High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1281: Chapter 28: Unexpected Joy

First University had a dean and two vice principals.

On paper, the dean ostensibly possessed all authority, but in reality, all specific school affairs were managed by the two vice principals. Vice Principal Shi Hui was responsible for the Professor Joint Meeting, mainly overseeing teaching, professors, and student affairs; meanwhile, Vice Principal Ruoyu was in charge of the School Works Committee, primarily managing school workers, school business, and certain aspects of research institute administration.

Overall, the two forces at First University restrained each other yet also provided mutual support — similar to the Upper and Lower Houses of the Moon Council.

Apart from these two powers, however, First University harbored an extremely strong hidden force.

The ”relevant department.”

First University’s ”relevant department” came directly under the dean’s authority, and the two vice principals had no right to interfere. But just as the Moon Council’s ”Elder’s Assembly” held the council’s deepest roots of influence, First University’s ”relevant department” also wielded the school’s most powerful force — the Forbidden Curse. Research, experimentation, preservation, and all aspects concerning the Forbidden Curse were controlled by the ”relevant department.”

It was a power that, although detached, truly existed within the school’s interior mechanisms.

On days when the dean vanished from public sight, the presence of the ”relevant department” felt all the more subdued. Ordinarily, the Professor Joint Meeting and the School Works Committee at First University engaged in various power struggles, bustling with activity. However, if the ”relevant department” attempted to meddle in the day-to-day operations of the university, they would face a united front from both powers.

You could be ”gloriously isolated,” but you couldn’t roll up your sleeves and step into the fray.

This was an institutional arrangement, unrelated to personal grudges.

Moreover, in the struggle for the dean’s position, no vice principal would shrink back before the ”relevant department.” They would not allow the current either/or situation to regress to having three or even more options.

The same was true for the ”special explosion incident” that occurred in Silent Forest.

Although Vice Principal Ruoyu appeared at the explosion site immediately and confirmed that the accident might relate to the ”Forbidden Curse” and even the ”dean,” the dean ultimately did not issue any statement.

This gave them ample confidence to prevent the ”relevant department” from entering the scene.

On this issue, the two vice principals had an unspoken understanding—they must be constantly vigilant, ”prevent problems before they arise,” and keep the influence of the ”relevant department” within a very limited scope. They would never allow the ”relevant department” to partake in the university’s daily routine.

And the relevant department would seize every opportunity to expand its influence.

After all, if a dean from within the ”department” truly emerged, it would be more in line with the interests of everyone in the relevant department.

”...Your response on Saturday evening was ’outside of business hours, unable to provide necessary assistance,’” Forty-one repeated his purpose in a monotonous tone, ”Today is a business day, and I believe we can come to an agreement on this matter... After all, for any department, the security of First University is of the utmost importance.”

”...It is difficult to come to a proper conclusion on this matter in a short time. Transferring it to Professor Emma would make things a bit simpler. It shouldn’t cause any more trouble after my departure.”

Professor Yao bit on his pipe, flipping through the documents in hand, his languid voice echoing in the not-so-large office, sounding profoundly persuasive.

What a slippery old fox.

The Black Cat muttered to itself, licking hot sheep milk from the porcelain cup. At this moment, it was all ears, taking a lively interest in the conversation between Old Yao and Forty-one.

Its presence in this office today was purely accidental.

On one hand, after being ”domesticated” for a little too long, the Black Cat had been clamoring to go out, which was quite a nuisance; on the other hand, the Black Cat’s true identity also happened to be a student at Jiuyou Academy, and perhaps Old Yao would be slightly more amiable in consideration of his own student.

Of course, the ”relevant department” did not truly hope for any special treatment through this cat but believed that it could at least ease some of the tension.

”We only need the relevant data your department has collected and the divination clues... a very simple request,” Forty-one persisted in repeating his demands.

It was anything but simple.

Old Yao bit on his pipe, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth—the authorities believed the school was behind this magic experiment, but in reality, the school had nothing to do with the explosion.

”This matter will be personally communicated by Vice Principal Ruoyu to Master Baoyangzi,” a resounding voice interrupted Forty-one’s request and appeared in the office, ”After you return, you’ll report to your superiors in just this manner.”

Professor Emma, draped in a sweeping silver cloak, seemed somewhat travel-weary.

Behind her, the office door quietly closed under the guidance of The Door God.

”...And you, should keep your own house in a bit tidier condition.” The strict Magic Language Professor glanced at the master of the house and tapped the spine of the magic book at her waist, summoning a whirlwind that swept away the smoke in the room.

Old Yao raised both hands, indicating his agreement.

Forty-one hesitated for a few seconds.

”If that’s the case, then we’ll take our leave.”

After bowing respectfully to the two deans, he left the Dean of Jiuyou Academy’s office with Black Cat. Black Cat hurriedly licked the last bit of cream from the cup, then leisurely followed Forty-one’s steps.

The two Grand Wizards watched the guests leave.

”They don’t know?” Professor Emma’s abrupt comment broke the silence in the room.

Professor Yao knew she was referring to the relationship between ’the authorities’ and the dean—in theory, the connection between ’the authorities’ and the dean should be closer than that of the deans. However, both the vice principal and the deans were aware of the dean’s involvement in the explosion in the forest, yet ’the authorities’ seemed to be in the dark.

The implications were quite intriguing.

”Seems like they don’t,” Old Yao bit on his pipe, squinting, leaning back in the large leather chair, looking somewhat decadent and languid: ”...Anyway, this matter has nothing to do with us. Let’s not get involved.”

”They’ve already reported the accident, what more do they want?”

Professor Emma, the dean set to replace Old Yao as the rotating chair of the Professor Joint Meeting in May and saddled with these troublesome school affairs, said:

”If they hadn’t caused a stir, no one would know what would happen in Silent Forest... Now it’s spread everywhere that First University is experimenting with new Forbidden Curses! Just thinking about it gives me a headache.”

”They want to use public opinion to pressure for the truth,” Professor Yao said with a laugh, shaking his head. He flipped through the documents in front of him, pulled out a file, and handed it to Professor Emma: ”...But they can’t be said to be just causing trouble... On the contrary, their little moves are quite helpful to us.”

Professor Emma took the document.

It was a list of nominees submitted by the Moon Council to assist First University in defending Black Prison.

Compared to previous announcements, this submission from the Moon Council was very straightforward, including all five Upper House Members and several Elders of the Moon Council.

”This is...” Professor Emma examined the list, eyebrows raised high: ”They accepted our requests so easily? The last meeting’s response was so firm... I thought the school would need to issue a mandatory conscription order.”

”That’s the unexpected boon.” Old Yao smiled, still biting on his pipe: ”Perhaps they think the explosion in Silent Forest was a warning from the school to them... those old men of the Moon Council get more timid the older they grow.”