Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Love him! Then keep him!" the shopkeeper continued, his black wings fluttering slightly behind him. "Love him! Then fly wing to wing with him! Thank these angels who love you, Ukyo! They protect you with their wings and will accompany you to that paradise of love and happiness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he gripped the silver scissors with both hands and forcefully cut the string of cherry-red firecracker fuses in front of him.

"laugh--"

The fuse was lit, and tiny sparks flew rapidly.

The steel cable quickly descended, lowering the long string of firecrackers in front of Chu Zihang. A waiter carried a pure gold lighter onto the stage, but Chu Zihang merely raised his hand slightly to indicate that he didn't need it, and instead reached out and pinched the flickering sparks with his fingertips.

"Crackling crackling crackling!!!"

The deafening, continuous explosions filled the entire space. After the specially made firecrackers exploded, what filled the sky was not scraps of paper, but fine, snow-like, pale pink cherry blossom fragments.

They fluttered down like the grandest cherry blossom snow in spring, enveloping the entire stage, landing on Chu Zihang's hair and shoulders, on the cherry-red envelopes piled at his feet, and also drifting towards the female guests below who were gazing up in fascination.

Amidst this wondrous scene of fluttering snowflakes and interwoven light and sound, Chu Zihang stood quietly, his face expressionless, his head slightly raised as he gazed at the "cherry blossoms" falling from the sky. His profile, in the interplay of light and shadow, possessed an unreal sense of loneliness and brilliance.

"Tonight, every table will receive a complimentary bottle of Dom Champagne!" the manager announced loudly, seizing the opportunity.

A steel cable was cleverly looped around a specially made hook at his lower back, and his enormous black feathered wings suddenly unfurled. Powered by a blower, he glided low over the dance floor like a fallen angel. "Let's party! My angels! Tonight, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

"Whoa!" The atmosphere in the entire venue exploded!

"This store manager is really amazing." Lu Mingfei stared in disbelief for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out this sentence, which was hard to tell whether it was praise or criticism.

This entire process, from the initial hype and emotional manipulation to the money game and the final audiovisual spectacle, was nothing short of a meticulously designed, precisely manipulative psychological magic show and commercial performance. And the store manager was undoubtedly the mastermind and lead actor of this magic act.

Cases of Dom Champagne, adorned with luxury labels, were swiftly placed on the tables, the popping sounds of bottles being opened echoing like victory salutes. Golden corks flew everywhere, and the pale golden liquid was poured into countless raised glasses, shimmering with a mesmerizing, luxurious glow under the newly illuminated, ever-changing lights.

The party reached its unrestrained, frenzied climax.

The energetic dance music roared back to life, and the DJ who had been on the platform began to sway his body with renewed vigor. The male escorts, pulling their clients along or being pulled by them, surged onto the dance floor, swaying wildly to the music. The lights were dazzling, and shadows danced among the crowd.

"Ukyo! Ukyo! Ukyo!" The shouts continued, but were gradually drowned out by the more frenzied music.

"Basara King! Basara King! Look here!"

"King! Have a drink with me!"

Caesar, hidden in the shadows of the curtain, was finally spotted by the sharp-eyed female guests. They excitedly raised their glasses to him, some pushing through the crowd with their wine glasses, their eyes burning with desire.

Caesar's expression shifted instantly. He gently pushed the still-dazed Lu Mingfei back slightly, then stepped into the relatively brightly lit area. A smile bloomed on his face—a smile Lu Mingfei had never seen before, yet one that was perfectly fitting. It was radiant, confident, with a touch of nonchalant charm, and the air of a king who took it all for granted.

He skillfully accepted the first champagne glass offered to him, gently clinked glasses with the person offering it, and took an elegant sip. Many of the women seemed quite familiar with him, offering him warm cheek kisses and tightly embracing him.

More enthusiastic and daring young girls, amidst the cheers of their companions, playfully lifted their already short skirts, revealing sections of their fair, slender, or plump and well-proportioned thighs, dazzlingly white under the flashing lights.

A waiter immediately handed him a special silver highlighter. Caesar took the pen, a signature smile playing on his lips, and bent down, his wrist steady and fluid as he signed "Basara King" in cursive English on each of the thighs extended in front of him.

