Villain Retirement

"That was crazy af, wasn't it? I can't even imagine being Hannah's age… let alone Bulwark's."

"You're just a year younger than me, you fucker."

Somewhere in the Academy, the Baby Crew were once again in their main base of operations, the Korean Shaved Ice store. Bulwark kept his word; after introducing themselves one by one briefly, he dismissed the class. Although with a hundred of them, it still took more than an hour.

But with them being let out early, Hannah and the others also had an extra amount of time to loiter– and they have been doing so for hours now. Even Charlotte, who was usually opening up conversations with them, was now just fidgeting with her cashier terminal– which was odd since the only sales her shop had were from the Baby Crew.

"But I agree with you… that's a crazy long time to be alive," Hannah let out a small scoff as she took a bite of her dessert, "Dad told me Bulwark was like really old… but to think he's been around for 4000 years?"

"Doesn't that mean that most of the heroes in our history books are actually Supers?"

"That's probably the case," Hannah breathed out; but after a few more seconds, she once again let out a small scoff, "One thing's for sure– Bulwark is better than that cougar."

"Well… I don't know about that," Gary slightly hummed, "Bulwark does look like a woman, but he's still a male– nothing can them curves that women offer."

"Can you stop thinking with your dick for like a second!?"

"Afraid not, madam," Gary said as he presented himself from head to toe, "I am afraid I am 20% muscle, and 80% dick."

"Ew, what the fuck, dude."

Hannah, Silvie, and even Tomoe all winced; turning their heads to the side as they heard Gary's poetic machinations.

As for Riley, he was busy consuming whatever flavored dessert it was he was eating.

The group talked about Bulwark for a couple more minutes, but with them only meeting him, there really was not much to talk about.

"Is your father going to be here?" Hannah then finally switched the topic. And for some reason, causing the smile on Silvie's face to slightly waver.

"...I messaged him last night and today," Silvie's sighs floated down to the ground with how heavy they were, "But the only reply I got was a thumbs up."

"Hm…"

This was the main reason why they were gathered in the store today; of course, they actually loiter in the shop every day if they can… but this time, they truly did have a purpose for meeting here.

They needed to talk to Whiteking and Silvie's father. The visions that Silvie had in Miami were truly too hard to ignore, and the sooner they confirm Silvie's true parentage, then the sooner she would get rid of the sudden psychotic episodes she's been having.

And soon, one of the m3n in her so-called vision arrived with a cling of the bell.

"Hello, welcome to-- What are you doing here? Who told you that you could just waltz in my shop, you fat fuck."

"T… that's too harsh, I have only put up around 10 kilograms(22 lbs) since we last met, Ma'am Charlotte."

"Dad!"

Whiteking's eyes then immediately landed towards her daughter; his steps, slightly hesitant as he started to approach her. His eyes, however, quickly widened as soon as he saw Silvie and the others.

"Why… are your friends here?" He then muttered; his words slightly perturbed.

"Because they also need to hear what you're going to say, dad."

"..." Bernard's helmet, which was still half open to the sides, fully folded to his should pads as he let out a small sigh,

"Of course," Bernard's breaths almost melted all the shaved ice in the store as he grabbed a chair to sit beside Hannah,

"It makes sense… my sin is so great that you want to humiliate me in front of your friends," Bernard once again sighed, "Very well… I'll tell you everything."

"...You know what I am talking about?"

"Yes," Bernard then said as seemed to try to find a seat he could sit on his own; his eyes seemingly avoiding not only Hannah, but also the other people inside the shop.

"I am not asking for forgiveness for the things I have done…" Bernard stuttered, "But please believe me that it was never my intention to cheat on your mother."

"...what?"

And just like that, the room that was previously filled with questions was now drowned in a somewhat deafening silence. Bernard's eyebrows also slowly furrowed as h saw the look of confusion on Hannah's face. And soon, he let out a short but very deep breath.

"You didn't call m to hr to talk about that?" Bernard's eyes once again opened wide; but this time, the was genuine shock on his face,

"Oh, thank god," Bernard then let out a long sigh of relief as h wiped the trail of sweat already trailing on his face.

"What do you mean thank god!?"

