Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Lu Mingfei's eyelids began to feel heavy, his head involuntarily bobbed, his vision gradually blurred, and the light and shadow on the TV screen melted into a patchwork of colors.

After an unknown amount of time, perhaps only a few minutes, Lu Mingfei's body tilted to one side, his head resting on the wide, soft armrest of the sofa, his breathing becoming even and long. He had fallen asleep, his brows slightly furrowed, still worrying about something in his dream.

The TV was still playing, and the ending theme song started playing again.

Frillie turned her head and looked at Lu Mingfei, who was already asleep. He was curled up in the corner of the sofa, looking uncomfortable, and still holding the remote control in his hand.

She watched quietly for a few seconds, then stood up and walked slowly to Lu Mingfei's side. Instead of waking him immediately, she reached out and gently took the remote control that had come loose from his fingers, placing it on the coffee table in front of him to prevent it from accidentally falling to the ground and making a sound.

Then, she bent down, gently supporting Lu Mingfei's neck and shoulders with one hand, and slipping the other hand under his knees. The movement was careful, with just the right amount of strength that seemed somewhat incongruous with her slender appearance.

Lu Mingfei mumbled something in his sleep, but did not wake up.

Frillie picked up Lu Mingfei steadily, not in a romantic princess carry, but in a more practical and effortless way, ensuring he wouldn't slip or feel uncomfortable. Lu Mingfei wasn't heavy, so it wasn't difficult for Frillie. She carried him silently towards Lu Mingfei's bedroom.

Only a dim, yellow nightlight was on in the bedroom, casting a soft glow. Frillian walked to the bedside, slowly bent down, and gently placed Lu Mingfei on the neatly made bed. She pulled the soft down comforter over him, carefully covering his chest, and tucked the corners in to ensure there was no draft.

After doing all this, Frillie stood by the bed and looked down at the sleeping Lu Mingfei for a moment. In his sleep, the wrinkles between his brows relaxed a little, but his lips would occasionally move, as if he were muttering something in his sleep.

The room was very quiet, with only Lu Mingfei's steady breathing and the faint sound of the television from the living room, which she had turned down to the lowest volume.

Frillie didn't leave immediately. She went to the window and drew the heavy curtains tightly, blocking out any remaining light from the city that might disturb her sleep. Then, she checked the air conditioner temperature, found it comfortable, and didn't adjust it further.

Finally, she glanced at the sleeping person on the bed, gently closed the bedroom door, but didn't close it completely, leaving a gap for air circulation, and also so that she could detect any noise she might hear.

Back in the living room, Frillie turned off the television. Instantly, the entire suite fell silent.

Frillie didn't immediately return to her room. Instead, she sat down in the corner of the sofa where Lu Mingfei had just been sitting, sinking into its soft indentation. She picked up a cushion, rested her chin on it, and gazed at the faint glow of the city lights peeking through the curtains outside the window.

Chapter 400 Scientific Research Vessel

Dark, heavy clouds seemed to press down directly onto the sea from the sky, the air pressure so low it was suffocating. The inky blue sea lost its usual gentleness, heaving uneasily and violently, churning up streaks of white foam. Between this turbulent sea and sky, a jet-black ship with cold, hard lines cut through the equally dark, raging waves, leaving behind a brief trail of white water that was quickly swallowed up.

"You've disguised yourselves as fishing boats!" Caesar had to shout at the top of his lungs to drown out the continuous, deep roar of the ship's powerful gas turbines. The sea breeze whipped his blond hair and the collar of his white captain's uniform.

"Wrong! This ship we're on is a scientific research vessel!" Genji raised his voice as well, his words faltering in the sea breeze. "We're now operating a legitimate business, running a research vessel dedicated to studying the migration routes of rare marine fish! The ship's name is Mani Maru!"

He pointed to the three characters painted in white on the bow, then to the stern crane that looked quite professional and was carrying a replica trawl net. "We are currently in international waters, but we are still within Japan's exclusive economic zone. Our family used their connections to secure a full twelve-hour traffic control period from 6 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. tomorrow! During this time, no civilian or commercial vessels will pass through the target area!"

