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"

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

'”Gulp!

was a low leveled one,

from my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty on Kevin

on

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

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, mine was in the same range

watch sure

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

was also glad that

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

was the author, I naturally

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

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

solution was so simple yet so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the

fact, even the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It was

'There's also this...'

I took out a ring. Playing with the ring in my

'The Monolith Ring...'

ring in my hand was the primary reason why

to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of

naturally had this. This item was so rare that only a select few

for them, it fell into

did promise

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

plans.

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

fight, I was indeed in need of some

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

...

front of

before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her obsidian eyes

the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

the agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite

the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and

past twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many different

a major role in today's event, a lot of attention was

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

the screen. After a couple of

now. We will contact

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda

Amanda decided to move

a quiet space

for her to

....

'”Clink!

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

examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check a

to

with the check, the doctor

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What a

similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

met Emma. It

are

have to fight so nothing on my

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

was nothing to scoff at, and yet he

her head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up to

say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his hand smacked

"Piss off!"

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

Ah, he's

what Ren told him in the message. Whether

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

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's brows

you defending

suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

could finish, Kevin quickly waved

wrong, I also

"But what?"