Chapter 154 - 154: Forest

"Silvie Savelievna. We need you to come with us to answer some–"

"I don't think so…

…slut."

"Watch your tone, this is–"

One of the people behind Empress, presumably a staff of the Academy, was about to take a step forward. But before she could do so, Empress raised her arms to block her.

"You may leave," Empress then said as she glanced at the people behind her.

"But–"

"You're still injured, Empress. We still need to–"

"I won't die with just this," Empress let out a small sigh; shaking her head before once again gesturing to the staff of the Academy to leave, "I'll return to the clinic after I am done here, I promise."

"That's…" The group looked at each other for a few seconds, before nodding their heads and stepping on Silvie's broken door as they stepped out of the apartment. And as soon as they were gone, Empress casually picked up the heavy silver door and forcefully… pinned it back on.

And if it wasn't for the loud sound of her doing so, then they would have definitely heard the gossipers and onlookers' 'aww' of disappointment.

"I would appreciate it if you do not call me… that unpleasant word, Hannah," Empress then let out a small but very deep breath as she looked at Hannah.

"What word, slut?"

"What happened between your father and I were–"

"So you agree that you're a slut?"

"Let's talk about this some other time, Hannah. What matters now is that Silvie Savelievna needs to–"

"She's not going anywhere."

And now, not only Hannah but also Tomoe blocked Silvie from Empress's view.

"That's right," Hannah crossed her arms, leaning her head back as a way to… look down on Empress. But due to Empress being the 2nd tallest in the room, the only thing Hannah was really doing was almost hitting Silvie's nose.

"Gary, why are you just standing there!? Need some support here!" Hannah then loudly whispered as she gestured for Gary to join them with their… small barricade. Gary, however, was once again in a sort of stupor, seemingly completely unaware of what he should do.

"W… well," Gary then took in a small gulp as he looked back and forth between Empress, Silvie, and Hannah, "If… if the Government is asking for her, then maybe we should–"

"Since when did you become a dog of the governme– No, since when did you become a dog's dog of the government!?"

"I'm–"

"I am not the Government's dog, Hannah," Empress's tone quickly changed as she answered Hannah's question, not even allowing Gary to speak as she took a small step forward.

"No, I am very certain you're a bitch," Hannah did not back down as her hands began to sizzle, "As far as I'm concerned, all the members of the Hope Guild are the Government's dogs. My dad certainly is one…

…and you're the bitch who licked his wounds when he was down."

"..." And with those words, the air around Empress slowly began to pop; like a minuscule snap of explosions erupting around her, almost snapping in rhythm with her trembling eyebrows. She knew that she shouldn't let Hannah's words get to her since she was in many ways her senior… but it would seem Hannah got her talent with words from her father just a little too much for her liking.

"Look here, child," Empress then breathed out, her tone truly no longer containing any hint of modesty, "It's not my fault your father crawled to me when he was at his weakest. Your mother seemed to only care about herself and didn't even notice that Bernard was having troubles."

"That's because she had to take care of me!" Hannah did not budge, "You wouldn't understand because you're not a mother!"

"I was a mother," Empress furrowed her eyebrows, "And I understood fully."

"That's…"

"Okay, I feel like we've totally gone way off track with what we're–"

"Whose side are you on!?"

Once again, Gary was not able to finish his words as Hannah screamed. He seemed to want to say something, but before he could do so, Hannah's entire arms were quickly engulfed in fire. And not even a second later, a torrent of water came raining down upon them– followed by the sound of the fire alarm loudly banging in their ears.

None of them budged, however, as Hannah and Empress just kept on staring down at each other.

"!!!"

It wasn't until Silvie began to scream that Hannah immediately strayed her eyes away from Empress. Hannah looked back, only to see Silvie clasping her head; her knees and elbows, now touching the floor.

"Silv!?" Both Hannah and Tomoe quickly rushed to check on her, "What the fuck is going on with you now!?"

"T… the alarm. It… it hurts."

"W–" Hannah did not finish her words as a ball of fire emerged from her hand, immediately firing it towards the fire alarm detector. She was able to hit it, but the ringing that continued to whistle inside the apartment did not stop.

Tomoe had also frozen the walls and ceiling of the entire apartment, causing a string of icicles to fill the entire room… and yet the ringing did not cease.

