Mr: Abrams: “(What to do. I could ignore his words, simply read his memories and arrest him. That would be ideal. What is there to consider?

That I'm rendered unable to investigate his memories thanks to some…thought-activating bomb they shoved inside of his brain?

…Even if that happens to be the case here with this fool; do they honestly expect me to compromise?

…With my students’ killers?

Ha! As if that would even be worth a second thought! Do they think I can’t devise a counter strategy for the next attack on my class, now that I know another one is coming our way?

Am I THAT incapable in their eyes? I realize it was my blunder to abandon the kids after so many problems surfaced on the same day - especially allowing my students to fall while I could only serve as a spectator.

…

Mmm. ‘While I could only’…

That leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. It feels so much like an excuse. I was learning about multiple scenes at once, so my reaction time was a bit slow, but maybe I could have ‘blinked’ them beside me the moment I caught sight of them? Maybe I never should’ve trusted the principal, or this odd off-campus ‘mission’ he assigned to me. Maybe I should have taken my duties as their instructor a bit more seriously and genuinely monitored them the entire time?

…No. How could I have known there were plants inside of our school, or that somebody with status superseding my own had a hand in orchestrating an outrageous attack that even involved my separation from the kids? Thinking this far away from reality is pure idiocy. It was my first day, and I knew next to shit about them. This is stupid. I need to focus on the present.

From here on out, I WILL make sure that today’s failures shall NEVER again take place. Never.

Regarding the problem of information…it IS better to have than not to have. I cannot let my judgement grow clouded by anger.

…

Then again…haven’t I always faced this sort of issue? Preventing invasions and ambushes with little to no intel on precise timing or dates?

How many missions have I succeeded in such a state? And how many villains have I put down…?

…

Stop. I…I’m no longer trapped in THOSE days. I’m far past that now.

Besides: it wasn’t too long ago that I forcefully developed my own unique abilities from scratch! ‘Lazy Teleportation’, Remote Viewing, my personally crafted creation magic I first formed as a tot--

Wait. That last one was a really long time ago.

…

Getting back on track - They were only improved further when I discovered the difference between ordinary energy, and all other forms of energy utilized throughout the world, throughout the universe, and even through a wide number of parallel realities.

A perfect example is pure energy...also called ‘Source energy’ or as of recent times: ‘origin energy’. I don’t know who first spread it, but this ‘origin path’ thing has become a dangerous trend. One that apparently, the 10 families started to teach to 12-year-old children.

It isn’t wrong to want to tap into purer forces of energy. Divine deities do it constantly with their ‘divine energy’ that boasts a far greater magnitude of origin energy than ordinary energy in the mortal realms…

But this ‘Path’ concept is leading villains to kidnap more and more innocent civilians outside of Spes Nova, and smuggle them into our continent!

…Although it’s done wonders for my own capabilities…

Deals?

Ultimatums?

Bribery through intel? A ‘threat’ to inform my class’s foe?

Should I be quivering right now? What COULDN’T I figure out on my own by scanning his memories?! My powers don’t seem quite as scary to them??

I’m going to have to rectify that, somehow.

Either way, this man seems expendable…to both his very own boss AND me.

His intel is unnecessary; therefore, his sanction is unnecessary. I can refuse his offer immediately and pry open his mind.

…

…Who am I kidding? If another terrifying ordeal were to befall my class when I’m sent away on yet ANOTHER useless mission; I’LL be held accountable. That would give this ‘plant’ an excuse to replace me as their homeroom teacher. If I refuse the missions…hmm. What would their response be?

As if that were my only concern…

…

Regrettably, I know that brooch well. I know of its capabilities better than anyone. Not even that naive little girl, Natalia knows about the hidden powers behind this brooch. Had she known, I doubt she would casually hand it off to some criminal disguised as a kind-hearted hero. If this man discovers that it could save him from my nearly completed encirclement with the security guards…

It won’t happen. It absolutely will not happen. It can’t.

