Villain Retirement

Chapter 1149: Encounter with Them

Chapter 1149: Encounter with Them

The colorful expanse of the Grand Triangle shifted around them as Riley's ship once again sliced through the space. "Hm…"

None of the crew were really talking to each other, with the sound of Miss Pepondosovich eating a carrot being the only sound chewing in the air, literally. And perhaps, in a way… this silence is for the best after what Riley had just done to the planet they just left behind.

But of course, there are some people in the crew they have right now that is not actually capable of living in the silence.

"So…" Monkeh yawned as she started spinning on her chair, "...How much longer?"

"Not long…" Aurora muttered, her star-shaped eyes reflecting the new holographic magic map that Heli gave them. "...But according to this, we're close to the Fifth Island Planet now. What… was it called again?"

"Khaos…" Heli, who was just lying down on the floor close to Monkeh, slightly shifted; her silky voice flowing through the room, "...My father has been at war with them before I was even born—Oh, I'm so excited...what do you think Master Riley will do next, my love?"

"Stop talking to me." Monkeh's tail flicked as she noticed Heli staring at her.

"And what happens when we get there…?" V, who standing by one of the windows, crossed her arms as she glared at Riley, "Are you going to freeze the entire planet too?"

"If we need to, Victoria." Riley just shrugged as he focused on the view ahead.

"You see? This is your problem." Unfortunately, with the silence now gone, the inevitable started to flourish once more—V's endless criticizing of each of Riley's actions, even his past.

"When are you actually going to start valuing life, Riley?" V complained even though she knew it would lead to nowhere, "This… this is why even your sister tried to kill you back then—no. She did kill you. You remember that, right?"

"Of course, Victoria," Riley just nodded in response as he stood at the captain's deck, "I remember it vividly—it was both the saddest and happiest moment of my life. I thought that I finally had the chance to die, and if it was by the hands of my Sister, then everything would have been perfect—it was the perfect ending for me…

…but unfortunately, it would seem that I am still here and my story continues to unfold. Despite the wishes of many and myself."

"At least we agree on that," V crossed her arms, "Just imagine, though… Imagine if you were good, Riley. Do you remember when you pretended to be Paragon? Do you remember that? You were even able to build your own stupid agency, and you fought with super terrorists."

"For someone who has claimed to not remember much of her past, you seem to remember so many things about Riri, V," Miss Pepondosovich could not help but just join in on the conversation as she heard V's words.

"That… that doesn't matter," V stammered, waving her hands as she walked toward the front of the captain's deck and looked up at Riley, violently pointing her finger at him, "What I am trying to say here is that if this evil shit wasn't so evil, he would have really made the world a better place."

"Aerith told me the same thing once, Victoria," Riley blinked a couple of times as he looked down, "She later regretted all of it. But if it is as you say and I learned how to be good—then would that not undermine your mission?"

"My… mission?" V's eyes narrowed; trickles of lightning lightly snapping around them.

"Yes," Riley nodded, "Your mission is solely based on the fact that I am evil and incapable of doing something good, Victoria—that is why you are here, correct? For you to lose the feelings you have for me?"

"Wha…" V quickly started looking around to see everyone's reaction when Riley said that—and true enough, everyone just quickly looked away, "That… that's not—"

"If I become good, then that would mean your mission will fail, Victoria," Riley let out a small but very deep sigh while shaking his head, "Because that would mean that you will just end up falling deeper in love with me again, no?"

"Who… who would fall in love with you, you albino!" V almost choked on her words as she quickly turned around; marching away and almost causing the ship to tremble with each of her steps, "Stupid! Stupid! Why am I even entertaining you!? This is so stupid, I am too old for this high school drama! I did not fight through depression just to wind up being caught in your grasp again, Riley. No! Never!"

"...For someone that's supposed to be unaffected by Riri," Miss Pepondosovich just once again joined in on the conversation, "...You seem really affected by him, V."

