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?"

his eyes before nudging

hit to

to a realization, I lowered my head and greeted

to see you

good to

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

I need you two

a stern

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

she placed two

staff, or regular professor

"I see..."

Kevin sat down on a brown leather chair opposite Donna's desk and

was about to sign, his

on, if you guys do this, how come

a valid

academy made everyone sign mana contracts, how was

I already knew the answer

a helpless smile on her face, Donna

deep-rooted the influence

I sat down next to Kevin and did a quick skim of the

was against, I signed it and put the pen

know this by now, but a mana contract is not

contracts, although useful, weren't

for some people to escape its influence, although, the

fact that the user would find their lifespan shortening by a large degree due to

that could be done easily, and the fact that the Monolith had managed

"I guess you're right."

his head, Kevin signed the paper and put the

thinking straight. I barely signed

the contract

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

a satisfied smile, Donna put the

hologram was then projected

will give you a brief rundown on who the individuals

long list of professors

professors

level of suspicion that the

the Lock suspects of being

quite a few familiar faces amongst the list of professors, however,

point of being

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

of use to

be a professor while Ren you will

me out of my thoughts

Kevin is

curved upward,

you have not even finished your first year at the Lock. Even if you do have the qualifications to be a professor given your strength, unlike Kevin, you don't have

"Oh."

my

happy with this arrangement. Since I was an assistant professor, it could only mean that I had less work

like you don't have

Donna clapped her hands.

she once again turned her attention toward the holographic projection in front of her and started to brief Kevin and m, on all the individuals we had to

that you two know what your roles are. I will now start giving you details on the

...30 minutes later.

Donna gave me a proper rundown on the situation,

all I needed to do was stick close to

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

Amanda out of her

worried

everything alright,

"Yeah."

replied in short. She then lowered her head and stared at the papers in front

"What were we discussing?"

discussing the 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 need

"Ah, right."

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

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.

"Understood."

with

the folder, Amanda

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

a kind smile

Amanda to tilt her

there something else

"No, no."

Lowering his body, he bit Amanda goodbye before leaving the