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

hit

to a realization, I lowered my head and greeted

to see

good to see you

then pressed her hand on the table and passed two papers

point, I need you

papers, a stern

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

as she placed two pens

or regular professor must sign a mana

"I see..."

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

about to sign, his hand came

this,

a

academy made everyone sign mana contracts, how was it possible for people

knew the

helpless smile on her face, Donna leaned

you how deep-rooted the influence of

she could follow up, I sat down next to Kevin and

was against, I signed it and put the pen

you know this by now, but a mana contract is

useful, weren't exactly

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

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

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

"I guess you're right."

signed the

straight. I barely

the

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

Donna

then projected

on who the individuals

long list of professors

professors to

level of suspicion that the Lock

that the Lock suspects of being part of the

There were quite a few familiar faces amongst the list of professors, however, I never

of being surprised by what I

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

of

a professor while Ren you will be an assistant

snapping me out of my thoughts were Donna's

is

lips curved upward,

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

"Oh."

moved my

Since I was an assistant professor,

have any issues with

Donna clapped her hands.

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

are. I will now start giving

...30 minutes later.

Donna gave me a proper rundown on the situation,

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

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

out of her thoughts was her

worried

everything alright, young

"Yeah."

She then lowered her head and

"What were we discussing?"

over a couple of millions of cards, and we're currently sold out in terms of pre-released booking. We're practically ready

"Ah, right."

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

"Understood."

with

the folder, Amanda

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

shook his head with a kind smile on his

caused Amanda to tilt her

something else

"No, no."

back. Lowering his body, he bit Amanda goodbye before leaving