Villain Retirement

"..."

"..."

Once again, Vera's face was expressing what everyone was feeling; her eyebrows, slightly raised in confusion but still very much amused.

Riley Ross has a daughter? That wasn't in any profile Vera had read, and she had probably read and watched everything about Riley Ross. She knew who Katherine Reads was; based on Admiral Varen's research, she was the one that had sexual relations with Riley for the longest time.

It was said she disappeared a couple of years ago— and now they have a child? And the supposed child also looked too old, probably a couple of years older than her brother based on her looks; it might just also be her white hair.

She did say she was two years old. And since the people of this planet based their age on its rotation relative to their sun… she should be considered very young— a baby, even.

Just… what is going on with this planet?

The expression on Vera's face truly showed what most of the evaniels there were feeling. Well, all except but one— Dr. Vella.

Her eyes were wide, wider than most as she stared at Karina; looking at her from head to toe and taking in every word that came out of her wide mouth.

Growth Acceleration?

Earth shouldn't have a scientist capable of something as complex as that. It was easy in theory, but in practice and mastery, even more advanced planets have difficulty in always making it work.

…There is also the fact that they perfectly cloned a themarian.

No matter how many times she searched the annex of Earth's library of information, she could not find a name for a scientist capable of that. But of course, there should also be many hidden secrets that weren't available to the public, but still.

The closest individual she could think of that would be capable of that kind of research is Riley's adoptive father, the one they call the Whiteking.

But last she checked, he didn't really delve into the depths of biology and only focused on his weapons.

Whoever this scientist is, Dr. Vella was sure he or she was the reason why Earth's technological advancement was so random. Just…

…who is it?

Riley mentioned something about a mother. His adoptive mother? Diana Ross?

But last she checked, she was just a normal human. She— !!!

And then, suddenly, her eyes that were already as wide as they could be turned even wider; almost to the point they almost popped out of their sockets— only saved by the glasses she was wearing.

She had seen a photo of Diana Ross when she read about Riley Ross's life— and there was a moment when she couldn't shake off a feeling that she had seen her before. She just shrugged it off, of course, as aside from the color of their hair and tattoos, the humans just looked like evaniels.

But that wasn't the case at all. Dr. Vella finally realizes where she knew Diana from;

She… looked exactly the same as the other themarian Aerith was with when she boarded the ship.

"..."

A themarian scientist.

…Themarian scientist.

"!!!" Dr. Vella almost let out a loud gasp; instantly covering her mouth as her breaths almost came out as whimpers. She then looked at Vera, but can't really find the words to say to her.

Although none of her theories were confirmed, if Diana Ross is who Dr. Vella thought she was… then they were in grave danger just by staying here.

They were in the presence of the entity that is responsible for the most number of Universal Law crimes. But then at the same time…

…they were also in the presence of one of the greatest minds in the universe. And as a creature of science herself, this weighed more to her.

And so, after trying to calm her breaths down, she just tried her best to shut her mouth and continue to observe the drama unfolding in front of her.

"Why… would I have to die?"

Karina's voice still held resolute as her eyes did not stray away from Riley. But alas, her trembling cheeks completely failed to hide the nervous tension crawling throughout her entire body.

And almost in contrast to that, Riley's face was almost devoid of any emotions as he uttered words that were filled with edge.

"Because the universe does not deserve another me, Miss Karina," Riley then let out a small but very deep breath… before breaking the cuffs that were binding his hands; the other evaniels were about to make a move, but Vera gestured to them not to do anything,

"It doesn't deserve another ender," Riley breathed out as he looked at his hands, "It will already suffer much by my hands alone."

"But I'm not you, though?"

"..."

"..."

"I'm like… literally my own person?" Karina's voice was slowly becoming meek; her head, slowly starting to stray away as Riley just stared at her while she continued to talk.

"..."

"Like… mom told me you like seeing blood and stuff and hurting people," Karina then slightly winced and trembled,

"But me? I can't even stand the sight of blood. Like, ew. Yuck, no," she then said as she stuck out her tongue.

