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"

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

'”Gulp!

Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one,

a thought suddenly

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

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

I had expected.

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of Kevin's.

seems to be

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

watch sure

the watch was a good idea. With it, I could more

glad that

owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central government to get

was the author, I naturally knew of a way to bypass this

simple. Act as a detonating switch that would

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

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

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

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

primary reason why I

allowed me to create a

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

them, it fell

I did promise

With him being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as I promised

I also had other plans. But that was well off into the

muttered, 'Future aside, right

I was indeed in need

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

...

front of

black agent stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that

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

It was quite well known

the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and to the

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

today's event, a lot of

agents working for the central government were keeping the reporters in

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

tapped on the screen. After

We will contact you later for further

"Thank you"

Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to move away

wanted a quiet space

her to want to rest. Plus, she

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber gloves patted

Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out

seems to

with the check, the

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

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin thanked the

at Kevin's departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What a

similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like

how are you

good, I didn't really have to fight so nothing on my side, you,

body, Emma shook her head. She had seen him fight against the villain first

to scoff at, and yet he

'When will I ever catch up to

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

just thinking about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have his

"Piss off!"

"Oh,

Ah, he's apparently

what Ren told him in the

Like I'll believe that! I didn't see him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's brows knit in

are you defending

was definitely suspicious.

and

could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

also

"But what?"