Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei Returns from the Elden Ring

Norma has already arranged the itinerary; the elite team led by Chu Zihang will head to Beijing.

"Understood." Chu Zihang said calmly.

Just then, Schneider's personal phone rang; it was Norma's voice notification.

"Professor Schneider, the 'A' level mission you designed has been adjusted as follows: Commissioner Chu Zihang has been removed from the list, and the vacant team leader position will be filled by second-year student Su Xi."

At the same time, Chu Zihang also received information about Norma's mission adjustment.

"Commissioner Chu Zihang, your mission information has been updated. Please check it promptly."

"You have been assigned an internship by the Board of Trustees. You are scheduled to depart for the airport at 7:00 AM tomorrow. A car will be waiting for you in front of your dormitory. You will take the CC1000 express train to Chicago. For details of the assignment, please ask the person in charge of the assignment. Please do not worry about your attendance and credits, as the Executive Office has already requested leave from your professors on your behalf."

Chu Zihang and Schneider stared at each other, both of them dumbfounded.

Immediately afterward, Angers called. Schneider pressed the answer button, and the principal's signature cheerful voice came through the phone, "Have you received the mission notification, Professor Schneider?"

“I’m the head of the executive department, why didn’t I know the details of this new mission beforehand?” Schneider asked in a low voice.

“It’s very simple, because it was just decided,” Angers said. “Also, you don’t need to keep a backup of the mission details in Norma’s database this time.”

"An SS-level mission?" Schneider asked, puzzled.

“No, it’s because the mission members’ security clearance level doesn’t support keeping electronic records,” Angers replied.

"So, you really convinced those guys." Schneider vaguely guessed something. "Alright, I understand. Commissioner Chu Zihang will cooperate with the operation."

The call has ended.

Chu Zihang put down his briefcase and waited quietly for Schneider to give him instructions. Norma did not specify who was in charge of the mission.

“Go to the tarmac. The principal’s plane should arrive at the school in about three hours,” Schneider said calmly.

Chu Zihang nodded and turned to leave.

“Wait, take the box.” Schneider called out to him.

Chu Zihang was somewhat puzzled.

Schneider coughed twice. He coughs most of the day due to his health condition, but even Chu Zihang could hear a hint of guilt in those two coughs.

Under the suspicious gazes of Guderian and Manstein, Schneider finally lowered his voice and explained to Chu Zihang, "This is not equipment assigned to the mission; it was transferred from the equipment department for you personally."

Chu Zihang was taken aback, then bowed slightly to Schneider, "Thank you."

The boy carrying the black briefcase left the central control room, leaving Schneider facing the disdainful looks of his two colleagues.

……

Chu Zihang ultimately did not keep the Philosopher's Stone. After arriving at the platform, he personally handed the valuable briefcase to Susie. Susie, the secretary of the Lionheart Society, was now the captain of the reconnaissance team and would arrive in BJ about 8 hours before him. She needed this weapon, which could be called a backup, even more.

Chu Zihang wasn't arrogant; he judged that Su Xi needed the equipment more than he did, so he simply handed it over to her, nothing more.

Moreover, Principal Angers has already sent him the details of the new mission, an S-level top-secret mission, with S-level captain Lu Mingfei and A-level team members Chu Zihang and Caesar.

In this lineup, the Philosopher's Stone may not really be a necessity.

After seeing off the reconnaissance team that he was supposed to lead, he went alone to the helipad with his weapons case on his back, waiting for the principal's helicopter to arrive.

A massive black shadow swept across the Illinois night sky, heading straight for the mountaintop campus. The beams of searchlights tore through the tranquil darkness like lightning. In the howling wind, the hatch slowly opened, and Chu Zihang looked up at the backlit figure. A vague premonition welled up deep within him, as if something powerful was descending upon his destiny.

Chapter 103 The three-person team arrives in Beijing

Rome, Italy.

Frost Gattuso sat grimly in his office, the project proposal titled "Shadow of Gungnir" lying on the table before him. The last time he'd looked at it, it was blank. Angers had tricked them again; the family spies within the Academy's main executive department had already been exposed, and that fake proposal had been deliberately leaked!

“We must treat BJ’s ancient dragon with utmost care. If the intelligence is true, we must obtain the dragon bone immediately. It could be a crucial breakthrough for the ‘Nibelungen Project.’” After a long silence, Frost ordered, “The person who accepts this gift must be Caesar.”

“The best executors selected from the family have already departed and will arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport in about two hours.” Percy bowed slightly. “Our specialists at the Beijing branch have reported that the academy has not yet detected any signs of dragon resurgence.”

