blogombal Page 160
Page 160
Unexpectedly, Genjiro also appeared.
The moment Chu Zihang saw Erii, a rare hint of surprise flashed across his usually cold and stern face. He subconsciously glanced at Erii a few more times, especially lingering on her deep red hair for a moment.
This subtle change in expression did not escape Lu Mingfei's eyes.
Lu Ming unnaturally acted as the introducer:
“Eri, Chisei, this is Chu Zihang, my senior at Shilan Middle School, and also the first member of my organization Paradise. Senior, this is Uesugi Erii, the head of the Uesugi family; this is Minamoto Chisei, the head of the Minamoto family, Erii’s older brother.”
As for Xia Mi, no introduction is needed.
She attended Shilan Secondary School during her junior high school years.
The three of them had met each other in junior high school, but they hadn't spoken to each other.
"Senior Brother Chu," Xia Mi greeted him readily.
"Xia Mi," Chu Zihang replied calmly, confirming Xia Mi's words.
The six people sat down around the warm kotatsu.
The seating arrangement was quite meaningful: Erii was held by Lu Mingfei and sat on his lap, with Xia Mi and Zero on either side of him, while Chu Zihang and Yuan Zhisheng were helplessly "assigned" to the opposite side.
The group enjoyed hot tea and a delicious breakfast while chatting.
Yuan Zhisheng put down his teacup and looked at Lu Mingfei: "Lu-kun, what are your plans for the future? Will you stay in Japan or return to China?"
“I’ll be staying here for a while,” Lu Mingfei replied. “As for China, distance isn’t a problem for me; at full speed, ten minutes is enough.”
Yuan Zhisheng nodded and then said:
“Tachibana Masamune… Herzog is dead, and the position of patriarch is vacant. Several patriarchs, including Sakurai and Fuma, have expressed that you are the most suitable choice to take on the role, and there is a strong demand for you.”
Lu Mingfei smiled and shook his head, his attitude clear: "I am not suitable for this position."
He turned his gaze to Genjiro, "You're the most suitable person to take on this responsibility. In terms of strength, you're a super hybrid; in terms of prestige, you're highly respected both within and outside the clan, Erii..."
He looked down at the girl in his arms. "She's not suited to handle these complicated matters either."
Yuan Zhisheng remained silent for a moment, then offered no objection.
Protecting his younger sister's innocence was one of his most important responsibilities.
Commanding the Snake Clan might also be a way for him to secure more opportunities for his younger brother, Minamoto no Chizuru.
Just then, Chu Zihang, who had been eating in silence, suddenly spoke, his voice breaking the warmth of the kotatsu.
His sharp gaze fell upon Genjiro and Erii:
"Minamoto-kun, Erii-san. Is your sibling relationship biologically confirmed?"
Yuan Zhisheng and Lu Mingfei were both taken aback.
Chu Zihang continued, uttering a startling statement:
“At Kassel College, I met a girl named Chen Motong. Her appearance was almost exactly the same as Miss Erii.”
He paused, his gaze falling on Erii's long, deep red hair, and added:
"Moreover, her hair is also this very rare deep red."
Lu Mingfei and Yuan Zhisheng's expressions instantly turned serious!
They all knew that Erii, Genjiro, and Genjiro were embryonic products created by Herzog using genetic technology!
So, this Chen Motong who suddenly appeared and whose appearance highly overlapped with Erii's...
It is highly likely that they are another "brother or sister" who shares the same origin and has been separated from them!
That deep red color is not a natural hair color that ordinary humans can possess!
The room fell silent for a moment.
Speculation is useless.
Lu Mingfei quickly made a decision: "When Principal Angers arrives, we might be able to get some clues from him."
……
In the afternoon, light snow was still falling.
In front of the main entrance of the Genji Heavy Industries building, a low-profile black sedan came to a silent stop.
The car door opened, and an elderly man in a well-tailored black suit with his silver hair neatly combed stepped out.
It was Hilbert Jean Angers.
Chapter 150 Angers
Instead of heading straight for the gate, he looked with interest at the huge cruise missile casing, half-covered in snow, on the open ground next to it, his eyes filled with amusement and a hint of barely perceptible admiration.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, turned around, and cast a sharp look toward the building entrance.
No notification is required.
A figure, like a streak of light blending into the falling snow, landed silently in front of Angers.
Lu Mingfei looked calmly at the old man in front of him.
“Lu Mingfei?” Angers smiled his signature smile and extended his hand.
