High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 1920: Chapter 141: Apparently Positive, Actually Negative

Xin Fat Man is quite clear about the integrity of the campus newspaper.

A little later, when Zheng Qing was still in the library diligently writing assignments for Magic Potion Class and magical zoology, a huge paper crane elegantly swept over rows of tall bookshelves, landing on the warlock’s desk, raising a small breeze that blew the parchment on the desk into a fluttering mess, nearly knocking over his inkstone.

”What the heck, so big!”

Zheng Qing spread his arms as if protecting his chicks, shielding his homework, looking at the paper crane as if he had seen a ghost: ”There are paper cranes this big?”

”It’s a campus newspaper.”

Xiao Xiao just glanced at it briefly and guessed the identity of the paper crane: ”I reckon it’s from Fatty... Didn’t you wonder how the campus newspaper would cover last night’s event?”

”I could have waited until I got back to the dorm at night to give it to me.” Zheng Qing complained verbally, but his hands didn’t refuse, and quickly dismantled the paper crane.

It was indeed the campus newspaper, but unfortunately only one page.

Similar to the ”Beta Town Post”, the campus newspaper also issued a statement in the corner of the front page, only the campus newspaper’s statement was obviously larger:

”Solemn Statement”

”At about 9:40 PM on September 11th (lunar July 23rd, Ji Chou year, Gui You month, Ji Wei day), in some areas of the school, some wizards, without any factual basis and only with hearsay, began to organize and spread false information about Professor Yao Xiaomi. Upon discovering this, the school immediately sent letters to the Great Wizard Council and the Danhag Supreme Court for rightful protection, collecting evidence against some illegal actions and providing it to the Trident Sword and relevant departments. The entire process was legal and compliant.”

”Here, the school solemnly declares through this publication that the false information about Professor Yao is entirely fabricated, malicious defamation. Currently, Professor Yao holds the position of Dean of Jiuyou Academy at First University, exemplifies leadership everywhere during his tenure, is good at uniting others, helps others happily, always works diligently and without complaint, and has never violated school rules and regulations or the Wizard’s Codex.”

”We sternly warn those with ulterior motives who continue to use despicable means to defame, slander, and smear Professor Yao’s personal image that everyone is equal before the ’Code’. Violators will bear the consequences themselves!”

”Hereby declared!”

”September 12, 2009 (lunar July 24, Ji Chou year, Gui You month, Geng Shen day)”

”First University Professor Joint Meeting (seal) First University Campus Affairs Management Committee (seal) Jiuyou Academy of First University (seal) Jiuyou Academy Dean’s Office of First University (seal)”

”Look at these rows of bright red seals!” A young cost student flicked the end of the statement, exclaiming: ”It’s rare to see these departments appear in unison on one document.”

”Fatty should be very happy, no wonder he couldn’t wait to fly this newspaper over to you.” Xiao Xiao was looking thoughtfully at another corner of the newspaper page.

”What?”

Zheng Qing followed the doctor’s gaze, where there was a small ’News Flash’, its text quite concise, but the content was shocking—

”The campus newspaper reports on September 12th that to maintain market fairness and stability, the Beta Town Management Committee conducted a week-long market rectification ’Thunder Action’ from September 7th to September 13th.”

”During the inspection, the committee found that most shops and operators strictly followed the ’Wizard’s Codex’ and ’First University Campus Management Regulations’, but some units still displayed a slack mentality and did not implement their primary responsibilities properly. According to the relevant clauses in school works committee document [1909] 12, ’Several Opinions on Strengthening Inn and Gazette Management’, it confirms that ’Beta Town Post’ had: ① Male wizards wearing high heels at work; ② Three bottles of drinks with 5% alcohol content in the office area; ③ Published a guide on raising griffins without permission from the Magic Creature Management Department.”

”Based on ’Several Opinions’, ’Beta Town Post’ is hereby ordered to make immediate corrections, suspend operations for rectification for three months, and be publicly exposed, hoping all town operators learn from this, resolutely safeguarding market fairness and stability!”

After reading the report, Zheng Qing’s first reaction was to look up at Xiao Xiao: ”When did Beta Town Management Committee carry out a ’Thunder Action’? D&K are fine, right? Does our employment of mouse people meet relevant requirements?”

”Only a fool would ask such a stupid question.” Xiao Xiao squinted at the young cost student: ”Clearly, the school just found an excuse to deal with the post... It has nothing to do with our employment of the mouse people!”

Zheng Qing blinked, reread the report again.

”True.”

He clicked his tongue, contemplatively pointing at the last few words of the announcement: ”For ’fairness and stability’, huh... speaking of which, I never knew that legal opinions from a hundred years ago could still guide today’s market order. Look, the guiding opinions cited by the committee include such medieval terms as ’Inn’ and ’Gazette’!”

”This is called silent protest.”

Dr. Xiao adjusted his glasses, earnestly saying: ”No doubt, the opinion to handle the ’Beta Town Post’ came from the school, but perhaps the school felt that making a fuss over a newspaper lowered its own dignity, so they suggested that the committee handle it themselves... But just who are the members of the Beta Town Management Committee? Most, like the post, hail from Alpha Fortress. Would they disgrace themselves for the sake of the Jiuyou Academy dean’s reputation?”

”So they just dug up some trumped-up charges from old records?” Zheng Qing squinted, feeling a strong sense of déjà vu with this scenario: ”... It appears that the post is shut down for rectification, but in actuality, it also backhanded the school. The school can’t even say they were wrong?”

”That’s about right.” Xiao Xiao nodded, folded the newspaper, and tossed it aside, as if looking at it again would dirty his eyes.

Zheng Qing shrugged, refocusing on his White Dew compound assignment.

After a long pause, he let out a light ”Ah!”, suddenly looking up, slapping the table, drawing stares of disapproval from around, prompting the warlock to make apology bows continuously.

”What?” Xiao Xiao raised his head, adjusting his glasses.

”You should get new glasses, aren’t the arms too loose? Always adjusting.” Zheng Qing first teased, then explained: ”I just said I had a strong sense of déjà vu just now... I’ve seen Beta Town Management Committee’s tactics before.”

”Reading novels or playing video games in the past, the national guidelines said not to have illegal content, and at the execution level, they just wiped off everything below the neck... Similar to the state saying your toenails are long, and then somebody promptly chops off the entire foot, replaces it with a prosthetic, and declares compliance with relevant laws and regulations.”

”A small gesture, it disgusts both the relevant departments and the audience or players, also provoking opposition between them... I’ve always felt that this approach was a stroke of genius, top-notch at shifting blame.”

”It’s a bit like a child throwing a tantrum ’Why should you care about me?’ ’I refuse’, then rolling in the mud, getting covered, ’making you mad’ ’you have to clean up’... Such a mentality.”

”Seemingly positive, actually negative.”