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"

back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out

'”Gulp!

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

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

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

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

I hissed. That was a lot more than I had

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

it was less than

seems to be

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

sure is

idea. With it, I could more or

that I was

was created with the purpose of not allowing

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

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

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 natural that the union had a hard time getting their hands on the

even the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It was only

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason why I decided

simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a

was so rare that only

them, it fell

did promise

also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by

plans. But that was well off into

inwardly muttered, 'Future

I was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

the front of

a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her obsidian eyes and

you're saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna hated her

the vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

past twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally

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

the central government were keeping the reporters in

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

out a tablet, the agent tapped on the screen.

that is enough for now. We

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

decided to move

wanted a quiet space

her to want to

....

'”Clink!

Kevin raised his right hand. Two

being examined

"Alright, we're done"

charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check a

seems to be

check, the doctor dismissed

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher,

Kevin's departing figure, the doctor

villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

It seems like her checkup was

how are you

have to fight

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

nothing to scoff at, and

head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up to

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the

about you

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh,

Ah, he's apparently

on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him

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

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's brows knit in

are you

suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly waved

me wrong, I also

"But what?"