"Is that so?"

Tempo and V just explained the reason for Riley joining the Hope Guild. At first, Gary was a bit frustrated and somewhat disappointed that Riley would not be joining them in the Baby Crew. They were not just a bunch of superheroes in training anymore, and their group is even registered with the Hero Association.

They have been waiting and wanting to put Riley's name in it, even knowing that it would take a very long time until he gets out of prison or even if he gets out at all. But even still, even in prison, Riley was a core member of the Baby Crew.

But hearing how Riley's freedom was due to the fact of him joining the Hope Guild, Gary started to calm down.

"You are going to visit the Baby Crew, right?" Gary then let out a sigh; his breath, still containing hints of disappointment, "I already told the guys about you."

"Of course, Monarch," Riley nodded, "My sister is still there."

"Sweet, why don't we"

"Hate to break up your reunion."

But alas, before Gary could suggest something, Tempo interrupted their conversation,

"But Riley is actually expected in the base."

"...The Hope Guild's secret base?" Gary almost choked in his own saliva as he heard Tempo's words, "Is it possible for me to tag along?"

"...No," Tempo breathed out, "It's a secret base. Even Riley doesn't know where it is yet, right?"

"I know where it is, Tempo," Riley answered, "I have been there multiple times."

"...What?" Tempo lightly gasped; but after a few seconds, he shook his head, "Not the old one where you lived."

"W what? Riley lived in the Hope Guild's base!?" Gary exclaimed.

"I know where the new one is," Riley repeated, "I have been there multiple times."

"...What?" Tempo also repeated, "Did Whiteking bring you?"

Riley, however, no longer answered as he just looked to nowhere in particular. Hearing this conversation, however, V suddenly remembered the time she almost took her own life after the events in London.

The only reason she didn't end up drowning herself was that she saw Riley's face outside the mecha suit. Could it be that Riley actually rescued her? But no, that should be impossible, he was currently being held in prison during that time.

"..." V then looked at Riley. She had been with him for four months without even separating even for an hour she knew him well enough to know whether or not he was lying, and it didn't seem like he was.

It could just be her imagination as well. And so, with that thought, V just shook her head and once again clung onto Riley's arm, causing Gary to quickly grab his phone and take a picture of it, sending it to the Baby Crew's group chat.

Gary didn't bother checking if there were any replies, but judging from the number of notifications that were whispering in his ears, everyone should be losing their minds.

"Shall we go?" Tempo then said, "One of the jets is parked near, so there shouldn't"

"Don't leave yet."

And before Tempo could even take a single step, secretary Jane once again made her presence known, "There's still the last step before Mr. Riley Ross could be fully registered into the Hero Association his official superhero name. We just used his name for the announcement earlier since it was also his superhero name in the Academy, but"

"Riley Ross," and without even looking at secretary Jane, Riley Ross walked away; leaving the Hero Association tower with V clung to his arm.

"..."

"I guess process it yourself?" Tempo shrugged; only glancing at secretary Jane as followed the two. As for Gary, he also only looked at secretary Jane, he has been wondering who she was but could it be she was some sort of assistant to the Hope Guild?

He wanted to say something to her, but in the end, he also just left to follow Riley; he didn't need to rush, however, as Riley and the others were still at the entrance of the Tower being bombarded by the media left and right.

"Holy shit" Gary took in a small gulp. He had seen a view like this before almost a year ago in Mega Academy on their way to Toronto. It served as a lesson for them not to trust the media and how to avoid them he had been waiting for it to happen ever since he officially became a superhero, but now it really was happening.

Not for him, of course but for Riley Ross.

"Is it true you're joining the Hope Guild!?"

"How long have you and V been together!?"

"Is it true that the two of you spent your time in prison together!?"

"What can you say about the rumors of Empress and Whiteking having an affair!?"

"We heard there was a case of abortion, is it true that V had a baby while in prison?"

"Where is Ms. Phoenix? Is it true that she really died more than a decade ago!? So the rumor that she retired and was just resting isn't true!?"

The questions started out as something light but soon, hidden within the onslaught of words, were words filled with poison and malice.