The movements were practiced and fluid, as if signing a document on precious parchment rather than human skin. The pen tip left a gleaming, slightly cool mark as it moved.

The girls who received his autograph erupted in excited screams, as if they had received the greatest honor. They swarmed around him, vying to kiss Caesar's cheeks, leaving behind a trail of bright red lipstick marks. Caesar accepted them all, even putting his arm around their shoulders, and posing for photos with perfectly posed smiles—some domineering, some gentle, some ambiguous—using cameras that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Clearly, in this nightclub, the King of Vasala has a deep-rooted popularity, and his popularity is even slightly better than that of Chu Zihang, who has just made a name for himself.

Lu Mingfei stood beside Caesar like a human pendant, dumbfounded, surrounded and swarmed by the enthusiastic female guests.

He was surrounded by soft, warm bodies exuding various fragrances. He heard giggles, screams, and indistinct flirtatious words. As far as the eye could see, there were swaying wine glasses, hazy eyes, flashing lights, and countless camera lenses pointed at Caesar.

Click. Click. Click.

The clear sound of the camera shutter and the flash of the phone were like cold needles, piercing Lu Mingfei's gradually numbing nerves.

It's over, this time it's for real, it's completely over.

This thought, like a heavy hammer, repeatedly pounded against his already fragile understanding. These images, this evidence, once leaked, could never be erased. From then on, all notions of reputation, morality, a clean background, and the illusion of being an elite at Kassel College would shatter like bubbles in the sunlight, disappearing without a trace.

The same goes for those perhaps unrealistic heroic dreams hidden deep in our hearts. Where in literary history, film history, or even gaming history is there such an absurd premise as a host saving the world? Oh, perhaps in Japanese tokusatsu films? Like "Host Team" or "Kamen Rider Host"?

Thinking of this, Lu Mingfei almost burst out laughing bitterly; this was a dark humor more absurd than despair.

Frillie's face appeared uncontrollably before his eyes again. She was always calm, as if the world's troubles had nothing to do with her, and her clear eyes could see through many appearances.

If that delicate and precious connection between them is overshadowed, or even severed entirely, by these damned photos and rumors tonight…

Lu Mingfei would rather face Deadpool's claws again, or be strapped to a rocket and launched into outer space, than face even the slightest hint of disappointment or alienation from Frilline. This fear surpassed his worry about his parents finding out the truth.

In his chaotic thoughts, he seemed to hear a cold, mocking voice echoing deep within his mind, like Lu Mingze, or perhaps his own subconscious.

"Welcome to the real world, my dear brother. Look, this is your coming-of-age ceremony. Not slaying dragons, not medals, but under the flashing lights of a host club, as a new flower waiting to be sold, you make your debut."

The music was deafening, and the champagne bubbles rose and burst in the glasses. Lu Mingfei was squeezed in the middle of the revelry, but felt as cold and helpless as if he were in an ice cave.

In short, without a doubt, this was destined to be a pivotal day in his life.

As a timid newbie who had stumbled into the jungle, Lu Mingfei didn't even have time to flap his wings properly before the gale of fate swept him across the insurmountable chasm of morality and ethics. With lightning speed, he glided towards the title of "newbie gigolo," a title he had never imagined.

Chapter 617 Host Club (Part 1)

Steam rose, carrying a strong, mixed aroma of lavender and some kind of woody essential oil, filling the spacious bathroom. Three huge cypress bathtubs stood in a row, the firewood beneath them crackling and steaming, causing the hot water to swirl gently and white mist to rise.

"We're not pure anymore, hey, we're all fucking impure!" Lu Mingfei slapped the hot water in his bucket, splashing water everywhere. "Our chastity, our bottom line! Just like this bathwater in the bucket, bubbling and bubbling, it's all evaporated!"

"Lu Mingfei, calm down." In the wooden bucket beside him, Caesar, with his signature cigar dangling from his lips, slowly stuffed a piece of freshly chopped firewood into the bottom of each of the three buckets, sparks flying with his movements. Then he nimbly jumped back into his bucket, letting the warm water wash over his chest, and exhaled a smoke ring with contentment, the smoke quickly merging into the steam above.