In order to carry out the extremely secretive and dangerous Operation Dragon Abyss, the Japanese branch gave the Kassel College's meritorious ship, the Moniach, a makeover that could be described as a complete makeover. It shed its former silver-gray paint and sharp design, which represented the college's cutting-edge technology, and put on an old but practical fishing coat. Even the ship's name was changed to the rather Japanese-style Monia Maru.

At this moment, they are sailing in deep waters far from the Japanese coastline. Three hours ago, they quietly set sail from an inconspicuous old pier in Tokyo Port. The weather forecast for tonight had already warned of gale-force winds of up to level 8 and waves reaching up to two meters high in the nearby waters, making it an unfavorable time to go out to sea.

However, the precious and hard-to-obtain twelve-hour channel control window is only available tonight. They cannot wait until the wind is calm and all boats are racing before they can launch a large-scale exploration of the dragon embryos sleeping in the deep abyss.

As we departed, the setting sun struggled to sink below the leaden-gray horizon, and the wind on the sea was already picking up.

A large number of fishing boats that had finished their work and were rushing back to port to avoid the storm passed by them. When the side of the boats met, the sailors on the opposite fishing boats, wrapped in waterproof clothing, waved vigorously at their fellow boats that dared to sail out to sea without knowing what was going on. Some of them shouted loudly, probably to remind them that a storm was coming and to turn back quickly.

Those faces, etched with deep wrinkles by the sea breeze and sun, were filled with reverence for the sea and care for their fellow travelers.

As Lu Mingfei leaned on the railing, watching the lights of the fishing boats gradually disappear into the distance, a sense of desolation welled up in his heart, like the lines from the poem "The wind howls, the Yi River is cold, the hero departs, never to return." He felt that they were like fools going against the current, rushing towards the known eye of a terrifying storm.

In stark contrast to him was Caesar. This nobleman of the Gattuso family was dressed in a smart white captain's uniform, though slightly disheveled by the sea breeze, leaning leisurely against the ship's railing, gazing at the rolling clouds and the sea in the distance.

When a fishing boat approaches, he would even wave enthusiastically to the fishermen he didn't know, with a bright and confident smile on his face, as if he wasn't going on a mission with a high risk of death, but rather sailing his own luxury yacht with a boatload of beautiful supermodels, ready to enjoy the sunshine and champagne in the scenic Gulf of Genoa.

Even more outrageous, when passing a large trawler that looked to have had a bountiful catch and whose deck was piled high with fish, Caesar actually commanded Manimaru to come closer. In the instant the two ships' sides gently bumped, he nimbly leaped and jumped directly onto the other ship's deck!

This action startled both Lu Mingfei and Yuan Zhisheng. On the deck of the fishing boat, Caesar was communicating with several astonished old fishermen using his broken Japanese, which, combined with gestures and a bright smile, was quite effective.

After a while, he happily carried a still-growing, enormous, orange-red king crab back to the Mani Maru, casually waving to the old fisherman opposite him and tossing him a few wet but substantial Japanese yen banknotes.

"Did he go and buy a crab?" Lu Mingfei stared in disbelief.

"It seems so," Genji replied expressionlessly, already numb to Caesar's ability to turn any occasion into his personal stage.

The beams of searchlight pierced the deepening twilight, shining into the sky where dark clouds were visibly churning and gathering, and distant rumbles of thunder echoed faintly from the horizon. Tonight, not only were there strong winds, but a violent storm was also brewing at sea.

A chill crept in with the sea breeze and dampness, and Lu Mingfei pulled his windproof coat tighter around himself, his heart pounding. No matter how advanced the technology of the Moniach was, it was still ultimately just a medium-sized ship. At sea, facing real storms and towering waves, a ship's stability largely depended on its tonnage and structural strength.

Even the most advanced technology sometimes pales in comparison to the absolute power of nature. Lu Mingfei began to seriously doubt whether this fake fishing boat could withstand the impending storm.

"Don't worry," Genji saw his worry, "Please trust the capabilities of our Japanese branch."

