Villain Retirement

"Did... did you kill her?"

Although the nerves of Silvie and the others were still piercing through the roof, she still seemed to have the courage to not look away from Butcher... even as the sultry strands of hair of Sophie's severed head filled in the gaps of his fingers.

Considering that there were still droplets of blood dropping to the ground, the head was still attached to its body just minutes ago– wouldn't that mean that Butcher was inside the helicopter while a severed head was... leaking beside him?

What sort of superhero... is he? Even Tomoe was a bit uncomfortable; still, she did not stray her eyes away, as Riley was also not doing so.

"No," Butcher then shook his head as he looked at Sophie's head, "She was already dead when we found her, I only cut off her head since it would be easier to carry with me."

"...You cut off her head for that?" Hannah slightly raised an eyebrow.

"Only half of her neck," Butcher answered; his tone, still monotonous, "Considering the condition of the tattered flesh on the front side of her neck, there's a 67% chance that it was sliced with a finger– do you see the difference between the cut?"

"..." The others once again could not help but look away as Butcher once again raised the severed head in front of them.

What the fuck is this guy's problem?-- Hanah thought. Who in their right mind would go around dangling a severed head with him and act like it was completely normal?

"Yes. The cut going from the middle to the back of the neck is smooth, Butcher."

"..." Right, they almost forgot their team consisted of Riley Ross.

"I pride myself with my knife skills," Butcher answered as he turned to look at Riley, "The two of you are Whiteking's children, correct?"

"I suppose, Butcher."

"It was wise not to follow this woman and the one she was fighting with," Butcher then nodded as he finally removed the head and returned it to his bag,

"I have fought her before– and although I do not know your strength as a group yet, the chance of one of you dying was at a hundred percent."

"Who... is she?" Hannah finally regained a little more confidence in her words as there was no longer a bleeding head being shoved in her face.

"Sophie Palmer– also known as Lady Divider."

Although Butcher said her name with much conviction, it did not really garner any reaction to any of the group; even Gary, who usually had something to say just shrugged his shoulders in confusion.

He could only look away, as he was doing his best to hold the small laughter that was trying to escape his mouth from seeing Butcher's bald head reflecting the red and blue lights that the police cars were producing.

"She was a low-profile supervillain," Butcher explained as his eyes once again traveled the aftermath of the battle within the nightclub, "But quit her supervillain life to become the boss of a drug syndicate."

"Drug... could it be!?" Hannah looked at Silvie and the others; Was it possible that she was the boss of the men that attacked them? It made sense... why else would they even have the guts to attack supers even knowing their connection with the Academy?

"She was strong enough to rival any of the members of the Hope Guild."

"What!?" And so, finally; Gary, who had been keeping quiet the whole time, could not help but raise his voice, "Someone like that was hiding here!?"

"Why was she not inside the supermax jail?" Silvie muttered.

"You... are Silvie Savelevnia, correct?"

"Y... yes?"

"Then perhaps I was wrong in my assessment," Butcher then let out a sigh– showing just a tiny sliver of expression, "Perhaps all of you could have survived an encounter with her. That is if... the one she was fighting with is a hero."

"The one with the jacket?" Hannah squinted her eyes.

"Did you manage to see his face?"

"No," Hannah looked at the others before they all collectively shook their heads.

"I see," Butcher once again let out a small sigh, "But it truly was the correct decision not to follow them. All of the cameras within the vicinity were destroyed– so whoever Sophie's opponent was, he or she did not want to let anyone know his or her identity. If he were to be hostile to all of you; then based on the aftermath of their battle in the glades...

...the chance of all of you dying was at a hundred percent."

"...What?"

Butcher just told them that Sophie rivaled the members of the Hope Guild... but now they are telling them that the one who killed her was even stronger? Just what kind of monsters are there lurking within the country they were not aware of?

"But none of those matter anymore," Butcher once again shook his head as he turned around, "You children should rest. It is important for people of your age to get enough sleep."

