High School of Demon Hunting
Chapter 229 - 153: Fireworks at the Deep End of the Lake_1

Chapter 229: Chapter 153: Fireworks at the Deep End of the Lake_1

The moonlight was silver.

Moonlight was like water.

A hint of unrest dwelled in the tranquility of the Lakeside of Bell Lake under the moon.

Lin Guo had already shaken off the gloominess from earlier mishap while on surveillance duty. Leaning on his wooden cane, he shuffled over to Zheng Qing, prattling non-stop:

"Grandpa Ferna is super awesome!"

"He vanishes ’whoosh’ from here in an instant, and then ’poof’ he appears over there. With one flick of his sleeve, he could conjure up a dead fish."

"These fishmen are super annoying!"

"They collude with some rotten students in the school to loot belongings from new students, and then sell these forcibly acquired goods back to them at exorbitant prices."

"The veteran students would scare the new students, claiming their actions of harassing the fishmen have violated the school rules. If the school catches them red-handed, the consequences could be severe. These rule violators would typically receive warnings or punishments. Worse still, they might receive a subpoena from the wizard court, or even get expelled."

"New students don’t understand any of this. Most of them would swallow their anger and buy back their belongings at a higher price."

"There are some stubborn students who are determined to seek help from the school to solve these issues. But then, the veteran students would step up, insisting that this is a matter for the students themselves, trying to avoid disturbing the school as much as possible...They would take the initiative to negotiate with the fishmen."

"Of course, the confiscated belongings would eventually find their way back to the new students. But by then, many items would be missing; and a lot of the supplies would be damaged."

"Naturally, the fishmen take the blame."

"There’s nothing anyone can do."

Zheng Qing looked at the indignant little wizard and smiled. The worries that had been lingering in his heart due to Sepulano loosened a bit, no longer leaving him feeling so gloomy.

"Do you know to which academy those students who trade with the fishmen belong?" A thought struck him, and he abruptly interrupted Lin Guo’s chattering description and asked.

"Which academy?" Lin Guo paused for a moment, then turned to look at old man Ferna.

Obviously, the old man hadn’t given him these details.

"Why, did you meet them?" Old man Ferna squinted at Zheng Qing and asked gruffly.

"Hmm, not sure." Zheng Qing answered vaguely.

While he was certain that the man he had been talking to was Alpha Academy’s Sepulano, he absolutely could not let this fact slip out.

This was the First University, he was Jiuyou Academy’s scholarship student, and Sepulano was the vice-chairman of the student council at Alpha Academy.

He did not have sufficient evidence to support his accusation. And he couldn’t expect the school to submit a meter-thick application for the use of ’restricted magic’ — such as the Truth Serum, Soul-capturing Spell — to the wizard court just because of the extortion by some rogue students.

The only consequence would be the case ending unresolved and Zheng Qing facing complete hostility from Alpha Academy.

Not to mention the total breakdown of his relationship with Mike Gold Cypress Plano, which would certainly derail the agreement they had just reached, possibly even putting his own family in trouble.

This was not a wise decision.

But after a second thought, Zheng Qing softened his words a lot: "When I was just dealing with the fishman gang leader, I was sneak-attacked by a wizard...Feels like someone from Alpha Academy, but I’m not sure if they used any magic to disguise their identities."

"Why would people from Alpha Academy collude with fishmen from Jiuyou Academy!" Lin Guo, bristling with anger, jumped up and exclaimed: "For such matters, proof is required!"

Zheng Qing looked at the young wizard’s white robe and smiled as he explained: "That’s why I said...I’m not certain."

Only then did Lin Guo realize he had overreacted. Turning around, he mumbled something.

Zheng Qing didn’t quite catch what Lin Guo said, but he thought Lin Guo’s reaction was perfectly normal.

This was a sense of belonging that each student felt towards their chosen academy — whether it was a matter of active choice or imposed on them.

In the First University, the competition between different academies is subtle and complex, and every student develops a habit to protect the honor of their academy. Any disparaging about their academy, without sufficient and appropriate reasons, would be strongly retaliated by these students.

For instance, if a student from Alpha Academy suddenly told Zheng Qing that the deputy chairman student of Jiuyou Academy stole a painting from the Alpha Castle, perhaps Zheng Qing’s response would be even more intense. Hot-tempered guys like Zhang Ji Xin might even roll up their sleeves for a fight straightaway.

Old man Ferna instantly noticed the awkward silence in the air.

As a veteran janitor who had worked at the university all his life, he barely needed to think to see what was happening.

"These fish people are also unclear which school the black-robed wizards belong to."

"Every school always has some failures... maybe someone from every school."

"However, encountering such a thing on the first patrol, I must say, your luck is not bad... at least tonight’s patrol mission is not so boring."

Zheng Qing and Lin Guo gave a coordinated smile.

Changing the subject leisurely, the old man asked another question to Zheng Qing: "Do you still want to bring pets for patrol?"

Zheng Qing was taken aback.

He immediately remembered that he once asked the old man not long ago if Poseidon could join the next patrol.

At that time, the old man didn’t respond immediately, only said "Let’s wait and see".

The implication of the old man raising this issue now was clear, if patrol encounters such dangers often, would you still want to bring your pet with you?

You need to know that while fish people may be lenient to patrolling students for the sake of the university, they definitely would not hold back against cats and dogs.

Zheng Qing hesitated for a moment, shaking his head and then nodding.

"If it’s ready, I want to bring it to see."

"Up to you." The old man lowered his head and reminded, "But before you want to bring it, first report to me ... I have to go through the process and fill out some forms."

"I want too, I also want to bring!" Lin Guo quickly raised his hand and said, "Can I bring Big Black next time ... Big Black is a horned mountain goat, very obedient ... and it’s very strong! If it was here today, we could have it to help us haul these things."

As he spoke, his wand made a circle, including all the miscellaneous items and fish people on the clearing in the woods.

This is indeed a big problem.

"Such a bunch of prisoners, it is indeed troublesome." Zheng Qing looked at the fish people snoring lengthwise and crosswise under his feet and he was also a bit worried.

These guys with a one-track mind, if they were awakened, it would definitely be another tussle.

If not awakened, with just the three of them, old, young, and weak, trying to drag them back to the lakeside dock, they would probably be exhausted to death.

"If I had known, I would have applied to bring Big Black, it’s very strong ... or I could borrow a flying carpet from my roommate." Lin Guo murmured, "My dorm has a Persian guy who brought several fine velvet long carpets from home, it’s super smooth when it flies."

Zheng Qing ignored the murmuring young boy and turned to look at the old janitor.

The old man Ferna did not disappoint.

He took a basket from his back, grabbed a sleeping fishman and stuffed it in.

Logically speaking, the fists of these fish people could block the small opening of this basket.

But magic is always illogical.

The fish people were easily stuffed into the basket.

Through the spaces woven by bamboo strips, you can see that they have become small and quiet.

The old man recited a spell again, gathering the miscellaneous items on the grass into the basket.

He waved his wand.

Without a hint of smoke.

"What’s that?" Lin Guo pointed to a burst of fireworks in the mid-air in the distance, curious, said, "Why are people setting off fireworks in the middle of the night?"

The old man Ferna turned his head and looked, his face suddenly changed.

"Run!" He roared, pulling the two young wizards beside him, stomped his foot, and disappeared in the dark forest as a wisp of green smoke.