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"

watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took out

'”Gulp!

a low leveled one, the rate at which my wounds were healing

slowly disappearing, a thought suddenly

again, I clicked on the bounty

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

hissed. That was a lot more than I had expected.

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half of Kevin's. Good

that seems

bounty as well. In general, mine was

sure is

watch was a good idea. With it,

glad that

the watches would self-destruct as soon as the owner died. This method was created with the purpose of not allowing the

was the author, I naturally knew of a way to

the crystal was simple. Act as a

quickly put it in

yet so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union had a hard time getting

no idea about this flaw. It was only

'There's also this...'

with the ring in my hand, I caressed it with

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I decided to kill

simple yet extremely important. It allowed me to create a portal to direct me to the headquarters of the

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

them, it fell

did

also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by them,

from that, I also had other plans. But that was well off into

'Future aside, right now

indeed in

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

...

the front

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

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

himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna hated

the vicinity, it

"Yes, that's what happened"

short

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

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

the central government were keeping the reporters in check or the situation

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me

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

now. We

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda

around, Amanda decided to move away from the

wanted a quiet

to want to rest. Plus, she

....

'”Clink!

his watch, Kevin raised his right hand. Two hands covered with blue rubber gloves patted

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

"Alright, we're done"

charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a

seems to be in

the check,

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

"Thank you"

the stretcher, Kevin thanked the

at Kevin's departing figure, the

Kevin came out on top with only minor

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like

are you

didn't really have to fight so nothing on my side, you,

his body, Emma shook her head.

nothing to scoff

shook her head helplessly, 'When will I ever

say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only to

"Piss off!"

something, Emma suddenly asked, "Oh,

he's apparently

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

him at the scene at all,

"I don't think so"

quickly shook his head. Emma's brows knit in

you

was definitely suspicious. Her

and

could finish, Kevin quickly waved

also didn't see him do

"But what?"