Chapter 396: The Way of Diplomacy (2)
"I apologize we"re late."
"!!!"
Everyone just stood up. There were no warnings, not even an announcement from any of the people that should be standing guard outside— Riley just entered the Academy unbeknownst to everyone there.
It was probably for the best, of course…
…as he was wearing his Darkday outfit.
Hera was the first to react; her skin quickly turned grey as her muscles and height almost tripled. She did not, however, lunge towards Riley and instead just remained on her spot— almost squishing Gary that was sitting beside her.
Of course, it wasn"t only her; everyone"s eyes were fixated on Riley; their fists, all closed and ready to do whatever it is they could do next. Perhaps the only one that didn"t really have any immediate reaction was Empress, who just looked at the other people in the room and sighed.
If this had happened a few years ago, then Empress would have probably reacted the same. But right now, Empress was just done with everything— there was also the fact that out of all these people, she was probably the only one who knew how ridiculously strong Riley truly was.
No, Angela and the Pope also didn"t react the same as everyone, and were the only ones in the room that remained sitting; with the Pope even seemingly amused with what was happening.
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By all means, Hannah and the rest of the Baby Crew should also know how futile it was to even try to resist Riley— but seeing as they were young and one of them is literally Riley"s sister, their response is already expected.
"What are you doing, Riley?" Empress then let out another deep breath as she finally turned her focus back to Riley.
"Oh, I just wanted to play a joke."
And with those words, Riley"s Darkday outfit very slowly faded away— also revealing the group of people standing beside him; Paige, John, Ellie, and Elliot.
"I brought some people, I hope you don"t mind," Riley then said as he stepped inside the meeting hall, "They wanted to tour the Academy after this meeting."
"What"s… the meaning of this, Empress?"
The temperature in the room suddenly rose as Hannah"s breaths started to turn heavy, "Why… did you invite my brother here?"
"...To talk."
"You… thought that was a good idea?"
"There are—"
And before Empress could finish her words; green specks of dust started to fill the air inside the conference hall, trickling and throbbing with each movement. Of course, it was obvious as to who was causing this; everyone in the room could really only turn their heads towards V, only to see her now slump and crouching on the floor.
"...V?"
She was the one who was talking about killing Riley and ganging up on her just earlier— but now that he was actually here, they finally realized that each word and any of the toughness she had been showing them was all just for show.
Of course, it was— V has been part of the Hope Guild for a while… that they keep forgetting that she was one of the youngest people in this room, barely an adult.
"..." Charlotte could really only look at V, thinking that once again… the Hope Guild failed to be there for each other when it actually matters the most. And now, right in front of them, was the person that she had probably failed the most.
Riley Ross, her own grandson.
"Now I feel a little overdressed."
Riley didn"t seem to mind all the stares that were centered on him, however, as he just started to walk across the room— walking towards the free s.p.a.ce at the table.
"Can you make us seats, Ms. Ellie?"
Ellie only nodded, before a part of the floor started to turn dark; before protruding up and turning into seats.
"Why… are there only two?" Paige was about to take a seat but noticed that only she and Riley had a chair at the table.
"We"re just going to stand in the back," John then said as he stood behind Riley as he took his seat. Ellie did the same; her eyes scanning each of the people in the room before just standing idly by. As for her brother, well— the situation calls for him to do the same.
"...I have seats prepared for you," Empress then quickly said as she looked at the empty seats on the side.
"Well, you might have a bomb on the bottom of that chair, Empress."
"Wh—"
"I am joking again," Riley chuckled; and it wasn"t awkward, no— but the faces of all the people in the room made it seem like it was. And perhaps in this situation, it actually is.
"h.e.l.lo, sister," Riley then smiled as he looked at Hannah; who didn"t really know what to say as she just very slowly sat back in her seat. And as she did so, everyone else started doing the same with the exemption of Hera, whose body very slowly turned back to normal as she made her way to V.