As soon as he finished speaking, Caesar hummed an unknown Italian tune and set up a portable gas stove in a relatively sheltered spot on the deck, with a rather large Chinese steamer sitting on it.

He deftly cleaned the king crab; in Lu Mingfei's opinion, using Dick to remove the shell and legs was a waste of his talent. He placed the whole crab into the pot. White steam quickly rose from the steamer, mingling with the unique aroma of the crab, spreading an enticing fragrance in the salty sea breeze.

It turns out that Caesar boarded the fishing boat to buy crabs in preparation for tonight's supper. Even with his mission pressing, he still wanted to take some time to enjoy life.

That wasn't enough. Besides the king crab, Caesar somehow managed to get a shimmering, plump wild red sea bream from the fishing boat. Right now, near the bow of the Mani Maru, he set up a small pot and began to simmer fish soup.

Caesar used the bamboo shoots and a few green plums he carried with him as seasonings, saying it was to remove the fishy smell that the red sea bream might have and to add flavor.

Throughout the journey, Caesar sat steadily at the bow of the ship, facing the increasingly strong sea winds, flipping through the thick Trieste's operating manual while occasionally checking on the small stove where he was simmering fish soup, patiently cooking it for a full three hours.

Chapter 401 King Crab Cooking

"Caesar is very patient, three hours of focused cooking," Genji said, leaning against the ship's railing by the main cabin door, lighting a cigarette and speaking to Chu Zihang, who was silently wiping his longsword beside him. The sea breeze was strong, and he had to cup his hand to light it.

Chu Zihang didn't even look up, continuing to run the soft cloth over the blade. "In some things, Caesar is indeed very patient. For example, he can wait a long time for a girl to fall in love with him. And he can wait even longer until that girl finally agrees to marry him." He paused, then added, "But in other things, if you ask him to wait even a minute longer, he can't stand it."

"understood."

Lu Mingfei didn't join their conversation. Bored, he looked up at the sky, watching the dark clouds gather like a stampede of horses. His mind, however, couldn't help but wander to Chu Zihang's words: "Does waiting a long time guarantee a girl will fall in love with you?"

That makes sense. Perhaps a long, long time from now, he will be able to walk down the aisle with Frilian.

He inexplicably thought of Lu Mingze again. That elusive little devil, who had met him under the icy moon on the white sea, playing tricks on him, his words always carrying hints. And now, he had indeed been sent to the sea to carry out a sea-related mission.

But the current scene of dark clouds looming overhead and raging winds was a world apart from the tranquil, eerie, moonlit icy sea we had met last time. Something felt off, but Lu Mingfei couldn't quite put his finger on it; a vague unease lingered in his mind.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Caesar clapped his hands, making a loud clapping sound that drowned out the sound of the wind and the engine, attracting everyone's attention.

He lifted the lid of the steamer, and a rich, savory aroma wafted out along with billowing steam. The king crab, its body a vibrant orange-red and its shell glistening with oil, was already cooked and looked incredibly tempting under the light.

He grabbed the crab shell and used it as a cooking utensil, skillfully prying it open to reveal the plump, white crab meat inside. He then carefully separated large chunks of crab meat and arranged them on a prepared ice platter, accompanied by a side of wasabi puree and seafood soy sauce. Chilling the crab meat locks in its sweetness to the fullest extent; this is the authentic Japanese way of eating it.

"This is authentic Hokkaido-style king crab! Specially prepared by me, Caesar Gattuso," Caesar proudly announced. "When it comes to the art of cooking seafood, Japan is undoubtedly number one."

Lu Mingfei had long been tempted by the aroma, and upon hearing this, he immediately went over, picked up a large piece of chilled crab leg meat with his chopsticks, dipped it in soy sauce and wasabi, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Instantly, the most primal and pure sweetness of the ocean explodes in your mouth. The meat is firm and chewy, with a hint of natural and pleasant sweetness. The slight spiciness of the wasabi stimulates the taste buds just right, elevating the umami flavor to another level.

"Mmm! Delicious!" he mumbled in praise, then asked somewhat mischievously, "I thought you'd say it's number two, only a little bit worse than you Italians."