"Who is the person who put a bounty on the dragon-slaying quest at the Hunter's Market? Are there any clues?" Frost asked.

"No, that ID belongs to a veteran hunter, but according to accurate intelligence, he encountered sharks while on vacation in Tahiti a few months ago and was devoured by a group of sharks. Because his body has not been recovered, the police still have him on the missing persons list, which is why the Hunter Market has not immediately removed his ID."

"Such a unique way to die? And then he miraculously resurrected in the Hunter's Market? Issuing dragon-slaying quests to the whole world?" Frost frowned. "His opponent is quite arrogant."

“Yes,” Percy said, “this challenges the convention followed by all hybrids: never revealing the secrets of the dragon race to humans. But sir, could this person be related to the information provided by Lu Mingfei?”

“Some of Lu Mingfei’s information can be trusted.” Frost was silent for a moment. “The process of things is definitely not as simple as he said, but the alchemical space, ultimate alchemy and the ultra-high-risk words of power that he described, which are at least number 113 on the Word Power Sequence List, are not made up out of thin air. Some family records have documented similar existences.”

“Should we arrange for someone to…” Percy said cautiously.

“His Word of Power is Time Zero. Angers chose him just like Viscount Charlotte chose Angers back then. It’s a legacy.” Frost sighed. “There are no more than five people in the family who can monitor Time Zero users. Now is not the time to reveal all our trump cards.”

“Understood,” Percy said softly. “I will have the shadows behave themselves.”

“Go ahead,” Frost waved.

Percy stepped outside, but returned a moment later.

Frost frowned, a bad feeling creeping into his heart. "What happened now?"

"I just received a report from the Executive Department that Angers has assigned Caesar to a mission group with an unknown level of secrecy. The group also includes Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang, and they are currently en route to Beijing," Percy reported truthfully.

"Who is the captain?" Frost asked, frowning.

"Lu Mingfei".

“That Angers guy…” Frost’s eyes showed a hint of confusion, “What does he want to do?”

After a moment's hesitation, he regained his composure. "Have the family contact Caesar... no, you go yourself. If Fenrisulfr is truly an ancient dragon, it's best if Caesar kills it himself. The family needs a dragon-slaying hero to elevate him to the leadership position. Compared to him, Lu Mingfei is merely a clown who narrowly escaped death from the Dragon King."

"Wouldn't that be a bit dangerous?" Percy hesitated for a moment before finally offering his opinion. "After all, we have no experience of directly confronting the Dragon King."

“Don’t worry about him. Caesar is the man our family has been waiting for for hundreds of years,” Frost said softly. “He just needs training, but we will never allow him to die young. He is the one we have chosen to usher in a new era!”

"Negotiations with the equipment department are needed to get them to bring out their best equipment; Caesar must be armed to the teeth."

"clear."

……

A sky-blue airplane cruises through the stratosphere, with a vast sea of ​​clouds below.

Norma booked this intercontinental flight from Chicago to BJ. It was the first time Lu Mingfei, Chu Zihang, and Caesar had flown on this airline, and they were surprised to find that they had Platinum Card privileges. After the flight attendant helped them to their seats, she thoughtfully confirmed the lunch menu with them and even offered them refreshments.

Caesar could have used his private Gulfstream jet, but since he wasn't the captain, he wisely refrained from mentioning it. Flying in business class was a new experience for him, and he glanced at his two partners.

The business class seats were equipped with earplugs, eye masks, and small pillows. Chu Zihang, who hadn't slept all night, reclined his seat to rest as soon as he boarded the plane. Lu Mingfei, on the other hand, unfolded the folding table in front of his seat, took out a laptop from the executive equipment case, connected to the flight's network, and was working on something.

"Hunter's Market?" Caesar asked in a low voice. "Are you looking for posters?"

“The executive department has already investigated that account; I’m looking at the replies,” Lu Mingfei replied.

The post offering a bounty for the Dragon King has been pinned to the top, with thousands of replies. It seems that many mixed-race individuals have IDs here; they used to be lurking, but now they've all surfaced.

Some people expressed surprise, some remained calm about the rumors, some speculated how many people would rush to Beijing to claim the high reward, and others mingled in the crowd spreading rumors, making it as lively as a private gathering.

Lu Mingfei scrolled down the page, skipping over the spam and reading the valuable replies. Unlike the Kassel College intranet where every ID is searchable, this place might have some powerful figures, like family leaders, speaking behind seemingly ordinary IDs.