Haring the frustration and almost seething aggression in Hannah's voice, the rest of the members of the Baby Crw could only look at each other. even Silvie, who was previously on the edge about thinking of her true parentage, was completely and utterly shocked with what she just heard– even almost making her momentarily forget her situation.

Who wouldn't, of course? After hearing something as juicy as that.

***

"Prophet, what brings someone like you here?"

And while the Baby Crew were having an unexpected revelation, there was also another meeting happening somewhere around the world– Hope Guild's base.

And with a whisper of a drum, Prophet's somber and slightly hesitant steps slowly echoed through the air; as if knowing it truly did not belong there. But still, they had no choice as Prophet forced them to move towards empress, who was watching some of the events happening around the entire world with the almost hundreds of monitors in front of her.

She seemed completely focused; but as soon as Prophet arrived, her eyes that have been resting on the screens quickly shifted as they welcomed the Headmaster of USMA.

"I wanted to ask you something, empress," Prophet breathed out deeply as empress gestured for him to sit down.

"The man who could see through the future wishes to ask a brute like me a question?" empress let out a small giggle as she also took a seat, "Very well, I shall answer to the best of my abilities."

"When Bernard was sleeping with you, did he seem somewhat bothered by something?"

"W… what?"

And with Prophet's sudden words whispering into empress's ears, the once seemingly cold and somewhat carefree tone on her voice completely disappeared, "I do not know what you are talking about, Prophet."

"You do not have to worry, empress," Prophet shook his thead, "I was th first and maybe only person he had talked to regarding your affair– and I could care less about my the guy's marital issues."

"..." empress stared Prophet straight in the eyes for a couple of seconds, before finally letting out a long and deep sigh as she nodded her head, "And here I thought Bernard was the best in keeping his secrets."

"I am afraid he might just be."

"What?"

"The best in keeping secrets."

"What are you saying?"

"I have… calculated something," Prophet's words then once again turned somber as he looked at the hundreds of screens that reflected on his eyes, "Something that I wish to be truly false. But if it were to be true, then the only person I could approach this premonition to… is you, the leader of Hope Guild."

"Then stop beating around the bush and tell me, Prophet."

"...It's about Darkday's true identity."

"...What!?"

And without even a millisecond of hearing Darkday's name, empress's eyebrows instantly scrunched down.

"You do not need to be so excited," Prophet shook his head, "There's a large chance that I am wrong– No, as a matter of fact, I might just be looking at something that isn't there…

…but Bernard's son might be Darkday."

"Pft."

And once again, without even a millisecond of hearing Prophet's words, empress's expression changed; this time, trying her best not to let the burst of laughter escape from her mouth.

"Have you ever seen Darkday in person, Prophet?" She then said as she looked Prophet straight in the eyes, "Because if you have… then you would know that Darkday is nothing but death personified. Someone like that would not be wasting their time playing with children."

"I truly hope you are right," Prophet did not seem to take offense with empress's slightly mocking tone, "But how could you be so sure?"

"Because you're still alive, Prophet," empress let out a small giggle, "And if I am to be correct, you have Scarlet Mage in the Academy, right?"

"...That is so."

"And she's still alive?"

"Yes."

"Then Bernard's son is not Darkday," empress reasoned, "Darkday would always kill the first empath he sees, no matter what."

"I… see," Prophet nodded, "Then I suppose my worries truly are for nothing."

"For the best, I presume?"

"Of course," Prophet sighed, "It would always be for the best if an existence like Darkday will never show himself again."

"If that is all, Prophet… then I hope you don't mind?" empress then stood up from her seat as she once again returned to watching the hundreds of screens plastered on the wall.

"I'll take my leave then," Prophet slightly bowed as he made his way out of the hall; but before he could step outside, he once again turned to look at empress, "Are you aware…"

"Hm?"

"That Scarlet Mage is in a relationship with Riley Ross?"

"..." Empress glanced at the leaving Prophet momentarily, before ultimately ignoring him as he left. However, after a few seconds…

"Hope."

[Yes?]

A somewhat robotic voice echoed throughout the entire hall.

"...Bring out Scarlet Mage's file."