Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei's War Journey

Chapter 112 Searching for Lu Mingfei (8400 views, please vote!)

The sun was already beginning to set behind the Kassel College.

Caesar Gattuso was jolted awake from a semi-conscious state to find himself still on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, though the engine was long since off.

He was breathing heavily as he looked around. Everything around him was so quiet. There was no sound of machine guns, no sound of artillery fire, and no sound of airplane engines. The silence was almost unreal.

He quickly looked down at his hands.

Those were a pair of hands that could be described as perfect: long and fair, with distinct knuckles, neatly trimmed nails, smooth skin, without the thick calluses from holding the joystick and pulling the trigger for a long time, without the hard-to-wash machine oil and gunpowder stains, and without the dark red marks left by frostbite.

These hands belong to a pampered heir of a top-tier wealthy family who received the most elite education and whose gym equipment was even wiped and disinfected in advance.

He wasn't wearing that sweat-soaked and oil-covered flight jacket, but rather a well-tailored casual outfit made of expensive fabric.

He really did come back, back to Kassel College, back to his identity as student council president and heir to the Gattuso family.

But he felt he still hadn't recovered from that war; his consciousness was still stuck in that air battle, still in that feeling of physical and mental exhaustion.

Just then, he felt a strange sensation on his neck.

Caesar paused for a moment, then looked down at his chest.

A medal was prominently displayed there.

The deep blue enamel base shimmers with a profound luster even in dim light. The Maltese cross, crafted from pure gold, is magnificent, and the royal blue enamel inlaid around the edges is as azure as the sky.

That's the Blue Max Medal.

The highest military honor of the Prussian Empire, the Order of Merit.

It should have disappeared with the end of that world, like a dream, but it actually crossed the barriers of time and space, followed him back here, and hung around his neck.

Caesar stared blankly at the medal. In an instant, memories of the muddy charge outside Verdun's Dumont Castle, the endless shelling on the Mountain of the Dead, and the struggle with death over the Somme all flooded his mind. It was not a dream.

Those more than a year of hellish fighting were all real.

This medal is the most irrefutable evidence; it carries honor, and even more so, it carries that indelible experience.

As if in response to his gaze, a panel soon appeared on the Blue Max Medal.

Blue Max Medal

(The only one bound)

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Special Skill: Guardian of Glory (Passive/Active)

[Passive Effect: The medal holder gains extremely strong danger intuition and mental resistance, and has a high immunity to malice, curses, and mind control abilities.]

[Active Effect: Invincible Defense. Can be actively activated once every 72 hours, or passively triggered when suffering an absolutely fatal attack, forming an absolute, rule-based defense that completely negates all damage from that attack. The passive effect remains active during the cooldown period.]

[Note: This is the highest honor forged in blood and fire, and a symbol of friendship. When you wear it, please remember that you are not alone. You can always trust that there is a comrade-in-arms who will protect you from death.]

Is this medal and the skill on it the reward Lu Mingfei once mentioned for completing the mission?

Invincible defense? Withstanding fatal attacks?

Even with the Gattuso family's resources and Caesar's understanding of the power of the hybrid world, such absolute defense, which is almost at the level of rules, is unheard of.

"Lu Mingfei—" Caesar murmured the name, a complex smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

That seemingly ordinary Eastern boy, who harbored the spirit of a lion and a storm within, gave him this highest honor, and now this glory and friendship have reappeared by his side in this form.

What about Lu Mingfei himself? Has he returned? How is he?

Almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Caesar twisted the throttle of the Harley, and the engine roared with a deep, powerful sound, breaking the silence of the back hill.

He needed to confirm immediately whether Lu Mingfei had returned safely, and then find him.

Caesar was driving his Harley when he started making a phone call to his secretary, Percy.

The phone was answered almost immediately after it rang once, and a young male voice, perpetually calm, respectful, and devoid of any personal emotion, came from the other end.

"Young master, what are your orders?"

"Percy, now, immediately mobilize my private jet that's on standby at Chicago Airport and apply for an emergency flight directly to Binhai City in Xia State. I need to get there as quickly as possible," Caesar ordered without hesitation.

