High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1960: Chapter 181: Lucifer’s Mark

The white feather pen danced swiftly across the rough parchment, yet did not make a single sound.

To prevent anyone from guessing the content on the parchment through the slight movements of the feather pen, the pen changed its writing language with each phrase it completed—it could be regular Chinese, Latin, Arabic, or ancient Rune, Zephan, Maya scripts, and possibly the more obscure Thebes Witch Text, Ogham script, or even binary code composed of 0s and 1s, among others.

Friedman didn’t need to completely understand the records on the parchment, he just needed to silently think of his ’opinion’ in his mind, and the feather pen would take care of the rest.

With these excellent ’secrecy’ measures and the powerful operational abilities of the Seven Deadly Sins, Sir Friedman had more than once considered whether to write down on the parchment the desire to compete for Augustus.

But the pride stemming from the Moonlight Nobles and the caution of the Vampire ancient castle eventually led him to abandon this plan.

No matter what methods the Seven Deadly Sins used—such as assassinating Sepulano, interfering with Blood Comrades’ vote, etc.—as the ultimate beneficiary, he would ultimately face retribution one day.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the feather pen in front of him had already stopped recording, jumped to the side, and revealed the brief sentence on the parchment:

——6/7, this opinion continues to be accumulated.

means Friedman has accumulated six opinions without fulfilling them.

represents the accumulation limit of opinions for the Seven Deadly Sins.

Although Sin Bearer is obliged to fulfill the Devils’ opinions, these opinions do not go without limits. The maximum task capacity that the entire organization can bear must involve a Great Wizard Level, meaning that neither the tasks Sin Bearer brings from outside nor those completed by the Seven Deadly Sins can exceed a difficulty involving a Great Wizard.

Conversely, a task at a Great Wizard level, when divided into seven parts, would make each ’opinion’ weigh only as much as a top-tier registered wizard level.

Fortunately, Sin Bearer allowed the Devils to accumulate their opinions.

Each ’opinion’ is equivalent to a top-tier registered wizard’s requirement, and by accumulating seven opinions, one can exchange for a requirement equivalent to a Great Wizard level difficulty.

Friedman was very eager for a portion of the Blood Race’s essence at the Great Wizard level to enhance his talent and foundation. So ever since joining the Seven Deadly Sins and understanding this task model, he had been silently accumulating his ’opinions.’

Up to now, including this time, he had already saved up six times.

Just one more time, and he could exchange it for a portion of a Greater Vampire’s essence.

Thinking of this, Lucifer’s eyes lit up slightly, and he couldn’t wait to take off that Ruby Ring—even in his eagerness, he maintained enough rationality to conceal the process of removing the ring within his wide sleeves—then rotated the ring to reveal a complex incised rune on the back.

The white feather pen jumped up again, spitting out a mass of crimson liquid, smearing it on the rune.

The young Blood Race held the ring and pressed it onto the end of the brief sentence on the parchment—this was the mark belonging to ’Lucifer,’ and also a necessary step to confirm the contract between Lucifer and Sin Bearer.

A scarlet flame flickered and vanished between the seal and the parchment, leaving behind a scarlet mark.

Once the ring left, the parchment paused before automatically folding into a brown Flying Crane. The paper crane flapped its wings in place, struggled for a moment, and then lightly took off, flying in an instant to Sin Bearer’s face.

By this time, there were already five identical paper cranes fluttering in front of Sin Bearer’s white mask. They danced lightly in mid-air in a peculiar formation, and soon Friedman’s paper crane disappeared among the group, even he couldn’t distinguish which one was his.

With the collection of all seven paper cranes, Sin Bearer raised a hand, swept them into his sleeve together.

”With benefits done, let’s talk about a few minor matters.”

The voice under the white mask grew slightly more serious: ”Firstly, regarding next month’s school hunting competition. You all should already know, the school hunt competition is going through a degree of reform... this reform is in everyone’s interest, so I hope everyone can help the school advance this matter smoothly within your capabilities.”

”Is this considered an equal task?” Belfinger, with a bird-headed mask, tapped the table with his finger and asked in a low voice.

”No, this is merely a friendly suggestion.” Sin Bearer replied: ”If I recall correctly, I’ve mentioned that an equal task will appear in the near future... this collection of ’opinions’ is an advanced benefit.”

”A free lunch is never so easy to digest.” Beelzebub no longer ate, shaking his plump pig head while glancing around, inspecting the figure at the center of the table: ”...The last time you had us maintain school stability and unity, and now you’re having us promote the reform of the school hunting competition... these positive energy activities don’t seem to match our masks very well... are you a big figure in the student council?”

This speculation was slightly inappropriate.

Thus, Beelzebub followed in Friedman’s footsteps, silenced.

After dealing with the loquacious pig head, Sin Bearer clapped his hands, drawing the attention of the other six ’devils’: ”The other matter is regarding my ’retirement’...”

This statement drew sideways glances from the seven members around the conference table.

During a gathering last semester, Sin Bearer had mentioned his plans to retire, yet until now, he still sat steadily at the center of the conference table, showing no signs of departure.

”It’s not my fault.” The white mask reclined slightly, his voice uncharacteristically tinged with melancholy: ”Originally, my term was supposed to end at the end of last semester... my chosen successor was supposed to be tested by you during the summer vacation... but due to some special reasons, he couldn’t participate during that time... so this matter was pushed back.”

”You don’t need to explain.” Leviathan, wearing a cat mask, interrupted: ”Just confirm, is the test still ongoing?”

”Yes, very certain.” Sin Bearer said, suddenly carrying a hint of mischievous amusement in his voice: ”So here, I must remind you all, have more patience during my successor’s examination... I know some among you are accumulating your ’opinions,’ planning to exchange for something ’big’ with me, if all goes well, the related responsibility will fall on my successor.”

Between the lines, there was nothing but ’beware’ there.

This gave Sir Friedman the urge to break through the bonds of ’silence’ and curse out loud. Even though he resisted this impulse, he couldn’t help but inwardly mutter a few curses.

The white mask turned to face Sir Friedman.

”Lucifer,” Sin Bearer said in a slick voice, ”pride is the greatest original sin. This Saturday evening at midnight, I’ll bring my successor before you... I hope your test is ready.”

Saying this, he snapped his fingers, lifting Lucifer’s silence.

”As you wish.” The Duke replied coolly.