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"

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

'”Gulp!

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

wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty on Kevin at the

clicked on the bounty section

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

than I had expected.

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

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

that seems to

In general, mine was

sure

had to say, getting the watch was a good idea. With it, I

was also glad that

self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union or the central government to

I naturally knew of

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

and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time

the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting their hands on the

no idea about this flaw. It was only later in

'There's also this...'

away, I took out a ring. Playing with the

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why

simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create

This item was so rare that only a

it fell into

I did

Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as I promised

also had other plans. But that was well off into the

I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need my well-deserved

my fight, I was indeed in need of

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

...

front of the

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

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

agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known

in the vicinity, it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and

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

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

the agents working for the central government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation would've turned out

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

the screen. After a couple of seconds, he

for now. We will contact you later

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

decided to move away from the

wanted a quiet space

used a lot of energy, it was only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She

....

'”Clink!

watch, Kevin raised his right hand. Two hands covered with blue

moment Kevin was being examined

"Alright, we're done"

checking Kevin, the doctor in charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check

everything seems to be

with the check,

nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion and you'll be fine. You

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin

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

having 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 was

are

to fight so

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

opponent was nothing to scoff at, and yet

will

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

about you

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, you seen

Ah, he's apparently

Ren told him in the message. Whether it was true, he

see him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's brows knit in

you defending

suspicious. Her eyes

you and Ren

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

also didn't

"But what?"