High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 168: Chapter 92 Alpha Fortress_1

Matthew Karen hadn’t gone far along the lakefront corridor when he turned into a secluded passage.

At the end of the passage there was a stone door, hidden within the overgrowth of luxuriantly sprawling vines.

The door looked incredibly ancient, its motifs on the leaf and door panels eroded by time, making many of the emblems of distinguished families barely distinguishable through the remaining traces.

The Door Ring Beast had its eyes shut, its mouth holding onto a snake with its tail in its mouth.

This snake was the door ring of the stone door.

Matthew frowned as he put his hand on the door ring.

Despite being from noble ancestry that traced back to ancient lunar knights, he didn’t appreciate excessive mystery and complexity. Perhaps due to the rebellious streak coursing through the Karen bloodline, he preferred more simple and flexible methods.

The snake released its tail, coiling its head around Matthew’s wrist, tugging it gently, revealing its pale forked tongue, which gently licked Matthew’s palm.

The young vampire remained expressionless, silently observing the Door Ring Beast.

The mouth of the Door Ring Beast twitched slightly, giving a nod of approval in silence. The stone door, as if receiving a signal, shook slightly and opened slowly amidst the grating sound.

Throughout the process, the Door Ring Beast never opened its eyes.

Matthew withdrew his hand back into his sleeve, meticulously straightened his robes, and continued to walk deeper into the door with an air of composure.

Behind the door was yet another dim, quiet hallway.

But unlike the corridor outside, this hallway seems to be inside some sort of a building. There were no plant vines attracting insects, in their place were exquisitely carved marble wall tiles and a floor made of heavy, rustic wood.

With the light cast through the doorway, numerous large portraits hanging on both sides of the wall were visible.

The subjects of these portraits appeared to be ancient nobles who lived hundreds of years ago. They wore wigs, caked their faces with white powder, some wore tall top hats, some leaned on civilization staffs, and even old men shamelessly showing off their silk stockings in high-heeled shoes.

Originally, the subjects of these portraits were quietly dormant.

But the sound of the door opening startled them awake.

The old men visible in the portraits near the stone door, exuding a smell of decay, slowly opened their muddled eyes and started to move their stiff, wrinkled necks.

Some of the old men even reached a trembling finger into their pockets and took out their monocles framed in gold thread.

On both sides of the portraits, ivory torches slowly came aflame following the opening of their eyes, illuminating the dark passage.

”Tap, tap, tap.”

Concise footsteps echoed in the sealed corridor.

Matthew controlled his line of sight, walking down the center of the hallway emotionless and without distraction.

”It’s a child of the Karen Family.” The older noblemen by the door nodded discreetly, acknowledging the identity of the stranger.

”Cough... Which Karen?” Beside him, an old man who seems to suffer from asthma asked with exertion.

”The rebel who stole the Holy Grail from the council.” The old man in high heels stomped his feet as if mourning a loss.

”Rebel!!” Further away, an older nobleman hammered hard on his cane, bellowing with all his might.

Matthew sighed deeply.

For these old men who plastered their shadows on the walls to relish the respect of their offspring, he felt nothing but contempt.

”They really have no brains left,” thought Matthew maliciously as he quickened his pace, leaving the hostile roars far behind him.

Stepping out of the dark corridor, his eyes were greeted by a breathtaking sight.

A gigantic atrium appeared before him.

Dozens of meters high, the coloured glass windows extended from the bottom to the top of the building, the white light outside instantly transformed into various colours as it penetrated the glass, producing a dazzling spectacle.

The labyrinth of stairs moved gradually, like a precision clock, bridging different floors back and forth. Exquisitely carved statues would occasionally move their hands, aiding the maintenance staff to push mid-air stairs back to their original positions.

In the very center of the atrium, a thick silver chain stretched down from the void above.

At the end of the chain hung a massive golden clock.

In front of the clock’s white face, amidst the gold background, the eight hands pointed in different directions, each indicating a different time.

Matthew habitually pulled out his pocket watch, comparing the time with the clock in the courtyard.

This was the main hall of Alpha Castle in First University.

The time was now five thirteen in the afternoon.

According to the school’s schedule, classes were over for the day.

Elegantly behaving young wizards in white robes were leisurely scattered throughout the hall’s staircase and corridors, showing little surprise at the appearance of a wizard in red robes.

Such a scene was in stark contrast to that at Jiuyou Academy.

Matthew Karen still remembered last Friday when a wizard in white had visited the main academic building of Jiuyou Academy, attracting four or five freshmen along the way begging for a photo with the visiting scholar from a brother school.

It was utterly ridiculous.

Every time he thought of that scene, Matthew couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

”Maybe it would have been better if I had entered Alpha Academy,” thought Matthew Karen, staring at the Alpha students coming and going on the escalator, a thought creeping into his mind.

Compared to boisterous and unruly Jiuyou Academy, the students at Alpha Academy were clearly more elegant and well-mannered; naturally, the atmosphere of this academy harmonized better with the cubs of the Karen Family.

”What am I thinking!” The sudden realization startled Matthew. He clenched his fists tightly: ”How can a man of the Karen Family be daunted by difficulties! Since I’m already at Jiuyou Academy, I will make everyone recognize the youth and strength of the Karen Family.”

As a noble and powerful nocturnal nobleman, he must have his sense of honor.

Matthew took a deep breath, dusted off his red robe where there was no dirt, straightened his back, striding with steadiness, and proceeded deeper into the castle.

Lately, he had been bothered by many things, and he needed to consult his elder brother regarding his pride and disappointments.

Matthew Karen, as a representative of the Karen Family, had early on been informed of an outstanding cousin of his who had already made a significant name for himself in First University.

Friedman Black Karen, the perfect unification of the Black family lineage with that of the Karen Family, future senator of the Lunar Council, present scholar on a state stipend at Alpha Academy, Deputy Chairman of Alpha Student Union, Deputy President of Blood Comrades, the leader of triple-A societies.

His father was the rebellious uncle of his.

But this rebellious bloodline seemed to have inherited the virtues of both the ancient, dark families, shaping an almost perfect lineage.

When Matthew arrived outside Friedman’s lounge, a tall young man with curly brown hair and a pair of grey eyes stopped him with due courtesy.

Matthew didn’t recognize the young man, but out of good manners, he presented his gift: ”Please send my greetings to Sir Friedman. Matthew Karen has some issues that he would like to seek Sir’s advice on.”

The young man accepted the gift while bowing slightly, retreating into the lounge.