Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Tsk, how boring," Lu Mingze complained.

But this orphanage is run surprisingly well. Norton, the former King of Bronze and Fire, is now known to the children as the gentle and patient Director Tang, who can fix all toys and appliances and even sets up a stove in the yard to roast fragrant sweet potatoes for everyone.

Although Constantine now has a healthy body, his innocence and dependence remain unchanged. He has become the most popular older brother in the orphanage, always coming up with all sorts of fun games and quietly staying by the side of every child who needs companionship.

"Can you imagine, brother? Norton, the king who burns the sky with fire and forges cities with bronze, is now most worried about which mischievous kid broke the swing again, or that the food budget has gone over budget this month. He has shared his almost obsessive protectiveness towards Constantine with every orphan in the orphanage. Constantine, in turn, treats every child as a younger brother who needs his company. In a sense, they have found the most suitable authority for themselves—protection and creation."

Chapter 293 The Eve of the Black Moon Tide (Part 2)

Somehow, the conversation shifted back to Lu Mingfei's high school days. The topic turned to the literary club and Chen Wenwen, the girl who always wore a long white cotton dress and sat quietly in the corner reading.

“Chen Wenwen,” Lu Mingfei said, his expression darkening.

Zhao Menghua's death cast a shadow over those who knew the truth, especially over Chen Wenwen, a shadow that could not be dispelled. On that stormy night in the Nibelungen subway in Beijing, Zhao Menghua did not emerge.

Lu Mingze seemed to be able to see through his thoughts, and his tone became a little calmer, less playful than before: "Zhao Menghua died there, his body was never found. He didn't even have the chance to become a Death Servant, he was killed by the Death Servant directly."

Chen Wenwen was devastated upon learning this news.

Unlike Liu Miaomiao, who was outgoing and could express her grief through tears and shouts, her sorrow was introverted and silent, like an undercurrent slowly eroding a dam. She locked herself at home for a long time, refusing to go to school or see anyone. She simply looked repeatedly at photos of past literary club activities, touching the face of the once spirited boy in the photos.

“She pulled herself together and left the city filled with sad memories,” Lu Mingze continued. “But she changed a lot. She stopped reading Marguerite Duras’s ‘The Lover’ and started reading heavy books about life, death, and philosophy. She grew her hair long, but there was always a lingering sadness in her eyes. She had no shortage of suitors, but she could no longer open her heart to anyone.”

"Zhao Menghua left a deep mark on her life, especially since it ended abruptly at the most brilliant moment, becoming an unhealable wound in her heart, a figure that has been deified. She may live in the shadow of that brief first love for the rest of her life. Speaking of which, brother, you deserve some credit for this, if you had..."

Lu Mingfei remained silent, offering no reply. He no longer felt the youthful excitement he once had for Chen Wenwen, but the guilt and regret stemming from their friendship remained. He couldn't save Zhao Menghua, nor could he soothe Chen Wenwen's pain. Under the shadow of the war between dragons and humans, the happiness of ordinary people was so fragile, like exquisite glassware, shattering at the slightest touch.

A gust of biting wind swept by, stirring up the snow on the ice and hitting Lu Mingfei's face, making him shiver.

"Heave-ho." Lu Mingze produced a small silver bottle from somewhere, uncorked it, took a small swig himself, and then casually handed it to Lu Mingfei.

"Have a drink to warm yourself up, brother."

Lu Mingfei felt cold and stiff from the inside out, so he took the bag and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

The next second, he felt as if a stream of liquid flame had rushed down his throat, igniting his esophagus and stomach. The intense burning sensation made him bend over, cough violently, and tears streamed down his face.

"Cough cough cough, what, what the hell is this?!" He felt like his throat was on fire.

Lu Mingze chuckled as he looked at his disheveled appearance.

“This is genuine vodka, the water of life, brother,” he winked. “After you finish this bottle, you can even jump into the Arctic Ocean and swim a few laps right away, I guarantee you’ll feel warm all over.”

Lu Mingfei finally caught his breath, feeling a burning pain from his throat to his stomach, but a strong warmth spread from his abdomen, dispelling some of the chill. He shoved the bottle into Lu Mingze's hand impatiently: "Keep it for yourself! I want to live a few more years!"

This interruption lessened the heaviness that had been felt when discussing Xia Mi, Lao Tang, and Chen Wenwen.

Silence fell between them again. Lu Mingfei stared at Lu Mingze's profile, his mind filled with countless questions. Where exactly was this place? Was it a real place, or yet another vivid dream? What kind of "fish" was Lu Mingze fishing for here? Why was he telling him all this?

But he didn't ask. He knew that even if he did, the little devil probably wouldn't give a straightforward answer.

Time passed slowly in this eerie stillness. How long it lasted, perhaps a minute, perhaps a century, remains unknown.

