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. Frowning

'”Gulp!

Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one, the rate at which

thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually,

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

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

I hissed. That was a lot more than I had

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

it was less than

seems to be

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

watch sure

getting the watch was a good idea.

glad that I was

This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the union

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

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 my dimensional

same time. With not much known about the crystal, it

this flaw. It was only later in

'There's also this...'

a ring. Playing with the ring in my hand,

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I decided

important. It allowed me to create a portal

so rare that only a select few had this.

it fell

did

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

had other plans. But that

I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now

was indeed

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

...

the front of

a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress

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

It was quite well known that

it was best not

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to the

been asked many different questions. She naturally

lot of attention was on

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

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

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

for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to move away

wanted a quiet

her to want to rest.

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered with

Kevin was being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

a pen.

seems to be

check, the

there's nothing particularly worrying. Just take a potion

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin thanked

the doctor muttered, "What a talented

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

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like

are

I didn't really have to fight so nothing on

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

was nothing to scoff at, and yet he was

head helplessly, 'When will

loud. Slapping Kevin

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

only

"Piss off!"

asked, "Oh, by the way, you seen

he's apparently

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

I didn't see him at the scene at all, he must've

"I don't think so"

his head.

are you

was definitely suspicious.

you and

could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

wrong, I also didn't see

"But what?"