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"

on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and

'”Gulp!

wounds on my body started recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a low

wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually,

watch again, I clicked on the

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

I had expected.

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

was less than half of Kevin's. Good

that seems to be

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

watch sure is

say, getting the watch was a good idea. With

was also glad that

This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central government to get access to

for them, because I was the author, I naturally knew of a

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

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

at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting

this flaw. It was only later in

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

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

yet extremely important. It allowed me to create

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

it

I did promise

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

from that, I also had other plans.

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

fight, I was indeed in need of some

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

...

front

black agent stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a

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

agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well

her, in the vicinity, it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and

many different questions. She

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

the reporters in check or the situation would've

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

tapped on the screen. After a couple of seconds, he nodded his

for now. We

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was

decided to move

quiet

for her to want to rest. Plus,

....

'”Clink!

right hand. Two

being examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

of Kevin took out a pen.

seems to

the check,

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

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin

at Kevin's departing figure, the doctor muttered,

villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

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

how are you

have to fight so

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

scoff at,

shook her head helplessly, 'When will I ever

say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have his hand smacked

"Piss off!"

something, Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the

he's

on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it was true,

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

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's brows

are you defending

was definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved

me wrong, I also

"But what?"