Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Caesar knew that this Gulfstream, which had undergone extensive modifications by the Equipment Department, was Principal Angers's prized possession, usually kept hidden deep within the hangar and rarely used. It was only when Angers needed to attend clandestine auctions around the world involving dragon relics that this treasure would be brought out.

This was not only to maintain the facade of Kassel College's prestige and financial resources, but also to bypass the cumbersome and strict civil aviation security checks after acquiring those taboo items that couldn't be made public, and to quietly transport them back to the college's ivory tower using private planes. Furthermore, even as the principal, Angers preferred to compromise and travel on regular flights.

Chapter 338 A Strange Four-Person Group

Inside the spacious but far from comfortable cabin of the Srebniz, Cesare Gattuso turned his gaze from the portholes illuminating the burning Tokyo nightscape to his partners on this mission. To be precise, it was a group of three very different people, whose combination seemed rather odd.

On the opposite seat, the one who looked the most normal, or rather, conformed to the traditional image of an elite executive, was Chu Zihang. He held his black-sheathed longsword with both hands, and even while resting with his eyes closed, his muscles remained taut and restrained, his back straight like an unyielding javelin, ready to spring up at any moment to deal with a surprise attack.

In stark contrast to him was Lu Mingfei, who was slumped against his shoulder, fast asleep with no regard for his image, a suspicious, glistening trace faintly visible at the corner of his mouth. The latter was snoring softly, immersed in a sweet dream completely unrelated to his dragon-slaying endeavors.

Caesar observed the two men with great interest, and some inappropriate and even offensive thoughts involuntarily popped into his mind.

If one day, cough cough, the probability of this is extremely low in Caesar's opinion, these two guys and their beloved girls have developed to the point where they can spend the night together, how would the girls comment on their sleeping postures?

Lu Mingfei is a disaster; failing is an understatement.

As for Chu Zihang, Caesar imagined that the girl would probably feel like she had accidentally stumbled into the set of an old Shaw Brothers martial arts film, and the person lying next to her was not her lover, but a cold-faced young swordsman suffering from a rare poison and on the verge of death. She would have to strip him of his clothes out of a sense of chivalry or gratitude for saving his life, or maybe she wouldn't? Then she would place her palms against his back and use all her strength to push her inner energy to heal him.

Their gaze then fell on the fourth member by the window. Frillian sat quietly, her emerald eyes calmly gazing at the rapidly receding sea of ​​clouds outside the window. In stark contrast to Chu Zihang's tension and Lu Mingfei's relaxation, she exuded a tranquility honed by the passage of time, as if what swept past the window was not clouds, but the silent river of time flowing by.

“The brightest place beneath our feet is the famous Ginza,” Caesar broke the silence, his voice still clear amidst the engine noise. He turned to look at the dazzling sea of ​​light outside the window. “It is said that during the height of Japan’s real estate bubble, the land value of just this small area of ​​Ginza was estimated to be enough to buy the entire United States.”

“Ginza? Not interested,” Chu Zihang opened his eyes at some point, his gaze calmly fixed on another direction outside the window. “I’m interested in Chidorigafuchi.”

“Chidorigafuchi?” Caesar raised an eyebrow. “That’s the cemetery for nameless Japanese soldiers from World War II, right next to the Yasukuni Shrine. As a Chinese person, what are you planning to do there?”

"No, I heard there's a cherry blossom path that's a mile long, with over 800 cherry trees."

“Oh, cherry blossom viewing,” Caesar shrugged. “That suits your style.”

He could almost picture Chu Zihang sitting upright under the cherry blossom tree, a sword across his knees.

“Cherry blossom trees,” Frilian, who had been quietly gazing out the window, spoke softly, drawing the attention of Caesar and Chu Zihang. “On my journey, I have seen many trees that bloom. Some flowers have a life of only one night, blooming when the moonlight is at its brightest and withering before dawn. Their purpose in existence is simply for that moment of beauty, and then turning into soil, waiting for the next cycle of reincarnation.”

She turned her face, her emerald eyes looking at Chu Zihang, "The cherry blossoms you want to see, are they like that too? Brief, yet striving to be magnificent."

Chu Zihang hadn't expected Frilian to suddenly join the conversation and raise such a philosophical question. He paused for a moment, thought carefully, and then slowly replied, "Perhaps. But humans appreciate cherry blossoms not only for their beauty in full bloom, but also for their graceful fall. The beauty of mono no aware (the pathos of things) doesn't conflict with its growth next to a cemetery."

“Mono no aware,” Frilian tilted her head slightly, repeating the unfamiliar word, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Does understanding transience and extinction make one better appreciate the radiance of existence?”