But, unless I take his deal, that brooch…his mind might also run the risk of shutting down. I can easily remove any ‘microchip’ or ‘bomb’ his ‘boss’ installed inside of his head, without worry of injury. The REAL question though, is if his thoughts truly trigger the explosive - assuming he really DOES have one. It would be far too late for me to act on removing any such device by then.

…. What to do?)”

…

One gulped when he saw the man’s furious, glowing eyes. There existed a myriad of possibilities, as to what was currently running through the wavey, white – haired man’s mind. His smooth, fair face changed expression ever so often.

At times, he looked like a kind, patient man; busy reminiscing over past memories.

It would then distort fiercely – nearly duplicating the terrifying aura of a carnivorous beast targeting its prey.

The face would always soften, though. It was a face born of resignation. Giving yourself in to a difficult and involuntarily made decision. One often wore a similar face when given a mission he abhorred.

For the moment, he felt sympathy for the hero.

But only for a moment. Never longer, for this was no ordinary hero…!

He was the fearsome Monitor Man – bane of villains, assassins and mercenaries alike.

When facing against this man, there is always zero room for sympathy.

Well. ‘Zero room for sympathy’ usually applies to Monitor Man’s feelings towards criminals. He is always devoid of emotional attachment when he fights against villains. It never does matter what their reason is for acting out. Villainy is villainy in his eyes. He’s a well - dressed brute with a top hat!

…At least, that’s the rumor in Villain Haven.

Suddenly, the very man he was thinking ill of took a step forward. Followed by another. And then another…

…This sent chills down One’s spine. He suddenly had a bad feeling growing in his heart, and his confidence in the brooch given to him by his boss, began to waver.

One: “M—Monitor Man, please wait!”

Mr. Abrams: “…?(Did he choose to give up and turn himself in?

…Yeah right. They never do.)”

One: “Listen Monitor Man—”

Mr. Abrams: “You keep calling me that, but who the fuck is Monitor Man?! Are you making fun of me?!”

One: “…(He doesn’t like to be called Monitor Man? Then what the heaven and hell do I call him…?)

Um…sir-sir hero, please. Just listen to what I have to say...”

Mr. Abrams: “…Talk - but make it quick.(I’ll use this chance to consider refusing his deal from before. Ah, but then again…their potential safety should come first. If the villains get word of my wariness of them – I won’t get another easy opportunity like this! Such a conundrum.)”

He stopped in his tracks, his gaze seemingly falling onto the brooch only. Was this small, golden bunny really so special to him?

One: “(If I could use that…No-no.

NO! Don’t get greedy! Just… just concentrate on trying to convince him to spare you. Even if, by some odd chance he actually, despite the boss’s belief, ISN’T fond of our – the numbers’, deal…

We can always try to push the matter towards diplomacy! There’s NO way the golden brooch had zero effect. If it did, then why would he react so strongly after it was brought out?

There’s a chance! A slim one, but still a chance!)

Mr. Hero. I realize you hold a reputation for not caring about a villain’s reason behind their crime.”

Mr. Abrams: “…?(What the hell, since when am I such a militaristic like figure? I only feel like going home and sleeping throughout the day whenever I clash with a villain. Maybe annoyance, but I mean, who wouldn’t feel angry when a criminal robs the absolute worst thing possible, something so dastardly that it cannot even be returned – their sleep?! My daily reactions are a natural response!)”

One: “I…I only completed this mission for my wife. She’s on her deathbed due to an unknown disease and still pregnant with our baby boy. The treatment was too expensive and this was the only mission offering enough funds for her treatment! I swear that I didn’t ever want to take on such a disgusting mission, if my wife’s personal doctor didn’t need the money paid upfront!”

Mr. Abrams: “Doesn’t matter since you still came here with the intent to kill and ACTUALLY killed. Or do you deny it when you already admitted to killing my students?”

One: “…It’s not that, not at all! It’s just…please. I’m fine with being captured, but my daughter – I forced her on this mission. She would never kill if not for my goading, and her mother’s special circumstance.

Please consider allowing her to leave, even if I cannot! My wife needs somebody by her side if the recovery is successful!”

---