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"

I turned off my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly,

'”Gulp!

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

disappearing, a thought suddenly struck

Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on

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

I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

a lot, it was less than

seems to be

In general, mine was

sure

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

that I

as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose

author, I naturally knew of a way to bypass this

crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer

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

so simple yet so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time

had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the

'There's also this...'

the watch away, I took out a ring. Playing with the ring in my hand, I caressed

'The Monolith Ring...'

my hand was the primary

It allowed me to create a portal

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

them, it

I did

of the reason I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as I

also had other plans. But

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

fight, I was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

the front

girl wearing a

the calamit...khemm, I mean

the agent corrected himself midsentence. It was

the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and

many different questions. She

in today's event, a 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"

give me a

the agent tapped on the screen. After a

for now. We will contact you later

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was

to

quiet space to

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

....

'”Clink!

Two hands

Kevin was being examined

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a

to

with the check, the

a few superficial wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin

the doctor muttered, "What a

similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

met Emma. It seems like her checkup was

are

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

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

was nothing to scoff

'When will I ever catch up

this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only to

"Piss off!"

something, Emma suddenly asked, "Oh,

he's

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

him at the scene at all, he

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head.

are you

was definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and

could finish, Kevin quickly

also didn't

"But what?"