Villain Retirement
chapter-176

"Please take a seat."

"..."

"..."

With the sun behind him, Bulwark's hair shines even brighter than before; even without wind flowing inside the office, one could see the individual strands flowing ever so smoothly in the air. Seeing him like this, he truly did look like some ancient being– even his eyes glimmered brighter than the sun outside.

Both Bella and Daniel then looked at each other, before looking at the two people that were already inside– Spectacular Mustache Man and Nightwalker.

And judging by Spectacular Mustache Man's folded arms, as well as his famed mustache that was completely pointed to the floor, the situation didn't look that well.

And so, with a bit of nervousness and wariness, Daniel and Bella took a seat on the other free sofa. As for Riley, he remained standing near the door.

"Now that we're all here, I will be direct," Bulwark then immediately opened his mouth as soon as everyone seemed to have settled down. But before he could say his piece, Spectacular Mustache Man raised his hand.

"I would like to address the elephant in the room before we start."

"...Go ahead, child."

"Why are you the one sitting there?" Spectacular Mustache Man said as he looked Bulwark in the eyes.

"..." Bulwark only blinked a couple of times as he subtly looked at the chair he was sitting on, before letting out a small sigh and returning his gaze to Spectacular Mustache Man, "The World Government had told me to act as the Headmaster until the position remains vacant."

"Hm," Spectacular Mustache Man's mustache lowered even further, "Even if I hate his guts, I think Whiteking should be the one sitting there. He, at the very least, has been here from the start."

Bulwark stared at Spectacular Mustache Man's moving mustache for a few seconds, before once again letting out a sigh, "I know that some of the staff are dissatisfied with this outcome. But this is only temporary… but let's move on to what I called you here for."

"..." It was true that a lot of staff were voicing out their dissatisfaction. And seeing Spectacular Mustache Man's eyebrows, he too, was still dissatisfied. But even then, he nodded and leaned back on his seat.

"I called you here because you were the ones who were able to find Prophet's body. I've read the initial report," Bulwark breathed out, "Did you… find something else that you did not tell the police?"

"Y–"

"No, we didn't."

Bella quickly stood up from her seat as soon as she heard even a tiny bit of breath escaping from Riley's mouth.

"..."

"..."

"I see," Bulwark's sighs once again whispered in the room, "That is truly a shame… I just can't believe Steve would kill himself."

Bulwark then closed his eyes for a couple of seconds as he let his breaths escape from his mouth, "Your lives are already so short… why do something like that?"

"..."

"Well, onto a more current matter," Bulwark then lightly clapped his hand, "You found Prophet because the computer led you there?"

"That is correct, Sir Bulwark," Nightwalker was the one to answer.

"And these 3 students happen to be there as well since the computer also told them where to go," Bulwark muttered as his eyes scanned Riley and the others, "But they are also there because I gave them the assignment of finding Prophet…

…so why exactly were the two of you there?" He then said as he looked at Spectacular Mustache Man and Nightwalker.

"Of course, we would find him, he's our boss," Spectacular Mustache Man scoffed, "Even if what the AI said wasn't real, we will still try to get to the bottom of this because that's just the duty we took when we became heroes. But… this time it was just to find a corpse."

"..." Everyone became silent as Spectacular Mustache Man's words slowly became sedated. As for Bulwark, he only furrowed his eyebrows as he remained staring at Nightwalker and Spectacular Mustache Man.

"Are you suspecting us of killing him?" Nightwalker then opened up.

"What!?" Spectacular Mustache Man's eyes quickly widened as he heard Nightwalker's words. Even Bella and Daniel could not help but slightly hold their breaths as soon as they heard that; their eyes, not knowing whether to look at Spectacular Mustache Man or Bulwark.

"The thought did cross my mind," Bulwark then said; his eyes glowing even brighter, "But then again, what motive could the two of you possibly have? Perhaps you were ordered to kill him?"

"What the–"

"Sit."

And before Spectacular Mustache Man could stand up, the scenery around them suddenly shifted colors; a golden hue that seemed like it flowed with the air itself. Everything became so heavy that Spectacular Mustache Man had no choice but to sit back down.

Nightwalker, Bella, and Daniel were also looking down from the sudden pressure that crawled across their bodies. As for Riley, he just remained standing there– letting some of the golden glimmers touch his skin so that it wouldn't seem like it was ineffective.

But finally, after a few more seconds, the air once again returned to normal; allowing everyone to breathe again.

