Second Friday night.
At the Seven Sins gathering, the sa seven animals appeared, though this ti they cautiously heeded the Sin Bearer’s previous advice and wore their masks again.
The Black Cat crouched in the center of the conference table, reviewing the Devils’ task progress.
It must be admitted that these Devils were incredibly efficient.
Just a week later, more than half of the seven tasks decided at the last eting had been completed—Zheng Qing’s complete schedule, daily tracking records of Zheng Qing, profiles obtained through Zheng Qing’s friends, information concerning Zheng Qing purchased from the Wandering Bar, and the interpersonal relationships and capabilities profile of Zheng Qing, amongst other things. The content was comprehensive, detailed, and as thick as a stack of paper, making the Black Cat’s back shiver and its paws tingle, noting details it hadn’t even noticed itself.
For example, his habit of walking on the left side, a habit he developed growing up in the Common People’s World, where there were no such rules in the Wizard World, so this little "quirk" of his was ticulously noted by the Devils.
Also, his casual relationships with most of his classmates, only being familiar with a few Wizards in his small circle. Of course, this wasn’t a terrible thing. Aloofness and indifference were the norms for most Wizards, especially in an environnt like Jiuyou Academy, where extensive socializing would make one seem like an oddity.
Then there was his status as the Absolution Hunting Team Leader, which, in the eyes of the observers, seed more honorary.
"I’ve stationed people at the Hunting Committee, Student Council, and Club Union offices to observe, yet every ti, it’s either Xiao Xiao or Zhang Ji Xin representing the Absolution Hunting Team at etings," said the Red Fox with the Fox Mask, lying carelessly on a high-back chair with a tone full of irritation, "... I even checked all the application materials for the Absolution Hunting Team specifically, and without exception, it was all filled out or written by that Diviner nad Xiao Xiao. Zheng Qing rarely even signs them."
"Unbelievable."
The Persian Cat on the table gracefully shook its head, the voice clear and lodious, "Such a Hunting Team Leader is entirely unqualified. If a team leader of a hunting team isn’t aware of the mber’s training status and internal dynamics, then the team will be very dangerous once entering the Hunting Ground..."
"But this very dangerous hunting team broke into the Academy Cup finals last year." The Black Cat felt it needed to slightly clarify its position, coughed lightly, and tactfully interrupted the Persian Cat, "Maybe in the Absolution Hunting Team, Zheng Qing serves as a kind of ’spiritual totem,’ his presence is quite beneficial in consolidating the team’s combat effectiveness."
"Can’t deny this possibility."
Lucifer spread wide bat wings, stirred a small restless whirlwind, and the deep voice issued from the voice device under its chin, "But compared to these useless speculations, I’m more concerned with what Mammon just said... aren’t you worried others might trace your true identity through the clues provided by your exposed tasks?"
The last rhetorical question was directed at the Red Fox seated at the side.
The Red Fox flicked its tail, letting out a short, sharp laugh.
"The folded tiline is our strongest Guardian," it lifted a paw, smoothing the whiskers beside its mouth, remaining calm and composed, "Details of what has already happened are hidden in every nook of the past, even the best Diviner could hardly find and piece together all the scattered fragnts to reveal the full truth... Hence, I’m not worried at all about you investigating what I’ve done before... On the contrary, any attempts you make might fall within my observation."
It proudly shook its tail, paused for a mont, then added, "Of course, if anyone can employ a Legendary Wizard to twist the tiline and investigate on-site, I’ll humbly accept defeat. After all, we are just a small secret society."
aning, from any angle, the Seven Sins don’t rise to the level of alarming a Legendary Wizard.
The other animals at the conference table seed thoughtful, finding Mammon’s analysis quite reasonable.
Only Lucifer sneered a few tis.
"If you had paid attention to Zheng Qing’s schedule this sester, you might not be so confident." The Bat Spirit folded its wings as if wrapping a broad robe tighter, and with this movent, its voice grew even deeper, "The schedule shows Zheng Qing has nearly five classes every day this sester, two each morning and afternoon, with overlapping class tis... Do you know what this ans?"
Mammon’s happily wagging tail froze in mid-air for a few seconds.
Then it suddenly jumped up from the seat as if its tail had been scorched, leaping in front of the Black Cat to flip through the detailed schedule of the target person.
The Black Cat cautiously took a step back, saying nothing.
Instead, the macaw-like Peacock in gold and red clicked its beak with so curiosity, "Two classes in one morning? Is each class three hours long? I seem to have heard of such a schedule..."
"Using a Ti Converter to attend two classes at the sa ti." The sleek-furred Black Mountain Goat chuckled, bowing its head, "A very, very rare Magical Tool. But every year, a few students are permitted to use it by the school. I heard Zheng Qing plans to graduate early, and it seems the rumor is true."
"I don’t quite understand."
Beelzebub, always buried in the snack pile, lifted its head, flickering large ears above a white face with black patches full of confusion, "What does Zheng Qing using a Ti Converter have to do with Mammon? Lucifer ntioned the risk was ’our people might investigate Mammon’s identity based on task situations,’ and Mammon believed ’only reversing ti would pose no additional risk from completed tasks’... What’s the connection here with Zheng Qing using a Ti Converter?"
"The relationship is, in this world, there are ways to reverse ti not requiring a Legendary Wizard. That schedule is the evidence." The Persian Cat explained in a brisk tone.
"But as far as I know, the conditions to apply for using a Ti Converter are very stringent, and it’s strictly monitored. No one here, I an, none of us, should have that capability." Beelzebub’s suspicious glance swept over each animal, finally stopping at the Red Fox, "So why are you so agitated?"
Mammon heaved a long sigh.
"Finally, I understand."
It shook the schedule, then stamped on another stack of materials beneath its feet, with a tone slightly invigorated, "My tracking records here have many temporal gaps and inconsistencies... Like Zheng Qing’s morning class is on the sixth floor east side, yet he left the building from the second-floor west side stairs. I always thought he used an Invisibility Talisman to confuse our sight, but now, it’s much simpler than I imagined... I’ve been thinking there was a traitor within the Seven Sins, which made him so vigilant!"
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