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"

watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning

'”Gulp!

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

from my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me,

again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on

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

more than I had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

was less than

seems

well. In general, mine was in the same

sure is

to say, getting the watch was a good idea. With it,

was also glad that I

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

for them, because I was the author, I naturally knew

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

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

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

idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that

'There's also this...'

a ring. Playing with the ring in

'The Monolith Ring...'

my hand was the primary reason

me to create a portal to direct me to

item was so rare that only a select few

for them, it fell into my

I did promise

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

I also had other plans. But that was

muttered, 'Future aside, right now I

fight, I was indeed

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

...

front of

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

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

the agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite

the vicinity, it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and

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

today's event, a lot of attention was on

keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've turned out extremely

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

the screen.

enough for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

Amanda

decided to move

a quiet

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

....

'”Clink!

Two hands covered with blue rubber gloves

Kevin was being examined

"Alright, we're done"

of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a

seems to

with the check, the doctor dismissed

nothing particularly worrying. Just

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

figure, the doctor muttered, "What a talented

similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

met Emma. It seems like her checkup was also

how are

really have to fight

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

scoff at, and yet he was

'When will I ever catch up

naturally didn't say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled her

thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by

Ah, he's

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

didn't see him at the scene at all,

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's brows knit

are you

definitely suspicious.

you and Ren

Kevin quickly

I also didn't see him

"But what?"