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

lowered my head and

to see you

good to

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

get straight to the point, I need you two to

the papers, a stern look appeared on Kevin's

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

as she placed two pens next

academy policy. Each professor, be it an assistant, staff, or regular professor must sign a mana contract. This is for security

"I see..."

Donna's argument, Kevin sat down on a brown leather chair opposite Donna's desk and picked up

was about to sign, his hand

if you guys do this, how

was a valid

everyone sign mana contracts, how was it possible for people to

already knew

a helpless smile on her face,

just tells you how deep-rooted the influence of the Monolith

next to Kevin and did a

sure that there was nothing I was against, I signed it and put the

this by now, but a mana contract is

contracts, although useful, weren't

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

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

short, it was not something that could be done easily, and the fact that the Monolith had managed to infiltrate the Lock despite all of this went to show how big of an organization they

"I guess you're right."

the paper and

barely

the contract back

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

Donna put the papers

was then projected

a brief rundown on who the individuals

of professors began to

low-ranked professors to high-ranked

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

are the individuals that the Lock suspects of being part

few familiar faces amongst the

being surprised by what I was

a quick skim, I was in fact able to spot a couple of figures whom I knew were in fact

of

be a professor while Ren you will

then, snapping me out of my thoughts were

is a

curved upward,

you do have the qualifications to be

"Oh."

moved my head a

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

like you don't have any issues with the

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

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

...30 minutes later.

me a proper rundown on the situation, and what I was supposed to do in the

everything, all I needed to do was stick close to one of the targets and be their

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

Amanda out of her thoughts was

worried look, he

everything alright,

"Yeah."

replied in short. She then lowered her head

"What were we discussing?"

cards, and we're currently sold out in terms of pre-released booking. We're practically ready to launch them, however, what we need at the moment is confirmation to officially launch

"Ah, right."

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

releasing the cards to 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 afford to have

"Understood."

with a

folder,

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

his head with a kind

caused Amanda to tilt

something else you need from

"No, no."

his head, Maxwell took his folder back. Lowering his body, he bit Amanda goodbye before leaving