High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2303: Chapter 524: Absolution’s Mission

Veteran hunters who have completed the Trident Sword task know that when going on a Trident Sword hunting mission, you must wear an old robe, the older the better, and if the robe is also cheap, that’s even better.

On one hand, an old robe worn many times can bring you good luck, as ”an old robe always brings its owner back home.” This saying has no magical reasoning and falls under the realm of mysticism. On the other hand, an old robe is cheap, and when you step into a Fire Dragon’s dung pit or fall into a stinky swamp, you’ll be especially grateful for your choice to wear an old robe for the task.

The Absolution Hunting Team has no veterans.

So as soon as they met, they were given a shock by the Review Office.

Zheng Qing dared to swear by the red paper position of the teacher that he absolutely didn’t look at the tall, talkative man with an ’admiring’ gaze, yet he wasn’t sure where his mysterious confidence came from.

”Shut up! If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”

Behind the curved desk, the actual owner of this office cursed in a low voice, then turned to look at the slightly nervous young warlock, frowning slightly: ”A rookie hunting team? Although Lewis usually talks like he’s farting, one thing he says is very true... it’s best to wear an old robe when performing tasks...”

Zheng Qing cautiously examined the reviewer behind the desk. He looked about thirty, wore a not-so-new black robe, had a high hairline and large eye bags, exuding a ’I’m very irritable now, don’t provoke me’ aura. His elbow rested on the desk, pressing down a few thin sheets of mulberry paper, rapidly twirling a pencil between his fingers.

The young student on a scholarship focused on that pencil for several seconds, recalling that wizards rarely used such stationery; it seemed to be the first time he saw someone using a pencil since entering the wizard world.

”Your hunting team’s name?” The reviewer behind the desk asked, after sketching a few lines on the mulberry paper.

”Absolution, Absolution Hunting Team...” Zheng Qing’s gaze roamed the desk, noticing that the reviewer’s nameplate was obscured by some disorganized documents, so he eventually chose another term: ”...Mr. Reviewer.”

”Absolution? Which Absolution! Across the Alliance, there are at least eight hunting teams with that name if not ten!”

The pencil in the reviewer’s hand knocked on the desk impatiently, with a ”dong dong” sound: ”Don’t waste time, there are seventeen hunting teams still waiting for review behind you... bring your badges... and since you’re all second-year students, also give me your student cards!”

Zheng Qing did not have the slightest thought of arguing and submitted the relevant materials obediently.

But a bystander drinking tea made a fuss.

”Wait!”

The File Management Office employee named Lewis put down his teacup, pointed astonishedly at the young warlocks before him: ”The school actually dispatched a second-year student hunting team for this hunt? And it’s a newly promoted team... even if they successfully register, it’s too casual... my twelve-year-old nephew has more hunting experience than them!”

This statement bordered on provocation.

The Absolution Hunting Team’s diviner immediately stepped up, holding the crystal ball, to prove the team’s strength: ”Firstly, you don’t have a nephew, Mr. Lewis from the File Management Office.”

”Secondly,”

The team’s spokesperson, Xin Fat Man, preferred to list facts like writing a news article: ”Even if you really had a twelve-year-old nephew, it’s impossible that he would be more experienced in hunting than the Absolution Hunting Team. Because our team has participated in two Campus Cups, won the Best Rookie Hunting Team, reached the Campus Cup finals, explored the Dreamland, and participated in the Battle of the Black Prison... according to the statistics from ’Road of the Glorious Hunting Team,’ the hunters of the Absolution Hunting Team are the youngest hunters to ever participate in the Battle of the Black Prison, bar none.”

”Lastly...” Dylan had just said two words when Lewis interrupted.

”Lastly, do you have a registered wizard in your team?” He squinted, inspecting the five young hunters in the room, finally shaking his head: ”No trace of registration, not a single one.”

This was indeed the Absolution Hunting Team’s biggest flaw at the moment.

Dong dong!

The reviewer again tapped the desk with the pencil, stopping the slightly noisy little argument in front of him.

”Alright, quiet down everyone!”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a slight pressure that easily controlled the situation: ”This time, the Absolution Hunting Team needs to track an unidentified black wizard. Information shows he has been active around the periphery of First University for a long time. The school has already dismantled his illegal laboratory at the edge of the Silent Forest... based on the information provided by the diviner, his strength can be determined not to exceed a middle-level registered wizard. However, since he is proficient in alchemy, he may carry several transformed magic minions, primarily werewolves, vampires, and ogres, possibly with some gargoyles.”

At this point, the reviewer looked up at the Absolution Hunting Team’s leader: ”Your team’s experience is indeed rich, but you haven’t hunted a black wizard before... do you know where to start and how to investigate the trail of a black wizard?”

Zheng Qing hesitated for a few seconds.

”From the demolished laboratory at the school?”

He analyzed with the safest approach: ”Since he once operated around the Silent Forest, I plan to return to the school later to gather traces of the black wizard’s former activities, then use divination magic for tracking...”

A soft laugh came from the file office warlock nearby.

The reviewer cast a dissatisfied glance at him.

”Do you have any profound insight?” he countered.

Lewis—the tall, thin warlock—seemed caught off guard, lightly coughed, and took a sip of tea to think for a moment before nodding slightly: ”Suggestions, of course, are old advice... just pay attention to anything unusual.”

Zheng Qing tried hard to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.

”Is this the wise advice of a seasoned expert to a rookie hunting team?” he tried his best to sound amiable but still couldn’t resist the urge to retort: ”Truly useful... words of wisdom! I mean, is there a more specific strategy?”

This time, Lewis lowered his head, focusing on drinking tea, pretending not to hear the young warlock’s question.

The reviewer, however, provided some concrete suggestions.

”Near the area where a black wizard appears, there are often frequent occurrences of murders, nightmares, plagues, and even large-scale death of vegetation, restlessness among birds and animals, and so on... you can interpret this as a type of ’omen’.”

He continued to review the materials quickly while imparting relevant experience without raising his head: ”The school probably hasn’t taught you this kind of knowledge, because such omens typically occur in areas inhabited by commoners, reflecting to some extent the black wizard’s research preferences... you must be sure to clean up any ’pollution’ caused by the black wizard!”