The incident of Amos's injury couldn't be made public without exposing to even more scrutiny. In the end, Mr. Black had no choice but to try to forcibly suppress everything to the best of his ability.
Although the Black Tiger corporation was quite formidable, with Emilia's father and sister doing their best to counter his moves at any cost, it was impossible for him to keep suppressing this matter.
In the end, combined with the hero's unexplainable absence, the issue of the two boys missing went from a kidnapping or murder incident to a heavily abusive love triangle gone wrong in people's minds.
This not only had the effect of cutting Emilia off from any negative impact of their disappearance, it also managed to damage the hero's reputation even further.
And this time, it was no longer some surface level damage that could be easily repaired. Not only was the reach of the 'slander' on another scale entirely, with several news channels covering the 'incident', this time there was also some incriminating evidence against the hero!
Emilia didn't know what the hero was doing, but she couldn't help but be in a good mood as she returned home for the night.
Although there was still a long way to go, she now had a firm and unshakeable advantage over the hero.
In the future, he would have a much lower chance of being able to even the playing field, and Emilia fully intended to press her advantage to completely dominate him.
Even Cynthia couldn't help but applaud her. "I have to say, Emilia, this time you really managed to surprise me!"
Emilia chuckled proudly. "Fufu… this is the power of a good story, Cynthia. The hero's love triangle is a tantalizing and exciting story, and along with some 'evidence' sprinkled in, the people who want to believe it will just refuse to listen to whatever explanation is thrown their way."
Her system raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Hoh?"
Emilia nodded. "Of course, if they can completely prove it otherwise, the effect can be reduced greatly, but the best counter would be to use another 'exciting news' to suppress it at the same time. Unfortunately for Mr. Black, I already grasped that this is his weakest point."
Cynthia always wondered just how dumb this so called 'love' can make people. For her villainess, who was such a smug smartass bitch, to be so utterly crushed in that world by that ugly hag Maeve, Cynthia almost couldn't believe it.
Emilia didn't seem to be aware of her partner's thoughts, and continued on with her 'explanation'. "Look at the Black Tiger's reputation, it stinks, right?"
Cynthia nodded absently. "Uh, compared to the White Deer, yeah, I guess."
Emilia smirked. "Everyone knows that they're a ruthless corporation that cares for nothing but profit, which is fine, more or less. But always sabotaging their opponents, using any means necessary to achieve their goals… although it brings a lot of short term benefits, it can backfire precisely at times like this!"
Cynthia couldn't help but shake her head. "But if you think about it, they still managed to grow to this point, right? You should be careful."
Emilia nodded. "Of course, being openly underhanded allows them to be fearless when doing things that we would never dare let the public know ourselves, such as kidnapping their opponent's family members to win a bid, and so on."
The emerald eyed girl nodded. "Mhm. You never know what he might do."
Emilia shrugged. "But at least in this way, I've managed to push the hero firmly into his father's 'underhanded' camp, right? I think in the previous world, the hero must have managed to maintain a good reputation while still using his father's methods, which let him reap the most rewards either way."
Cynthia couldn't help but shake her head in disapproval. "The hero always has a good reputation in the end, Emilia. Although the world will is weak, as long as you give him a chance to recover, I'm sure he'll spring back in no time at all!"
Emilia nodded grimly. This was one point that she completely agreed with. "Don't worry, I know. My advantage right now is that he's still an immature brat who is prone to making mistakes. I have to make as much use of it as I can while this advantage is still there."
Cynthia couldn't help but be curious. "Ohh? And what does my villainess plan to do next?"
Emilia smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
==========
Meanwhile, Randy, the boy who had hit Amos on the back of his head, was huddling in terror in a corner of his room. His parents had already tied up his mouth, hands, and feet, and stuffed him in a closet to keep him hidden as they made call after call in a panic.
It was as if the sky had fallen down on them, which wasn't far from the truth as far as they were concerned. They knew they were doomed, but they couldn't help but struggle. At the very least, their son must survive! How could they allow both their children to die before them?
"P-Please, you know what our son went through that day, please put in a good word in—"
"Just this once! Do something just this once!"
"It will never happen ever again!"
"We'll devote our entire life, please!"
Unfortunately, no matter who they called or how they pled, the response was always the same. A firm rejection that was filled with lingering fear.
Many didn't even bother responding at all, cutting off the call as soon as they realized who they were talking to.
Randy, who had lost his brother in a mugging a few years ago, and had lost his mind to hit Amos a few minutes ago, couldn't believe how unfortunate he was.
Not only had he dragged his brother to doom that day, today, he had even dragged his own parents down as well.
All because he couldn't just stay still and watch it happen.
'Why do I always have to try to play the hero? Why couldn't I just ignore it? Why?! Why am I such a moron?!'
But no matter how much he cried or how hard he begged for all of this to be just a nightmare, the door to their home still smashed open as men in black suits stormed in to drag his kicking and screaming father and mother out.
Randy could do nothing but struggle helplessly against the restraints, not even being able to see what was happening to his parents. He could only guess from the noise that they had already been 'escorted away' by the Black Tiger's men.
He could do nothing as they were taken away.
Randy swore to himself that he would no longer be a hero. No. He swore he would take revenge, for both his parents and his brother. He swore… to become a villain.
Unfortunately, before his vow could even be properly completed, the closet he had been locked into was slammed open as he was dragged out by the men in black.
Randy could only reel in boundless despair as he felt the buff man easily lift up his scrawny body over his shoulder to carry him out of the house.
Perhaps… he would never have a chance for revenge.