At his browsing speed, he quickly read through all the replies, but found no useful information.

In fact, under Angers's control, Norma was also monitoring the website and would immediately notify the team of any discoveries.

"When I received the assignment, I read that post, and it was all just pointless discussion," Caesar said.

He took this task very seriously. He would get serious whenever Chu Zihang was around, especially when Lu Mingfei was the team leader. In his view, this was part of Lu Mingfei's elective course, which only had one class per semester.

“We are the second group heading to Beijing.” Chu Zihang took off his blindfold. “Most of the people who replied to this post haven’t even made it to Beijing yet.”

He started as the leader of the reconnaissance team, so Norma sent him a lot of information, including an analysis of flights from around the world to Beijing that day. If the academy hadn't invested in Hermes Airlines, they probably wouldn't have even been able to get seats to Beijing.

“Our mission priority is ‘S’, yet it’s not in the top tier of our schedule?” Caesar raised an eyebrow.

Chu Zihang glanced at Lu Mingfei but didn't say anything.

"Because when the mission was planned, I was on my way from Portofino, Italy," Lu Mingfei replied without looking up as he refreshed the Hunter Market at a fixed frequency.

In reality, he was the one who devised the mission and selected the team members. He originally only chose Chu Zihang, but considering that the board of directors might pay more attention to Chu Zihang as a result, he also chose Caesar, so it would appear that he had simply chosen the two most outstanding people in the academy.

When Caesar heard the name of the place, a thought struck him: "Winter is not a good time to visit there."

At Angers' call, the students held a welcome party for Lu Mingfei, but they were unaware of the details of Lu Mingfei's attendance at the board meeting, including Caesar's.

“It’s not a trip, it’s a board meeting.” Lu Mingfei recalled the information he had seen about the Gattuso family, and glanced at Caesar. “I broke two of your uncle’s bones.”

Caesar disliked Lu Mingfei's gaze, always feeling that he was being compared to Frost.

"Someone like him might only calm down if he breaks a few bones." He crossed his arms, leaned back slightly, and spoke with a sarcastic tone.

"You have a good eye for people," Lu Mingfei agreed.

Caesar turned to look out the window and said nothing more.

For a while, all that could be heard was Lu Mingfei typing on the keyboard.

“Come visit Portofino in the summer if you have time. It’s beautiful there in the summer, and there are no annoying guys,” Caesar suddenly said.

“Okay, if I have time.” Lu Mingfei nodded.

Considering there are now three people in the team, Caesar looked at Chu Zihang again, "We've always been on opposite sides, but I still welcome you to visit."

Chu Zihang was a little surprised, but still politely declined, "Thank you, but I usually go back to my hometown during the summer vacation."

Caesar said no more. His invitation to Chu Zihang was out of courtesy, and Chu Zihang's reason for declining was also reasonable. To be honest, he couldn't imagine himself vacationing with Chu Zihang in Portofino. Was he sailing a light sailboat with white sails in the waves of Genoa Bay, while Chu Zihang sat cross-legged on the beach like an old monk sharpening a knife?

This scene was truly bizarre, but that was pretty much how Chu Zihang appeared in his mind.

……

The plane swept through the clouds, and after a brief turbulence, the view outside the window suddenly opened up.

A few wisps of blue-green clouds hung above the setting sun near the horizon, and the sky displayed a gradient from orange-yellow to gray-blue. A thin layer of bluish-green mist hung at the height where the airplane circled, and below the mist were the lights of a bustling city, with a clear network of streets forming a spiderweb-like pattern.

Beijing Capital International Airport.

Lu Mingfei's team was the first to leave the cabin under the arrangement of the flight attendants. After going through immigration and customs inspections, they left the airport. None of the three of them had much luggage. The equipment of the Executive Department could not be checked in normally, so it could only be transported through the academy's special channels.

Upon arriving at the airport, no one from the branch came to pick them up. The Kassel headquarters was already short-staffed, let alone the BJ branch, which was at the center of the storm. It was difficult for them to send someone to specially welcome them. Moreover, due to Lu Mingfei's involvement, the secrecy level of this "S"-level mission was even at the "SS" level, and the branch couldn't even arrange accommodation for them.

As the three were discussing booking a hotel, a stretched Hummer SUV sped up and screeched to a halt in front of them. The driver, who also served as their bodyguard, got out of the car respectfully and opened the door for them.

“Mr. Lu Mingfei, Miss Su sent me to pick you up and take you to your residence.”

Caesar and Chu Zihang looked at each other, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.