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

'”Gulp!

potion was a low leveled one, the rate at which my wounds were healing was

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

Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the bounty

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

hissed. That was a lot more than I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

a lot, it was less than

that seems

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

watch sure is

the watch was a good idea. With it, I could more

that I was the

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

them, because I was the author, I

of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer

crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in

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 hands on

idea about this flaw. It was only

'There's also this...'

took out a ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I

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

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

for them, it fell into my

did

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

had other plans. But

I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need my

I was indeed in need of

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

...

front

stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black

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

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

it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and to

many different questions. She naturally did

lot

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After a couple of seconds,

is enough for now. We will contact

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was finally

decided to move away

a quiet

natural for her to

....

'”Clink!

hand. Two hands

examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

doctor in charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking

everything seems to be in

the check, the doctor dismissed

from a few superficial wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine.

"Thank you"

stretcher,

figure, the doctor

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like her checkup was

are

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

his body, Emma shook her head. She had

nothing to scoff at, and yet

head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up

Slapping Kevin in the

just thinking about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the

he's apparently

on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him

I didn't see him at the scene

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's brows

are you defending

suspicious.

you and

finish, Kevin

also didn't

"But what?"