High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1575: Chapter 319: The Deeper Meaning Behind the Inquiry

Under normal circumstances, a Big Wizard possesses a long lifespan and deep wisdom, comparable in human relations to the shrewdest of politicians. But such insight comes with a prerequisite—the accumulation of extensive experience.

Although Su Shijun is a Big Wizard, she is still under thirty years old since her birth—a period considered juvenile by the standards of most Clans of the Moon.

Most of her limited years have been spent cultivating her skills and working in the lab, so her understanding of interpersonal relationships is inevitably lacking.

Take right now, for instance.

Upon hearing the near-slanderous accusations from the gaunt wizard, her first instinct was regret—regret for not casting a chain of curses the moment she walked into the room to force those people into submission. Such thoughts would never float through the mind of an experienced Big Wizard.

After the regret came vigilance.

While lacking worldly experience, the wisdom inherent to a Big Wizard gave Su Shijun enough perceptiveness.

She keenly realized that today’s inquiry was hostile, a deliberate attempt to create trouble for her—it was evident from the placement of her chair and the attitudes of the questioning committee members sitting opposite her. However, she was still unclear about their ultimate goal.

Upon receiving a subpoena from Danghag, Su Shijun initially thought it was merely about procedural clarifications concerning the dimensional experiments. Thus, when she received the inquiry committee’s notice, she didn’t consult with too many people. She simply wrapped up her work at the museum and rushed over.

In doing so, she even sacrificed her precious sleep time.

As everyone knows, adequate sleep is especially essential for maintaining good skin, and good skin is key to sustaining one’s beauty. This mattered greatly, particularly because she had been dubbed the ”Wizard World’s number one beauty.”

If Su Shijun had known in advance that Danghag intended to stir trouble, she would have undoubtedly sent a proxy to attend this inquiry—or, if she were to come personally, she would have chosen a more suitable time and brought legal advisors from the First University and the Qingqiu Su Family to ensure the questioners behaved themselves.

Not the situation she found herself in now, where she was subjected to baseless accusations.

”The student disappearances have nothing to do with my experiments,” Su Shijun bit down lightly on her silver teeth but maintained her usual air of composure on the surface. ”We have substantial evidence indicating that it was simply a group of adventurous students who violated regulations to use the school’s Magic Mirror to enter the World in the Mirror... The School Works Committee has already requested assistance from Dreamland through the Foreign Affairs Committee and may receive a reply soon.”

As she spoke, Zheng Qing’s face flashed through her mind, followed by Poseidon. She regretted assigning Zheng Qing, that trouble sprite, to educate Poseidon. She should have asked one of the elder nannies in her clan to take care of the little fox instead.

”Furthermore, I must stress again that experiments related to dimensions are not the same as dimensional fluctuation experiments.” Her actual thoughts didn’t interfere with her current statements; she raised a finger and seriously corrected the phrasing the elder wizard had used earlier:

”The Alliance’s prohibition on the Moon Council conducting dimensional fluctuation experiments stems from the intention to safeguard the stability of the Wizard World and enforce the ’Non-Spread of Forbidden Curses Treaty’... It is not meant to hinder wizards within the Alliance from pursuing the truths of magic. The dimensional theory is the cornerstone of modern magical theory, and any attempts to go further along the path of truth require a profound understanding of the concept of ’dimension,’ which inevitably involves experiments related to dimensions.”

”This aspect is not within the scope of the Alliance’s agreement with the Moon Council. The Alliance has not prohibited the Moon Council from conducting any experiments related to dimensions.”

”The Two-Dimensional Evolution Lab under the Dimension Ascension Research Institute is currently working on discovering universal methods for living beings to break free from the bindings of the world under normal dimensions. This is something every wizard would do... If we don’t undertake these efforts, the Witch Demons of the Land of Desolation will surpass us.”

Su Shijun noticed that when she mentioned her experimental focus, the wizards across from her became particularly attentive, with the white-haired elder even jotting a few notes on the paper before him.

This heightened her vigilance slightly.

”You just mentioned ’breaking the bindings of the world under normal dimensions,’” the round-faced witch sitting at the center smiled amicably, seeming to ask casually, ”Does this mean, if I understand correctly, you’re searching for a universal method for registered wizards to ascend to Big Wizard status?”

”That’s one way to interpret it.” Su Shijun responded without hesitation.

The questioning committee members exchanged subtle glances at one another.

”What a grand aspiration that is,” said the round-faced witch with another smile, as if simply engaging in idle chatter to create a more amicable atmosphere. ”But could you briefly describe how far along your lab is in this endeavor? Or what challenges you’re currently facing?... I’ve heard that your lab has already successfully produced two experimental subjects that have transcended the two-dimensional world.”

Su Shijun’s brows furrowed slightly.

Any information related to the Evolution Lab is strictly confidential, with all involved—researchers and even the parrots stationed outside the laboratory doors—having signed rigorous Silence Contracts.

In theory, the Alliance shouldn’t have knowledge of these developments.

”I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard,” after a few seconds of deliberation, the witch decided to claim ignorance. This strategy would minimize the possibility of diviners extracting critical information: ”Our experiments are still in the initial stages of accumulating raw data and have not produced any actual successful cases... As for yesterday’s incident involving crystal wall weakening and extraworld energy leakage on Buji Island, I must reiterate that it has no connection with our lab.”

”We have sufficient evidence to prove otherwise!” The white-haired elder wizard knocked firmly on the table, his tone stern.

Su Shijun adjusted her glasses, a faint trace of sarcasm curling at the corner of her lips: ”Prove what? That the Alliance illegally trespassed into a Big Wizard’s private domain to acquire experimental data? Or falsely accused my lab of being responsible for the disappearance of those students based on groundless speculation?”

”Don’t misunderstand,” the round-faced witch quickly interjected to ease the tension, ”Master James simply meant to suggest that your experiments touch upon certain fundamental concepts of dimensional fluctuation, which fall under the Alliance’s prohibited domain. Hence, we need you to provide effective materials proving that your experiments have not caused damage to the temporal crystal walls.”

At last, Su Shijun understood what they were after.

”You’re looking for experimental data from the Two-Dimensional Evolution Lab?” Her brows arched slightly, and a subtle, ambiguous smile appeared on her face. ”If I recall correctly, the ownership of such data belongs to the First University. The Alliance has no jurisdiction over it, correct?”

”With the exception of the primary responsible party, cough, cough,” the gaunt wizard murmured with two low coughs, his tone meaningful.

Within the Two-Dimensional Evolution Lab, Su Shijun was the primary responsible party. She held equal authority with the First University regarding the handling of any experimental data gathered within the lab.

In other words, if she agreed, the Alliance could legitimately obtain all of the data from the Two-Dimensional Evolution Lab. Conversely, if she refused, but the Alliance could prove her actions violated the Wizard’s Codex, they would still have grounds to seize the relevant data as part of evidence preservation efforts.