Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Before Lu Mingfei could answer, she began to speak slowly, her voice like reciting an ancient epic, carrying the vicissitudes of time and a cold, cruel insight:

"During my journey, I passed through a human village located beside a border forest. It was a very ordinary and isolated village where the villagers lived a simple and peaceful life, relying on hunting and gathering. That year, it was probably seventy or eighty years ago? The time is a bit blurry. In any case, I was traveling with Simmel, Haita, and Aize at that time."

One day, a hunter from the village found a little girl at the edge of the forest. She looked only five or six years old, dressed in rags, covered in dirt, huddled in a tree hollow, and on the verge of starvation. She had rare purple hair and strange pale purple pupils. The villagers were kind and compassionate; although they found the girl's appearance somewhat unusual, they took pity on her and brought her back to the village.

"At first, everything was fine. The girl was taken in by a middle-aged couple who had lost their child. They treated her as their own and named her 'Vera.' Vera was quiet, even a little timid, and didn't talk much, but she was very sensible and would help her adoptive parents with chores. She seemed to be full of curiosity about everything in the village, especially the villagers sharpening their hunting knives, setting traps, and the rituals they performed to worship the forest god. Her purple eyes were always silently observing everything."

"However, after about six months, strange things began to happen in the village. First, the villagers' livestock were bitten to death by unknown creatures at night, their bodies shriveled as if their blood had been drained. Then, some people heard strange sounds coming from the forest at night, sounds that were like children laughing or whimpering. The experienced elders began to feel uneasy, feeling that Vera's origins might not be simple; her purple hair and eyes were, in some ancient legends, ominous symbols. They tactfully suggested to the couple who had adopted Vera that it would be best to send the girl away, or at least ask a passing priest to take a look."

"But the couple had already developed deep feelings for Vera. They firmly believed that Vera was just an innocent child and that the strange events were just coincidences or the work of other monsters in the forest. They rejected the villagers' advice and even became estranged from some of them because of it."

Frillie's voice remained calm, but Lu Mingfei detected a hint of heaviness in it. He could almost see the secluded village and feel the unease that was gradually growing beneath the calm surface.

"A few months later, the strange occurrences escalated. People in the village began to fall ill with peculiar symptoms: weakness and exhaustion during the day, and nightmares at night, as if they were haunted by something. Herbal remedies were of little use. Then, on a moonless night, a drunkard in the village who often spoke ill of Vera behind her back as a 'demon' was found dead in his woodshed. His death was gruesome, as if he had been mauled by a wild beast, but the wounds also showed signs of corrosion."

"This time, panic spread completely. The villagers gathered, demanding that the couple hand over Vera so that the village chief and elders could deal with her. The scene was extremely tense. The couple desperately protected the trembling Vera and confronted the angry villagers."

Frillie paused here, picked up the water glass on the table, and took a small sip.

Lu Mingfei had a bad feeling; he probably knew what Frillian wanted to say.

"Just as the argument was at its most intense, Vera, who had been tightly protected by her foster mother, raised her head. The timid and fearful expression on her face disappeared, replaced by a cold and cruel smile that was completely out of character for her age. Her eyes, those pale purple pupils, emitted a faint glow in the darkness."

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat.

Chapter 267 We Must Not Be Too Kind

"She looked at the villagers who had surrounded her and said in a childish yet chilling voice, 'Foolish humans, your scent smells both disgusting and delicious.'"

"Then, an astonishing change occurred. Vera's body began to swell and twist, purple light burst forth from within her, her skin became rough and scales grew, short horns sprouted from her forehead, and her fingers turned into claws. She revealed her true form, a young demon disguised as a human, a 'Soul Eater' that feeds on negative human emotions and life energy."

“The villagers were stunned; fear rendered them unable to react. And her foster mother, who had always protected her, stared in disbelief at the monstrous creature before her, and tremblingly cried out, ‘Vera.’”

