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"

the bench. Frowning slightly, I

'”Gulp!

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

disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually,

watch again, I clicked on the bounty

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

had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than

seems

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

watch sure is

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

also glad that I was 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

was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the

the crystal and quickly put it in my

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

had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that

'There's also this...'

took out a ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

primary reason why I decided to kill Professor

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

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

it

I did promise

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

from that, I also had other plans. But that

bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future

I was indeed

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

...

front

beautiful young girl wearing a black dress

the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

It was quite well

her, in the vicinity, it

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to the

minutes, Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best to answer

role in today's event, a lot of attention was on her. From

were keeping the reporters in

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

agent tapped on the screen. After a

for now. We

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda

to move away from the

quiet space

her to want to

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered with blue

the moment Kevin was being examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

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

seems to be in

with the check, the doctor dismissed

particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with only minor

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

met Emma. It seems like her

are

didn't really have to fight so nothing on

had minor injuries on his body, Emma shook her head. She had

nothing to scoff

her head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up to

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

asked, "Oh,

he's apparently

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

see him

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's

you defending

was definitely suspicious.

and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly

me wrong, I also didn't see him do

"But what?"