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"

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

'”Gulp!

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

wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly

Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on

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

more than I had

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

a lot, it was less than half of

seems to

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

sure

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

was also glad that

method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central government to

because I was the author, I naturally knew of

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

Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in my dimensional space, the

much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the

idea about this flaw. It

'There's also this...'

out a ring. Playing with the ring

'The Monolith Ring...'

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

was simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create

naturally had this. This item was so rare that only a select

for them, it fell

I did

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

that, I also had other plans. But that was well

'Future aside, right now I

indeed in need

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

...

front

beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her

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

agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite

in the vicinity, it was

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and

had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best

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

the central government were keeping the reporters in check

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

the agent tapped on the screen. After a couple of

for now. We

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda

Amanda decided to move away from the

a quiet space to

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

....

'”Clink!

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

was being examined by a doctor.

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a

to be in

check, the

there's nothing particularly worrying. Just

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

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

fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup was also

are you

good, I didn't really have to fight so nothing on my

body, Emma shook her head. She had

was nothing to scoff

will I ever catch up to

loud. Slapping Kevin

thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the

he's apparently

odd look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was true, he

didn't see him at the scene at all,

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's

are you defending

was definitely suspicious. Her

you and Ren

could finish, Kevin quickly waved

I also didn't see him do

"But what?"