Without the slightest pause or question, Percy on the other end of the phone replied, "Understood, young master. The flight application and ground coordination procedures have been initiated simultaneously. The plane can take off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport in as little as 45 minutes, flying directly to Binhai International Airport. The estimated arrival time is approximately 14 hours later. Should we notify Binhai in advance to arrange pick-up and itinerary?"

Fourteen hours—crossing the Pacific Ocean, which is the maximum speed a private plane can achieve, but Caesar still felt it was too long; he needed more immediate information.

"You're in charge of the airport pickup arrangements. Also, Percy, immediately utilize the family's intelligence network and resources in Xia Country to conduct a full investigation into a student named Lu Mingfei at Shilan Middle School in Binhai City. I need to know all his detailed movements in the last 24 hours, no, 48 hours: places he's been, people he's contacted, communication records, spending habits—anything unusual, even the smallest detail, I need to know."

"Focus on investigating whether he has encountered any trouble, danger, or exhibited any unusual behavior or health problems. Grant him the highest level of access control. I don't care what methods I use, but it has to be fast and absolutely confidential."

"Understood, young master. The investigation order has been issued, highest priority, activated across the entire network. Relevant intelligence will be compiled and transmitted to you immediately." Percy's voice remained calm, but Caesar knew that behind this simple "understanding" lay the fact that the Gattuso family's vast and secretive machine had begun to operate at high speed.

"Additionally, do you need to report your itinerary to the family elders' council or the Kassel College administration? According to the agreement, your international travel, especially to sensitive areas, requires—"

"No need," Caesar said decisively.

"This is my private matter and has nothing to do with my family or the academy. If they ask, just say that I have an important private social event to attend to and my return date is uncertain. You are responsible for handling all inquiries."

"Yes, sir. I will handle it properly." Percy did not ask any further questions.

After hanging up the phone, the Harley had already driven out of the back mountain area and was speeding along the wide and scenic tree-lined avenues inside the Kassel College.

Instead of returning to the luxurious student council president's dormitory, he turned around and headed towards the small private airport in the northwest corner of the college, where a helicopter was always at his disposal to get him to Chicago's O'Hare Airport as quickly as possible.

The engine roared, the evening breeze whipped his long golden hair, and on both sides of the road stood the iconic, magnificent buildings of Kassel College, a blend of Gothic and modern styles, with students occasionally strolling by in twos and threes.

They were dressed in stylish or elegant casual clothes, chatting with each other about the evening's party, the classes they had just finished, or the latest handbags and watches. The girls had exquisite makeup, and the boys had fashionable hairstyles, all exuding a sense of superiority from the elite class.

This scene was once familiar to Caesar, who was the king here, the focus of everyone's attention, and the top player in this game.

But at this moment, looking at all this, Caesar felt an unprecedented sense of alienation and boredom.

These images intertwined with his memories of the muddy trenches, the acrid smell of gunpowder, the sound of airplane engines, and the dirty but sincere faces of his comrades, causing a throbbing pain in his temples. He felt out of place in this magnificent school.

He had always thought that Kassel was a military academy, a frontline fortress for hybrids to fight against dragons. It had rigorous physical training, tactical courses, high-risk incantation practice, and even executive officers who traveled the world to handle dragon-related incidents. Bloodshed and sacrifice were not uncommon.

He was proud of it and strived to do his best within that framework, becoming a leader in the student council and a standout among his peers.

But now, after experiencing Verdun and the Somme, he finally understands the essential difference between them.

Kassel has never trained real soldiers.

Real soldiers don't discuss last night's party in the warmth of their barracks, they don't hold grudges over a failed combat exercise, and they don't place so-called class and bloodline above the lives of their comrades.

The real battlefield is a muddy trench, an air filled with the stench of blood, gunpowder, and corpses, the whistling of artillery shells that could tear you to shreds at any moment, and the bone-deep fear and numbness of machine gun bullets hitting breastwork and blowing your head off.

It means entrusting your back to that trusted comrade without reservation.

It's the resolute determination to buy a few seconds for the brothers behind them to reload, even knowing that rushing out means certain death.

It is like Lu Mingfei, who silently shoulders the most dangerous missions, giving up the chance to survive and the highest honor to his comrades, and turning around to walk into hell.

