Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

This sudden association made his heart tighten slightly, but he quickly suppressed this inexplicable emotion and refocused his attention on the Longyuan Project in front of him.

Miyamoto Shigeo glanced at the specially made waterproof instrument on his wrist, which displayed complex hydrological data. He looked up and raised his voice slightly to drown out the continuous roar of the water: "Everyone, please follow me to this platform. According to the monitoring, the next peak of the drainage system is coming soon, and the current will be even more rapid. Water may splash onto the platform. Although it's not a big deal, getting your clothes wet is always inconvenient."

As he spoke, he led the way towards a metal staircase to the side and rear of the observation platform. The staircase led to a higher, railing-enclosed circular observation deck, offering a better and safer view.

Lu Mingfei was still somewhat stunned by the underground wonder when he heard this. He said "Oh" and reached out to tug at the sleeve of Frilian, who was standing diagonally in front of him: "Frilian, over here, hurry up, the water is rising!"

Frillie paused, glanced down at her sleeve that was being pulled, then looked up at Lu Mingfei's slightly nervous profile. She said nothing, letting him pull her along, and followed the others with light steps. Caesar, Chu Zihang, Yuan Zhisheng, and the others followed closely behind, quickly climbing to the higher observation platform.

Just as everyone had steadied themselves at the edge of the observation deck, before they could even take a closer look at the more expansive panoramic view of the tunnel below, an even more violent tremor struck beneath their feet. Then, the already deafening sound of the water abruptly escalated, turning into an almost ferocious roar.

In the main tunnel below, the already turbulent water seemed to be propelled by an invisible giant hand, with the water level rising nearly a meter at a visible speed. Thicker and more violent jets of water, carrying white foam and churning eddies, surged past with overwhelming force, crashing heavily against the tunnel walls and creating turbid waves several meters high.

Even standing on the high observation platform, the splashing water droplets still drifted over like a drizzle, carrying the unique, cool, and slightly earthy scent of the underground river.

“The tide has arrived.” Miyamoto Shio adjusted his glasses. In this man-made underground temple, the regular surging tides were simply part of the normal operation of a vast system.

"Now, everyone, please follow me. Your most important partner on this trip, the vehicle of Project Dragon Abyss—the Trieste deep-sea submersible—is waiting for your inspection in the dedicated dock ahead."

Chapter 380 The Trieste

The violent tremors and surging waters brought by the high tide gradually subsided, returning to their previous deafening roar. Standing on the high observation platform, the view was even more expansive, and the magnificent structure of this giant underground drainage tunnel could be clearly seen extending forward and backward into the darkness.

Miyamoto Shigeo turned to the crowd, already accustomed to the surroundings: "Gentlemen, please look over there."

He pointed to a huge, recessed dock chamber beside the main tunnel below, illuminated by high-intensity waterproof lights. Half of the dock chamber was submerged in water and connected to the main waterway via a giant, operable gate.

On a fixed frame in the center of the dock, a rather peculiarly shaped object rests quietly.

Unlike modern, streamlined, technologically advanced research submersibles, it instead carries the ruggedness and clumsiness of mid-20th-century industrial design. The overall shape is a combination of an oblate spheroid and a cylinder, with visible riveting and welding marks on the surface, as well as the paint job.

Well, let's put the paint job aside for now. It's quite large, like a small submarine, but its structure looks far more complex than a submarine, with many protruding observation windows, robotic arm interfaces, and protrusions of unknown purpose.

"This is the vehicle for this Longyuan mission," Miyamoto Shigeo said with the solemnity of introducing a legendary artifact, "the deep-sea submersible—the Trieste."

“Dieselt?” Chu Zihang repeated the name in a low voice.

“That’s right,” Shio Miyamoto affirmed, his gaze fixed on the metal structure with the reverence a technical expert holds for a masterpiece of engineering. “A legend in the history of diving. In 1960, it carried two explorers and successfully descended to the bottom of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, to a depth of over 11,000 meters. It was the first and, to date, the only time that humans were directly sent to the deepest point of the Earth’s oceans. It was the pinnacle of deep-sea exploration technology of that era, a true legend.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each member of Caesar's team, and emphasized, "And what you are about to board is not a later copy or improved model, but the very prototype that once reached the top of the world."