"Ugh…" V winced as she sat back on her chair. This isn't good, this is not good at all. She spent all of those years trying to develop herself, of conquering her battles against addiction—and yet here she is, just slowly sinking back into Riley like her entire character development was for nothing.

Doesn't this… essentially make her the same as Riley? Someone… someone who is not capable of change?

Unfortunately for V, before she could actually try to convince herself that she was still okay… a red light began flashing around the bridge.

"Something's coming…" Aurora suddenly stiffened, "...And it's big."

"Oh…?" Heli raised an eyebrow as she stood up from the floor, "...This should be exciting. What is–"

"Oh, it's not big…" Aurora blinked a couple of times, "...It's many."

And before anyone could react, the ship's external screens flickered to life, showing dark, shadowy vessels emerging from the neon fog of the Grand Triangle. Dozens of ships, all different sizes, seemed to melt out of the colors, moving without any visible propulsion.

And the ships all had one thing in common—a symbol painted on them.

"Oho…" Heli's lazy smirk faded. "...It's them. The Order of Nothing."

"...You know who they are?" Aurora let out a small gasp as she looked at Heli. She then turned to look at Miss Pepondosovich and Riley, who now were both walking toward the large window.

"Looks like we've got company," Monkeh muttered, her golden eyes narrowing at the sight.

"I suppose we do not need to go deeper into the Grand Triangle, Aurora," Riley said as he stood next to Aurora. "How convenient."

The ships stopped moving as if sensing Riley's presence. And from the center of the fleet, a massive, blocky vessel emerged—its gray exterior featureless, like a moving void; completely popping out from the Grand Triangle's colorful expanse.

And very soon, the ship's comms crackled.

[Is it you? Is this the ship that has been causing trouble in the Grand Triangle?] A voice called out, cold and authoritative.

"Well…" Miss Pepondosovich tilted her head toward Riley, casually pulling out a small carrot-like vegetable from her bag. "...This is going to be fun."

[Are you the one who has been defeating the island's rulers, leaving the planet torn and asunder?] The voice continued.

"No," Riley finally answered while shaking his head, "All of the planets were still completely intact when we left them."

[Are you the captain of the ship?] The voice slightly hummed upon hearing Riley's voice, [I am known as the Grand Puppeteer, one of the admirals serving directly under the one and true leader who would free this universe, One.]

"I am Riley Ross," Riley blinked, "Hannah's brother, Aerith's lover, and now Victoria's eternal addiction."

"What the—"

[Riley Ross…] The Grand Puppeteer's voice hummed again, [...Where have I heard your name before?]

"One of your goons tried to recruit us," Miss Pepondosovich cut in, crossing her arms while shaking her head, "I should honestly thank you for that—or else Riri and I would probably traveling the grand expanse of nothing again right about now."

[We tried to recruit you?] The Grand Puppeteer's breaths whispered, [Then does that mean you are here to join us? Is your act of defiling and killing your way through the Grand Triangle your way to impress us?]

"No," Riley shook his head, "We are here to kill you, Grand Puppeteer."

[Well, wow…] The Grand Puppeteer's voice turned high and loud, almost causing the comms to crack again, [...That is something I do not hear every day—but then again, I do not talk to just anyone as anyone would usually be beneath me…

…and that is including you, Riley Ross.]

"We are in space, Grand Puppeteer," Riley shook his head again, "There is no such thing as above and beneath here—you should know that by now."

[And why, pray tell, do you want to destroy the Order of Nothing?] The Grand Puppeteer started chuckling, [Why would you try and stop someone who has only done good for the universe?]

"I believe you have marked my daughter," Riley let out a small sigh, "And also, it is Aurora's mission to end the Order of Nothing, we are tagging along."

"Riley…?" Aurora's eyes widened as her name was once again included in the conversation.

[Aurora…] The Grand Puppeteer let out a small gasp,

[...Who's that?]