"I apologize for my sudden burst of emotion, children," Bulwark said before letting out a small chuckle, "As you can see, it isn't true that one could control their emotions better with age– if anything, I am more emotional than most since I have experienced the most."

"..."

"..."

The others could not really say anything anymore. They were becoming too comfortable that they were forgetting that the existence in front of them was a being that preceded the country itself. The oldest Super… no, probably the oldest living creature on the planet.

Add that to the fact that he is also a Grade-S Super, he should truly be quite a terrifying existence. But his welcoming smiles and calm tone completely made them forget.

And with everyone quiet, the only thing that Bulwark could do was let out a small chuckle, "For someone who could see the future to want to die because he couldn't handle the stress of being the Headmaster?"

Bulwark leaned his back on the seat, before looking at the view of the Academy grounds behind him,

"You think a guy that carried the burden of knowing the future would give up just because of something like that?"

"..." The others could only once again look at each other. They already knew that Prophet did indeed, not take his own life so they were trying to keep their mouths shut… But to think a being that has lived for thousands of years would be this passionate about someone else's death? They were truly just a loss for words.

"Also, since the two of you are already here," Bulwark then stood up as he looked at Nightwalker and Spectacular Mustache Man, "I would like to request your help. Since Prophet followed the Roman Catholic ways, a funeral will be held for him at the Academy's designated Christian church. I figure most would want to attend, so…"

"Say no more," Spectacular Mustache Man stood up and nodded, not letting Bulwark finish his words, "We'll help in arranging it," he then said as he left the room.

As for Nightwalker, he only nodded to Bulwark before following his colleague out.

"Class 1-V," Bulwark then muttered, causing Bella and Daniel to slightly flinch, "Since I am now the acting Headmaster of the Academy, Scarlet Mage will once again be your adviser."

"I… I see," Bella gulped.

"Although it was just a blink of an eye, and one might even say uneventful… I had fun teaching your class," Bulwark sighed, "Alright…

…you are free to go."

And just like that, a few days passed. The Academy, seemingly returning or at least trying to operate as normal. This transition was easy, of course, since the students were not really affected as much; with the lessons and training still proceeding as if nothing happened.

One would even say the students have already grown numb. After all, compared to the past incidents that have happened to the Academy; the Seven Planes incident, Hope Guild vs. Darkday. Prophet's death just seemed… minor.

Perhaps the most eventful thing that was happening was Gary being stressed out. He was trying his best to block all of the strangers that were trying to talk to Aerith… which for some odd reason, made even people from other classes want to talk to her more.

Truly, Episode Gary was quite eventful.

But with 1 week passing by, Prophet's body was back from the coroner and the Academy had announced Prophet's funeral that would be held in the afternoon; those who wished to attend, may attend– but most would be outside the church as they wouldn't be able to accommodate everyone.

Of course, with Whiteking having a special relationship with Prophet; not to mention he had a position in the Academy, the Ross family were allotted a seat inside the church. Bella's family was seated beside them, as they helped directly with the arrangements.

And while most people were whispering and talking about Prophet, Bella and Hannah's eyes were currently on the hunt to find Prophet's so-called husband.

"Where the fuck is your father?" And in this holy place, Diana's mouth could not help but be colorful, "I have been calling him for weeks and still no answer. I thought he would be here for his best friend's funeral, but no. I've already asked some of the Academy staff, and they just said he was doing Hope Guild duties or something."

"Relax, mom," Hannah could only sigh as her mother almost made a freestyle rap with her endless words, "The fucker is probably just dealing with his own shit, just ignore the guy," she then said; her eyes still like a hawk's as she searched for any sign of Prophet's husband.

"Hannah! Mind your words!"

"But you–"

"Zip it."

"..."

As for Riley, he was just quietly looking in front of the lavish altar in front of him. The first and very last time he was inside a church… he was talking with the Pope.

His eyes then looked at the crucifix, his thoughts, suddenly wanting to leave his mouth,

"Did you know that before Bulwark…" Riley then pointed at the cross, "...He is supposed to be one of the earliest recorded Super?"

"We know!" Hannah stopped her search as she heard her brother's words, "You've told us countless times!"

"..." Bella's parents, who were seated beside them, could not help but furrow their eyebrows at Riley's words. Bella, on the other hand, could not help but let out a small chuckle.

"Where did you even hear something like that, bro?" She then said.

"From him."

"Riley, don't just point at–" And before Diana could finish her words, her eyes could not help but widen as she saw where Riley was pointing to– a man standing at the center of the apse.

"Isn't that…

…the Pope?"