Cynthia found Him while He was conducting related research.

For a human, Cynthia was very special. She was neither afraid of Him nor the transformed monsters; she didn't run away but instead stepped forward, curiously widening her eyes.

"Cynthia is my first believer, and also the only one."

"To my knowledge, you have many believers, perhaps the most among you."

"I never acknowledged them; they came to me on their own."

Ethan thought that if those fanatic believers heard Argos's unequivocal answer, they'd be sad for a long time. But then he realized Argos had a special status among the Old Gods. When the War of the Old Gods broke out, He had long departed from that plane, so there was hardly any record of Him, and He wasn't even directly classified as an "Evil God."

As for His believers, who were everywhere on the continent, most of them were attracted by Cynthia.

Whenever times were tough, the number of Hunters would increase dramatically, much like the countless disciples of a beggar sect.

Cynthia was also the only one who didn't hide her relationship with Argos.

"Shortly after you left, a war broke out in that world, and after the war, she was crowned as the 'Hunting Goddess,' a title celebrated to this day as a Middle-Level God."

"Hunting Goddess?" Argos seemed pleased with the title. "I knew she would have a bright future!"

"I was referring to how Scarlet wanted Charlotte to become such an existence."

Of course, given Charlotte's current qualifications and prestige, she's far from reaching that, and the quickest way to unite the people of this plane is by creating a strong enough antagonist. The antagonist should be powerful, preferably an overshadowing presence within everyone's hearts, forcing them to abandon past grudges and unite.

Scarlet understood this well, thus she implicitly approved of Argos's past actions.

Mechanical monsters, unknown plagues—in just a few days, despair had engulfed every person in the Kingdom. Not long ago, even the entire Royal Family of Olerud and Royal Summoner Association were annihilated.

An unprecedented "antagonist" descends upon this world.

Team Rocket, Sakaki.

Ethan's feelings were complex; he didn't know if this was fate. Even though he initially aimed to transform Team Rocket into a justice organization that protected monsters, advocating love and peace, Scarlet's broadcast shattered his beautiful vision instantly.

It seems Boss Sakaki ultimately couldn't escape the role of the antagonist.

The stage was set, this was Scarlet's last act before her death, leaving Charlotte with an apparently impossible task. Viewed through the lens of Pokémon, her situation is akin to leading a team just out of the beginner's village, well below level 10, against a head of a villainous organization with a full roster of six, five of whom are max level.

Even if Charlotte's white dragon has the potential to be a mythical beast, it cannot cross the gap of levels.

Moreover, he believed Lindong and others had "race values" not inferior to that white dragon hatchling.

If Charlotte could achieve victory under such adverse conditions, being named as a god would be well-deserved.

"But... why?"

Argos finally understood everything except Scarlet's motives, which He found the most perplexing.

Until the moment of her death, she still worked for the continuation of civilization; viewed as insidious and despicable by Him, Scarlet had become a determined martyr.

"No idea."

Ethan shrugged. "Perhaps it's this plane that stirred her memories, maybe she simply liked it, or maybe it was just her way of giving meaning to her long life."

Whatever Scarlet's true intentions were, they had become an eternal mystery with her death.

"What do you plan to do?"

Argos's voice lowered.

If it was Him a day ago, He would have unwaveringly brought destruction to this plane. Over the past millennia, He had imagined countless times breaking the seal and destroying all of Scarlet's cherished things, making her witness the world falling apart.

But now His desire wasn't as strong, especially after His conversation with Ethan.

His attention was entirely drawn to Ethan. Instead of venting emotions, He was more curious about what Ethan, as the "antagonist leader," would do.

Undoubtedly, if Ethan wanted to, he could reduce the civilization of Summoners to ashes within a day.

"Me?"

Ethan said, "I'm planning to earn some achievements."

His investigator rank in the guild remained at the entry-level E, reminding him of the days in Ximu Town when he earned the title "Chicken Raiser." If described in one sentence, such employees might be "bottom-tier people, usable as consumables."

Among the various types of tasks offered by the guild, "saving civilization" is undoubtedly the most rewarding.

This type of task typically doesn't have a specific commission but adds rewards once an investigator has truly accomplished it.

These rewards are only given to a select few who have made outstanding contributions to the guild and others.

However, the way he completed the task was unique—defeated by the world's "hero" as the villain, witnessing the growth of a nemesis, who would also be the future True God.

"Just like that?"

Argos seemed doubtful.

In fact, deep within Ethan's heart, it wasn't the only answer.

He found a blueprint at Misty Forest's lake path one afternoon, completed by him and the others in the office, albeit with many borrowed ideas...

Well, he had to admit he was glad the project ended abruptly; this plane wasn't introduced to the public, or they would receive countless lawsuits.

Perhaps it was a seed planted in Lindong's mind, yet the time and emotion invested were extraordinarily real; the happenings in that office vividly reappeared before his eyes.

For him, this civilization was like a broken clock; a few adjustments could put it back on track.

Ethan looked up at the sky's fissure, "Rarely regaining freedom, aren't you going to take a good look at this world?"

"Alright."

Argos's voice sounded somewhat cheerful, though He concealed His emotions well, "Since you've sincerely invited me, I'll give you face."

This was likely the first time in a millennium He viewed the world without the influence of negative emotions.

"I have a few things to settle before we set off."

Ethan gathered the cat and the purple little bat in front of him.

Although Sakaki, as the culprit of polluting the Divine Tree and killing the Crimson Queen, was known throughout the Kingdom, playing a real villain needed more than infamy; akin to those iconic film villain actors, their mere presence, even doing nothing, could send chills down the spine.

These were Ethan's blind spots in knowledge.

As a law-abiding citizen of the empire, he felt it hard to master such an aura.

Luckily, there were two in his team who were former wanted criminals with bounties exceeding six figures.

"Teacher, Rowena."

He sincerely sought advice from the two, "How can I play a villain with palpable oppression?"

This topic automatically excluded the Other Shore and Miss Keroy; the two were destined to have nothing to do with villains in their lives, even in monster forms, they'd instinctively be seen as good human partners.

"You've asked the right person."

The purple little bat perked up, answering eagerly, "Leave it to me, I promise to train you into a formidable presence that stops kids' cries in the streets."