CHAPTER 167: CHAPTER 167: THE PLANNING BEGINS

"Riley! Aren’t you going to play in the water?! We’re going home in a few hours!"

After deciding that they were going to commit one of the most stupid things they would ever do in their lives, the Baby Crew were now casually playing in the water again. Bella wanted to go on another adventure around the island, but everyone reminded her of what happened yesterday.

But of course, they contemplated it too. The only one who didn’t have to contemplate or think through it was Pauline. After all, why would they even explore the island after they almost possibly died? She had thought about this many times before---did she really belong to the Baby Crew?

The others didn’t seem to even blink in front of death, and their synergy was also thorough despite them not training at all. But of course, this wasn’t the time to think about it now.

Right now... all she was focused on was having fun and forgetting whatever happened yesterday.

"T-that’s right, Riley!" she shouted, although still a little shy. "Join us!"

As for Riley, he only stared at the Baby Crew as they ran around the shore. Gracey, in particular, was almost creating tidal waves with how hard she was playing with the water. She didn’t even care that Bella was close to drowning and choking on the water. Granted, Bella didn’t seem to care at all, as she was even smiling and cackling.

Hannah was also laughing at her. She grabbed V by the shoulder, only for her to be thrown away from the sudden jolt of electricity. But Hannah, too, didn’t seem to mind at all and even pointed at V and laughed at her face.

Surprisingly, V was able to dampen her powers so that they wouldn’t kill everyone and everything in the water. Of course, the limiter she had around her neck like a choker probably helped. And like everyone else there, she laughed and giggled, showing her teeth while glancing at Riley and waving at him to join them.

"Riley!" "Bro, join!" "C’mon, little R! I ain’t even know how to swim and I’m having fun!" "Stop moping there and join us! I have a few dragon water techniques I’d like to try on you!"

The only one who wasn’t urging him to come and join was Tomoe. But then again, she was just busy floating above the water and staring at the sky, her body being swayed around by all the ripples the others were creating.

But still, she also glanced at him for a moment before gently flapping her legs to move away from the shore.

Riley still just sat there under an umbrella. Well, at least that was what it only looked like for the others. In truth, he wasn’t actually watching them at all---his eyes were in a completely different time zone, back in their country. Underground.

In the Guesthouse.

"And this is the most famous The Restaurant. Only the guests are allowed to eat here, but you can still taste the Boss’ cooking in the kitchen if you’re nice, Newbie."

And right now, Darkday One had just finished touring the newest staff of the Guesthouse, December. But of course...

"I can’t keep calling you Newbie," Darkday One said. "And we definitely can’t keep calling you December, ew. Boss told you to pick a name while you’re on your way here, right? Have you already chosen one?"

"I was under the impression that he would pick me one." December blinked, still wearing her eye mask. In fact, she still hadn’t changed her Dark Millennium clothes at all.

"Oh, we can’t have that." Darkday One clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he looked at December from head to toe. "You’d better decide soon. Or I really will decide for you—but don’t worry, I have a good track record. Did you see the crystal cages? That’s the Warden’s doing. The Warden, I was the one who thought of that name."

Darkday One chuckled, snapping his fingers several times at December’s face. December, however, wasn’t reacting at all and was just scanning the restaurant. She was initially thinking that the "secret base" that Riley told her about would be smaller, simpler. After all, he was just a child.

But of course, that was the wrong thought, especially considering who Riley was.

"I have thought of a name for myself, then," December suddenly said, surprising Darkday One as he was already trying to think up a name for her.

"The Warrior," she said brazenly. "Because from now on, I will be the champion of this organization."

"...Then why not just The Champion?"

"...Oh."

And with that, Riley removed his focus from the Guesthouse and placed his attention on the view in front of him. The others were still playing around the water, with V still waving at him to come.

And so, after a few more calls, Riley finally relented and stood up.

V, who still had her hand up, dropped her jaw as Riley removed his shirt. His body was slim, yes—but it was also completely toned to perfection.

"Damn. Enough to make you straight." Bella whispered, whistling as she stared at Riley’s chest. She was about to say something else, but she found her mouth suddenly filled with seawater as Hannah slammed the water between them.

"Chill, girl. He’s literally twelve." Hannah said, clicking her tongue as she once again slammed the water. "And the crew’s off-limits!"

"Pft. Off-limits?" Gracey joined in on the conversation. "Tell that to her."

Everyone turned to look where Gracey pointed, only to see V still staring at Riley.