The students here, including himself in the past, are more like playing a meticulously designed, risk-controlled large-scale pretend play game.

They learn the techniques of killing, but may not truly understand the weight of taking a life. They talk about the greatness of sacrifice, but have never truly experienced the resolute determination to do what is impossible, to willingly step into a desperate situation for something more important.

Their arrogance is built upon their innate dragon bloodline, the wealth and power accumulated by their families, and the halo bestowed upon them by the prestigious name of Kassel.

Rather than crawling out alone from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, forging a resilient backbone little by little with the blood of the enemy and their own scars.

If the dragons truly awaken fully, and if the war escalates to an unimaginably brutal degree, how many of these so-called elites will survive?

Harley braked sharply and came to a steady stop at the edge of the private helipad. A black helicopter painted with the Gattuso family crest had already started up, its rotors beginning to spin rapidly, stirring up strong air currents.

Beside the gangway, a student council member stood waiting.

"Chairman!" Upon seeing Caesar rushing over, the cadre immediately stepped forward, seemingly wanting to report something or ask for instructions.

But Caesar didn't even glance at him. He nimbly flipped off the car, casually tossed the Harley keys to him, and strode up the helicopter's gangway, leaving behind only a brief order: "O'Hare Airport, top speed."

"Yes, sir!" The pilot didn't dare to delay and immediately pulled the control stick.

The helicopter quickly took off.

As Caesar's helicopter flew toward Chicago, the main campus of Kassel College was bustling with activity in the evening.

At 5 p.m., the classes were basically over, and students poured out of the various teaching buildings and training grounds, chatting and laughing, and walked toward the magnificent dining hall, discussing with each other what to eat next.

It's a relatively quiet corner on the second floor of the restaurant, a seat by the window.

Susie and Nono sat together, their plates laden with exquisite food, but neither of them seemed to have much of an appetite.

Nono rested her chin on one hand, while casually poking at the broccoli on her plate with a fork in the other. Her long red hair shone like a burning flame under the soft lights of the restaurant, but her face was somewhat gloomy, and her brows were slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that she was preoccupied.

Susie took a bite of pasta, glanced at her friend, and asked softly, "Is there still no progress with Norma?"

Nono snapped out of her reverie, sighed, shook her head, and said, "No, there's just too much information. It takes time to filter it."

Upon returning to Kassel College, they began investigating Lu Mingfei's whereabouts through the college's artificial intelligence, Norma. However, the world's most powerful artificial intelligence has yet to find any clues.

"Xia is such a big country, and Lu Mingfei must have at least several million. It's normal that it will take some time. Don't worry, Norma will definitely find a clue," Susie comforted her.

"I hope so—" Nono sighed again.

Just then, a figure walked over and sat down in the empty seat next to them.

It's Chu Zihang.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "You guys... seem to be looking for someone lately? Someone named Lu Mingfei?"

Susie and Nono were both startled and exchanged a surprised look.

Chu Zihang knew? How did he know? Although their search for Lu Mingfei was done through Norma, it should have been a private inquiry. How could Chu Zihang have noticed?

Nono quickly adjusted her expression and tentatively asked, "Chu Zihang? How did you know? We are indeed looking for someone, but—"

Chu Zihang raised his eyes, calmly looked at Nuonuo, then glanced at Su Xi, his tone still flat: "You overheard this by chance when you were unconscious in the hospital."

Although he appears to be an aloof and handsome man, he is actually quite gossipy at heart. He saw Susie and Nuonuo looking for someone named Lu Mingfei, and although he knew that it might not be the same person he knew, he still couldn't help but gossip.

"I do know someone named Lu Mingfei, but he might not be the one you're looking for—"

"You know him?!" Nono almost stood up from her seat, her voice rising unconsciously, attracting the attention of several people at nearby tables. She quickly lowered her voice, leaned forward, and asked eagerly.

"Where? When? What does he look like? How old is he?"

Susie also stared intently at Chu Zihang, anticipating his next answer.

Chu Zihang seemed to pause slightly at Nuonuo's sudden excitement, but he quickly regained his composure and said slowly, "He is from my hometown, Binhai City. He is my junior from my high school, Shilan Middle School, one year below me."

