Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge (What If)

(Thursday, June 13, 2026 – 4:19 PM)

I dropped my bag onto the chair, exhaling as I walked toward my desk. The apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the ceiling fan and the distant sounds of the city filtering in through the window.

I reached out and pressed the power button.

The system came alive instantly.

The custom OS booted in seconds, its sleek, minimalistic interface appearing on the screen. No unnecessary visuals, just raw efficiency, exactly as I designed it.

I love it.

My fingers moved across the keyboard with practiced ease, navigating through directories until I reached the core programming files of the project I had been refining for the past 25 days.

NanoNet.

A tribute to the nano machines coursing through my body and the vision I had for something far greater than just an app.

I clicked the executable. The interface loaded in an instant, revealing the app's icon on the center of the screen, a black background with a white net design. Simple. Clean. Symbolic.

My creation.

I leaned back slightly, watching as the login page materialized. Every function, every layer of encryption, every security protocol was built for a singular purpose, control.

No one could access NanoNet without an invitation.

And even then, the barrier to entry was steep.

The first step?

Create a username.

Set a strong password.

Choose a color theme.

Go through multiple security verifications.

Only after all of that would a user reach the main page.

A glance at the interface showed the six core features I had designed from the ground up.

Messages

A fully encrypted chat system, private and group-based, with auto-deletion protocols. No server logs, no retrievable history. Once a message was sent and read, it was gone forever.

Not for me tho.

Storage

A secure personal vault where users could store files, documents, and sensitive data without fear of external access. Encrypted beyond modern standards, untraceable, and decentralized.

Private Browser

A browsing tool with no footprints, no tracking, no logs. Every action taken within NanoNet was invisible to monitoring systems.

Community

A closed network for discussions, deals, and private exchanges. No outside interference. No moderation. Pure, unfiltered conversation.

Marketplace

A secure hub for knowledge, services, and digital assets. This was more than just trading, it was an underground economy in the making.

Encryptor

A built-in tool allowing users to encode and decode messages outside of NanoNet itself. For those who needed extra layers of security even beyond the app.

But access wasn't free.

I had designed NanoNet to be untraceable, inaccessible to the public. No one could find it by accident. There was no app store, no website, no centralized hub.

The only way to enter?

An invite in the form of a QR code.

Generated randomly by the app itself. No two invites were ever the same.

To join, a person had to know someone who was already inside. No public sign-ups. No open registrations.

But I wasn't going to sit back and let the network grow naturally.

No. I would accelerate its reach.

When the time came, I would release one million random QR codes across the world. Hidden in the deep web, embedded in obscure forums, encrypted within leaked documents, spread like a virus.

Those who found them and understood their significance would enter.

And once inside, they wouldn't leave.

Because NanoNet offered something no other platform did.

Freedom.

No government surveillance.

No guild oversight.

No public scrutiny.

True anonymity.

Of course, that only applied to everyone else.

I would see everything.

Every transaction. Every conversation. Every movement within my system.

Because at the core of NanoNet, beyond its encryption, beyond its impenetrable security, was a single, undeniable truth.

I was the only one in control.

....

My eyes flicked toward another set of files in my system, weapon schematics.

A few days ago, I had gone back to the Hunter Association branch, using Marie's help as an excuse to observe weapons up close.

But I wasn't just looking.

Awà was analyzing.

Scanning every weapon and armor with outmost precision.

And coupled with the extensive research I had done online, I now had a complete understanding of modern hunter weaponry.

The knowledge was there.

All I needed now was the means to build.

That was why I had bought the land.

It wasn't just for energy independence. It was a workshop in the making.

Once I set up the facility, I would begin the next stage of my work.

Because NanoNet was just the foundation.

The real empire would be built with my own hands.

....

(7:13 PM)

I adjusted the cuffs of my suit, the smooth fabric resting comfortably against my skin as I stepped out of the car. The evening air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of the city.

Marie's house stood ahead, a modest but well-kept building in a quiet part of Alessandria. I walked up to the door, pressing the buzzer once.

A few seconds later, the door swung open.

Marie stood there, dressed in an elegant dark green dress that complemented her smooth brown skin. The fabric hugged her frame just enough to highlight her toned figure, the high slit revealing just a hint of her athletic legs. Her dark brown hair was styled differently tonight, flowing down her back in neat waves instead of her usual ponytail.

Her eyes flickered over me before a slow, amused smile tugged at her lips.

"Well, well, well." She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway. "Didn't expect you to actually clean up this well."

I chuckled, stepping back and opening the passenger-side door for her. "I'd say the same, but I'm not that blind."

She laughed, stepping forward and sliding into the seat with an effortless grace. "Flattery, huh? Careful, I might start thinking you enjoy my company."

I shut the door behind her and walked around to the driver's side. Settling into the seat, I started the engine, the smooth hum filling the cabin.

As I pulled onto the road, Marie tilted her head, giving me another once-over. "But really, a full suit? Not bad. You almost look like some rich heir showing off his wealth."

I smiled slightly. "And you look like someone who'd make a rich heir lose his."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You've got some good lines when you try."

I didn't reply, simply focusing on the road as we wove through the evening traffic.

Marie stretched slightly, getting comfortable. "So, what made you decide to celebrate with me?"

I shrugged. "A good meal seemed like the right way to end the day."

She raised an eyebrow. "Right. Because buying a whole damn car was too small of an achievement?"

"I don't settle for small wins."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Figures."

The conversation flowed easily between us as I navigated the streets, the golden glow of the city lights flickering past.

Soon, Trattoria Leone came into view, its warm interior visible through the large windows. It was one of the more well-regarded restaurants in the area, classic Italian dishes, a good selection of fresh juices, and a quiet atmosphere.

Pulling up to the entrance, I parked and stepped out, walking around to open Marie's door.

She glanced up at me with a raised brow before stepping out. "Huh. Didn't peg you as the gentleman type \1."

I shut the door behind her. "I have my moments."

She smiled, tilting her head. "Not bad, Sen."

We stepped inside, the scent of fresh pasta and roasted vegetables greeting us immediately. A waiter led us to a quiet table near the window, where we settled in, menus already in hand.

As we looked over the options, I spoke casually. "Where do they usually sell Essence Stones?"

Marie glanced up, raising a brow. "Essence Stones? High-ranking ones?"

I nodded.

She leaned back slightly. "Why?"

I shrugged. "Curious. Wanted to see an auction sometime."

Her eyes studied me for a moment before she set the menu down. "Well, usually, guilds and the Hunter Association keep most of them. High-rank Stones are too valuable, they either use them for crafting weapons or as energy sources."

"Makes sense."

She tapped her fingers against the table. "But… if you have the money, and I mean a lot of it, there's one place where you might find some for sale."

I waited.

She smiled. "Rome. The biggest auction happens there on the 15th of every month. They auction everything from B-rank to S-rank items."

I nodded slightly. That was useful information.

"But.." she continued, "even if you have money, you need power to keep what you buy."

I raised a brow. "Oh?"

She rested her chin on her hand. "Let's just say there have been… 'incidents'. Buyers who weren't strong enough to protect their purchases. Some accidents. Some disappearances."

I exhaled softly, shaking my head. "Human greed is boundless."

Marie smiled, but there was something knowing behind it. "That's just how it is. Power gets over people's heads. Not everyone can stay the same once they have it."

I nodded, meeting her gaze. "True."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The restaurant buzzed around us, the scent of rich dishes filling the air.

Then the waiter arrived with our drinks.