High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 839: Chapter 187: Storm Brewing

Outside the small shop, the cold winds were biting, and the winter day was chilly.

Inside the small shop, two short, plump wizards stood facing each other, eyeing each other suspiciously.

The wizard standing on the left was alone, draped in a black robe embroidered with the emblem of the Trident Sword, his face bearing the distinctive arrogance of a staff member from a powerful department.

The wizard standing on the right was surrounded by four or five figures, including a wizard with black hair and narrow eyes and pale skin, a wizard who was slender and had a spirited look, and another wizard wearing a yellow robe with brown and white hair.

But regardless of their differences, the short, plump wizards on both sides shared one common feature—their equally short and plump statures.

Oh, and they were both named Andrew.

”Well, this is Andrew, a commissioner of the Trident Sword, and also a good friend of Mr. Thomas,”

”This is also Andrew, a freshman at Alpha Academy, captain of the Ouroboros Hunting Team, and a very impressive hunter.”

Zheng Qing suppressed a smile, solemnly introducing the two guests to each other with an expression that quite enjoyed the show. Although it was unreasonable, he always thought it amusing for two Andrews to meet.

Beside him, Jiang Yu’s face also showed a helpless smile. Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao greeted Zheng Qing the moment he arrived, then left this suffocating space—compared to being a third wheel among young male and female wizards, Doctor Xiao would rather chat with the Fishman in the warehouse.

The two Andrews seemed not to notice the young scholarship student’s ill-intentions.

”Ahem, my last name is And, as in ’quell the violent and aid the good’, and my first name is Drew, as in ’virtue and ability’ and ’the Rites of Zhou and Lu,’” the Andrew of the Trident Sword coughed twice, smilingly extending his hand to the chubby wizard across from him, exhibiting a friendly demeanor, ”It’s fortunate to meet you today. Delighted, truly delighted.”

The captain of the Ouroboros Hunting Team, though often crude and hot-tempered, was not a fool and decided not to show any disrespect to a commissioner of Trident Sword.

”Pleased to meet you,” beamed the captain of the Ouroboros Hunting Team, introducing himself, ”Andrew Taylor, of the Quebec Taylor family...although, I have only just begun learning hunting, not quite as good as Brother Qing said.”

Zheng Qing curled his lip, observing the harmonious encounter between the two Andrews, which he found rather dull.

”What were you blabbing about outside just now? What exploded?” the young scholarship student interrupted the Andrews’ conversation, turning to Andrew Taylor with annoyance, ”Don’t you know what happened?”

In the hunting party’s freshman competition at school, the Fishman Iseni had participated as the Ouroboros Hunting Team’s auxiliary hunter, performing exceptionally well. Zheng Qing was certain the werewolf, known for his keen sense of smell and tracking, could not possibly fail to recognize Iseni’s scent.

Trident Sword’s Commissioner Andrew watched the two young wizards with a smile, remaining silent.

Andrew Taylor’s eyes darted around as he glanced here and there, evasively saying, ”Er, I remember the invitation you sent us mentioned something about a financial and pest control store...how come it looks like a pet shop now?”

As he spoke, he nudged the Persian Cat sitting in front of the counter with his toe, adding, ”Also, putting cats and mice in one room, isn’t that asking for trouble?”

The normally good-tempered Persian Cat, after being nudged by the werewolf’s toe, suddenly became very angry, howling and biting wildly at his leg. Nearby, other cats from the group also arched their backs, tails up, fur bristling, looking ready for battle as they eyed the young wizards near Andrew Taylor.

Julian quietly sighed, turning his head as if he hadn’t seen his team captain struggling with the cat; the slender Omega crouched down, wide-eyed and clawing back at the small cats opposing them; it seemed that only the diviner, Amber, from the entire Ouroboros Hunting Team, remained utterly disinterested in the surroundings, her head down, fingers twitching, muttering as if calculating something, in a trance.

”Those are also D&K’s guests, so I ask you to show some respect,” Zheng Qing glared at the werewolf entangled with the Persian Cat, gritting his teeth and emphasizing each word.

”Hmm... and you say this isn’t a pet store,” said Andrew, extending two fingers to pinch the tuft of fur on top of the kitten’s head and pulling it slightly away from himself, while muttering, ”Guests are either Fishmen or cats, and I heard a flock of small birds visited before... this is hardly a shop for wizards.”

”And there was a group of mice too!” added Li Meng, who was also holding a cat, laughing, ”Heard they were a bunch of dressed-up mice that could even talk...”

Commissioner Andrew of the Trident Sword raised his eyebrows and wore a contemplative expression upon hearing this.

...

While a werewolf and a kitten were clawing at each other, several figures appeared at the end of the Pedestrian Street outside the little shop.

A warlock with curly golden hair, a pale complexion, and a slender frame slowly walked toward them from the end of the narrow street. Unlike most wizards who wore long black robes, he was dressed in a long tailcoat, topped with a high hat, leaning on a cane, a Law book tucked under his arm, and wearing Little Dragon skin gloves.

His pace was slow but resolute.

Not far from the golden-haired warlock, another warlock with messy black hair, a broad chin, and a large frame was squatting on a stone lion, expressionlessly staring at an old bookstore at the alley’s end that had been closed for a long time.

Like the golden-haired warlock, the black-haired warlock wasn’t wearing a wizard’s robe either but was dressed in a thick brown jacket and indistinguishable black trousers.

However, unlike the golden-haired warlock, the black-haired warlock exuded an air of brutal ferocity—like a volcano suppressing roiling magma or a tiger lying in wait in the dense jungle.

...

”The storm brews and the wind rises in the tower...”

The Wandering Wizard hummed a tune, sauntering down from the office on the second floor, occasionally greeting familiar patrons seated in the booths, all smiles.

”Where’s the gift?” he strolled over to the bar and knocked on the countertop.

The Multi-arm Tribe Attendant silently fetched a basket and a square paper box from beneath the counter.

In the basket lay a bottle of Amber Light, wrapped in yellow paper and tied with colorful silk; in the paper box, there was a specialty pastry from the Wandering Bar, layered with rich cream sprinkled with fine smoke sugar and lined with rows of emerald-green congratulations.

The Wandering Wizard took the gifts, nodded in satisfaction, and stepped toward the door.

Then he stepped back.

”Now or later?”

”Maybe later...”

”Wolves at the front door, ghosts at the back, and on either side, an unreasonable old man and a young woman.”

”Well, it’s just across the street; a bit later won’t matter,” he mumbled to himself, as he settled back in front of the bar, neatly arranging the gifts on the table, then ordered a Green Bee drink, continuing to hum that same unfinished tune.