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!

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

slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually,

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

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

I hissed. That was a lot more than I had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less

seems to

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

sure is

was a good idea. With it, I could

glad that I was

created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the

was the author, I naturally knew of a

simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no

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

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

idea about this flaw. It was only later

'There's also this...'

the watch away, I took out a ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

the primary reason why I decided

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

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

them, it fell into my

did promise

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

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

I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I

from my fight, I was indeed

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

...

front of the

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

you're saying that right after the calamit...khemm,

corrected himself midsentence. It was

in the vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and to the

many different questions. She

event, a lot of attention was on her. From both reporters and

keeping the reporters in check or the

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

on the screen. After a

that is enough for now. We will contact you later for further

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was

Amanda decided to move away

wanted a quiet space to

energy, it was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she

....

'”Clink!

right hand. Two hands covered with

was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

in charge of Kevin took out a

seems to be in

check,

Just take a potion

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin

the doctor muttered, "What a talented

against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

It seems like her checkup

how are

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

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

was nothing to scoff at, and yet he was

her head helplessly, 'When will I

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back,

just thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, you seen

Ah, he's apparently

look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was true, he didn't

believe that! I didn't see him at

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows knit in

you

was definitely suspicious. Her

you and

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

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

"But what?"