High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1194: Chapter 256: The Q&A Session with Zheng Qing

”You are Zheng Qing from Astronomy Class 08-1 at Jiuyou Academy, correct?”

”Yes.”

”On the night of April 11, did you use a Charm Gun to inflict serious injury on Sepulano from Alpha Academy?”

”At that time he...”

”Just answer ’yes’ or ’no’,” Sister Korma, seated at the chairman’s podium, looked at Zheng Qing earnestly and cut off his attempt to defend himself, ”This is not a debate.”

Zheng Qing tugged at the corner of his mouth, recalling the content of Korma’s question, and finally answered, ”Yes.”

”Was the Charm Gun you used specially modified by high-tier wizards?”

”No.”

”Were the Fu Bullets you used specially modified by high-tier wizards?”

”No.”

”Did you know your Charm Gun could have killed student Sepulano?”

”I did not know.”

As soon as Zheng Qing said ”I did not know”, there was a disturbance from the direction where Alpha Academy was seated, and he faintly heard someone growling ”he’s lying” and ”liar.”

The chairman in the center of the podium knocked on the wooden gavel in front of him and shouted, ”Silence!”

The meeting room quieted down once again.

Korma paused momentarily, flipped out another sheet of paper, glanced at Zheng Qing, and slowly read, ”There is evidence that during last year’s winter break, while passing by the Silent River, you used the same Charm Gun and Fu Bullets to kill a descendant of Satoguya. Is this true?”

Zheng Qing honestly answered, ”Yes.”

This time, the entire meeting room stirred slightly. Although rumors had linked Zheng Qing with the death of the descendant of Satoguya, this was the first time he admitted to it in public. That a wizard less than a year into schooling had achieved a feat akin to ’slaying a dragon’ was indeed shocking.

Even the other members seated on the podium focused their eyes intently on Zheng Qing, filled with curiosity and inquiry.

”How did you manage to kill that creature with an unmodified Charm Gun and unaltered Fu Bullets?” Korma’s face also did not hide a hint of curiosity, ”Even a well-trained official Hunting Team, fully prepared, would find it difficult to kill that creature in one shot.”

Zheng Qing showed a trace of difficulty on his face.

”If this involves personal privacy, we can arrange a private hearing for you, with the attendance of relevant personnel designated by the faculty meeting,” the chairman of the meeting quickly reminded.

”Or you could just tell me a bird,” chirped a parrot shaking its heads, ”I promise I won’t tell a second soul!”

”No no,” Zheng Qing hurriedly shook his head, ”mainly because I don’t know the reason... at that time, besides the Charm Gun, I had no other weapons, it was a desperate gamble, but unexpectedly, the creature was killed by a single shot. Before I injured Sepulano, I always thought it was a coincidence.”

”So you didn’t intend to harm student Sepulano?” Korma led on.

”I just wanted to stop him,” Zheng Qing caught on immediately and added, ”At that time, Sepulano had violated the school’s curfew regulations, and as a member of the patrol team, it was my responsibility to stop him.”

He noticed from the corner of his eye that the Fat Wizard opposite still wore an expressionless face, seeming indifferent to his accusation.

”Objection!” a White-robed representative from Alpha Academy stood up, protesting loudly, ”Opposing the suggestive questioning! It does not conform to the objective and fair stance of the hearing!”

”Objection overruled.” The chairman tapped the gavel in front of him, emphasizing with a look of resignation, ”I must remind you all once more, this is not the courtroom of the Supreme Court of Danghag, and there are no wigs on your heads... All questions by the questioning party have been reviewed. Please listen attentively to the answers from both sides and reserve your subjective opinions.”

The White-robed sat down, still disgruntled, casting a fierce glance at Zheng Qing.

The young subsidized student ignored it—if he couldn’t stand this much provocation, he would have long been driven mad by all sorts of rumors and gossip in the campus.

Korma aptly moved on to the next phase of questioning:

”When you decided to use the Charm Gun, did you believe your decision was in line with the basic traditions of ’harmony and friendship’ upheld by First University?”

”More important than tradition, are Order and rules,” Zheng Qing smoothly stated, ”I believe the students from Alpha Academy also support this point.”

Due to their adherence to bloodline and heritage, although Alpha Academy emphasized ’freedom and justice’ in their recruitment traits, they, in practice, prioritized Order and rules. On this point, Zheng Qing was not wrong.

Light laughter of understanding came from the representatives of Jiuyou Academy, while the student representatives from Alpha Academy wore expressions as if they had just eaten something distasteful.

The chairman in the central seat of the podium knocked on the gavel once more, giving a Dong Dong sound, ”Once again reiterating the method of response, as the concerned party, you only need to answer ’yes’ or ’no,’ any attempt to expand on your answer will lead to unnecessary controversy. If there is a third time, you will lose the right to participate in subsequent question-and-answer segments.”

Zheng Qing immediately nodded his head.

”Please answer the previous question again.” Korma glanced at the young subsidized student.

”Yes.” The Warlock cautiously responded.

The inquirer took a few seconds to realize that Zheng Qing had responded to her previous question, which left her a bit amused but also without any additional comment.

”Was there anyone else with you at the time you used the Charm Gun?”

”Yes.”

”Did they support your decision?”

Zheng Qing showed a trace of difficulty on his face because this question couldn’t be cleared up with a simple ’yes or no.’ He looked at the representative seats, then back at the podium, and eventually chose to raise his hand, ”May I speak a few more words?”

Korma sighed slightly, ”You have already spoken more... Go ahead.”

”The decision to use the Charm Gun was mine alone, and I am not certain of their judgment,” Zheng Qing strove to take all the responsibility upon himself, not wanting to drag his teammates into this quagmire.

The chairman grasped the gavel and knocked thrice.

”In light of student Zheng Qing’s three consecutive violations of the rules during this questioning segment, he is now disqualified from further answering.” Following this, the chairman gestured for Korma to proceed to the next item, ”We now invite Vice Chairman Korma to question student Sepulano.”

Surprise had not yet left Zheng Qing’s face when a loud outcry came from the Red-robed representative seats: ”This is unfair! You agreed to let him speak more!”

”Yes, we agreed, because it is your right,” the chairman’s face bore a genial smile, seriously responding, ”We do not have the power to stop you from continuing to break the rules, but we do have the power to enforce them.”

This time, the entire meeting room fell into silence.