Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Power, young master."

With a "bang," the city hall doors opened, and a man in a black suit walked toward the hotel.

“It seems they’ve finally remembered me,” Caesar said, setting down his wine glass and straightening his collar.

Percy bowed slightly: "Good luck, young master. Whatever they say."

“I know,” Caesar interrupted him, “keep smiling, keep your composure.”

As the last ray of sunlight disappeared, the evening breeze swept through the town, carrying the scent of the sea waves and the lingering, corrupting smell of power.

Caesar paused for a second at the door, then pushed it open and went inside.

Chapter 53 The Nibelungen Project

Caesar sat in an oak chair against the wall, having been given special permission to sit in on the board members' meeting.

Twelve pairs of eyes stared at the stack of documents that Angers pushed across the table, and each person reached out and took a copy.

"Is this a report about the Lord of Bronze and Fire?" Frost Gattuso asked. The report had been compiled for more than half a year and was only just now being released.

Angers smiled. "Yes, please turn to the last page."

"Swish," the sound of pages turning in unison.

The last page of each document contained the same conclusion, written in a different language.

Latin, English, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and Sanskrit, like a spell, surround the Chinese text in the middle:

"Norton, the King of Bronze and Fire, and Constantine, are confirmed dead."

The geomancer's thermos fell to the ground, forcing him to bend down to pick it up. The rosary beads held by the ascetic Vanderbilt broke, scattering ebony beads across the floor.

“An undeniable feat,” murmured the old man of the Beowulf family, his withered fingers trembling as he stroked the documents. “This is the first time in history that a Dragon King has been completely killed.”

Frost pursed his lips. "Provide evidence, Angers."

“Yes,” Angers said, taking a small box from his suit pocket. “The evidence is here.”

The box was opened, revealing a thumb-sized red crystal with specks of gold, and inside it seemed as if flames were flowing.

Frost was the first to reach out, his fingertips touching the crystal. Dark red ripples spread from the point of contact, and the temperature in the hall rose.

Frost withdrew his burned fingertip and squinted.

"The Philosopher's Stone, it's still freshly made." The Yin-Yang Master made a hand seal, and the crystal floated in his hand. "I thought this thing only existed in ruins."

The Philosopher's Stone was passed from hand to hand among the school board members.

“Extremely high purity.” The elder of the Beowulf family was somewhat shocked. “The last person who could refine the Philosopher’s Stone disappeared in 1417.”

Angers looked around at everyone: "For six hundred years, we have never truly killed any Dragon King, until now."

“This Philosopher’s Stone,” Angers continued, “comes from the remains of Norton and Constantine. Our finest students accomplished this great feat.”

"S-rank Lu Mingfei and A-rank Frilline?" Elizabeth asked.

"Lu Mingfei's Word of Power is Time Zero. If nurtured properly, it will be a powerful weapon against the Dragon Clan," the Yin-Yang Master thought, believing that Lu Mingfei had a promising future.

Every board member was astonished that the King of Bronze and Fire had actually died at the hands of two freshmen.

Unbeknownst to them, Norton and Constantine were not dead. Frilian had used magic to transform the two dragon kings into humans.

The so-called "remains" are nothing more than the "shell" that Frilian replaced when she cast a great spell.

The Dragon King's authority and power of words still remain within Norton and Constantine, who have become human.

Frilian created a bunch of fire elemental stones, also known as "philosopher's stones" by humans, and poured them into an empty shell to give Kassel College an explanation and conceal the fact that Norton and Constantine were not dead.

Elizabeth Laurent softly recited: "The throne is made of bronze, the crown is made of fire, the king of bronze and fire is eternal."

Angers sneered: "The immortal king is dead, killed by our finest dragon slayer."

Elizabeth was the first to stand up and clap her hands vigorously. Next came the geomancer, followed by the ascetic Vanderbilt, who clapped while whispering prayers.

In the end, even the two old monsters of the Beowulf family had to stand up and cheer for Angers.

Caesar didn't move, staring at the Philosopher's Stone that had been passed around by the crowd. Something about it just didn't look right.

This looks so much like Frillie's work.

The applause subsided, and the school board members took their seats again.

"Are all Dragon Kings twins?" Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, in Lords of Bronze and Fire, Norton is the older brother, and Constantine is the younger brother,” Angers replied.

The fortune teller drew a yin-yang symbol on the table: "Power and authority are like the two poles of yin and yang. Could it be that Nidhogg deliberately set them up as twins?"

“I don’t know. How about we talk about something simple and light?” Angers waved his hand.

The conversation gradually turned to the financial problems of Kassel College.

Frost Gattuso stated coldly, "Last quarter, the college's expenses once again exceeded the budget."

"The damage was mainly caused by the equipment department's blasting experiments," Angers said, sipping his black tea, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing afternoon tea snacks. "We rebuilt the laboratory three times."

The ascetic Vanderbilt counted his newly replaced rosary beads: "Luxury is the original sin."

