High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1024: Chapter 86: The War of the Agents

The sudden cold wind interrupted Xiao Xiao’s analysis and the strange glances that others were casting at Zheng Qing.

The financially strained student let out a heavy sigh of relief and shouted, ”Wait a moment, let me change to a warmer charm first!”

Without waiting for the others to respond, he leapt up from his seat, took out a new Poor Quality Fu Lu (Poor Quality Magic Amulet), and quickly affixed it to the columns of the pavilion.

Behind him, Xin Fat Man swallowed the fried chicken in his mouth, guzzled down a beer with a glug, then muttered, ”Damn it... It’s not like there aren’t good products, so much better to use a Standard Talisman. Always using these inferior talismans, who knows when they might just blow up in your face.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qing, without turning back, sneered continuously, ”An inferior talisman is still a talisman! Don’t disregard a mantou as if it’s not real food... Standard Talismans cost money! They cost shiny silver, glittering gold, misty jade coins! If you want to use Standard Talismans, bring out the money!”

Xin Fat Man didn’t say another word, immediately picked up a piece of new fried chicken, and stuffed his own mouth.

After Zheng Qing finished replacing the talismans and sat back down in his original spot, Xiao Xiao continued with his previous topic in an unhurried manner:

”...The bloodline wizards’ closely guarded magic skills, their closed social circles, and their deep roots, have been increasingly shattered by the ’bookworms’ of Jiuyou Academy with their tests and examination scores.”

”This has put tremendous, tremendous pressure on Alpha Academy.”

”You see, there are only so many magic skills that wizards have created in this world. Every time Jiuyou solves one more or popularizes one more, Alpha Academy loses one more trump card, and their competitive edge weakens ever so slightly.”

”And the pace at which new magic skills are being created is far from keeping up with the speed at which the newcomers are learning them... This is what’s called ’latecomers take the lead’ or ’latecomer’s advantage’.”

”Similarly, in this world, there are only so many outstanding young wizards. For every one more that Jiuyou Academy recruits, Alpha Academy recruits one less, which means that in the foreseeable future, Jiuyou Academy will be stronger than Alpha by that much more.”

”Every bit of progress Jiuyou Academy makes is digging at the foundation of Alpha Academy, and even that of Starry Sky Academy and Atlas Academy.”

”Whose cheese is it?”

”Who moved whose cheese?”

”This is a question with no right answer.”

”But when there’s a problem, it naturally needs to be solved. It’s like the saying, ’If the disease lies between the muscles and skin, herbal medicine can treat it; if it’s on the surface, acupuncture and stones can reach it; if it’s in the stomach, herbal decoctions can get there; but if it penetrates the bone marrow, no medicine can cure it’.”

”The conflict between Jiuyou Academy and Alpha Academy is, for the First University at present, like a disease on the surface of the skin—it can be soothed with acupuncture and herbal stones, and there might still be a chance for a cure. However, if it’s continuously suppressed until it can no longer be contained, it’s feared that the entire island will be torn in half.”

”The First University will not allow such a condition to occur.”

”But the First University will also not allow a public conflict to erupt between Alpha Academy and Jiuyou Academy right now. The Mage Alliance won’t allow it, the Great Wizard Council won’t allow it, and the anonymous principal won’t allow it.”

”Therefore, the friction between these two academies will be conveyed through various channels, transmitted to societies, to the students, and finally manifest in performances like the one we just witnessed, presented right before you and me.”

”This is called ’proxy warfare’.”

Doctor Xiao’s analysis concluded at this point, and he picked up the green tea in front of him, drinking it all in one gulp, sighing with satisfaction.

Around the stone table, other members of the Absolution Hunting Team, including several young wizards, listened with keen enjoyment, continuously praising the insights, which included Zheng Qing—of course, Zheng Qing still had reservations about certain terms in Xiao Xiao’s analysis, but the rest was very enlightening to him.

”Indeed, looking at a problem from different angles yields varying depths of understanding,” Zhang Ji Xin commented as he cleaned up the leftover food on the table, ”In the entire First University, there are not many as clear-headed as the doctor.”

Zheng Qing didn’t help Zhang Ji Xin clean the table; his gaze was fixed on Xin Fat Man.

”Fat Man, if you’re thinking of recording the doctor’s just-now analysis for publication, remember to delete what should be deleted,” Zheng Qing immediately cautioned as he saw Xin Fat Man holding a notebook, his feather pen flashing quickly.

He already had enough trouble and didn’t want to be targeted in an article bound to provoke controversy.

”Don’t worry,” Xin Fat Man answered without looking up, humming, ”I know what to do... Jiuyou Academy has had many outstanding wizards over the years, it won’t be an issue not to mention you.”

”The examples I just used were only to facilitate your understanding,” Xiao Xiao timely added.

Zheng Qing felt his cheeks grow slightly warm.

Zhang Ji Xin, however, pointed out the crux of the issue, ”Whether you write it or not, if people do talk about this, they will surely mention Brother Qing... after all, everyone is aware of his situation. Your ostrich strategy is just playing dumb.”

”Let it be an ostrich, then, at least it’s a bit of peace of mind,” Zheng Qing muttered lowly.

Xiao Xiao had just put away his notebook and stretched when he overheard the discussion of his companions, and curiously looked at Xin Fat Man, asking, ”If I remember correctly, isn’t the publication of articles of this nature forbidden on the campus newspaper... such pieces filled with ’conspiracy theories’ and ’grand schemes’ don’t align with the academy’s consistent pragmatism and self-discipline.”

”I didn’t say it has to be published in the campus newspaper,” Xin Fat Man looked up, winked at his companions and revealed a sly smile, ”Beta Town Post, Ganges Daily, Miss Duo Duo, Ladies and Gentlemen, etc., there are many newspapers in the wizarding world, not just the campus newspaper, there are lots of places to submit articles. If all else fails, I can keep the finished article in my drawer, to enjoy at leisure.”

Zheng Qing raised an eyebrow, appreciating Fat Man’s optimistic attitude.

Then he took out his timer from his chest pocket and checked the time.

It was one forty-seven in the afternoon, less than fifteen minutes before the afternoon classes began. Thus, he quickly urged his companions to pick up the pace.

As they left the pavilion and passed by the lakeside of Bell Lake, Zheng Qing caught a glimpse of dark shadows slipping beneath the water. Those were the Fishman Tribe hunting at the lake bottom.

Zheng Qing’s thoughts immediately went to the ’Fishman spectators’ who had appeared on the lake’s edge not long ago to listen to the tall, slim wizard’s lecture, to the unannounced ’guests’ from the Blood Comrades, to the covert dealings between Sepulano and the Fishmen.

He turned to look at Xiao Xiao.

”How long do you think the conflict between the Sacred Will and the Blood Comrades will last?” He was somewhat worried that the school would fall into prolonged chaos because of this, affecting everyone’s classes.