High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 2137: Chapter 258: Task List

”A wizard wearing a Raven Mask?”

”Yes.”

”Can you provide any other... like additional characteristics of these wizards, or what they have done, their number, areas of activity, etc., more specific information?”

”Very little.”

The Black Cat squatted on the bar counter, spread its paws, and sighed helplessly: ”It can be speculated that these wizards wearing Raven Masks belong to the same organization, with more than seven members, each a registered wizard. The known areas of activity include the Silent Forest, but you know, Buji Island is only so big, any organization’s area of activity will easily involve that grove... As for more specific information, we only know that these wizards appeared at the final venue of the First University hunting competition half a month ago... We also have reasons to believe that the activities of these wizards have affected the final results of the hunting competition to some extent this year.”

What it said in front of the Wandering Wizard was cautiously consistent with what it had said in the Seven Deadly Sins Conference Room.

”Did it affect the final results of the hunting competition this year?”

The Wandering Wizard appeared calmer than the members of the Seven Sins but obviously, there was a hint of curiosity in his tone: ”You just mentioned ’reasons,’ can you conveniently disclose the specific basis?”

”Just speculation.” The Black Cat shook its head decisively: ”The true purpose of those Ravens and their identities is the content you need to investigate.”

The Wandering Wizard nodded slightly: ”...In that case, a rough commission can be issued, and I believe those ’Hunters’ downstairs would be interested in these newly emerging Ravens.”

The ’Hunters’ of the Wandering Bar are not hunters or competitors in the traditional sense, more like a group of bounty hunters or mercenaries, and they are anonymous in nature, which is also related to the special identities of many wizards among them.

The Wandering Wizard pulled out a piece of parchment and a feather pen from under the bar, briefly recorded the information about the Ravens, and finally confirmed: ”By the way, those Raven Masks... is it possible to describe their specific appearance?”

This time, the Black Cat did not refuse.

It raised a paw and extended a claw, sketching the outline of a Raven Mask in the void, with even the numerical identifier at the corner of the mask and the fine lines on the Raven’s beak rendered exactly.

The Wandering Wizard directed the grayish-white feather pen to imprint the mask’s image onto the paper.

Then he carefully folded the paper, put it away, and looked up at the Black Cat again, summarizing earnestly: ”In other words, the Seven Sins currently have two commissions handed over to the Wandering Bar... correct?”

The Black Cat glanced at the blurry and hollow face beneath the pointed wizard hat and nodded slightly.

”Given the good reputation of the Seven Sins, we can skip the verification and other procedures, and distribute the second commission regarding the search for Raven intelligence to the ’Hunters’ free of charge, without collecting a deposit.”

The Wandering Wizard raised a finger: ”Correspondingly, the Seven Sins should pay a sufficient guarantee deposit, to ensure that when a Hunter accepts and completes the task, they can receive a sufficient bounty... What is the reward you have arranged for this task?”

Upon hearing the word ’free,’ the Black Cat’s eyes immediately lit up.

But the following term ’deposit’ made the Black Cat’s ears droop down again.

”How about one jade coin?”

It looked somewhat uncertainly at the Wandering Wizard, but the smoky and shadowy face before it, devoid of even the most basic facial expressions, made it hard for the cat to ascertain the other’s attitude at the moment.

The Wandering Wizard did not directly comment on the Black Cat’s reward but instead gently reminded: ”I recall you once bought a South Cross Crucifix from the Wandering Bar, with a discounted price of five jade coins... I would think that commissioning hunters to investigate a group of registered wizards trying to conceal their identities in the Silent Forest would not be simpler than crafting a crucifix, right.”

”How should I know if the news those hunters find will be useful.”

The Black Cat muttered: ”And I’m not limiting the scope of information... It would be great if they can uncover the roots of the Ravens, but if they can’t, confirming the locations or actions of the Ravens isn’t bad either...”

”Generally, for such ’flexible commissions,’ we would set up corresponding ’flexible rewards.’” The Wandering Wizard explained patiently to the newly appointed Sin Bearer: ”Assuming one jade coin is your base price, entering the Silent Forest would add another coin, and investigating the registered wizards would add yet another... So I suggest your base quote be three jade coins.”

”Base quote?”

”It’s the guarantee deposit... when a hunter obtains valid information, it ensures they can claim at least the minimum reward. Of course, if the information is confirmed to be rich enough, the reward will also increase accordingly.”

Three jade coins.

Which equals thirty gold beans.

For the Black Cat, who recently earned two hundred gold beans from Belfinger and received substantial dividends from the Burning Grass movement afterward, it wasn’t a big number.

”Let’s do it that way.”

It waved its paw somewhat impatiently and dropped three jade coins from the Ruby Ring—supporting this complex and lengthy negotiation with a cat’s walnut-sized brain was a tremendous ordeal for it.

The Wandering Wizard brushed his hand over the tabletop, and the three greenish jade coins vanished instantly.

”Trust me, the reputation of the Wandering Bar wasn’t built in a day.” The bar owner smilingly raised his glass again: ”Let’s toast to the new collaboration between the Wandering Bar and the Seven Sins... Of course, I must also remind you, this commission is akin to finding a fish in the sea or a drop of water in a rainstorm, it may not yield results in the short term.”

The Black Cat symbolically extended its tongue into the glass, licking it.

”What about the other commission?” It was intent on the lists and contacts of other shadow organizations on Buji Island, planning to visit them one by one when time permits.

The smoke and shadow beneath the pointed wizard hat swayed slightly.

The Black Cat assumed the other was laughing.

”The list and contacts of the shadow organizations, the Wandering Bar can provide at any time.” The owner of the place pulled out another long piece of parchment from under the bar, shoved it under the Black Cat’s nose: ”... Here’s the task list we’ve confirmed for this commission.”

The Black Cat scanned the rows of daunting tasks on the parchment at a fast pace:

——Please provide a copy of the 16th century Count Drete’s ”Corpse Eating Rituals” First University Library archival edition (manuscript or rubbings acceptable);

——Please provide the exact whereabouts of the Rat Immortal;

——Please provide the this year’s Double Yang Water from the Hundred Herb Gardens (one pound, 3.2 pints);

——Please provide the movements of certain researchers from the Totem and Psychic Field Theory Laboratory;

——Please provide the latest research progress on anti-pollution magic potions from the Slag Morgan Laboratory;

After glancing at four or five lines, the Black Cat abruptly withdrew its gaze, casting a peculiar look of ’are you guys crazy’ at the unhurried Wandering Wizard across the way.