"..."

"Grandma also told me you're not really a good person either."

"Grandma?" Riley tilted his head, "Alice has been resurrected, Miss Karina?"

"...No? Who's that?" Karina raised an eyebrow, "I meant grandma Tsula. She told me to stay away from you because you're the Harbinger of Ruin or something."

"...It has been a while since I last heard that."

"But I don't know, you know? You… seem kinda cool now that I am seeing you. It's just…" Karina's sighs then suddenly reverberated throughout the entire hangar as her shoulders soon dropped,

"I thought we could bond. I overheard— I mean, I heard from mother and the others about this whole thing about the guardian whatever that's coming… and I thought if I found it he would lead me to you…

…and he did. The others probably know I am missing already. So… can we please just, I don't know… do something a father and daughter does?"

"Okay," Riley nodded.

"R… really!?"

And with just a single word from Riley, everyone could see how Karina's face just suddenly almost lit up the entire area with her weird, but slightly endearing smile.

"But instead of something a father does with her daughter. I will do to you what my mother did to me instead, Miss Karina."

"That… That's good too, but what—"

And before Karina could even finish her words, her limbs suddenly locked together. And almost like a rope that only becomes tighter and tighter as one struggles, the only thing that Karina could really do was let out a sudden whimper— almost like a puppy.

"D… dad?" And very easily, tears started to trail on Karina's face, "W… why?"

"You don't have to worry, Miss Karina. I… understand your existence," Riley then said as he very slowly made his way towards her, "I have an acquaintance that is in a very similar scenario to yours."

"H… hkh," Karina sniffled as she looked at her father just looking at him with eyes devoid of any love and care.

"Except there's just one tiny difference that changes everything," Riley then let out a sigh as he stood right in front of Karina, looking her directly in the eyes… before wiping her tears away with the back of his hand,

"She was made in the image of a perfect being. While you… you were molded with the worst possible ingredient one could use…

…me."

"That… that's not true," Karina's eyes trembled as she returned Riley's gaze, "I… I think you're very cool."

"The fact you think that already means you've been corrupted by me," Riley then sighed before very slowly wrapping his arms around Karina,

"What I have ends with me."

And very soon, the entire ship could feel a small tremble— it was faint, but it made a sound that was almost too visceral to hear… as it is accompanied by an almost innocent whimper.

"N… no, please… don't… dad," Karina's eyes were slowly turning red; her nose and ears, now bleeding profusely, "No, no… no."

"I apologize you had to be born from me, daughter."

"Dad…" Karina once again turned to look at Riley, "Please… don't do— No… no, no…

…I said no!"

"!!!"

The markings on Vera's body instantly lit up; her hands, already grabbing Dr. Vella, as well as the unconscious Guardian as she ran away. How could she not… when she saw Riley's body disintegrate in front of her almost instantly?

The other evaniels were also able to run away— but they didn't really need to. As whatever that invisible force was, it would seem it really only targeted Riley Ross; even the floor beneath him was intact.

The same could not be said to him, however— as his body disintegrated almost into nothing but sand.

"No…" Karina quickly dropped to the floor as she tried sweeping the ashes towards her, "No… dad. I'm… no…"

And very quickly, her tears and blood filled her face as she let out a cry that could probably be heard throughout the entire ship.

"Huk…"

"..."

"..."

"A shame, I quite liked that clone."

"...Huh?"

And then, Karina very slowly turned her head up as soon as she heard a whisper; her snot and tears, still very much painted on her face. And there, he saw her father just standing like nothing even happened.

"...Dad?" Karina could really only blink a couple of times in confusion as she looked back and forth between the ashes in her arm and Riley.

"But it is also fortunate that you did what you did," Riley then let out a small sigh, "I forgot to ask you an important question, daughter."

"...What?"

"Have you tried dying before?"

"...Sorry?"