"It has nothing to do with chastity; it's mainly about the lower limit. But isn't the point of the lower limit to be broken? Like records, they're born to be refreshed."

Their relaxing time after work consisted of three naked men soaking in the same bathroom.

Caesar was puffing on a cigarette, looking completely at ease. Chu Zihang was reading a newspaper, while Lu Mingfei was mourning his prematurely lost innocence.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Chu!" Lu Mingfei turned his head and stared at the quiet figure in the bucket next to him. "You're so calm! Aren't you the kind of guy who's a clean freak and has to iron out even the wrinkles in his clothes? But look at you now! You've been reduced to performing at a male escort club!"

"Can't you just cooperate with me a little, and show that 'not loving the world of pleasure, but seemingly misled by a past life' expression, with a touch of sadness and helplessness? You're still reading the newspaper! Who knows what will happen if you stay here too long! It's a shame that so many girls in our school are infatuated with you and secretly adore you!"

Lu Mingfei grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, finally unable to contain himself and questioning, "Hey, senior, can you even read a Japanese newspaper? Stop pretending!"

"I mainly look at the Chinese characters in the newspaper and combine them with the accompanying pictures to deduce the general meaning," Chu Zihang said, lifting his eyes from the edge of the newspaper. His golden eyes remained calm and clear even in the hot steam. He lowered the newspaper slightly, revealing smooth and strong shoulders above the water.

"The newspapers say that there have been several violent incidents involving firearms and explosions in the underworld recently, which seem to be a large-scale conflict between two yakuza organizations. This is likely related to the turmoil within the Hebi Hachike or the struggle with other gangs."

Chu Zihang paused, then added, "Also, to correct one point, we're not official male escorts yet. We're trainee male escorts. If we don't perform well, we might even be fired from this place. If that happens, we'll lose this hideout, and," he glanced at Lu Mingfei, "we'll be penniless."

"Even male prostitutes have to do an internship?!" Lu Mingfei almost jumped out of the water. "Isn't this line of work just about being willing to sacrifice yourself and having a thick skin?"

The thought of possibly being kicked out and returning to the life of a rat, constantly hiding and living in constant fear, sent a chill down his spine, and the water temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

“Takamagahara is the most prestigious host club in Shinjuku, and even in the entire Tokyo metropolitan area,” Caesar interjected, the red dot of his cigar flickering in the smoke. “You can’t survive long in a place like this with just your looks. The customers here are women who don’t really care about money; they’re after an ultimate experience and emotional connection.”

"I see, I get it now!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed in sudden realization, a hint of cynicism in his voice. "They're just a bunch of rich, idle, and bored young women looking for fun!"

“Oh, and even the mothers and grandmothers of rich and beautiful women are here,” Caesar shrugged, causing the water to ripple. “They can spend millions of yen in one night to support a favorite male escort, or buy out all the roses in a flower shop. But correspondingly, their requirements are also extremely demanding, whether it’s taste, conversation, talent, or the ability to create an atmosphere.”

"What's so harsh about that!" Lu Mingfei retorted indignantly. "Even the kind of guy we saw earlier, with that kind of weight, can thrive here! Is his bulky body and passionate hip-shaking considered top-notch taste?" He still felt lingering fear as he recalled the shocking scene at the elevator entrance.

“That person’s name is Fujiwara Kansuke,” Chu Zihang once again acted as a human database, his voice coming through the steam, “Before he entered the host club industry, he was an Ozeki-class sumo wrestler, just one step away from the top 'Yokozuna'. During the heyday of sumo, he was considered a national idol, and his girlfriends included Japanese drama stars.”

"Later, a fanatical female fan committed suicide in despair after hearing the news of his engagement, which was a huge blow to him. He believed that he should give up his personal love and love all the women who supported him with a broader mind, so he resolutely retired and became a male escort." He paused and added, "These are the versions circulating in the store, as well as some past magazine reports."

"My God." Lu Mingfei was stunned. After a long while, he managed to stammer, "A heavyweight cross-dresser with such an amazing background? His life story is just too dramatic!"

