Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

"Let's raise a toast to the arrival of the Board of Trustees' investigation team!"

"Cheers!" The deafening response chased away the flock of pigeons in the square.

A bead of cold sweat slid down his neck. Andrew glanced around the square. This wasn't some kind of prestigious university; it was clearly a carnival!

The students were dressed in all sorts of outlandish costumes; some were on stilts, some wore exaggerated animal headgear, and several boys were twirling around the fountain in ballet tutus.

“Andrew! Stop sulking!” Flamel slapped him hard on the back, so hard that he almost bit his tongue. “Here, put your wreath on!”

Xia Mi appeared from the side and placed a fragrant wreath around Andrew's neck. He instinctively took a half step back, but Flamel grabbed him.

"This is our lovely new student, Xia Mi!" Flamel announced loudly, "She specially chose this Hawaiian wreath for you!"

A girl named Xia Mi made a heart shape with her hands towards Andrew, saying, "The leader is much more handsome in person than in the photos!"

Andrew was furious. He, the serious head of the school board's special investigation team, was surrounded by a group of crazy students shouting "handsome guy" while wearing a flower garland around his neck. What kind of behavior was this?

“Mr. Vice-Principal,” he said, trying to break free from Flamel’s grip, “I think we should go first.”

"Get on the float first!" Flamel said, dragging him towards the brightly decorated convertible in the center of the square without further ado. "The parade route is all set, around the college! Let everyone see our distinguished guest!"

Andrew felt dizzy; he had come to impeach the principal, not to attend the carnival.

"Percy!" he called out, turning to look for his assistant, his voice pleading for help.

Percy stood beside the float, maintaining a calm and composed expression.

Andrew was pushed onto the float, and Percy followed, whispering in his ear, "Master, this Vice Principal Flamel is the famous 'Night Watchman,' you must not underestimate him."

The Night Watchman? A legendary figure in the world of alchemy with cold eyes in the archival photos?

Andrew turned to look at Flamel, who was directing the student band to adjust the volume. With his floral shirt, beer belly, messy beard, and reddish nose, he looked exactly like a disheveled middle-aged man experiencing a midlife crisis.

"Are you sure?" Andrew asked in a low voice. "The Night Watchmen in the files are much more handsome."

“The vice principal used to be a handsome man,” Percy said calmly, “but more than sixty years have passed, Mr. Commander.”

Andrew looked at Flamel again, trying to find traces of his former self in the loose facial muscles and wrinkles around his eyes.

After his failure, he unconsciously touched his face. Time is a cruel mistress; it turned a handsome man into a pig.

"Hey Andrew! Look over here!" Flamel took the camera from Frilian next to the float and snapped a picture of him. "Smile!"

Andrew reflexively forced a stiff smile.

“Vice Principal,” he tried to make his voice sound authoritative, “I think we should begin formal work immediately regarding Chu Zihang’s lineage.”

“Oh, work isn’t urgent!” Flamel plopped down next to him, causing the float to sway. “Do you know how many years I’ve been this vice principal? Sixty-two years! Sixty-two years!”

He waved the bottle exaggeratedly, "I've been waiting for this day and night, and finally the school board's investigation team has arrived! Finally, someone's come to investigate that old bastard Angers!"

Andrew was taken aback. Did this sound like Flamel was on the school board's side?

Before he could think it through, the float started moving.

The music started, a Latin dance tune with a very strong rhythm.

A deafening roar of cheers erupted from both sides of the road.

"Commander Andrew! Look here!"

"Commander! I'm your fan!"

"Long live the Board of Trustees!"

Countless hands reached out toward the floats, and some students even tried to climb on them.

Andrew gripped the armrests of his seat, feeling like a lamb thrown into a pack of wolves.

Two students standing in the front row, an Asian boy dressed as Santa Claus and a petite girl with silver hair and pointed ears, looked out of place among the other enthusiastic students.

"Ah! Our student representatives!" Flamel followed his gaze and immediately waved for the two to come forward. "Come! Greet the head of the investigation team!"

The black-haired boy almost tripped as he was pushed onto the float, while the silver-haired girl lightly leaped on.

"This is Lu Mingfei, S-rank!" Flamel proudly introduced, patting Lu Mingfei's back forcefully, making him cough repeatedly. "This is Frilian, A-rank, my last disciple!"

Andrew raised an eyebrow; Lu Mingfei's outfit looked incredibly stupid.

"How's the investigation going?" Flamel asked Lu Mingfei loudly, winking at him.

Lu Mingfei blinked. "That's awesome! Commander Andrew is so handsome!"

A burst of laughter and applause erupted from the crowd.

Andrew's cheek muscles twitched; his acting was so fake!

Flamel, completely unfazed, turned to Frilian and asked, "Frilian, are you happy today?"

Frillie read the words in a monotone, expressionless voice: "Today was the happiest day because Commander Andrew came to visit."

Andrew suddenly felt like he was being watched like a monkey in a zoo. These two students were clearly just going through the motions!

Flamel looked at him with a smug expression, as if he were showing off some great achievement.