"Are you… alrigh—"
"Don"t you f.u.c.king touch me!" The green specks of dust that were floating in the air all started to spark as V waved her hands. Suffice to say, with these many prominent people in one place— it was utter chaos. And one way or the other, they all had trauma caused by Riley Ross.
Hera was about to try and console V again, but before she could do so… someone tapped her. Hera quickly looked back to see who it was that placed their hand on her shoulder, only to see Riley behind her.
"!!!"
Hera almost bent her entire body as she tried to quickly move away from Riley— she tried to transform, but her body seemed to refuse to do so. And there were only two reasons that it was doing this;
One, not transforming was the best way for her to survive. And two, her body wasn"t perceiving Riley as a threat. And hopefully, it was the latter.
"All of you really need to relax," Riley then said as he crouched to the ground, looking at V for a few seconds… before completely sitting beside her on the floor.
"It has been a very long time, Victoria."
"Don"t… don"t you f.u.c.king call me that." The green specks of dust that were floating in the air… disappeared; almost as if transferring to her eyes as they started to trickle with Riley on their path, "You… you"re a f.u.c.king monster."
"I am. And I have told you that as well," Riley said, before just turning to look at Empress, "Should we start whatever this meeting is about?"
"...Are you not going to return to your seat?"
"No."
And as soon as he said that… every piece of furniture in the room turned into dust; once again causing everyone to put on their defenses— everyone except the members of the Hope Guild, who had their eyes on Hera and checking whether or not she transformed.
The door of the conference hall then opened, almost acting like a vacuum as it sucked away all the dust in the air before closing.
"Let"s all just sit on the floor and join Victoria… Paige," Riley then turned to look at Paige, gesturing to her to come to his side. Everyone could really just look at each other, before once again being led by Hannah as she was the first to sit on the floor.
"See?" A subtle smile then appeared on Riley"s face, "It"s better here. No wonder Victoria was sitting on the floor. It makes us feel… grounded."
"Enough of this bulls.h.i.t!" Hannah slammed her palm on the floor, "Just why exactly did you set this meeting up, Empress? And why are we even here!?"
"The House of Super is gone," Empress raised her voice before Hannah could go off again, "But the damage they did will forever be permanent."
"It"s the same as any tragedy," Bulwark joined in.
"Yes, but this time the casualty is in billions… that number is way more anything Darkday— Riley Ross has ever done to this world."
"Wait…" Tempo also joined in as he placed his palm on the floor, "...Don"t tell me you collected all of us here… to try and pardon Darkday?"
"No, nothing of the sort," Empress raised her hand, "But I am here to say…
…that Riley Ross is now under the protection of the World Government."
"What!?" Silvie almost stood up from the floor, "...Why!?"
"I am lifting all the bounty, all the charges, and any records that would indict or otherwise condemn Riley Ross as a criminal. Riley Ross would also now henceforth be immune from all charges that would be placed against him."
"...Are you saying he could just indiscriminately kill anyone he wants?" Tempo"s eyebrows began to furrow. And it wasn"t only him, the rest of the people in the room all started to look at each other.
"Yes."
"!!!"
"What!?"
"What about all the people he has killed!?"
"Ei yo… Even if this ni— even if Riley helped us clean the House of Super, that doesn"t erase what he did! He still killed millions of people! He even killed Gary"s father!"
"He killed many fathers," Empress raised her hand, "He also killed mothers, children, and everyone that was unfortunately in his path of carnage."
"Exactly, so why are you—"
"Because as of a few hours ago…" Empress"s voice was not really loud, or even hurried— but the expression on her eyes showed everyone how serious she was,
"...Riley Ross destroyed Mars."
"..."
"...What?"
"So now, I am going to ask all of you…" Empress then said as she looked at all the people in the room one by one, and since she was the tallest among the lot, it wasn"t that hard to do so,
"...Is anyone here stupid enough to still try and fight with Riley Ross?"