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?"

eyes before nudging

hit to

I lowered

good to

to see you

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

point, I need

papers, a

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

as she placed two pens

professor, be it an assistant, staff, or regular professor must sign a mana contract. This

"I see..."

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

he was about to sign,

this, how come the academy still gets

was a

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

already knew

smile on her face, Donna leaned back in

you how deep-rooted the influence

up, I sat down next to

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

I'm sure you know this by now,

contracts, although useful, weren't

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

a large degree due to the fact that their soul would get split in half in

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

"I guess you're right."

signed the paper and put the

wasn't thinking straight. I barely signed

then passed the contract

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

smile, Donna

was then

who

long list of professors

low-ranked professors

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

they are the individuals that the Lock suspects of being part of the

familiar faces amongst the list of professors, however, I never really interacted

to the point of being surprised by what I was

spot a couple of figures whom I knew were in fact spies.

be of use

a professor while Ren you will be

of my thoughts were

Kevin is a

lips curved upward, then

finished your first year at the Lock. Even if you do have the qualifications to be a professor given your

"Oh."

moved my

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

like you don't have

Donna clapped her hands.

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

your roles are. I will now start giving you details

...30 minutes later.

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

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

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

out of her thoughts

worried

everything alright, young

"Yeah."

short. She then lowered her head

"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 at

"Ah, right."

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

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

"Understood."

with

folder, Amanda

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

with a kind

reaction caused Amanda to tilt

something else

"No, no."

his folder back. Lowering his body,