Villain Retirement

"Who else…

…is joining?"

"That is actually one of the things we will be discussing here. There—"

"Riley Ross will absolutely not be joining the Tournament."

The universe has done so many things that would be considered a mistake, and Diana has witnessed some of them; and in most of them, she was the one responsible. And even now, as she stood by one of the biggest mistakes of her life, she was going to ensure that the mistake wouldn't give birth to another.

She loves Riley Ross, truly—she would not have tolerated the things he has done for so many years if she hasn't. But right now, Riley was involved in something that no one could control.

The multiverse issue is taking a rest, but it would only be a matter of time until it all opens up again. A box, after all, that has already been opened once can't be truly closed again. There will be cracks, rips, and tiny holes where things could escape and go out.

But the other universes are not that much of a problem as they are also opportunities.

But the primordial gods? How Riley could actually be… related to them?

That is a problem the entire universe—no, the entire multiverse is not ready for. Primordial gods, as they have already proven and shown themselves to be, are almost omnipotent beings capable of just appearing everywhere if they wish to.

If they so wished, none of the people standing here right now would exist.

…And Riley Ross might be one of them.

"As has been mentioned throughout this meeting," Diana wore her glasses as she left Riley's side and started walking around the table, "The Tournament is a place where all species and races could come together to have fun—but it is also a place used to represent one's civilization…

…Do you wish my son to be one of the people that will be representing Earth, Adaeze?"

"..." Empress seemed to want to say something, but once again just chose to close her mouth as she gestured to Diana to continue.

"There are too many variables we need to consider. As all of you may know, Riley Ross may be quiet, but he actually enjoys stealing the spotlight secretly."

"She got that from you," Aerith blurted out quietly. Sadly for her, the way Themarian interior architecture works is that if you can hear yourself, then everyone else can too, "...Sorry."

"What I am trying to say is, if Riley joins the Tournament, we will be putting everyone there at risk—and due to my husband's habit of erasing every evil act my son does, most of the universe doesn't actually know or even remember Riley."

"Ack, your husband, Mother…" Whatever version of goosebumps an android has, Anna got it as soon as she heard Diana's words, "...He gives me the creeps—like he knows everything about me."

"If I may have some input into this matter?" Katherine raised her hand, "Diana, we've spent a long time together raising your granddaughter, and I feel like I have at least gotten to know you during our time together. So, I know that you know that Riley not joining the Tournament is never going to prevent him from doing something if he wants to do it. In fact, if you don't let him join, it might give him even more time to plan something even more sinister…

…no one wins against Riley."

"That's true," Karina quickly agreed with her mother, "Mommywas Daddy's professor and she got fucked by him a lot. Like fucked."

"Karina! I don't think you know what that means!"

"No," Karina shook her head repeatedly, "Nana Tsula told me a lot of times that you got fucked up mentally, physically, and emotionally by Daddy."

"Tsula…?" Katherine quickly looked down, as Tsula was still living within New Theran, "What… are you teaching my daughter?"

"It's fine, Mommy. I know what fuck means, sheesh."

"What does it mean?" Anna smirked.

"It means when Daddy gets on top of Mommy," Karina said proudly.

"Wrong," Anna let out a small but confident chuckle, "According to what I heard, it was your mother that got on top of—"

"Enough! We don't need to hear about who is on top of who!"

"Thank you, Empress…" Katherine covered her face as everyone's attention was on her.

"Can we be serious about this now?" Empress then let out a long and deep sigh as she asked for everyone to sit down, "Riley Ross is joining the Tournament and that is final, the Common Council actually asked for it… they demanded for it."

"They demanded for it? Why?" Aerith showed everyone's confusion. After what Riley had done to the previous Elders, she was sure the last thing they wanted was to involve themselves with Riley.

"Because that is, quote-for-quote, the only way this Tournament will be most interesting," Empress rolled her eyes as she remembered the meeting with the Elders, "And also…

…The Biolans will be joining."

"..."

"..."

"Who…?" Anna looked around as Aerith and Diana suddenly became quiet and almost frozen.

"Biolan is a species consisting of Riley Ross's clones," Empress sighed, "Diana, you may not have known since you were busy with your humanitarian acts with the Norinlad, but the Biolans, as well as former Elder Olseyir, have actually been pardoned by the Common Council—No, they were not even found guilty in the first place."

"..."

"Riley Ross was not found guilty in the first place," Empress once again let out an even deeper sigh, "The act that killed most of your people, in everyone's eyes… it was the previous Elders that were solely responsible for it."

"..."

"..."

"Jesus… that dampened the mood."

And finally, Alice, who has just been keeping her silence and sticking with Riley like a koala, raised her voice and even let out a somewhat awkward chuckle,

"Look, I don't know about the dying themarians here, but Riley did sure wipe out the themarians of my universe. Riley is evil, we all get that. But no one actually cares anymore," Alice winced as she looked at Aerith and Diana,

"I'm sorry, but that's the truth. The themarians, even in my world, kept to themselves—for some, they were as real as Santa Klaus. So, here's what I suggest… You and Aerith join the Tournament too, but on the Themarians' side."

"How does that even solve or relate to anything?" Diana looked at the others slightly confused.

"It won't, but it gives you a chance to finally smack your son in front of a lot of people," Alice smiled and nodded, "And of course… I also want to test if you really are stronger than my D."

"..."

"And by that, I mean my Diana. I obviously don't have a di—"

"I know, I know," Diana stopped Alice from continuing what she was saying, "But you can't join, Alice…

…you're not actually legally from this universe. My—Our Alice is immortalized here, a hundred kilometers in that direction."

"Oh, I actually got citizenship here," Alice shrugged as she looked at Empress, "I got it from her."

"What…?"

"She's… Alice," Empress pointed at Alice.

"She is—Never mind," Diana just shook her head, "So…

…who else will be joining?"

"...And we're back to square one."

"I already have a list… It is just up to them to accept it," Empress stood up as she pressed something in front of her, causing a hologram to pop out right above the center of the table,

"What do all of you think?"