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"

off my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and quickly downed

'”Gulp!

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

slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what

on Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than

that seems

bounty as well. In general, mine was

sure is

watch was a good idea. With it,

was also glad that I

method was created with the

I naturally knew of a way to bypass this

the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer felt demonic energy being transmitted to

killed professor Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my

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 on

flaw. It

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why I decided

was simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of the

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

them, it

I did

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

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

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need

was indeed in need of

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

...

the front of the

a beautiful young girl wearing a black

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

was quite well

vicinity, it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and

asked many different questions. She

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

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

on the screen. After

that is enough for now. We will

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

to move away from the

wanted a quiet space

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

....

'”Clink!

hand. Two hands covered

examined by

"Alright, we're done"

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

seems to be

the check, the doctor dismissed

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

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin

Kevin's departing figure, the

leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Kevin met Emma. It seems like her

are you

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

body, Emma shook

was nothing to scoff at, and yet he was

head helplessly, 'When will I ever

Slapping Kevin in the

about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

only

"Piss off!"

something, Emma suddenly asked, "Oh,

he's

face. That's what Ren told him

him at the scene at all, he

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's brows knit in

you defending

definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and

Kevin quickly waved his

I also didn't see him

"But what?"