Preparations Before Hunting Demons

Wizard Merlin's move was a textbook open scheme.

If he did not transplant a bloodline, he could not beat Vivian himself, and he would die outright.

If he did not go demon hunting and become a Demon Hunter Wizard, he would be purged outright.

If he transplanted a bloodline and succeeded in demon hunting, he would grasp authority himself, but his upper limit would also be restricted by the transplanted bloodline.

"There's probably another reason they can't say out loud for using Demon Hunter Wizards to replace evil god believers."

"Evil god believers can't be controlled, but the Academy can suppress a Demon Hunter Wizard's upper limit."

If they could not deal with evil god believers, could they not deal with you?

"I'll go to the library and look up some information. I need to choose a suitable bloodline to transplant."

Ahab raised his foot, about to head to the library, then immediately realized another problem.

Bloodline transplantation required a lot of Magic Stones.

Never mind that his finances for the month were already on the verge of bankruptcy—even if he still had all ten Magic Stones, it would be nowhere near enough for a transplant.

He still had to go borrow from a loan shark!

"Merlin is really terrified I'll become a fish slipping into the sea. Using bloodline transplantation as a restriction isn't enough—he even wants me in debt!"

"But what's so hard about solving that? It's just losing another layer of face."

Ahab smacked his lips.

Night.

In a high-end room with glass windows and a luxurious bed.

Instructor Gray, feeling that his future was bright, was standing before the window, looking at the Blood Moon.

"Three days from now, if Ahab Gul succeeds in demon hunting, he'll count as a Demon Hunter Wizard."

"Then I'll directly receive Academy contributions equal to ten times what I'd get for training an ordinary apprentice, and it'll be credited immediately!"

"On top of that, my teacher promised to give me one chance to advance to official wizard within three years."

"Then I'll have two chances to advance!"

Gray clenched his left fist and slammed it hard into his right palm, looking completely confident.

He secretly decided that over the next few days, he absolutely had to keep his mind pure and his desires restrained, without wasting a single drop of oil.

"And, if there's a chance..."

"I can also try to snatch that book in Ahab's hands, the one about the Void Cultists' cultivation method!"

Gray actually yearned very much for the Void Cultists' authority of "See Through."

A Third-Rank Apprentice who mastered "See Through" could kill a Second-Rank Apprentice above his level.

If, in the future, he advanced to official wizard and also mastered the authority of "See Through"...

Though he would not dare say he could challenge a Second-Circle Wizard—

He would be outright invincible among First-Circle official wizards!

"I really envy that brat Ahab Gul. Something as good as 'See Through' clearly ought to be used by me..."

Gray gave the glass window a sinister smile.

However, on the glass window, Gray's reflection did not smile. Instead, its lips moved meaningfully:

"If you want so badly to become a subordinate of our kind, then I'll come help you~"

"What is that?!"

Gray understood the lip movements of his own reflection on the glass.

Before he could do anything, Gray's reflection on the glass raised its right hand and touched its own left eye.

Gray uncontrollably followed along, also raising his right hand to touch his left eye.

The pitch-black pupil of his left eye changed, beginning to turn a prismatic color.

"Damn it, damn it, what's going on?!"

Gray wanted to cry out for help, his expression filled with utter terror.

But very soon, his expression was forcibly synchronized with the reflection on the glass again.

"Wah, wah..."

At that moment, Gray suddenly heard the sound of a baby crying.

Then he saw the bright full moon in his vision change.

It became a crimson blood moon!

On the glass, Gray's reflection looked warily up at an angle.

Then that abnormal reflection twisted for a moment and vanished.

Only a normal reflection remained in the glass.

"Uh, uh! Help me! Somebody save me!"

But Gray's condition did not improve at all. He clutched his head in agony, as if parasites were churning around inside it.

About half a minute later, Gray quieted down, and the pupil of his left eye had completely turned scarlet.

The bright moonlight in the sky remained as pure as ever.

But Gray was kneeling on the ground, kowtowing toward the moon with repeated thuds.

"I obey. I absolutely obey..."

The Academy's West District, activity hall.

It was another beautiful morning. Ahab got up early and arrived before another large single-story building not far from the dormitory.

The activity hall was exactly what its name implied: after the Academy was built, it had been rented out specifically for apprentices to use.

Ahab wanted to find a loan here to buy the potion for bloodline transplantation.

Compared with the Academy-operated General Affairs Hall, this place was clearly much larger, a stone-built courtyard comparable to two or three football fields, with countless small rooms inside.

Third-Rank Apprentices consumed few resources, and basically relied on various subsidies and part-time work.

First-rank apprentices could guide new apprentices and also assist official wizards, taking part in all sorts of experiments.

As for second-rank apprentices, they relied more on their own schemes and maneuvering to obtain resources.

Because of that, most second-rank apprentices banded together and founded student organizations, things like the Library Management Association and the Nocturnal Biological Behavior Research Society.

The organization Ahab was looking for today was called the "Newcomer Mutual Aid Society."

Put simply, it specialized in loan sharking.

And this time, Ahab's choice was the complete opposite of when he had bought materials last time.

Compared with the consistently good reputation of the Academy's General Affairs Hall, this mutual aid society formed by apprentices could be described as—

Drowning in "good" reviews!

Almost every month or two, there would be cases of indebted apprentices mysteriously disappearing.

Occasionally, there would also be cases of second-rank apprentices collecting debts mysteriously disappearing.

In short, in one sentence, there were so many cases involving the "Newcomer Mutual Aid Society" that even the law enforcement team could not be bothered to deal with them.

This was exactly why Ahab had chosen to come to the mutual aid society to borrow Magic Stones.

If the demon hunt failed, he would have no life left to repay the money.

If the demon hunt succeeded, he would also obtain Vivian's authority of "See Through"—

Either way, there was only one conclusion: repaying the money was impossible!

"I want to borrow Magic Stones."

Ahab walked into the courtyard, found the house rented by the "Newcomer Mutual Aid Society," and pushed the door open.

The room was dim and gloomy, looking as shady as could be.

In an area of just over ten square meters, four tables had been pushed together, covered with all kinds of papers filled with writing.

Seven or eight apprentices were bent over them, busy with something.

Judging by the metal badges on their chests, all of them were second-rank apprentices.

Seeing that no one paid him any attention, Ahab called out again.

"I'm looking for your Newcomer Mutual Aid Society to borrow Magic Stones!"

Ahab deliberately used a defiant, unruly tone.

Those who could issue loans were, of course, no good people. Ahab was increasing his chances of successfully getting a loan.

Imagine people who were already domineering in daily life encountering a brat who looked like he had no idea how high the sky was or how deep the earth went, coming to borrow money without fear of anything.

What would they do? Of course they had to lend it to him, then wait until he could not pay it back before teaching him a harsh lesson.