High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 258: Chapter 182 Gamma Street No.18_1

Augustus had arranged to meet Zheng Qing in a place referred to as the ”lounge”, but this was merely a modest expression.

To Zheng Qing’s eyes, it was more like a luxurious mansion.

This lounge was located on Gamma Street.

In the First University, there are two places named ”Gamma”.

One is the Gamma Tower in Beta Town, where it is said an extremely old fortune teller resides; the other is Gamma Street in Alpha Castle.

Different from the structure of the front hall, courtyard, and back garden of Jiuyou Academy, Alpha Castle is centered around the main building and divided into the inner and outer courtyards.

The inner courtyard includes classrooms, laboratories, astrological towers, and other teaching facilities, as well as dormitories, offices, and small lounges for students and professors.

The outer courtyard encompasses a pet zoo, herb garden, alchemy room, quarters for school workers, and many independent courtyard mansions.

Gamma Street is located in the outer courtyard of Alpha.

This street circles the main castle, with the road paved with large polished bluestone slabs, and on both sides grow many old, gnarled olive trees.

The buildings on either side of the street are all different.

The side closer to the outer courtyard wall mostly comprises gardens and quarters belonging to school workers, while the side closer to the inner courtyard’s tall wall includes a neat row of silver-grey mansions.

The territory of the Blood Comrades club is located in this row of mansions.

No. 18 Gamma Street.

This is where Augustus had arranged to meet Zheng Qing.

In Zheng Qing’s imagination, it was already quite extravagant to consider a student lounge the size of a one hundred square meter living room. However, this showed an obvious underestimation of the certain powerful, longstanding organisations or families’ insistence on their reputation.

For example, the Blood Comrades, YPO, Montreya Family, Black Family, O’Brien Family, Zhongshan Jiang Family, and others, are different from small families that occasionally produce outstandingly talented individuals.

These organisations or families have had members studying at Alpha Academy for generations. Over time, they have established many strong links with the academy.

And these connections are signified by these mansions nestled quietly outside the inner courtyard wall.

Due to the different preferences of the owners, these silver-grey mansions have been built in various styles.

For instance, the O’Brien family’s residence is in the Byzantine style with round domes and sharp towers. The Black family’s residence is in the exquisite and magnificent Rococo style, while the Zhongshan Jiang family’s is in the Huizhou style characterised by black tiles and white walls, giving an impression of modest elegance.

Compared to these ancient families, the Blood Comrades’ residence appeared rather more standardised and unremarkable.

It looked more like a great hall.

Outside the hall, like other mansions, there were neatly trimmed nursery plots and lawns, and several simple, elegant sculptures were placed throughout. There was an archer on horseback, a standing warrior with a sword, and an angel, wings ready for flight.

Stepping into the entrance, one would see a row of slender, beautiful Ionic stone columns, supporting pairs of distinctive spiral decorations on the top, and sitting on several neat layers of foundation stones at the bottom.

A brass plate hung on the pillar in the centre.

The words ”Blood Comrades Club” were engraved in ornate script.

Some slightly smaller instructions were carved below the name:

”Established by Duke Montreya in Magic Year Yuanbao Three”

”The first (Augustus) was promoted to Great Wizard within two years of graduation, universally known as the Dragon Slayer”

...

”Members Only”

Due to limited time, Zheng Qing didn’t carefully read the instructions on the plate. Instead, he walked straight past the row of Ionic columns and arrived at the door of the mansion.

The entrance hall featured a waterfall, pouring from the ceiling down in a silent, refreshing stream.

Standing in front of the waterfall, under the reflection of the light, Zheng Qing’s face was clearly mirrored.

”Visitor!”

A line of text seemed to appear suddenly within the waterfall:

”Please present your invitation.”

Startled, Zheng Qing quickly reached into his grey cloth bag and pulled out the white invitation that Augustus had given him.

Mist spread, enveloping Zheng Qing’s right hand holding the card.

”Issued by Augustus, please come in.”

The words rolled in the waves slowly disappeared, the water curtain quickly withdrew to both sides, leaving a man-high entrance, save for the gurgling stream of water at their feet, like a threshold of a door.

Zheng Qing hesitated for a second, stepped over this water-formed threshold, and walked in.

The water curtain slowly closed behind him, blocking both the interior and exterior once again.

Melodious music flowed, swirling around Zheng Qing.

The servant wearing a white long robe greeted the young scholar, leading him down the path towards the depths of the hall.

The decoration on the first floor resembled that of a church.

Exquisite murals were painted on the lofty walls, while sunlight filtered through colorful glass, casting subtle patches of light on the floor—the inconstant colors in the great hall made everyone involuntarily tense up.

At the end of the corridor was a tall podium.

A three-legged law table was placed on the stage.

The guests stood quietly in front of the law table, waiting in line.

Everyone had to go through the baptism of crossing this table.

The tall priest dressed in a white robe stood behind the law table, holding a black scripture, his solemn expression and serious tone blessing each guest:

”Jenny Pan, sophomore, Atlas College, a child of the Druids.”

”We pray for your soul.”

”Qian Wen, junior, Starry Sky College, descendant of East Lake Witcher Qian Miu.”

”We pray for your soul.”

”Luis Coti, sophomore, Alpha College, heir of the Coti Mansion.”

”We pray for your soul.”

Zheng Qing moved slowly with the line, hearing whispers from the guests behind him.

”Why does it sound like they’re doing a mass for the dead?” a thin voice quietly asked.

”Exactly. It’s a blessing for the dead,” another voice explained smugly: ”The Blood Comrades glorify talent. Each person who steps into this hall has a noteworthy family history. That prayer is mainly a blessing for those departed who have gifted us with our talents.”

”These rituals are more acceptable in Atlas... Why would they appear in Alpha?!”

”It’s not that simple. Although the religious atmosphere in Alpha is not as intense as Atlas, they also uphold faith.”

”Magnificent world... I always thought Alpha Academy only looked at talent!”

”There are no absolutes...”

Listening to these conversations, Zheng Qing waited patiently, and soon he stood before the white-robed priest. The priest lowered his eyelids, his gaze falling on Zheng Qing’s bright red robe of Jiuyou Academy.

”Invitation letter,” his voice was somewhat rigid and impatient.

Zheng Qing immediately handed him the white card.

”An invitation from His Excellency Augustus?” The cleric hesitated for a moment, and a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face: ”You’re welcome to rest in the tea room on the third floor.”

Speaking, he returned the invitation to Zheng Qing.

”Zheng Qing, freshman, Jiuyou Academy, Full-scholarship student.”

The priest in white sang softly as he dipped two fingers into a transparent liquid on the law table:

”We pray for your soul.”

Two fingers touched Zheng Qing’s forehead, a refreshing sensation enveloping his body.

It was like an icy drink poured over him on a scorching summer day. Zheng Qing immediately noticed a considerable increase in his mental activity.