The Author's POV

"Haa...Haa...I guess this is the level I'm currently at"

Taking a deep breath, I sat down on the bench near the villa. Sirens rang everywhere and the colors red and blue flashed everywhere.

'”Weeeeooo! '”Weeeeooo!

"Khh..."

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain by the side of my abdomen. My face scrunched up, and a bitter smile appeared on my face.

'I guess fighting without using 'Monarch's indifference' and 'The one' is still a bit tough for me', I thought.

Since Professor Thibaut's strength and mine were quite similar, I decided to fight him using my skills only.

Wasn't too keen on losing another arm. Plus, depending on the opponent, there was a chance that 'The one' wouldn't work. I needed to know the extent of my abilities without the use of my skills.

The result?

A deep gash on the side of the abdomen.

"Khh...still, I guess all of my efforts weren't for nothing"

Ignoring the pain, I took out two things from my pocket. A black smartwatch and a ring.

[Alfonse Thibaut]

Time : 21:39

Messages (69) Calls (2) Mail (987)

'Well, looks like someone doesn't check their mail'

Booting up the smartwatch, I quickly looked through Professor Thibaut's watch. Noticing the 987 unopened messages, I shook my head.

What an irresponsible man.

'If I'm not wrong, it should be this...yup'

Opening the setting function of the watch, I scrolled down, pressed software update, and rebooted the watch. Moments after the interface of the watch changed.

Instead of the usual colorful interface, one with a darker tone appeared.

"Success..."

Successfully entering the database, I clenched my fists. Four apps appeared on the screen.

[Bounties]

[Annoucements]

[Merits]

[Missions]

At the moment I was in the Monolith main database system. It was something that every member of the Monolith had. With it, I could check the different bounties, announcements, and missions that they had up during a certain period of time.

This was key information for me as it would help me avoid a lot of trouble.

Playing with the watch in my hand, I smiled, 'Fortunately it has no tracking device installed'

For obvious reasons, all the watches were anonymous without any tracking devices installed in them.

No one in the Monolith trusted each other. If there was a tracking system installed in the watch, chances were that none of the villains would wear it.

This was especially so since most villains liked to operate alone. Who'd want someone to keep watch of their movement?

Even worse, what if the Union suddenly hacked their system? Wouldn't that expose the location of all their members?

'”Ding!

[Ren we're done here, where are you?]

Suddenly my watch rang. It was Kevin. Putting the other watch by my side, I responded.

[Just resting]

[Where exactly?]

Taking my eyes off of my watch, I looked around. It appeared to me that I was on a bench in the backyard of the mansion.

[Looks like the backyard of the mansion. Ah, if you're thinking of looking for me, curb such thought from your mind]

[Why?]

[Because I want to be in peace]

Kevin was the main star of the show today.

Defeating a ranked villain, whilst simultaneously preventing the portal from being created, a lot of the attention right now was drawn towards him.

This was one of the reasons why I chose to interfere. To increase his shine.

Though not exactly a solution, it somewhat diluted the amount of attention I was getting.

[Alright, if you say so...by the way, thanks for the information]

[Don't mention it]

I should be the one thanking you.

[Alright, I'll contact you later]

[Cya]

"Haaa...this is tiring"

laid back on the bench. Frowning

'”Gulp!

my body started recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one, the rate at which my wounds were healing was

my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is

on Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on

"12,000 merit points? Tsss..."

hissed. That was a lot more than I had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my profile

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than

seems to be

I checked the other's bounty as well. In

watch sure

the watch was a good idea. With

was also glad that I

was created with the purpose

I naturally knew of a

the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it

Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my

difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting their hands on the

idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that Kevin found

'There's also this...'

Playing with the ring in my hand, I caressed it with my

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I decided to kill

me to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of

naturally had this. This item was so rare that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut was one as he operated in

them, it fell into

I did

of the reason I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally

plans. But that

bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future

indeed in

"Ahhh...life sure isn't easy"

...

front of

wearing a

that right after the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss Longbern appeared,

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that

the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to the

asked many different questions. She naturally

lot of attention was on her. From both

the reporters in check

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

agent tapped on the screen. After a couple of seconds,

is enough for now. We will contact

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was finally

decided to move away from the

quiet space

was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked

....

'”Clink!

right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber gloves patted

moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor.

"Alright, we're done"

of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard

seems to be

check,

superficial wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

at Kevin's departing figure, the

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with only

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

met Emma. It

how are

good, I didn't really have to fight so nothing on my

his body, Emma shook her head. She had seen him fight

was nothing to scoff

head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up to

didn't say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back,

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, you seen

he's apparently

That's what Ren told

him at the scene at all,

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows knit in

are you defending

definitely suspicious. Her

you and

could finish, Kevin

I also didn't

"But what?"