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"

off my watch and laid back on the bench.

'”Gulp!

was a low leveled one, the rate at which my

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

again, I clicked on the bounty section and clicked on Kevin's

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

a lot more than I had expected. Out of curiosity,

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half

that seems to be

In general, mine was in the

watch sure

getting the watch was a good idea. With

also glad that I was

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

them, because I was the author, I naturally knew of a way to bypass

crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch

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

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

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

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I decided

It allowed me to create a portal to direct me

that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut was one as he operated in

it

I did

Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally

that, I also had other plans. But that

I inwardly muttered, 'Future

indeed in need of some nice

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

...

front

girl wearing a black dress

calamit...khemm,

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

in the vicinity, it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

short

twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many different

lot of attention was on her. From both reporters

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After a

that is enough for now. We will contact you

"Thank you"

Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to move away from

quiet

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

....

'”Clink!

right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber

Kevin was being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

the doctor in charge of Kevin took out a

everything seems to be in

check, the doctor dismissed

Just

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin

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

fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on top with only minor

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Kevin met Emma. It seems like her

how are

really have to fight so nothing on my

injuries on his body, Emma shook her head. She had seen him fight against

was nothing to scoff at, and

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

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

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only to

"Piss off!"

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

Ah, he's apparently

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

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

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head.

are you defending

definitely suspicious. Her

you and Ren

Kevin

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

"But what?"