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"

my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and quickly downed

'”Gulp!

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

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

I clicked on the bounty section and

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half

seems to

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

sure

idea. With it, I

was also glad that I was the

with the purpose of not allowing the union or the

I was the author, I naturally knew of

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

professor Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space.

much known about the crystal, it

It was only

'There's also this...'

a ring. Playing with the ring in my hand, I caressed

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason

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

had this. This item was so rare that

for them, it fell into

did promise

was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally

from that, I also had other plans. But that was well

muttered, 'Future aside, right now

I was indeed in

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

...

front of the

stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her obsidian eyes

saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna

the vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and to

been asked many

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

keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've turned

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

screen.

is enough for now. We will contact you later

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to move away from the

wanted a quiet space

her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She preferred quiet

....

'”Clink!

watch, Kevin raised his right hand. Two hands

examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he

to

with the check, the doctor dismissed

Just take a potion and you'll be fine. You may

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

at Kevin's departing figure, the doctor muttered,

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup was

are you

didn't really have to fight so nothing

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

was nothing to scoff at, and

shook her head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch

loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

just thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the way,

Ah, he's

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

believe that! I didn't see him at

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's brows knit

are you

was definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

Kevin quickly

also

"But what?"