Villain Retirement
chapter-399

"..."

Hannah was told everything. Silvie, Gary, Bella, and Katrina were also present as Hannah told them they should also know since they were her family now; but the revelations that Riley had told them almost drilled through their bones.

Charlotte was also there, after all, she was the one who opened the Korean Shaved Ice store so that Riley would have a place to discuss everything he knew. And finally, although it was hard to admit and accept, she finally knew what really happened to her daughter.

All this time, she blamed Riley for everything. But it turns out her daughter was just… sick. She had been trying to find answers for the downfall of her daughter; thinking that someone was pulling the strings, or that something was truly wrong with Riley… but no.

Charlotte always saw Alice as this mightier than thou super. She was supposed to be immune to all mind-bending and mind-control abilities– but Alzheimer's? Was she even supposed to believe that? But out of all the answers that she tried to seek out, this was actually the one that answers everything.

Alice Lane, her daughter… was just sick.

Charlotte could really only stare at Riley from behind the counter, watching him as he casually took a spoonful of dessert like he did not just say something completely earth-shattering.

Charlotte wanted to talk to him so badly… but what was she even supposed to say? She had already made her stance for almost 20 years now; what sort of apology was even enough to make up for her absence?

She had already talked to him once when he was in prison, but that was just to tell her what she knew— and what she knew was so far from the truth.

"Grandmother, can I have one more?"

"Are you sure? It seems a little too sweet."

"That's because you're only eating the syrup and fruits, Paige. You should fill your spoon with the shaved ice… Grandmother, can I have one more?"

"Y… yes, sure," Charlotte could not help but take in a small but very deep breath as she started preparing another cup. It didn't even take a minute before she was handing the dessert to Riley— and now that she was taking a good look at him; with his black hair and eyebrows… Charlotte was finally able to see some sort of resemblance to her daughter.

Charlotte took another deep breath; she wanted so badly to embrace Riley right now— but alas. As Charlotte saw her reflection in Riley's dark eyes, the only thing that she could really see was a stranger. It was… a little too late.

"..." Charlotte then turned her eyes towards the others, only to see their faces completely blank; not really knowing what to do with the information that Riley just gave them. Even Hannah, who is supposed to be the receiver of all of this… information, was just staring at the melted dessert in front of her.

"Would… you children like me to get you anything?"

"..."

"..."

And with no one answering her, she just turned around to leave. But before she could even take a single step— a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. She quickly turned to see who it was, only to see Riley holding her hand.

"Did… you need anything else?" Charlotte gulped.

"Alice Lane is being revived by mother," Riley casually breathed out, "I thought you should know since she's your daughter."

"...What?"

"Yes. And based on mother's words, she should be waking up soon," Riley nodded, "But as in the case of everything I told all of you here, there is a chance that mother is lying— but I do not think she has a reason to; she's a Themarian, the strongest species in the entire universe; or at least that's what she believes in."

"W—"

"Where is she?"

And finally, after keeping her silence for almost an hour; Hannah spoke up,

"Where's mom?"

"I don't know, sister. But I have a feeling she's not really on this planet. Aerith thought she was… but she's always wrong for some reason," Riley shrugged as he took a bite of his Mango Graham Shaved Ice, but before he could place his spoon back on the cup—

"Don't talk about my mother like you know her!"

Gary slapped the spoon away from Riley's hand.

"Eek!" The spoon was about to hit Paige, but it stopped mid-air before it could do so.

"On the contrary, Gary…" Riley sighed as the spoon returned to his hand, "...Your mother and I are quite close. She's closer to me than to you, I reckon."

"You—" Gary's eyebrows began to tremble as he remained standing; Bella tried to get him to sit back down, but Gary did not budge this time. But after a few more seconds of him just staring down at Riley… he suddenly ran and left the store.

Katrina was going to follow Gary out, but in the end, chose not to do so as she just remained in her seat. She didn't even know what she was doing here in the first place— the only relation she had here was that she was a member of the Baby Crew. But although she didn't really know what to do, it wasn't like she felt out of place or uncomfortable.

After all, being with the Baby Crew for the past 2 years… she was used to all the weird things happening around them. And so, once again— she did what she always did in the group; just stay on the side and observe.

"..." Silvie seemed to also want to say something; and with the way she was opening and closing her mouth, it would seem she had a lot to say. The expressions on her face, also shifting almost each second… but after a few more facial shifts, a word finally escaped her lips.

"You didn't have to say that to him," Silvie muttered, "He is… already lost as he is."

"Then he and his mother finally have something in common," Riley breathed out, "And as for you, Ms. Savelievna… you're stronger than you think you are. I don't know if there is something else you need to hear, but I have already told you everything that I know."

"..."

"I truly apologize, sister," Riley then said as he placed his focus back on Hannah, "But it would seem that you are surrounded by people who have hidden things from you. Father, me, and then mother. She's the one who—"

Riley halted his words as he felt Paige suddenly pricking and pinching his leg; he turned to see what she needed, only to see her with her eyebrows furrowed and eyes squinted.

"..."

"..."

"Well, I've finished my dessert," Riley then stood up, "Paige and I will take our leave first. We might be seeing each other from time to time since we plan to tour the Academy with my subordinates. So, don't be afraid to say hello."

"..." Paige also stood up, nodding her head towards the girls of the Baby Crew,

"I… really wished we could have somehow become friends," she said before following Riley. But before the two of them could step out of the store, Hannah shouted.

"What do you plan to do now!?"

"...Hm?" Riley and Paige turned around.

"Now… now that you've gained fucking immunity to murder, are you just going to go out there and kill more people!?"

"...No. I'm not a savage, sister," Riley sighed and shook his head.

"Are you… are you not going to tell the world that you're Darkday!?"

"What are you saying, sister?" Riley once again sighed as he opened the door— and as soon as he did so, several screams, gasps, and whispers roared and seeped through the store,

"I already have."

"...What? What do—" And before Hannah could say anything, she saw something flying towards Riley— hitting him straight on the head. But of course, it was almost as if Riley didn't even notice as he just continued walking out the store, gently pushing Paige to walk behind him.

"This…" Not only Hannah, but all the women in the store all stood up to peer through the window of the store, only to see a group— no, a mob of people surrounding the store; every one of them, either carrying fear or rage on their faces.

"H… Hannah, look…"

Hannah then slowly turned to look at Katrina as she showed her phone, only to see a live video of Riley telling the world that he is Darkday.

"...How?"

"It's… a clone," Silvie gulped before all of them once again turned their attention to the roars of anger and hate happening outside.

"Get off this planet!"

"You… you killed my father!"

"Murderer!"

"Satan's son!"

"Harbinger of ruin! You should pay for all your crimes!"

Most of the people were refugees; some were even staff of the Academy. But no matter if they were super or just a normal human— all of their eyes contained a certain hatred in them as they all looked at Riley.

Most of the refugees were throwing things at Riley… and Riley… just let them. He didn't dodge, he didn't even use his telekinetic abilities to block anything, he… just let it happen.

"Maybe you should return to the store for now, Paige," Riley then whispered, "It would get a little messy once the supers join in."

"...No," Paige breathed out as she grabbed the back of Riley's clothes, before planting her forehead on his back, "I have already told you before, even if the whole world hates you…

…I am not going to abandon you, Riley."