High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 861: Chapter 209: Layers of Concealment

In fact, it wasn’t just the Karen brothers.

The reason Duke Milton appeared in that small shop had been discussed many times by the rest of the Absolution Hunting Team, but they never truly figured out the title.

There were only two things they could be sure of.

First, the famous vampire Duke had shown up in the shop and, after exchanging but a few words, began to throw punches, completely thrashing the young wizards.

During the fight, however, he did spout quite a bit of nonsense.

But it was just nonsense.

Among that nonsense, hardly a word explained his purpose—The reason I say ”hardly” is because of the last two things Duke Milton had said before starting the fight:

”Pleased to meet you... Zheng Qing.”

”Do you know why I’m looking for you?”

Although his voice was low, he didn’t deliberately avoid being overheard. Many people in the shop at the time heard these two sentences.

This was the second thing everyone could be certain of, that Duke Milton’s appearance was necessarily related to Zheng Qing.

Because it was Saturday, Zheng Qing also had patrol duty that evening—he had initially requested a shift change from the School Works Committee, but later figured that he could make it on time and ultimately scrapped the plan for a shift change—so after the hustle of the D&K opening was over Saturday morning, by two in the afternoon, Zheng Qing and Lin Guo left the shop early, heading back to their dormitory to rest up for the night shift.

And by evening, when others returned from the shop, Zheng Qing had already slipped out of the dormitory to Lin Zhong Lake.

Just like that, by coincidence, until the class meeting on Sunday afternoon, he hadn’t given a clear explanation, only vaguely stating that Duke Milton’s appearance was a misunderstanding.

Matthew Karen’s appearance became the catalyst for triggering this sensitive topic.

Everyone was waiting for him to say something.

And Zheng Qing finally could no longer remain vague.

”Given the circumstances, I will no longer hide... The truth will eventually come to light,” said the young scholarship student, breaking his long silence with a rather solemn tone.

Everyone’s expressions immediately grew much more serious.

Only Xin Fat Man pursed his lips, muttering on the side, ”I’d believe you only if I were a fool... you shameless rogue, you’re so cunning, barely half of what you say is true.”

However, after receiving a fierce glare from Zheng Qing, the Fat Man decisively calmed down, not daring to go on with his utterance. After all, someone still held a ’servant’ contract over him—if that person were to cruelly forbid him from eating meat for a month, it would indeed be the death of him.

”Duke Milton indeed came for me,” Zheng Qing’s statement immediately invigorated everyone, causing them to focus even more intensely on him, fearful of missing what he was about to say.

”Because I challenged the honor of the Karen’s family.”

”Don’t tell me it’s because of the incident with Arthur Ness at the start of the term! That was so long ago, for the Karen family to be so petty, it’s simply unreasonable!” Zhang Ji Xin immediately reddened in the face and banged on the table.

”No, no, no, it wasn’t that,” Zheng Qing immediately denied—initially, he had thought of using that excuse, but after much deliberation, he had given up on the idea. On one hand, the reason was too forced; it was merely a minor conflict between two students, hardly something to involve an Upper House Member of the Moon Council; on the other hand, Sir Friedman had already expressed intentions of reconciliation, and as nobility under the moon, they took such promise-like gestures very seriously and wouldn’t cling to them incessantly.

”Do you remember during the Lower Yuan Festival, while you all stayed in the dormitory, I went out? ... Yes, the doctor speculated that it was Elena who had called me out. But things aren’t entirely as you imagined.”

”Because of certain reasons, I can’t explain in great detail.”

”But I can tell you that day, I entered the Karen family’s lounge in Alpha Castle and destroyed a seal there. Perhaps at that time, I triggered some sort of magic mark, which is why they found me.”

Having said this, Zheng Qing stole glances at his audience, carefully gauging their expressions.

The usually carefree Zhang Ji Xin apparently believed Zheng Qing’s words; though he said nothing, he wore an expression of deep empathy, having previously been ensnared by numerous magic marks himself. However, the always shrewd Xin Fat Man and the keen-minded Doctor Xiao were not so easily fooled.

But due to others’ control, Xin Fat Man only vaguely showed a hint of suspicion; while Xiao Xiao did not hide his doubtful expression at all.

Zheng Qing inwardly sighed, deciding to throw out another major revelation.

”Of course, I guess that’s just the ostensible reason Duke Milton approached me for,” Zheng Qing spoke again, recapturing everyone’s attention.

Then, he cautiously looked around and finally whispered to his companions, ”As for the real reason, I still can’t speak too detailedly, don’t look at me like that, I really can’t! Old Yao is watching me, I signed dozens of pages of the Silence Contract, how much do you think I can actually say?”

”Right, right, don’t force yourself,” Zhang Ji Xin reassuringly patted Zheng Qing’s shoulder, then turned and glared at Xin Fat Man, saying, ”Even Li Meng had to sign a silence contract just to hire someone for Greenhill Mansion, let alone other important matters.”

”What could be more important than Greenhill Mansion,” Xin Fat Man mumbled under his breath, then realizing what he said, smiled apologetically at Zheng Qing.

Zheng Qing rolled his eyes inwardly.

It was exactly as he feared; just as he managed to steer the conversation away, someone dragged him back into a topic involving Su Shijun.

Luckily, he still held control over the course of the conversation.

”What I’m talking about is related to the ’relevant department’!” he lowered his voice, repeating gravely, ”It’s the ’relevant department’!”

Within the shielding barrier, the few young wizards fell silent for a few seconds, then very audible gasps could be heard.

No one spoke.

But that didn’t mean everyone wasn’t aware of the severity of the situation.

First University’s ’relevant department’ dealt with matters that, even if the students hadn’t encountered firsthand, they had vaguely heard about. It could be said to be the core of deterrence in the entire Wizard World.

The Moon Council always coveted that power; this was not news.

If Zheng Qing had any connection to that place and the Moon Council had come to know of it, sending Duke Milton to approach him would make sense.

The only flaw was that Su Shijun, too, was an Upper House Member of the Moon Council; compared to Duke Milton, she clearly had more opportunities and capabilities to abduct Zheng Qing. Obviously, she had not done so.