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"

and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I

'”Gulp!

a low leveled one, the rate

suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty on Kevin at

on Professor Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on

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

That was a lot more than I had

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

was less than half of

seems

Kevin's I checked the other's bounty as well. In general, mine was

watch sure

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

that I

died. This method was created with the purpose of

them, because I was the author, I naturally knew of a way to

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

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

time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that

flaw. It

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason why I decided to kill

me to create a portal to direct me to the

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

it fell

did promise

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

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

inwardly muttered, 'Future

indeed in need of some nice

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

...

front of the

a black dress that perfectly complemented

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

the agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna

vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to

many different questions. She naturally did her

a lot of attention was

for the central government were keeping the

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

a tablet, the agent tapped on the screen.

now. We will

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to move

wanted a quiet space to

of energy, it was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked

....

'”Clink!

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

moment Kevin was being examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check

seems to be

check, the

particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine. You may

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin

at Kevin's departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What a talented

villain, Kevin came out on top

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

It seems like her

are you

I didn't really have to fight so nothing on

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

opponent was nothing to scoff at, and yet he was

'When will I ever catch up to

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back,

just thinking about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

only to

"Piss off!"

asked, "Oh, by the

Ah, he's

look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in

him

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head.

you defending

definitely suspicious. Her eyes

you and

finish, Kevin

don't get me wrong, I also didn't see him

"But what?"