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"

turned off my watch and laid back on the bench. Frowning slightly, I took

'”Gulp!

Unfortunately, because the potion was a low leveled one, the

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

watch again, I clicked on the bounty section

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

lot more than I had expected. Out

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

a lot, it was less

seems to be

as well. In general, mine was in the same range as Amanda's

sure

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

was also glad that

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

I naturally knew

of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it no longer felt demonic energy being transmitted

the crystal and quickly put it in my dimensional

at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural that the union

had no idea about this flaw. It was only later in the story

'There's also this...'

Playing with the

'The Monolith Ring...'

hand was the primary reason why I decided

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 was one as

them, it

did promise

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

had other plans. But that

muttered, 'Future aside, right now I need my

indeed

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

...

front of the

beautiful young girl wearing a black dress that perfectly complemented her obsidian eyes and

after the calamit...khemm, I mean

corrected himself midsentence. It was quite well known that Donna hated

in the vicinity, it was best not to mention

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and to

many different questions. She naturally

today's event, a lot of attention

government were keeping the reporters in

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

give me a

on the screen. After a couple of seconds, he nodded his

enough for now. We will

"Thank you"

Amanda was finally

around, Amanda decided to move away

a quiet space to

only natural for her to

....

'”Clink!

raised his right hand. Two hands covered with blue

Kevin was being examined

"Alright, we're done"

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

everything seems to

check,

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

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin

figure, the doctor muttered,

similarly leveled villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

Emma. It seems like her checkup was

are you

fight

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

was nothing to scoff at, and yet he was

helplessly, 'When will

loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled her

just thinking about you makes me

"You'll get there eventually"

comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

"Oh, by the

Ah, he's apparently

That's what Ren told

I'll believe that! I didn't see him at the scene at all, he

"I don't think so"

shook his head. Emma's brows knit in

are you

was definitely suspicious. Her

you and Ren

Kevin quickly

get me wrong, I also didn't

"But what?"