"We... still want to help," Silvie proclaimed.

"Rest," Butcher, however, looked at each member of the Baby Crew one by one, "This is the last time you will be getting enough sleep in this crime infested city; the chance of there not being a crime for the rest of the day is 100%...

...since I am here," and with those words, Butcher once again returned to talk with the police officers.

"...Fuck," Gary took in a small gulp as he watched Butcher's back, "That line... was cool af."

"Should... we really just rest up?" Silvie asked.

"Butcher is right," Hannah let out a small groan of frustration, "If this is how our first day out in the streets end– I am not looking forward to the rest of the week.."

"Let's... help for a few more minutes and let's go," Silvie persisted.

"...No," Hannah, however, grabbed Silvie's wrist before she could walk away, "I think we really need to talk about what's happening to you now, Silv."

"That's..." Silvie looked Hannah straight in the eyes; her breaths, slightly stuttering. But after a few more moments, "...I think I am fine now," she gently pulled her hand away.

"You're not fine, sis," Hannah blocked her path, "You're not alright. We can't let you out there knowing that you might lose your mind at any time."

"I..."

"Let us help you, Silv," Hannah then let out a small but deep sigh as she grabbed both of Silvie's hands, "We are your friends. Please... let us help you."

"..." Silvie's eyes started to tremble as she felt the warmth of Hannah's touch. She turned her eyes towards Gary and the others, only to see their eyes looking at her with... worry. Even Tomoe nodded at her when their eyes met.

She then slightly turned her head towards Riley with a sort of small excitement, only to see him not even looking at her.

"..."

"He cares," Hannah sighed, "He just has his own way of showing it."

"That's–"

"My sister is right, Silvie. I do care about you."

"!!!"

Tomoe was the first to react to Riley's words; her eyes, as wide as they could be for a half-Japanese like her. Was... she going to be replaced as the Second Subordinate!?

"R... Riley?" Gary then took a few steps towards Riley, his voice trembling, "Why... why are you trying to get all of the girls in the Academy!? What do you think this is, Compamon!? You gotta catch them all, is that it!? Why don't you leave some for me!?"

"..." Hannah could only look at Silvie, whose face was starting to turn red. This was not good, Hannah thought. Between Tomoe and Silvie... who would she support for her brother's hand?

"W... what are you saying, bro?" Hannah could not help but almost pinch Riley on the arm.

"I just agreed with you, sister," Riley blinked his eyes a couple of times, "Silvie needs to be herself; if not, then there is no way she could surpass Mega Woman."

"...Oh," and with those words, everyone could only let out sighs– some of relief, and one of slight disappointment,

"Let's...

...just go back and talk about what's happening to Silvie. I'm seeing reporters already, best to avoid them."

"...Right."

Or so they said– but as soon as they reached back to their camp, all of them, except Riley, were sprawled on the floor completely asleep; exhausted from having to move throughout the whole day.

They truly were seriously going to talk about what was happening to Silvie at first; but when Riley mentioned about the shower in the trailer, most of them took turns to wash... before they all fell asleep as soon as they sat inside the dome of ice that Tomoe created.

"..."

"..." A small rustle then whispered in the air as Riley gently removed Hannah's embrace, careful not to wake her up as he stood up; floating in the air instead of walking so as to not make any noise as he left the dome.

The rising sun immediately greeted his silhouette, the orange hue, reflecting on his white figure. He looked around for a few moments, before walking towards his motorcycle that was parked beside the trailer.

"..." He was about to mount it, but before his hand could touch the handlebars, he quickly glanced behind him; only to see Butcher quietly standing there.

"..."

"..."

"...Are you not going to ride it?"

"I was about to practice how to, Butcher," Riley shook his head as he turned around to face Butcher.

"Then let me be quick, Mr. Riley Ross...

...join the Hope Guild as my apprentice."