Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Frost's expression froze. He hadn't expected Caesar to refuse—the heir of the Gattuso family, voluntarily giving up an opportunity that would place him above all other half-bloods?

The school board members looked at each other, then got up and left one after another, whispering among themselves about this unexpected change.

Frost stood there, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. The last member of the board of trustees disappeared through the door, and he looked at Caesar.

Do you know what you're doing?

Caesar straightened his cuffs and replied casually, "Do what I think is right."

"Correct?" Frost sneered. "Rejecting the opportunity your family fought for for you, humiliating the Gattuso family in front of the school board—that's your 'correctness'?"

“If this ‘opportunity’ is based on unfairness, then yes,” Caesar said, looking directly at Frost. “I don’t need family privileges.”

Frost changed tactics. "Caesar, your mother's greatest wish was to see you become the best hybrid."

Caesar raised an eyebrow, his golden eyes igniting instantly: "Don't mention her."

“I’m just stating the facts,” Frost pressed, “Think about your wedding, think about Chen Motong. The Gattuso family can give you everything, and they can take everything away.”

Are you threatening me?

“I’m reminding you to face reality,” Frost said, taking a document from his inside suit pocket. “Sign it, Caesar. The Nibelungen Project will take you to new heights.”

Caesar didn't even glance at the document: "I said I refuse."

Frost's expression darkened completely: "What do you think refusing will prove? That you don't rely on your family? That you have more principles than Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang?"

He sneered, "Don't be naive, Caesar. Without the Gattuso name, you are nothing!"

Caesar opened his golden eyes, which burned fiercely, and said, word by word, "Get out."

"you."

I said, get out!

Frost was stunned by the sudden outburst. He took a step back, pale-faced, turned and strode away, the sound of the door slamming echoing in the empty meeting room.

Caesar stood there, breathing heavily. After a long while, he slowly calmed down, and his golden eyes gradually returned to normal.

“Excellent,” Angers’ voice came from the corner, holding a glass of amber whiskey and a playful smile on his face.

Caesar didn't turn around: "You've been watching the show the whole time?"

“Of course,” Angers said, taking a sip of wine. “The infighting in the Gattuso family is more dramatic than a Shakespearean play. A proud nephew rebelling against a tyrannical uncle.”

Caesar turned around. "You knew I would refuse."

Angers shrugged. "I know you, Cesare Gattuso. You're unwilling to accept any handouts, not even 'favors' from your family."

He swirled his glass. "But I must say, your uncle won't let this go."

"Let him come at us."

Angers laughed and raised his glass to Caesar, "A toast to your rebellion!"

Meanwhile, inside the black Mercedes, Chu Zihang handed a document to Lu Mingfei in the passenger seat.

"The mission report is just missing your signature."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: "Senior brother, I did almost nothing on this mission. Is it really appropriate to sign this?"

Chu Zihang said calmly, "It's alright, Frilian will cook your portion as well."

"Huh?" Lu Mingfei's eyes widened. "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Chu Zihang glanced at him: "You should put in more effort next time."

Lu Mingfei silently opened the report, which read: "Lu Mingfei: Performed excellently in this mission, with overall planning and guidance for the team."

Lu Mingfei's lips twitched. "This works?"

Chu Zihang nodded: "Mm."

Lu Mingfei sighed and signed his name.

Chapter 55 Homecoming Day

After completing the task, I said goodbye to Chu Zihang, saying I'd see him when school started.

To celebrate her birthday, Frilian and Lu Mingfei had a lavish late-night snack, watched a tear-jerking midnight romance movie, and rode bumper cars at an amusement park.

After that, Lu Mingfei and Frillian completely let loose and stayed home for a full two weeks before finally boarding a plane to Chicago just before the start of the school year.

Chicago train station, waiting hall.

Long strips of white cloth hung from the ceiling, with several large characters painted in bright red on them:

"A week-long rail strike!"

Lu Mingfei stood under the strip of cloth, head tilted back, mouth slightly open.

"What... what is this?" he muttered. "We rushed as fast as we could, and the train broke down?"

They barely made it to Chicago before the start of the semester, only to be greeted not by the train to Kassel College, but by a sudden strike.

Frillie stood beside him, carrying a suitcase, and glanced at the messy train station.

The striking workers had just left, and protest signs, empty cans, and crumpled leaflets were still scattered on the ground.

Several homeless people squatted in a corner, rummaging through the trash cans for any leftover food.

"Oh no, I'm really going to be late now," Lu Mingfei sighed, kicking aside a Coke can blocking his way with his toe.

The jar clattered and rolled a long way before crashing into a pile of protest signs.

“Frilian, we might be stuck in Chicago for a week,” Lu Mingfei said dejectedly.

Frillie withdrew her gaze, her emerald green eyes revealing no trace of panic: "Only a week? Is that a long time?"

“For us students, that’s enough for the professor to fail us forever.” Lu Mingfei imagined Professor Schneider’s ashen face and couldn’t help but shudder.

