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"

off my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took

'”Gulp!

started recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a

disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the

again, I clicked on the bounty section and

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

than I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of Kevin's.

seems to be

other's bounty as well. In general, mine

watch sure

idea. With it, I could more or

was also glad that I was the

the purpose of not allowing the

I was the author, I naturally knew of a way to bypass

was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer felt demonic energy

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

the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting their hands on

this flaw. It was only later in the story

'There's also this...'

out a ring. Playing with the ring in my

'The Monolith Ring...'

ring in my hand was the primary reason why I decided to

It allowed me to create a portal to

was so rare that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut was one as he operated

them, it fell

I did

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

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

inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need

my fight, I was indeed in

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

...

the front of

before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress

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

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

in the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and

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

event, a lot of attention was on

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After

now. We will contact you later for further

"Thank you"

Amanda was

decided to move away

quiet space to

to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She preferred quiet

....

'”Clink!

Kevin raised his right hand. Two hands

was being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

out a pen.

everything seems to

with the check,

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

"Thank you"

stretcher,

Kevin's departing figure, the doctor

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup was also

how are

really have to fight so

had minor injuries on his body, Emma shook her

opponent was nothing to scoff at,

head helplessly, 'When will I ever

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

just thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way,

Ah, he's

face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it

didn't see him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows

are you defending

was definitely suspicious. Her eyes

you and

she could finish, Kevin quickly

wrong, I also didn't see him do anything,

"But what?"