Caesar watched the interaction with interest. Frilian's arrival shifted the potentially confrontational conversation in a slightly more profound direction. He seized the opportunity to steer the conversation back to a lighter tone: "Frilian, is there anything in Tokyo that you'd particularly like to visit, besides cherry blossoms and cemeteries?"

He deliberately ignored the cold gaze that Chu Zihang had given him.

Frillie thought for a moment, then pointed to a relatively dense area of ​​brightly lit electronic billboards flashing in the sea of ​​lights outside the window: "When I flew over there just now, I saw a lot of moving images and symbols, very colorful. What place is that?"

Before Caesar could answer, Lu Mingfei, who had been completely awakened by their conversation, rubbed his eyes and leaned over. Following the direction Frilian was pointing, he immediately perked up: "Ah! That looks like the direction of Akihabara! Frilian, you want to go to Akihabara?"

Akihabara?

"Yes, yes! It's Otaku Street!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed excitedly as he explained, "There are countless electronics stores, game stores, and anime merchandise stores! Cute maids handing out flyers are everywhere, and the cafes are really unique! It's a holy land for otaku!"

After he finished speaking, he felt a little embarrassed for being so excited in front of Caesar and Chu Zihang, and scratched his head.

"Electronic devices, games, anime. Sounds lively, right? It's a completely different scene from the tranquil cherry blossom path."

“You could say that,” Caesar smiled. “It represents the most flamboyant side of modern pop culture. If you’re interested, you can go check it out during breaks in your missions.” He said this to simultaneously curry favor with both Lu Mingfei and Frilian.

"Caesar, you actually recommend Akihabara too?" Chu Zihang spoke up again. "I didn't think the Gattuso family heir would have any plans to experience the life of an ordinary person on his schedule."

Here we go again. Caesar frowned slightly, but this time he didn't react immediately. Instead, he responded with a hint of sarcasm: "Don't make me sound like some kind of emotionless monster that crawled out of a laboratory petri dish. Understanding different cultural aspects is a necessary quality. But you, Chu Zihang, besides cherry blossoms and swords, is there any other color in your world?"

“Too many colors can sometimes interfere with judgment,” Chu Zihang said, looking directly at Caesar. “Especially when carrying out a mission.”

Seeing the conversation heating up again, Lu Mingfei quickly interjected, "Oh, it's all good! The cherry blossoms are beautiful, and Akihabara is lively! Frilian, look, this is Tokyo, it has everything! We can take our time to explore after our mission."

Frilian looked at the three people in front of her: the proud Caesar, the aloof Chu Zihang, and the flustered Lu Mingfei trying to smooth things over. She blinked her emerald eyes.

"In my travels, I have seen valleys where only one type of flower blooms, and forests that nurture countless species. Valleys are pure and tranquil, while forests are noisy yet full of life. It's hard to say which is better. What's important is that the observer knows why they came and what they want to see."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the three of them. "So, are we here to see the flowers, or to venture deeper into the forest in search of something specific?"

This seemingly casual remark brought a moment of silence to the cabin. Even Caesar and Chu Zihang briefly stopped exchanging glances. Frilian's words, though seemingly about the scenery, subtly reminded them of the true purpose of their trip: not to travel and argue about preferences, but to shoulder the heavy responsibility of investigating the Lenin and the forbidden items of the Dragon Clan.

Chu Zihang nodded and closed his eyes again. Caesar also composed himself, glanced thoughtfully at Frillie, then leaned back in his chair and remained silent. Lu Mingfei secretly breathed a sigh of relief and gave Frillie a grateful look.

Silence returned to the cabin, broken only by the roar of the engines. The plane had passed through the rain clouds and was descending. Outside the window, Tokyo, bathed in the night rain, was ablaze with lights, like a giant, burning glass lamp, its light and shadow flowing and blurring under the rain, cold and hazy, silently awaiting their arrival.

Chapter 339 The Child Who Never Grows Up

Lu Mingfei remembered a long time ago, probably when he was still using his aunt's Wi-Fi, he had accidentally seen a photo of Earth at night taken from space. It showed the darkness of night around the world, with countless city lights connected to form a vast spiderweb of light.

Each bright spot on the spider web represents a human settlement, some as bright as stars, others as dim as dying embers.

On the east coast of Asia, in the area surrounding Tokyo Bay, the dense patches of light almost merged into a dazzling, pulsating sea of ​​white light. Against the backdrop of the dark earth and deep blue sea, it resembled a gigantic white candle burning continuously in the night, recklessly squandering its energy and vitality.

