Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Yes, Japan. It has your favorite anime world, Akihabara, maid cafes, anime figures... How about it, are you tempted, brother?"

A few years ago, upon hearing that he could go to Japan on public funds, Lu Mingfei would probably have jumped out of his sleep with excitement and started planning his pilgrimage route. But this time, he just said "oh," his reaction so calm that even he was a little surprised. After experiencing everything at Kassel College, experiencing life and death, and experiencing the bloodshed and cruelty of the dragon world, the two-dimensional fantasy that once occupied most of his mental world had faded considerably.

They still exist, like a warm old dream, but they can no longer inspire his wholehearted enthusiasm and excitement as they once did. Reality is too heavy, so heavy that it's about to crush those light, fleeting dreams.

Looking at his lazy and uninterested appearance, Lu Mingze smiled. "Looks like you've grown up, brother. You're not as interested in anime anymore. How about I dress up as a girl, put on a cute sailor uniform or kimono, and use my sweet voice to satisfy your special hobbies? I guarantee I'll provide excellent service!"

"Pfft, cough cough cough!" Lu Mingfei spat out the mouthful of Erguotou he had just drunk, luckily it was a little off-center and didn't spray into the hot pot. He choked, his face turning red, coughing and frantically waving his hands as if trying to dispel some terrifying phantom, "No need! Absolutely no need! Thank you! I don't have that kind of hobby! Not at all! Be normal!"

What a joke! To make Lu Mingze, that cunning and enigmatic little devil, dress up as a woman and call him Onii-chan? The image was too horrible for him to bear, and just imagining it sent chills down his spine. It was even more unsettling than facing a second-generation species.

Seeing Lu Mingfei's panicked and repeated denials, Lu Mingze burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell over. After laughing for a while, he wiped away non-existent tears.

"What a pity, brother," Lu Mingze said, standing up from the recliner, picking up the half-finished bottle of Erguotou on the table, and raising it to Lu Mingfei as if making a farewell gesture.

"Then," Lu Mingze snapped his fingers crisply, "See you next time, brother."

The instant his fingers snapped, Lu Mingfei felt the warm fortress around him crumble. The sound of the boiling hotpot, the aroma of Erguotou liquor, the figure of Lu Mingze—everything vanished as quickly as the tide receded. A bone-chilling cold surged in from all directions once more, engulfing him.

He sat up abruptly in bed, his heart still pounding.

Outside the window, the night at Kassel College is tranquil. There are no snowfields, no hot pot, and certainly no little devil who wants to go on vacation to South America and threatens to cross-dress.

Only in my mouth did the spiciness of Erguotou remain.

Chapter 325 Nono's Photo

Lu Mingfei sat on the edge of the bed, his heart pounding. The spiciness of the hot pot and the burning sensation of the baijiu from his dream still lingered on his taste buds and deep in his throat.

He shook his head, trying to banish the little devil's mischievous grin from his mind. A vacation? South America? This guy's words were always a mix of truth and lies; you could never truly know what he was talking about. But something big probably wasn't just a rumor.

His gaze swept across the room before settling on the headboard.

There stood a black, rather sturdy-looking suitcase.

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat. It's here.

He stood up and walked to the bedside. A yellow sticky note was stuck to the suitcase handle, with gaudy, slightly sarcastic handwriting: "Brother, I've packed everything for you~ Also, you'll need these (laughs)."

Lu Mingfei stared at the smiley face for a few seconds, clicked his tongue, reached out and peeled off the sticky note, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can some distance away. Then he opened his suitcase.

The room was neatly organized. There were changes of clothes, toiletries, chargers, adapters... even several boxes of his favorite mints were there.

There were several items on the inside bag of the suitcase.

On top was a thin booklet, "100 Practical Japanese Phrases for Travel." Lu Mingfei picked it up and flipped through it casually; it contained basic sentences like "hello," "thank you," "how much is this," and "where is the toilet?"

Thanks to the foreign language requirements of Kassel College, his Japanese, while not fluent, is sufficient for basic daily conversation and reading, at least more advanced than the content in this booklet. However, something is better than nothing; carrying it is just for peace of mind. Lu Mingfei stuffed it into the mesh pocket on the side of his suitcase.

Below was a slightly thicker book, "100 Lectures on Japanese Mythology and History." Lu Mingfei picked it up, his expression becoming more serious. His understanding of Japanese mythology was almost entirely derived from anime based on the *Kojiki* or two-dimensional works like the *Fate* series; he knew very little about the actual history and mythological system. If something significant happened during his trip to Japan, as Lu Mingze had hinted, understanding this background knowledge might come in handy at a crucial moment, at least helping him understand the local legends he might encounter involving dragons or hybrids. He carefully placed the book into his backpack, intending to read it on the road.

