Chapter 1812: Chapter 33: Trial Card

The trial card is made of brass, round in shape, with a diameter of over an inch and a thickness of about 2-3 millimeters. On the front is the triangular emblem of the First University, and on the back is the circular emblem of Jiuyou Academy and the student’s name. It’s entirely wrapped in a smoked chocolate-colored patina, with a circle of dense ancient magic script around the edge.

Holding it in your palm, it doesn’t have a hint of coldness; instead, it gives a warm feeling.

“Why did the elder come to Beta Town?”

The young cost student weighed the brass card, feeling the heavy weight in his palm, and glanced at the doctor: “Didn’t Fat Man say he went with his brother to meet those people from the societies?”

Xiao Xiao didn’t have a chance to speak before Xin Fat Man’s mocking voice rang out from the side: “Are you stupid? It’s because he has to meet people from other societies that he came to Beta Town… Many society bases are outside Alpha Fortress.”

Zheng Qing pretended not to hear Fat Man’s jabbering, looked around, and his gaze landed on Su Ya, who was hiding behind Zhu Si, immediately remembering the unfinished matter from before.

Then he stuffed the trial card into the grey cloth bag, stepped forward, and tugged at the little fox in Su Ya’s arms, scolding: “Your homework’s not finished, what are you wandering around for? Careful, or someone might catch you and give you a beating!”

Because there were others nearby, his words were somewhat euphemistic, but Poseidon understood his meaning, whining pitifully while curled up in Su Ya’s arms, looking like he wanted to play innocent.

Zheng Qing sighed slightly, looked at Su Ya, and reminded: “Don’t always pamper it. When it’s time to eat, eat; when it’s time to drink, drink; when it’s time to play, play; and when it’s time to do homework, do homework.”

Poseidon’s big tail wilted on Su Ya’s shoulder, swaying weakly.

The little fox lady shrank her neck, her face pale, nodding forcefully, her furry fox ears pressed tightly against her hair, as if Zheng Qing was tugging at her ears instead of Poseidon’s fur.

She glanced to the side hopefully, seeming like she wanted to seek help from her companions.

This time, Li Meng didn’t kick Zheng Qing.

She was leaning with Zhu Si towards Xiao Xiao, studying the trial card in Xiao Xiao’s hand.

“Is this the trial card?”

Zhu Si pinched the card with her fingertips, flipping it over and over: “I’ve heard Meng Meng talk about it for a month, and this is what it looks like? Where is your trial ground located? What is the content of the trial? How is this card used? And, Meng Meng, where’s your card? You’re participating in this trial, right!”

“Of course!”

Li Meng patted her chest with little confidence and casually pointed to Lin Guo sitting on a sheep’s back: “If that guy can attend the trial, how could I not go!”

“As for my card, my cousin must be holding it. She always thinks I’m still a child and can’t keep track of my things. Actually, I think she acts like a nanny… As for the trial content, nobody knows. I heard from my cousin that there have been major reforms for this trial by the school, and everything is new, so the past experiences are useless.”

“I did hear about the trial ground location, though. It’s not at the school or on Buji Island, apparently in a new world… Which world, I have no idea. The void is so vast, who knows what those old guys at the school are planning.”

At this point, Zheng Qing nudged Xiao Xiao with his elbow.

“Do you know where the trial ground is?”

He lowered his voice and asked: “Didn’t you ask the elder two more questions when you met him in the morning? Isn’t his brother already the Lei Philosopher of this batch? He should have some insider information.”

“He doesn’t know either.”

Xiao Xiao pushed up his glasses and shook his head: “The Lei Philosopher isn’t omnipotent. According to the elder, just the trouble from the Lake Bell fishman and the Northern District Wizard alone has made his brother overwhelmed… Let alone the fact that the new semester is about to start, with various meetings, new recruits, farewells, maintaining ‘Will’ and relationships with off-campus hunting teams, new semester planning, and society funding applications, etc. According to what he said, his brother has already started considering the possibility of splitting himself in half.”

Zheng Qing smacked his lips and mourned for a few seconds for Zhang Ji Xin’s brother.

But in those few seconds, he wasn’t pondering how many spells it would take to split someone in half, but rather was contemplating a very logical question: Even if a person were split in half, they would still only have two hands and two eyes—though you could argue they’d have one more mouth, but the coordination would definitely be worse. From this perspective, the work efficiency after being split in half wouldn’t necessarily be higher than that of a normal person.

“I also don’t know what this trial means for us.”

Xin Fat Man had already completed today’s editorial work, his feather pen disappearing and being replaced by a bag of salty and fragrant Arhat beans. As he crunched on them, he shook his head: “We’ve even seen something as grand as the Black Prison, what’s the point of a mere second-year trial? It would be better to do more magic experiments in the lab.”

“It’s precisely because there are too many wizards like you with high standards and low abilities that the school needs to hold trials every year.”

Xiao Xiao quipped, reaching into Fat Man’s bag to grab a handful of beans, giving half to Zheng Qing and picking a few plump ones for himself, mumbling:

“Do you think everyone in the class has been to the Black Prison like us? We’re exceptions, and the trial is a rule. It’s necessary to make an accurate assessment of this batch of students and to cultivate their field practice ability… With my eyes closed, I can point out a bunch who, from last year’s enrollment till now, haven’t participated in a single official hunt… The trial is prepared for them.”

“Last year’s Winter Hunt…” Zheng Qing chewed on the beans and couldn’t help but retort, but he stopped speaking mid-sentence. Because he remembered that during the Winter Hunt, many timid wizards chose to clear the campus of monsters, unlike them who ventured into the Silent Forest.

Even during the first Black Tide of this spring, when there was an infestation of insects and mice on campus and the school assigned practical tasks, many students didn’t capture anything themselves but opted to buy trophies from off-campus stores.

D&K’s initial business started from that opportunity, with the Absolution Hunting Team, including the cats Zheng Qing raised on the Cat Fruit Tree, all playing important roles back then.

When you think about it, not a single snowflake is innocent.

The young cost student sighed, stuffed the last Arhat bean into his mouth, clapped the salt from his hands, and casually pulled out a few Cleaning Charms, tossing them to Xiao Xiao and the others.

Several wisps of pale smoke slowly rose, instantly making the young wizards much more refreshed.

“Even if we don’t know now, we’ll surely find out at tonight’s class meeting.” Zheng Qing felt for his trial card again, rubbing the dense runes at the card’s edge: “… I wonder what this thing’s use is.”

“Do you think Old Yao will come to today’s class meeting?”

Fat Man seemed to remember something, looking around furtively, and lowered his voice, speaking sneakily: “It’s said that he’s going to become our new vice-principal… I wonder if he’ll still be our mentor.”