The Author's POV

"Sure, yes, okay, we're coming."

Hanging up the phone, Kevin headed for the entrance of the academy.

I followed him from behind.

Glancing around the place, I curiously asked.

"Where are we going now?"

"Section B."

Kevin answered before he turned his head to glance my way.

"By the way, I forgot to compliment you about the glasses."

"Oh, these. "

Raising my hand, I pushed my glasses up a little.

"Wanted to look the part."

"...Kind of cringe."

"Says the guy who is wearing a suit."

I bluntly replied while pushing my hair back.

Actually, the reason why I was wearing the glasses wasn't actually because I wanted to look the part.

Well, a small part was. However, the main reason was something else.

Connected to the glasses was a small camera that Smallsnake and Ryan could see through.

From there, whenever I wanted to pick information about someone, they would quickly send me a brief overview of their information.

Was kind of handy.

"Wait is that..."

"It's them."

"It can't be..."

Along the way, some of the staff and students that were not in the auditorium managed to recognize us as I could hear faint whispering coming from their direction.

Some even went as far as taking out their phones and started taking pictures of us from the distance.

I feigned ignorance to that.

"We're here."

Walking for the next ten minutes, we soon stopped in front of a familiar rectangular infrastructure.

Even after having seen the building countless times in the past, I couldn't help but be amazed by the sheer size of the structure.

"Let's go."

Waving his hand toward the guard, Kevin and I entered the building and soon made it all the way toward Donna's office which was on the fifth floor of the structure.

To Tok—!

Kevin knocked on the door and Donna's voice echoed soon after.

"Come in."

"If you will excuse us."

Clank—!

"Welcome you two."

Upon entering the room, we were greeted by Donna who sat behind her desk. Kevin was the first to greet her.

"Hey. It's been a while, Donna."

"Mhm, it's nice seeing you again, Kevin. Did you have any trouble getting here?"

"Not at all."

"That's good."

As the two were talking, I glanced around the place. It had been a while since I had been in Donna's office and it still looked exactly as it did in the past. Small, and comfy.

"Ren?"

Snapping me out of it, I suddenly felt someone tap me on the shoulder. It was Kevin.

"What is it?"

"Are you not paying attention at all?"

rolled his eyes before nudging

saying hit to

realization, I lowered my head and

good to see

to see you

replied with a smile, not minding my rudeness. She then pressed her hand on the table and passed

straight to the point, I

Donna passed the papers, a stern look appeared on

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

said as she placed two pens

regular professor must sign

"I see..."

argument, Kevin sat down on a brown

he was about to sign, his hand came to a

this, how come the academy still

a valid

sign mana contracts, how was it possible for people

already knew

smile on her face, Donna leaned back in her

tells you how deep-rooted the influence of

up, I sat down next to Kevin and did a quick skim

nothing I was against, I signed it and put the pen

now, but a mana contract is not exactly

useful,

were definitely ways for some people to escape its influence, although, the method was actually

would find their lifespan shortening by a large degree due to the fact that their soul would get split in half in

the fact that the Monolith had managed to

"I guess you're right."

the paper and

barely signed more than

then passed the contract

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

smile, Donna put

then projected

who the individuals you should keep

long list of professors

professors to

all varied in gender, rank, and the level of suspicion that

the individuals that the Lock suspects of

at the projection. There were quite a few familiar faces amongst the

of being surprised by what I

in fact able to spot a couple of figures whom I knew were in fact spies. I quickly memorized

be of use to

will be a professor while Ren

then, snapping me out of my thoughts

is

lips curved upward, then

you have not even finished your first year at the Lock. Even if you do have the qualifications to be a professor given

"Oh."

my head

this arrangement. Since I was an assistant professor, it could only mean that I

you don't have any

Donna clapped her hands.

once again turned her attention toward the holographic projection in front of her and started to brief

you two know what your roles are. I will now start

...30 minutes later.

the situation, and what I was supposed to

to do was stick close to one of the targets and

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

out of her thoughts was her assistant,

a worried look,

alright, young

"Yeah."

her head and stared at the papers in front

"What were we discussing?"

launch of the magic cards system. We have currently mass-produced over a couple of millions of cards, and we're currently sold out in terms of pre-released booking. We're practically ready to launch them, however, what we

"Ah, right."

her notes, Amanda's eyes squinted. After a bit of thought, she

the market by next week. Amp up security during the time, and make sure that nothing happens to the reserves. Make sure that nothing happens during the transition phase. We can't

"Understood."

with a

folder,

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

with a kind

Amanda to

else you need

"No, no."

took his folder back. Lowering his body, he