The Author's POV

—Clank!

"Haa...I'm finally free"

Entering her office, Donna shut the door behind her. Slumping on her chair, she exhaled.

Despite the fact that she was a ranked hero, even she wasn't exempted from the questioning. The fact that she had caught, Edmund Rice also didn't help.

He was a high-profile target after all.

In the end, after more than five hours of questioning, she was finally set free.

"What time is it?"

[3:00 A.M]

Turning her wrist, Donna checked the time. Time sure flew by. Leaning on her chair she decided to take a quick rest.

—Ring! —Ring!

"Now what?"

Right before she could closer her eyes, her phone rang.

Annoyed, Donna picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.

"Oh god..."

It was Monica. Ranked 27 in the Hero ranking and an ex-classmate of hers.

Someone that she couldn't handle.

—Ding!

Frowning, whilst contemplating whether she should pick up the call or not, a message popped up on her screen.

[Donna, if you don't pick up the phone I'm going to go to you directly. Right now!]

Without hesitation, Donna picked up the call.

"Hello? Monica? Is that you?"

—Hmph, I knew you'd pick up once I sent you that text.

Monica's high-pitched voice echoed from Donna's phone speaker. Judging from the tone of her voice, she seemed to be sulking.

"What are you talking about?"

Donna feigned ignorance.

—You think I'm stupid? You picked up as soon as I sent you that text. What does that tell me?

"Haa...is this the reason you called me?"

Covering her face, Donna sighed. She was too tired to deal with her at the moment.

—Ah, no. Of course not

"Then get to the point"

—Sheeesh...talk about petty. Alright, to put it simply, the Union wants a detailed report from you about the incident.

"Now?"

—No, but by this week.

Donna closed her eyes. She was visibly annoyed, 'You calling me at this hour just to tell me this? I've already spent five hours answering most of the questions'

"I can do that"

She still agreed in the end. Not like she had a choice. It was her duty as a ranked Hero.

—Great, love you lots...Oh right, before I forget. Congratulations!

"For what?"

—For your rank increase! Since you caught Edmund, at the end of the year when the ranks will be redone, you'll definitely rise. More money for you.

"Oh, that does indeed sound good"

Donna's mood improved a bit.

Every four years the Hero rankings would be refreshed.

By calculating the achievements of the top heroes, the ranking would be renewed with some increasing their ranks and some falling off the rankings.

Naturally, the higher the rank the more financial support from the union and central government.

Donna was naturally happy. Monica teased.

—How about you buy me dinner at a fancy place once you get your paycheck?

"Are you finished?"

Donna rolled her eyes. Monica's rank was higher than hers, and so was her salary.

She should be the one buying her dinner.

—Oh, I also wanted to check out that other student of yours.

"Who?"

Donna's eyes squinted. She was quite protective of her students. She was naturally prepared to refuse Monica.

—The one that I met at back in Hollberg...what was he called again, ah! He was on the news. The one in the news!

"Ren?"

Instantly the image of a student popped into Donna's mind. She did remember seeing Monica checking Ren out back in Hollberg.

He also appeared on the news recently.

Who else could it be but him? He checked all of the boxes.

—Yes, that guy! I knew that there was something up with him back in Hollberg. Hehe, my instincts never lie.

"That's good for you"

Donna also remembered dragging her away that day. Unfortunately, the effort was still futile. Ren had still caught Monica's interest.

—How about I come to the Lock as a guest lecturer for a month?

Suddenly Monica dropped a bombshell. Donna's eyes shot up.

"Guest lecturer, you?"

She couldn't believe it. Monica as a teacher? That would be disastrous.

Sensing the disbelief in Donna's tone, Monica was offended.

—What? Do you think I won't be able to handle it?

"You won't be able to handle it"

Donna quickly shot her down. Given her personality, she really couldn't be trusted with students.

Monica became even more offended.

—You! Just watch me! Hmph! Hmph! Hmph!

"Wait...are you actually being serious?"

—Of course, I am!

"What about the union?"

Monica was an important member of the union. She couldn't just leave her post whenever she wanted.

—Them? They won't mind since they also want me to keep a check on Kevin. What Maximus's son pulled off last time didn't sit well with some of the heads.

With Kevin once again affirming himself as one of the most talented humans out there, the union decided to put even more emphasis on him.

They naturally wouldn't let an incident like last time happen again.

Donna naturally understood this. However, she was still apprehensive about the idea of having Monica teach at the Lock.

"Do I have a right to say no?"

—Nope, I've already made an application. I'll see you in a week's time. Love you!

Before Donna could respond, Monica hung up.

—Tak!

"Haa...This bitch. To think she's applying for a guest lecturer role"

Clenching her phone, Donna cursed.

Given Monica's ranking and high position in the Union, the academy would naturally not refuse.

This troubled Donna quite a bit.

