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 his head,

saying hit

to a realization, I lowered my head and greeted

good to

to see

rudeness. She then pressed her hand on the table and

point, I need you two

a stern look appeared on Kevin's

"Mana contracts?"

"That's right."

as she placed two pens next to

policy. Each professor, be it an assistant, staff, or regular professor must sign a mana contract. This is for security reasons, I'm sure you know,

"I see..."

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

was about to sign, his hand came to

guys do this, how come the academy still gets

was a

contracts, how was it possible for people

already knew the answer

smile on her face, Donna leaned

deep-rooted the influence of the

sat down next to Kevin and did a quick

I was against, I

you know this by now, but a mana contract is not

useful, weren't

influence, although, the method

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

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

"I guess you're right."

the paper and

thinking straight. I barely signed

the

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

a satisfied smile, Donna put

then

rundown on who the individuals you should keep a close watch should

of

low-ranked professors to

rank, and the level of suspicion that the Lock had

are the individuals that the Lock suspects of being part

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

being surprised by what I

of figures

can be of

you will be a professor while Ren you

of

Kevin is

curved

at the Lock. Even if you do have the qualifications to be a professor given your strength, unlike Kevin, you

"Oh."

moved my

arrangement. Since I was an assistant professor, it could only

like you don't have

Donna clapped her hands.

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

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

...30 minutes later.

after Donna gave me a proper rundown on the situation, and what I was supposed

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

***

Demon Hunter Guild.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hm?"

out of her

a worried look, he

everything alright,

"Yeah."

She then lowered her head and stared at the

"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 to launch them, however, what we need at the moment is

"Ah, right."

eyes squinted. After a bit of

to the reserves. Make sure that nothing happens during the transition phase. We can't afford to have our cards robbed.

"Understood."

replied with

folder,

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

his head with a kind smile on

caused Amanda

there something else you need

"No, no."

his body, he bit Amanda goodbye before