Chapter 401: Just a Little Gray

"What do you think is even going to happen now, Riley!?"

A Boom.

Several booms.

A thousand booms.

That was the best way to describe the sounds that were echoing throughout the entire mall. And it was almost like a call for the people; as the mob that just left were now once again gathering and returning to their positions.

Their eyes, watching as Gary punched, kicked, and tried to slam Riley to the ground— but any of his strikes were just… futile. No matter how strong his strikes seemed, it was almost as if they just bounced right off. The only thing that was moving was Riley"s hair and clothes, which had already dried from all the shockwaves of Gary"s strikes.

"Do you think you"re just going to live like nothing"s wrong!? Do you think that the world will just accept you living among us!? It doesn"t work like that, man! You need to pay for everything you did!"

Gary roared; each of his words partnered with a strike. A strike that was sadly not even able to budge Riley for even a single millimeter.

"And what kind of payment are you thinking of, Gary?"

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"Death and torture!"

"You would need to think of another payment."

"What… you"re scared now!?" Gary smirked as he once again punched Riley in the face.

"No, because the former already happened and because the second one is never going to happen. Torture is impossible since I do not experience pain the same way any of you do," Riley let out a small sigh before shaking his head, "And death— well, I have already died many times before. I do not stay dead, unfortunately for all of you."

"We will see about that!"

Gary grabbed Riley"s head as his eyes suddenly shone red,

"f.u.c.k you, Riley! I will never stop hunting and trying to hurt you, you piece of s.h.i.t!"

And with those words, a large beam practically swallowed Riley"s entire head; the floor behind him, now also a crevice that continued to dig deeper into the Academy"s underground.

"Let me ask you again, Riley. What do you think is going to happen now!? You can"t just live amongst us like you"re not a f.u.c.king piece of s.h.i.t murderer who killed millions of people just because you like to do it! At least the House of Super had a cause they were fighting for! Even the Dark Millenium had something, all the villains we fought had meaning! What about you!?"

"So, it"s alright to kill people as long as I have a reason for it?" Riley then leaned casually leaned his head out of Gary"s laser beam as he looked him straight in the eyes,

"So, if I have a reason to kill you now— that would be alright?"

"W—"

And with those words, Gary felt a pressure suddenly grabbing his neck; his head, turning upwards. His beam… almost hitting and disintegrating a small group of people that were watching what was happening from the second floor. If it wasn"t for Silvie flying out of the Korean Shaved Ice store and blocking the beam with her body, then someone would have probably died.

And as soon as that happened, some of the normal humans once again started running away in panic; most, however, just remained to watch for whatever reason they could think of.

"F… f.u.c.k," Gary quickly closed his eyes; his neck, he could whisper through his ears as Riley"s grip grew tighter and tighter.

"Do you know what reason I have to kill you, Gary?" Riley then casually said as he pulled Gary down to his eye level, "Because you attacked me, hm? Because you"re Megawoman"s son, and she would certainly be furious if I killed you? Or maybe because you"re just unlucky? Do you know for what reason I could kill you right now?"

"K… Kh…."

"Nothing," Riley whispered as everyone could start to hear Gary"s neck crack, "I could kill you for nothing."

"Riley, stop."

"..." Riley casually glanced back, only to see Silvie floating behind him.

"If… if you ever considered us as friends… you would stop," Silvie said as she looked at Gary"s twisted expression.

"I have already told you many times before. None of you are my friends, Ms. Savelievna," Riley let out a small chuckle, "But you don"t have to worry, I won"t kill anyone today…

…Gary did, almost did though. Maybe you should… arrest him for that?"

And with those words, a loud gasp for air whispered through the entire mall as Riley let go of Gary"s neck. As for Riley, a hint of a smile was plastered on his face as he very slowly faced Silvie.

"I suppose you also want to take revenge on me, Ms. Savelievna?"

"You…" Silvie"s eyebrows began to furrow, "...you"re no longer a wanted person and never will be. I have no reason to fight you, Riley."

And although Silvie"s words were calm, both of her fists were trembling; almost vibrating as they seemed to want to take a shot at Riley.

"Just… go. You"ve already caused enough chaos here."

"I am not the one who—"

"You think we"re done here!?"

And before Riley could finish his words, Gary once again lunged toward him; this time, Gary wrapped his arms around Riley and lifted him from the ground… before slamming him face first to the floor without any more words.

But before Riley"s nose could hit the hard floor, the both of them stopped mid-air.

"I think we are, Gary."

Riley then let out a small sigh as he and Gary floated in the air, before just casually landing back to the ground; with Riley slightly pushing Gary away, causing him to almost tumble back to the floor.

"But if you really want to try and get something out of me…" Riley then stepped to the side as he looked at Paige, who was now beside Butcher and being protected by him, just in case someone from the mob tried something, "...Then why don"t you start killing people that are somewhat close to me?"

