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

'”Gulp!

my body started recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a

my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty on Kevin

on Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on

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

I hissed. That was a lot more than I had expected. Out of

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half of Kevin's. Good

that seems to be

Kevin's I checked the other's bounty as well. In general, mine was in the same range as Amanda's and the

watch sure is

watch was a good idea. With it, I could more or less avoid possible

glad that I was the

with the purpose of not allowing the union or the

for them, because I was the author, I

function of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer felt demonic energy being

quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and

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

the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It

'There's also this...'

took out a ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why

important. It allowed me to create a portal

had this. This item was so rare that

for them, it fell

did promise

I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being

also had other plans. But that was well off

against the bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I

indeed in need of some

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

...

front of the

young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly

after the calamit...khemm,

It was quite well known that Donna

it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short

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

lot of attention was

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After a

We will contact you later

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

decided to move away from

quiet space to

used a lot of energy, it was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places.

....

'”Clink!

hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber gloves patted

examined by

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard

everything seems to be in

with the check, the doctor dismissed

there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine.

"Thank you"

off the stretcher,

at Kevin's departing figure, the

fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like her

are you

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

only had minor injuries on his body, Emma shook her head. She had seen him

was nothing to scoff at, and yet

her head helplessly, 'When will I ever

naturally didn't say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in

about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have his hand smacked

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by

Ah, he's apparently

told him in the message. Whether it was true, he

I didn't see him at the

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's

are you defending

suspicious.

you and

could finish, Kevin

me wrong, I also didn't

"But what?"