Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Fingel was in charge of technical interference to ensure that Chu Zihang's file was "clean" at the hearing.

Flamel was responsible for mediating among the tenured professors, winning over those who were wavering.

Angers, all he had to do was drink and sing, watching Andrew dig his own grave.

"By the way, Principal," Fingel said, turning back before leaving, "Do Lu Mingfei and Frilian know about this?"

"They don't need to know this."

Fingel nodded knowingly and turned to leave.

Only Angers and Flamel remained in the attic.

Flamel swirled his glass. "Old man, you've gone a bit too far this time."

"There's no other way. With the Dragon Kings gradually reviving, all the hybrids in the world are taking action. At a time like this, we can't let the Board of Directors hold us back."

Chapter 90 Persuasion

Lu Mingfei stared at the text message on his phone screen, his throat tightening.

Principal Angers sent instructions: "Tomorrow night at 8 pm, meet with Cesare Gattuso with Frilian. Objective: to gain his support at Chu Zihang's hearing. Frilian will provide details."

"Are you kidding me?" Lu Mingfei was a little confused, even though he and Frilian were both very familiar with Caesar.

But to ask them to persuade Caesar, a proud nobleman as graceful as a swan, the heir to the Gattuso family? That's like asking a groundhog to negotiate with a lion.

There was a gentle knock on the dormitory door.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and Frillie stood in the doorway, dressed in a simple white shirt and jeans, her silver hair tied in a neat ponytail.

"You've seen the principal's instructions."

Lu Mingfei nodded. "Yes, but why should we be the ones to make the contact?"

“The principal thinks it’s more appropriate to start with us, who are familiar with Caesar,” Frilian said as she walked in, closing the door behind her.

She took a tablet computer out of her backpack. "To avoid any mishaps at the hearing, the Gattuso family has blocked all official channels of contact with Caesar. We have to find another way."

Caesar's schedule was displayed on the tablet screen.

Lu Mingfei's eyes widened. "How did you get this?"

"Given by Fingel."

She opened a file: "Tomorrow night, Caesar will be attending a charity reception at the Art Institute of Chicago, which will be our best chance to get in touch with him."

"Are we going to sneak into the party?"

“Hmm.” Frilian swiped the screen, revealing a waiter's uniform. “This is our disguise.”

Lu Mingfei pictured himself in a waiter's uniform, slipping and falling flat on his face while carrying a champagne glass, spilling the wine all over Caesar's clothes.

“Not really,” he managed to squeeze out, “and what if the Gattuso family finds out?”

Frillie took a step closer, a faint fragrance emanating from her.

“Lu Mingfei,” she said softly, “Chu Zihang is your friend, isn’t he?”

Lu Mingfei was taken aback. "Me."

“Now is the time when he needs you the most.” Frillian’s voice was soft, but it struck Lu Mingfei’s heart like a hammer blow. “If the hearing fails, Chu Zihang may be placed under permanent supervision, or even worse.”

Lu Mingfei rubbed the back of his hand; the pain brought him back to his senses.

“Okay,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Tell me the plan.”

Frillie unfolded a floor plan of the party venue. "First, we need..."

The next evening at 8:00 PM, the Art Institute of Chicago.

Lu Mingfei stood in the employee passage, adjusting the bionic mask on his face. The black waiter uniform made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Don't move, the [Face-Swapping Magic] will stop working the moment you touch it." Frilian slapped his hand away. Both she and Lu Mingfei had disguised themselves to avoid being discovered by security.

She perfectly embodied the role of a well-trained waitress, even her hairstyle and makeup became understated. "We only have one chance. Caesar will arrive on the terrace around 8:10, and that's when we'll make contact with him."

What if he refuses?

"I'll give you instructions later. Now, go to your post; you're the bartender in charge of the terrace area."

Lu Mingfei picked up the tray and walked towards the magnificent main hall.

The light from the crystal chandelier stung his eyes, while celebrities around him chatted and laughed. He felt like an ugly duckling who had wandered into a flock of swans, ready to be torn apart at any moment.

"Keep your breathing steady," Frillian's voice came through the earpiece. "Caesar has just entered; move toward the terrace."

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath and walked towards the terrace.

Through the glass door, he saw a tall, slender figure. Cesare Gattuso stood by the railing, his profile as perfect as an ancient Greek sculpture, exuding an air of languid nobility.

Lu Mingfei's hands began to tremble, and the wine glasses on the tray clattered.

