High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1282: Chapter 29: Troubles at School

Three sprites clad in gray uniforms quietly appeared in the office.

One held a tray, filled with brightly colored fruits; another carried a purple clay teapot with a jade ruyi-scepter handle; and the last held purple clay teacups that matched the handle of the pot.

Another group of sprites busied themselves with clearing the used tea, fruit platters, and pastries from the coffee table, tidying the scattered papers, leaving a clean and refreshing world for the new guests.

Professor Emma gripped the Moon Council report, deep in thought.

The buttons at the collar of her cloak silently came undone; a few sprites tugged at the collar and hem, gently removing it from Professor Emma and carrying it to a clothes rack in the corner of the room. The jujube wood rack extended a few slender arms, displaying the cloak nicely, and a fine wool brush, hovering in mid-air, briskly swept away the scant dust on it.

These minor details escaped the notice of the two great wizards in the room.

Their gazes were always set upon a deeper world, heavier topics.

”...Before you left, what was the situation inside?” Professor Yao asked, biting his pipe, legs crossed, his hands resting on the chair’s armrests, fingers idly tapping a rhythm, as if a grand symphony was playing in his mind.

Professor Emma, holding the Moon Council report, heavily sat on the sofa.

The sofa let out a comfortable groan.

”The usual, the elder wizards are so bored they’re nearly asleep, while the young ones are as tense as a flock of startled quails.”

Alpha’s dean clearly disdained the young wizards’ current style, launching into a blunt critique, ”...Even the hunting teams returning from the New World are far inferior to before. Many of them can’t even adjust to fighting in the dark...Shi Hui has to waste much more time helping them with their training.”

”You cannot expect them to be like us who grew up outside the ’honey pot,’” Old Yao offered a word of consolation, yet expressed a completely different view from Professor Emma, ”But that doesn’t mean they’re doing poorly...To my knowledge, these youngsters have developed many beautiful new formations...very helpful to the school.”

Professor Emma did not deny it, yet neither did she intend to agree with Old Yao.

”It sounds like you’re not entirely clueless about the inside,” she said, her tone sarcastic, then swiftly shifted her focus to the mission she returned with, ”Compared to you, I’m less informed about the school’s situation... Is there anything in particular at the school that I need to be aware of recently?”

Professor Yao smiled and did not intend to engage in a verbal tussle with Professor Emma.

”Quite a few,” he said, turning his face towards the brightening window, watching the bustling students in the distance, and began to list quietly, ”The Moon Council offered joint defense, which you already know; the council of big wizards just passed a resolution a few days ago, rejecting the Duoni People’s request to establish a consulate in the Great Ming Pavilion. The Duoni People have been communicating with the school, hoping for its support on this matter... There’s also a Dark Council. According to rumors, they’re preparing a ’big show,’ and it’s even a forbidden technique leaked from the school. I suggest you review potential vulnerabilities this month to prevent being held accountable by Danghag later.”

”Those sewer rats will never amount to much,” Professor Emma scoffed with disdain. ”Besides, Danghag’s current Chief Magistrate, Sam Marshall, was a coward when he was studying. Not even with ten times the courage, would he dare come after the school for accountability.”

The words were spoken with full force.

”...Speaking of rats, the Rat Immortal has skipped town in the last few days, apparently being hunted by the Yellow Flowered Cat.” Old Yao took his pipe from his lips and added with a chuckle, ”Maybe in May, you should keep an eye on the rodent plague at the school. Without that Big Mouse keeping things in check, the Dressed-up Rat Race of the Underground World might make a bit of a ruckus.”

Professor Emma furrowed her brows, showing a look of disgust.

She really hated mice.

”As for inside the school,” Professor Yao continued, counting on his fingers, ”the Magical Creatures Research Institute has had a group of unicorns catch the plague, and even lost a Fire Phoenix. The Professor Joint Meeting suggested setting up an independent investigative committee to check what the institute is up to; the Institute of Applied Magic’s Two-Dimensional Evolution Research Institute is applying for new research funding... And Su Shijun has destroyed another laboratory.”

”Which number is this, the lab she’s destroyed in the last six months?” Professor Emma couldn’t help but comment sarcastically, ”I finally understand why the Moon Council was willing to send such an ’excellent’ Big Wizard to First University...”

She pronounced ’excellent’ with heavy sarcasm, obviously being ironic.

Professor Yao smiled and did not deny it, simply adding, ”But the speed and quality of her papers are also very high... The Two-Dimensional Evolution Research Institute’s achievements over the past six months account for nearly ten percent of the entire Institute of Applied Magic’s output... As for research funding, I think we could be a little more lenient.”

”Oh, and it’s almost time for the third quarter, the School Works Committee’s internal affairs, the Astronomical Observatory, the Weather monitor, and the Hundred Herb Gardens, are all applying for the third quarter’s budget. You need to pay attention to that too.”

”I’m just the rotating chair for May,” Professor Emma rolled her eyes, ”Let those in June deal with the third quarter’s budget... If I approve too much, the Joint Meeting will hold me accountable... Didn’t the school just pass on the news of their end-of-the-year spending rush last year? But if I approve too little, I’ll get scolded by the School Works Committee, saying the school doesn’t care about its students... Such a thankless task, heh...”

Involving the squabbles of two deputy headmasters, Professor Yao did not continue but went on to say:

”The Lake Bell Fishman Tribe is still causing trouble, and that Horseman Tribe outside your castle needs pacifying... Oh yes, although it’s not yet time for elections, due to the recent ugly spat between Will and the Blood Comrades, everyone thinks it’s better for Lei Zhe and Augustus to finish their handover earlier. Those two kids have already signed a contract with the Hunting team anyway, so joining early would be beneficial for them.”

”You’ve given me both direct and indirect suggestions; do I even have a choice?” Professor Emma huffed.

”Of course, there’s a choice. Doesn’t Alpha Academy always pride itself on ’the freedom to choose’?” Professor Yao said with a smile, reminding her, ”Everyone knows about the tension between Jiuyou and Alpha... I’m not taking sides on this matter, and neither should you. That veteran student who transferred from your academy, Nicholas, drew blood in public just a few days ago, tension between the two academies is a bit high, so stay alert.”

”What a mess this all is,” Professor Emma sighed deeply.

”And there’s more trouble,” Professor Yao stuffed his pipe back into his mouth, took a deep drag, exhaling a series of smoke rings of various sizes, pointing in the direction where North Beita Town lay: ”This month, your biggest trouble is over there!”