"As a publicly funded student, your academic performance must be outstanding, right?" At the start of the interview, Ms. Pulitzer offered the young publicly funded student a small compliment before pressing on:
"I heard that you received the highest score in last semester's Talisman Class placement test and reproduced all the Basic Talismans from memory. That is something most Registered Wizards cannot accomplish... Could you tell everyone where you learned this talisman knowledge?"
Zheng Qing gave the female reporter a wary look before slowly answering vaguely, "I learned from my teacher..."
"But as far as I know, before entering First University, you had no record of attending any secondary school." As if to strengthen her case, Ms. Pulitzer immediately pulled a thick stack of documents from her handbag and pushed it in front of Zheng Qing. "This contains the list of all registered secondary schools in the Magic World, including Hogwarts, Genius Youth, Changdian Shangji, and White Deer Academy. Your name does not appear on the list of secondary school graduates from 2008..."
Zheng Qing swallowed again.
Were reporters these days all this dedicated? This was only an investigation into a minor incident in the Silent Forest. Did she really need to dig up information on eighteen generations of his ancestors?
"That information should all be school secrets, shouldn't it?" He glanced at the stack of documents and tried to make his voice sound friendlier. "Does taking it out like this comply with the relevant regulations?"
"I am a woman of principle," Ms. Pulitzer answered concisely.
The little silver bell hanging from the archway began ringing wildly.
Zheng Qing glanced at the little bell, then looked again at the reporter across from him and gave a dry laugh.
A faint flush appeared on Ms. Pulitzer's face, but her expression did