The Author's POV

It was early in the morning, and following what was sent in the email yesterday, I made my way towards the Lock private area.

As I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was three individuals sitting at a round table.

I could instantly feel a deep and oppressive aura emanating from their body.

'Ebonie Wills, Mark Mendez, Perry Crossley...', I muttered underneath my breath as I looked at the three individuals sitting on the round table.

The three strongest students in the academy, and the heads of the three major factions in the Lock.

Calmly walking forward, I joined the small crowd of students that had gathered around them.

None of them dared to sit down with them as they just stood and watched them.

At the moment, a solemn atmosphere shrouded the room.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tapping on the table, a burly individual with short brown hair and green eyes spoke up, disrupting the silence. His voice contained hints of annoyance.

"Let's get this over with. I don't have much time to spare for the likes of this childish gathering."

"Shut up you brute. It's because of people like you that we have to hold these kinds of discussions"

Sitting opposite to him was an elegant youth with bright blue eyes and brown hair.

A look of disgust appeared on his face as he looked at the burly man opposite to him.

"Mark, Perry, can you guys shut up for five minutes?"

Standing up was a beautiful girl with tanned skin, black eyes, and dirt blonde hair.

Glaring at Mark, who was the elegant youth, and Perry who was the burly individual, the tanned girl, Ebonie Wills, walked towards one of the TVs and picked up the remote.

'”Clink!

Turning on the TV, Ebonie pressed a couple of buttons before a large data table appeared on the TV screen.

「Rankings」 - 「Points」

Lock Academy - 986

Theodora Academy - 904

Lutwik Academy - 888

Vellon Academy - 867

SilverWing Academy - 803

Kukz Academy - 745

DeathSigil Academy – 711

Dusk of Dawn Academy - 657

Everlight Academy - 656

PridedHorses Academy - 640

Looking at the TV screen I thought, 'Those numbers seem similar to the ones I wrote in the novel...'

Though I couldn't remember the exact numbers that I wrote in the novel, I remembered that on the first day the Lock did not surpass 1,000 points.

This was a very important piece of information to take note of since it suggested that as of right now the tournament arc was progressing just as it did in the novel.

Not sure how long this would last, but for now I could more or less be able to infer a little bit of what was to come in the future.

"Let's talk about serious matters."

Putting the TV remote down, Ebonie pointed at the scoreboard projected on the TV screen.

"As you can see, as of right now we are overall in the first place."

"Indeed. But I don't think we need to hold a meeting to point this out, no?"

Perry, the burly individual, spoke up as he crossed his large arms. Ebonie nodded her head in response.

"True, but there is a problem"

"What problem?"

"...According to the data, we're slightly behind last year's first-day record."

Ebonie gravely said as she looked at everyone in the room.

last year's

his eyes squinted

quite apparent that

managed to secure

response, Mark's brows knit

saying that we are

Theodora academy's score is a whole 80 points higher than their last year's score on the

only the first

up Perry as his

result, and right now we're first. All we have to do is continue to be first. Simple as that. I don't see why we need to

Perry spoke, his face

was extremely irritated about the fact that he had

and listen to

breath, Ebonie tried to calm Perry

only the first day, I believe that we shouldn't overlook this. If there is any

you wasted our

Perry abruptly stood up.

a domineering pressure exuded from his body as the students next to

pressure. Even then, I probably

me of the

"This is not nons'”"

that this was something important. You're just wasting my time with

around. Stretching his neck slightly, he made his way

the side to

"Wait lis'”"

have to agree with the

Mark similarly stood up.

sentence he followed Mark out of the room. Behind him, a row of students followed him

what seemed to be her followers which

crawling back to me later telling me that

the room, Ebonie, shook her head

arrogant pricks. Why can't they listen

cursed as her fists

'...As expected'

at the scene from afar,

that the Lock nearly ended up losing

not been for Kevin's intervention, the overall winners would've been

way I saw things, the situation was

no longer in control of the plot, the chances of the

although talented, could not work with each

decisions only. It was because of their ego that the chances of

"What do you think?"

"Hm?"

shoulder. Turning around,

did he get near

I

do you

from the way I see things,

a bit, I shared

"You think so too?"

"...yeah"

unity between the third years was quite clear to

this year it became even more apparent. Portraying

have a game to be preparing

as I checked

I better get

and left the waiting room. I followed

least I managed to

was one thing that was good about the meeting it was that I didn't attract the attention of the three

worry about joining the

***

the meeting, a week eventually flew by and it was now Monday. During the past week, I did what I set

'”Click!

bright lights, a subtle

thuds, multiple dummies fell on the ground as they

"Huuu..."

I subtly touched the

"This feels weird."

getting suppressed. It felt as though I woke up after a few hours of sleep as my body didn't

because of this factor, I almost missed a couple of dummies that

able to remain level-headed throughout the whole time and barely

'”Beep!

fell, a beeping sound resounded across the room, and my score was displayed on

Ren Dover; Time

Smirk.

a smirk