Then, his gaze fell on the last thing.

It's a beautifully printed booklet, similar to a photo album, with a matte cover that feels smooth to the touch. There's no text on the cover, only a simple surfboard illustration outlined in white lines.

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat; he roughly guessed what it was.

A month ago, for some reason, Nono and Susie were invited by a photographer friend from Finland who was supposedly internationally renowned to take a swimsuit photoshoot at the beach. Nono even excitedly asked Frillie if she wanted to come along.

Frillie refused without hesitation. Lu Mingfei still remembered the scene: Nuonuo put her arm around Frillie's shoulder and tempted her, "Little Frillie, come with us! Sunshine, beach, waves, how wonderful! Look at you, you're always buried in books, you're practically moldy!"

“I’m not used to taking photos dressed like that, and besides, I had arranged to go to an alchemy lecture with Mingfei that day.”

Nono let out a soft "woof" and swept her ambiguous gaze back and forth between Lu Mingfei and Frilian, making Lu Mingfei's ears burn.

Afterwards, Lu Mingfei couldn't contain his curiosity and secretly asked Nuonuo, "Senior sister, can I see the photos?"

Nono laughed and poked his forehead with her slender finger. "Kids shouldn't watch this, it'll give them nosebleeds and it's bad for their health."

Lu Mingfei snorted defiantly, "How old am I?"

Nono leaned closer to him and whispered, "Let me tell you, even Caesar hasn't seen it!"

These words made Lu Mingfei even more eager to watch it. "When can we watch it?"

Nono tilted her head, pretending to think seriously, then patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Let's do it thirty years from now, when we're all old, and then we can take it out and reminisce about our youth."

Lu Mingfei just thought the woman was teasing him again and didn't take it too seriously.

Now, Lu Mingze, this all-powerful little devil, has actually put this photo album, which even her real boyfriend Cesare Gattuso has never seen, on his suitcase.

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath, his fingers hesitantly touching the smooth cover. He glanced back at the closed door like a thief, making sure no one would suddenly barge in, before carefully opening the booklet.

What comes into view is the azure sea, the golden sand, and Nuonuo's bright and radiant smile under the sun. She wears various bold and brightly colored swimsuits, running, sitting quietly, or laughing in the waves; each picture is full of vitality and infectious energy, like a burning flame, freely displaying the beauty and vibrancy of youth. Susie is also among them, her style more reserved and intellectual.

To be fair, the photos were beautiful, and Nuonuo's figure was undeniably stunning. But looking at them, Lu Mingfei felt surprisingly calm. There was no blushing, no racing heart, no thrill of discovering a secret. He was simply appreciating exquisite art photographs, objectively thinking, "Hmm, very beautiful," "Very sunny," "Senior Sister Nuonuo is indeed very expressive."

He could still spare a thought: the Finnish photographer's technique was indeed excellent; the light and shadow were captured perfectly.

Turning to the last picture, it was a photo of Nono and Susie, both smiling brightly at the camera without a trace of gloom. Lu Mingfei closed the booklet and gently placed it back in his suitcase, under a few pieces of clothing.

"Youth is wonderful," he muttered to himself.

Lu Mingfei zipped up his suitcase with a crisp "click." He walked to the window and looked out at the sleeping silhouette of Kassel College, the distant mountain silhouettes serene and mysterious in the moonlight.

Japan.

He didn't know what awaited him—new enemies, hidden crises, or something else entirely. But at this moment, he felt a strange calm within him. Perhaps it was because he knew he was no longer alone, or perhaps it was because he had found a peace he wanted to protect.

He took out his phone, opened the familiar contact named Frillian, hesitated for a moment, and then sent a message: "Are you asleep? The academy has a mission in a few days, and we may have to go out for a few days."

Soon, the phone screen lit up. "Not yet, I understand."

As Lu Mingfei looked at the words, a slight smile appeared on his lips. He pressed his phone against his chest, feeling the faint vibration.

Outside the window, the deepest darkness before dawn is slowly receding, and a faint glimmer of light is appearing on the horizon.

Chapter 326 Japan Branch (Part 1)

The night in Tokyo Bay is a blend of industrial clamor and the salty stench of the sea. On the newly reclaimed land, unfinished construction sites stand forlornly, their steel skeletons piercing the overcast sky like the remains of a colossal beast.

