High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2050: Chapter 271: The Story of Gold

Belfinger gave the Black Cat two pieces of gold, one large and one small.

The larger piece was about the size of a child’s fist, the smaller one just slightly smaller than a standard gold bean.

Because this gold was not standard currency, it couldn’t be used directly, and Zheng Qing also didn’t know if Belfinger had tampered with it, so naturally he couldn’t take it back to the dormitory.

So after leaving the Cat Fruit Tree, the Black Cat headed straight for the branch of the Wizard Unions Bank on campus to exchange the gold for gold beans or jade coins.

Unfortunately, at this hour, the bank was already closed.

Green Grocery did offer currency exchange services, but on the one hand, the place was too crowded and conspicuous for a talking black cat carrying gold; on the other hand, exchanging gold at Green Grocery required filling out identity information, and the Black Cat couldn’t possibly use Zheng Qing’s student card as verification material.

After wandering around the shadows along the Pedestrian Street for a while, the Black Cat spotted the big frog in front of Wandering Bar.

The frog squinted its eyes, perhaps asleep.

The Black Cat quietly slipped inside behind a few guests and talked to a few wizards whose entire faces were hidden in the hoods of their cloaks — they were the ’grey wizards’ whispered about by students, always buying or selling contraband at prices everyone could accept, and a few pieces of gold were no problem — the only issue was that the grey wizards charged a hefty fee, demanding a 30% commission to exchange gold!

Hearing this quote, the Black Cat’s tail tip twisted into a knot with pain.

Leaving Wandering Bar, after pacing the streets for a while, the Black Cat finally slunk over to Beta Town West District and found the owner of No. 54 courtyard.

”Your look is quite fresh.”

Su Shijun scratched the Black Cat’s chin with great interest, commenting on its appearance while taking the two pieces of gold and weighing them in her hand: ”...there are some impurities, but overall it’s fairly ’clean’ and hasn’t been tampered with.”

Saying this, she casually tossed the gold to the head maid Su Man standing by her side. The head maid caught the gold, bowed slightly, and quietly retreated.

The Black Cat longingly watched the gold gradually disappear, then contentedly waggled its tail: ”Then help me exchange it... How many gold beans can I get? You can take a 10% fee!”

It appeared very magnanimous.

The Witch cast a sidelong glance at it without speaking.

The Black Cat suddenly felt uneasy and slightly regretted coming to Greenhill Mansion — while exchanging gold at Wandering Bar, even though the grey wizards charged high, they kept to the rules — but in this mansion, the Black Cat began to worry that its gold might be seized outright.

It even already imagined the reason the Witch would give: Poseidon’s living expenses, tuition, book fees, toy expenses, compensation for mental distress caused, and so on.

Just mulling over it for a moment made the Black Cat’s four paws, including the tail tip, go numb.

It fancifully envisioned the fist-sized piece of gold sprouting two beautiful little wings and fluttering straight off into the distance.

Fortunately, the heir of Qingqiu had extensive resources and wasn’t interested in the Black Cat’s small pickings.

”The fee is waived.”

Su Shijun glanced at the Black Cat squatting in front of her and couldn’t help but pinch its cheek, giving it a shake: ”But next time you come, remember to wear a bib... it’s not good for the children.”

The Black Cat instinctively tucked in its tail and clamped its hind legs.

”Where’s Poseidon?” It craned its neck, looking around.

”Asleep already.” The Witch yawned, covering her mouth: ”Do you even know what time it is now... Instead of wandering around, why not drag Absolution out for some extra training tonight?”

”The results of the selection test will not be out until tomorrow night, so everyone has been tense for a while, and it’s time to relax a bit.” The Black Cat sat up properly in front of the instructor, and finally, as if remembering something, it reached a paw into the grey cloth bag under its chin and fetched out a small purple sphere, pushing it in front of the Witch.

”What is this?”

”A lavender bubble bath ball, mentioned during the last meal,” the Black Cat tugged at its ear awkwardly: ”...Wanted to give it to him.”

The Witch raised her eyebrows, looking surprised: ”Amazingly, you actually remember what you said before... Weighed it yet? How much? How much can it exchange for?”

The latter questions were directed at the head maid who re-entered the room carrying a lacquered tray.

The Black Cat looked on expectantly.

Its fist-sized piece of gold sat obediently on the tray cradled in Su Man’s arms, with a small stack of jade coins beside it, both of which shone with a mesmerizing glow under the light of magic.

The Black Cat was so entranced by the sight that it completely failed to notice the hand of the owner of Qingqiu Mansion resting on its back, casually stroking it.

The head maid did not immediately respond to her mistress’s question but gently reminded, ”Miss, he is still a student.”

The Black Cat did not immediately grasp the meaning of this statement.

But Su Shijun realized it, smiling as she corrected, ”An adult student... Naturally, generally speaking, when a student is in human form, I wouldn’t be so hands-on... But it’s a cat now.”

The implication being, a person is a person, and a cat is a cat.

The Black Cat finally came to its senses, realizing the inappropriateness of the hand on its back, and was startled, but ultimately it didn’t flee with a scream like a little girl, instead striving to maintain its composed appearance, bowed its head, and nervously crept away from the Witch’s hand.

Su Shijun pouted but ultimately didn’t stop the Black Cat from leaving.

Su Man watched this scene with a smile until the Black Cat was securely perched at the edge of the table, at which point she slightly bowed and presented the lacquered tray to the owner of the mansion: ”...After removing the impurities and contamination, this gold weighs fifteen liang, three qian and six hao (approximately 765 grams, a bit over a jin—Chinese pound), equivalent to 119 standard gold beans and...”

”Don’t fret over the extra.” Su Shijun waved her hand, looking languid: ”...Just give it twelve jade coins.”

This time, the head maid raised no objections and presented the stack of jade coins from the tray to the Black Cat, which consisted of exactly twelve coins—clearly, she had anticipated her mistress’s stance before entering.

The Black Cat stared blankly at the stack of jade coins, clicking its tongue in secret.

As a full scholarship student of the First University, it knew that the annual scholarship it could receive was only ten jade coins—twelve jade coins could buy an 18th-century Ashmol bound law book from Lower Yuan Bookstores, two Peridot Crosses from Wandering Bar, or six hundred aromatic, greasy roast chickens on Pedestrian Street!

And now, this money was merely the fee for someone helping with homework for a wealthy big spender!

”Truly gluttonous rich!”

It muttered, but without the slightest hesitation, reached out its furry paw and collected the stack of jade coins.

Only when the jade coins were tucked into the grey cloth bag did the Black Cat suddenly realize that the 12 jade coins were equivalent to 120 gold beans, slightly more than what its gold was worth.

In other words, this exchange not only didn’t incur a fee but also resulted in an ’unexpected profit’?

But then it remembered being touched by the Witch, and that ’profit’ seemed to find its justification. For a moment, the Black Cat stood frozen on the spot, thoughts running wild, feeling emotionally complex.