The geomancer frowned. "Why is the daily maintenance fee so low this year?"

“Ah, because this year ended very quickly,” Angers laughed. Lu Mingfei and Frilian really knew how to save the academy money.

Elizabeth Laurent flipped through the financial statements. "What is this 'Ice Cellar Aquarium Expenses'?"

Angers smiled: "Studying marine ecology."

"Absurd!" Frost slammed his fist on the table. "We're slaying dragons, not running a zoo!"

"Stop with the irrelevant topics, Angers, get to the point of this meeting!" Frost pointed at Angers.

“Don’t rush, Frost,” Angers said, looking at Caesar. “Before we discuss the next topic, please allow me to introduce the rising star of the Gattuso family, Caesar Gattuso.”

Caesar slowly rose, straightening his back. Everyone looked at this young A-rank.

“Caesar,” Frost said with pride, “we called you here for a grand plan.”

"What plan?"

“The Nibelungen Project,” Frost said.

Caesar repeated the word, "The Nibelungen Plan?"

"To be precise, it's the 'Artificial Hybrid Monarch' project, to enhance bloodlines," Angers smiled, "using a large amount of Philosopher's Stones and modern technology to create an entity capable of fighting against the Dragon King."

The so-called hybrid monarch is a super hybrid species that possesses multiple incantations, has a dragon blood ratio of over 50%, and can maintain its sanity.

“This is a necessary move,” Elizabeth said. “Faced with four kings who are beyond the reach of ordinary dragons, only super hybrids that are equally extraordinary can stand against them.”

Caesar was somewhat displeased. Judging from the expressions of the school board members, this plan had been in the works for many years, perhaps even since the day he was born.

Frost rose from his seat and walked toward Caesar, who was half a head shorter than his nephew.

“Caesar, accept it, and you will become the Siegfried of the new era,” Frost said with fanaticism, “the hero who killed Fafnir.”

Caesar looked at Angers, while the principal thoughtfully stroked the Philosopher's Stone.

"What if I refuse?" Caesar asked softly.

Frost laughed. "Why refuse? Caesar, this is your destiny, and the moment the Gattuso family has been waiting for for a century."

Chapter 54 I'm sorry, I refuse

Caesar stood beneath the stained-glass windows of the city hall, the sunlight casting a long shadow through the glass.

He stared at Frost Gattuso. "Why me? Is it because I'm from the Gattuso family?"

Frost sat at the other end of the long table, frowning and tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, weighing his words.

"No, Caesar. It is because you possess the fine qualities of a great king."

Caesar chuckled, his laughter laced with undisguised mockery, and leaned back in his chair.

"Great qualities? Me? I only have 2.7 credits, I indulge myself, and I waste the board of directors' money every day? Hahaha."

Frost's expression twisted slightly, unable to contain his anger, he slammed his hand on the table, "Caesar! Stop fooling around!"

Caesar remained unmoved and slowly retorted, "Is Chu Zihang not good enough? His performance in actual combat is evident to all."

"He's just an ordinary Chinese mixed-race man," Frost said coldly.

"What about Lu Mingfei?" Caesar asked with a smile. "He's an S-rank, with the same 'Time Zero' as the principal."

A murmur rippled through the meeting room. The board members exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement.

Frost was speechless; his lips moved a few times, but he couldn't give an answer.

Angers interjected at the opportune moment, twirling his pen with a smile in his eyes: "Frost believes that Lu Mingfei is not as experienced as you. Although everyone in the academy thinks Lu Mingfei is a rising star."

Caesar raised an eyebrow: "Experience? Principal, have you forgotten Lu Mingfei's performance in White Emperor City? He faced the next generation of beings alone and delivered the fatal blow. And not long ago, he single-handedly killed the Samurai in the abandoned subway."

He paused for a moment, "And he's as innocent as a medieval ascetic; everyone in the academy knows he likes Frilian. He's much better than my womanizing father."

Frost's face turned ashen, while Angers smiled and shook his head slightly.

“Caesar, your uncle insists that you are the first choice for the Nibelungen Project. You have experience leading the student council and have outstanding leadership skills. These are all things the project values.”

Frost took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Caesar, stop making a scene. This all stems from the Gattuso family's concern and expectations for you."

The school board members whispered among themselves.

Elizabeth Laurent toyed with her wine glass and said, "Judging from bloodline, incantation, and actual combat record, Lu Mingfei, who is S-rank, possesses 'Time Zero', and has killed a sub-generation species, seems to be more in line with the plan's requirements?"

“I agree,” the elder of the Beowulf family nodded. “The Nibelungen Project needs the best warriors, not the best family heirs.”

The geomancer closed his eyes to rest, a slight smile playing on his lips, clearly disapproving of Frost.

As Caesar listened to the council members' discussion, his smile deepened. He slowly stood up and straightened his back.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Frost, I refuse.”

The entire room fell silent.

"Let's reserve the spot for Lu Mingfei or Chu Zihang."