At this moment, he lay on the cold, hard porthole of the Sleibniz, staring blankly at the torrent of light below that was getting closer and clearer, and for a moment he felt as if he had returned to the rooftop of his uncle's old, affordable housing building.

In that cramped, cluttered, and unbearably hot concrete space, he had countless times gazed at the ever-brightly lit CBD on the other side of the city, seemingly from another dimension, in the sweltering heat of summer nights or the chilly winds of winter nights.

My uncle is an interesting yet somewhat pathetic little man who lives in the suburbs far from the CBD, yet stubbornly believes that he has the consumption taste and ambition of the CBD, even if it's just talk.

His favorite thing to do is occasionally grit his teeth and save up some money to treat his old friends, who are also down on their luck, to a fancy restaurant in a star-rated hotel in the CBD.

Sitting in a soft, comfortable chair, enjoying the well-trained smiles and gentle words of the pretty waitresses, ordering a few dishes that look exquisite but are actually priced at the end of the menu, and opening a bottle of the cheapest red wine that is still printed with foreign words, the uncle can feel extremely satisfied, as if at that moment he has truly become part of that glamorous world.

In his description, every inch of the CBD floor is paved with high-grade marble that shines like a mirror, polished to a gleaming shine by professional machines. "It's so smooth that you can see up the skirts of beautiful women, uh, I mean, it can clearly reflect the tall and confident figures of successful people!"

Everything there sparkles, from Italian handcrafted patent leather shoes to the small mirrors socialites casually use to touch up their makeup, from the giant advertisements scrolling across the top of the building to the cold glass curtain walls of the international business center.

Everyone is rushing around, with clear goals, their faces saying "I am important, I am changing the world," their lives as fulfilling as a well-wound clock.

My uncle often lamented that he would be willing to live in a tiny apartment in the CBD, just to be immersed in a positive and hopeful atmosphere day and night, so that Lu Mingfei and his cousin Lu Mingze could also be influenced by it and achieve success in the future.

Whenever this happened, his aunt would mercilessly burst his fantasy bubble: "Bullshit! Aren't you just suffering for the sake of saving face? Or do you just want to stroll around the streets and look at those young girls dressed up in fancy clothes? Don't you even take a piss and look at yourself? You're so old, what's that word again? Right, an old loser! The girls in the CBD are all high and mighty, they only see rich second-generation guys driving luxury cars, who would even glance at your old orange peel face?"

It was from his uncle's description, filled with longing mixed with sour grapes, that Lu Mingfei first clearly realized that there really were people in the world living lives completely different from his, doing things that were far more meaningful and valuable than climbing the StarCraft ladder or farming equipment in dungeons.

He rarely had the opportunity to actually set foot in that area. Even when he did go there occasionally for school activities or other reasons, he would feel incredibly awkward and lost amidst the dazzling, incomprehensible foreign brand logos and the well-dressed, indifferent crowds.

He didn't dare to step into those luxurious places that seemed unaffordable to broaden his horizons, and could only catch a fleeting glimpse through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. In his imagination, the people of that land were always full of energy and well-dressed, always clearly knowing what they were going to do and where they were going, and would never be as lost and confused as he was at the crossroads of life, nor would they stare blankly at the screen in the middle of the night because of emptiness.

In junior high school, as a loser who lacked presence for a long time, Lu Mingfei was envious deep down.

Who wouldn't want to live for a noble, great, or at least cool purpose? Just like in a game, even if you can't be a hero who saves the world, you should at least be a domineering demon king who gives the whole world a headache.

Nobody wants to be the kind of NPC who just paces back and forth along a fixed path in front of the blacksmith's shop. No matter how many times a player clicks on him, he will always just repeat the pre-set lines in a monotonous electronic voice: "The swords and knives here are genuine and of the highest quality. Would you like to take a look, sir?"

Even though he longed for it so much, he had a vague feeling that he might never be able to truly reach the dazzling CBD.

It was like a magnificent mirage suspended on the edge of the real world—beautiful, dazzling, yet unattainable. Sitting on the rooftop, gazing at the distant sea of ​​neon lights surging like a tide, he often felt that it wasn't real.

Now, times have changed. He's definitely not the loser he used to be. His business card now bears the title of S-level ace specialist in the Executive Department of Kassel College, and he travels in a top-of-the-line business jet that has been heavily modified by the Equipment Department and can cross the Pacific Ocean at astonishing speeds.

In order to send his mere 60-odd kilograms of weight to Japan as quickly as possible, the academy did not hesitate to burn hundreds of tons of expensive aviation fuel.

