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"

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

'”Gulp!

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

thought suddenly struck me, 'Actually, what is the bounty on

I clicked on the bounty section and

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

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

'5000? Hmm, that's alright'

less than

seems

as well. In general, mine was in

watch sure is

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

glad that I was the

with the purpose

was the author, I

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

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

so simple yet so difficult at the same time. With not much known about the crystal, it was only natural

about this flaw. It was only later in the story that Kevin found this

'There's also this...'

ring. Playing with

'The Monolith Ring...'

primary reason why I decided to

allowed me to create a

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

for them, it

I did

the reason I did this was also for Smallsnake. With him being haunted by

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

bench, I inwardly muttered, 'Future aside,

from my fight, I was indeed in need of

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

...

front of

wearing a black dress that perfectly

calamit...khemm, I mean Miss

himself midsentence. It was

the vicinity, it was best

"Yes, that's what happened"

short and to the

twenty minutes, Amanda had been asked many different questions. She naturally did

major role in today's event, a lot of attention

were keeping the

"I understand...is this everything?"

"Mhm"

me a

tapped on the screen. After a couple

enough for now. We

"Thank you"

the agent, Amanda was

Amanda decided to move

a quiet space

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

....

'”Clink!

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

Kevin was being examined by

"Alright, we're done"

Kevin, the doctor in charge of Kevin took out a pen. Taking out a clipboard he proceeded to

to be in

check, the doctor dismissed

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

"Thank you"

stretcher, Kevin thanked

Kevin's departing figure, the doctor muttered,

fought against a similarly leveled villain, Kevin came

The doctor was impressed.

"Kevin? you're done?"

It seems like her checkup was

are you

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

shook her

to scoff at, and yet he

helplessly, 'When will I

didn't say this out loud. Slapping Kevin in the back, she rolled

just thinking about you makes

"You'll get there eventually"

tried to comfort Emma, only

"Piss off!"

"Oh,

Ah, he's

look appeared on Kevin's face. That's what Ren told him in the message. Whether

believe that! I didn't see him

"I don't think so"

head. Emma's

you

definitely suspicious. Her eyes

and Ren

she could finish, Kevin quickly waved his

wrong, I also didn't see him

"But what?"