"In response to her, Vera, a demon, delivered a merciless claw strike. The kind woman's throat was instantly ripped open, and she fell into a pool of blood, her eyes still frozen in shock and sorrow. Her husband, the man who also deeply loved his 'daughter,' let out a heart-wrenching scream and rushed forward without thinking, only to follow in his wife's footsteps."

Frillie's description is extremely concise, without any embellishment, but it is precisely this calm narration that makes the bloody and cruel scene all the more impactful.

Lu Mingfei could almost hear the desperate cries and see the splattering blood.

“The slaughter has begun,” Frilian continued. “The demon Vera, who has revealed her true form, is only in her juvenile stage, but her power is far beyond what ordinary villagers can withstand. She is as fast as a ghost, her claws can easily tear flesh, and she can spew corrosive purple breath from her mouth. She seems to enjoy this slaughter, moving through the village, chasing after the fleeing villagers, killing them one by one. Cries, screams, and pleas for mercy echoed through the once peaceful night sky.”

"By the time we received the faint warning of magical fluctuations and arrived at the village, it was already too late." Frillian's voice was tinged with sorrow, perhaps a mourning for the loss of life, or perhaps a regret for the irreversible tragedy.

"The village was deathly silent, the air thick with the stench of blood. Flames danced on the burning houses, illuminating the countless corpses strewn across the ground—men, women, the elderly, children… none had escaped. The demon girl, Vera, sat on the altar in the center of the village, toying with a villager's skull in her hand, a satisfied yet cruel smile on her face. A thick aura of blood and resentment clung to her; her power had clearly been amplified by the massacre."

"We destroyed her; the process wasn't too difficult. A Soul Eater that hadn't fully matured was no match for us. But that village, those once vibrant lives, will never return."

The story was over, and a long silence fell over the room. Only the occasional soft crackling of the oil lamp wick popping open could be heard.

Frillie looked at Lu Mingfei, her eyes still calm: "Lu Mingfei, do you still think that when those villagers discovered the livestock were acting strangely, heard strange noises, and even saw some people start to fall ill, they should have decisively driven away or controlled that poor, innocent little girl? If they had taken the most decisive measures when they first noticed something amiss, instead of being blinded by so-called pity and emotion, could that village have avoided its fate of destruction?"

Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. He was completely shocked by the cruel story Frillian had told. The demon girl named Vera, who had exploited human kindness and hidden among them, ultimately brought about utter destruction. And the villagers' hesitation and compassion had become the catalyst for their own demise.

“The couple who adopted her,” Lu Mingfei said, his voice a little hoarse.

"They are the beginning of the tragedy, and also the end of the tragedy," Frilian said calmly. "Their kindness deserves respect, but their blindness leads to even greater evils. In the eyes of demons, or rather, in the eyes of many evil beings who are essentially opposed to humans, kindness and mercy are often just weaknesses that can be exploited."

She cast her gaze upon the moonlight streaming through the window, her voice regaining its previous ethereal quality: "Those thugs today, in your eyes, might just be insignificant small fry, easily taught a lesson. But in my understanding, what they displayed was pure, unbridled malice. They're willing to harass, insult, and even potentially harm strangers for money. Their hands may already be stained with the blood of innocent people. Today they encountered us, who have the ability to fight back. But what if they encountered someone weaker? What would happen to that girl they harassed, or even who might have been forcibly taken away?"

"Zhu Ming hired them, and they came looking for trouble. If a more powerful entity offered a higher price, would they not hesitate to turn their blades on even more people? Their existence is like a malignant tumor, perhaps not large, but it will continue to spread its poison. Cutting off the roots is not out of cruelty, but to prevent future troubles, to save more potential victims from suffering misfortune."

Lu Mingfei fell into deep thought. He had to admit that Frilian's words had a cruel logic to them. What he learned at Kassel College was to fight against the dragons that threatened the world and protect the majority of ordinary people. Frilian, on the other hand, came from a more direct and dangerous world. Her survival rules were condensed from countless lessons learned through blood and tears during her thousand-year journey. She had witnessed far too many greater tragedies caused by momentary mercy.

