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"

my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took

'”Gulp!

the potion was a low leveled one, the

thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually,

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

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less

seems to be

other's bounty as well. In general, mine was in

sure is

good idea. With

that I was

owner died. This method was created with the purpose of

I was the author, I naturally knew of a way to bypass this

there was a small crystal. The function of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer felt demonic

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

solution was so simple yet so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting their

had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the

'There's also this...'

with

'The Monolith Ring...'

ring in my hand was the primary reason why I decided

extremely important. It allowed me to create

so rare that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut was one as he operated in

it fell into my

did promise

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

also had other plans. But that was well off

bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now

my fight, I was indeed in need of some

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

...

front of the

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

calamit...khemm, I

himself midsentence. It was quite

in the vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

the past twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best

a lot of attention

the central government were keeping the reporters

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

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

We will contact you

"Thank you"

Amanda was

Amanda decided to move away from the

a quiet

her to

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered

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

"Alright, we're done"

charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a

everything seems to be

the check, the doctor

a few superficial wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

Kevin's departing figure, the

Kevin came out

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup was also

how are you

to fight so nothing

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

scoff

helplessly, 'When will I ever

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the

just thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh,

Ah, he's apparently

That's what Ren told

see him at the

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's

are you defending

definitely suspicious.

you and Ren

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved

I also didn't see

"But what?"