Lu Mingfei gasped, his eyes widening in shock. Although he didn't know much about the history of deep-sea exploration, he understood the significance of the statement "the deepest point on Earth has been reached." This wasn't an antique; it was a living legend! Its value was probably beyond monetary measure; it was practically a museum's crown jewel.

The academy actually made them ride this thing to the trench? If there's any damage, he couldn't afford to pay for it even if he sold himself! He started to estimate how many late-night snacks this thing could buy, and then realized that the number might need to be followed by many zeros.

Caesar frowned slightly as he approached the railing of the lookout tower, carefully examining the deep-sea submersible in the dock below. Its rugged lines, distinctive structural features, and a strangely familiar, toy-like quality—reminiscent of the large toys in Gattuso's collection—suggested an absurd idea to him.

“This thing,” Caesar stroked his chin, turning to look at Miyamoto Shio, “looks very familiar. Director Miyamoto, could it have originally belonged to our Gattuso family?”

Miyamoto Shigeo nodded, his expression calm: "Mr. Caesar has a good eye. That's right, the prototype of the Trieste once belonged to the Gattuso family. It was a precious gift from the current head of the Gattuso family, Mr. Pompeii Gattuso, to the Kassel College out of his support for the educational cause and his passion for deep-sea exploration. After receiving it, the College's Equipment Department modernized and upgraded the internal life support system, detection equipment, and power module to adapt to this polar exploration mission. The final assembly, testing, and final adaptation to the high-pressure environment of the deep sea were completed by our Rock Flow Research Institute."

Lu Mingfei's mouth gaped even wider as he turned to look at Caesar, his face filled with shock, as if to say, "Just how outrageous is your family?"

"Holy crap! Boss Caesar! Your family even has something like this? And you just give it away like that? This thing, this thing has been down to the Mariana Trench! A living fossil! A legend! It's priceless! Your dad, Mr. Pompeii, he..." Lu Mingfei couldn't find the right words to describe this extravagance.

Caesar's expression was complex, a mixture of knowing knowing and resignation. He shrugged. "Don't be so surprised, Lu Mingfei. My father, Pompeii Gattuso, was a playboy with rather peculiar tastes. He liked collecting all sorts of strange and unusual treasures, historically significant or technologically groundbreaking. This thing,"

He pointed to the Trieste below, saying, "Back then, I think he bought it along with an early Apollo lunar module test model from a bankrupt private museum or collector. In his words, they were both symbols of humanity's courage to explore the unknown, and they looked beautiful together."

Lu Mingfei was stunned: "A submersible is considered a rare treasure? I thought playboys would prefer collecting pretty girls, luxury sports cars, yachts, airplanes, and the like..."

"You don't understand, Lu Mingfei. A real, top-tier, classy playboy can't rely on just his looks and money. He always needs some real skills or refined hobbies to embellish his image. Collecting adventure gear sounds much more interesting than collecting supercars. However..."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat strange, "As far as I know, his most direct motive for buying the Trieste was to woo a female PhD student at ETH Zurich who was researching deep-sea geology."

"Huh?" Lu Mingfei was dumbfounded. "You bought this to pick up girls?"

“Hmm.” Caesar nodded, recalling a less-than-brilliant family anecdote. “That female doctor was obsessed with the history of deep-sea exploration and believed that the Trieste was the perfect combination of engineering and courage. To cater to her interests and show off his taste, my father managed to buy this decommissioned and almost forgotten deep-sea submersible, claiming he would revive its legend and invite her to participate in an unprecedented private deep-sea test.”

Lu Mingfei's curiosity was piqued: "And then? Did they actually go down and test it?"

“Testing?” Caesar snorted. “No, not really. But I heard that my old man did manage to get this thing to a testing ground at a private lake, and then, under the pretext of checking the internal equipment and conducting simulation training, he invited that female doctor into the cramped crew cabin.”

