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 a potion and quickly

'”Gulp!

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

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

watch again, I clicked on the bounty

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

had expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on my profile

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half of

seems to be

In general, mine was in the same range as Amanda's and the

sure

was a good idea. With it, I

that I

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

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

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

quickly put it in my dimensional space. With

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

fact, even the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story

'There's also this...'

with the ring in my hand, I caressed it with my

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary

to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of the

Thibaut being an agent, he naturally had this. This item was so rare that only

for them, it

I did

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

plans. But that was well off into the

inwardly muttered, 'Future

from my fight, I was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

front of

young girl wearing a black

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

agent corrected himself midsentence. It was

the vicinity, it

"Yes, that's what happened"

short

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

in today's event, a lot of

the reporters in

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

screen. After a couple of seconds,

We will contact you

"Thank you"

Amanda was

around, Amanda decided to move away from

wanted a quiet

was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she

....

'”Clink!

right hand. Two hands

moment Kevin was being examined by a

"Alright, we're done"

out a pen. Taking out

seems to be in

the check,

there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

at Kevin's departing figure, the

against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

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

are

have to fight so nothing on my

shook her head. She had seen him fight against

was nothing to scoff at, and

head helplessly, 'When will I ever

say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the

thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only to have

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way,

Ah, he's

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

him

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows knit in

are you

definitely suspicious. Her

and Ren

could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

me wrong, I also

"But what?"