High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 509: Chapter 178: Xin Journalist’s News Concept_1

”Wow... I’ve actually become a ’famous recipient of the Merlin Medal’!”

”What does this ’tricky’ question mean? Do you think I’m not troublesome enough?”

”And this, the ’certain Duan-named male wizard’, is it Duan Xiao Jian? ... Then who is this anonymous wizard from Alpha Academy? When did you go for this interview...”

Zheng Qing is engrossed in reading the extra news piece written by Xin Fat Man, repeatedly exclaiming while expressing his opinions and stands.

As an individual becoming part of a written report, being regarded as ’another person’ in the eyes of others isn’t the first time for the young scholarship student.

However, this doesn’t hinder him from switching his viewpoint to read the report from a third-party perspective.

I have to admit, the fat man’s self-praising ’ChunQiu style of writing’ is indeed good.

At the very least, Zheng Qing didn’t detect those two ’insufferably arrogant’ questions Fat Man had asked, but he was surprised to find the answers to those questions within the article.

However, while reading, the young scholarship student felt an inconsistency in this news piece.

”Why do I feel that your article is a bit... out of touch with practicalities?” Zheng Qing studied the report on the newspaper, pondering for a long time before eventually voicing his opinion.

”Out of touch with reality?” Xin Fat Man yelped like a stepped-on cat: ”Sir! This is a severe accusation! For someone aspiring to be a great journalist, there’s no greater insult!”

Naturally, he was extremely dissatisfied with the scholarship student’s accusation, to the point that he started using formal tones in his utterance.

”Oh, sorry.” Zheng Qing shrugged, replying insincerely: ”If what I said earlier upset you, I apologise and take it back... but I was merely stating what I saw.”

”No... you don’t need to apologize to me,” Fat Man stated solemnly: ”You need to point out exactly where my article is ’out of touch with reality’... or else I’ll construe your comment as a provocation!”

”Even if he provokes, what can you do?” Doctor Xiao suddenly interjected, bearing an ambiguous expression: ”You should remember, I was present when you guys signed that contract in Wandering Bar...”

His reminder was timely.

Fat Man was immediately speechless, anchored in place.

At the outset of the new school year, during Astronomy Class 08-1’s party in Wandering Bar, Zheng Qing and his friends had each chosen an amulet under the suggestion of the Wandering Wizard. Seeing the drunken Xin Fat Man and Zhang Ji Xin unable to fulfill their payment obligations, Doctor Xiao suggested, and with the ’agreement’ of the three involved, Zheng Qing signed a magic contract with them.

A private employment agreement, valid for a year, popularly known as the ’Sale Contract’.

Though they would occasionally joke about it, the naturally naive scholarship student didn’t force the two wizards into actions like performing a public striptease or violently extracting money for off-campus clubs.

The efficacy of this magic contract had been subtly forgotten among everyone.

Until today, when the Doctor provocatively reminded them of it.

The young scholarship student looked at Fat Man, whose face color was turning from white to blue, and his breaths became heavy, decided that the situation wasn’t good and quickly changed the topic with a laugh: ”Don’t get agitated, don’t get agitated... let’s just discuss the report, okay?”

The blue hue gradually faded from Fatman’s face.

The scholarship student inwardly cursed-- the Blue Giant who they agreed could only transform when in his ’inner piece’, was showing signs of turning into a Green Giant at the drop of a hat.

However, it wasn’t the time for banter now.

Spreading open the newspaper in his hand, under the twinkling, wandering light orbs above, Zheng Qing, seemingly well-prepared, pointed out a few paragraphs and expressed his doubts: ”No offense, you were there on the spot too, see if there’s anything wrong with what I’m about to say...”

”First of all, the biggest problem is the chronology.”

”Look, in the article you wrote, she answered the fifth question first, then jumped back to the third question, after that was the fourth, and in the end, it was the first and second... this is entirely out of order with what really happened!”

”You...” Fat Man seemed to want to say something.

”Let me finish!” Zheng Qing swiftly cut him off, continuing his critique: ”Secondly, about the choice of words here... regarding Su Ya-- ’Principled in work, serious in speech. Although she has a small stature, her vibe is forceful’-- Are you serious?”

”Of the four phrases used to describe her, ’petite’ is the only one factually accurate- none of the others are remotely descriptive of the cry-baby!’”

”If none of those details matter, then what about this!” the young scholarship student exclaimed, flailing his arm to forestall Xin Fat Man’s attempt to speak again, sharing his perspective, ”On the issue of Su Shijun’s child!”

At Zheng Qing’s inquiry, Xin Fat Man immediately fell silent.

He looked up at Xiao Xiao just in time to see the doctor subtly shaking his head.

”...If I’m not mistaken, the councilwoman only shared a few scant details about the child. All we know is his pet name, his current location, and the like.”

”But look at your report...it’s quite verbose, with all sorts of analyses and unfounded speculation...if there are any repercussions in the future because of this, you will be responsible, do you understand?!”

Xin Fat Man opened his mouth but eventually sighed, ”You should be grateful to me... that I didn’t investigate further into the name ’Neptune’. If someone else had written this article, they might have uncovered even more information. Then, you would be in much bigger trouble.”

”What?” The young scholarship student was completely baffled.

”Whether Poseidon is a male or female fox?” Xiao Xiao suddenly interjected, an inquisitive look on his face.

”What, what, what?” Zheng Qing was even more confused now.

”Ah... how naive like a youth.” Xin Fat Man murmured, shaking his head.

”Can you guys make sense?!” The scholarship student was becoming agitated - he felt that the two men were speaking in riddles with ulterior motives.

”What I mean is... let’s first admire this hunting painting of the Sam Hunting Team.” Xin Fat Man grabbed the scholarship student to take him to a massive oil painting not too far from them, and began to explain,

”This is the famous Super Hunting Team series, the original 1939 edition.”

”The author of this series, Mawer · Comax, portrayed a series of classic wizard and demon characters in his works.”

”This painting shows the classic lineup of the Sam Hunting Team.”

”Main hunter Clark, left auxiliary Stark, right aide Stephen, wandering hunter Peter, scouting Hunter Natasha, and their eternal enemy, the Witch Demon King...Actually, I would love to see Doctor Bruce in this painting. He is one of my favorite hunters. I believe my uncle... he might be a distant relative of our family.”

Xin Fat Man sighed regretfully.

Zheng Qing remembered Xin Fat Man’s other identity, nodded, and deeply agreed.

”Of course, the main point is not here.” Xin Fat Man perked up again, continuing with emphasis, ”Notice Clark’s heroic square jaw, his cloak of justice, and the perfect inverted triangle body.”

”And the Witch Demon King, his head is always disproportionately large compared to his body, with blood-red eyes, and frail, pointed fingers.”

”The most captivating and appealing part of this painting is how it depicts an astonishingly realistic scene through such a fantastical technique.”

”Reality is bred from absurdity.”

”Just like any news story, once it’s published, it will inevitably be exaggerated, distorted, and unrecognizable. But truth is embedded within it.”

”This world has always been this way.”

”We cannot deny the truth in news reporting, just as we cannot deny the truth depicted in this painting.”

Zheng Qing, was at a loss for words at Xin Fat Man’s argument.

”Very well done! What a sensational point!” A sudden voice rang from the side, appreciating Xin Fat Man’s insights, ”No wonder you were the lead writer for today’s special edition. Your perspective is stunningly remarkable!”

The young scholarship student immediately turned his head, glaring at the stranger who had interrupted his train of thought.

Or rather, the not-so-stranger.

Alpha Academy’s Andrew Taylor.