High School of Demon Hunting-Chapter 2327 - 548: Varis

Before Zheng Qing woke up, the atmosphere inside the Sakura Pub was harmonious and peaceful.

Long slender vines hung down from the ceiling, with clusters of fireflies clinging to them, bloated and scattering mottled light; luminous fruits nestled between the vine leaves and stems, with thumb-sized female sprite crickets perched on them, holding their tiny lutes and harps, playing elegant, shy tunes.

Scholars gathered with three or five friends, quoting from various sources, engaging in high-flown discourse; outsiders sat alone in corners, drinking by themselves, with their shadows forming pairs; and there were many idle patrons, sitting around tables, holding juice or light drinks and watching the sugar figurines wrestling and fighting on plates, occasionally cheering, throwing in a few silver horns, or a handful of gold beans, to win a few harmless rewards.

Then.

The battle broke out suddenly and intensely.

As the cries of alarm sounded, the other members of the Absolution Hunting Team all quickly came to their senses.

Though not understanding what their captain was up to, the tacit understanding developed over time in the Hunting Ground made them instinctively draw their respective law books and weapons.

Blue Bird, having only drunk clear water, reacted the fastest; Zheng Qing’s Binding Spell had yet to fly out from the Bronze Book when he quietly appeared behind the gray-robed janitor, his longsword wrapped in cloth resting impolitely on the person’s shoulder—using his Starry Sky Academy student intuition, he chose the most threatening individual from that table.

"Don’t move." The swordsman classmate was forever sparing with words.

Feeling the faint yet distinct sharpness at his throat, the gray-robed janitor raised his hands obediently, calling out repeatedly: "Is there some misunderstanding? We’re all from the same school... let’s talk things over!"

Following swiftly was Dylan.

The Blood Race’s agility talent gave him speed not inferior to Blue Bird’s; as the gray-robed janitor was calling out, Dylan appeared beside the table, his wine glass politely clinking with that of the black-robed guild wizard next to him.

Clink!

"Good evening, sir." Mister Wolfman greeted courteously, as if exchanging pleasantries with a friend at a dinner party: "Though I don’t know what’s happened... but the moon looks beautiful tonight!"

"Good evening."

The guild wizard nodded calmly, responding concisely and clearly: "I just heard that Varis has a batch of frogs to sell, so I came to inquire about the transaction details... the moon tonight is indeed beautiful."

In contrast to the restrained janitor and the calm businessman, Xin Fat Man’s opponent reacted far more intensely.

His opponent was another Northern District Wizard at that table; faced with an unexpected attack, the person instinctively twisted the ruby ring on his finger, releasing a Guarding Curse.

The equally plump Fat Wizard had no choice but to murmur ’what damn orders’ ’I’m also fat’ ’discriminatory words are against regulations,’ while reaching out his palm like a fan to grab the Northern District Wizard.

Pale blue light flowed between Xin’s arms, his extended palm swelling with the wind, like a giant cloak, easily enveloping the Guarding Curse the Northern District Wizard just raised.

Crack.

A crisp sound of spell light shattering emanated from within the ’cloak’; in an instant, the Northern District Wizard’s head drooped over Xin Fat Man’s knuckles, looking dizzy.

Of everyone, only Xiao Xiao made a misstep.

Perhaps due to still being drunk, perhaps due to not being good at fighting, or perhaps simply because his opponent was too cunning; when Doctor Xiao’s Bamboo Slip Law Book unfolded and swung, the mysterious guest whose face was hidden under the hood had already turned into a puff of smoke, racing toward the pub’s entrance, about to rush out the door.

"Sit!"

A clear word came from the staircase.

The racing smoke seemed to be heavily pressed by an invisible giant hand, collapsing completely to the floor, the hood flipping open, revealing a pale, panic-stricken face.

"Do they have any issues?"

The owner of Gini Cottage descended slowly from upstairs, her silver-gray long dress winding and flowing behind her like a stream; the aura of the Big Wizard spread throughout, radiating a silent energy.

She frowned as she watched the flustered Zheng Qing, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

In the pub, the small commotion that had just risen seemed to be quenched like a small fire with a splash of water, quieting instantly. All Northern District Wizards immediately prostrated on the ground, offering the highest respect to the Great Sage; while the Wizards outside the Northern District also rose with chest bowed, heads lowered, showing respect to the North District Grand-Wizard.

Except for the five hunters of the Absolution Hunting Team.

Dylan and the others looked at Zheng Qing, their eyes equally puzzled.

And the primary responsible person for this incident earnestly focused on directing the Binding Spell’s vines, meticulously binding the splendidly robed Fat Wizard securely.

"Great Sage!"

The Fat Wizard struggled frantically, his sharp voice stinging everyone’s eardrums: "Great Sage, these outsiders suddenly went berserk..."

A bundle of vine, rolled up to the size of a fist, was ruthlessly stuffed into the Fat Wizard’s mouth, stifling his next words; the quiet pub only had weak, unintelligible whimpers left.

Yet that ’outsider,’ like a torch in the dark, provided other Northern District Wizards in the pub a unified goal, instantly stirring up shared enmity, with unfriendly eyes turning towards Zheng Qing, who still held his Law book.

"Trident Sword business."

Zheng Qing first categorized his actions, then turned to look at Korma standing on the staircase, explaining briefly and seriously: "Due to suspicion of black magic crimes, this..."

He suddenly stalled.

Because he just realized that he seemed unaware of the ’suspect’s’ name.

A Northern District Witch in a gray robe hurried upstairs, handing a parchment to the Great Sage; Korma glanced at it and reminded Zheng Qing: "Varis, the Northern District Wizard you apprehended is named Varis, one of the largest frog suppliers in the Northern District... without concrete evidence, by procedure, the Trident Sword shouldn’t take him away."

"We have eyewitnesses, who saw Mister Varis and the Illegal Sorcerer Organization ’Ravens’ doing a deal under the archway of Gu Diao Street, obtaining a very dangerous black magic item, with an appearance like a bean..."

When Zheng Qing described the transaction details, vaguely yet clearly, Varis, bound by vines, immediately realized things were heading in the worst direction; a hint of madness flashed in his widened eyes, without any hesitation, he instantly activated the copper bean embedded within his body.

The golden bean shell cracked, thin white roots like cobwebs extending through blood vessels and energy channels in all directions; alarming auras flowed through the white tendrils.

Some tendrils pierced the skin, falling onto the vines that bound him.

The vines instantly dehydrated, turning to debris, crumbling down to the floor with rustling sounds.