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"

on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and quickly downed

'”Gulp!

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

a thought suddenly struck me,

again, I clicked on the

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

That was a lot more than I had expected. Out of curiosity,

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than

that seems

the other's bounty as well. In general,

watch sure is

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

was also glad that

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

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

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

it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in my dimensional space, the

was 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 getting their hands

the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It was

'There's also this...'

took out a ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I decided to

me to create a portal to direct me

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

for them, it fell into my

did promise

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

also had other plans. But that was

'Future aside, right

was indeed in

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

...

front of

beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her

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

the agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known

it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and

had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best

in today's event, a lot of

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

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

We will

"Thank you"

Amanda

decided to move away from

quiet space

of energy, it was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she

....

'”Clink!

his watch, Kevin raised his right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber

being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

out a pen. Taking

to be

check, the doctor

few superficial wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine. You may

"Thank you"

off the stretcher,

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

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her

how are

really have to fight so nothing on my side, you,

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

nothing to scoff at, and yet he

head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch

Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled her

about

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the way,

he's apparently

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

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

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's brows knit

you

definitely suspicious. Her

and Ren

she could finish, Kevin

also didn't see him do

"But what?"