CHAPTER 60: A THIEF

Razeal opened his eyes again.

Honestly, he was starting to get used to this strange sensation his consciousness constantly being spun around, tossed from one place to another like laundry in a dryer.

[Welcome, Host, to the SSS-Rank Valley of Villey.]

[Villain Title: Greatest Thief.]

Razeal’s eyes narrowed slightly as he read the system’s message. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Huh... this one actually sounds better than the last two weirdos I met."

The title intrigued him. "Guess being a thief isn’t exactly what I imagined for someone considered the strongest in perception," he mused aloud. "But hey... who am I to judge?"

Before arriving here, he had made a quick stop in the Zenocide Space. Just a brief visit to ask that laid back guy if he had any perception related skills or movement enhancing techniques.

Why go to him? Because, well... Zenocide at least seemed like a decent guy. Calm, honest, maybe even helpful. The kind who wouldn’t say no if you asked nicely. Unlike others who might waste his time, drag him into something else, or worse... try to use him for some fucked up experiments.

But when he asked, Zenocide had just shrugged it off.

He said he didn’t learn any of those things he was just always able to do them after he started killing people. It came naturally. That was all.

Razeal didn’t argue. He just nodded and left.

Now, he was here.

He looked around, hands sliding into his pockets as he walked forward casually, almost as if he owned the place. His eyes flicked from side to side, scanning every corner. The environment here was... strange.

Ruins.

Everything around him looked like shattered history. Dark gray stones and broken red bricks lay scattered across the ground, forming what was left of collapsed walls and forgotten architecture. The wind carried dust and ash through the empty alleyways. It was clear this place had once been grand but whatever glory it held was long gone.

Still, Razeal’s eyes kept moving. He was looking for something useful. Clues. Details. Anything that could give him an idea of what made this place worthy of an SSS rank villain.

Suddenly, without any warning, a thin arm slid around his shoulders.

"Hoho~ kid, you came here and didn’t even bother greeting me?"

A cheerful female voice whispered directly into his ear.

Razeal froze mid-step.

He tilted his head slightly, trying to glance sideways, but the arm had already slipped away vanished like mist.

She was gone. Just like that.

"...Well, hello there," Razeal said flatly, turning his head around to look for her. His hand moved up to scratch his head, confused but unfazed.

Honestly, she felt completely different from the other villains he’d encountered before. With just that one playful motion, she came off more like a brat a cheeky, mischievous brat. Not the overwhelmingly oppressive presence he’d expected from someone in the SSS rank category.

And, strangely enough, she was almost his height. Almost.

"I’m here, kiddo~" her sweet, teasing voice rang out again.

Razeal turned his head toward the sound.

Standing a few feet ahead was a petite woman, arms lazily draped behind her back. Her hair was short and light green, almost glowing in the dim gray of the ruins. She wore sleek, skin-tight tights that hugged her frame like a second skin. The way she held herself, the posture, the playful smirk it all reminded Razeal of that eccentric university professors who was into females.

"Um... hello," Razeal greeted, slightly awkward.

He wouldn’t lie this part always made him uncomfortable. Going up to a total stranger, knowing full well you were here to ask them for something... without having anything to offer in return. Now he had to play it friendly, try not to offend her, and somehow convince her to help him.

Honestly, Razeal had no idea if he’d ever get used to doing this kind of thing.

"You’re... much weaker than I expected," the woman said, tilting her head with a casual smile.

Her body leaned forward slightly, and her hands stayed tucked behind her back, as if sizing him up like a toy she just found lying on the ground.

Razeal looked at her, expression flat but eyes sharp. Just from her posture playful, smug, a little too self-satisfied and from what he knew of her profession, the title alone being "The Greatest Thief," he already had a solid guess as to what just happened.

"Well... you just took something from me, didn’t you?" Razeal asked, pointing directly at her.

At that, her grin only widened, bright and unapologetic. "You just guessed it? Let me guess you know my past or something?" She twirled a lock of her short, mint-green hair, clearly enjoying herself. "Well, whatever. Yes, I did. What can you do about it?" Her eyebrow arched mockingly, her stance practically screaming What are you gonna do, tough guy?

Razeal raised both hands with a shrug. "Nothing. You can keep it. Whatever it is."

He had no intention of turning this into some weird game of public humiliation. Women like her bratty, playful, and clearly way too good at messing with people were dangerous in their own way. Better to keep things cool.

"So boring," she said, shaking her head like a disappointed teacher. "How about this, then? If you can guess what I took from you in the next four seconds, I’ll teach you whatever skill you came here to learn."

A small, mischievous grin crept onto her face, one that said You’ll never get it in a million years.

Before Razeal could even react to the offer, she began counting.

"Three..."

His brain kicked into overdrive. He didn’t even have time to ask the system it would’ve taken too long. Logic. Focus. What did he actually have on him?

He didn’t bring any elemental cores or flowers they were all in the spatial bag, outside this space. And he didn’t carry anything extra anyway, just one dagger tucked into his coat. That was it.

"Two..."

"It’s my dagger!" he blurted. "You took the dagger I keep in my inside pocket."

She blinked.

"Wrong answer," she said sweetly.

Then she swung her arms out dramatically, hands raised like she was presenting the world’s greatest treasure.

Razeal blinked.

Something black dangled between her fingers.

Something that looked horrifyingly familiar.

"Wait.. Is that..?!" Razeal’s voice cracked.

She twirled the black fabric like a victory flag, holding it up for all to see. "Is this what you were looking for?"

"Is that my fucking underwear?!"

His jaw dropped. Literally dropped.

He looked down at himself.

Yes, his pants were still on. His shoes too. He patted his legs, then glanced back up at her, utterly bewildered.

Just how?

How does one steal someone’s underwear when that someone is still wearing their pants?

He couldn’t wrap his head around it.

His expression twisted somewhere between disbelief and violated horror. "How the hell is that even possible?!"

She just winked. "It’s a trade secret, darling."

The woman was still smiling, triumphant like a cat that just dropped a dead bird on his pillow.

"And for the record," she added with a teasing smirk, "you’ve got good taste in fabric."

Razeal’s eye twitched. His brain officially short circuited.

Was this some high-tier flex? She just stole his damn underwear without even making him feel it. If this was what SSS ranked villains were capable of, then he had so, so much work to do.

He sighed, mentally filing this entire experience under Do Not Revisit Without Therapy.

Still... if this was the price to pay to learn perception-type skills from the best thief in the system, then fine. He’d take the L. He’d take it with both hands and shut the hell up.

"Can you just...I mean atleast return that?" he muttered.

She looked at him, still smiling. "Aww, embarrassed?"

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