"Who is 'the World'? Whose world is it? Who will save the world?!"
"The beginning of The Wand's fall—an eighteen-year-old wizard included in the Great Arcana sequence!"
"The many shady secrets behind the Arcana selection!"
"Faced with questions, The Wand had remained silent!"
"First University's Professor Joint Conference spokesperson: No comment!"
"Grand Wizard Council spokesperson: We will not comment on the list released by the three institutions!"
"Under the Moon Council spokesperson: Cast aside prejudice, unite for mutual success!"
"Unveiling the mysterious owner of the 2009 Great Arcana 'World'!"
"Zheng Qing's new title!"
"Forced from his post, Professor Trude vowed to fight to the end!"
Smack!
Fatty Xin heavily dropped a thick stack of newspapers, magazines, and internally circulated reference briefs onto the desk, startling Zheng Qing, who had just dozed at the table for a few minutes, into jumping up.
"Are you having a fit?" The young publicly funded student rubbed his eyes and shouted, "Can't you see someone's sleeping? Do you have any public decency at all..."
Because Mr. Octopus had put him on the blacklist, Zheng Qing would be unable to enter the library to review his lessons from now until the end of the semester. And because The Wand had released the "Arcana" list last night, pushing the young publicly funded student into the eye of the storm, Zheng Qing knew what he ought to do with only a little thought; Dr. Xiao did not even need to burn a tortoise shell.
Fortunately, it was already Friday. Neither morning alchemy nor afternoon practical class required Zheng Qing to be present in the classroom.
So he asked Xiao Xiao to request leave for him and planned to hole up in the dorm for three days, lying low and avoiding trouble. Out of sight, out of mind—then