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"

back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and

'”Gulp!

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

wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me,

Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the

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

a lot more than I had expected. Out of curiosity,

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

it was less

seems to be

from mine and Kevin's I checked the other's bounty as well. In general,

sure

the watch was a good idea. With it,

glad that I was

watches would self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or

I was the author, I naturally knew of

as a detonating switch

took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time

known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting their

about this flaw. It was

'There's also this...'

watch away, I took out a ring. Playing with the

'The Monolith Ring...'

my hand was the primary reason why I decided

simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me to the

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

for them, it fell

did promise

reason I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by

other plans. But that was well off into the

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need my well-deserved

fight, I was indeed

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

...

the front of the

a beautiful young girl wearing a

after the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that

her, in the vicinity, it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short

minutes, Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best to answer

today's event, a lot of attention was on her. From both reporters

the central government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've turned

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

agent tapped on the screen.

that is enough for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

Amanda was

Amanda decided to move away from the

wanted a quiet space

a lot of energy, it was only natural for her to

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered

the moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

in charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check a few

seems to be in

with the check, the doctor

worrying. Just take a

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

departing figure, the

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like her

how are you

I didn't really have to fight so nothing on

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

scoff at,

head helplessly, 'When will

say this out loud. Slapping Kevin

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, you

he's

That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was true, he didn't

believe that! I didn't see him at the scene at

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's brows

are you

was definitely suspicious. Her

you and

Kevin

don't get me wrong, I also didn't

"But what?"