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"

and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly,

'”Gulp!

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

wounds slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly struck me,

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

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

had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half of

that seems to

from mine and Kevin's I checked the other's bounty as well. In general, mine

sure is

to say, getting the watch was a good idea. With it, I could more or less avoid possible

that I was the

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

for them, because I was the author, I

back 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

this, before I killed professor Thibaut, I took out the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional space. With time and space frozen in

about the crystal, it was

had no idea about this flaw. It

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why I decided to kill Professor

me to create a portal to direct me

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

them, it fell into

did promise

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

had other plans. But that was well off into the

against the bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now

indeed in need of

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

...

front of the

young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented

saying that right after the calamit...khemm, I mean

It was quite

it was

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to the

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

event, a lot of attention was

the reporters in check or the situation would've turned out extremely

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

tablet, the agent tapped on the screen. After a couple of seconds,

is enough for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda

decided to move away from

a quiet

for her to want to

....

'”Clink!

Two hands covered with

moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to check

everything seems to

check, the doctor dismissed

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

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

departing figure, the doctor muttered, "What

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

It seems like her checkup

are

have to fight so nothing on my

body, Emma shook her head. She

scoff

will

Slapping

thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his hand smacked

"Piss off!"

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

Ah, he's

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

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

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's brows knit

are you defending

definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

could finish, Kevin quickly waved

also didn't see him do

"But what?"