"In short, none of the hosts who can officially register in Takamagahara are simple," Caesar concluded. "Each of them has thousands of admirers and hundreds of regular customers willing to continue paying for them. Therefore, Takamagahara has the most stringent selection and training system in the host industry."

“All newcomers must go through an internship period, during which they must demonstrate sufficient attractiveness and popularity, specifically by showing that customers are willing to buy flower tickets to support their decision to stay. After that, they must pass the store manager’s final interview to prove that they are a perfect male work of art, inside and out, from their speech to their thoughts,” he said, flicking his cigarette ash.

"According to the shopkeeper, the speed at which Chu Zihang and I have accumulated flower tickets is 'unprecedented'. I currently have 925 tickets, and Chu Zihang has exactly 900 tickets."

"How many papers are considered qualified? Can I get a permanent position?" Lu Mingfei asked, both curious and apprehensive.

“We’ll collect eight hundred within two weeks,” Caesar said, exhaling a long puff of smoke that swirled above his blond hair. “So, Chu Zihang and I will soon be facing interviews. Judging by our popularity, passing shouldn’t be a problem.”

"What the heck?! They're actually smug about this?!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed in anguish. "This is absolutely nothing to be proud of, boss! I remember your Gattuso family motto includes some kind of arrogant clause like 'Never live to please others'?"

“That means not living to please men or according to worldly rules,” Caesar corrected. “Women are the exception. Regardless of beauty or ugliness, to regard them as angels in need of care and praise, and to offer them appropriate, respectful, and dignified flattery, is a basic etiquette that any gentleman aspiring to join high society must master. My father taught me this from a young age.”

"The problem is!" Lu Mingfei raised his voice, trying to enlighten the young nobleman who seemed to be enjoying himself, "In your 'high society,' even if rich and beautiful women are interested in you, they would mostly be reserved, elegant, and consider each other's social standing. They wouldn't be as wild and direct as they are here!"

"To put it bluntly, our current identity is that of prostitutes! What if, I mean, what if a customer gets too drunk, or is particularly aggressive, and demands that we sell our bodies in addition to our performances? What about my chastity, which I've preserved for twenty years!" He clutched his chest, his face pale.

"Who says there aren't any rich and beautiful women in high society who are scheming to seduce me?" Caesar raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of pride as he reminisced about his glorious achievements.

"Stop! Stop!" Lu Mingfei waved his hands repeatedly, feeling that the topic was about to be steered off course again. "That's not the point! The point is, why did we end up hiding in a male escort club? This plot twist is too abrupt! If our experience were from some third-rate novel, then the author would definitely be a lunatic with no bottom line!"

The steam was silent for a moment, with only the crackling of burning firewood and the gentle sloshing of water.

“You don’t know anything about what happened after you were shot and fell unconscious that night,” Caesar’s voice deepened, the red glow of his cigar illuminating his sharply defined profile. “Chu Zihang and I stole a gangster’s motorcycle and found an underground doctor to treat your gunshot wound. After that, we wanted to find a place to rest.”

"The Snake-Headed Eight Families provided our information and characteristics to the police, who set up checkpoints along the main routes from Chizuru to Tokyo. We had to avoid the main roads and navigate through the maze of backstreets and alleys. Along the way, we saw people dressed as yakuza patrolling the intersections more than once. We dragged you, who was unconscious, like stray dogs, hiding here and there. In the end, somehow, we ended up back in Shinjuku and made it back to Tokyo."

Caesar's narration took Lu Mingfei back to that cold, desperate rainy night. Although Lu Mingfei had no memory of it, he could imagine the embarrassment and danger he had experienced.

"Ahead lies the core area occupied by the Eight Families of Sheqi, and behind us are heavy blockades. We have almost nowhere to go," Chu Zihang continued, putting down his newspaper, his golden eyes faintly visible in the steam. "Just then, we saw that flashy advertising truck by the roadside."

