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

'”Gulp!

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

thought suddenly struck

on the

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

That was a lot more than I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

it was less than half of Kevin's. Good

seems

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

watch sure is

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

was also glad that I was

watches would self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of

author, I naturally knew of a

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

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

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

idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story

'There's also this...'

out a ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

my hand was the primary reason why I

It allowed me to create a portal

item was so rare that

for them, it fell

did promise

him being

plans. But that was

'Future aside, right now I

was indeed in need of some nice

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

...

the front of

black agent stood before a beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her obsidian eyes

right after the calamit...khemm, I

midsentence. It was quite well known

vicinity, it was best not to

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and

Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did her best to

in today's event, a lot of attention was on her. From both reporters

government were keeping the reporters in check or the

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me

on the screen. After a couple of seconds, he

is enough for now. We will contact you later for

"Thank you"

Amanda was

around, Amanda decided to

a quiet space to

for her to want to rest. Plus,

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered

the moment Kevin was being examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

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

everything seems to be

check, the doctor dismissed

Just take a potion and you'll

"Thank you"

off the stretcher, Kevin thanked

figure, the doctor

a similarly leveled villain, Kevin

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It

how are you

fight so nothing

Emma shook her head. She had seen him fight against

scoff at, and yet he was

head helplessly, 'When will I ever catch up

Slapping

about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only to have his

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the way, you

Ah, he's apparently

told him in the message. Whether it was true,

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 in

you defending

suspicious. Her

and Ren

finish, Kevin quickly waved his

I also didn't

"But what?"