Ryuzo Koyama was strapped to a steel chair, its legs welded to the ground specifically for this interrogation. His once-impressive suit was now wrinkled and covered in dust, his hair disheveled, and his gold-rimmed glasses were long gone, revealing bloodshot eyes filled with fear and pain. His mouth was cracked, his cheeks swollen, and each breath was a hoarse, rattling sound.

Two men were the ones who made the move.

Yaksha, true to his name, was tall and burly, with a ferocious face. He wore a flashy Hawaiian shirt, but his lower body was clad in inappropriate work pants. He tenderly lifted one foot to examine his shiny crocodile skin shoes. A few drops of dark red blood were splattered on the toe and upper of the shoe.

"Damn it, this old bastard's blood is really dirty," Yaksha spat, rubbing the shoe surface vigorously with his thick fingers, only to spread the bloodstains further. "I just bought a limited edition, crocodile skin! It's ruined now."

Beside him, Crow, far more professional, slowly and meticulously wiped a small, finely crafted knife with barbs and grooves using a soft white cloth. The bloodstains on the blade were gradually removed, revealing a gleaming, cold edge. Hearing Yaksha's complaint, he didn't even look up. "Shut up, Yaksha. The young master is waiting. You still have time to worry about your worn-out shoes?"

The two men made no attempt to conceal their work. Their task was to get Koyama Ryuzo, who was sitting in a chair, to speak. Their young master stood in the shadows a short distance away, his back to the interrogation scene, facing the bay illuminated by lights outside the window.

Genjiro, the young master of the Snake-Headed Eight Families and the executive officer of the Japanese branch of Kassel College, wore a dark-colored casual outfit with a black haori over it, his figure tall and straight. He seemed oblivious to the carnage behind him, simply standing there quietly, as if admiring the night view. Only when he occasionally raised his hand to bring a slender Japanese cigarette to his lips did the crimson flame faintly illuminate his profile.

Sakura stood quietly half a step behind Genjiro. This petite girl wore a black ninja outfit designed for ease of movement. Her face was expressionless, like a doll. Her presence was minimal, but Genjiro knew that any threat to him would be instantly extinguished by her. Her hands hung naturally at her sides, the glint of metal reflecting between her fingers—her weapons, ready to strike at any moment.

The interrogation had been going on for some time. Crow was adept at exploiting the human body's pain receptors; his tools always found the most sensitive spots, inflicting maximum pain while skillfully avoiding vital organs. Yaksha was more direct; his fists and kicks possessed a violent beauty, each impact accompanied by the dull thud of bones bearing the strain and Koyama Ryuzo's uncontrollable screams.

“Speak, Doctor,” Crow said, walking up to Koyama Ryuzo and gently patting his swollen cheek with the blade of his newly polished knife. “Who did you sell that thing, that thing you call an evolution drug, to? List, address, contact information. It’s better for everyone to tell us.”

Koyama Ryuzo spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, mixed with half a tooth, and gasped for breath, "I...I don't know what you're talking about. What medicine? I'm just an ordinary doctor. Which group are you from? Do you want money? Name your price, let me go, and everything will be fine."

He was still trying to get close to them using the rules of the underworld, thinking it was just a kidnapping where the gangsters were double-crossing each other.

Yuan Zhisheng stirred, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and then stubbed out the slender cigarette on the concrete windowsill. The tiny spark extinguished, and he turned, slowly emerging from the shadows into the brightly lit area.

"Do you know why we came to find you?" Genji's voice was not loud, but it drowned out the howling sea breeze and Koyama Ryuzo's heavy breathing.

Koyama Ryuzo forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "No, I don't know. Young Master, is there some misunderstanding?"

Yuan Zhisheng did not answer, but simply tilted his head slightly.

The crow standing behind him immediately understood, took out a tablet computer, and read aloud: "Ryuzo Koyama graduated from Waseda University School of Medicine and served as an attending physician in the Department of Genetics at the University of Tokyo School of Medicine for six years. After being repeatedly exposed for molesting female patients and illegally extracting patients' gene samples for unapproved gene hybridization experiments, he was dismissed from the University of Tokyo School of Medicine and his medical license was revoked. After that, you mingled in underground clinics in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and other places, and your main business was to perform induced abortions for underage women or women who were unable to go to regular hospitals."

The crow paused, looked up at Koyama Ryuzo's face which had turned deathly pale, and continued reading, "But you weren't satisfied with that. You took advantage of the surgery to inject extra doses of sedatives into women under anesthesia, ensuring they were in a deep coma, and then raped them. There are at least eleven cases with solid evidence, and there are probably many more that went unreported. Until last week, your anonymous bank account used to receive surgery fees suddenly received a sum of fifty million yen. Dr. Koyama, what kind of induced abortion surgery is worth that price?"

