053 Problematic Parents - Part 3 - Reina’s POV

  Room 1408 was simple—two double beds, a small kitchen, a dining area, and scattered belongings giving the place a lived-in feel. A pair of socks draped over the back of a chair, a jacket tossed carelessly on the bed. And… underwear?

  Carl Brandt, already inspecting the room like some kind of detective, picked up the fabric with two fingers, frowning. “This place is well lived-in.” He turned to me with a raised brow. “Are you this messy? Leaving your stuff around so haphazardly?”

  I crossed my arms and gave him a flat look. “I don’t live here. And that’s not mine.”

  Carl visibly stiffened, then immediately dropped the underwear like it had burned him.

  “Who does live here, then?” The question came from a middle-aged man standing near the kitchen, absently adjusting the cuffs of his striped sweater. Chubby, short, round-faced—he looked like any other convenience store owner you'd pass by without a second thought.

  Irvin Ptolemy. Once one of the most powerful ESPers of his time. Now? A guy who ran a convenience store. If you didn’t know who he was, you wouldn’t look twice. If you did? You’d know the legends.

  I leaned against the wall and sighed. “Mirai.”

  That got their attention.

  I continued. “The child everyone is so interested in. The one people in power want their hands on. And thankfully, her existence remains a mystery to the ESPer world… with the exception of the people in this room.”

  Danica S. Mewler sat primly in the chair by the window, legs crossed, hands folded neatly over her lap. Her expression, however, was anything but composed—she looked at me like I had personally offended every principle of decency.

  “Isn’t it a little rude and unwarranted to hold a meeting inside a young woman’s home?” she asked, disapprovingly.

  I shrugged. “It’s just a room, not her entire house.”

  Danica didn’t seem convinced. She adjusted her glasses and sighed. “I’ve known Mirai since our time in the orphanage. She wasn’t this messy.”

  Carl muttered something under his breath about how that didn’t mean much, but I ignored him.

  “Some fellas managed to infiltrate and search the place,” I explained.

  Danica’s expression barely changed, except for a slight twitch of her lips. “Oh my,” she said, putting on an exaggerated frown. “That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

  “They’re dead.” I didn’t bother to sugarcoat it.

  She blinked once. Then twice. And then let out a small hum, as if I had just told her the weather forecast. “Well, I suppose that’s to be expected.”

  “Trust me, Mrs. Mewler, the lass can be messy if she wants to be.” I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms. “Besides, this place wasn’t just chosen randomly.”

  Danica raised an eyebrow.

  “One, it’s adjacent to another building I own,” I said, pointing a finger toward the wall. “Two, it offers the best vantage point for my people to keep watch. Three, it’s a strategic nightmare for any intruder.”

  Carl, finally interested, glanced toward the window. “So, the adjacent building?”

  “Snipers,” I answered simply. “Each one stationed in their respective nests, watching over us as we speak.”

  Danica tilted her head. “A bit excessive, isn’t it?”

  I smirked. “Not when you’re expecting guests with itchy trigger fingers.”

  Carl exhaled, shaking his head. “Better be careful than sorry, I guess…”

  Johann Georg Faust IV thumped his cane against the floor with a sharp crack. Despite the rumors that he was nearing his death, the old man had more energy than most men half his age. His piercing gaze swept across the room as he leaned slightly forward.

  “So, the Wentworths didn’t come?” he asked, his tone edged with irritation.

  I crossed my arms. “They’re open to discussions, but not at the current juncture.”

  Johann clicked his tongue. “Tch. This better not be a waste of my time.” His cane tapped against the floor again, as if emphasizing his point.

  Danica huffed in discontent, watching the exchange with barely concealed disapproval. “Honestly, Johann, must you always be so impatient? The world doesn’t revolve around your schedule.”

  Johann scoffed, his expression twisting into something resembling amusement. “Easy for you to say, Mewler. Time is precious. Some of us don’t have the luxury of waiting around for a bunch of cowards to make up their minds.”

  Danica narrowed her eyes. “And some of us have enough sense to know when to let things simmer instead of forcing them to boil over.”