“Ha, we Italians are born to cook, I never deny that,” Caesar said as he continued dismantling the crab, enjoying the opportunity to show off his erudition.

"But when it comes to specializing in seafood cooking, it must be admitted that the Japanese do have a unique approach. Japan is an island nation, and historically most of its land was not suitable for large-scale grazing. Before the Meiji Restoration, the protein needed by the people mainly came from fisheries. Beef was only served at banquets of shoguns and daimyo, while ordinary people could only fill their stomachs with fish, shrimp, and shellfish from the sea. It was this lack of choice that forced them to concentrate all their culinary wisdom and creativity on how to cook seafood better. Because apart from that, they didn't have much else for them to do."

Caesar's analysis, with its historical and sociological perspective, sounds somewhat reasonable.

Genji listened expressionlessly. He had given up trying to understand whether Caesar was genuinely praising Japanese food culture or subtly mocking the poverty of Japanese history.

Experience had taught him that whenever he tried to understand the true intentions of these seemingly erratic and eccentric elites at headquarters, he would often arrive at the wrong conclusions. In that case, it was better not to bother trying to understand them and just treat it as background noise.

Caesar produced another bottle of wine as if by magic. The bottle had an antique design, and the label was already slightly yellowed. He carefully uncorked the bottle and slowly poured the thick, golden liquid, which looked like fine honey, into four prepared glasses.

"Château d'Yquem, a first-growth grade," Caesar said, raising his glass. The golden liquid shimmered in the glass, reflecting the ship's dim lighting. "It's the perfect pairing with lobster and king crab."

His gaze slowly swept over Lu Mingfei, Chu Zihang, and Frilian, finally landing on Yuan Zhisheng's face.

“Our team has all sorts of people,” Caesar said, choosing a more tactful way of putting it. “Their positions may not be entirely aligned, and their backgrounds and purposes may differ.”

These words caused a slight pause in the atmosphere. Lu Mingfei recalled the note that Inuyama He had secretly slipped to him, Chu Zihang thought of his own private motives for investigating his father's past, and Genji thought of the possible undercurrents within the family, as well as the will of the Academy and the Secret Party represented by these headquarters specialists in front of him.

Frillie didn't consider the conspiracy theory aspect.

“However,” Caesar raised his voice slightly, “I hope that, at least until the mission is over, we won’t fight amongst ourselves. Whatever personal thoughts, family considerations, or whatever other nonsense we may have, let’s put them aside for now.”

He raised his glass, his eyes gleaming: "After the mission, we can easily return to Kassel College and spend a day of freedom fighting and killing each other, sparing no effort to eliminate the other for the honor of the Student Council and the Lionheart Society. There will be plenty of opportunities; we can just have fun. But now—"

He paused slightly, letting his words, carried by the sea breeze and the aroma of wine, resonate in everyone's ears: "Let us raise this glass to wish our shared mission, Operation Dragon Abyss, a complete success. I hope we can go down together and come back alive together."

The statement was strange; the first half seemed like a warning, while the second half conveyed the simplest and most important wish: to live. But at this moment, on this ship disguised as a fishing boat, beneath the dark, surging sea and low-hanging clouds, facing the unfathomable abyss ahead, a place where dragon embryos lurked, these words were more powerful than any flowery language.

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath and raised his glass with Frilline beside him. Chu Zihang also stopped wiping his longsword and silently raised his glass. Genji looked at Caesar for two seconds, then slowly raised his glass as well.

Five wine glasses gently clinked together on the pitching bow of the ship, amidst the howling sea wind and the distant rumble of thunder.

Then, the five of them tilted their heads back and drank the valuable, sweet and mellow golden liquid in their glasses in one gulp.

Chapter 402 Sakura Yabuki and Frilian (Part 1)

On the sea, the Moniach, disguised as the research vessel Monia Maru, slowly sailed towards the mirage where darkness and light intertwined. As it drew closer, the true form of the mirage gradually became clear. It was not an illusion, but six enormous steel platforms, like giant turtles in mythology suppressing storms, standing majestically amidst the raging waves.

