"Where did the news come from?"
"From Trident Sword... Well, more precisely, the school notified Trident Sword."
"What did they say?"
"One of the school's hunting teams discovered a new Illegal Laboratory somewhere in the Silent Forest, connected to the Crow Mask." Zheng Qing briefly relayed the intelligence he had just received to his companions. Noticing Dylan's hesitant expression, he raised a hand in a calming gesture and added, "...Not vague intelligence like what we received. The school's information is very reliable. Investigators have confirmed that wizards wearing Crow Masks have been entering and leaving that laboratory over the past few days."
That last sentence made the companions' eyes light up.
It seemed that, in an instant, the atmosphere of this wasteland had become much friendlier. Even the blazing sun overhead appeared warm and welcoming.
Rumble, rumble.
A huge blue figure appeared at the far end of the wasteland, charging toward them like a small mountain. Its heavy footsteps made the ground hum, while scattered pebbles bounced and rattled. Yet as it drew closer, the figure grew smaller, until, when it reached them, it was no different from an ordinary person.
"All done?"
Fatty Xin held a wide-mouthed glass jar in his arms. It was packed with plump Peruvian Red Scorpions, their huge pincers waving as they crowded together in writhing clumps. Even through the glass, Zheng Qing seemed able to hear their faint rustling.
"Quite a haul." The Vampire Werewolf drifted to the Fat Wizard's side like a wisp of smoke, craning his head to peer into the jar. "How are you planning to eat them?"
"Deep-frying is naturally best, but you can't fry too many, because then you'd eat them too fast. I'm leaning toward frying one-third, charcoal-grilling one-third, and soaking the remaining third in liquor... Soak them