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 slightly, I took out

'”Gulp!

Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled

thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty on Kevin at the

clicked on the bounty section

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

had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half

that seems to

other's bounty as well. In general, mine was in the same

watch sure

say, getting the watch was a good idea. With it, I could more or less avoid

glad that I was

This method was created with the purpose of not allowing

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

watch, there was a small crystal. The function of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer

before I killed professor Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen

so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the

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

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason why I decided to

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

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

for them, it fell into

did

for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as I

I also had other plans. But that was

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now

from my fight, I was indeed in need of

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

...

the front of the

young girl wearing a black dress

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

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that

the vicinity, it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and to

many

event, a lot of

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

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

We will

"Thank you"

Amanda

around, Amanda decided to move

wanted a quiet space to

natural for her to want to rest. Plus,

....

'”Clink!

his watch, Kevin raised his right hand. Two hands

was being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin, the doctor in charge of Kevin took out a pen.

seems to

check, the doctor

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

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin

Kevin's departing figure, the

similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

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

are

really have to fight so nothing on my side,

shook her head. She had

nothing to scoff at, and yet

'When will I

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only to

"Piss off!"

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

he's

look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was

him at

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's

you defending

suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

Kevin

I also didn't see

"But what?"