Villain Retirement

"Steve and I met when Whiteking introduced him to the Hope Guild… he thought I was a woman."

Bulwark's soft but gentle chuckle echoed through the entire church. And with his voice carrying the tone of neither that of a man or a woman, the sound he produced almost felt like a wonderful song. His eyes, however, were filled with a certain melancholy as he looked at Prophet's face on the video that he left for him.

"Of course, he wasn't the first one to think I was a woman," Bulwark's chuckle soon turned into a small peal of laughter, "I've had many partners across the world and across the time I have lived. Women, men, even beast…

…but there has always been something special about Steve. And I knew… I knew he didn't kill himself. So thank you, thank you for bringing this to me."

"..." Bella and Hannah could only nod their heads as Bulwark's eyes strayed towards them; Riley, however, only shrugged as he looked at the phone. Slowly, however, the phone started disintegrating– its dust, floating and turning into golden particles that danced like fireflies as the colorful mosaic layered with it.

"That's–" Hannah wanted to scream that they still needed the phone to search for clues about his killer. But seeing Bulwark's face, she couldn't really muster up the courage to do so.

"No," Bulwark then turned his attention to Hannah as soon as he heard a breath escaping her mouth, "Steve did not leave any clues as to who killed him... if that was what you were about to ask."

"I… I see," Hannah looked to the side.

"It's just… a chance for me to say goodbye to him," Bulwark let out a small sigh as he looked at the disappearing particles in the air, "It was wrong for me to give you this task. I want you to forget this ever happened."

"...But don't you want justice?" Bella joined in on the conversation, "I know Prophet ain't telling us to take revenge, but–"

"I'd settle for closure," Bulwark chuckled, "And this video gave me just that. Steve said that the one who killed him is the most dangerous man on the planet– I can't very well let his students risk their lives chasing someone like that."

"But we've helped you this far!" Hannah raised her voice, "Let us–"

"Wash your hands off this case," Bulwark shook his head as he waved his hand, "Please, this no longer involves any of you."

"We could help more!" Hannah did not stop, "They were led by MEGAN to Prophet… I happen to know the heir to the company who made–"

"I appreciate you wanting to help," Bulwark did not let Hannah finish her words as he let out a loud sigh, "But this no longer involves you."

"But–"

"Leave!" Bulwark once again waved his arm, but this time, a golden arc beamed out of his hand, flowing straight towards the three students in front of him; causing Bella and Hannah to quickly but gently fly through the air; the golden beam, turning into a fog that surrounded them. The church's door, also opening as a golden light also burst through it, making way for Hannah and Bella as the gold fog flew them straight to the outside.

"..." As for Riley, he was just casually standing inside the church where he stood, still.

"..." He and Bulwark looked at each other for a few seconds, before Bulwark's eyebrows started to furrow; once again waving his hand to summon a beam of golden light. And this time, Riley flew away; his expression not even changing as he floated to the door, almost hitting Hannah who seemed to want to enter the church again.

But alas, she has no more chance to do so as the door completely closed, leaving Bulwark alone to mourn Prophet inside the church.

"..." Bulwark stared at the closed door for a few seconds, before letting out a sigh that echoed through the entire church; his hand, gently brushing Prophet's coffin as he whispered,

"Why… Why didn't you just ask for help?" Bulwark breathed out, "I… 

…we could have saved you."

Years ago, in one of the museums dedicated to featuring arts and stories from Ancient Greece, Bulwark and Prophet were there… with Bulwark wearing a dress; his long golden hair, tied up in a braid and further emphasizing his extremely androgynous face.

Perhaps it wouldn't be a lie to say that he looked even more beautiful than most of the women in the museum. As for Prophet, he was not wearing the fake beard that was his superhero outfit; he was just wearing casual clothes that somewhat matched Bulwark's dress.

"So, this is you?"

Bulwark could still remember Prophet's cheeky laughter as he pointed at a statue of Apollo– a statue of him.

"Yes," Bulwark let out a smile as he leaned closer to his very own bust statue, "Do we look alike?"