A familiar voice came from behind them: "Lu Mingfei?"

Lu Mingfei turned around and saw Chu Zihang standing not far away, dragging a black suitcase.

He wore a simple white shirt and black casual pants, and his whole demeanor was like a drawn sword, sharp yet restrained.

"Senior brother!" Lu Mingfei almost jumped up. "What are you doing here?"

"The flight from China just arrived. It seems we've all encountered the same problem."

"A week-long strike! What are we going to do?" Lu Mingfei waved his arms. "Are we going to walk all the way to Kassel?"

Chu Zihang thought for two seconds and offered a solution: "There's no major problem. Let's find a hotel in Chicago for the week. I'll share a room with you, and Frillie will share a room."

Lu Mingfei's eyes lit up, and he sprang up from his suitcase: "I've been waiting for you to say that, Senior Brother!"

He grabbed Frillie's hand with one hand and pulled the suitcase with the other, shouting energetically, "Let's go! To the hotel!"

Frillie raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced at her hand being held, and did not pull away, letting Lu Mingfei lead her forward.

"Hehehe." A strange laugh came from above. "Heh heh, Senior Brother Lu is such a womanizer. He already has Sister Frilian, and he still wants to find a handsome man."

Lu Mingfei looked up and saw a petite figure squatting behind a white banner with strike slogans, making faces at him.

She was a girl with a ponytail, wearing a Kassel College uniform jacket and skirt, and her smile was as bright as a little sun.

"That voice, Xia Mi?" Lu Mingfei's eyes widened.

"You got it right!" Xia Mi replied cheerfully, then flipped over and jumped off the strip of cloth.

"Watch out!" Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang rushed over at the same time to catch her.

Frillie reacted even faster, flipping her wrist to reveal her wand, which she then gently waved.

A gentle breeze rose from the ground and steadily supported Xia Mi as she fell, allowing her to land lightly on the ground.

"Wow! Sister Frilian is so reliable!" Xia Mi pounced on Frilian as soon as she landed, wrapping her arms around her neck and rubbing her face against hers. "Magic is so convenient!"

Frillie was jolted back slightly by the brush, but she didn't push her away; she just sighed helplessly.

Chu Zihang stood to the side, his gaze lingering on Xia Mi for two seconds before he nodded politely: "Hello, I am Chu Zihang."

Xia Mi released Frillian, stood up straight, and gave an exaggerated bow: "Reporting, senior! I am Xia Mi, a freshman at Kassel College, a prospective member of the Disciplinary Committee, and my bloodline rating is A!"

She tilted her head and added, "Of course, it's still a little bit short of my senior's 'Super A-grade'~"

Chu Zihang shook hands with her; Xia Mi's hand was soft.

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but interject, "Xia Mi, what are you doing climbing on the train station sign for no reason? Don't you know it's dangerous?"

"Oh dear," Xia Mi waved her hand, "Isn't this just about climbing up to get a better view and see where my dear seniors are?"

She blinked. "I didn't expect to find you all so quickly. This must be fate!"

Looking at the overly lively Xia Mihuo, Chu Zihang silently labeled her as the "female version of Fingel" in his mind.

Frillie straightened her collar, which had been ruffled by Xia Mi, and asked, "Would you like to come with us to find a hotel?"

"Yay!" Xia Mi cheered, raising her hands. "Let me cling to your legs! Senior Brother Lu is in charge of being funny, Senior Brother Chu is in charge of being handsome, Sister Frilian is in charge of being reliable, and I'll be in charge of being cute!"

The four of them dragged their suitcases out of the station.

Passing by a Coca-Cola vending machine, Xia Mi mysteriously approached Lu Mingfei: "Senior Brother Lu, would you like a Coca-Cola?"

Lu Mingfei's eyes lit up: "Yes, I'm dying of thirst."

"Watch me!" Xia Mi scurried to the soda machine like a nimble cat.

The machine was surrounded by barriers erected by striking workers, but Xia Mi managed to squeeze half of her body through the gaps in the barriers.

She tiptoed, her slender body creating a graceful curve, the hem of her school uniform rising with the movement, revealing a section of her fair and delicate waist.

“This is too much trouble,” Frilian said, drawing her wand.

With a gentle wave, several paper cups popped out of the machine and flew to the bottom of the cola dispenser to catch the flowing drinks. Four cups of cola floated in the air and flew into the hands of four different people.

"Magic is amazing!" Xia Mi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she took the cola. "Sister Frilian, can you teach me? Just teach me this magic that automatically dispenses cola!"

Frillie took a sip of her cola and frowned slightly. "Too sweet. Object manipulation requires fifty years of practice."

“Fifty years,” Xia Mi exclaimed, leaning dramatically on Lu Mingfei’s shoulder. “I’ll be an old lady by then!”

Lu Mingfei helped her up and caught a glimpse of Xia Mi's face so close to his.

She has striking features rarely seen in East Asians, with large, bright eyes, fair skin, and a mischievous smile on her lips.