“Yes,” Caesar nodded, a wistful, absurd smile playing on his lips. “The car was painted with nonsensical advertising slogans like ‘Men’s Flower Arrangement, Women’s Paradise,’ and the music was blasting. Several young men in flashy sequined suits stood by the car, greeting everyone who passed by with unusual enthusiasm and handing out flyers and candies.”

“That feeling,” he said, carefully choosing his words, “is like a person dying of thirst in the desert who suddenly sees a cold drink shop appear in a mirage, with the staff waving enthusiastically.”

“We were really desperate at the time,” Chu Zihang admitted. “Caesar stepped forward and, using simple English mixed with gestures, told the leader who was handing out flyers that we were illegal immigrants, that our friend had been injured by gangsters, and that we urgently needed help. He asked if there was a place where we could rest temporarily.”

"That man, we later learned he was the external relations manager of Takamagahara. He looked us over a few times, especially at me and Caesar, and then unexpectedly became very enthusiastic, saying he could take us back to the store to rest. So, we carried you and got into that advertising truck."

Chapter 618 Host Club (Part 2)

Looking back now, what happened that night did indeed have a surreal, fairytale-like absurdity. After the fierce battle at Mambo Internet Cafe, the escape in the rainy night, and when we were almost at our wits' end, that advertising truck flashing tacky colored lights and playing decadent music was like a lighthouse in the darkness.

“We later discovered that it was a male escort club,” Caesar continued. “But the people here were quite trustworthy. They not only gave us a place to rest, but also quickly found a doctor who looked experienced to further treat your wound, stop the bleeding, and bandage it.”

"Then, the manager, the one who was flying on stage at night, personally came to talk to us. He said he really admired me and Chu Zihang, well, our qualifications and potential, and warmly invited us to intern at the store. He also said that it didn't matter if we didn't have identification, as Takamagahara was a reputable and law-abiding store in the Shinjuku area, and the police generally wouldn't come looking for trouble. In short, as long as we agreed to stay and work as trainee hosts, we would get protection and income."

"They're clearly just after your good looks!" Lu Mingfei said with a bitter face, as if he had eaten a whole lemon. "But what does this have to do with me! Can't you just treat me like a seriously injured person and take care of me? Why do I feel like I'm being dragged into this too?"

"No, no, you underestimate yourself, Lu Mingfei." Caesar shook his finger, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "The shopkeeper also carefully examined you back then, even though you were unconscious and pale. What was his assessment of you, Chu Zihang, exactly?"

Chu Zihang remained expressionless, and in his flat, even tone, clearly repeated: 'So pitiful, so endearing, like a fragile treasure, possessing an innocent purity, truly a rare and promising talent, so endearing.'

"Pah, disgusting, utterly repulsive!" Lu Mingfei nearly vomited up his leftovers, then suddenly covered his face, feeling goosebumps rising all over his body. "Too bad my stomach is empty, I can't even throw up! Tell me, didn't you guys ever suspect that this restaurant was colluding with the Snake Clan, deliberately setting a trap to lure us in, so they could catch us like turtles in a jar?"

“I did have my doubts at first,” Caesar admitted. “But several days have passed, and if they wanted to notify the Snake-Headed Eight Families, they would have had plenty of time. Yet we have remained unharmed. Moreover, our encounter with that advertising van was purely accidental. No matter how powerful the Snake-Headed Eight Families are, they could not have predicted that we would be exhausted and happen to escape to that street and happen to see that van.”

“Logically and based on the current situation, Takamagahara is the safest shelter we can find so far. It provides free room and board, pays wages weekly, and,” he smiled, “we also get a 10% commission for every bottle of alcohol a guest orders. In these three days, I’ve already pocketed over 100,000 yen.”

"Huh? The young master of the Gattuso family would be tempted by a mere few hundred thousand yen?" Lu Mingfei said incredulously. "This little bit of money, you wouldn't even bother to bend down and pick it up if it fell at your feet before, right?"

"The nature of these transactions is completely different," Caesar said seriously, puffing out his chest (splashing water everywhere). "Family money is inheritance, it's capital, and it's only right to spend it. But this sum of over ten thousand is the first income I, Caesar Gattuso, have earned through my personal charm and hard work! It's of extraordinary significance." He spoke with a hint of pride.