Just when she thought she got rid of her back when they separated from the academy, she once again found a way to annoy her.

Donna massaged her forehead, 'Just when I thought it was my lucky day...'

...

The incident at the banquet was a plan that was carefully instigated by the Monolith. Their goal was to create minor conflicts amongst the four great academies and the Lock.

In the novel, they almost succeeded. Unfortunately for them, thanks to Kevin's efforts, the animosity between the academy and the Lock did not reach an all-time high.

There still was some though.

This time, however, it was safe to say that the situation was handled correctly. There was no animosity between the academies.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

According to the report, only about thirty people died. Compared to the over hundred people that were supposed to die, this was a lot less than in the original storyline.

Moreover, it was later found that most of the casualties came from the professors from the Lock who tried to protect the students.

This naturally made the four great academies see the Lock in a more favorable light.

Sacrificing for the sake of their students. To the four great academies, the Lock looked even more majestic.

Thus, the Monolith's plans were thwarted.

Unfortunately, this was merely one of three events that would take place in the upcoming months.

Their real goal was in fact the inter-academy exchange. An event that was watched by the whole human domain.

The grander the stage the grander the impact.

If you wanted to make a statement, you had to do it in the grandest event possible.

Now that they had failed this one, I wasn't sure how the future would pan out. But if there was one thing I was sure about, it was about the fact that they wouldn't stop there.

How'd they go about things in the future...even I didn't know.

But I sure as heck would do my best to be prepared.

*

Currently, it was 8:00 A.M in the morning.

I was waiting for class to start. At the moment, most of the class's attention was drawn towards my general direction.

To more be precise, towards Kevin who sat next to me.

Without a second thought, I scooched over to the next seat.

Everyone looked at Kevin with a mixture of different emotions. Envy, Jealousy, Admiration, and respect.

Most of it was respect.

With him being critical in defeating the villain and destroying the portal, this was only natural. He saved quite a lot of lives.

'Yes, keep shining like that'

The more he shined, the better my situation became.

Although I had made a statement before with my fight against that unknown extra whose name I had already forgotten, I was bound to be challenged once again in the near future.

With Kevin taking most of the attention off of me, those chances had now reduced.

"Ren, why are you sitting that far?"

Suddenly Kevin called out for me. I feigned ignorance and looked at the front of the classroom.

Kevin's eyes narrowed.

"Ren, I know that you heard me"

"Hm? Ah, well, how should I say this...I've got a fever?"

My mouth twitched.

"...you'd think I'd believe that?"

Right, fevers don't really exist anymore. Should've thought of something better.

"Haha, well you see. I have contracted something very infectious, you better stay away from me for the next few days"

Kevin squinted his eyes, 'Just what are you trying to pull?'

A thought struck him, "Don't tell me you're avoiding me because of all the attention?"

"That's precisely it, so stay away from me"

My reply was blunt. Might as well let him know. In response, Kevin smirked and raised his voice.

"That's a pity. I just really wanted to thank you for helping me out yesterda-"

Opening my eyes wide, I pounced Kevin and hurriedly covered Kevin's mouth.

This bastard. He was planning on letting me sink with him!

Like hell, I would let him do that.

"Do not say another word!"

"Thank you so m-mhmhm"

I put more pressure on my hands.

"Help-mhh fin---"

In the end, seeing Kevin's persistence, I could only give up. Taking my hands off of his mouth, I raised my hands in defeat. Kevin smiled triumphantly.

"Alright, I give up. I won't avoid you..."

"Hee...suspicious"

Suddenly I heard a soft voice from the side. It was Emma. Her eyes were squinted and her face alternated between Kevin and me.

"What is going on between you two?"

"Oh, Emma. Good morning"

Pushing me away, Kevin greeted Emma with a brilliant smile. Looking at his smile, Emma fell into a slight daze. She quickly recovered and switched the topic.

"M-morning...you still haven't answered me, what were you guys doing?"

"Nothing, we were just having fun"

"Having fun?"

'Was having Ren practically hugging you count as having fun?', Emma thought.

She naturally didn't voice this out. In the end, she quietly sat down on her seat. As she sat down, Emma suddenly recalled Kevin's words, 'He's the one who told to go to the second floor'

Turning around, she took a peek at Ren. His face was quite dark at the moment. He looked pretty annoyed.

Her brows knit, 'was this true? Did he really tell Kevin about the portal and the villain on the second floor?'

"Emma? Are you okay?"

Hearing Kevin's concerned voice, Emma snapped out of it. She quickly waved her hand.

"Nothing, nothing, I'm just feeling a little off since it's early in the morning"

"Ah I see then I won't disturb you"

Dense as always, Kevin bought the excuse.

"Thanks"

Turning her attention back towards the front of the classroom, Emma's face became solemn.

'Just how did he know?'