Her radical approach was not bloodthirsty, but rather an absolute denial and elimination of evil based on long experience and profound insight. In her view, any leniency or lenient punishment for such deeply ingrained baseness and malice would be irresponsible towards kindness and order.

"I...I understand," Lu Mingfei let out a long breath, the discomfort in his heart gradually dissipating.

He was still unaccustomed to such ruthless methods, but he began to understand Frilian's reasons and the logic behind her choice. This world, or rather, multiple worlds, was far more realistic and cruel than he had imagined. Frilian wasn't cold-blooded; she was simply using the most effective means to uphold the order and protection she held in her heart.

Perhaps Frillian is right, but Lu Mingfei is too weak.

“Different worlds, different rules,” Frilian said softly at the end, as if summarizing or reminding us, “We can maintain our inner principles, but when facing enemies, especially despicable ones, underestimating their harm and being overly merciful can come at a price far greater than we can imagine.”

Chapter 268 Rebirth: I Am Kobe (Part 1)

The legend of 4 a.m. in Los Angeles did not end with the tragic fall of the hero. Kobe Bryant, a soul obsessed with perfection, has not truly vanished.

Through an unspeakable and complex process involving dragon alchemy and the rules of the Word of Power, in cooperation with Vice Principal Flamel, Kobe's soul was captured and revived by Kassel College at a great cost, and he was reborn as a hybrid with a bloodline rating as high as A. He retained most of his memories and will from his previous life, as well as his almost abnormal desire to win and his training maniac nature.

Now, he has a new identity: Kobe Bryant, Executive Commissioner of Kassel College. Beneath his black executive coat lies a physique as lean and powerful as a cheetah, his eyes sharp as if they could pierce through all illusions, aiming directly at the basket, or rather, the opponent's weakness.

Before heading to Yunnan, China, Kobe was summoned to the heart of Kassel College, to the principal Angers' office, which was filled with the aroma of antique books and aged whiskey.

Vice Principal Flamel also made a rare appearance, not wearing his signature pajamas, but carrying a silver flask.

“Commissioner Kobe,” Angers took a sip of red wine, “welcome to the core mission of the Executive Department. How are you settling in?”

Kobe nodded slightly, his voice steady with its characteristic huskiness: "I train every day. Principal, the training facilities here are great, but I need stronger opponents or more complex tasks."

His eyes burned with a familiar flame, a flame that belonged to the Staples Center at four in the morning, and to the dragon slayer.

Vice Principal Flamel chuckled and took a swig of his drink: "Kid, don't rush. This mission will give you plenty to think about. Yunnan, the southwestern border of China, that place...tsk, high mountains, dense forests, beautiful waters, and shrewd people."

Angers picked up the conversation, his expression turning serious: "Kobe, this time we're sending you to a small town in Yunnan, China. Your primary mission is to monitor two people: Lu Mingfei and a woman named Frilian."

"Lu Mingfei?" Kobe raised an eyebrow. He recognized the name; there were many rumors circulating in the academy about this S-rank student. "What's wrong with him?"

“The problem is, we’re not sure if he actually has a problem,” Flamel said, swirling the flask. “That kid’s really weird, his luck is on and off, and something inexplicable always seems to happen around him. As for that Frilian…”

He paused, then looked at Angers.

Angers set down his wine glass, his fingertips tapping lightly on the mahogany table: “Frilian, of unknown origin, appears as a young, silver-haired woman who claims to be an elf. We suspect her existence is linked to an unknown dragon lineage, or perhaps an even older mythical creature intertwined with dragon history. Her abilities are peculiar, unlike any known Word of Power. You need to closely observe their interactions and assess the potential risks, but remember, avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary, especially with Frilian; focus on observation and information gathering.”

