Dragon Clan: Lu Mingfei Doesn’t Want to Become a Night City Legend

Chapter 207 Crystal Palace

Before the operation began, after traveling outside the Black Wall, Lu Mingfei had already guessed the answer.

All of Arasaka Yorinobu's actions seem to have 'contradictions,' but once Lu Mingfei tries to sort through all the clues, these contradictions become obvious.

Arasaka Yorinobu's goal was just like what he had done in his early years—

He always wanted to destroy Arasaka, destroy the company, and even—overthrow this sick world.

The reason he designed Lu Mingfei is because Lu Mingfei is the only one in the world who is suitable, capable, and has the right identity to be the face of the family, to become a fake, artificial hero.

"Even if you resent me because of this, or even kill me right here, it doesn't matter."

"After all, you've already achieved your goal."

Lu Mingfei leaned back in his seat, his face showing neither joy nor sadness.

Is this really you?

"Take away that playboy facade, and what remains is this attitude of trying to change the world, which is like a ball of fire, not in a good way."

“…” Lai Xuan looked at the neon lights in the distance, “Do you remember the first time we met? You played Johnny’s songs for me in the car.”

"Of course, not much time has passed at all."

“Yes, I’m glad that you listen to Johnny’s songs, which proves you have good taste, but what pleases me even more is that you still have that rebellious spirit against the world inside you.”

"."

Lu Mingfei neither denied it nor intended to confirm it.

He believed that he truly had no desire to shoulder those 'responsibilities'.

He didn't want to be "the one." Just like he said a long, long time ago, he just wanted to be an ordinary mortal. It didn't matter if he wasn't a legend, and it didn't matter if he died in a hospital bed with a catheter in his bladder.

As long as he and the people who are important to him don't die because of this, that's fine.

but.
He had no way to turn back.

"I will become the person you imagine, though I will be very unwilling."

Lu Mingfei covered his face with his palm.

"I don't want to be the target of everyone's criticism, but if the world requires me to stand at the top and to personally deal with those nonsensical things in order to bring about normalcy, then I will do it."

Arasaka Yoriyuki subtly curled the corners of his mouth and chuckled twice.

"That's really impressive."

"Thanks to you."

“No, although I pushed you to become the king of the city, I didn’t create the possibility. I merely accelerated your progress.” Lai Xuan shook his head. “You were meant to be at the top.”

The world is sick.

Just as Lai Xuan said, killing Arasaka would only allow military technology to become dominant, and then, would they be able to kill military technology again?
It's impossible to kill Arasaka from the outside. Without Yoriyuki, even if Lu Mingfei went to heaven and earth, he couldn't destroy Arasaka.

"But what about next time?"

Lu Mingfei pressed for an answer.

"Next time, who will be the 'insider' of military technology? Arasaka Yorinobu may have known many ambitious young men, but can they really do as well as you? Even if they could, wouldn't they learn from the lessons of military technology that Arasaka destroyed?"

"Will we really have a next time?"

Lai Xuan remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"I lit the signal; someone will see it."

"I don't know who it is, it doesn't have to be me, it doesn't even have to be while I'm still alive."

"But I can only believe, and am only willing to believe, that someone in the future will walk the same path as you and me."

Lu Mingfei asked, "Why not preserve Arasaka and use it to counter military technology?"

“Arasaka is an insider of the ‘Company’ interest group. The Relic chip can extend lifespan and even achieve true immortality, thus countering other companies. As long as Arasaka can kill military technology and Contau, we will have the opportunity to slowly change the world.”

Faced with Lu Mingfei's naive remarks, Lai Xuan did not mock him, but instead chuckled and replied.

"No one can resist the corruption of power, and even if one resists power, what about life? What about family? What about loved ones?" "Power not only brings glory to oneself, but also security to one's loved ones."

"I can't believe I won't get lost in the long journey of life."

-

Lai Xuan was well aware of this.

If possible, there is someone important he wants to win back.

Comrades-in-arms, partners, mother
Use that demon's technology to redeem those who deserve redemption.

He can be sure now that he doesn't crave immortality, but what about when he's 150? When death draws ever closer, and he still has countless things to try, countless pleasures, countless joys, and countless glories to attain, can he give up this inhuman technology?

When his loved ones grow old and die before his eyes, can he resist using this technology?

Relic is Pandora's box.

If it were to be used, Lai Xuan hoped it would be in the future, in an era where no one would be jealous of each other, and everyone could live fairly and happily on the planet.

He, however, did not believe he could create such a future in his lifetime.
"I believe."

"!!"

Lai Xuan's body trembled.

Behind him, Lu Mingfei said calmly, "I believe you are a noble and passionate revolutionary, because I cannot do these things, which is why I especially admire people like you."

Believe it or not.

Arasaka Yorinobu's path is lonely. Even his brothers who shared his ideals in the past, many of them cannot understand why he returned to Arasaka.

Some even believe that Lai Hsuan has been corrupted by power.

But in the end, was the one who believed in him a mercenary he had only known for a month?
Ha ha.

It didn't feel as bad as I had imagined.

"No."

Lai Xuan shook his head.

"Even if I am confident in myself now, Relic technology is not perfect enough. Its producer, Ultraman, died too early. Theoretically, Relic will also wear down the soul, just like Adam's hammer - immortality has not yet been achieved, and I will fall sooner or later."

"Moreover, by relinquishing power at this moment, my actions will become part of history, for future generations to judge."

"Whether it's cowardice or stupidity, if I choose power now, how can I convince future generations to relinquish power?"

"My story ends here; the rest of my life is just firewood that hasn't burned out completely."

"And you, Lu Mingfei, you can take another step."

Lai Xuan looked at Lu Mingfei intently.

"You are the hero who rebelled against the company, the king of the city, the victor, and even military technology will give you some face."

“You’re right. Arasaka is an internal company, but now, Lu Mingfei, your status is no less than that of any company. Revolutionaries from all over the world are coming to you, including talents from all fields. You will build an unprecedented ‘company.’ At least for now, Night City is the time to establish a new order.”

"You need to climb higher and see more of the truth of the world."

"What we're doing now is far from enough, far from enough."

Then, at the very end.
Lai Xuan pointed to the sky.

"Go and take them down from the palace on Earth."

A royal palace on Earth.

Lu Mingfei looked in the direction Lai Xuan was pointing.

In the now fiery red sky of Night City, one can vaguely see a 'disc' rotating beside the moon.

That is the eternal divine kingdom above Night City, a space structure symbolizing supreme power in the 2077 era.

Crystal Palace

(End of this chapter)