"..." Prophet only blinked a couple of times as he stared at Bulwark's face. After a few seconds, however, he shook his head; his breaths, filled with disappointment, "Never meet your heroes, as they say."

"...Don't get on my nerves, young man," Bulwark then breathed out as he squinted his eyes towards Prophet.

"Really?" Prophet also squinted his eyes, "What did I say about not treating me like a child?"

"...My apologies," Bulwark raised both of his hands in defeat, before moving to the next exhibit; leaving Prophet no choice but to just follow behind him.

"This is… Hermes?" Prophet then looked at the statue beside Apollo, "Did you meet him? I suppose he was a sprinter?"

"No," Bulwark quickly chuckled as soon as he heard Prophet's question, "He's not even real."

"...What?"

"He didn't exist as far as I know. Humans tend to make stories and convince the people that is truth– it happens even now," Bulwark breathed out before pointing at a statue on the other side of the exhibit, 

"He is real."

"..." Prophet turned his head to where Bulwark was pointing to, only to see a statue of a man that seemed to tower everything else inside the museum.

"Heracles," Bulwark sighed as he slowly made his wait to Heracles's sculpture, "Depicted as the strongest epic hero… but perhaps the one that needed the most saving. Did you know that one of the newer members of the Hope Guild is named after him?"

"...Hera? The one that turns into a grey… giant?"

"Yes."

"Who is stronger between the two?" Prophet asked as he bumped shoulders with Bulwark.

"Hera, without a doubt," Bulwark answered without any hesitation, "Both are Strength-type Supers, but that girl would fold Heracles in half if they were to fight."

"...Really?"

"The Supers of today are… far stronger than the ones in the past."

"Hm," Prophet nodded, before another cheeky smirk appeared on his face, "I always wondered who is the strongest in the Hope Guild… is it you?"

Hearing Prophet's somewhat forward question, Bulwark closed his eyes and hummed,

"I'm just difficult to fight and kill," he then answered, "I believe if he learns how to harness his true powers, Tempo will be the strongest. But right now, it's Empress– she leads the guild for a reason and she is also one of Megawoman's disciples."

"...Megawoman has disciples?"

"Well, more like a protege, really," Bulwark chuckled.

"...What about Bernard?" Prophet then said as the smirk on his face grew bigger.

"Whiteking?"

"Yeah," Prophet's smirk turned into an almost condescending chuckle, "He's the only guy that doesn't have any actual powers… where does he rank?"

"Hm… Whiteking," Bulwark furrowed his eyebrows as he placed his hand on his chin.

"He's just a trophy member, right?" Prophet muttered; trying to hold the laughter that was coming out of his mouth, "I won't tell him if he is."

"Well, Whiteking… It's true that he doesn't have any powers," Bulwark let out a small hum as he finally answered, "But with all the things he has achieved and what he did to reach where he is. He…

…is probably the most dangerous man on the planet."

***

"Did… Did Bulwark just kick us out after we helped him!?"

Hannah wanted to kick the door of the church open but was stopped by Bella before she could actually do so.

"God damn it!" And so, Hannah could only scream in frustration, stomping her foot on the ground as she did so. It was a good thing that most of the people already left, if not, then they would surely think that all the members of the Ross family are crazy… if they didn't already.

"What… are we gonna do now?" Bella then asked as Hannah finally started to calm down.

"I'm no longer in the mood for this shit," Hannah scoffed, "Let's just go."

"..."

"..."

Bella and Riley could only look at Hannah as she stomped her way down. They were about to follow her, but before they could do so, Hannah stopped in her tracks.

"This isn't over," she whispered, "Even if Bulwark told us to stop, the issue with the clones is still connected with MEGAN, which is connected to Prophet's death… this isn't over."

"...What's the plan?"

"I…" Hannah paused her words for a while, before letting out a short but very deep breath as she looked at Bella, "... I need to stop avoiding Julius and talk to him."

"I would really appreciate that."

"!!!"

And as soon as Hannah's words were finished, a familiar voice suddenly entered her ears, causing her to turn around only to see Julius suddenly there.

"We finally caught each other…" Julius shook his head; using his cane as he stepped towards Hannah, "Why…

…are you not accepting my calls?"