"What kind of person is he?" Nono continued to ask.

Chu Zihang recalled for a moment, then described in his somewhat emotionless tone: "Very ordinary, probably eighteen years old, good-looking, about 1.75 meters tall, black hair, below-average grades, average athletic ability, personality—"

Somewhat weak, unremarkable, and with a low profile in class, he seemed to be the most typical type—an ordinary high school student with no particular distinguishing features.

He actually meant to say "somewhat unlucky," but felt that wasn't a good way to put it, so he changed it to "not very noticeable."

Hearing these descriptions, Nono became somewhat excited, as they were all so similar to the Lu Mingfei she knew.

"Do you have his contact information?!" Nono asked quickly.

"No, I knew him because I also studied at Shilan Middle School, but we didn't have much interaction." Chu Zihang shook his head.

However, seeing Nono's anxious expression, he added, "If needed, I can contact Shilan Secondary School and have them take a picture."

This was already considered unconventional for him; he rarely took the initiative to get involved in other people's affairs, and even less so to offer such specific help that might involve using past favors.

"Thank you so much! Could you contact me now?!" Nono practically jumped up from her seat, bracing herself on the edge of the table, leaning forward, her voice brimming with urgency.

"Now! Right now! Please!"

Seeing Nuonuo's anxious and somewhat out-of-control appearance, even Chu Zihang couldn't help but be surprised. What kind of person could make Chen Motong, the most unconventional freshman at Kassel College, so out of control and so reckless?

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply nodded slightly to indicate that he understood, and then he took out his phone.

His fingertips slid across the contacts list slowly, as if he were carefully selecting them.

He knew very few people at Shilan Middle School and could talk to them. Most of his classmates from the same grade or higher had already graduated and scattered to different places. Finally, his finger stopped on a name: Liu Miaomiao.

Liu Miaomiao, a year below him, is one of the most popular figures at Shilan Middle School. She comes from a wealthy family, is beautiful, and has outstanding piano skills. She is a regular at various school cultural and artistic activities.

Chu Zihang got to know her simply because at the school anniversary gala of Shilan Middle School one year, his homeroom teacher arranged for him to collaborate with Liu Miaomiao on a piano and violin duet. They rehearsed a few times, and that was all.

After the performance, out of basic courtesy, the two exchanged contact information, but never contacted each other privately.

More importantly, Chu Zihang vaguely remembered that Liu Miaomiao and Lu Mingfei seemed to be classmates.

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Zihang pressed the dial button. Since he had decided to help, there was no need to hesitate any longer.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. A woman's voice came through the other end, initially hesitant, but then filled with disbelief and surprise.

"Chu—Senior Brother Chu?! Is it really you? You actually—you actually called me?!"

On the other end of the phone, Liu Miaomiao's voice was filled with unbelievable surprise, and even trembled slightly.

Chu Zihang was a legendary figure at Shilan High School. He graduated with a bang, sweeping all the awards and honors, and then disappeared from everyone's sight like a shooting star, leaving behind countless legends. His sudden phone call was a huge surprise and unexpected joy for Liu Miaomiao.

"Hello, Liu Miaomiao. I apologize for bothering you, but I have a favor to ask you." Chu Zihang skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Oh? Senior Brother Chu, please tell me! I will do my best as long as it is within my power!" Liu Miaomiao replied immediately, her tone full of flattery and eagerness to help. Being able to help Chu Zihang was an honor for her.

Chu Zihang raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Nuonuo and Su Xi, who were staring intently at him, seemingly holding their breath, and spoke clearly into the microphone.

"I'd like to know about the recent situation of a student in your class named Lu Mingfei. Ideally, you could send me a recent, clear, front-facing photo of him."

"Lu Mingfei?" On the other end of the phone, Liu Miaomiao's voice clearly froze for a moment, as if she hadn't expected Chu Zihang to ask about this person, her tone carrying a hint of confusion and complexity.

"Senior Brother Chu, why are you asking him? He—he's been acting a bit strange lately."

"Strange? What exactly do you mean?" Chu Zihang pressed, while giving Nuonuo a knowing look.

