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 took out a potion and quickly downed

'”Gulp!

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

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

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

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

was a lot more than I had expected.

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of

seems

other's bounty as well. In general, mine was in

watch sure is

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

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 central government to get access to the

author, I naturally knew of a way to bypass this

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

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

much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had

idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that Kevin

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

ring in my hand was the primary reason

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

This item was so rare that only a select few had

them, it fell into my

did promise

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

had other plans. But that was

I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need my well-deserved

fight, I was indeed in

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

...

front

black agent stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her obsidian eyes

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

agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite

her, in the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

many different questions. She naturally did her best to

a lot of attention was on her. From

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

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

We will contact

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was

Amanda decided to

wanted a quiet

was only natural for her to

....

'”Clink!

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

examined by a doctor. This was standard

"Alright, we're done"

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

to

with the check,

few superficial wounds, there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What

similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with only

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup was also

are

didn't really have to fight

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

was nothing to scoff at, and yet

her head helplessly, 'When will I ever

Slapping

thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only to

"Piss off!"

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

Ah, he's

look appeared on Kevin's face. 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"

his head.

you defending

suspicious. Her eyes

and

Kevin quickly waved

wrong, I also didn't see him do

"But what?"