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"

goodbye, I turned off my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and

'”Gulp!

recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one, the rate at which

stinging sensation coming from my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty

I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on Kevin's

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

had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of Kevin's.

seems

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

watch sure is

getting the watch was a good idea. With it,

also glad that I was the

soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central

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

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

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

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

It

'There's also this...'

ring. Playing with the ring in my hand,

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why I decided

important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of

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

them, it fell

I did

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

other plans. But that was well

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I

was 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,

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

in the vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

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

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

the agents working for the central government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've turned out

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

a tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After

for now. We will contact you

"Thank you"

Amanda

to move

a quiet

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

....

'”Clink!

Two hands covered with

was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a

everything seems to be in

check, the

particularly worrying. Just take a potion

"Thank you"

the stretcher,

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What a talented

against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup

are

fight so nothing on my side, you,

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

was nothing to scoff at, and yet he

will I ever catch up to

loud. Slapping Kevin in the

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the

Ah, he's apparently

That's what Ren told him in the message.

didn't see him at the scene at all, he

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's

you defending

was definitely suspicious. Her

you and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly waved his

me wrong, I also didn't see him do anything,

"But what?"