Lu Mingfei, who had read Dragon Clan before slaying the dragon

"Brother, you need to work harder on this. Junior Sister Xia Mi is obviously a foodie, but you don't seem to be very good at cooking." Lu Mingfei suddenly looked at Chu Zihang with a serious expression, "You really should learn more from Boss Caesar about picking up girls."

Chu Zihang's face darkened. He didn't understand why the topic had returned to him. It was as if, ever since he and Xia Mi had established their relationship, whenever they started chatting, they couldn't continue without bringing up this topic and teasing him a few times.

Caesar opened a bottle of ice wine, and the grape-colored wine looked like flowing purple amber in the four glasses.

"To be honest, before the mission, I wasn't optimistic about our team. The four of us are all eccentrics to varying degrees, and putting four eccentrics together is unpredictable. But this also shows that our team has endless possibilities. This mission is to dive into an abyss never before reached by humans to kill a dragon. It sounds crazy, but I hope we can work together sincerely, without scheming or fighting among ourselves. This glass of wine is to wish us a complete success!"

Caesar raised his glass first. He was just like that, full of youthful positive energy. Even when he said such silly lines as "Young people, are you ready to work together to save this endangered world?", they were inexplicably inspiring and even thrilling. This was the personal charm of the student union president.

Lu Mingfei, Chu Zihang and Yuan Zhisheng touched Caesar's glass and drank it all.

"By the way, is it considered drunk driving if you drive a submersible after drinking?" Lu Mingfei suddenly blurted out something rubbish.

"Don't worry, Japanese law doesn't stipulate this," Minamoto said with a smile. He turned to look at the dim lights not far away, then looked at the Caesar team. "Everyone, let me introduce you to the 'Unsinkable Sumeru Throne,' a floating platform built by the Ganliu Research Institute and Maruyama Construction."

His voice rolled over the sea like thunder, and then, as if in response to Yuan Zhisheng's words, it was as if a huge sun slowly rose from the distant horizon, igniting the sea level.

The magnificent building seemed to be floating out of the sea, as if it had built a line of land on the coast. From a distance, it looked like a mirage. The white and yellow lights intertwined and flashed, guiding the direction of the Moniach. Two glowing ribbons stretched out all the way, as if they were a passage paved for VIPs.

"Interesting." Caesar smiled. "Are these the private projects of the Eight Snake Families?"

"Yes, the family has some marine mining and scientific research projects that require floating platforms at sea, and these are all the family owns. 'Sumeru' means 'Buddha's seat' in Buddhism, signifying immovability like a mountain. All six 'Sumeru's seats, connected together, can withstand a Category 12 hurricane, torrential rain, and tsunamis, allowing them to navigate any sea surface as if it were flat ground. This is inspired by the Chinese allusion of 'iron chains linking boats, making it as easy as walking on flat ground.'"

“But in Chinese folklore, the fate of the boats connected by iron chains is not very good.” Lu Mingfei stroked his chin.

A massive towing rope was attached to the bow of the Moniach. The Moniach shut its engines and towed Caesar and his companions into the Sumeru's inner dock. The gates closed. The floating paths on either side of the dock were filled with men in black. Under the lights, they all bowed in unison, "Welcome, Young Master, to the Sumeru's inspection!"

Hundreds of sounds overlapped and exploded simultaneously in the enclosed space, and Caesar's team felt like their eardrums were about to be pierced.

The steel cable pulled the suspension bridge down from the sky. Caesar's team followed Yuan Zhisheng upwards. Crow and Yaksha came to meet them. The crowd of people in black were pushed aside, and they came to the automatic elevator on the Sumeru throne.

"The Sumeru pedestals are fully automatic. They constantly absorb and discharge ocean waves, effectively mitigating the impact of the waves. Therefore, the maximum amplitude of the earthquake is no more than a magnitude 4 earthquake," Yuan Zhisheng explained to the Caesar team. "We are currently standing on the abyss, eight kilometers deep. However, the abyss is very narrow, like a cliff on the seabed. This is why we need six Sumeru pedestals. The seabed beneath the Sumeru pedestals on the left and right is only one kilometer deep. We can't manufacture an eight-kilometer anchor hook, but we can technically achieve a one-kilometer anchor hook."

