Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

A clear still image screenshot appears on the screen. In the picture, a man and a woman sit side by side in front of a computer, looking focused. The man is typing, while the woman is watching. The girl is wearing a sexy red tight-fitting cheongsam, her head slightly tilted, and her long sideburns fall naturally over the man's shoulder.

The shooting angle and composition are exquisite, and the lighting effects even have a touch of artistry, making it a perfect and heartwarming photo booth picture for couples!

Damn it! Did this hidden personality named Eva crawl out of the Executive Department's tactical database, or did she travel from the news department or a gossip magazine's editorial office?! If some busybody posted this photo on the Night Watchers' discussion forum, it would definitely ignite a huge discussion and stay on the front page for three days and three nights!

Caesar felt his head buzzing, as if it were about to explode.

"Caesar: Little girl, you're so cunning. You really are one of the most terrifying creatures in the world."

“Eva: According to the time you entered the academy, you should call me ‘senior sister’.”

"Caesar: Senior sister, please let me go."

"Eva: Once you've successfully escaped from here, say it to my face again, and I'll consider letting you go. Now, immediately, do it!"

The map on the screen zoomed in rapidly, highlighting a winding path leading from the current cubicle to the Turkish bath on the third floor.

Caesar took a deep breath, turned off the screen, turned to Zhen who was anxiously waiting beside him, and his tone regained its calmness and decisiveness: "Can you take me to the dressing room on the third floor? The sooner the better."

"Yes! I know the way!" Zhen nodded vigorously, but then glanced at the now-black screen and asked in a low, worried voice, "Um, that photo won't cause your girlfriend to misunderstand, will it?"

“Yes. And there will be a great, great, great misunderstanding,” Caesar readily admitted. “That’s why we must escape! If we escape, we can still explain things. If we can’t escape…”

He reached out and gently patted Zhen's head like an older brother, making a joke at this critical moment, "It will probably be judged as 'the Gattuso family heir eloped with a mysterious Japanese beauty in an internet cafe and eventually committed suicide together'—a melodramatic gossip! For my innocence, and for your reputation, good luck!"

Chapter 514 The Invitation to Elysium - Frillie

Scorpion's letter of recommendation circulated within the Ghost Clan faster than expected.

"Doctor," was Frillie's code name within the Oni Clan. Although her performance at the Scorpion Nest Arena was kept under wraps, there were no true secrets in the underworld. On the third day, she received a special invitation.

The invitation was contained in a bullet casing and delivered to the Scorpion's Nest by a messenger. The casing was gilded and engraved with intricate serpentine patterns, with a line of small print at the bottom: "To Miss 'Doctor': We cordially invite you to attend a special interview at Elysium tomorrow night at 9 PM. Signed: Sakura"

The moment Scorpion saw the bullet casing, his expression changed.

“Sakurai Kogure,” he said in a low voice, “the queen of Gokurakukan, the de facto ruler of the Tokyo branch of the Oni Clan. How could she possibly notice you?”

"What did you mention when you recommended me?" Frilian asked.

"She only mentioned your expertise in medicine and toxicology, as well as your combat skills," Scorpion frowned. "But Sakurai Kogure has always only been interested in interesting people. Your file is too ordinary; it shouldn't have caught her attention."

Frillie picked up the bullet casing and scanned its interior with her magical senses. Besides the invitation, there was a small cluster of pale pink cherry blossom petals inside, already dried, but still emitting a very faint fragrance.

“She conducted a background check on me,” Frillian concluded, “and found inconsistencies.”

"flaw?"

“My current identity is fabricated. No matter how perfectly I do it, there will always be inconsistencies in the eyes of a real intelligence expert,” Frilian said calmly. “Sakurai Kogure probably already knows I have a problem.”

Scorpion clenched his fist: "Then why are you still going? The Paradise Pavilion is her territory. Once you go in, you won't be able to get out."

“It’s precisely because she knows that I should go,” Frillian said. “If she wanted to harm me, she wouldn’t need to send an invitation. Sending a squad of assassins would suffice. The fact that she invited me means she’s interested in me. And that interest can be turned into an opportunity.”

