Chapter 66: The Party Begins (2/2)

A round of applause went around for Casimir as all the villains respected hih ranks, not toh professionalisularly

"But the fine spirits and aperitifs and hors d'oeuvres you enjoy now are not from me, no, they are served on order of , this partnershi+p: I once thought I would never have one Not that I was against the idea, mind you - I simply could not find a partner I could wholly trust in

But Mr Vane has met my expectations and much, much more So without further ado, I will introduce you to the man of the hour: Bruce Vane!"

Casie dih the backstage curtains as the stage di his expected presence He did not wear any equip ht He took in a deep breath to calh his undead heart did not truly beat

This was it

This was the eance

Judgement

Justice

Aldrich looked at a counter in his status screen

[Party Meiven their consent to join this 'party', and their wristbands gleail that marked them out as Aldrich's party members

45 villains 10 A class Blackwater students And the Butcher and his handler

Everyone he wanted dead in one roo the hard surface of the phylactery beneath his suit The Chrysalis by now had h with the Phylactery that its dih to fit in Adam and Elaine for this final stretch

It felt almost surreal To have co right before hi Had he planned everything out properly? Was this going to work?

He felt a hand squeeze his shoulder

"Master," said Valera She drew close to Aldrich, and in her gla "Are you worried?"

"No Just slightly overwheluess there was some part of me that never believed that I would make it this far," said Aldrich

"Of course you would make it this far You are my one and onlyfor all eternity and beyond If not you, then who else?

At the very least, I believed in you from the start with all my heart," said Valera

"I know," said Aldrich He looked into Valera's black and red eyes "And thank you Without you backingme, I wouldn't be here"

"You should not thank ht" Valera patted out creases in Aldrich's suit and ser to see you bathe in carnage tonight"

She then looked directly at Aldrich, and he looked directly at her Because she was so busy fixing his clothes, she had not noticed how close their faces were, their cold breath intertwining together Valera's eyes widened, her body stiff and tense, waiting -

"Not now," said Aldrich as he drew back "I still have to finish what I started"

"Of course, my master I understand," said Valera She smiled coyly "Not now, is it? Then later?"

"Later" Aldrich smiled back at her before his expression set into seriousness He materialized his [Phantasmal Mask] and put it on Then, he stepped out of the curtains, and as he did so, green spotlights hit hi his each and every step to the hout the room as the mystery investor finally showed himself

Aldrich looked down at the crowd of villains before hi the desire in their eyes, at how they wanted his supposed credits He looked up at the Butcher who picked his teeth with a claw-like nail, ignoring everything below He lance with Seth Solar before Seth looked away,the small case of boost vials on his table

Aldrich raised his hand, and the applause died down

"First off, I want to thank all of you forit here You have no idea how thankful I aathered here like this," said Aldrich, his voice projecting throughout the roo ed his normally neutral pitched voice into one far deeper "I don't intend to take you away froive a quick foreword before we began"

Aldrich reached into his coat pocket and n Stone He held it up in the air, and everyone stared at it, wondering what it was

"This…is a precious possession of mine," said Aldrich "To me, it represents my hopes and dreareatness"

Aldrich paused, and then his voice grew even deeper, gaining a sharp, threatening edge to it that made everyone in the room shi+ver

"But to you, it represents your death Your judgement"

Before confusion could hit, Aldrich activated the Sign Stone, and the light from it burst out The wristbands around each villain started to glow, reacting to the Sign Stone, and before anyone could think about running, the green light engulfed everyone, leaving the once bustling dance floor completely and utterly empty