Suddenly, the fishing rod in Lu Mingze's hand, which had remained motionless, bent downwards at an astonishing angle.

The fishing line tightened. In the deep ice cave, the once calm water surface began to churn violently, as if some enormous creature was struggling frantically below.

Lu Mingze's small body unleashed tremendous power that was completely disproportionate to his size. He firmly gripped the fishing rod and began to wrestle with something beneath the water.

"coming!"

Lu Mingfei's heart leaped into his throat. He stared nervously at the ice cave, holding his breath. He could feel the entire ice beneath his feet trembling slightly.

After a seemingly dangerous back-and-forth, Lu Mingze raised his club.

With a loud crash, the ice around the ice cave shattered, sending countless ice blocks and icy water splashing into the air.

The enormous object was dragged out of the deep ice cave by Lu Mingze using that ridiculously thin fishing rod.

It burst out of the water, creating a curtain of water that floated above the ice cave.

Lu Mingfei's eyes widened, his pupils contracting in utter shock.

It wasn't some giant fish, it was a dragon!

A shrunken dragon! Covered in dark, light-absorbing scales, its wings were tucked in, yet its overwhelming silhouette was still discernible. Its long neck drooped limply, and its head was firmly hooked to the corner of its mouth by a fishhook. Its eyes were tightly closed, as if it were asleep, or rather, imprisoned.

How... how is this possible?!

Fishing a dragon out of a tiny ice cave with just a fishing rod?!

Lu Mingfei felt his brain completely shut down, his worldview shattered in that instant. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; he could only stand there stiffly, gazing up at the incredible dragon that had been fished up.

Then, he turned his head and looked at Lu Mingze beside him.

Lu Mingze casually slung the fishing rod over his small shoulder, and the giant dragon he had caught seemed weightless, hovering behind him. He turned around and gave the dumbfounded Lu Mingfei a familiar smile.

"Buzz." A strong feeling of dizziness washed over me.

The scene before them—the frozen lake, the snowfield, the wooden house, Lumingze, and the dragon that had been fished out—began to twist and spin violently, like a shattered mirror image.

"Ha, ha," Lu Mingfei opened his eyes, breathing heavily.

The familiar ceiling of the Kassel College dormitory came into view. Outside the window, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

He lay peacefully on his bed, covered with a soft blanket.

The extreme cold, the frozen lake, Lu Mingze, the burning sensation of vodka, and the dragon that had been fished out—everything had vanished.

All that remained was the frantic pounding of his heart in his chest and the cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Was it a dream?

A dream so vivid it was terrifying.

Lu Mingfei raised his hand and could still feel the cold touch of the silver bottle, and the illusion of liquid flames burning his throat lingered.

Lu Mingze's final smile, and the sleeping dragon that had been fished out, kept replaying in his mind.

Is the tide of night about to arrive?

Lu Mingfei stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought, unable to fully awaken from his dream of the frozen lake.

Chapter 294 Kassel Animation Festival (Part 1)

In early spring, Kassel College is always shrouded in a thin veil of mist. The moisture from the lakeside and distant mountains blends with the ancient brick and stone buildings, making the entire campus seem like a castle existing in the cracks of time.

Having just returned from Yunnan, a land brimming with sunshine, color, and vitality, Lu Mingfei felt a sense of unfamiliarity with the familiar gray tones as he stepped into the school gate, as if from another world.

His and Frilian's return did not cause much of a stir; after all, in Kassel, it was common to carry out mysterious missions and then quietly return.

However, before they could distribute the Yunnan specialties in their suitcases, such as flower cakes and Pu'er tea, to Finger and the others, an email from Norma arrived quietly, elegantly and irresistibly inviting Lu Mingfei and Ms. Frillie to the principal's office.

"Frilian, what good things do you think the headmaster prepared for us this time?"

"I don't know, I'll find out when I get there."

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat, hoping that Angers' call for him wasn't anything serious.

"Knock." Lu Mingfei knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

They knocked on the door, and a wave of warm, bright air rushed in. Angers stood by the window, his back to them, gazing at the mist-shrouded campus. He turned around, his classic British three-piece suit impeccably tailored, his silver-grey hair neatly combed, and a kind smile on his face.

“Ah, our little heroes are back,” Angers said, gesturing for the two to sit on the comfortable leather sofa. On the coffee table, an exquisite set of purple clay teaware was already prepared, with an antique tea caddy next to it.

“Yunnan is a wonderful place, and the tea there has a unique flavor.” Angers personally held the teapot, skillfully warming the cups, rinsing the tea, and brewing it, his movements as elegant as if he were performing an ancient ritual.

The amber-colored tea liquor, poured into a small teacup, exudes a mellow and unique aroma, possessing both the aged charm of Pu'er and the refreshing fragrance of unknown wildflowers.