"What opportunity?"

“An opportunity to get close to the core of the Snake-Headed Eight Families,” Frillie said, looking at the snake pattern on the bullet casing. “The Paradise Mansion is ostensibly a business of the Demon Clan, but in reality, it’s a crucial stronghold for infiltrating the Snake-Headed Eight Families. Sakurai Kogure has been operating there for many years, possessing a wealth of secrets about nobles and politicians. If we could gain her trust…”

“You’ll die even faster,” Scorpion interrupted her. “That woman is a devil. You won’t even feel the pain when she slits your throat with a smile.”

Frillie looked at him: "You've dealt with her before?"

“Three years ago, I dealt with a traitor.” Scorpion’s eyes turned sinister. “That man had accumulated a huge gambling debt at the Elysium and wanted to sell organization information to pay it off. Sakurai Kogure personally ‘entertained’ him. I watched the whole thing from the monitoring room. For three hours, she used a small knife to cut off pieces of his flesh and feed them to the pet dogs in the cage. The man kept saying thank you until he died.”

He paused for a moment: "From then on, I tried to avoid her. That's not the kind of cruelty a human being should be."

Frillie was silent for a few seconds. "I still want to go."

"Why?" Scorpion practically roared, "Are you insane?!"

“Because I had no choice,” Frilian said calmly. “The Snake Clan’s operation has already begun. And I’m on the periphery of the Demon Clan, unable to access core intelligence. Sakurai Kogure is a shortcut to the higher-ups, dangerous, but a shortcut.”

Scorpion stared at Frillie for a long time, and finally he sighed.

"I can't stop you, can I?"

"We can't stop them."

"Then I'll go with you."

“No,” Frilian shook her head. “Sakurai Kogure invited me to the meeting alone. If you go, it will only make her suspicious.”

The scorpion punched the wall, causing it to cave in.

"Damn it," he cursed under his breath, "then at least bring some weapons. The security at Elysium is very strict, but there are some things they can't detect."

He took several items from the drawer: a thin metal rod that looked like an ordinary hairpin, which, when twisted open, would pop out a ten-centimeter-long poison needle; a ring with a miniature syringe hidden beneath the gemstone, capable of injecting paralyzing toxins; and a pair of earrings, which were actually miniature communicators.

"The poison in the hairpin is a neurotoxin, taking effect in three seconds, with no antidote. The poison in the ring will only paralyze you for an hour. The earring..." Scorpion hesitated for a moment, "If things go wrong, I'll receive an alarm and rush in with men to save you. Although it might be too late."

Frillie accepted the items. "Thank you."

Scorpion turned his face away: "Don't die. Otherwise, I'll really go crazy."

He waved his hand: "Let's go. I'll take you to the Paradise Pavilion at eight o'clock tomorrow night."

...

Gokurakukan is situated on a private peninsula in Tokyo's Minato Ward, surrounded by the sea on three sides, with only one road connecting it to the mainland. From a distance, it resembles a Japanese palace floating on the sea. With its upturned eaves, paper windows, and wooden doors, its illuminated lights at night create a dreamlike reflection on the water.

But Frilian's magical perception can see more.

The building is surrounded by thirteen layers of protective barriers: seven layers comprised of modern electronic monitoring and sensing systems, and six layers of ancient alchemical defensive formations. Every window is fitted with bulletproof glass, and the walls have internal steel plate layers. There are also complex underground escape routes and an armory.

This is not an entertainment venue; it is a military fortress.

Scorpion's car stopped at the intersection 500 meters from the gate.

“I can only take you this far,” Scorpion said. “The checkpoint ahead only allows invitees to pass.”

Frillie nodded and got out of the car.

"Night Child," Scorpion called out to her.

Frillie turned around.

Scorpion handed something out of the car window—a small amulet, the red cloth bag already somewhat faded. "This is what you gave me before. I got it from Senso-ji Temple; it's supposed to protect you. I've never believed in these things, but you can keep it."

