High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 912: Chapter 260: Guaranteed Profit

More than a month ago, on the viewing platform of the school’s hunting party, Zheng Qing and others were persuaded by Lǜèyǎnér to buy several betting tickets, guessing the ultimate champion and the best hunter of the school’s hunting competition. For this, Zheng Qing had staked three academic credits, five Silver Horns, and eighteen Copper Coins, while Xiao Xiao had bet five gold beans.

The final result was shocking.

The more someone knew the hunting competition rules thoroughly, understood all aspects of each hunting team, and spoke authoritatively about hunters—like Elder Zhang Da and Xin Fat Man—the worse their luck was, barely managing to minimize their losses, for which they were thankful.

On the other hand, those who did not care much about the hunting competition and had only a half-baked understanding seemed to be incredibly lucky.

For instance, Zheng Qing had correctly guessed the champion of the rookie competition, the best hunting team, and the best hunter, which immediately tripled his three academic credits, earning him nearly ten academic credits.

Doctor Xiao performed even more spectacularly; in the fiercely competitive official school hunting competition, he picked the unremarkable Judgement Hunting Team, betting that Judgement would ultimately win the college cup. Judgement did not disappoint, taking home not only this year’s school hunting competition championship but also the best hunter and best hunting team awards. As a result, the five gold beans he had invested instantly turned into over four hundred, slicing off a tenth of John Neville’s prize money.

This left a profound impression on Neville.

Thus, just after selling betting tickets to a group of second-year Veterans, Lǜèyǎnér, upon seeing a few young wizards studying here, couldn’t help but come over.

”Doctor, Doctor, Doctor!” He affectionately patted Xiao Xiao’s shoulder, emphasizing with a slightly exaggerated tone, ”You really gave me a hard time finding you... So, how about it, ’Arcana’ will be announced in two days, this is your last chance to get onboard!”

Xiao Xiao quietly turned his head, looking at Zheng Qing.

”This is why I was originally disinclined towards gambling,” he analyzed very calmly, ”If I lose, I end up with nothing; if I win, the house is not going to willingly let me take my profits and leave... In the end, I’ll still end up broke in front of the gambling table.”

”Be careful he sues you for slander,” Zheng Qing remembered Neville’s taboo, unable to suppress a laugh, ”It’s betting, not gambling... Besides, if you don’t like it, why did you throw in five gold beans to begin with?”

”Because I was short on money.” Xiao Xiao sighed, carefully closing the notebook in front of him.

’Give me a hairstyle and then stuff me in the pen holder!’ A brush beside Xiao Xiao clamored, defiantly raising its head, bringing its brush tip still wet with ink closer: ’I really can’t stand the same old hairstyle decade after decade...’

Xiao Xiao, seemingly oblivious to the brush’s protest, expressionlessly picked up a pen holder, grabbed the brush, and roughly stuffed it in.

John Neville’s right hand was still on Xiao Xiao’s shoulder—while Xiao Xiao was packing up and chatting with Zheng Qing, he politely acted as a listener, a stark contrast to his earlier forwardness.

This too was a fundamental skill of a qualified broker; he always knew when to keep quiet.

Only after Xiao Xiao had stuffed the noisy brush into the pen holder did Lǜèyǎnér start speaking again with a smile, ”So, have you decided whom to bet on yet?”

Before Xiao Xiao had a chance to speak, Xin Fat Man couldn’t contain himself any longer.

”If you can guarantee that we’ll make money, then we’ll bet,” the Fat Man said in a very resolute tone, ”Otherwise, don’t even think about taking a single Copper Coin from my pocket.”

This clearly placed the broker in a difficult position.

But Neville, calm and unhurried, stretched out a finger, pointing first at the Fat Man and then at himself, ”I can guarantee you make money, but you must also guarantee I make money... a win-win situation, understand... If you want to win, then bet big, if you bet less than ten jade coins, I won’t make anything.”

As soon as this remark was made, even Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but take another look at the Broker.

Very few people dared to boast so boldly, especially when engaging in a high-risk investment activity.

”Do you know people from the ’Wand’?” Zhang Ji Xin lowered his voice, his face revealing a hint of excitement, ”Or are you a member of the ’Wand’?”

Neville assumed an inscrutable expression and remained silent.

Xiao Xiao suddenly adjusted his glasses, glanced at Zheng Qing, and then turned back to Neville, ”If I bet on Brother Qing entering ’Arcana’, what would the odds be?”

”Eh? What does it have to do with me?” Zheng Qing was utterly bewildered.

Neville’s moment of inscrutability collapsed in seconds.

”Knew I couldn’t hide it from you,” Lǜèyǎnér said with a wry smile, nodding, ”The odds are very low... Normally, cost students always make it into the Arcana list. According to past profits, if you bet one jade coin on Student Zheng Qing, you could only earn a Copper Coin at most.”

”One jade coin for one Copper Coin? Is that even considered earning money?” Xin Fat Man finally came to his senses, looking disgusted, ”Isn’t that basically fraud... Everyone knows cost students definitely make it onto the Arcana list! If I had that spare money, I’d rather hand it over to a financial manager at Sam’s Pass, lower risk and higher returns.”

”Risk is inherently proportional to return, which is an ironclad rule,” Neville explained earnestly, ”If you want to earn more, you could also bet that Zheng Qing won’t make it onto the Arcana list... You only need to bet a Copper Coin, and if he doesn’t get in, we pay you ten jade coins.”

”Only a fool would do such a thing,” the Fat Man feigned spitting on the ground.

”Then I believe there should be many fools at school,” Xiao Xiao crossed his arms and nodded thoughtfully.

”I’m such a fool,” Zheng Qing hurriedly chimed in from the side, ”One Copper for ten jade coins, even I’m tempted to bet a Copper Coin... After all, losing just one Copper Coin is nothing to laugh off. But winning, that would mean I could laugh arrogantly for a whole year.”

”What do you think about dropping out?” Zhang Ji Xin also started offering a bad suggestion, ”The Arcana list only includes current students of First University... If you drop out, the Wand will definitely remove your name from Arcana.”

”Exactly, exactly, we pool our money and bet a hundred or so jade coins, wouldn’t that turn a profit in the blink of an eye?!” Xin Fat Man was rubbing his hands together, looking extremely pleased with the idea.

Zheng Qing’s eyes glazed over as he looked at his two comrades, ”Do you think I’m the kind of person who would give up my studies for a bunch of jade coins?”

This time, even Xiao Xiao turned his face and nodded seriously at Zheng Qing.

”Alright, alright... You call the shots,” Zheng Qing shrugged, smiling mischievously at Neville, ”What do you think about our idea?”

Neville silently put away his betting tickets.

”Alright, alright, if you don’t want to play just say so, no need to scare me every now and then,” Lǜèyǎnér said resentfully, ”If you actually did this, those old geezers at the school would definitely charge us for the loss of a cost student.”

”I can’t afford that,” he added.