Chapter 1983: Chapter 204: Analysis

After reading the report, Zheng Qing’s first reaction was ‘making trouble’.

The entire article exuded a bizarre vibe from head to toe—it seemed not to explicitly state that Zhu Si and Korma did anything shady, but those strange words, like ‘conspiracy’, ‘historical experience tells us’, and ‘public anxiety’, vaguely expressed something between the lines.

This is even with Zheng Qing knowing Zhu Si and Korma in advance.

Those who don’t know the two witches, after reading this report, will inevitably associate them with evil wizards who caused bloody turmoil in wizard history and have a bad impression of them.

Especially the accompanying photo in the report, with a nighttime background, without a hint of moonlight, Zhu Si wearing a black robe hurriedly leaving through a deep door—from head to toe exudes a secretive aura—plus the small caption, makes the feeling even worse.

To be fair, everyone has had the experience of going out to visit friends at night, and that photo proves absolutely nothing.

The problem lies in the fact that ‘Northern District Wizards’ and ‘Rat Man’ are indeed major headaches for the alliance, and Zhu Si is indeed the daughter of the Rat Immortal.

So her ‘visit’ hit a sensitive spot among certain wizards.

What young cost students couldn’t understand was, where did the “Beta Town Post” get the courage to dare to provoke the tiger and indirectly challenge the Legendary Wizard—even though the article could be considered ‘decent’, without insinuating or containing anything towards the legend, this provocative method still amazed the warlock.

“Look!”

Zheng Qing flicked the thick, bulging newspaper, clicking his tongue in admiration: “Look at this sentence, ‘The above conclusions are merely standardized deductions made by diviners and astrologists based on existing information’… No wonder the “Beta Town Post” can become the most influential newspaper in the alliance, just this ‘guts’ alone beats any other newspaper.”

“You can’t say it like that.”

The fat wizard, employed at the campus newspaper, immediately shouted displeased, waving his greasy claws around: “Some newspapers like to pander to the public, but some are very serious… every word of their reports has been carefully deliberated and fact-checked, without any guesses or subjective conjecture.”

Zheng Qing snorted noncommittally.

He wasn’t so convinced by any statement with the word ‘absolute’. Of course, it’s difficult for those involved to have an impartial view on topics that involve ‘professional dignity’.

Zheng Qing wasn’t planning to seriously argue with Xin on this topic.

“Actually, I’m more interested in another point,” the young cost student naturally shifted away from the vortex of debate and changed the topic: “Why did the Post publish this article?”

“What do you mean?” Xin Fat Man had just dug out a sticky rice strip, planning to pop it into his mouth, and upon hearing this, tilted his head in interest.

Zheng Qing patiently explained: “Isn’t the Post always at odds with Old Yao?… Well, I mean, isn’t Alpha Fortress behind the Post, and now its owner, Professor Emma, serves as the school’s vice principal with a ‘Quasi-Legendary’ status, needing to unite all forces… why stir up the Rat Immortal at this juncture? After all, the Rat Immortal is a Legend… should be a friend rather than an enemy.”

This time, it wasn’t Xin who answered him, but Xiao Xiao who had been silent beside him.

“Do you think an article of this level will deeply impact a Legendary’s stance?” Doctor Xiao adjusted his glasses: “…or do you believe the few words in the newspaper article warrant a Legendary’s action?”

“It’s difficult.” Zheng Qing gave an honest judgment: “For a few lines to act… then the Legendary Boss would be really cheap.”

“Bingo.”

The Doctor snapped his fingers: “It’s like an ant running up to your foot and peeing; would you feel humiliated by the ant and give it a second glance? …From another angle, if you were Professor Emma, the newly appointed vice principal, and you knew there was a Legendary undergoing transformation near the school but couldn’t find them… what would you do?”

“Spread the word widely.”

Zheng Qing raised his eyebrows, a sudden realization surfacing: “You’re suggesting that Alpha might be communicating with the Rat Immortal through a third party?”

“That’s one way of understanding it.” Xiao Xiao bit his brush handle, neither denying nor affirming: “It’s also a reasonable angle… but there are other possibilities… for example, the “Beta Town Post” could have acted purely out of ‘public concern’, believing Zhu Si and Korma’s alliance could pose a threat to orthodox wizard groups, and with media professionalism, spoke out against the pressure of the Legend for justice…”

“Ms. Pulitzer certainly isn’t the type to sacrifice herself for the public.” Zheng Qing recalled his horrible experience being interviewed and firmly rejected the Doctor’s alternative possibility.

“Or it could be a bit of both.”

Xin Fat Man summoned a ball of clear water, washing the grease off his hands, savoring his lips and added: “Things in reality aren’t like fantasy stories, or Legendary novels, where there’s straightforward logic… every occurrence has complex, interconnected backgrounds…”

“Teacher’s here! Teacher’s here!”

The stick figure behind the door interrupted the small talk in the classroom corner, shouting: “…The history teacher, Little Sima, is already at the corridor corner, about to enter the classroom!”

Originally noisy, the atmosphere quieted considerably, frazzled footsteps, the clattering of chairs and desks, mixed with the rustling of turning books, together playing a harmonious tune.

Doctor Xiao squinted, casting a vicious glare at the stick figure.

“What’s the use of glaring at it? Your gaze isn’t as lethal as a bee’s sting.” Xin Fat Man mocked, then cheerfully returned to his seat.

“You could smear some fishman dung on that paper… Or like last winter, add a few strokes of cold wind to its head.” Zheng Qing also enthusiastically offered his suggestion: “Winter is almost here, draw a couple of cold winds blowing on its forehead every day, it’d have a hard time!”

The short warlock looked at him in surprise.

“That sounds like something you would do.” He commented.

Zheng Qing was visibly agitated: “Or do you have a better suggestion?”

“How about drawing a female ogre in heat on that paper?” Doctor Xiao adjusted his glasses, pondering: “The Ogre Tribe we decimated last trial still has some ogre blood left, enough to mix ink… and using ogre hair to glue a brush, temporarily for drawing should last a month…”

Zheng Qing looked at the serious and honest diviner in front of him, shivered quietly, glanced sympathetically at the lively stick figure on the door paper, and silently mourned it for three seconds in advance.