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"

I turned off my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning

'”Gulp!

my body started recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one,

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

on

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of

seems

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 or less

was also glad that

the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not

I naturally knew

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

Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in my dimensional space, the watch didn't

same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting their hands on the

flaw. It was only later in

'There's also this...'

with the ring in my hand, I caressed it

'The Monolith Ring...'

the primary

yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal

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

them, it

I did

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

plans. But that

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right

was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

the front of the

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

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

was quite well known that Donna hated

her, in the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and to

twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many

event, a lot of attention was

were keeping the reporters in check

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

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

for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

Amanda was

decided to

wanted a quiet space to

was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places.

....

'”Clink!

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

the moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

out a

seems to be

check,

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

the doctor muttered, "What a

having fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with only

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her

how are you

didn't really have to fight

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

to scoff at, and yet he

her head helplessly, 'When will

out loud. Slapping

about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

something, Emma suddenly asked, "Oh,

Ah, he's apparently

look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it

believe that! I didn't see him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

head.

you

suspicious. Her

and Ren

could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

also didn't

"But what?"