Lu Mingfei imagined the scene for a moment, his expression subtle: "And then?"

“And then?” Caesar glanced at him and said in a knowing tone, “He probably hadn’t been inside long when he accidentally locked the hatch from the inside, claiming it was an old mechanical malfunction. The two of them were trapped in that cramped, isolated metal space for several hours. You think, given my father’s personality and methods, a few hours is enough for something to happen, right?”

Lu Mingfei was speechless and could only give a thumbs up and stammer, "Your dad is really something."

A cough interrupted the increasingly rambling conversation between Lu Mingfei and Caesar about family secrets.

Frillie walked to the railing on the other side of the observation deck and looked down at the Trieste.

That's enough small talk, time to get down to business.

Lu Mingfei and Caesar both fell silent, awkwardly touching their noses. Miyamoto Shigeo, seemingly oblivious to the previous conversation, maintained his professional smile and clapped his hands at the opportune moment, drawing everyone's attention back to the submersible itself.

As he applauded, several powerful spotlights above the dock suddenly adjusted their angles, and bright beams of light crossed and shone in the air before slowly moving down, like a stage spotlight, eventually enveloping the entire Trieste.

In the clearer, brighter light, the details of this legendary deep-sea submersible and its current appearance are fully revealed to the public.

After being forgotten and sealed away for half a century, this legend in diving history has reappeared in the world with a remarkable new look.

It might have originally been a dull original color or an old functional paint, but now, the upper part of the entire pressure-resistant shell has been painted with an extremely bright and visually striking paint.

A magnificent, lifelike red dragon from the East! The dragon coils around the spherical observation cabin and cylindrical body of the deep-sea submersible, its head proudly facing the bow, its eyes gleaming, its scales and claws flashing, shimmering with dazzling luster under the bright light.

Chapter 381 Soaring Above the Nine Heavens

"Wow," Lu Mingfei blinked, impressed by the excellent taste.

"Pretty cool," Caesar remarked, arms crossed.

Miyamoto Shigeo explained with a smile, "This was a small request made by Mr. Pompeii Gattuso when he donated the deep-sea submersible to the Academy. He hoped that it would be adorned with a new battle robe. This dragon paint scheme is Mr. Pompeii's hope for you, Mr. Caesar. He hoped that you could be like the dragon in the Eastern legend, diving into the deepest abyss, and then soaring to the heavens, successfully completing your mission and returning safely."

The dragon paint gleamed under the lights, infusing the old submersible with a new soul and an undeniable aura. Within this vast underground drainage temple, the legendary vehicle and the brand-new totem merged into one, silently awaiting to carry them to the dragon's abyss, a place untouched even by sunlight.

Lu Mingfei stared down at the majestic Trieste, painted with a ferocious red dragon, while his mind kept replaying Caesar's earlier stories about locking the hatches to woo women. A strong sense of unease welled up within him.

“Hey Caesar, you just said this thing was brought in by your dad for a special purpose. When was the last time it actually went down for a proper deep-sea mission? I mean, besides when your dad used it as a dating spot.”

Caesar raised an eyebrow, recalled for a moment, and then answered in a matter-of-fact tone, “A proper dive? Ever since it set a record in 1960, it seems to have been in a museum collection, and later it passed into my father’s hands. For the decades he had it, it was basically used as a large historical prop. I remember it was transported around the world for many exhibitions and special occasions. For example, a cultural exchange exhibition commemorating the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy? I think it was also at a memorial event for Picasso’s death. Oh, right, Madonna rented it for one of her world tours, when the stage design needed a large object symbolizing exploration and breakthrough. Michael Jackson’s performance, I think…”

He counted on his fingers and found that there were quite a few times.

Lu Mingfei's jaw nearly dropped, and his voice rose an octave: "So this thing has never been underwater in the past half-century?! It's just been used as decoration at various exhibitions, stages, and even your dad's private parties?! And now you're telling me we're going to sit in this half-century-old relic, which might even have rusted screws, and dive to a depth of 8,500 meters?! Is this thing even usable? Won't it fall apart halfway down the water, or just leak?!"