"Your skills are far more advanced than I imagined." Chu Zihang said.

"After spending these few days together, I know that it is more difficult to get praise from Mr. Chu than from Mr. Gattuso." Yuan Zhisheng smiled and took them to the top of the Sumeru pedestal.

A maritime helicopter circled overhead, its propellers bringing a powerful gust of wind and a cacophony of noise. Anyone not of mixed blood would have been unable to maintain their footing. The wind was stronger than when they arrived, strong enough to drown a small fishing boat. The waves pounded against the underside of the pedestals, causing the steel cables between the massive platforms to snap straight. The seawater was sucked in by the spiral gates and released out the other side, creating bubbles of white foam that were instantly dispersed by the next wave.

"It's like we're going to fight a war." Caesar looked at the huge logistics troops, which were as disciplined as an army.

"This is a war, Gattuso-kun!" Genjisheng's voice was like thunder. "We're not going down to the sea to catch crabs or pick up pearls. We're facing the embryo of an ancient dragon. If we can't prevent it from hatching, everyone here will die, and all of Japan may be overturned."

"Fighting a war requires an army with clear division of labor. For this mission, the Kansai branch will form the Wind Team, responsible for patrolling the sea surface; the Kanto branch will form the Fire Team, responsible for fire support; the Ganliu Research Institute will form the Mountain Team, responsible for ensuring your safety; and the Fuma family ninjas will form the Forest Team, responsible for monitoring the weather and sea conditions in the sea area."

The crows fired flares, and the platform lit up with blue, red, brown, and green lights in response, indicating that each group was in position and ready to fight a war that would not end until victory.

"What else can I say? You're so well prepared. Our mission is just to dive down and deliver the bomb to that poor unhatched dragon, right?" Caesar lit his cigar. "Like a courier."

"But your actions are the most important part. If you make a mistake, all our preparations and support will be wasted. This is a battle that only requires victory," Yuan Zhisheng said seriously. "I can trust you, right?"

Chapter 215 Highest Authority, EVA Personality

"Of course, don't we look untrustworthy?" Caesar asked, taking a puff of his cigar.

Yuan Zhisheng wanted to nod and ask why Gattuso was so clueless. But the mission was urgent. Even if the Kassel Academy sent three lunatics, they had already staked everything in their family on them. He couldn't shake the morale of the troops before the expedition; that was a taboo in the military.

"We should be the ones asking you this, right? After all, the three of us are risking our lives diving down. If the mission fails, the most you'll face is danger, but we'll die." Lu Mingfei stared at Yuan Zhisheng. "Yuan Jun, mission failure won't benefit anyone. Let's stop being suspicious of each other now."

"I'm sorry, this is a serious matter and we have to be cautious. There was indeed something wrong with the way I asked the question." Yuan Zhisheng nodded, then picked up the communicator and connected to a channel.

"This is the Sumeruzu floating platform of the Japanese branch. Director of the Executive Bureau, Gen Chisheng, is in charge of the liaison. Hello, Professor Schneider."

"It's not the scheduled mission time yet, right? Then wait for me to have a cigarette." A hoarse voice came from the other side of the communicator, accompanied by heavy breathing.

This was not the first time Yuan Zhisheng had spoken with Professor Schneider, but he still couldn't get used to the professor's voice.

To be precise, everyone who heard Schneider speak for the first time would feel horrified, because it was impossible to imagine that the sound could come from a human throat. It was like the wreckage of an old phonograph turning a rusty turntable. One could imagine that the man's trachea and lungs must be riddled with holes.

"Okay, Professor Schneider. There are still thirty minutes left before the estimated time. The Rock Flow Research Institute will complete the final inspection and warm-up of the Trieste within 30 minutes. Thirty minutes later, the three members of Caesar's team will officially dive and head for the Abyss." Yuan Zhisheng said seriously.

