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 quickly

'”Gulp!

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

suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the

Thibaut's watch again, I clicked on the bounty section

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

had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my profile

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

it was less than half of

that seems to

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

watch sure

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

that I was the

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

I was the author, I naturally knew of a way

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

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

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

idea about this flaw. It was only later

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why I

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

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

it fell into my

I did

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

also had other plans. But that was well

against the bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside,

from my fight, I was indeed

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

...

front of

wearing a black

calamit...khemm, I mean Miss Longbern appeared, the

It was quite well known that Donna hated

her, in the vicinity, it was

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

many different questions. She naturally did her

a major role in today's event, a lot of attention was on

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

on the screen. After

enough for now. We will contact

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda

around, Amanda decided to

quiet space to

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

....

'”Clink!

Two hands covered with

was being examined by a doctor.

"Alright, we're done"

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

to be in

check, the

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

the doctor muttered, "What a

leveled villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Kevin met Emma. It seems

are

didn't really have to fight so nothing on my side,

only had minor injuries on his body, Emma shook

nothing to scoff at, and yet he was

shook her head helplessly, 'When will

didn't say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have

"Piss off!"

Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way,

he's apparently

Ren told him in the message.

I didn't see him at

"I don't think so"

shook his head.

are you

was definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and

Kevin quickly

get me wrong, I also didn't see

"But what?"