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"

laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out

'”Gulp!

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

suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what

clicked on the bounty section

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

a lot more than I had expected. Out of

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half

that seems to

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

sure

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

glad that I was

self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of

author, I naturally knew

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

took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in

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

idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that Kevin found this

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

in my hand was the primary reason

important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct

that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut was one

for them, it fell into

did

With him being haunted by them,

from that, I also had other plans. But that was well

'Future

indeed in need of

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

...

the front of the

beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly

saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss Longbern appeared, the

It was quite well known that Donna hated her

the vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short

Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did

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

were keeping the reporters in check or the situation

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

the screen. After

that is enough for now. We

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was finally

Amanda decided to move away from

wanted a quiet

only natural for her to want

....

'”Clink!

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

being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded

everything seems to

with the check, the doctor dismissed

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

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What a talented

against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

met Emma. It seems like

are you

to fight so nothing on

injuries on his body, Emma shook her head. She

nothing to scoff

will I ever catch up to

Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled her

about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only to have his hand

"Piss off!"

suddenly asked, "Oh, by the

Ah, he's apparently

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

see him at the scene at

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's brows

you defending

was definitely suspicious. Her

and

finish, Kevin quickly waved his

get me wrong, I also didn't see him do

"But what?"