Frillie accepted the amulet. The fabric was old, with frayed edges, but it was well-preserved.

"I will return it to you."

“No need to pay it back,” Scorpion shook his head. “If, if you manage to get out of here alive, consider it my gift to you.”

He stepped on the gas, and the car turned around and drove away.

Frillie watched the taillights disappear into the night, put the amulet into her pocket, and then walked toward the checkpoint.

The checkpoint was an antique-style wooden guard post, but four men in black suits stood inside. Each of them was a B-grade mixed-race, with bulging waistbands concealing weapons.

"Please show me the invitation," the man in the lead said.

Frillie handed over the bullet casing.

The man took it, checked it with a special scanner to confirm its authenticity, and then scanned Frillie's entire body with instruments, including metal detection and thermal imaging.

“Please open your mouth,” the man said.

Frillie did as instructed. The other person used a cotton swab to take a sample from the inside of her mouth and placed it into a portable DNA analyzer.

Thirty seconds later, the instrument lit up with a green light.

"Identity confirmed: Doctor, peripheral member of the Ghost Clan, recommended by Scorpion." The man returned the bullet casing to her. "Welcome to Elysium, Miss Doctor. Please follow me."

He made a gesture, and the other three made way for him.

A red carpet stretched from the checkpoint all the way to the main entrance of the Gokurakukan. Every three meters along both sides of the red carpet stood a female attendant in a kimono, each one beautiful and with a smile so perfect it was as if they had been cut from the same mold.

Frillie noticed that these maids all had a very faint dark gold color in the depths of their pupils, indicating that they were all mixed-race and had undergone special training.

The entire Pleasure Palace, from the gatekeepers to the maids, is staffed by combat personnel.

They passed through the forecourt and entered the main building. The interior was extremely luxurious, with gold leaf covering the walls, crystal chandeliers, and silk curtains. The air was filled with the scents of expensive perfumes, cigars, and desire.

A banquet was being held in the hall. Dozens of guests sat around a long table, including politicians, tycoons, underworld bosses, and even several shrine priests dressed in Shinto attire. They clinked glasses, chatted and laughed, each attended by a beautiful maid.

But Frillie's magical perception can "see" something deeper:

The bald senator had cocaine powder stuck to his cuffs.

The jeweler has marks on his neck, a sign of his obsession.

The shrine's head priest had a miniature pistol concealed in his robes.

This is a temple of sin, where everyone is a beast beneath their masks.

“Miss Sakurai is waiting for you in the ‘Sakura Room’,” the man leading the way said. “Please come this way.”

They walked around the hall and through a long corridor. The corridor was lined with murals in the style of ukiyo-e, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the figures in those erotic paintings were all famous mixed-race heroes from history.

A satirical take on a dark sense of humor.

At the end of the corridor is an exquisite paper door, painted with blooming cherry blossoms. The petals are inlaid with real pink mother-of-pearl, shimmering under the light.

The man knelt down in front of the door: "Miss Ying, the guest has arrived."

"Come in," came a woman's voice from inside the door, gentle, sweet, and as sticky as honey.

The paper door slid open.

Chapter 515 Sakurai Kogure and Frilian (Part 1)

The room was large, but simply furnished.

A large tatami mat was laid out in the center, with a low table and cushions on it. In the corner was a celadon vase with a single fresh cherry blossom branch. Cherry blossoms shouldn't be blooming this season; they should be grown in a greenhouse.

A woman stood by the window. Her back was to the doorway, and she wore a white furisode kimono embroidered with delicate cherry blossom patterns in silver thread. Her long hair cascaded down her back, held up with a simple wooden hairpin, revealing her slender neck.

Hearing the door open, I slowly turned around.

Frillie saw Sakurai Kogure's face.

Very beautiful.

It wasn't the kind of flamboyant beauty, but rather a delicate, fragile beauty, like a glasswork. Her skin was almost translucent white, her lips a pale pink, and her eyes were large and round, seemingly capable of drawing one's soul in.