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"

watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a

'”Gulp!

because the potion was a low leveled one, the rate at which my wounds were healing was

disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the

on the bounty section and clicked on

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

more than I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half

that seems to

well. In general, mine was in the same range as Amanda's and the

sure is

idea. With it, I could

also glad that I was the

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

the author, I naturally knew

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

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

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

had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that Kevin found this

'There's also this...'

away, I took out a ring. Playing with the ring

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I

important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of the

Professor Thibaut being an agent, he naturally had this. This item was so rare that only

it

did promise

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

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

muttered, 'Future aside, right

I was indeed

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

...

front

black agent stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black

saying that right after the calamit...khemm,

It was

vicinity, it was

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

Amanda had been asked many

a lot of attention was on her. From

government were keeping the reporters in check or

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

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

is enough for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to

quiet space

lot of energy, it was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She

....

'”Clink!

Two hands covered with blue

being examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

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

seems to be in

check, the

worrying. Just

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin

the doctor muttered, "What

leveled villain, Kevin came out on top

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

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

how are you

to fight so nothing on my side,

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

scoff at, and yet he was

helplessly, 'When will

didn't say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in

just thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only to have

"Piss off!"

asked, "Oh, by the way, you seen

he's apparently

appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was true, he didn't

Like I'll believe that! I didn't see him

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's brows knit in

you defending

definitely suspicious.

you and

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

also didn't see

"But what?"