They are brightly lit, have complex structures, and are connected to each other by thick steel cables.

"An unsinkable Sumeru pedestal," Genji emphasized again, his tone filled with pride in his family's engineering prowess. "A masterpiece of the Ganryu Research Institute and the Maruyama Construction Company. They can withstand a Force 12 gale, even a tsunami. With them around, storms are nothing to fear."

As the Moniach was towed into the massive enclosed dock of one of the floating platforms, the academy team officially set foot on the final forward base for this deep-sea mission. On the platform, staff members in uniform combat gear worked in an orderly fashion, and preparations were underway at full speed.

According to the established plan, the crew cabin of the deep-sea submersible Trieste could only accommodate three people. After a brief discussion, the crew was decided to be: Caesar Gattuso, Chu Zihang, and Lu Mingfei. These three would board the legendary deep-sea submersible painted with a giant red dragon and challenge the extreme abyss.

Frillie will remain on the surface as backup and support, while also undertaking another clandestine mission: surveillance. This is not due to distrust of the Japanese branch's cooperation, but rather the necessary caution the Academy exercises when dealing with any collaboration between dragons and external branches.

Her nominal teacher, the perpetually drunken vice-principal Flamel who spent most of his time in the clock tower, specifically contacted her via encrypted line before the operation.

“Little Frillian,” the vice-principal’s voice was as muffled as ever, yet penetratingly clear, “How’s it going in Japan? Are you getting used to the sushi? Drink less sake, it’s potent. Ahem, let’s get down to business. The Snake Clan has a long history, and the waters run deep. We’re cooperating on the surface, but we still need to be wary. You stay up there, keep your eyes peeled. If anything seems amiss, contact us immediately using the method we agreed upon. The Dragon Abyss Project was spearheaded by that old geezer, Angers, and both he and I are backing you up. Oh, by the way, I heard there’s a Japanese kid who’s been taking good care of that silly boy, Lu Mingfei? Keep your eyes peeled too, don’t just watch cartoons.”

Frillie listened quietly, responding with a simple "hmm." She understood the vice-principal's meaning. Within the academy, the main supporters of this mission were Principal Angers and Vice-Principal Flamel, while the Board of Trustees, especially Frost, the acting head of the Gattuso family, strongly opposed it, putting them under considerable pressure. Her presence on the water served as both a safeguard and a pair of eyes.

At this moment, on the edge of the observation platform atop the Sumeru pedestal, Frilian and Genjiro's assistant, Sakura Yabuki, stood together. Two equally quiet women, both accustomed to being in the background, had a rare moment of solitude. The sea breeze was strong, ruffling their hair and the hems of their clothes.

Below, the platform support team's mountain group members are conducting final equipment checks; in the distance, the wind group's helicopter, the fire group's armed boat, and the forest group's perimeter monitoring, along with countless lights flickering in the rain and waves, form a tight protective net.

They were not involved in the core preparation work for the submersible; that was the domain of men and technical experts. Their task was more about waiting and remaining vigilant.

The silence lasted for a while, with only the sound of the wind and the waves.

“Miss Frillian,” Sakura asked, “you seem to care a lot about Commissioner Lu Mingfei.”

She used a declarative sentence, not an interrogative one. As a ninja, her observation skills were extremely sharp.

Frillie tilted her head slightly, glancing at Sakura with her emerald green eyes. Instead of answering directly, she asked, "And you? You also care about Young Master Genjiro, don't you?"

The question was somewhat abrupt, even impolite, especially given their delicate positions and lack of familiarity. But Frilline asked it casually, as if asking, "How's the weather today?"

Sakura was silent for a few seconds. The sea breeze ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead, and she gently tucked them behind her ear. This subtle movement betrayed her emotions. Then, she softly hummed in agreement.

She didn't ask, "How do you know?" because the answer was obvious. The long hours spent together, the meticulous care, the constant vigilance, and the occasional, fleeting glances cast at the young patriarch's retreating figure when no one was watching. These things, perhaps even Genji himself hadn't consciously perceived, couldn't escape the keen observation of a woman like herself.