I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 263: On the Other Side of the World

"Look at this."

Ethan Barlett tosses a tablet across the table.

Hawk catches it effortlessly without even looking up from his game.

He glances at the screen, skims a few lines, then frowns.

"Why are you making me read news from some small country?" he asks. "Concordia? Isn’t that some place far away from here?"

Ethan exhales slowly. "Just read it."

Hawk snorts and tosses the tablet back to him.

"No. You tell me what’s in it."

Hawk is slightly older than Ethan. Even though Ethan is officially the leader of the Hunters, Hawk has more field experience and dislikes being told what to do.

They co-founded the Hunters together. Hawk is second in command on paper, but in practice, they share authority equally.

Or so it appears.

"It’s about a group called Rhaenas," Ethan says. "They clear dungeons too."

Hawk makes a face. "And why should I care about them? How many members do they have?"

"Five," Ethan replies.

Hawk scoffs. "Ethan, again. Why are you worried about them?"

He turns his attention back to his game, thumbs moving casually. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"If you actually read it, you would know," Ethan says evenly. "Yes, they only have five members. But they cleared a mutated level eight dungeon in less than a week."

Hawk freezes.

A loud crashing sound erupts from his tablet.

"Mutated level eight?" He looks up sharply. "That’s impossible."

He leans forward, all traces of indifference gone. "And less than a week? That’s even more impossible."

"That’s what the report says," Ethan replies, barely suppressing a smile. He knows Hawk well enough to predict this reaction. Hawk thrives on superiority.

Hawk stays silent for several seconds.

Then he waves it off.

"Reporters exaggerate everything. Don’t you know that, Barlett?"

He dismisses it outright.

It does not fit his worldview.

In Hawk’s mind, the Hunters are the only group in Altheon capable of wielding magic and clearing high-level dungeons.

They can clear level six dungeons with only four members.

Recently, Hawk himself led a four-man team through a level seven dungeon. It took six grueling days, but they succeeded.

Since then, he has been walking on clouds.

He feels invincible.

Money flows in.

Power bends toward him.

Even the Arcanus, whom the Hunters once regarded as teachers, treat him with respect.

In Hawk’s mind, he is the true leader of the Hunters.

Not that younger, mild-looking Ethan.

"Maybe," Ethan says calmly. "But aren’t you curious about them? They are essentially our rival."

Hawk rolls his eyes.

"Hawk, I know we don’t have any real rivals right now. Look at us. Clients are lining up like their lives depend on it." Ethan continues.

He shrugs. "Well, in a sense they do. But that’s not my point. I asked Teacher Isabelle. She said Rhaenas has a Custodian among them. Only one. Her name is Maeve Collins."

He lifts the tablet slightly. "And according to this, she’s one of the five."

Hawk exhales through his nose.

"I don’t understand your fixation on them. So what if Collins is a Custodian? That doesn’t mean she’s stronger than you or me. Or is that what you’re implying? That this Collins girl is the reason Rhaenas is capable of something that insane?"

He shakes his head.

"It still doesn’t make sense. A mutated level eight. Come on, Barlett. You know how brutal that last level seven was."

He goes back to his game, thumbs moving again.

"And you’re talking about a mutated dungeon. Not a normal level eight. Mutated. No way."

Ethan does not retreat.

"You haven’t heard who the rest of the members are."

Hawk sighs loudly and finally looks up.

"Fine. I’ll bite. Who are they?"

"Liam Monfort," Ethan says, deliberately dropping only one name.

Hawk’s eyebrows shoot up instantly.

"Liam Monfort?"

He lowers his leg and leans forward, fully engaged now.

"He’s an excellent Sentinel. Strong. Precise. But even he can’t carry a team alone inside a mutated level eight. Who else?"

Ethan replies evenly, "The other two are Julian and Thea Montrose."

Hawk frowns.

"Julian Montrose? I know him. Lab genius. His gadgets are lifesavers. Even we use his Aegis. That shield tech is his invention."

He leans back and tilts his head.

"But Thea Montrose? The name’s familiar. I don’t think I know her. What’s she famous for?"

Ethan snorts lightly.

"She’s famous for being extremely beautiful. And for being in a coma."

Hawk frowns deeper.

"Coma? Beautiful?" Then he grins. "There’s a picture?"

"I told you to read the article." Ethan tosses the tablet back.

Hawk catches it and scrolls.

He whistles when Thea’s photo appears on screen.

"Whoa. She really is something. But it says here she’s... sixteen? Seriously?"

He looks up at Ethan in disbelief.

Ethan only nods, smiling faintly.

He jerks his chin toward the screen.

"Scroll down. Check the fifth member."

Hawk blinks and looks back at the tablet.

The next second, he abruptly stands.

His expression changes.

"Arthur Montrose?"

There is admiration in his voice.

And something else.

Every Sentinel in Altheon has heard of Arthur Montrose.

He is the epitome of a Sentinel.

His story borders on legend.

Some even believe he was the first true Sentinel of the modern era.

The word "Sentinel" was first coined by Linus Monfort when he founded Monfort Sentinels. During the company’s grand opening interview, Linus Monfort declared that his goal was to raise thousands of Sentinels with skills comparable to Arthur Montrose.

From that moment on, the term "Sentinel" spread rapidly and eventually became the general title used worldwide.

It all traced back to Arthur Montrose.

Hawk feels his competitive blood begin to boil.

"Barlett," he says slowly, eyes sharpening, "who do you think is stronger? Me or Arthur Montrose?"

There is unmistakable hunger in his gaze.

Ethan laughs lightly.

"Honestly? I don’t know. Arthur Montrose might be a magic wielder as well. No human should be that powerful. And we’ve never actually seen footage of him clearing a dungeon."

"That’s true," Hawk mutters. "Back when he was active, recording tech wasn’t this advanced. And by the time it improved, Montrose had already stopped clearing dungeons."

He makes a face of clear distaste.

"He became a CEO."

He exhales through his nose, jaw tightening.

"I want to know how strong he really is."

He suddenly turns his head toward Ethan.

"But why is he back? Clearing dungeons again. Even forming a team." His eyes narrow. "I’m positive he’s the leader."

Ethan shakes his head slightly.

"I don’t know," he says.

A faint smile forms on his lips.

"But I think I want to find out."