“Calm down,” Frilian said. “Proceed according to plan.”

Lu Mingfei gritted his teeth, pushed open the balcony door, and walked towards Caesar.

"Sir, would you like some champagne?" he asked, trying to make his voice sound normal.

Caesar turned his head, glanced at him, and said, "Thank you."

The moment Lu Mingfei handed over the wine, his hand slipped, the glass tilted, and the wine spilled directly onto Caesar's clothes.

"Yes, I'm sorry!" he said, frantically pulling out a handkerchief. "I'll do it right away."

Caesar laughed. "Lu Mingfei, your acting skills need improvement."

The handkerchief Lu Mingfei offered hung in mid-air. "You recognized me?"

“From the moment you walked in,” Caesar said, taking the handkerchief and casually wiping his clothes. “Although you have changed your appearance, you cannot change the way you walk and your expression.”

A sigh came through the earpiece from Frillian: "Just say it."

"I need to talk to you. About Chu Zihang."

Caesar's expression subtly changed. He looked around, grabbed Lu Mingfei's arm, and said, "Come with me."

He led Lu Mingfei across the terrace and into a private lounge.

After closing the door, Caesar loosened his collar. "Speak," he said, "what did Angers send you here for?"

Lu Mingfei didn't expect it to be so direct.

He decided to tell the truth: "Hearing. The board of directors wants to impeach the principal, using Chu Zihang's lineage as a pretext. The principal hopes you can stand on a fair and impartial ground."

Caesar raised an eyebrow. "Fairness? What do you mean by fairness? Chu Zihang's bloodline is indeed controversial."

“But my senior brother is innocent!” Lu Mingfei couldn’t help but raise his voice. “He has never lost control and has always completed every mission perfectly.”

Caesar walked to the window, his back to Lu Mingfei, and said, "Do you know my uncle's attitude towards this matter?"

“He believes Chu Zihang is a ticking time bomb and must be controlled. The family has invested a lot of resources to ensure that the hearing proceeds according to his wishes.”

"So, boss, will you do as the family wishes?"

Caesar turned around. "Do you know my code of conduct?"

Lu Mingfei shook his head blankly.

"First rule: Honesty is above self-interest," Caesar said, emphasizing each word. "Second rule: Justice is above family."

Silence fell over the lounge.

“I don’t like Chu Zihang,” Caesar said. “He’s too serious, too rigid, like an emotionless machine. But…”

He paused for a moment, then said, "I respect his ability; he's a formidable opponent."

Lu Mingfei felt a glimmer of hope, "Then you will."

“I will not lie for anyone,” Caesar said, looking him straight in the eye. “But I promise I will tell you all the facts I know. If it is in Chu Zihang’s best interest, then it is a just outcome.”

Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief, and then he heard Frilian's voice through his earphones: "Say Nono."

Before coming, Frilian told Nono about Chu Zihang, and Nono also hoped that Caesar would stand on Chu Zihang's side.

Lu Mingfei was taken aback, and subconsciously repeated, "Nono?"

"What does she have to do with this?"

"I...I don't know," Lu Mingfei stammered, "it's just..."

"Who told you to ask this?" Caesar stepped closer. "Angers?"

Frillie said quickly through the earpiece, "Tell him that Nono believes Chu Zihang's bloodline is stable, and she hopes the hearing will be conducted fairly."

Lu Mingfei repeated the sentence, feeling like he was playing with fire.

Caesar's expression became inscrutable. He walked back to the window and remained silent for a long time.

"I will be fair, not only for honor, but also for Nono's trust."

Lu Mingfei nodded.

"Now, you should leave. It won't be good for either of us if someone sees us talking."

Lu Mingfei turned to leave, then stopped. "Thank you."

Caesar waved his hand. "Don't misunderstand, it's not for you, nor for Angers. I'm just tired of the family's tricks."

Lu Mingfei left the lounge, turned a corner, and Frilian appeared, pulling him quickly through the corridor and into an empty room.

"It went very smoothly."

Lu Mingfei slumped into his chair. "I think I'm going to have a heart attack. By the way, why did you have to bring up Nuonuo?"

"Caesar likes Chen Motong."

Lu Mingfei glanced at his watch. "How do we leave?"

"Back door. A car will pick us up in five minutes."

On the way back, Lu Mingfei gazed at the neon lights flashing past the window, his thoughts drifting to the upcoming hearing.

Caesar's promise is good news, but is it really enough?