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"

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

'”Gulp!

because the potion was a low leveled one, the

stinging sensation coming from my wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty

on

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

I hissed. That was a lot more than I had expected.

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

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

seems

I checked the other's bounty as well. In general, mine

watch sure is

a good idea. With it, I could

was also glad that I

was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or

author, I naturally knew of a

watch, there was a small crystal. The function of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would

in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in my dimensional space, the watch

With not much known about the crystal, it

It was only later in the story that Kevin

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why

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

that

it

did promise

the reason I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted

I also had other plans. But

'Future aside, right now I need my

was indeed

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

...

the front of

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

calamit...khemm, I mean

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

the vicinity, it

"Yes, that's what happened"

short

twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many different

lot of

for the central government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

out a tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After a couple of seconds,

for now. We will contact you

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was

to

quiet space to

to

....

'”Clink!

right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber gloves patted the

moment Kevin was being examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

a pen. Taking

everything seems to be in

check, the doctor

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked

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

fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup

how are

fight so

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

scoff at, and yet he

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

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

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

asked, "Oh,

Ah, he's apparently

look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether it

believe that! I didn't see him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows knit in

are you defending

was definitely suspicious. Her

you and

Kevin quickly

I also didn't

"But what?"