  Before Johann could snap back, Irvin raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Now, now, let’s not turn this into a senior citizens’ argument clinic. We’re all here for a reason, aren’t we?”

  Neither of the two elders looked particularly convinced, but at least they had stopped glaring at each other long enough to momentarily listen.

  Johann leaned back in his chair with an exasperated sigh. “Fine. But if this turns out to be nothing but a meaningless gathering, I’ll make sure you regret dragging me out here.”

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  Danica rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, you’ll shake your cane at us most fiercely.”

  Irvin chuckled nervously, clearly hoping to steer the conversation toward something more productive, but the two continued to exchange barbs under their breath.

  I sighed and rubbed my temples. This was going to be a long meeting.

  Unexpectedly and kind of expected, it was Carl who in the end lost all patience. His arms were crossed, his fingers tapping against his sleeve in an agitated rhythm. His scowl deepened as he exhaled sharply.

  “What’s taking Evelyn so long?”

  Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door.

  I barely needed to think. My ESP, Absolute Authority, activated instantly. In places I had claimed as my territory, it worked flawlessly. A simple thought was enough to make the world bend to my will.

  The door swung open on its own.

  Evelyn walked inside, covered in blood from head to toe. Her hair was matted with it, her coat stained so thoroughly it was hard to tell what color it originally was. She smiled brightly as if she had just come back from a pleasant stroll.

  “Sorry I’m late! I had quite the adventure,” she announced cheerfully, wiping a bit of red from her cheek. “Four assassination attempts on the way here.”

  Silence.

  Irvin coughed. “…Four?”

  “Mmhmm. One in the elevator—he was an amateur. Two more in the hallway—better trained but still sloppy. And one last attempt from an exploding cat.”

  Danica choked. “A what?”

  Evelyn strolled further into the room, shaking her head as if recounting a minor inconvenience. “A cat. It was rigged with some kind of ESP-based explosive. The moment it got within range, it was supposed to blow me to pieces.”

  Carl pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course it was.”

  Evelyn stopped in front of me and stared expectantly. “Please, a little help?”

  I sighed and made a small gesture with my fingers. Absolute Authority hummed in the air. The blood and grime peeled away from her like water off a windshield, vanishing into nothingness.

  Evelyn examined her now-pristine clothes and twirled once. “Ah, much better. You always come through, Reina.”

  Without another word, she made a beeline for the fridge. She yanked it open, grabbed an apple, and bit into it with a loud crunch. Then she pulled out a pitcher, poured herself a glass of water, and downed half of it in one go.

  I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “So? Was it worth making us wait?”

  Evelyn smirked, eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, definitely.”

  I had no idea how Evelyn managed to do it.

  Every single time, without fail, she found a way to out-crazy me—out-crazy everyone.

  In the ESPer community, the crazier you were, the more dangerous you were. And Evelyn? She never failed to deliver on the crazy.

  She sang as she strode into the room, twirling the empty glass in her hand. “Alright, everyone! I now declare the official start of the very first Super Parents Club meeting!”

  Irvin rubbed the bridge of his nose. “…Super Parents Club?”

  Carl scoffed, arms crossed. “I don’t agree with that name.”

  Johann, the old bastard, smirked. “How adorable.” His tone was soaked in sarcasm.

  Danica let out a dramatic sigh, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, please, let’s just get this over with.”

  I exhaled sharply, pinching the space between my brows. Why am I even here?

  Of all the moments in my life where I felt completely helpless, this had to be near the top.

  “Oh? Why?” Evelyn asked, tilting her head with exaggerated concern.

  Her voice was so syrupy sweet it made my teeth ache. “Why not Super Parents Club when we all came here as concerned parents?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I came here as an aunt.”

  Carl crossed his arms and added dryly, “And the old man’s more of a grandpa than anyone’s dad, really.”

  Johann snorted. “I can speak for myself, Brandt.”

  Evelyn just shrugged, completely unfazed. “Close enough.”

  She tapped a finger against her chin as if deep in thought, then snapped her fingers like she’d just come up with the greatest idea in the world. “How about Super Guardian Club for our superhero group name?”