“Principal Angers.” Lu Mingfei reached out and shook his hand.
This was the first time he had ever met the legendary dragon-slayer principal face-to-face, and his feelings were complex and indescribable.
"Please come in." Lu Mingfei simply stepped aside to lead the way.
In the spacious reception room on the top floor, when Angers saw Erii sitting quietly next to Lu Mingfei, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, which had seen many vicissitudes of life, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Without much small talk, Lu Mingfei cut straight to the point, tentatively asking, "Principal, do you remember?"
Angers withdrew his gaze from Erii and placed it on Lu Mingfei, then swept it over Xia Mi, who was trying to make her presence known.
He leaned back on the comfortable sofa, relaxed, yet uttered a startling statement:
"Of course I remember. I even know Miss Xia Mi's true identity."
He lit a cigar, gently exhaled a smoke ring, and watched the smoke rise gracefully.
“Lu Mingfei, I’m here not as the principal, but as a ‘collaborator.’ I want to talk to you about the collaboration we, or rather, ‘him’, reached previously.”
Lu Mingfei felt a slight tremor in his heart, but his face remained expressionless.
He felt a sense of absurdity:
The old man who orchestrated the first half of his life behind the scenes was actually identified as a "close friend" by the system?
The world's logic of correction is truly...
"Where did you learn all this from?" Lu Mingfei asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
Angers gave Lu Mingfei a deep look and gave the expected yet crucial answer:
“In the previous timeline, your younger brother told me this himself.”
Lu Mingfei remained silent for a moment, then finally exhaled slowly, a look of understanding calm on his face: "I see."
The last trace of doubt in his heart dissipated.
That's right.
Why did his brother reveal Xia Mi's identity to Angers?
The answer is almost obvious!
Kill with a borrowed knife!
He wanted to use Kassel College as a sharp "dragon-slaying sword" to eliminate Xia Mi, a potential obstacle or threat!
This realization was like a cold, venomous snake burrowing into my heart, bringing a sharp sting and a surge of anger.
In an instant, Lu Mingfei's mind flashed back to the blurry fragments of memories he had seen on the Guixu Stone Tablet—the image of Xia Mi lying in a pool of blood, her head severely injured.
So that's how it is! It's highly likely that this elegant old gentleman in front of us was carrying out his brother's "commission" in another time and space!
Lu Mingfei's gaze instantly sharpened like an ice pick, piercing Angers, and his voice turned cold, carrying a suppressed storm:
What are his demands?
Angers seemed oblivious to the oppressive pressure, maintaining his composure as he lightly flicked the ash from his cigar.
"My request is simple: I can keep Miss Xia Mi's secret and never reveal her true identity to anyone. In exchange, I need your help to kill the other Dragon Kings."
"Heh." Lu Mingfei let out a short, cold laugh, a mocking and disdainful smile curving his lips. "Assist? Principal, you seem to have no idea what's going on. Leak? Do you think I, in my current state, would care whether you leak it or not?"
His gaze was like a tangible weight. "I am no longer the Lu Mingfei you can manipulate at will. Xia Mi is by my side. Anyone who wants to touch her will have to ask the sword in my hand first!"
Faced with Lu Mingfei's undisguised sharpness and strong confidence, Angers did not get angry. Instead, he revealed a knowing, amused smile.
He calmly and deliberately threw out the real bargaining chip:
“Of course, Lu Mingfei, I admire your strength and understand your position. So, in addition to keeping it a secret, I can also provide you with the information you need most right now—the list and specific information of the three hybrid families that are manipulating Herzog behind the ‘Artificial Dragon King’ project.”
A genuine look of surprise flashed across Lu Mingfei's eyes.
He truly hadn't expected that Angers would have such confidential information in his hands!
Although he possesses the trump card of the "system," which will inevitably generate corresponding tasks to guide him to eventually find these three major families if he wants to investigate, that means additional trouble and time costs.
Now, Angers has directly put this crucial intelligence on the negotiating table.
You can get the target list instantly without paying any extra task costs!
This is indeed a...good deal.
At least on the surface, Lu Mingfei suffered no loss and was instead spared a lot of trouble.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Lu Mingfei suppressed the turmoil in his heart and nodded: "I accept this deal. But there is a condition," he looked directly at Angers, "I do not know the exact location of the other dragon kings."
“I know one of them,” Angers replied quickly and confidently.
"Who?" Lu Mingfei pressed.
"The King of Bronze and Fire," Angers uttered this ancient and prestigious title clearly.
Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat: "Where is he?"