Lu Mingfei, why are you slaying dragons if you're not involved!

Chapter 242 Erii

Lu Mingfei's vision went black.

It was a sudden blackout in a physical sense. The forced buff from the "Vitality Micro-Management" attribute prevented him from instantly "evolving" into a cooked shrimp, but the natural internal reactions after being electrocuted were unavoidable.

With increased blood flow and the activation of the nervous system's self-protection mechanism, temporary loss of vision is to be expected.

Fortunately, the electric shocks from the schedule did not actually affect the body, but rather the soul. For some reason, Lu Mingfei was quite adaptable in this regard, and his body did not remain stiff for long.

But as the vision changed from pitch black to blurry, and then to clear... Zero's slight head tilt was fully revealed.

Lu Mingfei was aware of this; when Zero felt confused, she would subconsciously tilt her head... The contrast between her icy queen demeanor and her cuteness was even more pronounced.

But why is she confused?

"Your heart rate just exceeded 160 beats per minute for a short period of time."

Ling said casually, "This situation only occurs when one experiences a major shock or intense exercise in a short period of time."

"That is indeed..."

Lu Mingfei nodded subconsciously, "That's pretty exciting."

"I see."

Ling lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the scarf before lifting again. "I understand."

"What did you understand?"

“This outfit could be included in the ‘Decisive’ series.”

What have you figured out?!

Lu Mingfei covered his face. In ACGN terminology, there is a term called "decisive underwear," which refers to a type of underwear that women prepare for special occasions to enhance their confidence and charm... But the stimulation he was talking about was completely different from that kind of stimulation!
"Everyone has their own unique quirks, and I can understand and accommodate them," Zero said, trying to comfort Lu Mingfei when he saw Lu Mingfei's embarrassed reaction.

What a load of rubbish! It's not like that at all, it's a complete misunderstanding! Lu Mingfei thought to himself, but sometimes a person's thoughts aren't entirely controlled by willpower. For example, the word "cooperate" couldn't help but remind him, a former hardcore otaku, of a certain image flashing through his mind—

It wasn't much different from what I saw before me, the only change being that Zero's eyes, which were usually as calm as a frozen lake, now held a clear look of disdain, and the angle was downward... um...

"Your heart is beating faster again."

Hybrids need a hearing reduction; otherwise, how can the game be played?

Lu Mingfei's attempt to defend himself was immediately swallowed back down his throat. After all, this time it seemed he really had "daydreamed." After holding it in for a long time, he could only force out a sentence: "Want to... go for a run together?"

Change the subject! Since things have come to this point, this is the only option left.

Moreover, the lingering numbness in his body was gradually disappearing, which meant that the "buffer period" after an electric shock was about to end, and if it continued, he would be shocked again.

"it is good."

The feeling of apprehension had barely surfaced before it dissipated with Zero's decisive reply, and Lu Mingfei was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Ling slipped into the house, took off her scarf and heavy coat, then turned and walked out with Lu Mingfei. In the southern winter, as long as one moves around, even a physically fit person can manage in light clothing, let alone someone of mixed race. Wearing a sweater or something is simply to avoid looking too unconventional.

"This matter should be considered over, right?" Lu Mingfei muttered to himself.

"what's up?"

What's making you angry?

"I'm not angry."

"Really do not have?"

"I will never be angry with you."

Lu Mingfei's heart was pounding, unsure whether it was because his running body needed more oxygen from the increased blood flow or something else.

He subconsciously used his [emotional perception], but received no feedback.

"Then why didn't you come last night?"

"I have an urgent matter to attend to," Ling said confidently.

"Really?"

"I never lie."

Lu Mingfei felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't figure it out.

There was complete silence and no wind; the entire world was enveloped in a misty haze. The world stretched out before them, and the boy and girl ran side by side, the thin frost cracking with each steady step, the subtle sounds drowned out by the clearer, louder footsteps.

Day 15 has begun!

……

The mountains are shrouded in morning mist, and the wind blows back and forth like the tides of the sea. Inside the hut, a blazing firelight shines, and the sound of a hammer striking steel is clear and resonant.

A young man in a long black overcoat was walking along the path. His handsome features had a touch of gentleness, his fair skin had a marble-like texture, and his eyebrows were straight. He looked like a well-dressed scholar.