"...Huh?" Gary blinked.

"I will not give you a list of who they are," Riley then stretched his arms to the side as he once again addressed the mob, "But let"s just say if you hurt them, I would consider that hurting me."

"What… are you doing, Riley?" Silvie lowered her voice, "Although Gary might have said his words in rage, he"s right. Do you think you"re just going to be able to live a normal life here? People know who you are now, everyone will be afraid of you."

"Not everyone… You"ll see."

"...What?"

"And you"re not afraid of me, Silvie." And once again, a smile appeared on Riley"s face, "You got that from Aerith."

"You know what I mean," Silvie finally placed her feet on the ground, "Every response you will get from people will be fake because they are afraid of you. You"re never going to have a normal life."

"I never had, Silvie," Riley shook his head, "The only person that has even been true in my life in the past is my sister. Father is a lie, mother is a lie— Everyone has been fake. You."

"I"m… not. I honestly, truly wished to be your friend back then, Riley."

"..." Riley did not really answer and just shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe. But I am used to being treated differently, Silvie. This…

…won"t be any different."

And with those words, Riley started to walk away; but before he could take 3 steps, Silvie"s words once again reached his ears.

"What about Hannah? She… I don"t know why… but she still sees you as a brother. She still loves you."

"I do not deserve to be a part of her life, Silvie…" Riley let out a small but deep breath before just glancing and continuing to walk away; not even turning back, "...But lucky for her…

…she has all of you."

"..." Silvie seemed to want to say something more, but Riley just kept walking away. Gary still seemed to want to try and fight him, but Silvie stopped him. She just watched as Riley approached Paige, before walking towards the crowd that instantly parted to give way for him to walk through.

She also watched as there were some… whose eyes did not leave Riley— some of them, even trying to reach and touch Riley as their eyes glistened in a way that Silvie still could not quite understand.

It did not take quite long for her to realize what it was, however, as she started hearing whispers flowing in the air. The people that were looking at Riley were whispering his name; some voices, even trembling.

"..." She then watched as Riley once again glanced towards her with another subtle smile on his face… and a whisper that said,

"You see?"

And with those words, Riley disappeared into the crowd; finally letting all the people there release their breaths.

***

"Good job, boss."

Outside the mall, John and Ellie were waiting for Riley and Paige; with John quickly handing a towel to Riley as soon as he stepped out of the building.

"No, good job, John," Riley nodded as he grabbed the towel from John before continuing to walk.

"It"s a good thing I have been practicing on my aim, boss. I actually almost missed you," John let out a small chuckle as he rotated and stretched his arm.

"Wait… what"s happening?" Paige, who was walking beside Riley, could not help but blink a couple of times as she heard the two"s conversation.

"Oh, the Boss asked me to start the commotion," John sighed, "They wouldn"t have had the courage to throw anything at him if I didn"t start it."

"...What?" Paige halted her steps as she turned to face Riley, "...Why?"

"To gather empathy and sympathy, Paige," Riley also halted his steps,

"People do not follow those that have power, but those that they could understand….

…I"ve thought about what you said to me."

"What… I said?"

"About ruling the world."

"That…" Paige gulped, "...was a joke, Riley."

"It doesn"t need to be," Riley shook his head as he started walking again; but this time, he was the only one who moved forward,

"Let"s make it happen. Not only here, but everywhere."

"..." Paige could really only stare at Riley as the Academy"s fake bright sky showered upon him, "How… would you even start?"

"I already have."

And as soon as he said that, a person wearing a robe suddenly came out from one of the cars parked in front of the mall, and without even saying a single word, the person approached Riley… and kneeled in front of him.

"It… is an honor to finally meet you again, master."

The stranger then took off her hood, revealing her dark brown hair and almond-shaped eyes— her skin, glittering from the sheet of ice covering her body. For some reason, however, Paige could feel the woman"s small eyes… glaring at her; causing her to shiver.

"Now…" A small smile then crawled on Riley"s face as he turned to Paige,

"...Shall we go on that tour?"

h.e.l.lo again, the author here. Thank you for reading this far— there"s actually only a few of you left. So, thank you very much. I will still strive for a daily release, but expect me to miss some days from now on as I would be focusing on another book since Villain Retirement is dying. I won"t be saying what book yet, but I will upload it once it is ready.

The next volume of Villain Retirement might be the final one, or if the popularity returns— then I still have plans for it. But more importantly…

…Thank you for joining me this far, seriously. And now---

In a bright silver room, a loud heartbeat could be heard echoing; weak, but filled with vigor.

And soon, it was followed by breath— tiny, but filled with strength.

"Welcome back…

…Alice."

"F..."

"Hm?"

"F...f.u.c.k."