CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 139: ANTIHERO VIGILANTE

"Riley Ross was right."

The candidates weren’t joining some street-level hero organization. They were joining Hope Guild, who deal with world-ending threats almost yearly.

"Doing it the way we initially thought would prove to be eighty-two percent insufficient—there is a reason why they are allowing you to take the trial again, Baraka."

"Again, where are you pulling out these percentages, brother?"

Due to unforeseen issues with Riley Ross playing the role of a villain, the Hope Guild has allowed Baraka to take the test again, as well as give the candidates thirty minutes to rest and plan ahead.

"Honestly, we don’t need percentages to know we’re doing it wrong. Or..." Hera stood behind the board with the layout of the bridge, glancing at it before turning her attention to the other candidates. "At least you guys are doing it wrong since we haven’t had our turn yet. We’re not just applying to some washed-out, third-rate organization here. We’re trying to get into Hope Guild. And who are the members of the Hope Guild?"

Hera placed her hand on the board, sighing while shaking her head.

"There’s the Empress, nigh-invulnerable, who can create hundreds of miniature explosions, each with the strength of ten times that of a C4. Whiteking, practically the god of machines at this point. Raphael, who has the ability to fly at Mach god knows how many, and could practically heal people from the brink of death. Nightwalker, who can summon a shadow legion from Hell or wherever she pulls them from. Oceanknight, who... I’m still not sure what he does, but he’s incredibly strong. And then... Tempo, the fastest man alive...

...and then there’s us."

The candidates all looked at each other, sighing before gazing down at the floor as they understood what Hera meant.

Compared to the current members of the Hope Guild, they were... extremely underwhelming.

None of them has really even truly proved themselves—sure, all of them were at the top of the Superhero Registry. But it truly didn’t feel like it right now, especially when they couldn’t even think of a way to completely overwhelm a hostage situation.

Of course, the hostage situation they were facing proved to be a little tricky because of one single entity—Riley Ross.

No. It wasn’t only him.

It was the entire setup of it all. Riley Ross was their main problem, but he wasn’t the only one. From Baraka’s recollection, there was another eccentric among the villains. And then there were several in the police force who were able to pin him down.

"We’re extremely underwhelming," Hera voiced out what was on everyone’s mind. "We need to overwhelm this situation and gut it. Riley Ross is a problem, and so are we—we wouldn’t have even been considered by the Hope Guild if that were the case. That meant they saw something in us out of the thousands of other superheroes out there in the world right now."

"Well..." Jeff breathed out, the vapor releasing from his mouth completely veiling his face. "...We’re actually part of the youth program where the Hope Guild is trying to appeal to the younger generation and inspire them, so... If anything, we’ll be more like token members."

"Doesn’t matter, Jeff." Hera raised her eyebrow at Jeff. "We’ll still be members of the Hope Guild. And if I was chosen, I’ll prove why I’m there every single day—heck. I’ll prove it now. We—"

"Beautifully said, Mademoiselle Hera."

A quiet, but almost rhythmic voice whispered throughout the entire lobby before Hera could even begin her speech.

No. Perhaps, rhythmic was an understatement, as the voice was almost like a song. Not singing, but like a song entirely.

It was followed by a series of footsteps, extremely light to the point that they didn’t know where it was coming from. The voice, however, was clear.

They all turned to the entrance, only to see a man wearing a set of silky black robes, almost like it was made of cobweb. His face was incredibly pale, a contrast to his red lips and black hair that reached to his knees.

"Angel Raphael!"

"Pas d’ange, only Raphael," Raphael said with a chuckle, waving his hand as he approached the group, who quickly started lining up. Even Chihiro, who was completely quiet and avoided talking to the others, stood beside the group with a straight back.

"Salut, mes enfants. At ease, at ease—this is not the boot camp, eh?" He once again chuckled, turning to the board before facing the group of candidates again.

"I want to be honest with all of you—we actually already know who we are going to pick even before this started."

