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"

the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out a potion and quickly downed

'”Gulp!

body started recovering. Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one,

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

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 expected. Out of curiosity, I clicked on

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

lot, it was less than half of Kevin's. Good

seems to be

checked the other's bounty as well. In general, mine

watch sure

was a good idea. With it,

glad that I was the

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

I was the author, I naturally

as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer felt demonic energy being

quickly put it in my dimensional space. With

difficult at the same time. With not much known about the

had no idea about this flaw. It was only

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

the primary reason why I decided to kill

was simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create

an agent, he naturally had this. This item was so rare that only a select few had this. Professor Thibaut

it fell into my

I did promise

also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as

plans. But that was well off into

'Future

was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

front

young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented

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

the agent corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well

her, in the vicinity, it

"Yes, that's what happened"

was short and to

had been asked many different

event, a lot

for the central government were keeping 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,

enough for now. We

"Thank you"

Amanda was finally

to move away from the

wanted a quiet space

lot of energy, it was only natural for her to want

....

'”Clink!

hand. Two hands covered with

examined

"Alright, we're done"

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

seems to

check, the

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

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin thanked

figure, the doctor muttered,

against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came out on

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems

are

really have to fight so nothing on my side, you,

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

nothing to scoff at, and yet he

her head helplessly, 'When will I

out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she

just thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

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

he's apparently

what Ren told

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

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's

you

suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly waved his

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

"But what?"