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"

back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and quickly

'”Gulp!

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

suddenly

on the bounty section

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

I had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

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

seems to

as well. In general, mine was in

sure is

watch was a good idea.

also glad that I

owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central government to get access

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

Act as a detonating

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

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

fact, even the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

the primary reason why I

yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal to

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

for them, it

did promise

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

I also had other plans. But that was well

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside,

indeed in need of some

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

...

the front of

black agent stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that

saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I

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

the vicinity, it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and to the

been asked many different questions.

event, a lot of attention was on her. From

government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

the screen. After a couple of seconds, he

for now. We

"Thank you"

Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to

a quiet space to

was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She preferred quiet

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two

moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This

"Alright, we're done"

checking Kevin, the doctor in charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded

to

check, the

particularly worrying. Just take

"Thank you"

the stretcher,

departing figure, the

villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Kevin met Emma. It

how are

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

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

opponent was nothing to scoff at, and

'When will I ever catch up

this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the way, you

Ah, he's

That's what Ren told him in the

that! I didn't see him at the scene at all, he

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows knit

you defending

suspicious. Her

you and

could finish, Kevin quickly waved

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

"But what?"