  And then—God help me—she started humming a theme song. I had no idea where she got it from.

  I sighed. Again.

  For the nth time, I pinched the bridge of my nose and muttered, “Evelyn, would you please behave?”

  “Okidoki,” Evelyn chirped, flashing her usual impish grin.

  It was like dealing with a particularly unpredictable hurricane in human form.

  Evelyn strolled further into the room, stretching her arms before dramatically clasping her hands together. "Well then, let’s get down to business, shall we?" She spun on her heel, addressing the gathered individuals with a flourish. "We are here because our children share a mutual fate—one where everyone either ends up dead or just half-dead. And, obviously, we’d rather not let that happen."

  Her words hung in the air, somber despite her theatrical delivery.

  Johann thumped his cane against the floor, unimpressed. "That prophecy remains contested. Even if we entertain the idea of fate, it is not absolute."

  Danica crossed her arms. "He’s right. Some of us are here because we believe in it, and some of us are here because we’re unsure." She gave Evelyn a pointed look. "And some of us are here because someone pulled at enough strings to make sure we couldn’t ignore this meeting."

  Evelyn winked.

  Carl let out a sharp exhale. "And yet, here we are."

  Irvin, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke, his tone light yet firm. "Regardless of the prophecy’s legitimacy, we can all agree on one thing—the world is shifting. Power is shifting. The younger generation is breaking through in ways we’ve never seen before." He glanced toward me. "Even you must acknowledge that, Reina."

  I nodded. "I do. That’s why I’m here."

  Evelyn clapped her hands once, as if wrapping up a presentation. "See? Even the skeptics agree. Now, let’s put all that philosophical back-and-forth aside. Whether you believe in prophecies or not, whether you care about destiny or just cold hard reality, it doesn't change the fact that we must act." Her voice lost its playful edge. "One way or another, we are stepping into war. Whether we name ourselves or not, this will be the first battle of our little nascent organization."

  A moment of silence followed.

  I studied the room. Each person here was a figure of power, an ESPer of terrifying caliber. They had gathered under Evelyn’s persuasion, under the shared uncertainty of what lay ahead. Whether it was through faith, logic, or simple paranoia, everyone in this room had come to the same conclusion.

  The future of our children had to be secured.

  And we would do whatever it took to ensure it.

  Evelyn leaned back against the table, arms crossed and a smirk tugging at her lips. "First things first," she began, her voice carrying that unsettling mix of amusement and deadly intent. "How about we demolish the hidden facility that's been building spies and soldiers on this island for the past few months?"

  I pulled out a folder, flipping it open and laying the documents on the table for everyone to see. "The Academy’s Archon has tacitly allowed certain 'persons of interest'—normally uninvolved in the Academy’s operations—to establish bases here. Officially, it’s under the guise of research, diplomacy, and collaboration." My voice dripped with sarcasm. "Unofficially? It’s a foothold. A threat sitting right under our noses."

  Danica scoffed, arms crossed as she leaned back against her chair. "The Archon’s losing his touch if he let danger to his students come this close," she remarked. "How careless."

  Johann tapped his cane against the floor. "The Archon is powerful, but he’s not omnipotent. Even he has limitations."

  Carl exhaled sharply. "Alright. How do you want to handle it?"

  I tapped the map in front of me, indicating several marked locations. "We could simply teleport a team of two into each of the bases. Quick, clean, efficient."

  Evelyn’s smirk widened. "Mm. You say ‘bases,’ but let’s not forget—they have sovereign backing. Global interests are at stake. That’s why the Archon’s hands are tied. He can’t openly act against them." She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with a wicked glint. "But… he can look the other way while we rampage."

  A slow, almost eager silence filled the room.

  I scanned the gathered faces. Johann had a calculating gleam in his eyes. Danica’s lips curled into something between a smirk and a sneer. Carl’s fingers drummed against the table, his flames flickering just beneath the surface. Irvin, despite his unassuming demeanor, had an unmistakable air of readiness.

  And Evelyn?

  She was practically vibrating with anticipation.

  One thing was clear—no one here had any objections.

  We were going to war.