The side of the newspaper facing Zheng Qing showed half of a merfolk's savage face. In the light cast down from the ceiling, the gill flaps beneath its jaw could be seen faintly opening and closing. Its dull eyes radiated a vicious air, making it exceptionally striking.
Beneath the photograph was a line of large, bold print—Blood Kin Society Introduces New Plan: What Signal Does It Reveal?
Intrigued, the young publicly funded student stepped forward and pulled out the paper. As expected, it was the latest issue of the Beta Town Post.
Fatty Xin, who had been draped over the railing, laboriously turned his head to see who had taken his newspaper.
"Oh, Brother Scum's here?" he greeted him amiably.
Zheng Qing was now able to calmly "accept" that nickname. Naturally, though, he still gave the fat wizard a habitual kick, leaving half a clear footprint on his enormous backside.
He then folded the newspaper over, covering the merfolk's savage face before continuing to read in peace:
"...On September 11, Mike King Ceplano, the Blood Kin Society's New Augustus, officially signed the 'Anti-Merfolk Oppression Plan,' prohibiting society members from conducting any transactions with the Merfolk Tribe of Linzhong Lake unless the trader could prove that the merfolk providing the goods had received fair treatment within the academy. Any society member found violating this plan would face punishments including warnings, demerits, removal from society posts, or even expulsion."
"The plan's exception clause stated that '(traders) must possess clear and convincing evidence proving that merfolk supplying magic materials, alchemical products, and other goods in the broadest sense are treated fairly, justly, and reasonably within their tribe, at Linzhong Lake, and within Jiuyou Academy'... The plan also required traders to submit relevant reports: 'Traders should submit a report to the Blood Kin Society's