Kobe nodded: "Understood. It's like observing the opponent's tactical positioning and habitual movements, finding weaknesses, but not easily shooting to block."

The basketball term made both principals pause for a moment, then Angers smiled appreciatively: "A brilliant metaphor. Now, another part of the mission is to investigate the local myths and legends, especially those surrounding that town. Yunnan has been mysterious since ancient times, with many ethnic minorities and a complex mythological system, which may contain clues about dragons, especially certain secondary or even primary species that are dormant or sealed away. We need you to verify these legends and look for any clues that may be related to the remains of dragons."

Flamel added, “Don’t forget to experience the local culture, kid. It’s near Myanmar, and there are many ethnic minorities, like the Dai, Yi, and Bai, with a rich and diverse culture. There’s the Water Festival and the Torch Festival. Oh, and there are so many kinds of mushrooms, but the brighter the color, the less you should touch them! Unless you want to see dancing dragons.”

He let out a burp.

Angers glanced helplessly at the vice-principal and continued, “We have a small executive branch of our Kassel College located in Kunming, codenamed ‘Spring City Station.’ The person in charge is a specialist surnamed Zhang, who will provide you with necessary logistical support and local intelligence. I’ll give you his contact information later. Remember, the people in the Yunnan branch are familiar with the local situation, so listen to their advice.”

Kobe kept everything in mind. He monitored, probed, and assessed the risks while adapting to the environment. It was like a completely new Finals series, with unknown opponents and unfamiliar venues, but he was already used to finding ways to win under pressure.

“Furthermore,” Angers concluded meaningfully, “keep communication open. Lu Mingfei is very unstable, and Frilian is a complete unknown. Report any unexpected situations first.”

After the private meeting, Kobe returned to his temporary residence.

His packing was simple: two sets of custom-made black combat uniforms from the Kassel College Executive Department, with basic cut-resistant and concealment features; a set of casual clothes for easy movement; a toolkit containing high-strength fiber rope, a multi-functional tactical knife, an alchemically modified high-powered flashlight, tranquilizer needles, and other equipment; several portions of high-energy compressed food; and a sealed alchemical device for transmitting information in emergencies.

Of course, there's also his ever-present tablet computer, used for recording observation notes and tactical analyses.

He didn't bring any basketball-related memorabilia; that era is over, and he is now the warrior Kobe. Perhaps the only "memorabilia" is a small inscription engraved inside his gear, unseen by anyone: "Mamba Mentality Forever."

The itinerary was arranged by the college. He departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, stopped over at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and his final destination was Kunming Changshui International Airport in Yunnan, China.

In the early hours of the morning, Kobe arrived at O'Hare Airport. The huge terminal was brightly lit and bustling with people. He was wearing a simple black windbreaker and trousers, carrying a heavy tactical backpack. His upright posture and steady steps made him stand out in the crowd, attracting some attention.

He first went to the huge flight information display screen, his sharp eyes quickly scanning it, and accurately found the check-in counter area for flights to Shanghai.

“Zone 4, Counters 20-35,” he said without hesitation, heading straight for his target.

A queue had already formed in front of the check-in counters. Kobe quietly joined the end of the line, using the waiting time to observe his surroundings: the location of the security cameras, the patrol routes of the security personnel, the signs for the emergency exits…

This was a professional habit of the executive officer. When it was his turn, he handed his passport and ticket to the ground staff. The information on the passport was forged, but flawless, showing that he was a researcher at an academic institution named "Kobe Bryant".

The ground staff member was a young blonde woman. She skillfully took the ID, swiped it on the scanner, and the information popped up on the screen. She looked up at Kobe, then looked down to check the ID again, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes—perhaps it was the name, or perhaps it was Kobe's unique aura.

"Mr. Bryant, window seat as you requested. Checking any luggage?"

“Just this one,” Kobe placed the heavy backpack onto the conveyor belt. The backpack was specially treated, with an internal shielding layer to avoid detection of sensitive parts by conventional X-rays.

