Chapter 118: Riley Ross The Negotiator

"We… we attacked supers from the Academy."

"You… did what?"

"..."

The somber music that colored the air with a blissful frenzy instantly stopped as soon as the boss' words whispered in the air; the words were extremely faint, almost imperceptible. And yet every activity in the room froze.

The naked girls that were dancing almost erotically all paused in their steps; most of them looked at each other as they slowly covered their bare breasts; the men that had their mouths stretched also slowly dropped their smiles.

And without the boss saying another word, all of them carefully but hastily stepped out of the room– leaving only the colorful flickering lights to reflect in Dick's eyes, as well as a lone woman standing in the middle of the room.

"Can you repeat what you said?" The woman then glanced at Dick, before walking towards the desk that was at the end of the room; crossing her legs as she sat on top of the desk, not even caring that all of her skin was showing.

"We… we attacked supers from the Academy, boss."

"You attacked supers from the Academy?" The woman, now revealed to be the boss, slightly flicked her long purple hair to the side before getting a cigarette that was neatly placed on the desk. And before she could put it in her mouth, Dick already had a lighter prepared for her.

"Y… yes," Dick stuttered as he desperately tried to ignite the lighter, but the only thing that was coming out was the flick that whispered in the air.

"Staff or student?" The boss then pushed Dick's hand away as she removed the cigarette in her mouth and returned it to her desk.

"They… students."

"And why would you even do that?" The boss let out a small sigh as she stood up, before slowly walking towards her chair.

"...One of them disrupted our operations, Miss Sophie," Dick muttered, "He spent some time in jail leading us to lose some–"

"Sophie?"

"I… I mean boss," Dick once again stuttered as the tone of the boss' voice once again turned cold, "I… I got him out and cleared the misunderstanding with our clients."

"Then you should have ended it there," Sophie shook her head as she seemed to be searching something on the drawers of her desk, "Why even do something that puts us on the main radar of the Government?"

"That's–"

"Don't worry anymore," Sophie once again let out a sigh as she raised her hand, which was now holding what seemed to be a flip-top phone, "I'll go and talk to the mayor about this and say it was just some new recruits trying to show off. The students are alive, yes?"

"...Yes."

"Then that's good," Sophie let out a small scoff as she unfolded her phone, "You know– I like you and treat you like a brother, but sometimes you could be quite stupid. Why would you even attack someone from the Academy when all the eyes are on them at the moment? You a fucking retard, or what?"

"I… I thought we could score big," Dick said as he let out a small chuckle, "Two of them are Whiteking's children and–"

And before Dick could even finish his words, Sophie suddenly waved her hand; obliterating the phone into tiny little pieces. A small and quiet rumbling then seemingly shook the entire room; causing all the colorful lights that flickered everywhere to slightly distort as a large crevice formed on the walls– opening up a view of the hallway and maybe even beyond.

And soon, a persisting squelching whisper traveled throughout the room as Dick's upper body… slowly slid away from his waist; leaving a small rippling thud in the ground as it finally landed on the pool of blood already waiting for it on the floor.

"Fuck."

The sounds of death were then followed by Sophie's frustration. But after a few seconds, she shook her head and took in a small and deep breath, causing everything in the room to float, "I guess…

…I'll be facing the Hope Guild again."

***

"This isn't a costume party kid, go home. And how did you even find this entrance?"

"And no one under the age of 21 is allowed in the club, go before we beat yo' ass."

In a dark alleyway, where the sounds of the nightclub could barely be heard, two bouncers have been shaking their heads for a few seconds now as the young man in front of them refused to leave.

They were being lenient since the one in front of them was just a boy, but even their patience has limits.

"Look, kid. Just go buy some drinks in a convenience store or something, don't go causing trouble here, you got it?" One of the bouncers shook his head as he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. Although he was wearing a hoodie, it was quite obvious that he was young just based on his face and voice alone.