"How's the spirit and morale of our students?" Flamel asked, giving a thumbs-up, his voice drowning out the music. "I hope they'll satisfy the entire investigation team!"

Andrew's lips twitched. Satisfied? All he wanted to do now was pull out a handkerchief and wipe the spittle that the enthusiastic students had sprayed on his face.

As the float rounded a bend, more students poured in from all directions, and some began throwing ribbons and confetti onto it.

"Hey look! The news department's drone!" Flamel shouted, pointing to the sky. "Strike a pose, Andrew! You're going to be on the front page of the school newspaper!"

Andrew looked up and saw several small drones with cameras attached hovering above the floats.

He straightened his tie and then realized that he had been led astray again. The head of the school board's investigation team was actually cooperating with the photo shoot for the school magazine.

“Percy!” he turned to his assistant, his voice laced with suppressed anger. “Do something!”

Percy nodded, took a handful of confetti from his pocket, and scattered it into the air.

"Wow!!" The students cheered even more enthusiastically.

Andrew closed his eyes in despair. What about his meticulously prepared investigation plan? What about his repeatedly rehearsed impeachment speech? What about the Abrahamic Treaty of Bloodlines he intended to use to intimidate everyone?

They were all submerged in the absurd revelry.

The float drove along a tree-lined avenue, with old oak trees on both sides adorned with welcome banners.

On the balcony of a building in the distance, a person quietly watched this farce unfold.

With his silver-gray hair, perfectly tailored suit, and a glass of red wine in his hand, Andrew could feel the imposing presence emanating from the man even from a hundred meters away.

Angers.

The principal of Kassel College, his main destination, leaned against the railing.

Andrew understood; it was all pre-arranged.

Flamel's feigned madness, the students' exaggerated performances, and the seemingly chaotic welcoming ceremony were all for one purpose.

Disrupt his rhythm, undermine his authority, and turn a serious investigation into a farce.

Angers, that damned old fox, is gazing down on his own pathetic state.

Andrew stood up; he had to stop this farce immediately!

"Vice Principal, it's me."

The blaring sound of a horn interrupted him.

A dragon dance team composed of students appeared in front of the float. The golden-red dragon body shimmered in the sunlight, rolling and leaping to the beat of the drums, blocking the way.

"This is a special program for our Chinese students!" Flamel shouted excitedly, "'Dragon Soars and Tiger Leaps to Welcome Distinguished Guests'! Andrew, do you like it?"

Chapter 88 The Feast at Hongmen

Andrew Gattuso's plans were completely disrupted.

He originally thought that on his first day at Kassel College, he would sit in a serious conference room, face the tenured professors, read the "Abrahamic Bloodline Contract," and then begin questioning Chu Zihang about his bloodline.

However, in reality, he was dragged into the college's dining hall by Vice Principal Flamel. A huge round table was set with dishes, and the surrounding area was filled with professors and student representatives from Kassel College.

"Come, come! Brother Andrew! This is a genuine Chinese feast specially prepared for you!" Flamel said, beaming, as he pulled him to sit in the main seat. "We have quite a few Chinese students in our college. Today, let me show you some authentic Erguotou!"

Before Andrew could refuse, a glass of clear white liquor was shoved into his hand.

“This…” He frowned, took a sniff, and a strong smell of alcohol hit his nose.

"Commander Andrew! I'd like to propose a toast to you!" The bespectacled, refined-looking young professor stood up, his smile amiable. "I'm from the Department of Alchemy and Mechanics, and I've always admired the Gattuso family!"

Andrew was taken aback; this professor was one of the people on his list whom he needed to win over.

He forced a smile, raised his glass, and took a sip.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Andrew coughed violently, his throat feeling like it was on fire, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Hahaha! Commander, you can't hold your liquor!" Flamel laughed, patting him on the back. "This is 62-proof Erguotou, you have to down it in one gulp to get the kick out!"

Andrew's face turned pale. He was a top student from Yale Law School who usually drank red wine and whiskey. He had never seen anyone drink baijiu directly like this.

“Mr. Head of the delegation, I also want to toast you.” Another professor stood up with a smile. “I heard you came here to investigate whether there were any illegal activities within the college? You must be very tired!”

Andrew was about to explain when the other man tilted his head back and downed the drink in one gulp, then stared straight at him.

He was caught in a dilemma and had no choice but to grit his teeth and drink the wine in his glass.

"Great! Excellent! As expected of the Gattuso family!" The table erupted in applause.

Andrew's head began to spin. He tried to stay awake, his eyes scanning the dining table, searching for a way out.

Then, he saw Lu Mingfei.

This legendary S-class student secretly poured baijiu into a teacup and pretended to drink it.

Lu Mingfei noticed his gaze, smiled awkwardly, and raised his glass. "Commander, I'd like to toast you!"

Andrew's lips twitched; he thought to himself that this kid was quite cunning.

"Commander Andrew," Frillie said, standing up and raising her glass. "To you."

After she finished speaking, she tilted her head back and drank it all.

Andrew stared at her in shock. This silver-haired girl looked petite and delicate, yet she could drink so much?