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"

and laid back on the bench. Frowning

'”Gulp!

Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one, the rate at which my wounds

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

clicked on the bounty section and

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

than I had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my profile as

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of

that seems to be

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

watch sure

the watch was a good idea. With it,

also glad that I

as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or

for them, because I was the author, I naturally knew of a

of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would

the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in my dimensional space, the watch

not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard

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

'There's also this...'

took out a ring. Playing with the

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason why I decided to kill Professor

simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a

This item was so rare that only

them, it fell

I did promise

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

also had other plans. But that was well off into

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now

fight, I was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

front of

a beautiful young girl wearing a

you're saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

himself midsentence. It was

the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to

Amanda had been asked many different

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

the agents working for the central government were keeping the

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

on the screen. After a couple of seconds, he nodded his

for now. We will contact you later for further

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda

to move

a quiet

was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She preferred

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands

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

"Alright, we're done"

took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check a few

to be in

the check,

worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine.

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

the doctor muttered,

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like her checkup was

how are you

to fight

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

opponent was nothing to scoff at, and yet he

shook her head helplessly, 'When will

loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled her

about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the

he's

face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was

him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's

you defending

definitely suspicious.

you and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly waved his

me wrong, I also didn't see him do anything,

"But what?"