"I am not here for drinks, guard," the young man then finally raised his head, causing the bouncer to slightly back away from seeing his face; which was pale almost to the point that one could see the veins around his eyelids,

"I just wish to have a meeting with your boss," Riley then muttered.

"..."

"Pft."

And as soon as the bouncers heard Riley's words, the two could not help but look at each other; their bursts of laughter, almost drowning the already minute music seeping from the building, "Would you like to meet with the Pope as well?"

"I already have," Riley shook his head, "Tell your boss I would like to meet him, bouncer."

"Did someone put you up to this?" The bouncer also shook his head, "Go home before you get in troub– !!!"

And before the bouncer that placed his hand on Riley's shoulder could finish his words, he felt his legs almost turn to noodles as he suddenly dropped to the ground. He noticed a prickling feeling around his chin, but his vision already faded before he could find out what hit him.

The other bouncer, however, clearly saw Riley's hand moving– it was fast even for his trained eyes.

"That's it, no playing game–"

And before the other bouncer could finish his words, a disgusting snap whispered in his ear, "Y… you–" His eyes then slowly moved towards his unconscious colleague, only to see his head completely caved in… parts of his brain now under Riley's shoes.

"You're… a super?" The bouncer then slightly backed off.

"I wish to meet with your boss," a small smile then slowly crept up on Riley's face, "Tell him… I'm from the cartel."

"That's–"

"Please comply, bouncer…

…I will remove your jaw and choke you with your own tongue if you do not."

***

"I apologize, I thought you were a man."

"You do not have to worry, I thought the same of you."

Sophie's room was now fully lit; any of the colorful lights have already been replaced by the warm fluorescent that hummed from the ceiling. What little color that remained, however, was produced by the blood that was still coming out from Dick's body, which was still sprawled carelessly on the ground.

"I hope you're not squeamish," Sophie then muttered as she adjusted her robes, winking at Riley after she did so, "Needed a little punishing, that's all.

"..." Riley only looked at Dick, before shaking his head and letting out a short but deep sigh, "I was hoping he was still alive."

"Oh?" Sophie chuckled as she adjusted her butt on the desk, "So you're not from the cartel? I thought you'd be playing the role more."

"I see no purpose in pursuing the role anymore, Miss."

"Sophie, you may call me Sophie… Riley Ross," Sophie then licked her lips, crossing her legs ever so slowly to make sure Riley sees every inch of the skin hiding beneath her furred robes.

"I would also appreciate it if you do not tell anyone that I was here, Miss Sophie. I am too young to enter establishments like thi–"

"Let's not play around," the tone of Sophie's voice then changed as she waved her hand, causing the floor in front of Riley's feet to crack, "How many of you are there? Is the Hope Guild or your father with you?"

"...It's just me, Miss Sophie."

"So… you came in here all alone?" Sophie raised an eyebrow, "To… get revenge on this guy?"

Sophie then stood up from her desk, before kicking Rick's torso in front of Riley's feet.

"I suppose you could say that, Miss Sophie," Riley seemed to have pondered the question for a few moments before nodding,

"He said some things to my sister that I truly did not appreciate, and I was hoping to… talk to him. But since he is already dead, then I no longer have any purpose in staying here. Have a good night, Miss Sophie."

Riley once again nodded, before turning around to leave. But before he could do so, several fissures cracked on the floor in front of him.

"..."

"Dick might have died for it… but he was right– you'll be a good… investment." Sophie's slightly coquettish giggles then whispered in Riley's ears, "I've had some run-ins with some of the members of the Hope Guild in the past, you see."

"...Hm."

"Whiteking will pay a hefty sum for your safety," Sophie's giggles became louder as her steps whispered in the air; slowly approaching Riley, "You think…

…I would just let a big fish like you go?"

"No," Riley then suddenly turned around; his eyes looking straight towards Sophie's as the smile on his face almost reached from ear to ear,

"I was truly hoping that wasn't the case."

"...What?"

"Well, since I killed everyone outside already. Letting me go...

...would've been awkward, no?"