This is far more terrifying than facing Deadpool or an out-of-control hybrid. At that depth, mechanical failure equals instant death, and a death without any chance of struggle.

Miyamoto Shigeo immediately stepped forward. “Commissioner Lu, please rest assured. When Mr. Pompeii donated the Trieste to the Academy, although it was still in good condition as an exhibit, it was indeed no longer capable of deep-sea diving. After taking over, the Academy’s Equipment Department carried out a comprehensive and thorough modernization. The pressure hull underwent state-of-the-art non-destructive testing and local reinforcement, and all aging pipes, valves, and seals were replaced with special materials. The internal life support system, environmental control system, thrusters, power system, sonar, robotic arm, and main control computer were all redesigned and installed by the Equipment Department. It can be said that apart from the outer shell and historical serial number, its internal organs have been completely renewed.”

"After it was transported to our rock flow research institute, we conducted final adaptation adjustments and pressure test simulations based on the precise water depth, water pressure, water temperature, salinity data of the Tuscaloa Deep and the possible seabed topography. The Minister of the Equipment Department, Director Akadura, personally called and repeatedly assured that the Trieste, after their modification, was absolutely reliable and capable of handling this mission."

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned Akadula; the moment he did, Lu Mingfei's face turned even paler.

"Minister Akadula's guarantee from the Equipment Department?" Lu Mingfei's voice trembled slightly as he looked at Chu Zihang, his eyes full of pleading. "Senior, listen to this! Those lunatics in the Equipment Department are always figuring out how to turn C4 into chewing gum and mix nitroglycerin into shampoo! Can we trust their 'OK'? Does their quality assurance mean that this thing might self-destruct at any time because it's too reliable, or that they installed a bomb propellant we don't know about to improve efficiency?!"

Chu Zihang had been listening silently, but upon receiving Lu Mingfei's gaze, his perpetually icy face furrowed slightly. He glanced at the flashy deep-sea submersible below, then at the confident Miyamoto Shigeo, and finally nodded slowly.

His expression didn't seem to indicate agreement that the quality was okay; rather, it was more like a confirmation that the journey was fraught with danger, carrying the resolute air of someone about to face execution. He didn't speak, but that nod was enough to say the point. Like Lu Mingfei, he held reservations about the equipment produced by the Equipment Department, especially for something used in such a life-threatening situation.

Caesar understood the equipment department's style, but things had come to this point, and dwelling on it was pointless. He was more concerned with the practical question: "When will the dive mission begin?"

Yuan Zhisheng glanced at the schedule: "Tomorrow night. The operation will begin at 6 PM tomorrow night and end at 18 AM the next morning."

"So fast?" Even Chu Zihang looked surprised this time.

Genji didn't explain why time was so tight; he simply took three thick, seemingly waterproof instruction manuals from Yabuki Sakura and handed them to Caesar.

"This is the complete operating manual for the Trieste, the emergency troubleshooting guide, and the specific procedures for this Longyuan mission. You have one day to familiarize yourself with and master the basic controls. In addition," he added, "the Trieste's crew cabin, in standard configuration, can only accommodate three crew members."

It can only accommodate three people.

Caesar, Chu Zihang, Lu Mingfei, and Frilian, who had been quietly listening, exchanged glances.

After a brief silence, Caesar, as the captain, spoke first, his gaze sweeping over Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei before finally settling on Frilian: "The mission involves deep-sea exploration and potential pinpoint demolition, demanding extremely high levels of underwater operational and responsiveness. The crew cabin has limited space and must be streamlined. My suggestion is that the three of us—Chu Zihang, Lu Mingfei, and I—dive. Frilian, your abilities might be limited in the deep sea, and the internal environment of the submersible might not be advantageous. Stay on the surface support ship as backup and support."

Chu Zihang nodded without objection. Although Lu Mingfei's legs were a little weak, he knew that at this time, an S-rank could not possibly cower in the back, and besides, let Frillie sit in that seemingly unreliable metal can? He thought that wouldn't do.

Frilian listened quietly to Caesar's arrangements. "Okay. I'll wait for you upstairs."