There was no response from the other end of the communicator, as if agreeing with Yuan Zhisheng's words.

After a while, a violent coughing sound was heard from the communicator. The violent noise echoing in the closed space was particularly creepy, as if the person on the other side might be unable to breathe or cough out his entire lung in the next moment.

……

Kassel Academy headquarters, central control room.

Today, the place is empty. Schneider is the only one in the entire control room, sitting in front of the huge screen. The screen shows the scene on the Sumeru throne in the Sea of ​​Japan, far across the ocean.

Through the screen, one could see researchers in white uniforms running around the Trieste, painted with the red and white Japanese flag. A bright yellow "giant cigar" was being mounted on a crane. The "giant cigar" was the star attraction of this mission: a refined sulfur bomb, a weapon capable of killing ancient dragon embryos.

Of course, the figures of Caesar's group also appeared on the screen. Schneider quietly looked at these most outstanding and promising children in the academy, smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, making earth-shaking coughs, and his lowered eyes were dark and unclear.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?" The door of the central control room was pushed open, and what jumped into the eye was a shiny bald head.

"Professor Manstein," Schneider whispered. "Let me guess. The school board sent you here to ask me to abort Project Longyuan, right? Because the Gattuso family won't allow their heir to detonate an embryo hidden eight thousand meters underwater. They don't want Caesar to suffer any mishaps."

"Don't you know this better than anyone else?" Manstein threw the fax from the board of directors on the table, along with a warning letter with a red seal.

"But I'm sorry, I have no reason to obey the Gattuso family. I am not a dog of the board of directors. The implementation resolution of the Longyuan Plan was approved by the principal. I am only the monitor and executor of the plan and do not have the power to terminate the plan." Schneider said lightly.

"Isn't that an implication?" Manstein asked. "In Professor Schneider's eyes, I'm just a dog of the board of directors?"

"That's how it seems at the moment." Schneider seemed to have no desire to communicate with Manstein. "Forget you. Even if that young secretary from the school board or Frost himself came, it wouldn't be of any use. Only the principal can stop the Longyuan Project, and he won't agree. His attitude will only be more resolute than mine."

"Frost couldn't make it. Upon learning that Caesar was about to descend into the Abyss, he suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the intensive care unit. He also cursed the Kassel Academy as ungrateful people, saying they used the Gattuso family's submersible and were planning to murder their heir. I think if he weren't in trouble, he would definitely use a detonator to blow open the door to the central control room and then point a shotgun at your head to order you to stop. He would do the same even if the principal were here." Manstein took out a black magnetic card. "He definitely would. For this reason, he even left the Gattuso family's black card with me. This card has the same authority as the principal, and Norma will obey."

"Without Norma's assistance, I can't remotely control the mission, and the Longyuan Project will be forced to stop." Schneider said, "There are still twenty minutes before the mission begins. Why haven't you done what you said?"

After a moment's silence, Manstein said, "Because I'm not here to abort the mission at all. I'm not here because of a request from the school board."

"What do you mean?" Schneider was stunned.

"Frost has indeed entrusted me with the power and asked me to take over, and he's also made me an offer I couldn't refuse," Manstein said. "As long as I halt the Dragon Abyss Project, I'll have a smooth career at Kassel College. They've promised that I'll dethrone my bastard father before I turn sixty and make me the vice-president."

"Then congratulations in advance, Mr. Vice Principal." Schneider said lightly with a disdainful tone.

"Friend, there's no need to mock me like that. Didn't I tell you I'm not here for this? Besides, even though my dad is a jerk, I have to admit I can't take his fourth seat." Manstein paused. "Before Frost handed me the black card, someone sent a confidential document to my email."

"Oh? Something more important than becoming Vice Chairman?"

"The name of the file is 'Kaallitnunaat', which translates to 'Greenland'. It refers to the 'Greenland Ice Sea Incident' eleven years ago!" Manstein slowly spat out the name of the file, his expression as serious as if he had released a devil.

