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, I

'”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

Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on Kevin's

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than

that seems to

well. In general, mine was

watch sure is

idea.

glad that I was

would self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central government to get access

was the author, I naturally knew of a way

watch, 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 energy being

in

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 story that Kevin found

'There's also this...'

ring. Playing with the ring in my hand, I caressed

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason

was simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me

that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut

it fell into my

I did

reason I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I

had other plans. But that was

'Future

indeed in need

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

...

front of the

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

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

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna hated

it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and

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

event, a lot of attention was on

the central government were keeping the reporters in check or

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

tablet, the agent tapped on the screen.

now. We

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda

decided to move away

quiet space

energy, it was only natural for her to want

....

'”Clink!

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

being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

in charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking

to be in

with the check, the doctor

wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine. You may

"Thank you"

off the stretcher,

the

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup

how are

fight

only had minor injuries on his body, Emma shook her head. She had seen

opponent was nothing to scoff at, and

'When will I ever catch

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

something, Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the

he's

That's what Ren told

see him at the scene at all, he

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's

you defending

suspicious. Her

and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly

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

"But what?"