Ryuzo Koyama's body began to tremble uncontrollably, cold sweat soaking his tattered shirt. The other party knew far more than he had imagined, and in such detail—something no ordinary yakuza organization could possibly possess.

"What do you want? Money, I'll give you all my money! Double the amount! Let me go! I promise I'll leave Tokyo and never come back!"

Genji frowned slightly. This subtle expression made Yasha and Crow beside him tense. Their young master was getting impatient.

Yaksha immediately stepped forward, drew a wilder-looking hunting knife with a blood groove from his back waist, and grinned as he prepared to advance.

"Wait," Genjiro said, stopping him. He took two steps forward, approaching Koyama Ryuzo, who was trembling all over. Yasha paused for a moment, then understood, and respectfully turned the hunting knife in his hand around, offering the hilt to Genjiro.

"Young Master, please."

Genji didn't take the Yaksha's knife; instead, his gaze fell on the small, gleaming knife in the crow's hand, which he had just wiped clean. The crow immediately understood and silently handed over his own knife.

Genjiro took the knife and weighed it in his hand. The knife was light and delicate, with a thin and sharp blade, more suitable for delicate work. He looked down at Koyama Ryuzo, his eyes devoid of any emotion, only indifference.

“You should get your teeth fixed,” Genji said.

Before Koyama Ryuzo could even process what those words meant, Genjiro shoved the hard end of the hilt of his sword into Koyama Ryuzo's mouth.

Chapter 327 Japan Branch (Part 2)

"Ugh! Ugh!" Koyama Ryuzo's eyes widened instantly, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets. A sharp pain exploded in his mouth, spreading throughout his entire head. He tried to scream, but the hilt of his sword blocked his throat, and he could only let out muffled, painful whimpers.

Genjiro tightened his wrist and began to stir. The metal hilt relentlessly pounded against his teeth, grinding against his gums and the soft flesh of his mouth. The teeth-grinding scraping sound and the faint cracking of bones were exceptionally clear in the silent space. Blood mixed with saliva uncontrollably gushed from Koyama Ryuzo's mouth, flowing down his chin and staining his shirt red.

The intense pain triggered a chain reaction throughout his body. Koyama Ryuzo felt his stomach churn violently, his stomach contracting sharply, and a hot, sour-smelling liquid surged up his throat, mixing with blood and broken teeth, spurting from the corner of his mouth that he couldn't close. The mixture of vomit and blood emitted a foul odor, causing the nearby Yasha to cover his nose in disgust.

Genjiro drew his sword without expression. Koyama Ryuzo immediately slumped into his chair like a lump of mud, gasping for breath, coughing violently and gagging, spitting out several broken teeth and blood onto the ground.

After a brief period of suffocation and excruciating pain, a surge of humiliation and desperate rage welled up within him. He raised his head and, with all his remaining strength, let out a hoarse roar at Yuan Zhisheng: "Who...who are you?! Do you think you're messengers of justice?! Bastards! How dare you treat me like this. Do you even know who I am? If you mess with me, we'll all die together! Nobody will get away with this!"

Genjiro watched his hysterical performance quietly until he finished shouting, then slowly took out a black ID holder from the inside pocket of his haori. He opened it with a "snap" and held it up in front of Koyama Ryuzo, giving him enough time to see it clearly.

The document itself is simple, but in the very center, a circular gold badge shines brightly under the strong light. The badge depicts a beautifully sculpted World Tree, but strangely, this World Tree appears withered and decaying, as if half of it is already dead.

"I am Genjiro, the executive officer of the Japanese branch of Kassel College. Now, do you understand?"

The anger and madness on Koyama Ryuzo's face froze for a moment, then melted away like ice and snow. His pupils contracted sharply, and his body trembled like leaves falling in the autumn wind.

Kassel College, Japan Branch. He'd vaguely heard these names before; they existed in the deeper, more terrifying layers of the dark world he'd encountered. That realm involved hybrids, dragon legacies, forces beyond mortal comprehension. He realized he wasn't embroiled in some underworld dispute, but something far more terrifying. These people were true monsters; they acted without regard for any secular law.

“It seems you understand.” Genji closed the document and put it away. “Then, to save each other’s time, state the name of the test subject. Who used your evolution drug?”

Koyama Ryuzo's psychological defenses had completely crumbled at the sight of Kassel College and the words "executive," but a lingering sense of hope and fear of the buyer kept him hesitant. His lips trembled, his eyes flickered, and he was still weighing his options.