Meanwhile, Flug entered Black Hat's office and looked up in surprise to see a fairly serious and concerned expression on his boss's face, one that he was not used to seeing despite Black Hat's normal no-nonsense demeanor.
"You wanted to see me, Jefe?" Flug asked hiding the concern in his voice.
"Yes," Black Hat answered calmly. "How is the girl?"
Flug scoffed and said, "She seems like a fighter. I'll give her that. I've laid down the law and given her that tracking device."
"What do you recommend for her re-education?" Black Hat asked.
"Well, first, I suggest her parents keep her away from any outlets that influence heroism," Flug said. "Second, her parents will have to pull her from her current school and teach her the benefits of villainy over heroism…"
Black Hat scoffed and said, "Those two fools are the ones whose neglect allowed Melanie to become this heroic in the first place. I don't trust them to be the firm hand that she needs. She will stay here. I want you and Dementia to teach Melanie in their place."
"Sir, is that really necessary?" Flug protested. "I have so much to do here as it is. Surely, there are other..."
"No!" Black Hat snapped standing up and knocking his chair over. "It has to be us! I'm not making the same mistake twice!"
Realizing what he had just revealed, Black Hat looked away from his cowering underling.
"Twice, sir?" Flug asked shyly.
Black Hat paused a moment to regain his composure, telekinetically readjusted his chair, sat back down, and began, "It happened 20 years ago in Japan. Her name was Kasumi Yamaguchi. She was 15, only one year older than Melanie. Her parents were supervillain members of the Yakuza crime organization and associates of our organization as well. They also made the mistake of sending their daughter to a Catholic school run secretly by nun-jas. When we found out, Kasumi was put under house arrest for some serious re-education, but she proved to be resistant. So, I told her parents to send her to my institute. The night before she was due to leave, however, Kasumi's sensei Agnes Takea, a pseudonym, of course, came in the night and somehow managed to rescue the girl. Kasumi disappeared after that, and besides some clandestine letters sent to her parents, her family has had no contact with her since. Now, it's all-but-confirmed that the girl has become a powerful nun-ja sensei."
Flug remained silent as he took in all this classified information having no idea what to say in response.
"You're probably wondering why I asked you to allow this girl to finish her little performance earlier," Black Hat said. "The truth is I wanted to observe her because her moves looked familiar like that Kasumi girl 20 years before."
"Jefe, are you saying what I think you're saying?" Flug asked.
"I'm all but certain of it," Black Hat replied. "Melanie's sensei is none other than Kasumi Yamaguchi. She has evaded our organization for decades and has been training other sisters to fight crime."
Flug remained silent as he received this classified information not knowing what to say in response.
"You're probably wondering why I asked you to allow this girl to finish her little performance earlier," Black Hat said prompting Flug to look up with a questioning glance. "The truth is I wanted to observe her because her moves looked familiar like that Kasumi girl 20 years before..."
"Boss, are you saying...?" Flug asked.
"I'm all but certain of it," Black Hat interrupted. "Melanie's sensei is none other than Kasumi Yamaguchi. She has evaded our organization for decades and has been training other sisters to fight crime."
"Are you sure, sir?" Flug asked.
"I'm positive," Black Hat said getting up from his chair and pacing to the window to see Melanie outside in Women's USA soccer merch playing soccer with 505. Trying to get information out of the girl would be a waste of time. I know it to be true."
"So, what do we do, Jefe?" Flug asked getting out of his chair and looking out the window to observe Melanie as well.
"Stay our course," Black Hat replied. "Continue keeping an eye on her. We need to make sure our security is at its best. Chances are her sensei may try to follow in Agnes Takea's footsteps and try to take Melanie."
"Yes, sir," Flug said. "And what of her Divine connection? Those with a connection to…"
"DON'T SAY HIS NAME!" Black Hat screamed in Flug's face causing him to trip backward and recoil in horror. "IT'S BAD ENOUGH HE'S OUT THERE! I WILL NOT HAVE HIS DISGUSTINGLY HOLY AND PURE NAME MENTIONED IN MY PRESENCE!"
"I'm sorry, Jefe," Flug whimpered meekly. "I only meant to say the religious with supernatural connections are harder to break."
"I know," Black Hat said more calmly. "We've been fighting since before men were created. It pains me to even feel his presence inside one of his followers."
"Wait," Flug said in a sudden realization. "Does that mean you're really a…?"
"Yes," Black Hat said before flashing a wicked smile. "But keep it to yourself. I like to keep our associates guessing."
BANG!
A soccer ball suddenly bounced off the window before them.
In annoyance, Black Hat threw open the window and yelled, "Watch where you kick that ball, you brat!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Melanie said in an overly sarcastic tone. "That was totally non-intentional."
Without a word, Black Hat snapped his fingers causing the ball to instantly turn into ashes in Melanie's hands.
505 cowered fearfully as Melanie angrily dropped the ashes and yelled, "Hey! What was that for?!"
Black Hat smiled wickedly and said, "Just because you're our guest doesn't mean I have to make you happy."
"Asshole," Melanie muttered under her breath as Black Hat started to turn away prompting 505 to cover his mouth in shock.
"I heard that!" Black Hat yelled out the window.
"Good!" Melanie retorted.
Black Hat angrily glared at the teen and yelled, "Is that the way you're going to be? Fine then. You and 505 have to come inside now!"
"But it's a bright, sunny day!" Melanie protested.
Black Hat snapped his fingers again causing a thunderstorm to form outside out of nowhere and replied, "Not anymore!"
Melanie growled angrily as she stomped back inside with 505 following behind her.
Black Hat then turned around and said, "Faith is a powerful thing, Dr. Flug. Her connection to you-know-who makes her a formidable opponent, especially for me. I can't go near Melanie or most nun-jas for too long because of the disorienting Divine presence within them. However, I believe that in time with her re-education the connection will weaken enough to no longer be a problem. Now, go back to observing her."
"Yes, Jefecito," Flug said with a salute. "It is about time for my first check-up anyhow. Should I give her any discipline for disrespecting you?"
"No," Black Hat said. "At least, not now. Just warn that next time we may not be as kind with her behavior."
"Yes, sir," Flug said. "I'll go tell her that now."
Then without another word, Flug left the room and allowed Black Hat to return to his work.