The Author's POV

[Day 5]

"Where's everyone?"

I was taken aback to discover that the lobby of the mercenary headquarters was completely deserted. At any given time, there would typically be at least one or two of the guys lounging about on the sofas.

"Guess everyone's busy."

I eventually shrugged my shoulders.

When I thought about the upcoming event, it made perfect sense. Indeed, I had given a significant amount of work to each of them.

Without much consideration, I made my way to Ryan's room. Among all the people present, he was most likely the only one who knew where the others were.

They were probably in the building, but the place was quite big, and since I needed to check up on Ryan, I decided to just ask him since he most probably had eyes on the entire place.

Clank—!

After making my way to Ryan's room and opening the door, I discovered Ryan hunched over with his back arched and his feet crossed on the chair as he was looking at more than fifty monitors in front of him.

Displayed on the monitors were the different areas of Ashton city.

"Oh, you're back."

Ryan was quickly made aware of my presence, and after giving me a passing glance, he returned his focus to the screens.

He most likely was aware that I was heading to him long ago and was just being casual about it.

I approached him and placed my hand on the chair he was sitting on.

"How's the situation?"

"They haven't made any movements yet. Not notable ones…at least."

"This is in Ashton city?"

"Yes, same for the other cities. Still no major movement."

"Okay."

I nodded my head, struggling to keep up with Ryan, who looked at all the monitors in front of him without any trouble.

In fact, every two seconds, the screens would switch and new areas would appear on the monitors.

While this happened, Ryan would write a couple of notes on a small book that rested next to his keyboard before switching the screens again.

He kept doing this for all the fifty screens in front of him, and my head started to throb at the sight.

"I'll leave you to it."

I gave the back of the chair a light pat before turning around. When I was on the verge of leaving, I suddenly recalled the purpose of my visit here and asked.

"By the way, do you have any idea where the others are? I didn't see anyone in the lob—"

"Training room."

Ryan responded before I could even finish my sentence. I pursed my lips and nodded my head.

"Alright, good luck with your job."

It appeared as though Ryan was too preoccupied with what he was doing. It was to the point where he did not care about me at all.

It didn't really bother me, as I knew his role in the upcoming war was going to be very important.

I had a lot of things planned out for the upcoming events, and Ryan was going to play a significant part in all of them.

'Well, everyone will.'

I had not chosen my members randomly. They were all selected with this event in mind, and it was time for me to finally bear the fruit of their nurturing.

Bang—!

thing that I heard was a loud crashing sound, followed by what I took to

it easy! I'm not

Bang—!

'What's going on here?'

into the training room, I didn't know what to

beaten up and full

a pack of gums

Beat up

supposed to be on

"Oh, right."

how to respond

drifted toward a young girl who sat at the back of the room, and I made my

long has this

the last three

responded, holding her hand up and staring at the numerous small birds that were

were also multiple cats and mouses, snuggling around

I pointed at them. She answered before I could

animals that have not

many can

you're not talking about beasts affected by mana, which are currently at fifty, then about a

answered, raising her head and looking up at

eyes jumped

"A thousand? That many?"

I could probably push it to a couple hundred more, but that would

her head

you've asked me to do and set up multiple stations around the city just like you've asked. I also already coordinated myself with

"Perfect."

faster than I had expected. Everything so far was flowing in accordance with

the eyes and Ava

access to all of the cameras in the city, as well as Ava's network of animals scattered

were on my side, or those

could escape my sight and

up the good

with the progress, I stood up and decided to head out of the training room. Just before leaving, I scanned the room and

the way, I don't see Liam anywhere. Do you have any idea where he

head to the side to look at me, then tapped on the face of

in the Northern district, Govian

"Okay…"

'Well, there you go.'

I had established. She was able to

my face, and I

in the background, I didn't pay them any attention. My

I've got eyes on the entirety of Ashton city…It's time that I

days left before the human domain would

finish putting everything in place

that point on, I will begin the process of developing a new sword art and incorporating the demonic bloodline into

would I be able to reach a point where I could fight toe to toe against

"Ren."

from the training room, the first thing I noticed was Angelica

on her face, and my face changed

wrong? Did something

"No, not really."

Angelica shook her head.

that, she reached out her hand, at which point a dark radiance emanated from her and covered her entire arm. I was taken aback by her behaviour

break

"Correct."

nodded her head, retrieving

been close to breaking through for quite a while

found

"No."

complicated look

that the demonic energy on earth is too weak for me to

"Right…"

and the demonic energy was at a drastically lower level than