The backpack passed the weight check smoothly. Ground staff printed out the boarding pass and baggage tag, skillfully affixed them to the back of the boarding pass, and handed it back to Kobe: "Here is your boarding pass, Gate B12. Boarding starts at 4:30 AM. Have a pleasant flight."

"Thanks." Kobe took the boarding pass, glanced at it to confirm the information was correct.

Chapter 269 Rebirth: I Am Kobe (Part 2)

Next was the security check. Kobe had already taken out his electronic devices, keys, and other items from his small bag and placed them on a tray, then took off his jacket.

When he passed through the security gate, the machine didn't react. He had no metal implants, and his weapons had been properly disposed of. Security personnel conducted a quick and professional body search. Kobe obediently raised his arm, his eyes calm, but inwardly calculating the distance to the boarding gate and the time required.

After passing through security, he found gate B12. It was still early, so instead of sitting down to rest, he stood in front of the huge glass window, gazing at the massive aircraft with its navigation lights shining in the darkness outside—the Boeing 777 that would take him across the Pacific Ocean.

The airport in the early morning reminded him of countless days when he would start training at four in the morning.

Man, what can I say!

Boarding began on time. First and business class passengers were given priority. Kobe's economy class seat would be called later. He waited patiently until he heard his area code.

"Now boarding all rows, Zone 3."

He picked up his backpack, joined the queue, and showed his boarding pass to the ground staff at the boarding gate again.

"Welcome aboard, Mr. Bryant."

Scan, confirm. A soft "beep" sounded, like the whistle to start a game.

Stepping onto the jet bridge, the cold air and the deep roar of the engines filled the air. At the cabin door, flight attendants greeted him with smiles. Kobe found his window seat, put his backpack in the overhead compartment, sat down, and fastened his seatbelt.

Outside the window, the horizon began to turn a pale white.

The plane taxied and took off on time, soaring into the clouds. Kobe watched the city lights below gradually shrink and closed his eyes.

The basketball hoops of Los Angeles, the training courts of Kassel, and now a mysterious town in Yunnan. The battlefield changes, the opponents change, but the Mamba Mentality—the ultimate desire for victory, or rather, for completing the mission—has never changed. He needs rest to recharge, because what awaits him in Yunnan is far from an easy trip.

After arriving at Kunming Changshui Airport, Kobe contacted Zhang, the person in charge of "Spring City Station," as agreed.

Commissioner Zhang was a dark-skinned, lean middle-aged man with a sharp and steady gaze characteristic of people from remote border regions. He drove to pick up Kobe in an unremarkable SUV with local license plates.

“Commissioner Kobe, welcome to Yunnan.” Commissioner Zhang’s Mandarin had a distinct Yunnan accent, but it was clear. “Principal Angers has already informed us. Our people occasionally patrol the town you’re going to, but there have been no reports of anything unusual recently. Here is the relevant information, including Lu Mingfei and Frilian’s recent activity patterns, as well as several noteworthy mythological locations in the area.”

Kobe took the thick folder and quickly flipped through it. "What are they doing now?"

"Lu Mingfei was wandering around, occasionally helping the Zhu family in the local town. Frilian spent most of her time in the forests surrounding the town, seemingly looking for some plants or minerals. They were staying at the same inn and seemed to be interacting very closely."

As Commissioner Zhang drove, he explained, “The town is close to the border, and the people are relatively simple and honest. However, the terrain is complex, and the signal is very poor deep in the mountains. There are some places that even our people have never been to. There are stories about mountain gods, dragon springs, and ancient ruins circulating in the area, which you need to verify for yourself.”

Kobe nodded and noted the information down. "What kind of support can the branch office provide?"

"Routine logistics, emergency medical care, and intelligence updates. If military support is needed, we'll need time to mobilize. I suggest you integrate into the local community first, and avoid alerting them," Commissioner Zhang paused, "Also, be careful with local specialties. Vice Principal Flamel should have already warned you."