High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2045: Chapter 266: Leaping onto the Dragon’s Back

When Andrew mentioned Tuesday night, Zheng Qing didn’t quite react immediately.

But after a quick calculation in his sleeve, he immediately remembered the luckiest night for Absolution throughout the entire selection tournament. On that day, before the match, they drew the Tingdalous hunting dog, and then Absolution safely stayed inside the transparent glass ball throughout the competition.

”Tuesday?”

The young cost student glanced at his companion beside him, his tone somewhat hesitant: ”...It was more or less the same; the hunting team assembled after dinner, there was no special training... Why, did something happen?”

”No, no, nothing happened.”

Andrew laughed, shrugging off the question: ”This is the First University; it’s stable, harmonious, plain as sunshine, tranquil... if anything happened, it wouldn’t be something a wizard of my level could manage... like catching illicit smuggling horse-men at the North Pier, checking black market trades at the Wandering Bar, or escorting young wizards in heat back to school before curfew; that’s my level.”

The speech was delivered skillfully and reasonably, making the young cost student smile broadly, easing the worries from moments ago.

”What is traded at the Wandering Bar’s black market?” Zheng Qing asked casually.

”A lot,” the fat wizard replied with a gleaming smile: ”For instance, magic creature materials that are forbidden from trading, dark magic notes, or unlicensed talisman transactions... you know, like tobacco, standard talismans are a union monopoly.”

He raised the burnt-out cigarette in his hand.

The smile on the young man’s face suddenly froze a bit.

”I know,” he replied dryly.

”Naturally, naturally, many young people have ideas about making some extra cash on the side, and people don’t report what they don’t want investigated. Back in my day, I often sold Fu Lu Class homework at the Wandering Bar,” the chubby commissioner gave the young cost student a wink, and abruptly shifted the subject: ”Oh, by the way, speaking of the second-rank battle array... other than the Bo Fu Clan, do you know any other second-rank battle arrays?”

Xiao Xiao, who had been observing coldly, couldn’t bear it any longer. He sneered, ”Interesting evasive probing... but I must remind you, you are inquiring about insider information of a legitimate hunting competition contestant. This is illegal.”

The smile on Andrew’s face slowly faded away.

He glanced deeply at the short warlock.

”Perhaps.” The commissioner gentleman pulled out another cigarette, snapped his fingers to light it, and his entire face was soon enveloped in thick smoke: ”It depends on how you look at it, guys... I may enjoy hunting competitions, and placing a bet or two while watching, but I wouldn’t ruin my career over such a trivial hobby.”

Xiao Xiao frowned and adjusted his glasses: ”For Absolution at the moment, the only second-rank battle array we have mastered is the Bo Fu Clan array, because the initial practice requires the use of related array spirit essence blood, and all we could obtain was the Bo Fu Clan essence blood.”

”That is indeed a crucial point,” the Trident Sword commissioner nodded thoughtfully, taking a deep drag from the cigarette, then exhaled deeply: ”Back when Hilda wanted Thomas to practice the second-rank battle array, we got stuck here... otherwise, perhaps your practical training teacher would be me, hahahaha... Where did you guys get the Bo Fu Clan essence blood?”

This time, Zheng Qing answered him.

”Greenhill Mansion.”

The young cost student had realized this was not an ordinary ’fan meet,’ his voice slightly tense, speaking quickly: ”Su Councilor from Greenhill Mansion is our selection tournament advisor, and to her, a bit of Bo Fu Clan essence blood isn’t a precious magic material.”

”But you should have mastered the second-rank battle array before the selection tournament, right?” the commissioner gentleman keenly caught a slight inconsistency, frowning: ”As far as I know, such a battle array isn’t something you can practice and master in just a few nights, right?”

”Absolution and Greenhill Mansion have had many dealings, this wasn’t the only one.”

Xiao Xiao patched up for Zheng Qing: ”Last Christmas, when preparing the pumpkin car for the festival at school, we were helping out at the mansion... Otherwise, this time Su Councilor wouldn’t have readily agreed to our request.”

”Sorry, occupational habit.” The short, plump wizard inhaled the rest of the cigarette in one go, crushed it, casually wiped off the ashes on his robe, and his gaze swept through the nearly empty classroom: ”...That lady is also a member of Absolution, right? I remember her name is Jiang Yu?”

Perhaps upon hearing her name.

In the classroom, the witch raised her head in confusion and glanced towards the doorway.

Zheng Qing gave her a smile, shaking his head to indicate everything was fine, then turned to look at Andrew with a serious expression: ”If there’s anything you want to ask, just ask directly; no need for roundabout questioning or disturbing each of my team members... We are not your prisoners.”

He used formal language.

This was not out of politeness, but a display of estrangement.

”Got a bit of the ’super hunting team’ captain air.” The chubby commissioner praised Zheng Qing first, then sighed with a troubled expression: ”There’s no prisoner, just a casual chat... If there really was something, you would have received Dan Hag’s summons by now... young people, you’re just too sensitive.”

”Is that so?” Zheng Qing looked at him skeptically.

”Yes.”

Andrew nodded affirmatively, glanced at the young man, then suddenly laughed: ”Thinking back to last year, when I first saw you, you were following behind Thomas like a fledgling quail... Now you can adeptly face all this... It’s like the saying goes, ’Once you jump onto a dragon’s back, be ready for the ride’... the wizard life is just that unpredictable.”

He seemed to be both summarizing and reminding.

Before Zheng Qing could regain his composure, the fat wizard waved goodbye: ”Apologies for taking up too much of your time, and making you endure the smoke smell for so long... To be honest, I don’t think you’ll have any troublesome matters... but my job is just like that—to wander around and chat with people.”

Zheng Qing didn’t believe that the work of the Trident Sword was just ’chatting.’

He looked at a few companions, and everyone’s expression seemed a bit serious—nothing is more frustrating than being left in the dark.

”I’ll go ask my brother.” Zhang Ji Xin nodded, turning to leave.

”I’ll check the campus newspaper editor’s office.” Xin Fat Man also lost the mood for snacking.

Xiao Xiao patted Zheng Qing’s shoulder: ”I’ll go back and burn a turtle shell... but I reckon nothing under the Trident Sword case, even if I burn all the turtle shells I have, I wouldn’t be able to figure out anything.”

Zheng Qing glanced at the bamboo slip law book in his arms.

”Is there something going on?” Jiang Yu stepped out of the classroom, looking at the others leaving with surprise: ”I saw you at the door for quite a while, and now they’re all gone just as I came out... Who was that just now?”

”Just a friend, here to ask for an autograph book.”

Zheng Qing vaguely replied, standing by the window looking down, only to see the short and fat figure of the Trident Sword commissioner leaving the teaching building, crossing the small garden, and finally disappearing around an abandoned corner.