Raphael’s words made the group freeze. They wanted to look at each other, but didn’t want to make it seem like they weren’t confident that it wasn’t them who was chosen.

"But this situation with Riley Ross, hein? It is... how you say... inattendu, yes? Unexpected."

He lifted a finger, smiling as he glanced at Baraka and Butcher.

"A very resourceful villain, that is already a problem. But Riley Ross—he is not only resourceful, n’est-ce pas? He is also a very powerful... how do you call it... the extremely powerful mindmover." Raphael tapped his fingers lightly against his temples.

"The likes of this, eh bien, we have seen only a handful time before. And so, I make a proposal with my ami, and they accept. That is why I am here—for this rendezvous."

"A... proposal?" Hera narrowed her eyes, and she was the only one amongst the candidates who moved as she felt a tingle crawl through her spine as soon as she heard that. "May... I ask what sort of proposal, Sir?"

"Since I am here, safety is no issue," Raphael said, nodding to himself. "You may use your strength to the fullest—do not be shy. If there are mistakes, do not worry. I am here. If someone is injured, I heal. Of course, if someone is injured, your chances of becoming our newest baby member would... lessen."

"But I thought you already chose?"

"Oui. We thought so too. This was only supposed to be a demonstration, but with Riley Ross’s presence here has become a gift. It is a gift, as we will now know how you handle a city-level threat."

Raphael turned around and started walking away, leaving the candidates confused and bewildered. They wanted to ask him more questions, but when Baraka was about to step forward, Raphael once again glanced at them from the door.

"One more thing, I told you not to hold back. But... I also tell the others the same. Riley Ross, Gary Gray, Silvie Savelievna... and Hannah Ross. Bonne chance, enfants."

The candidates watched in silence as Raphael left the building, none of them knowing what to think. Well

, except for one of them.

"What?!" Hera screamed, causing the other candidates to gasp in shock as they looked at her.

"What?!" Baraka clasped his chest. "Don’t you go shouting out of nowhere! Americans!"

"You guys... don’t understand..." Hera forced out a chuckle, shaking her head before letting out a deep, and extremely heavy breath.

"If you think Riley Ross is a problem, he’s the reserved one in the family..." She whispered. "...Based on the reports, Hannah Ross is playing lieutenant. That meant she could, if she wanted to, take the lead. Hannah Ross is a big, big problem. And if I’m right, the Academy hasn’t let her use her powers even once during her stay here. Why... would they do that?"

Hera covered her mouth.

"Oh... ho..." But soon, she clicked her tongue, and a smile slowly crept onto her face.

"This is going to be fun. This is going to be very fun. Whose turn is it to go next?"

Hera turned to look at his colleagues, only to realize they were staring at her.

"Oh. Ah, crap."

***

At the same time, back in Kitty’s apartment, her entire body had been trembling for several minutes now, to the point that she felt her stomach almost dropping to the floor. That if she farted, her insides would also come out of her.

That was how anxious she was feeling.

How could she not, when Darkday was sitting right in front of her right now? So casually at that, too.

"I’m truly thankful that you didn’t tell them too much about me. This is why I like you more than the other reporter."

Kitty flinched as Darkday pointed at her, and when he realized that, he quickly lowered his hands and shook his head.

"I’m not going to kill you, Ma’am. I would’ve already done that when we first met if I wanted to, but I didn’t. Weird, right?" Darkday chuckled. "I usually only have tendencies to murder people nowadays. Call it... an awakening."

"In... in my book, that... that’s called a villain," Kitty said, struggling to form her words and yet trying her hardest to do so. "You... you called yourself a vigilante, that’s not the mindset of a vigilante."

"It’s not? Huh..." Darkday crossed his legs. "...Then what is?"

"Huh?"

"Tell me what the mindset of a vigilante is. Tell me how, in your expertise as a journalist...

...how can Darkday be perceived as an antihero vigilante?"