Nono's heart pounded even harder.

Liu Miaomiao seemed to hesitate for a moment, then lowered her voice, as if sharing some gossip: "It's like—he's completely changed. Before, he always walked with his head down, spoke timidly, and had almost no presence in class, like a nobody. But these past few days—he suddenly straightened his back, his walking posture changed, and his eyes became—how should I put it, quite frightening. And he doesn't really talk to people anymore. When you talk to him, sometimes he acts like he doesn't hear you, sometimes he just glances at you without replying."

She paused, then continued, "And there's something even stranger. A while ago, on a sweltering day, he actually came to class wearing a very thick down jacket, wrapping himself up tightly, which startled the teachers and classmates. Anyway—it was very, very strange, and everyone was talking about it in private."

Nono's breath hitched. A straight back? Cold eyes? Quiet demeanor? Wearing thick clothes in the sweltering heat? These unusual behaviors—they didn't sound like those of an ordinary high school student.

Instead, it seemed more like a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder, or a sequela left after experiencing an extreme environment, which vaguely matched the situation she had imagined Lu Mingfei might face.

Liu Miaomiao continued, her voice tinged with uncertain speculation: "And I also heard that—he got into a fight outside, it was quite a big commotion, he was even arrested, but somehow he was released later. A classmate also saw him near a high-end club in the city center at night—oh right, and it seems someone also saw him go to the hospital, to the psychiatric ward?"

Liu Miaomiao spoke the last three words very softly, as if it were something difficult to say.

Fighting? Arrested? Club? Psychiatric ward?!

Every word was like a cold awl, piercing Nuonuo's heart!

She felt a chill instantly spread from the soles of her feet throughout her body. Lu Mingfei had not only returned to this era, but his situation seemed to be several times worse than she had imagined. What had he gone through? What trouble had he encountered?

Nuonuo's lips trembled slightly. She was more than 90% certain that Lu Mingfei, whom Chu Zihang had mentioned, was the person she was looking for.

"Photos! Can we take them now?!" Nono couldn't hold back any longer and urged in a low voice. She was eager to know Lu Mingfei's current situation.

Chu Zihang nodded to Nuonuo and continued speaking into the phone, "Liu Miaomiao, could you please go to the classroom now and secretly take a picture of Lu Mingfei's face and send it to me? This is very important to me—and to my friend."

"Now?" Liu Miaomiao's voice sounded somewhat hesitant.

"Senior Brother Chu, it's not that I'm unwilling to help—it's like this, just now when the bell rang for the end of get out of class, Lu Mingfei suddenly—fell to the ground, making a very strange movement, like—like he was hiding from something, which terrified all the students around him. Everyone is now staying outside the classroom, too scared to go in. The teacher has also gone to check on him. If I go in to take pictures at this time—wouldn't that be too obvious? And—"

She paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Senior Brother Chu, why are you suddenly so interested in him? Has he—gotten into some big trouble again?"

In her opinion, it was probably not a good thing that a problem student like Lu Mingfei could get Chu Zihang, a legendary senior who had already graduated and was far away in the United States, to personally intervene.

"It's not a problem." Chu Zihang's voice carried a rare hint of reassurance. Although it was still calm, it was enough to put Liu Miaomiao at ease.

"It's a very important friend of his who is very worried about him and wants to make sure he's okay. Please help, and please make sure the photos are as clear as possible."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Consider this a favor I owe you."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, a few seconds that felt like centuries to Nono.

"Alright, Senior Brother Chu." Liu Miaomiao finally agreed, after all, Chu Zihang's favor carried considerable weight in Shilan Middle School.

"I'll try my best, but there are people gathered outside the classroom right now, and Lu Mingfei himself is acting strangely, so I can't guarantee that I'll be able to get a really clear shot of his face. I—I'll try to find an opportunity."

"Thank you," Chu Zihang said briefly, then hung up the phone.

He gently placed his phone on the table, screen up, so he could receive messages at any time. He didn't say anything more, just waited quietly. He didn't ask any questions, but judging from the strong emotions that Nono suddenly displayed and their previous persistence in searching for Lu Mingfei, there were many secrets hidden behind this.

