think that it is, no?"

"Is it?" Riley placed his hand on his chin, "I have never thought of it like that. But it is true that the only reason Empress and the other members of the Hope Guild are alive is because they are friends with father."

"..."

"..."

"You actually still haven't answered my question, Riley," Empress could really only let out a sigh as she heard Riley's words, "What will you do once your identity is—"

"Set up a press conference, Empress."

"...What?"

"If my identity as Darkday is to be revealed…

…then I would like to do it myself. And then we'll have an answer to your question."