High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1998: Chapter 319: Negotiation

Before persuading Zhu Si, the Absolution Hunting Team had another option.

That was Professor Montreya of this Magic Script class.

If they could invite Professor Montreya to act as the advisor for Absolution, it would naturally be more reliable than that Zhu Si girl. They might even be able to procure some good stuff from the professor’s lab.

Although the professor had repeatedly expressed to the teams consulting him that he wouldn’t participate in the college hunting competition, as the saying goes, a good maiden fears a relentless suitor; even Uncle Liu had to invite Mr. Zhuge thrice to the cottage, with no discouragement or abandonment. At present, it’s just a matter of shamelessly asking after class. What’s so difficult about that?

What if the professor was just being coy, testing the determination of these young hunters?

With a bit of naive mindset, Zheng Qing and his group were unusually proactive this time, moving their seats a few rows forward before class. Bearing the strange looks from other classmates, they showed active and serious behavior throughout the class. Including Xin Fat Man, the four raised their hands to answer questions even more frequently than Tang Dun.

It’s just a pity that Professor Montreya’s teaching was perfunctory; Zheng Qing’s group’s proactive attitude was like throwing flirtatious glances to a blind person. He suspected that the professor might not even have noticed they changed seats.

Nevertheless, it’s not important, as long as the professor could feel their ’enthusiasm and eagerness to learn’, even if it added a bit more goodwill during the forthcoming ’negotiation’, it would be worth it.

As soon as the bell rang and the professor just shouted ’Class dismissed’, the Absolution four swiftly stood up, eyes gleaming toward the professor who started organizing his notes.

But someone else was faster.

”Professor Montreya.”

Matthew Karen moved like his feet were greased, rushing to the lectern before Zheng Qing could leap from his seat, bowing slightly with a charming smile at the professor: ”I am Matthew Karen, the captain of the Karen Hunting Team...”

”Not participating,” Professor Montreya interrupted Matthew’s words without looking up, speaking in a low voice.

Zheng Qing secretly chuckled, obediently lined up behind Matthew for the second wave of approach.

Many classmates were also aware of the recent bustling task of school hunting selection, stretching their necks, curiously and amusingly watching this scene.

However, Zheng Qing was quite concerned that Tang Dun and Nicholas did not step forward. Had they already found a suitable advisor?

The young public student hunters’ sense of urgency increased significantly.

Matthew apparently anticipated the professor’s rejection; his face showed no difficulty, only seized the opportunity to present his offer: ”If the professor is willing to be our hunting team advisor, the Karen Family is willing to provide some private sponsorship for the professor’s lab...”

Laboratories named after professors of the First University have the right to select external partners, and the wizard world’s capital is glad to sponsor such labs, but any choices are mutual. From Zheng Qing’s understanding of Professor Montreya, he doesn’t seem like a wizard short of jade coins.

Sure enough, upon hearing the young Blood Race’s first words, the professor lifted his head, his gray hair slightly fluttering at the forehead, revealing two sharp glances.

”Karen Family from the New Continent?”

His gaze fell upon Matthew’s red robe: ”It’s surprising to see someone from the Karen Family at Jiuyou Academy... I don’t need sponsorship, but if John is willing to lend me the Holy Grail for a period... hmm... one evening, then I will accept your invitation.”

The ’John’ mentioned by Professor Montreya, full name ’John Hugh Karen,’ leader of the Karen Family who ascended to the Moon Council’s Upper House Member seat, an ancestor who left Europa three hundred years ago and established a huge enterprise in the North American New Continent.

The ’Holy Grail’ referred to by the professor is one of the Blood Race’s sacred artifacts, rumored to gather Blood Race’s original blood in the cup, helping aging vampires to extend life.

Any wizard with some common sense can determine that the professor posed an impossible condition. Matthew also knew this — not to mention whether he, as a fledgling, even had the authority to make such an agreement with a wizard outside the family, merely lending the sacred artifact might get some radical members within the family to bind him to a stake and burn him.

Furthermore, it’s said that the Holy Grail is currently resting with Elder John in the vast coffin cluster under Karen Castle. Who knows if such a trivial matter would disturb those elders, causing them to pull out Matthew’s teeth.

The young Blood Race’s face grew pale, and his smile turned stiff.

This fit more with his vampire persona.

”The Holy Grail is the most precious sacred artifact of all Blood Races, forgive me, I cannot agree to your conditions.” Matthew first clearly stated his stance, then gritted his teeth, supplementing: ”If your experiments require Blood Race’s essence, I can assist your experiments as an assistant researcher after the school hunting competition.”

This was a subtle way to inform the professor that he was willing to act as a blood bag.

This resolve was quite surprising.

Professor Montreya’s sternness slightly softened, nodding in approval: ”That’s unnecessary... I’ve not fallen to the level of drawing kids’ blood for experiments... As for being an advisor, I truly don’t have the time; the lab is at a critical juncture... However, if you are genuinely interested in bloodline research, you can apply to join my lab when time allows. That’s it.”

Saying this, he tucked his organized notes under his arm, ready to leave the classroom.

Matthew sighed dejectedly, glanced at the group of Zheng Qing preparing to step forward, lowered his eyelids, and dragged his heavy steps away from the lectern.

His sigh was like a heavy stone pressed upon Zheng Qing’s heart.

Though the dialogue between Matthew and Professor Montreya was brief, the young vampire’s determination and the professor’s stance were crystal clear to Zheng Qing. He didn’t believe he could offer a condition more sincere than ’Matthew’s own essence’.

Perhaps noticing the men’s hesitation, Jiang Yu, who had just arrived beside them, stepped forward, matching the professor’s pace, joining him outside the classroom.

The boys looked at each other and followed closely behind.

”Professor.”

The witch smiled sweetly, raising a stack of parchment in her hand: ”This is the collected homework; I’ve taken the liberty to check it over. Common mistakes made by classmates are also marked and listed on this sheet...”

Professor Montreya paused and looked at the witch in surprise, rarely showing a hint of smile. Zheng Qing almost bit his tongue in shock; it was his first time seeing this stern professor smile.

”Thank you for your effort.”

The professor accepted the stack of parchment, hesitated for a moment, and seemed to contemplate how to reward this outstanding student who resolved his troubles: ”Hmm, if you have any difficulties...”

”We have an excellent hunting team intending to participate in this college hunting competition.” The witch’s face blushed, her smile mixed with shyness, as if embarrassed by her request from the professor, she quietly added: ”It’s the Absolution Hunting Team, participated in the Black Prison Battle... We wouldn’t bring you any trouble; we can handle everything ourselves.”

Behind her, the boys nodded vigorously like pecking chicks.

This time, it seemed almost certain.

Zheng Qing smugly thought to himself, gazing at the witch’s silhouette in front of him with gratitude, wishing he could rush forward now, cheerfully lift her up and toss her into the air.