"Y… your nose," Hannah then whispered as blood started to drip from Silvie's nose. And as soon as she saw that, she remembered the exact scene when Dark Millenium died. Her entire head just exploded and burst… she initially thought it was Darkday who did it, but when Tomoe said that it was actually Whiteking–

"You… call my dad and tell him to stop this!"

"What does your father have to do with–"

"Dad, I know you're fucking listening to us right now!" Hannah then said; her eyes, looking at Empress from head to toe. She was about to rush towards Empress, but Empress took a few steps back and gestured for her to back off.

"Don't," Empress commanded, "You might be Whiteking's daughter but you're walking on mighty thin ice here, child. And besides, I have my communications off– no one can hear or talk to us."

"Then you really don't know my dad," Hannah scoffed, "I know you've been fucking listening to us, dad."

"W–"

[There should be a button at the bottom of the TV rack; right side.]

"Gary!"

"Huh? Wha–"

"Fuck, why are you so useless today!?"

Hannah could only click her tongue; pushing Gary away as she rushed towards the living room, immediately crouching down as her palms began tapping the bottom of the TV rack– and soon, a small click whispered into her ears; and immediately, the ringing that drowned the entire room stopped.

And with the ceasing of the alarm, Silvie's trembling body began to calm down; her face and eyes, almost completely red as the veins almost popped out from her skin. But soon, her breaths returned to normal… but not until she dropped on the floor.

"Silv!"

"...She's alright," Tomoe quickly let out a small sigh as she checked on Silvie's pulse, "Things… are getting slightly out of hand."

"You think?" Hannah let out a heavy and fettered chuckle,

"What the fuck are you guys doing out there?" She then said as she once again turned her attention towards Empress; her gaze, no longer mocking nor condescending, not even gloating– but instead just filled with disappointment, "Seriously? Cloning Megawoman and… and playing with people's lives? What the fuck."

"...Cloning," Empress whispered as she looked at Silvie, "...How did you come up with that conclusion?"

"Fucking kidding me?" Hannah rolled her eyes, "Still trying to hide it? I suppose you and dad are great at hiding secrets."

"Bernard is…" Empress furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to remember the events that happened earlier. When Dark Millenium's head exploded, Bernard did point some kind of gun at her. Could… it actually be?

"...Are you saying Whiteking is involved in this?"

"Go ahead, feign ignorance."

"..." Empress no longer said anything and instead just returned her gaze towards Silvie, "I still need to take her with me for–"

"Not a chance, go home."

"That was no longer a request, Ha–"

"I also think you should go home and rest, Empress."

"What the!?"

And before Empress could finish her words, Hannah could not help but slightly jump in shock as Riley's words suddenly popped out from beside her; she looked, only to see Riley sitting on the sofa… and sipping on a cup of what seemed to be warm milk.

"I… I completely forgot you were here, bro," Hannah breathed out as she grabbed her chest in fright.

"...Riley Ross," Empress slightly stuttered as she took a few steps back, "You… are here?"

"Why, were you expecting me somewhere else, Empress?" Riley muttered as he placed his cup on the coffee table.

"N… no."

"Go home, Empress," Riley repeated, "You're still injured from fighting Darkday."

"I don't think the bitch is going to leave until someone–"

"...You're right."

"...What?"

"I will… proceed with this matter some other time," Empress then quickly said as she turned around, "For the meantime, please watch your… friend. Protect her if you must, but don't let the other students approach her as much as possible."

And with those words, a loud thunder once again erupted in the entire apartment as Silvie's broken door once again slammed to the floor. The shadows of the onlookers and gossipers, quickly scurry away as Empress stepped out of the apartment without any more words.

"..."

Hannah and Tomoe could only look at each other as Empress left just like that. They did not have time to ponder, however, as Silvie was still unconscious.

"Dad!" Hannah then once again screamed, "I know you're still listening out there! Just what the fuck is happening right now!?"

"Dad!? Don't ignore me!"

[...] A small whistle then reverberated through the entire apartment; carrying with it a small but very deep sigh, [Tomorrow, 8 in the morning at your usual hideout. Bring the girl and your other friends if you want– if you need to. I will tell you everything about Project Forest...

....about Project Silvie.]