This undoubtedly shows that he is now a very important and influential person. On this noisy but high-performance plane, if he wants to eat fruit, the flight attendants will bring him a fruit platter; if he wants to drink orange juice, he can get a refill, all without paying a penny! Theoretically, if he were to throw a tantrum and quit now, even the principal of Angers might have to condescend to persuade him.

He is very happy now.

Lu Mingfei's world is different now. He no longer always goes it alone or merely relies on the light of others. He has friends who can fight alongside him and share everyday trifles, such as Chu Zihang, who is stoic but absolutely reliable, and Fingel, who is always bickering but trustworthy in crucial moments.

More importantly, he had Frilian. This elf from another world stood firmly by his side in her own way, shielding him from unnecessary malice and gradually mending his once shattered self-esteem.

It was because his heart was filled with such warmth and support, and because he was now living a fulfilling and happy life, that Lu Mingfei was able to truly let go of his obsession with the past.

Caesar is a wonderful guy; Nono will be happy with him. He himself now has someone he wants to watch over and be with.

So, on the plane at this moment, facing Caesar, who was in high spirits and preparing for his wedding, Lu Mingfei felt relaxed. He could even naturally think that after the mission ended and he returned to the academy, he should think carefully about what wedding gifts to give to his boss and Sister Nuonuo, and perhaps also find an opportunity to formally express his feelings to Frilian?

Lu Mingfei was a little drowsy and unsteady, but this was mostly due to the fatigue of the long flight and the feeling of being safe and relaxed next to Frilian.

Occasionally, when the invisible tension between Caesar and Chu Zihang became tense again, he would rub his eyes, yawn, and crack a few jokes.

But this was no longer out of humble flattery or helpless compromise, but because he genuinely felt that everyone was a team, and it would be so much better to complete the task peacefully. He also wanted to return to the academy as soon as possible and ask Frilian to try the newly opened dessert shop.

Outside the cabin, Tokyo's lights shone brightly and mysteriously in the night rain, like a giant kaleidoscope full of unknowns.

Lu Mingfei withdrew his gaze and glanced at the silver-haired girl beside him, who was quietly gazing out the window with a delicate profile. A sense of peace settled in his heart. No matter what mission or challenge lay ahead, he was no longer the pathetic kid who could only look up at the CBD lights and lick his wounds alone.

Chapter 340 Moths

Akira Sakurai felt something awakening deep within his body. It wasn't a human heartbeat; it was more like the pulse of an ancient creature, each beat causing his blood vessels to ache.

He looked down at the back of his hand, where faint bluish-black veins peeked through the skin, like tiny snakes wriggling within. This was the backlash from the drug, he knew. While those rainbow-colored liquids granted him power, they were also slowly eroding his humanity.

When the phrase "Deadpool-like" came to mind, he felt a strange, ironic sense of relief.

"Senior, you look so pale," Xiaoyuan's voice pulled him back to reality.

Akira Sakurai looked up, managing a weak smile. The girl sat opposite him, clutching the ceramic jar containing the cat's ashes, her eyes filled with innocent concern. Her hair clip reflected the soft light of the carriage's overhead lamp, making her look like an innocent angel.

“It’s nothing,” he said, “I’m just a little tired.”

The words had barely left his mouth when he suddenly realized how quiet the carriage was. Where were the couples who had been chatting excitedly? Where were the groups of high school students on their school trips? Even the occasional train attendant hadn't appeared for a long time. He quietly glanced around; only he and Xiaoyuan remained in the carriage.

No, it's not that only left, it's that it's been cleared out.

His hunting instincts instantly tensed him. He could smell the lingering scents of different people in the air rapidly dissipating. Someone was coming, and not an ordinary person.

"Xiaoyuan, can you do me a favor?"

"Okay!" The girl immediately sat up straight, like a primary school student who had received an important mission.

“Go to the next few carriages and find the waiter with the dining cart. Buy me a bento. I’m a little hungry, but my legs aren’t feeling well,” Sakurai Akira said, pointing to his knee. The excuse was ridiculously clumsy.

Xiao Yuan believed her and immediately stood up: "I'll go right now! What flavor would you like to eat, Senior?"

“Whatever, pick whichever you like,” said Akira Sakurai.

"Then I'll buy two, one for each of us!" Xiaoyuan said, skipping and hopping as she carried the urn towards the connecting area between the carriages. When she reached the door, she turned around and said earnestly, "Wait for me, senior, I'll be right back."

The door slid open and closed again. Her figure disappeared into the corridor.

Akira Sakurai stared at the door for a few seconds, then slowly leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"Can we come out now, officer?" he said, his voice not loud, but clearly audible in the quiet carriage.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then, a figure emerged from the shadows at the other end of the carriage.