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

'”Gulp!

was a low leveled one, the rate at which my wounds

a thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is

again, I clicked on the bounty section

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than half of Kevin's. Good

seems to

well. In

sure is

good idea. With it,

that

was created with the purpose of not allowing

I was the author, I naturally knew of a way

crystal. The function of the crystal was simple. Act as a detonating switch that would destroy the watch once it

quickly put it in my dimensional space.

With not much known about the

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

'There's also this...'

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

'The Monolith Ring...'

was the primary reason why

create a portal to direct me to

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

it fell into

I did

being haunted by them, I naturally had to help him as I promised

other plans. But that was well off into the

I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside, right now I

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 and

the calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

himself midsentence. It was quite

vicinity, it was

"Yes, that's what happened"

reply was short and to

been asked many different

event, a lot of attention was on her. From both reporters

the reporters in check or

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

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

for now. We

"Thank you"

agent, Amanda was finally

to move away

a quiet space

only natural for her to want to rest. Plus, she disliked noisy

....

'”Clink!

his right hand. Two hands covered

examined by a doctor. This was

"Alright, we're done"

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

everything seems to be

the check, the

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

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin thanked

figure, the doctor muttered, "What

having fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

the tent, Kevin met Emma. It seems like her checkup was

are

really have to fight so nothing

shook her head. She

scoff at, and yet he

shook her head helplessly, 'When will I ever

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

just thinking about you

"You'll get there eventually"

Emma, only to have

"Piss off!"

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

Ah, he's

face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether

that! I didn't see him at the

"I don't think so"

his head. Emma's

you defending

definitely suspicious. Her eyes

you and

she could finish, Kevin

I also didn't see him do

"But what?"