Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

She looked no more than twenty-five years old, but Frilian knew that anyone who could sit in that position in the Ghost Clan was no less capable and should not be underestimated.

"Doctor," Sakurai Kogure smiled, her voice as gentle as a lover's whisper, "Welcome to my little restaurant. Please have a seat."

She pointed to the cushion opposite the low table.

Frillie took off her shoes, stepped onto the tatami mat, and knelt on the cushion in a standard Japanese seated posture. She noticed extremely subtle energy flow on the surface of the tatami mat, a manifestation of sensory alchemy.

Sakurai Kogure also sat down opposite her, her movements impeccably elegant.

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked. "We have some freshly arrived Gyokuro, and we also have some good sake."

"Tea, just drink tea."

"Ah, you have a light palate," Sakurai Kogure clapped her hands. The paper door slid open again, and a maid entered carrying a tea set, kneeling beside the table to prepare the tea.

Throughout the process, the only sound in the room was the hissing of the tea whisk stirring the tea powder.

The maid placed the teacup in front of Frillie and then silently withdrew.

"Please enjoy," said Kogure Sakurai. "This is the first harvest of tea from Uji. This year's yield is very low, only three kilograms, and it's all with me."

Frillie picked up the teacup. The tea was emerald green, with a refreshing aroma. She took a sip; it was indeed top-quality tea.

"Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're welcome." Sakurai Kogure also picked up her teacup, but didn't drink, instead rubbing the rim of the bowl with her fingertips. "Doctor, do you know why I invited you here?"

"Because they are interested in my identity."

"Smart," Sakurai Kogure smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "Then, let's play a game. I'll ask three questions, and you answer honestly. In exchange, I'll answer three questions for you. Is that fair?"

What if I don't want to play?

“Then I’ll be very disappointed.” Sakurai Kogure’s tone was still gentle, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. “When I’m disappointed, I might do something a little unfriendly.”

Threatened, but spoken in the sweetest voice.

Frillie nodded: "I agree."

“Very good.” Sakurai Kogure put down her teacup. “First question: Who exactly are you? I know you are not Yabe Yoko. That poor girl died before, and I was the one who sent people to scatter her ashes.”

Direct and sharp.

Frillie calmly replied, "I am someone who wants to stop the Jade Serpent Clan. I am using Yoko's identity to infiltrate the Oni Clan and gather information."

"Stop the Snake-Headed Eight Family?" Sakurai Kogure tilted her head. "Why? What you want to do has nothing to do with us, the Demon Clan?"

“It’s very relevant. Because if the Snake-Headed Eight Families’ desires are fulfilled, terrible things will happen,” Frillian said. “At that time, Tokyo, and perhaps all of Japan, will become a battlefield. Countless people will die.”

“I see.” Sakurai Kogure nodded. “Second question: What is your relationship with the Snake-Headed Hachike family? Why did you save the envoy from Kassel College?”

“I met the Snake Clan by chance,” Frillian said. “As for the Commissioner, I have connections with Kassel College.”

“You?” Sakurai Kogure’s eyes became playful. “You don’t look like a teacher at the academy.”

"I am a student of Professor Flamel," Frilian said, revealing a half-true, half-false identity.

Sakurai Kogure stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing.

“Flamemer, the legendary alchemist,” she shook her head. “No wonder. Only he could have created a freak like you. You’re not a hybrid, yet you can use powers similar to the power of words.”

Frillie's heart skipped a beat.

Did Sakurai Kogure realize she wasn't a half-blood? Magical fluctuations and words of power are fundamentally different, and very few people can distinguish between them.

“Your observation is very keen,” she said.

"The third question," Sakurai Kogure leaned forward, looking directly into Frillie's eyes, "What exactly do you want from me? It's not just about information, is it?"

Frillie paused for two seconds, then said, "I need your help. I want to infiltrate the Snake Clan and get close to Tachibana Masamune."

Sakurai Kogure's smile vanished.

A long silence fell over the room. Only the sea breeze outside the window gently rustled the paper windowpane.

