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"

my watch and laid back on the bench.

'”Gulp!

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

coming from my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually,

again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on

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

That was a lot more than I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

was less than half of Kevin's. Good

seems

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

watch sure is

good idea. With it, I could more or

glad that I was the

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

the author, I naturally knew of a

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

before I killed professor Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional

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

Monolith had no 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 caressed it

'The Monolith Ring...'

my hand was the primary reason why I decided to

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

was so rare that only

for them, it

did promise

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

also had other plans. But that was well

muttered, 'Future aside, right now

indeed in

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

...

front

before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress

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

was quite well known that Donna hated

in the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to

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

a lot of attention was on her. From both

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

tapped on the screen. After

that is enough for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was

to move away from the

wanted a quiet space to

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

....

'”Clink!

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

being examined by a doctor. This was standard

"Alright, we're done"

took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard

to

the check,

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

"Thank you"

off the stretcher,

at Kevin's departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What a

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like

are

didn't really have to fight so nothing

minor injuries on his body, Emma shook

opponent was nothing to scoff at, and yet he

helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up to

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

just thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

only to have

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the way, you

Ah, he's

Ren told him in

Like I'll believe that! I didn't see him at the scene at all,

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows

are you

suspicious.

you and Ren

finish, Kevin

don't get me wrong, I also didn't

"But what?"