"It... should be alright?" Hannah hesitantly said. "They’re... both the same age."

V didn’t stare for long, however. Because as soon as Riley stepped out of the umbrella, his white skin instantly reflected the rays of the sun above him.

"God!" Gracey quickly covered her eyes.

"My eyes! It... it burns! The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!" she shouted before diving down in the water. She wasn’t exaggerating, however, as the others also squinted upon seeing Riley’s extremely white frame. None of the lines of his muscles could be seen anymore; he was just... completely white.

V was the most affected by this, wincing at the sight and looking away. But as soon as she opened her eyes again, they instantly widened. How could they not, when Riley was now standing right in front of her?

And for some reason, he was holding some sort of metal pipe.

"What... is that?" V blinked.

"A ball, V," Riley said. V stared at the metal pipe for a few more seconds, and no matter how long she looked at it... It was obviously not a ball. Before she could actually say anything, however, Riley pointed the pipe toward Bella.

He didn’t even have to say anything. A small smile crept onto Bella’s face as she stretched her hand toward the pipe, taking it off Riley’s hand and letting it fly toward her. But before it could reach her, the pipe already started to bend and morph into something else, and once it landed on her palm, it already turned into a ball.

Bella then cackled, bouncing the metal ball on her palm as she looked at Pauline.

"Dodgeball," she whispered.

"A... a metal ball?" Pauline whispered. "Y-you do know that... I don’t really have super strength, right?"

"Bullshit. All supers have some sort of super strength. Don’t think I ain’t see you push that boulder yesterday." Bella smirked, clasping the metal ball with both hands.

"I have a little bit! Y---Eep!"

Bella threw the ball toward her before she could even plead her case. But true enough, even with the ball going at least fifty miles per hour, Pauline was able to catch it with both hands.

She looked at the ball, and then at Bella in disbelief. But soon, her eyebrows began to furrow. She was about to throw it again, but then she felt herself floating. Not only her, but all of them started feeling lighter.

None of them left the water, however. No. The water floated along with them.

"R-Riley?!" Pauline gasped, watching as she floated in the air, and the water beneath her slowly formed into a sphere. Tomoe, who was free-floating in the water, ended up being submerged in the sphere. She didn’t seem to mind, however, and just calmly swam to the side to get her head out.

And now, there was a large spherical sea water floating above the ocean---all carrying them with it.

"Oh...?" V, who was also submerged inside the spherical water, glanced at the ball. She finally realized why Riley opted for a metal ball. Pauline quickly realized it too, and a small smirk crept onto her face as her eyes locked onto Bella.

And then, without any hesitation, she drew her arm back and then threw the metal ball like a bullet straight toward Bella.

Bella was a little shocked at the speed. But of course, she had one single advantage in this game---she could control metal.

Bella caught the ball and then used it to fly inside the spherical water. She spun and then threw the ball toward Tomoe, who was just peacefully swimming at the side of the orb.

"Hm?" Tomoe was able to catch it, but it was already too late. The momentum of the ball threw her out of the sphere and straight down back into the ocean.

Bella balled her hand into a fist in victory, only for the metal ball to shoot out from the surface of the ocean and right back at her. And like Tomoe, she was thrown out of the water.

"W-what the?!" She managed to keep herself floating in the air using the metal ball, and she pointed down at Tomoe. "Wh---"

"Out!" Gracey flew out of the sphere and also pointed at Bella.

"Whatta you mean out?!" Bella bellowed. "She ain’t part of the game no more! She out first!"

"Excuses! You---"

Bella threw the ball at Gracey, and then the chaos ensued. They didn’t even have rules from the start, nor did they even explain what game they were playing at all. Still, finally, like normal children at their age, they had fun at the beach.

And then, just like that, it was time to go home. But... not yet part ways.

Half a day later, a few hours until the Monday sun rises, the Baby Crew were back in the US. They didn’t separate just yet, however, as Hannah said that they all should just spend the night in the penthouse since they were all going back to school anyway, and they might as well go back together.

Of course, Bella and Pauline’s parents agreed to this. How could they not? It was a chance to relax even further right after their out-of-the-country vacation. They agreed, not knowing the children had an ulterior motive.

Because right now, instead of sleeping or resting to prepare for school, they were under the Ross penthouse. In Bernard’s workshop.

"H-holy shit... all these gadgets."

"That’s right, kids..." Hannah smirked as she looked at everyone’s perplexed and excited expressions.

"...It’s time to officially make our outfit."