Riley Ross-Chapter 84: Pissed

"Hostage...?"

"Riley?!"

Hannah’s eyes widened in shock as she saw Riley standing right next to Mr. Monday. She was already completely used to all of Riley’s antics to the point she was numb to it—but this was different.

What was he even thinking? Volunteering himself to be a hostage? Even for someone like Riley, that was incredibly dumb and random.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one who was confused. In fact, Mr. Monday was even more confused than her... to the point that he could only stare at Riley and his cute bunny mask.

He looked at his partner for a moment, but Mr. Tuesday only returned his glance before focusing his attention back to Katherine, leaving him no choice but to decide alone.

This could be considered an incredible boon. After all, they would have the child of one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest man on the entire planet.

But then again, they would have the child of one of the wealthiest men on the entire planet. Someone with an almost unlimited resource would be under their tail... the cons might just outweigh the pros.

But the rumors did say that Bernard Ross was incredibly doting to his children. He... wouldn’t do anything drastic, right?

And besides all of these points, there was one other thing that was completely causing his mind to ring and jumble—it was the fact that he didn’t even sense Riley sneaking up right behind him.

Of course, his presence could have just been so small. He was a small boy, after all.

But that was the thing Mr. Monday was most apprehensive about—he knew absolutely nothing about the boy.

The only thing that they read in his file was that he awakened his abilities on the day of the entrance exam, and he wasn’t even supposed to be a student there. The file said that he was a telekinetic, like him.

Does that mean... this little boy was stronger than him? After all, the only way Riley would have been able to sneak behind him without him triggering all the telekinetic barriers he had set up, would be because he was stronger than him.

But... that should be impossible.

Mr. Monday slightly lowered his sunglasses to get a better look at Riley, but it was a useless gesture since he was wearing a mask. Still, he stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding to himself and saying,

"Well, since you insist. You’re coming with us, young man—you’re right, you’d make a very fine hostage. Who knows, maybe you might even want to join us by the end of this, no? Can you at least remove your mask so we could be properly introduced?"

"Of course, Mr. Monday."

And without even thinking about it, Riley casually removed the holographic mask by taking off his sunglasses and putting them in his pockets.

"Well, there we go—that’s a very unmistakable face you have there. I’d like to introduce myself again..."

And while Mr. Monday was busy talking with Riley, Katherine was subtly twirling her fingers, a quiet, but incredibly sharp blade of wind was twirling around it. Now that she knew that the things attached to Mr. Monday weren’t bombs at all, she decided to make her move.

But right when she was about to do something, Mr. Tuesday quickly stood in front of her.

"I would advise you not to do that, Scarlet Mage," he said, finally opening his mouth as he lowered his sunglasses to look her in the eyes. And without saying anything else, he pulled away his coat with his spear-like bone and revealed the bombs also strapped to him.

"Unlike Mr. Monday, I am wearing bombs. I’d survive it." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Katherine returned Mr. Tuesday’s stare, but ultimately looked away as the sharp wind dancing around her finger withered away. The only thing she could really do right now was observe the situation and turn her focus back to Riley.

"If you’re going to take my brother, then take me too!"

Hannah pushed away from the rest of the Baby Crew, not even caring about all the bombs and any of the threats as she grabbed Riley’s wrist and pulled him close to her. She held Riley’s wrist tight, completely infuriated and frustrated with whatever it was her brother was trying to do.

Mr. Monday only looked at her for a second before a small, mocking chuckle escaped his lips.

"As much as I would love two of Bernard Ross’s children as hostages, you’ll be too much of a baggage. Too... nuclear. I think if anything... we kill you here and now to prove to your father that we’re very serious about all of this."

"You—"

"That way..." Mr. Monday grabbed Hannah’s chin and pulled her closer to his face, "...He knows that we’ll kill his remaining child if he doesn’t follow our demands."

"Do you really think the heroes would let you get away with this?" Hannah did not flinch at all and even returned his glare.

"Oh, they won’t have a choice..." Mr. Monday chuckled, "...You see, they should be very busy right now."

***

"Why are you attacking children?"

