High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2062: Chapter 283: Sending Home

The discussion on Wednesday evening eventually ended without any resolution.

Although everyone acknowledged that the thoughts that sprang from Zheng Qing’s mind were valuable, the issue was precisely that they were just ’thoughts’, too elusive to be realized.

The only outcome that night was that Absolution had decided on the final choice for ’Combining Vertical and Horizontal’, which was neither combining vertically nor horizontally, but adhering to the principle of peaceful coexistence with other hunting teams and independent action without forming alliances.

As long as other hunting teams didn’t harbor malice or attack first, the Absolution Hunting Team would never proactively attack anyone.

This choice stemmed from two magic contracts.

One was returned by the school hunting team—to ensure that Absolution would not become cannon fodder, Xiao Xiao drafted a slightly stringent contract, which Zhang Ji Xin passed to his brother. Unsurprisingly, the new Lei Zhe politely returned this contract.

The other contract was handed to Zheng Qing by Nicholas—with similar concerns as Absolution, the Fringe Hunting Team, also in a weak position, worried about becoming cannon fodder. Thus, they drafted an exceptionally meticulous contract, hoping that all Absolution Hunters would sign it.

”Compared to the contract drafted by the Fringe Hunting Team, ours is simply too lenient!” Xin Fat Man commented after comparing the two contracts.

”This means we are more confident than the Fringe Hunting Team,” Dylan yawned lazily, ”In a sense, it’s also a self-recognition of the hunting team’s strength.”

”I totally understand why your brother returned the contract we submitted.”

After flipping through the contract drafted by the Fringe Hunting Team, Zheng Qing sighed and patted the red-faced male wizard’s shoulder: ”No one wants to venture into the Dark Forest with their hands and feet tied with ropes.”

”It’s the prisoner’s dilemma.”

Absolution’s diviner seemed unsurprised as they smirked, ”The school couldn’t possibly design a competition project where everyone could win just by being harmonious.”

Thus, after some discussion, Absolution finally chose the ’non-alliance’ path.

”This approach has advantages and disadvantages.”

Before the meeting concluded, the captain of the Absolution Hunting Team summarized: ”The advantage is that we won’t preset a position or choose enemies in advance... Teaming up with the Fringe Hunting Team, as two weaklings, we’re likely to clash with any hunting team we encounter; teaming up with the school team, we’re bound to face challenges from the other four academy teams.”

”Moreover, independent action won’t restrict Absolution’s ability to perform,” Xiao Xiao adjusted his glasses and added: ”Having allies means any plan must consider our allies’ reactions before actions... It invisibly compresses our range of tactical choices.”

”The disadvantage is,”

After the doctor finished speaking, Zheng Qing spoke again: ”Without allies, we must independently face all dangers in the Silent Forest, and every hunting team could ’potentially’ become our enemy... And Absolution’s ’spoon’ is gone.”

Although no alliances were successfully formed, through brief negotiations and covert visits these days, Absolution finally confirmed that some of the nine hunting teams obtained the ’spoon’, and some obtained the ’chassis’—no one knows if the spoon and chassis combined will truly guide the hunting teams to the final hunting ground, but this is the most probable speculation.

”So what should we do?” This was the question raised by the Fat Wizard.

He meant, without the ’spoon’, how could Absolution find the location of the final hunting ground?

”Use the simplest method.”

Zheng Qing pointed overhead, then at Xiao Xiao: ”There are star signs in the sky, there is Cao Herb on the ground, there is Turtle Shell in the water, and the doctor also has a crystal ball and a complete compass... We are wizards, we should believe in the power of divination... As the Monitor said earlier, just choose the ’correct’ direction to move forward.”

”Other hunting teams will certainly be faster than us.”

Dylan smirked—the students of Starry Sky Academy naturally support snatching other hunting teams’ ’clues’.

”Perhaps.”

In this choice, Xiao Xiao supported Zheng Qing: ”But like the tortoise and hare race, choosing the simplest method won’t necessarily lead to failure; trying to take shortcuts won’t necessarily lead to success.”

After the meeting, as night fell, there was surely no space in the library, and everyone wasn’t interested in tonight’s hunting painting exhibition, so the young wizards of the Absolution Hunting Team simply stayed in the shop and deduced hunting arrays and hunting field tactics for a while.

By half-past nine, almost time for Grandpa Niwu’s nap, Zhang Ji Xin finally released his yawning companions, reluctantly packing up the maps on the table.

”I’ll escort Lin Guo.”

Blue Bird, unusually, took the initiative to speak, nodded at everyone, and then placed a hand on the little warlock’s shoulder, leading him out.

Lin Guo cheerfully waved goodbye to his companions.

After the two vanished outside the door, everyone collectively looked at Zheng Qing, and the shop fell into a subtle atmosphere, leaving the captain of the Absolution Hunting Team somewhat puzzled.

”That’s all for tonight,” he spread his hands: ”Well... shall we disperse?”

”It’s late, I’m heading back now.”

Jiang Yu slightly nodded, and was the first to head towards the door.

Dylan wildly signaled to the young cost student, the Fat Wizard kept pointing towards the door, and Xiao Xiao also continuously adjusted his glasses legs in front of Zheng Qing.

”What kind of charades are you playing?”

Zhang Ji Xin scratched his head, looking confused.

Zheng Qing glanced at the disappearing silhouette of the witch, finally stopped pretending not to understand, coughed twice: ”Since there’s nothing... I’ll be going too, Doctor, remember to close the door.”

”Leave it to us!”

The Fat Wizard pushed forcefully.

Zheng Qing felt like he was flying, as if on clouds, and he could faintly hear the red-faced male wizard’s shouting of ’Why did he leave, I have some tactical ideas I want to discuss’ from behind.

He shook his head, pretending not to hear, and quickly caught up with the witch not too far away.

”Let’s go together,”

The warlock called softly.

The witch didn’t turn around, only naturally slowed her pace.

”It’s strange,”

When Zheng Qing caught up, Jiang Yu tilted her head, revealing some contemplation in her eyes: ”Do you think, is there any possibility that other hunting teams are interfering with our thoughts? I mean, why did the lecture note insertion happen in the afternoon during that magical zoology class, not earlier or later?”

The young cost student took a great effort to follow the witch’s train of thought.

”Probably... there’s probably no chance,”

He uncertainly shook his head, his gaze wandering around: ”Magical zoology is a second-year elective, Teacher Gan’s class also doesn’t have any veteran repeat students... counting the hunters who entered the finals from second year, there are only a few, we all know them, definitely no other hunting teams involved... Ha!”

He slapped his palm firmly.

The witch beside him was startled.

”What did you think of?”

She composed herself and pursued the question.

In the next instant, Zheng Qing reached up and pulled down a chubby, round palace lantern—this was a project highly popular in last year’s school hunting party, which organizers had promoted this year. Upon completing the talisman on the palace lantern, one could receive a small gift.

For someone, this was extremely simple.

Bam!

A mist flashing with golden stars erupted in the night, within which a large bouquet of red roses tumbled, as it had this time last year.

Except that last year’s quiz-taker and flower-giver happened to switch roles with someone else this year.

”These are for you,”

He seized the bouquet and shoved it into the witch’s arms, fearing she might misunderstand, he added: ”I’m not asking you to hold it.”

The witch cast him a glance, smiling like the flowers in her arms.

Ps, refer to last year’s school hunting party, Broken Bamboo Continuation Bamboo Chapter 97;

Ps, the final starts tomorrow.