Schneider, who had previously maintained a calm expression, widened his eyes at the words "Greenland Ice Sea," nearly to the point of popping them. His breathing became noticeably rapid, like a broken bellows being strained. It felt as if the air wasn't being inhaled and exhaled, but rather seeping out through the holes in his lungs and airways. The shuddering sound of his breaths rapidly grew, echoing throughout the central control room.

"What did you say!" Schneider yelled, coughing violently. "How is it possible... How is it possible!"

"Yes, I was terrified when I saw that document. After all, it happened eleven years ago, and I've searched through Norma's records, but there's not a single word about it, even though it was such a significant event," Manstein said. "I know that eleven years ago, a guy with the ID 'Prince' posted on a hunter website about a dragon civilization hidden in the Greenland Sea. The school board sent you there, and you encountered a 'gate' there. Although I'm not sure what this 'gate' is, after passing through it, you encountered a dark shadow. It was a hatched dragon embryo, just like the description in the document, like a 'totem on an ancient mural.'"

"You encountered a dragon. Almost all of your most proud students were wiped out. Your respiratory tract was frostbitten by the icy air currents, which were still filled with scalding dragon blood. Your respiratory tract and lungs were shattered. To this day, you have to wear an oxygen mask to survive. Part of your respiratory tract has been replaced with a plastic hose. Otherwise, you would die from a weakened respiratory system or lung failure... But no one at school knew about this."

"They knew how dangerous it was, yet they still risked human lives. They kept such a huge matter secret. Some of those who knew about it were sent to distant countries for life, while others were simply silenced. Those bastards on the school board are nothing short of heartless demons!"

Manstein slammed his fist on the conference table next to Schneider, and the veins on his bald head bulged with anger due to excitement.

"This is clearly top secret and can't be kept. There's no record of it in any system or hard drive, yet it's so detailed... Who was it?" Schneider's iron-gray eyes fixed on Manstein. "Who sent you that email?"

"I don't know." Looking at Schneider's ferocious face, Manstein shook his head. "I really don't know. The sender was anonymous, and the document burned itself after being read. Not even a single byte of it was left. But..."

Manstein paused. "Rather than a document, it's more like a self-narration. The sender reconstructs the events from a firsthand perspective, describing them in great detail. It gives me the feeling of... someone who experienced these things firsthand."

Schneider was silent for a very long time, so long that a reminder appeared on the LCD screen that there were only five minutes left before the mission began.

"I know, my friend, you want to shoulder the blame alone. This time, you intend to take on the blame yourself. If you let the Caesar team fail to prevent the hatching, the Greenland Sea incident of eleven years ago will be repeated, and this time the consequences will likely be even more severe," Manstein said. "So, neither you nor the principal will allow this dragon to rise from the seabed. To this end, you even sent three of the academy's best students, including your student Chu Zihang. They thought this mission was just a dive, but it's actually much more dangerous. They'll face a dragon that could hatch at any time."

"Yes, you're right. I can't let the nightmare of eleven years ago happen again. If I could dive myself, I would put on my diving suit and jump into the Trieste without hesitation, even if it cost me my life." Schneider took a puff of his cigarette. "But my body no longer allows me to do that, so I can only send the children I trust to face this danger. I am an out-and-out villain, and only a villain can serve as the head of the Executive Department."

"But I need to know the difference between you and the school board. They are demons, and you are evil. I at least want to make sure you haven't lost your human nature. Among those who went down there is the heir of the Gattuso family, Lu Mingfei, a student of my old friend Guderian, and your student Chu Zihang. My student Xia Mi wouldn't want to see anything happen to her boyfriend." For the first time, Manstein stared intently into Schneider's dagger-like eyes. It was also the first time he addressed this feared professor by name. "Schneider, tell me, if things get out of our control, you won't choose to sacrifice those children."

"I won't joke about my child's life." Schneider and Manstein looked at each other quietly. "I promise."