"Do you know what you're asking for?" Sakurai Kogure finally spoke, her voice still gentle but with a hint of coldness. "The Snake Clan is currently on high alert. Any outsiders, especially hybrids, who enter their territory will be immediately controlled, interrogated, or even executed."

“So I need your help,” Frilian said. “Paradise Hall is ostensibly owned by the Oni Clan, but in reality, half of its guests are from or closely associated with the Hebiki Hachike family. You know their secrets, their weaknesses. You can let me enter their sights in a ‘legitimate’ way.”

"And then what? Even if I let you contact the Snake Clan, how can you guarantee that you won't be exposed? Genjiro isn't stupid; he has a dedicated counter-espionage department."

“I don’t need to contact Genjiro,” Frillian said. “I only need to contact one person, Ms. Sakurai Kogure.”

Sakurai Kogure was stunned.

"I?"

“You are one of the most important pawns of the Demon Clan within the Snake-Headed Eight Families,” Frilian said. “Although you are an enemy of the Snake-Headed Eight Families, you actually have a special relationship with Genjiro, the younger brother of Genjiro, and the ‘Dragon King’ of the Demon Clan. Through you, I can indirectly contact the highest levels of the Demon Clan and obtain intelligence.”

For the first time, a crack appeared in Sakurai Kogure's expression, and her hands, resting on her knees, trembled slightly.

"Who told you this? About Lady Nagisa and me. Was it Scorpion?"

“No,” Frilian shook her head. “It’s Yoko’s research notes. When she was in the Seventh Experiment Department, she participated in a secret project studying the blood samples of Genji. In her notes, she mentioned that every time a sample was taken, a woman in a white kimono would be watching from the side, her eyes as gentle as if she were looking at a lover. She looked up that woman’s information and found out it was you.”

Chapter 516 Sakurai Kogure and Frilian (Part 2)

Sakurai Kogure closed her eyes. After a long while, she opened them, a flicker of pain crossing her face, but she quickly concealed it.

“That girl, Yoko, is always too clever,” she said softly. “So clever that she’ll get herself killed.”

Sakurai Kogure stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to Frillie.

Outside the window, a fireworks display was taking place in the courtyard of the Paradise House. Brilliant sparks bloomed in the night sky, reflecting off the paper windows, flashing brightly and dimly.

“You’re right, Doctor,” said Kogure Sakurai. “I did have a special relationship with Lady Chizuru. But that was a long time ago. He’s no longer the boy who used to play the flute for me under the cherry blossom tree.”

There was a deep sadness in her voice.

"The dragon's blood corrupted his mind and his heart. He became increasingly cold and distant. Sometimes when I looked into his eyes, I could no longer find the shadow of that gentle young man he once was."

Frillie didn't speak, she just listened quietly.

“But,” Sakurai Kogure turned around, her perfect smile returning, “I still love him. Even if he becomes a monster, even if he may have forgotten me, I still love him. So I will continue to protect his dream, protect the Oni Clan, until the very last moment.”

She walked back to the low table and sat down again. "Now, it's my turn to answer your three questions. Please ask."

Frillie thought for a moment. "The first question is, what is the true attitude of the Snake Clan towards the Paradise Mansion?"

Sakurai Kogure laughed, a laugh tinged with sarcasm.

"On the surface, it's hostility, but in reality, it's tacit approval. Did you see the guests tonight? Those politicians, those tycoons, those priests. They are all allies of the Snake Clan, or at least partners. The Paradise Mansion is where they indulge their desires, and it's also where we collect their secrets. It's a delicate balance; they tacitly approve of the Paradise Mansion's existence in exchange for freedom here. We collect their dirt in exchange for our living space."

“But this balance won’t last long,” Frillie said.

“You’re very perceptive,” Kogure Sakurai nodded. “Once the Snake Clan’s operation succeeds, their power will reach its peak. At that time, they will no longer need such dirty deals. They will cleanse all the impurities in Tokyo, including the Gokurakukan and the Oni Clan.”

She looked out the window at the guests laughing, drinking, and indulging in revelry under the fireworks.