"Try it, this is from a local. Hmm, it's a gift from an old friend, you can't get this anywhere else."

Lu Mingfei accepted the teacup, flattered, and took a small sip. The tea was smooth on the palate, with a lingering sweetness, and a warm sensation flowed down his throat and throughout his body, dispelling some of the fatigue from his days of travel. Frilian also picked up her teacup, inhaled the aroma, and took a small sip.

Angers smiled slightly, "Mingfei, you did a great job on this mission. The academy deserves a reward. Tell me, is there anything you particularly want? As long as it's within my power, I will do my best to fulfill your request."

Lu Mingfei tightened his grip on his teacup. Here it came—the principal's reward. A multitude of thoughts flashed through his mind: a huge bonus? A vacation? A powerful alchemical weapon? He even subconsciously wondered if the principal could help him resolve his "historical problem" of being single, allowing him to date Frillie.

But he immediately dismissed the thought; it was too cowardly, and besides, it felt a bit strange to do it in front of Frilian.

A jumble of thoughts swirled around him, and then a remarkably clear idea, yet seemingly incongruous with his S-class status, abruptly took hold of his mind.

I stumbled upon a small anime convention in a small town in Yunnan. Young people dressed in outlandish costumes radiated pure enthusiasm and joy, creating a resonance that transcended the barriers between the two-dimensional and three-dimensional worlds.

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath, raised his head, and with a hint of recklessness, said, "Principal, if possible, I was wondering if we could hold an animation festival at the academy?"

A brief silence fell over the office. The only sound was the crisp click of the teacup bottom hitting the saucer as Principal Angers gently set it down.

Lu Mingfei's heart sank. Was it really too far-fetched? To have the Dragon Slaying Academy hold an anime festival was as absurd as throwing a dance party in the Pentagon.

Angers leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlaced on his knees: "Anime festival? That's a very interesting idea. Could you elaborate? What kind of event do you envision it to be?"

Lu Mingfei suddenly perked up, as if he had opened a floodgate: "On this day, everyone can cosplay as characters from their favorite anime or games, set up stalls to exchange merchandise, play anime music, maybe even put on a stage performance or something. It's about letting everyone relax for a while, without having to think about heavy things like dragons, Word of Power, and quests all day, and just have fun for a day?"

After he finished speaking, he looked at the principal with some trepidation.

Angers stared at him silently for a few seconds.

Finally, he chuckled softly, a smile more genuine than before. “'Just having a day of pure fun,' sounds wonderful. Sometimes, the greatest power doesn't come solely from hatred and duty, but also from the beauty and joy we swear to protect. I approve. Norma will assist you, and Fingel too; he always has some unexpected connections in this area. The date is next weekend, one day. Lu Mingfei, go ahead and get it done.”

Lu Mingfei could hardly believe his ears until Frilian beside him whispered, "The principal has agreed."

He suddenly came to his senses, so excited he almost jumped up, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, Principal! Thank you, Principal!"

The news swept through the entire Kassel College like a hurricane. The pinned post on the Night Watchers' discussion forum, in bold red, proclaimed: "A masterpiece from S-class master Lu Mingfei! Kassel's first Anime Festival, igniting your anime spirit!"

The poster was naturally Fingel, who fully utilized his ability to embellish as the head of the news department, portraying Lu Mingfei as a compassionate person who wanted to improve the oppressive atmosphere on campus and benefit the majority of students. He also set up a betting pool to see which professors would be forced or willing to participate in the cosplay.

After the initial shock and skepticism, enthusiasm began to spread among the students. After all, even the most elite students in Kassel are mostly young people, with a latent desire in their blood to break conventions and pursue fun.

The library's books on costume making and makeup techniques were completely borrowed, and the 3D printing workshop operated day and night, printing all sorts of props and weapons. Alchemy principles were being applied to create glowing contact lenses and special effects accessories, and the equipment department was in a frenzy. Although their understanding of anime props might lean more towards explosions and lasers, they reluctantly restrained themselves after a stern warning from Professor Manstein, and instead focused on researching how to keep wigs from becoming disheveled under the influence of the Word of Power.

Lu Mingfei has been extremely busy these past few days, coordinating venues, planning areas, and reviewing program lists. His main task is to filter out the "Godzilla vs. Ultraman live-action explosion performance" submitted by the Equipment Department. He also has to deal with students who come to inquire about information and try to get better booths through his connections.

Zero provided calm and efficient assistance, while Isabel and her lace-clad girl group enthusiastically took charge of promotion and some stage management. Frilian mostly observed quietly, occasionally offering her comments on overly extravagant costumes or props.

"Frilian, what are you doing?"

"Lie flat."

"Go and help me out."

"No."