"Okay." Manstein got the answer he wanted, and he pushed the second black magnetic card to Schneider's hand.

"What is this?" Schneider picked up the black card. The logo of Kassel Academy and the half-decayed World Tree were engraved on the black card surface.

"It was mailed to me an hour ago. It was sent by SF Express, and it was an anonymous cash on delivery. I thought it was a joke from a student. As the disciplinary committee member, I often receive scary dolls and porn star photos, but opening it scared me for the second time today." Manstein said slowly, "This is an authority card. It represents higher authority than Frost and the principal. Its only function is to activate another system of Norma..."

"A personality named 'EVA'."

……

"Compression test confirmed, all three readings are normal, dive preparation complete!"

"Circuit testing completed, current is stable, and voltage range is normal under full load mode!"

"Refined sulfur bomb assembly complete, propulsion system operating perfectly!"

Countless technicians in white coats were completing the final tests around the Trieste. Thousands of cables and dozens of instruments connected to the submersible were working at a rapid speed. The flames and hurricanes ejected from the thrusters made these people sweat and look embarrassed, but no one was distracted.

They dared not be negligent in the slightest. This was not only the first exploration of the Abyss by human beings, but also a contest between the Eight Snake Clans and the Fierce Ghosts, a war between hybrids and dragons.

Caesar also mingled among the scientific researchers. Although he knew nothing about these complicated circuits and tests, he was the leader of the team, and it was impossible for a leader to leave his subordinates to work while he took a break.

He took off his white captain's uniform, revealing his perfect muscles as he hammered and pounded on the Trieste, the ship that would soon carry their lives. Whenever the staff completed a test, he patted them on the shoulder, his ice-blue eyes filled with the admiration of an older brother, and he showed his bright smile and white teeth to show his encouragement.

Chapter 216 Tsukuyomi, Eri

Unlike Caesar who was moving among the crowd, Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang, a pair of brothers from the same group, sat in a remote corner. The black sea water and white foam flowed under their feet, and the sound of waves continued.

Chu Zihang had borrowed the Trieste's operating manual from Caesar and was flipping through it quickly. Caesar had only memorized the underlined end point, and Chu Zihang planned to use the time before the battle to review the rest, memorizing as much as he could.

After all, it was their first time to dive with a submersible. The 8,000-meter deep sea area was no joke. Except for real ancient dragons, almost no creatures could survive at such a depth. If any accident happened, they would be finished with their mixed-race physiques.

Lu Mingfei did not disturb Chu Zihang's studies. He had his hand in his pocket, holding something, and looked down at the waves of the sea below his feet, wondering what he was thinking.

When Chu Zihang raised his head from reading fatigue, Lu Mingfei finally spoke: "Brother, are you nervous?"

"There will definitely be tension, but it's within the controllable range." Chu Zihang said lightly.

He was such an extremely calm person, possessing abnormal self-control. Even if you told him that the world would end in an hour, he would put down his book and quietly think about how to save the world. If he learned that he couldn't save the world, he would probably call his mother and Xia Mi, then recall every little thing he had with his father. Maybe he would feel relieved and think that death could be a kind of generosity.

This is why Caesar doesn't like Chu Zihang. In his eyes, an opponent who is not afraid of death is really a lunatic!

"Have you talked to your junior sister on the phone?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"Well, I told her the truth. I said this mission was very dangerous and we might not be able to come back. If something unexpected really happened, I hope she can visit my mother more often." Chu Zihang said.

"Brother, sometimes you really don't need to be so...honest, especially in relationships." Lu Mingfei was impressed by Chu Zihang's straightforwardness and sighed repeatedly, "What did my junior sister say?"

"She said...'Chu Zihang, take care of your own mother. I don't care about these things. I tell you, if you dare to die in a small ditch like that, you are a coward, and I will not recognize you as my boyfriend.' And 'If you are killed by someone, I will take Fenrir to avenge you on the first day, but don't expect me to remain a widow for you. I will remarry on the second day'... These are her exact words, that's about it." Chu Zihang repeated Xia Mi's words in a calm tone.