“Look at them, Doctor,” she said softly. “They think this is paradise, a place where they can indulge in pleasure forever. But they don’t know that their paradise is coming to an end. When judgment comes, they will all go to hell, with me.”

His tone was calm, yet it sent chills down one's spine.

"My second question," Frilian asked, "where is Genji now? What is his attitude towards the Snake Clan's actions?"

Sakurai Kogure's eyes darkened.

"Lord Chijo doesn't care what the Snake-Headed Eight Families do. There's only one thing he cares about: surpassing his brother, Genjiro. As long as he can achieve that, he won't even blink if the world is destroyed."

Frillie felt a heavy weight in her heart. The attitude of the Minamoto no Chikara meant that the Oni Clan wouldn't stop the Hebi-Hachika; they might genuinely intend to seize the spoils after the ritual was complete.

“One last question,” Frillian said, looking directly into Sakurai Kogure's eyes. “Would you be willing to help me, even knowing that it might put you and the Pleasure House in danger?”

Sakurai Kogure didn't answer immediately. She picked up her now-cold tea and slowly finished it. Then she said, "I can help you. But not because I agree with your goals, but because you remind me of Yoko."

She put down her teacup.

"She was the same way. She was terrified, but she still charged forward for her beliefs. In the end, she died, and she died a terrible death. But at least, she fought for her beliefs until the very last moment."

Sakurai Kogure stood up, walked to a corner of the room, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a document.

“This is your new identity at Gokurakukan.” She handed the document to Frilian. “Your name is ‘Chiba,’ and you are a traditional maiko from Kyoto. You offended a powerful figure and fled to Tokyo, where you were taken in by Gokurakukan. You are skilled in tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and some special medical techniques.”

Frillie opened the file. Inside were complete identity documents, resumes, and even photos from childhood to adulthood—all forged, but exquisitely crafted.

“Starting tomorrow, you will become my personal maid,” Sakurai Kogure said. “I will take you to some of the Snake-Headed Eight Family's social events. You will need to observe, record, and gather information. But remember—”

Her expression turned serious.

"You must never reveal your true identity, nor use your 'magic.' The Snake Clan has specialized devices for detecting incantations; any anomalies will be detected."

"I see."

“Also,” Sakurai Kogure paused, “I will arrange for you to meet someone, the head of the Inuyama family, Inuyama He. He is a moderate within the Snake-Headed Eight Families and has a favorable view of Kassel College. Moreover, he has a granddaughter studying at the college named Inuyama Risa. You might know her?”

Frillie's heart skipped a beat.

Inuyama Risa, Kuroda's childhood friend and Lu Mingfei's friend. What a small world.

“I know her.”

“That’s good.” Sakurai Kogure nodded. “Through Inuyama He, you can indirectly access the Hebi-Hachi family’s intelligence network. But be careful, although he is a moderate, he is still a member of the Hebi-Hachi family. If he discovers your true purpose, he will not hesitate to execute you.”

"Thanks for reminding."

Sakurai Kogure sat down again, looking at Frillie with a complicated expression. "Doctor, no, I should call you Chiba now. I don't know if you will ultimately succeed. But at least, you have shown me a certain... possibility."

She looked out the window; the fireworks had ended, and the night sky had returned to darkness.

"The Paradise Pavilion won't last much longer. I know, and you know it too. But the guests here don't know that; they're still living in a drunken stupor, thinking they can enjoy this false happiness forever."

Sakurai Kogure said softly, as if talking to herself, "How sad."

Frillie also looked out the window.

The banquet continued in the courtyard. Laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses drifted faintly through the paper windows. Immersed in their desires, the people were oblivious to the impending storm.

“Well then,” Sakurai Kogure stood up and clapped her hands, “that’s all for tonight. Chiba, I’ll take you to your room. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be a member of Gokurakukan.”

The paper door slid open, and a maid was already waiting outside.

Frillie got up and followed Sakurai Kogure out of the room.

In the corridor, the men and women depicted in ukiyo-e prints were still engaging in intercourse, their expressions dazed and empty. Just like everyone in this ecstasy palace, on the eve of destruction, they indulged in wild revelry, unaware that the end was near.