High School of Demon Hunting
Chapter 975 - 37 Gu Diao Street

Chapter 975: Chapter 37 Gu Diao Street

After wandering around the largest street in North Beta Town, several young wizards ultimately gave up on finding an inn within the North District and decided to head back to the docks. Near the docks, they found a lodge that looked clean, tidy, and had strict entrance control.

The inn was named ’Yang·Payneer’s Lodge’.

A bronze plaque hanging at the entrance of the lodge was inscribed with three lines of clear, bold text, "Founded in the Year 999 of the Ye Calendar by pioneers Yang and Payneer, exclusively for wizards; We offer fish fluff, Cats and dogs are welcome; Tricksters, dwarfs, and Fishmen not allowed."

Looking at the plaque, it reeked of discrimination.

"How can such an establishment exist in North Beta Town without being sealed off by the Mage Alliance?!" Zheng Qing couldn’t help sighing as he pushed the door open, "Aren’t they worried about riots breaking out in the North District?"

"It’s just a habit." Xiao Xiao shrugged his shoulders without further explanation.

Meanwhile, Xin Fat Man, who was more familiar with North Beta Town, began explaining out of goodwill, "This is a historical issue... In fact, before any anti-discrimination laws were enacted, this establishment had already been included in the ’Third Batch of Mage Alliance Designated Monuments with Commemorative and Historical Value,’ which prevented people from modifying it to some extent."

While they were speaking, the three of them entered the inn.

A fairy servant dressed in a brown tailcoat respectfully approached them and handed out red silk scarfs, which are said to sweep away bad luck and protect against curses from the Silent Forest when worn.

The fairy servants were very short, only about one meter tall, with big bat-like ears and eyes and alabaster skin. They spoke in soft, gentle tones and never looked directly into the eyes of the wizards.

This made Zheng Qing feel a peculiar sense of discomfort amid his curiosity.

It was like having a small stone in your shoe, uncomfortable with every step you take.

Zheng Qing wasn’t sure if others felt the same, but from checking in to settling down, the whole process was unnaturally quiet. Even the usually talkative Xin Fat Man kept his mouth tightly shut.

Only after leaving the inn did the strange, oppressive atmosphere slowly disperse.

About ten minutes later, when the façade of Yang·Payneer’s Lodge had completely disappeared from their view, Zheng Qing belatedly lamented, "I just realized we stayed in a lodge that cost a gold bean per night... If we stay in North Beta Town for two more days, we won’t even be able to make up for our travel expenses."

"Then let’s not stay for two more days, let’s settle everything at Gini Cottage today," Xiao Xiao replied cheerfully.

"And my research report," Xin Fat Man chimed in from the side.

"Your report can totally be done during school hours in North Beta Town, there’s no need to squeeze it into the same day as the doctor ." Zheng Qing glanced at Fat Man slightly annoyed, then worriedly added, "Ah, I wonder if we can charge these expenses to the store’s ledger..."

Since the ledger involved taxation, deductions, and other regulatory policies, even though the purse of D&K was in Zheng Qing’s hands, he couldn’t casually use it for personal expenses.

"Then you should ask Fox Five, it has been managing the accounts recently." Xin Fat Man was never very concerned about such matters.

Fox Five was a servant of the Su Qingqiu family. Because the store staff was short-handed at the end of the term, Zheng Qing had borrowed it to help look after the shop, and it hadn’t been returned yet. Greenhill Mansion didn’t seem to mind and hadn’t urged its return.

For Zheng Qing, borrowing the servant and not returning it was always on his mind.

The moment Fat Man mentioned the name ’Fox Five’, Zheng Qing felt a pang of panic deep within. He glanced upward in a concealing manner then turned to Xiao Xiao, "Where did you say that Gini Cottage is?"

"North Beta Town, 33 Gu Diao Street, on the second floor... There’s no number plate, I guess the whole floor must be their club," Xiao Xiao flipped open his notebook and recited, while speculating.

From leaving the inn to now, the three had made several turns through the streets and alleys of the North District, and Zheng Qing had completely lost his sense of direction.

To the left and right were those low and dilapidated houses, piles of garbage emitting wisps of blue smoke, dirty walls, haphazard graffiti, and the gloomy gazes of men, women, and children.

The entire North District seemed to have the same appearance.

It was filled with a sense of cold, restlessness, and disappointment.

"Gu Diao Street, Gu Diao Street..." Zheng Qing muttered the name and finally shook his head, "The name harbors an omen of bad luck; it doesn’t sound like a good place to go."

"Hmph." Xiao Xiao sneered coldly.

Xin Fat Man held a different opinion about Zheng Qing’s caution, "Whether it’s a good place depends on your specific needs... If you’re here to play, getting your purse picked in North District certainly wouldn’t be pleasant; but if you’re here looking for fun, there’s no shortage of beautiful girls to choose from in the North District... Often, a simple magic potion recipe can make you forget your troubles."

Zheng Qing’s eyes wandered as he sized up Fat Man.

"You’re not conducting your investigations in the North District because you ’forget your troubles’, are you?" He emphasized the last four words significantly, causing Fat Man’s originally fair face to immediately turn red.

"Nonsense! Slanderous!" After cursing twice, Xin Fat Man’s face returned to normal, and he hummed, "But speaking of which, did you really blow up that descendant of Satoguya?"

The sudden mention of this topic plunged Zheng Qing back into a gloomy mood.

"I just fired the wrong shot at the wrong time, in the wrong place," the young student borrowed a very famous saying to summarize his view:

"I’m so silly, really. I should have just followed you and hid inside the cabin... Even if that old man pulled me, I should have insisted on my idea and hid inside. That way, I wouldn’t have caused any trouble."

Leading the way, Xiao Xiao didn’t turn his head back but responded, "You’re not silly, just a bit slow."

This assessment immediately darkened Zheng Qing’s face.

His previous words were just a habitual modesty mixed with deflection.

Regardless, a formidable Fairy, and a well-known one at that, had exploded under his Fu Bullet, which was ultimately something to boast about.

If it weren’t for fearing that taking credit for this incident would lead to the school demanding a fine, and the threat of something indescribable from Starry Sky, he certainly would not have been so cautious and modest in front of Ms. Pulitzer.

As he racked his brains thinking about how to beautifully counterattack against the Doctor’s personal attack, Xiao Xiao suddenly stopped walking up front, nearly causing him to stumble.

"Why did you suddenly stop?!" The Warlock steadied himself and complained dissatisfiedly.

"We’re here," Xiao Xiao said softly.

Zheng Qing abruptly raised his head.

In front of the trio was a curving, deep alleyway entrance, on the left wall hung a Gu Diao wood carving, on which three crooked characters were carved — Gu Diao Street.