"As expected of Little Dragon Girl, she's as tough as Senior Sister!" Lu Mingfei gave her a thumbs up. "Do you feel pressured to date a girl like this?"

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Zihang shook his head gently: "Not bad."

They were both silent for a while, and then Chu Zihang suddenly spoke: "Xia Mi asked me to tell you that she met a lot of female students at the freshman fraternity. There are all kinds of them. If you are interested, feel free to talk to her."

"Brother, please tell my junior sister that she is grateful for her kindness, but it is not necessary." Lu Mingfei said.

"Where's Zero?" Chu Zihang said suddenly, with a tentative tone, "Fingal said that Zero is very popular in the student union and has many followers, but she rejected them all. It seems that Zero has some feelings for you."

Lu Mingfei looked at Chu Zihang and smiled, shaking his head. "Zero is very good, very outstanding, and she and I are also very good friends. But brother, you should also know that falling in love with a girl is something that cannot be forced."

He was not surprised by Chu Zihang's words, because there was a gossipy person in his senior brother's heart. Chu Zihang's gossipy nature was even stronger than most women, so he didn't dare to tell his senior brother about Eiry for the time being.

Chu Zihang nodded, and then his expression suddenly became serious, because a crackling sound of electricity began to be heard in their headphones, which meant that the channel communication had started to connect. The communication systems of Norma in the headquarters and Kaguya in Japan had been connected, and the person in charge of the mission would talk to them personally next.

The sound of electricity was followed by heavy breathing and Professor Schneider's hoarse voice: "Attention, Caesar team, attention, Caesar team, this is the encrypted channel between you and the headquarters set up by Norma. I am Schneider. Please reply when you receive the message."

"Got it." The three people who heard the "encrypted channel" answered in a low voice at the same time.

"I won't go into the details of the mission, but the short answer is to dive to the seabed and explode an ancient dragon embryo. The three of you are senior specialists. Although you haven't graduated yet, your records in the Executive Department have surpassed most of your predecessors. Ordinary challenges won't stump you, but there's one exception." Schneider spoke slowly, then paused, his voice more serious than ever. "If you see a 'door' or anything resembling a 'door' underwater, don't overthink it. Immediately notify the Japanese branch that you're in danger, and we'll do our best to rescue you!"

"What do you mean? How can there be a door in the sea?" Caesar was puzzled.

"You don't need to understand the meaning of 'door'. Just remember, if a door appears, tell the Japanese branch that you've encountered a resurrected ancient dragon and ask them to rescue you immediately, even if it means abandoning their mission!" Professor Schneider's dignified tone left no room for doubt. "Do you have any other questions? Besides the door, I have one minute to answer you."

The Caesar team looked at each other across the crowd. After hesitating for a moment, Chu Zihang asked into the communicator, "Professor, I didn't want to tell my mother that I was in Japan on a business trip because it would be difficult to explain. So I haven't emailed her in the past few days. I gave her Norma's contact information before. Has she asked the school about me these days?"

"Your mother didn't call you?" Professor Schneider's tone sounded a little strange.

"No." Chu Zihang said.

"Xia Mi didn't tell you either?" Schneider asked again.

"No...what happened to them?" Chu Zihang frowned slightly.

"Xia Mi asked for leave from school. She told Professor Manstein that she was worried your mother would be worried about you, so she went to your house to accompany her." Professor Schneider said, "I thought at least one of them would notify you."

Chu Zihang looked a little dumbfounded, and Lu Mingfei and Caesar both teased him with teasing eyes.

"Oh, by the way, and Caesar, your uncle Frost cares about you very much. Knowing that you are going to carry out such a dangerous mission, he has been hospitalized out of anger. I hope you can come back alive, otherwise he will come with a double-barreled shotgun to settle the score with the principal and me, the instigator who asked you to participate in the mission." Professor Schneider said.