"These bitches," V snarled as she let go of Riley's arm, "Just because you're new in the Hope Guild, they think they could bully you. Let me teach them"

And before V could finish her words, Riley walked forward and approached the reporters,

"It's fine, V," Riley shook her head, "I was trained by sister to deal with the media, I know what to say."

And with that statement, Riley faced the almost hundred cameras pointed at him,

"Go fuck yourselves," Riley then said almost monotonously, raising both his middle fingers with a smile on his face and as soon as he did so, the crowd suddenly started to split open, making way for him to walk,

"Thank you," Riley then nodded as walked through the path he made.

"..." The reporters, who still seemed to want to say something, were not able to open their mouths they couldn't even flick their fingers in order to snap photos of Riley's back as he left.

Tempo and the others could only look at each other as this happened, but after a few more moments, they followed Riley making their way to where the Hope Guild's jet was parked; on a rooftop of an abandoned building that may or may not have been purchased by the Hope Guild.

"Visit the Baby Crew once you're done, man," Gary let out a small but very deep sigh as Riley climbed onto the jet, "The others really want to see you."

"I will, Gary," Riley nodded, "The members of the Hope Guild seem to have a lot of free time, so that would not be a problem."

Tempo almost coughed as he heard Riley's words but he couldn't really refute since a part of it was true. As the world's greatest superhero team, they were only to focus on threats that needed their attention; as focusing on other things might impede on things that needed their attention.

And due to this, they really do have a lot of free time.

"Alright, bro," Gary once again let out a sigh as he tapped the side of the jet, "V, please take care of Riley."

"You don't need to tell me," V only scoffed, not even looking at Gary as she got inside the jet.

"See you soon, man."

"Hm."

And with those words, the jet started to hover in the air not even letting out a whisper of a thunder as it flew into the air at a speed almost enough to blow Gary away.

"..."

"..."

And a few seconds after the jet was gone, a small smile crawled on Gary's face.

[Did you do it?]

And from his ear, Silvie's voice suddenly whispered; the tone of her voice slightly also giggling.

"Yes, we should get their position in a few seconds. I made sure they wouldn't be able to see the tracker."

[Good job, Monarch.] This time, it was Hannah's voice that whispered into his ear, [They think they could just snatch my brother and a core member of the Baby Crew like that? No matter who they are, the Baby Crew will soon fuck them up.]

"But damn, Riley be getting all the chicks. I wonder what Scarlet Mage is feeling right now," Gary sighed as he turned around; as soon as he did so, his eyes instantly widened.

Because in front of him was Tempo.

"I think you forgot this," casually handing him the tracker he ever-so stealthily placed on the side of the jet.

"I" And before Gary could even say anything, Tempo disappeared; leaving Gary with an open mouth and slightly wet undies.

"...Mission failed, my dudes," Gary then took in a small gulp, "Tempo got our tracker

or so they would think."

And with those words, Gary burst out in laughter.

"You were right, Hannah. They found the decoy tracker I placed."

[They didn't discover the other one?] Even through the speaker, the relief contained in Hannah's voice could be heard.

"Of course not" Gary smirked, his eyes almost glistening as he seemed to truly be proud of himself,

I placed it in a spot no one would even find it."

***

Inside the Hope Guild's jet, Riley was currently staring at some sort of candy that was in his hand. Gary placed it inside his pocket while they were still in the Hero Association. He was giggling and chuckling as he did so, not knowing he wouldn't have been able to place it in the first place if Riley didn't allow him to do so due to the invisible armor surrounding him.

"...What's that?" Tempo, who was seated beside him, could not help but be curious as to why Riley was holding a candy in the air. V was quite curious as well, but since she was the one piloting the jet, the only thing she could do was take a glance.

"I do not know yet, Mr. Tempo," Riley let out a small sigh as he returned the 'candy' in his pocket, "But knowing them

it is probably something stupid."

***

[Attempt number: 692368]

[...Signal not found.]

[...]

[...]

[Attempt number: 692369]

[...]

[...]

[!!!]

[Signal found!]

[...]

[...]

[Error: Themarian Voice not within set parameters.]

[...]

[...]

[Conclusion: Receiver, not Theran.]

[...]

[...]

[MEGAN will continue to attempt command: Theran Call]

[Attempt Number: 692370.]