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"

on the bench.

'”Gulp!

was a low leveled one, the rate at

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

watch again, I clicked on the bounty

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

That was a lot more than I had

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

was less than half of

seems to

as well. In

sure

was a good idea. With it, I could

was also glad that

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

I naturally knew of a way to

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

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

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

the Monolith had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story that

'There's also this...'

away, I took out a ring. Playing with the ring

'The Monolith Ring...'

ring in my hand was the primary reason

important. It allowed me to create a portal to

rare that only a select few had this.

them, it

did

I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I

also had other plans. But that

muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need my

my fight, I was indeed in need

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

...

front

stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black

after the calamit...khemm, I

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

vicinity, it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to

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

a lot

the central government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

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

We will contact you later for further

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was

decided to move away

wanted a quiet space to

for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy places. She preferred quiet

....

'”Clink!

raised his right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber

moment Kevin was being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking

everything seems to be

with the check, the doctor dismissed

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

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin

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

villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems

how are you

didn't really have to fight so nothing on my side, you,

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

opponent was nothing to scoff at,

will I ever

this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she

thinking about

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only

"Piss off!"

Emma suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way,

he's

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

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

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's brows

you defending

suspicious. Her eyes

and

she could finish, Kevin quickly

me wrong, I also didn't see

"But what?"