Standing in the midst of what almost resembles a Castlevania level is Fedora Noir, one of MASQs most hard-boiled interviewers!
“Greetings MASQverse. This is Detective Fedora Noir, on assignment to the Skull Castle of El Supervillaino. And if I may be frank, this place could use some better windows. I’m getting quite the draft here-“
With a sudden crash of thunder and lightning strike, El Supervillaino appears on the castle stairs with an evil cackle.
“WELCOME TO MY LAIR DECTECTIVE!“
“Supervillaino. Kept me waiting,”
“Watch it. Rouge Numero Uno may show up whenever he pleases!”
“Right… tell me Supervillaino, how does your loss to El Masko effect your grand plan for MASQ?”
“Oh Noir, you lack perspective. While I may not stand before you as Mettle champion, it was merely a temporary setback to my domination of this world! Besides, that inane Masko didn’t truly defeat me… he relied on gravity and the weight of those damned stairs to escape my might!”
“I see, and what of your heinous attack on TRIV later that very night?”
“I had given TRIV the chance to embrace his true nature as a Rouge and join mi Familia Del Abismo. I offered him my hand, and he chose to spit in my face! So, I reminded him where he came from… a land of shattered glass!“
“You keep mentioning this Family of yours, but I’ve seen no one else here. Where are your-“
“SILENCE! Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong,”
“Fine, change of subject then. Your upcoming match with El Hijo Del Phonk,”
“Ahh yes. I’ve been anticipating this confrontation for quite some time. You see Noir, you and I share one thing in common. We are both students of a more classic era. A culture of honor and respect, not that I value either. However, Phonk is of a newer generation, selfish and vapid, obsessed with no greater ideals than their own popularity! Phonk is among a new group of villains that may rival the evil of even myself… INFLUENCERS! They gain the trust of a wide subsect of vapid young minds and use this control, what they refer to as “clout”, to peddle products and “cancel” their opposition! It’s a scheme that I almost envy… but it has one fatal flaw! Phonk, while your social media feed radiates only superficiality, my EVIL is authentic! I make no lies about what I am, which is EL SUPERVILLAINO, ROUGE NUMERO UNO AND MAESTRO DEL CAOS! The shadow of my evil will blot out your presence before those mouth-breathing followers of yours to oblivion!”
Supervillaino then makes a grand flourish with his cape.
“Leave, I have greater machinations to attend to,”
“Sure thing chief. Best of luck…”
As Fedora Noir pulls down on the brim of his hat and leaves the scene, Supervillaino pulls a phone out of his pocket.
“Now, what did you mean you won’t allow me to add sharks to my castle moat? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!”