High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 712: Chapter 60 Task_1

”Ecology is an incredibly precise chain, even the smallest deviation at any point can cause a wide range of abnormalities in the entire chain.”

”If the school of fish migrates upstream prematurely, it will compete with the original animals in the Silent River for food. This will drive some starving creatures into the school area for food. Moreover, if the school of fish cannot migrate upstream next year, animals waking from hibernation in the Silent Forest will inevitably widen their hunting range, and unavoidably disturb the controlled areas of the school.”

”In addition, Wenchuan Fish is a very fierce creature. Their confrontations with different creatures along both banks of the Silent Forest during migration can effectively reduce some ’uncontrollable risk factors’ in the forest, and are very efficient in maintaining peace and stability in the forest.”

”All these factors will pose a very direct impact on the safety of both the school and Beta Town.”

”The disruption of the food chain signifies the death of a large number of creatures--including but not limited to starvation, fights for survival, and declining oxygen supply in the lake. Death brings a mass of corpses, which brings in dark energy. Apart from scavengers, these corpses will attract cleaners of the forest, namely carrion beetles.”

”An overflow of carrion beetles will, in turn, affect the numbers of some small animals that feed on these bugs.”

”Such as mice.”

”Based on the situations that we currently understand, including Jiuyou Academy, many areas amongst the universities have been infested with a large number of untraceable mice—the workers’ committee has issued a notification, appealing to capable students to help handle these annoying creatures.”

”In conclusion, the major impact that the silently returning tide brought upon the university, lies in the realm of campus safety.”

Having said all this in one breath, Xiao Xiao seemed tired and paused to rest for a moment.

”Very good, fantastic!” Old Yao did not hesitate to applaud loudly, lavishing praise upon Xiao Xiao’s response: ”This answer is very comprehensive... I couldn’t have added more. Hence, we reward Xiao Xiao with a credit. No one has any objection to that, right?”

Scattered acknowledgments sounded throughout the classroom.

They were him classmates after all, and it was only a single credit. Only a person with a broken head would have raised any objections.

The professor nodded in satisfaction, put his pipe back in his mouth, and exhaled a large puff of smoke: ”Since Xiao Xiao has already spoken about what I intended to speak....”

He did not finish his sentence, and fell abruptly silent.

Zheng Qing knew the reason for Old Yao’s sudden silence—in fact, everyone in the classroom knew—because the newly awarded Doctor Xiao had interrupted Old Yao with a very loud voice: ”I haven’t finished yet!”

The young scholarship student pulled anxiously at Xiao Xiao’s robes, signaling him to shut up and sit down.

Such a dull child. He had already received the credit award, yet he still stood there chattering, inviting trouble for no reason.

Zhang Ji Xin and Xin Fat Man, who were sitting in front of Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao, straightened their backs and puffed out their chests. They appeared to be trying to shield the tactless bookworm behind them with their broad shoulders and large heads. But obviously, their efforts were in vain. They not only could not shield Xiao Xiao’s figure, but they also failed to shield them from the curious glances thrown their way.

Surprised, stunned, thoughtful, mocking, etc, a variety of looks collectively assailed the senses.

”Not finished yet?” At the podium, Old Yao repeated Xiao Xiao’s last sentence.

”Not finished yet.” Xiao Xiao pursed his lips, adjusted his glasses, and seemed to have made some sort of resolution.

Old Yao shifted his posture, lifted his tea cup, and took a big sip. Then he lifted his head to look at Xiao Xiao again. Perhaps because the tea was a bit cold now, his expression looked slightly peculiar.

But in the end, he did not order Xiao Xiao to sit down.

”What does ’not finished’ mean?” Although the professor’s tone was still very mild, it was evident that his attitude had become more cautious, ”Go on, let’s hear it.”

”The premature return of the Silent Tide would mean that the school of Wenchuan fish would not encounter any enemy attacks from animals on both sides of the river when passing through the lower reaches of the Silent River... This also means that a large amount of fresh food would be delivered to the depths of the Silent Forest.”

”Although neither the school nor the Wizards’ Alliance has ever clarified what is in the depths of the Silent Forest, according to past news fragments, we can infer that it is the home of many terrifying creatures. The school of fish that returns each year during the Silent Return serves to deliver nourishment to these creatures... and this year, the supply is noticeably higher.”

”Monsters that have eaten their fill, and those that are starved weak, are obviously not similar in terms of combat effectiveness.”

Having said this, Doctor Xiao finally shut his mouth in satisfaction and sat down.

The young scholarship student quietly turned his head and looked carefully at the doctor’s neither big nor small, round face. While it could be said that the child was indeed a bit dull-he understood when to leave well enough alone. But calling him intelligent would be inaccurate. After all, the widespread albeit ’rumored’ information that everyone kept tacit, he openly discussed it in class.

Could a freshman wizard just casually comment on things going on in the depths of the Silent Forest?

Like those horrifying creatures held captive in the ’Black Prison’ or the ’entities’ that managed ’Forbidden Curses’, the matters could only exist in casual conversation and hearsay—even if there were reliable evidences, it was strictly forbidden to mention them in public.

Not good for social health and stability.

In front of the classroom, Professor Yao held his cup of tea and paced up and down the not-so-long podium. In the end, he nodded amicably, ”Hmm, Xiao Xiao’s conjecture is also quite interesting... Anyway, as he said, the early return of the Silent Tide this year will affect the safety of the school to some extent.”

”Primarily, this incident will have a severe impact on the ecosystem of Buji Island. Over the past two weeks, us older folks have been investigating how bad the situation along the Silent River is. Since this river also runs through several moderately significant Secret Garden Mysteries, the investigation took a bit longer than expected.”

”However, we have mostly addressed our problems... What remains is your task. The committee will soon issue a series of announcements, including dealing with those mice running everywhere, carrion beetles, and other strange creatures running in from the Silent Forest. Each college has been assigned a task.”

”As my students, I applied for you to catch mice—compared to those dreadful carrion beetles, poisoned Red Chain Snakes, eight-eyed spiders, and five-footed monsters, mice are quite normal.”

”So, starting from this week, each of you must catch at least a hundred mice per week and deliver them to the committee. The committee will issue receipts. Hand over these receipts during the weekend meetings.”

”Those who accomplish their tasks will receive an additional 10% during the tutor’s assessment at the end of the term.”

”For those who fail to achieve their goal... Hmm, you figure out what to do.”

In other words, those who can’t even catch a few rats shouldn’t expect high scores in the tutor’s assessment.