The next morning.
Rear garden of the academy, Dormitory 403.
As Xiao Xiao and Zheng Qing discussed the wizard who had anonymously posted the task on the Notice Board, the young publicly funded student was unwittingly reminded of what he had experienced the previous night, stirring those complicated feelings within him once more.
"What a heartless spendthrift!"
The You Zui Hunting Team's diviner's assessment of the task poster interrupted Zheng Qing's recollection. His consciousness broke through the haze and returned to reality, as though the aperture on an out-of-focus camera had been adjusted. Everything became clearer and more sharply defined, until at last every line composing the world stood out with exceptional clarity.
"...How about I transfer this task to you?" The young publicly funded student looked at his diviner ingratiatingly.
The short wizard adjusted his glasses and eyed him suspiciously. "You're willing to give up this chance to make money? How much are you offering?"
"Twenty Gold Beans!" Zheng Qing gave a precise number without hesitation.
"Heh."
Doctor sneered repeatedly. "If I remember correctly, you just said, 'For this homework, they're willing to pay twenty Gold Beans'... If you give all twenty Gold Beans to me, that means you won't earn a single Copper Coin from the whole thing... Do you think I'd believe a deal like that?"
"We're brothers. You have to believe me. Twenty Gold Beans, not one less!" The young publicly funded student thumped his chest, speaking with absolute conviction.
As if to make himself more convincing, he immediately pulled two jade coins from his Gray Cloth Bag and slapped them down in front of Xiao Xiao.
"I'd believe you only if ghosts existed."
The diviner curled his lip, but his gaze found it difficult to leave the misty green gleam of those two jade coins—he