“Then it’s decided,” Caesar said, taking the heavy manuals. “Before I dive, I want to buy some PS4s and porcelain.”

Chapter 382 Going out for some fresh air

With only one day left before the dive, Caesar and Chu Zihang plunged into the Trieste's operating manual and simulation programs. Lu Mingfei was overwhelmed by the complex diagrams, button instructions, and lengthy emergency plans; he felt his eyes were turning into mosquito coils after looking at them for so long.

"No, no, Senior Brother, Boss Caesar, I need to get some fresh air, otherwise my brain will shut down before I even get into the sea," Lu Mingfei said, rubbing his temples and surrendering. The intense mental concentration combined with his subconscious fear of the unknown deep sea made him desperately need some lighthearted moments to balance things out.

Caesar waved his hand without looking up, indicating that he should do as he pleased. Chu Zihang simply grunted in response, his gaze fixed on the circuit diagram in the manual.

Lu Mingfei felt like he'd been granted a pardon and was about to slip away when he caught sight of Frillie sitting quietly on the sofa in the lounge area, lost in thought as she looked at a picture book about modern Japanese life. She seemed completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere, or rather, she had her own peaceful world.

“Frilian,” Lu Mingfei leaned closer as if possessed, “why don’t you want to go out for a stroll? Akihabara, ever heard of it? It’s a paradise for anime, games, and electronics, and it’s always bustling.”

Subconsciously, he felt it was a bit unreasonable to leave Frilian alone here, or to let her continue looking at those picture books that she might not truly understand. Besides, having a companion, even the taciturn Frilian, would give him courage and alleviate the anxiety of facing the pressure of the mission alone.

Frillie looked up from the picture book, her emerald eyes silently observing Lu Mingfei for two seconds. The picture book depicted a brightly lit Akihabara night scene, filled with anime signs. She didn't say whether it was good or bad, but simply closed the picture book, stood up, and said, "It's fine."

Thus, under the escort of a low-profile family driver and invisible bodyguard arranged by Sakura Yabuki, Lu Mingfei and Frilian temporarily left the steel and cement fortress of Genji Heavy Industries and plunged into the bizarre and bustling streets of Akihabara, filled with the noise of the anime world.

The afternoon sun shone brightly, and Akihabara's vibrant energy was palpable. Huge billboards advertising anime characters stood side by side, the windows of electronics stores gleamed with the latest game consoles, maid café staff handed out flyers on the street, and rousing anime theme songs blared from music stores.

However, Lu Mingfei soon discovered that the two of them walking together had become a minor tourist attraction on the street.

Today, Frilian wasn't wearing the slightly old-fashioned magician's robe, but rather a set of casual clothes prepared by the academy's logistics department before departure, in line with modern Japanese street style: an elegant off-white knit sweater, a light brown long skirt, and a soft light gray cardigan on top.

Her long, silver hair wasn't styled in a complicated way; it simply draped smoothly over her shoulders, with a few strands occasionally ruffled by the breeze.

In Akihabara, an environment dominated by otaku and trendy youths, this outfit and demeanor were like a drop of clear water falling into a boiling oil pan, instantly attracting countless eyes. Her cool and refined features, the exotic and mysterious feel brought by her silver hair, and the tranquility that stood out from the surrounding noise combined to create a striking aesthetic.

Lu Mingfei could clearly feel that gazes from all directions, especially those from male passersby and some women, were focused on Frillie like searchlights, and then inevitably swept over his companion.

"Look over there, is that girl a cosplayer? Natural silver hair? She's so beautiful! Which new anime is she from? I've never seen her before."

"She has such a unique aura, like she stepped out of a painting, no, she has an even stronger presence than those in paintings."

"Who's that guy next to you? Your boyfriend? You're so lucky! He's just average-looking and dressed like an ordinary person."

"Damn it! Why wasn't I walking next to them?!"

Such whispers, even when hushed, drifted intermittently into Lu Mingfei's ears. He was initially a little uncomfortable, straightening his back as if trying to appear more worthy.