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

'”Gulp!

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

suddenly struck me,

on Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on

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

had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my profile as

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

a lot, it was less than half of Kevin's. Good

that seems to

from mine and Kevin's I checked the other's bounty as well. In general, mine was in the same range as Amanda's

watch sure is

watch was a good idea. With it, I could

that

self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or

I naturally knew of

the watch, there was a small crystal. The function of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that

and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in my

simple yet so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it

It was only later in the story that Kevin found this

'There's also this...'

away, I took out a ring. Playing with the

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason why

extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal

This item was so rare that only a

them, it fell into my

I did promise

him being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as

that, I also had other plans. But that

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside,

from my fight, I was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

the front of

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

you're saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite

it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and to

minutes, Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best to

played a major role in today's event, a lot of attention was on her. From both reporters and

central government were keeping the reporters

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

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

is enough for now. We will

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda

around, Amanda decided to move away

a quiet space

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

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered with blue

being examined by a doctor. This was standard

"Alright, we're done"

a pen. Taking out a clipboard

seems to

the check,

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin

departing figure, the doctor muttered,

fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It

how are you

to fight so

Emma shook her head. She had seen him fight against the villain

opponent was nothing to scoff

her head helplessly, 'When will

Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled her

just thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have his

"Piss off!"

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

he's apparently

Ren told him in the message.

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

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's

you

was definitely suspicious.

and

finish, Kevin

me wrong, I also didn't see him

"But what?"