High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2318: Chapter 539: Dumbfounded

”Narrow the field of vision? How to narrow it?” Zheng Qing asked curiously.

Xiao Xiao obviously had done some thinking: ”Since everyone has defaulted that ’M’ is the initial letter of a certain word, we should first narrow the vision down to the intersection of all clues, which is the First University. Filter all labs within the school with initials ’M’, the list of active and retired professors...”

”Will the school give us such information?” Dylan looked suspicious.

Xin Fat Man pinched his chin, pondering: ”If the reasoning is sufficient, negotiations can be conducted by either Trident or Danghag.”

”Tsk, the school probably doesn’t like your suggestion.”

Zheng Qing thought about the subtle status between the First University and the Alliance, and held reservations about the ’naivety’ of the Fat Wizard: ”Even if the school agrees, this workload wouldn’t be small... not to mention the faculty, I’ve seen many labs in the Institute of Applied Magic alone. For example, the series of laboratories established in cooperation between Miskatonic University and the First University, all start with ’M’... There’s also the Morgan Family-sponsored labs, Mendel, Mason, Mary, and many old labs have names starting with ’M’, even Professor Montreya’s lab has an M.”

Xiao Xiao continued to dissect the sprite intently, indifferent to the chatter around him. Meanwhile, Xin Fat Man noticed a contradiction in the Diviner’s earlier suggestion and his current attitude.

”According to the Doctor’s opinion, the suspicion on the Northern District Wizard can be greatly reduced.”

The Fat Wizard counted on his fingers diligently: ”Neither the name Korama De Gini nor Gini Cottage, Gu Diao Street, or Northern District Wizard, has anything to do with ’M’.”

”It was you who thought the Raven was connected to the Northern District Wizard, not me.” The Diviner of Absolution finally raised his head, seriously looking at the Fat Wizard while gently tapping the tweezers in his hand to the side, ”Don’t move!”

Zheng Qing was wearing silk gloves, trying to pick up a piece of vertebrae from the tray, but just as he applied some force, Xiao Xiao knocked at his wrist.

He exaggeratedly inhaled sharply and let go.

”The bone is quite hard.”

The young cost student tore off his gloves, touched his cold earlobe, and reminded his companions: ”Do you remember the two-headed ogre from the trial ground? Its bones looked big and hard, but they crumbled easily, fragile and hollow... I remember you said it was because the mutation of the experiment subjects wasn’t mature or stable enough, right?”

Xiao Xiao nodded slightly.

”But this bone.”

Zheng Qing pointed at the vertebrae he had just thrown into the tray: ”The sprite’s bones should have been fragile rather than hard... I just used seventy-eight percent of my strength, and there’s not even a crack on the bone. What does this indicate?”

”Indicates the mutation of the experiment subject is relatively mature and stable?” Xin Fat Man summarized with a questioning tone.

Dylan put away the notepad and squatted down, using tweezers to poke at another piece of vertebrae, speaking with skepticism: ”If it’s indeed a mature experiment subject, then why did they go berserk?”

Xiao Xiao peeled off a piece of tough skin slowly, responding softly: ”Perhaps their madness wasn’t a loss of control, but a certain experimental state.”

The other three fell into silence.

Zheng Qing sighed, stood up, stretched, walked around the charred remains of the oak tree, and made a round. Crisp tree branches, carbonized, snapped underfoot, producing dry and piercing crackling sounds. One cracked branch seemed to have housed a nest of a Tree Elf or squirrel, with a smoked sea monster Langmu scent faintly emanating from the crevice—Zheng Qing guessed there might be stored berries roasted inside—mixed with the peat scent of magic potion reagents from Xiao Xiao’s side, giving a drunken feeling.

”This is the preliminary investigation report, sign it and send it back first.”

Dylan passed the notepad over through the tree branches: ”It doesn’t contain our conjecture regarding this affair, only lists various clues... and post-mortem results.”

Zheng Qing skimmed through it briefly.

This mutated Da Ya Moss sprite corpse bore resemblance to the two-headed ogre corpse he remembered, having numerous surgical stitches inside, and traces of wounds healed post-magic treatment.

But there were peculiarities.

For instance, the skin; typically, a sprite’s skin is as light as silk, but this sprite had a layer of white mesh structure beneath its skin, Dylan bracketed Xiao Xiao’s conjecture afterward, stating that he thought this mesh structure was to fortify the sprite’s body structure, ensuring it wouldn’t internal rupture post rampage and prevent lethal blood loss.

”Still remember that two-headed demon?”

Zheng Qing flipped to the last page, noting a missing point, looked up at Dylan: ”That ogre once devoured the tribe’s warrior’s flesh and soul to sustain its activities... so what about these sprites? Doctor didn’t find any same-species or high-energy remains within its stomach.”

”What do you think?” Dylan retrieved the notepad, pulled out the feather pen, gearing up for notes.

Zheng Qing frustratedly scratched his head.

”My initial thought was Doctor Duzem’s Philosopher’s Stone, those ravens seized Zhu Si can’t just merely intend to play games with her.” He sighed deeply again, a knot of annoyance rising within: ”But I also think, surely no one would be foolish enough to risk offending a Legendary Wizard by doing such absurdity...”

”Black Wizard’s aren’t exactly mentally sound,” Dylan shrugged, writing Zheng Qing’s conjecture at the report’s end before passing the notepad back: ”Quick, sign it... We haven’t eaten dinner yet! Should’ve brought Fatty’s ordered fish and chips over.”

”To wish black wizard’s food too, really troubling.”

Zheng Qing shook his head, hastily signed his name, and before he could ignite the report, a cyan flame suddenly arced out from the void, instantly grew a neck, head, and wings, transforming into a chirping blue bird circling Zheng Qing’s head:

”Trident London Branch message: Aftermath incident handling team has arrived at the White Crow bar, awaiting handover with the Absolution Hunting Team, please complete handover promptly.”

”Really annoying, another...handover?” Zheng Qing’s complaint was just out when he realized, suddenly widened his eyes, frozen in place.

Hadn’t the aftermath team already handed over at White Crow with them?

Now who’s waiting?

Similar to him.

The other Absolution Hunting Team members also stood dumbfounded upon hearing this news.