In the ground zero of the explosion, Whiteking, Spectacular Mustache Man, Chieftain Amerika, Voltdevil, and Interesting Intestines were currently surrounding a single person that towered over all of them.

Well, perhaps to say it was a person would be wrong, as it didn’t look like a person at all—but rather a giant mantis with the head and torso of a woman.

[Mantissa | Threat Level: S | Powers: Nigh-invulnerability, super speed, super strength, hyper-regeneration, and bladed arms capable of cutting through diamonds. Formerly an esteemed scientist. Notably known for never harming children, and even rescuing and saving them from harm. One of the very few villains who are listed in Megawoman’s Rogue Gallery.]

"There’s no use trying to talk to her. Her ability to converse like normal people is gone." Whiteking was the closest to Mantissa, hovering a few inches above the ground. Even then, however, his focus was actually in a completely different place—his satellite. He was trying to see the entire situation from a bird’s eye point of view, but the smoke from the explosion made it hard to see anything.

Mantissa seemed to have felt that Whiteking was distracted, and she disappeared from her spot—only to appear right in front of him with her blade already threatening to cleave him in half.

But Whiteking did not make any sudden moves at all, he simply hovered to the left—avoiding the blade by centimeters.

The blade cut through air... as well as the very thick ground of Ohio. The ground was supposed to be as hard as steel, but Mantissa’s blade arm pierced through it like it was foam.

Whiteking flew back, not changing his stance in the air at all as he looked down on Mantissa.

"I don’t have time for this," he said, "I will kill you if I have to, Doctor."

"No!" Chieftain Amerika quickly roared, "We don’t kill, especially not with the students here!"

"I disagree, Chieftain—that is exactly why we have to... I’ll take responsibility."

***

"Wow, this guy’s heavier than I thought."

Back in Class 1-V, Gracey was now floating right beside Mr. Monday. And Tomoe, who did not even spare him a glance earlier, was also now standing beside him along with Riley.

After all, if Riley was going—then he either had a plan, or it was time for them to go where they actually belonged.

"Riley..."

Of course, the rest of the Baby Crew still couldn’t believe what was happening.

"If... if they’re going, then take me too!" Victoria stepped up, but Mr. Monday only laughed at her.

"You’re as much trouble as the princess here," he said before smirking at Hannah. Of course, Hannah did not take that lying down at all.

"Just leave my brother," Hannah gritted her teeth, "He doesn’t know what he’s doing."

"Wh—"

"No, Sister." Riley raised his hand, interrupting Mr. Monday before he could speak.

"I know exactly what I am doing."

"Don’t be ridiculous," Hannah glared at him, "What are you even..."

And all of a sudden, she abruptly stopped speaking when she saw the look in Riley’s eyes. It wasn’t any different than his usual look, but she narrowed her eyes and even tilted her head. The two stared at each other just like that for a few seconds before Hannah embraced Riley.

"Alright, alright! That’s enough," Mr. Monday sighed as he grabbed Hannah by the shoulders and pushed her away, "This is touching and all, but something’s come up and we’re kind of in a hurry now. Mr. Tuesday!"

And with that, Mr. Monday waved his hand—lifting Riley and Tomoe along with the unconscious Gracey, as well as Mr. Tuesday.

"Don’t even attempt to follow us—or we will blow them up."’

"Shit..." Katherine bit her lip as she watched her juniors be dragged away in the air. She had been training for years in Mega Academy and had run several hostage simulations—and yet she couldn’t do anything when it was the real deal.

"Hannah... girl..." Bella gulped as she carefully held Hannah’s hand, "...He’ll be alright. Whiteking and the others—"

"I know," Hannah closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, "There was nothing we could do. And he’ll be alright... I’m honestly more worried about what he might do."

"What... do you mean?"

"I told you we’ve been trained by Dad to fight as soon as we could walk, right?" Hannah breathed out, "A lot of those was how to escape or handle hostage situations."

"You think... he’s planning something?"

"No," Hannah also gulped, "What I’m afraid of is that he doesn’t follow our training. Didn’t... you see his face earlier? He’s...

...very, very pissed right now."

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