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?"

nudging his head, in Donna's

hit

realization, I lowered my head and

yes, good to

to see you

not minding my rudeness. She then pressed her hand on the table and passed two papers in our

the point, I need you two to sign

passed the papers, a stern look appeared

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

two pens next to

staff, or regular professor must sign a mana contract. This is for security reasons,

"I see..."

sat down on a brown leather chair

was about to sign,

if you guys do this, how

a valid

mana contracts, how was it possible for people to infiltrate the

I already knew the

her face, Donna leaned back

deep-rooted the influence of

I sat down next to Kevin and did a quick skim

that there was nothing I was against, I signed

I'm sure you know this by now, but a mana

useful,

people to escape its influence, although, the method was actually extremely complex and it required massive amounts

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

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

"I guess you're right."

his head, Kevin signed the paper

thinking straight. I barely signed

passed the

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

a satisfied smile, Donna put

hologram was then projected in

rundown on who the individuals you should

long list of professors began to

low-ranked professors to

rank, and the level of suspicion that the Lock

that the Lock suspects of being

as I stared at the projection. There were quite a few familiar faces

of being surprised by what I was

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

of use to

a professor while Ren you will be

out of my thoughts were Donna's

Kevin is a

lips curved upward,

even finished your first year at the Lock. Even if you do have

"Oh."

moved my

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

like you don't have any issues with the

Donna clapped her hands.

in front of her and started to brief Kevin and m, on all

are. I will now start giving you details on the people on

...30 minutes later.

situation, and

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

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

her thoughts

a worried

alright,

"Yeah."

her head and stared at the

"What were we discussing?"

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 at the moment is confirmation to officially launch

"Ah, right."

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

and make sure that nothing happens to the reserves. Make sure that nothing happens during the transition phase. We can't afford to have our cards robbed. Even if it costs a bit, use

"Understood."

replied with a

folder,

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

head with a kind smile on his

reaction caused Amanda to tilt

else you need from

"No, no."

Maxwell took his folder back. Lowering his body, he bit Amanda