High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1180: Chapter 242 The Duke’s Purpose

After the regular meeting, Matthew Karen sat in the classroom for a long time, so long that almost everyone had left and the teaching building was nearly empty, before he finally packed up his books and left the classroom at a leisurely pace.

For a noble under the Moon known for strict self-discipline, such a seemingly negligent attitude was very rare.

But he needed time and a somewhat secluded space to think about issues and what his next steps should be.

Earlier that day, his cousin, Sir Friedman, had sent him a message, asking him to sit and chat in the 3A club’s lounge at Alpha Fortress after the meeting. Because the timing was very sensitive, Matthew had to review his recent actions and words to ensure he hadn’t done anything that might have been misunderstood by others.

Fortunately, after some reflection, he found that he had been sufficiently cautious.

When he left the teaching building, Matthew saw the class monitor Jiang Yu. Although he found it strange that Jiang Yu was still around the teaching building so late, he didn’t dwell on it.

Everyone has their freedom and their troubles; he should focus on the troubles that concerned him.

The shortcut from Jiuyou Academy to Alpha Fortress was as desolate as ever.

The corridor was so neglected that the dead vines hanging from it seemed to have not been cleaned in a long time; a whispering rustle was heard when the breeze blew through, as if squirrels were peering through the underbrush.

The paintings along the corridors of Alpha Fortress were much cleaner than during his last visit, with the copper rivets on the outer frames of the paintings shining in the firelight. Contrary to the outer changes, the elderly figures within the paintings remained irascible and stubborn as ever.

”Damn red robe, even a glance dirties my eyes!” an old man in a wig shouted at Matthew, ”Who will bring me a basin of clean water?!”

”Worse with each generation...” another little old lady, clutching her pipe, rambled with complaint, ”Worse with each generation... Now they even let those red robes into Alpha’s fortress!”

Complaints like these were numerous, but Matthew had grown used to them.

He moved quietly and swiftly through this world of old people, and soon reached his cousin’s lounge. Along the way, the students of Alpha he encountered seemed too hurried or busy running around with banners and slogans to bother the red-robed child of the Karen family.

When he arrived at the lounge, Sir Friedman had just seen off a guest in a grey robe and was covering the dressing mirror at the entrance with a thin blanket.

”I don’t know what got into it, but it’s become ruder lately.”

The Duke noticed Matthew’s curious and polite gaze and explained, ”I just had the school’s alchemist examine it, but nothing unusual was found... Anyway, covering it with a blanket is always the right move.”

”All dressing mirrors shut up under the blanket,” Matthew Karen joked with a smile.

”Not free! Better to die!” the dressing mirror shouted before being completely covered by the blanket.

Sir Friedman tugged forcefully and skillfully covered the dressing mirror completely with the blanket, then he let out a heavy sigh of relief and awkwardly unbuttoned his cuffs.

”Amber Light or Green Bee?” The Duke walked behind the small bar of the lounge, lifted the cup in his hand, and asked Matthew as if making a suggestion.

The friendly atmosphere in the lounge and the calm ambiance caught Matthew off guard.

He had thought he was about to face much more severe pressure.

”Pure blood will do,” Matthew said, standing in front of the sofa, his reply slightly strained.

Sir Friedman shrugged his shoulders, pouring half a glass of blood for himself and topping it with half a glass of Amber Light; for Matthew’s glass, he poured a full cup of pure blood.

”If you’d like it warm, the copper furnace is over there,” the Duke gestured with his glass towards another direction in the lounge and added, ”But I think, in this restless season, in this restless environment, a cup of cold blood is more refreshing.”

The main course was approaching, and Matthew took a gentle breath, straightened his back, and displayed a standard smile on his face: ”Cold blood is quite good.”

The Duke nodded with satisfaction.

”I’ve called you here today to hear your opinion,” Friedman cut to the chase, ”The conflict between the two academies has started to affect the entire school’s image in the Wizard World, interrupting the teaching at the school—and it’s the teaching that is the foundation of First University’s standing in the Wizard World.”

”Professors might have a variety of thoughts, but as a role model for the young wizards, we cannot afford to ignore this.”

”What do you think about reconciling the conflict between the two academies?”

This question took Matthew Karen completely by surprise. He had thought his cousin called him to stand with Alpha Academy, to criticize Jiuyou Academy’s flawed educational system and rigid teaching philosophy, or to voice his support for the rebellion of the Lake Bell fishman tribes.

Just like poor Nicholas.

But to his astonishment, Sir Friedman did not force him to make such a tough choice; instead, he offered a surprising alternative.

”Reconcile the conflict between the two academies??” Holding his glass, Matthew repeated his cousin’s question, pondering every word to ensure he understood the meaning correctly.

The bright red blood, untainted by alcohol, swirled leisurely in the glass, leaving a thin residue on the walls, like the translucent flesh of a grape after it has been peeled.

After a pause, the young Blood Race finally spoke softly, ”Is this the view of the Blood Comrades?”

”No,” the Duke immediately shook his head: ”This is solely my opinion as a member of First University.”

Matthew sighed in disappointment.

For a moment, he almost thought the sun was going to rise from the west. Yet, even though the sun did not rise from the west today, its course was certainly not as usual.

For representing the most obstinate faction of Alpha Academy, the 3A club, Sir Friedman had just suggested the possibility of a truce to a student from Jiuyou Academy.

Even if neither of them had the authority to finalize such a decision.

That was already quite a fantastical event.

”Do you have a plan?” Excitement shone in Matthew Karen’s eyes—if he could successfully play the mediator and restore peace and tranquility between the two academies, he would become a hero to both.

Of course, this ’hero’ might be in quotes, but even so, for a first-year student, it would be a staggering achievement.

He even felt a bit regretful that he had arrived later today than he should have.