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,

'”Gulp!

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

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

on Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on

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

I had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of

that seems to

bounty as well. In general, mine was in the same range

watch sure is

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

that I was

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

author, I

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

took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space

about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a

the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It

'There's also this...'

a ring. Playing with the ring in my hand,

'The Monolith Ring...'

the primary

important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me to

This item was so rare that only a

them, it fell into my

did

Smallsnake. With him being haunted by

I also had other plans. But that was

bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside,

indeed in need of some

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

...

the front

a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented

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

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna hated her

it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and

had been asked many different questions. She

event, a lot of

were keeping the reporters

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

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

enough for now. We will contact you later for further

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was finally

to move away

wanted a quiet space

to want

....

'”Clink!

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

moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

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

to

the check, the doctor dismissed

particularly worrying. Just take a potion

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin thanked

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like her

are

have to fight so nothing on my side,

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

to scoff at,

helplessly, 'When will I ever catch

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

thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by

he's

Ren told him in the

that! I didn't see him at the

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's brows

are you defending

suspicious. Her

and

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

wrong, I also didn't see him

"But what?"