Nono, standing next to her, was so nervous that she was trembling all over. Susie gently held her hand and found that her fingertips were icy cold.

"Could it be him?" Susie asked in a low voice.

"It must be him," Nono said with certainty.

Time passed second by second, each second feeling exceptionally long. Nuonuo's gaze was fixed on Chu Zihang's phone screen, as if she wanted to make it light up immediately with her mind.

About five minutes later, the phone screen finally lit up, and a notification sound for a new message came through.

Chu Zihang immediately picked up his phone and unlocked it; a photo popped up.

The photo was taken from the back door of the classroom. The sun shone through the window, casting long shadows in the empty classroom. A boy wearing a dark coat sat alone in a seat by the window.

He lowered his head slightly, his face turned to the side towards the camera, his wisps of hair partially obscuring his eyebrows and eyes, but one could still clearly see his handsome face, which revealed an indescribable weariness.

He wasn't looking at anything; his eyes were vacant as he stared out the window. He was like a sculpture that was gradually being forgotten. Even through the photograph, one could feel the alienation and deathly stillness that made him stand out from his surroundings.

Chu Zihang was stunned. Was this still the same loser he remembered? When did he become so melancholy? What could have caused such a drastic change in a person in such a short time?

Before Chu Zihang could think it through, Nuonuo snatched the phone and stared intently at the figure on the screen.

A few seconds later, her eyes instantly reddened, and her lips trembled slightly.

Although her face was more haggard and pale than when she was in the snow-capped mountains, and her demeanor was much more melancholy—

But that's right.

it's him.

The boy who, in a blizzard with temperatures tens of degrees below zero, carried her injured body on his not-so-broad back, step by step, gritting his teeth, and through the snow that reached above his calves and the howling wind, forced his way out of the Valley of Death.

"It's him—it really is him—he's alive—he's back—" Nono's voice began to choke, but it was also filled with the ecstasy of something lost and found and the relief of a great weight lifted off her shoulders.

Susie leaned closer to look at the photo, then glanced at Nono, who was so excited she was almost in tears. Was this the person Nono had been looking for all along?

"Binhai City, Shilan Middle School —" Nono took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions, her eyes becoming sharp and firm again.

"Susie, book me a ticket, the earliest flight to Binhai! Now! Right now!"

Even from the photos, it's clear that something's wrong with Lu Mingfei. He must have encountered something else, and she must find him immediately.

"But what about the academy—" Susie hesitated, as they had only just returned.

But at this moment, Nono was completely deaf to reason. Her heart, her entire being, had already flown across the ocean to the lonely figure in that photograph.

Without saying another word, she turned and ran towards the restaurant entrance.

"Nono! Wait!" Susie called out anxiously, but Nono's figure had already disappeared at the restaurant entrance.

Susie sighed helplessly and worriedly, then turned to Chu Zihang, who was still sitting in the same seat, her face showing apology and a hint of pleading: "Um—Chu Zihang, could you—help us ask the academy for leave? Or rather—cover it up for now? Nuonuo—her situation is special."

She didn't know how to explain it, so she could only give vague answers.

Chu Zihang raised his eyes, looked at the empty doorway, then at Su Qian, and finally his gaze fell back on the photo of Lu Mingfei on his phone. He was silent for a few seconds, and then nodded very slightly.

"I'll handle it," he said succinctly.

"Thank you!" Susie breathed a sigh of relief. Before she could say anything more, she grabbed her and Nono's small bags that they had left on the table and hurriedly chased after Nono.

Only Chu Zihang remained, sitting beside the food that was gradually getting cold.

He picked up his phone, opened the photo again, zoomed in, and looked closely at the profile. The boy's outline became somewhat blurry after being zoomed in, but the sense of melancholy and loneliness became even clearer.

Lu Mingfei—What exactly happened to you?

He quickly put away his phone, stood up, and quietly left the noisy restaurant, just as he had arrived, to begin fulfilling his extremely brief promise.

As for what secrets lie behind this matter, he has no intention of investigating for the time being.

This has little to do with his life. What he needs to do most now is to strengthen himself, then return to that highway and slay that god on horseback.

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