Yuan Zhisheng pushed open the door, and an old man dressed in white linen clothes was forging a knife blank. The heat emanating from the burning charcoal in the furnace dispelled much of the winter chill in the mountains, and each crisp hammer blow was accompanied by a burst of sparks.

"I thought it was something important, otherwise you wouldn't have woken me up so early in the morning."

Yuan Zhisheng took off his long overcoat and hung it aside. "But you didn't call me to the office, but to the knife workshop in the mountains, where I'm leisurely forging knives."

"An ancient Chinese saying goes, 'One should remain calm even if a mountain collapses before you, and keep your eyes fixed even if a deer runs past on your left.' In the face of great events, one must remain composed; the more anxious one is, the easier it is to reveal one's weaknesses."

The old man struck the hammer with each short sentence, creating an almost peculiar rhythm. “Sit down and rest for a bit. There’s some warm Kansai shochu over there; you can drink some to warm yourself up.”

"Drinking so early in the morning?"

As he spoke, Genjiro had already taken a small sip of his drink, saying, "It sounds like something an alcoholic would do."

"The same thing can be done differently depending on the purpose. In China, there is a kind of wine called 'sailing wine,' which is drunk by close friends when they are about to embark on a long journey or by soldiers when they are about to go to war. Whether it is in the morning, noon, or night, can you consider them to be drunkards?"

The old man continued to tap the knife blank with a steady rhythm. "Drunkards are just cowards who use other things to escape reality."

Genji continued drinking: "It sounds like a great choice, but it's a shame it's hard to get drunk."

For the first time, the old man's rhythm of forging changed. He turned to look at Genjiro, his gaze deep. "You've only been the director of the Executive Bureau for a short time, and you're already feeling weary?" "A little," Genjiro nodded slightly.

"But you are the young master of the Snake-Headed Eight Families, the future heir to the family headship, a man carrying the destiny of Amaterasu. How can you relax, child? Leading the Executive Bureau will help improve your status in the family and hone your abilities. Only then can I confidently pass the position of family headship to you in the future."

“I think you’ve managed the family business very well, so why do you insist on passing it on to me?” Yuan Zhisheng didn’t show any joy at all; it seemed more like a heavy burden to him.

"I'm old now. When people get old, they lose their drive and ambition. It's like a rusty knife; how can it then forge ahead and overcome all obstacles?"

The old man sighed, "The future of the family ultimately needs young people like you to lead it."

"Would someone who can still forge swords say they're old?"

"I am already a knife that has been wielded for a long time. It is not completely rusted yet, but it has already begun. You are the blank that is being forged. The tempering brought about by becoming the director of the Executive Bureau and carrying out missions is this process. After a thousand forgings, you will become the sharpest blade. That will be the time for me to retire successfully!" At the same time, the old man completed the last forging, and for a moment he had a majestic and awe-inspiring aura.

He reinserted the knife blank into the charcoal fire, turned around, sat down in front of Genjiro, and picked up a bottle of shochu.

"You are a man burdened with the destiny of Amaterasu; this is what you were born to do."

Yuan Zhisheng remained silent for a long time. He saw the old man panting after his actions and also noticed the age spots on the old man's hands.

"Amaterasu no Mikoto?"

He sighed softly, "I understand, Dad. Let's get down to business."

Have you heard about what happened at the China branch?

"Have you heard of the mysterious person called 'Prince' who posted bounties on the Hunter Market website?"

Genji thought for a moment, "Shouldn't this be something that headquarters should be concerned about?"

"The specifics are unclear, but in general, headquarters wanted to intervene but was refused."

"Is the Chinese branch this tough?" Genji was taken aback. "Even Angers can't handle it?"

"War is not fought for nothing. No matter how strong Angers is, it cannot change the fact that they lost back then. The world of mixed races must ultimately rely on reality as its foundation."

The old man stared at the fire in the stove, his pupils gleaming. "Although they are nominally branches, they are only partners. I don't know what this matter is related to, but it is obviously very important, otherwise it wouldn't have developed like this... Of course, we don't know what kind of deal or cooperation was reached in private, but I guess there probably was."

"Um……"

Genji thought for a moment, "So, Dad, you mean this is a very important matter, and we should get involved? But is it really okay to take action before we understand exactly what it is?"

"No, the issue now is not whether we want to get involved... but that we've already been drawn in."

The old man sighed. "The Chinese branch sent an inquiry saying that one of our students, Shinnosuke Fujiwara, a 2007 graduate currently enrolled in the advanced studies program at Kassel College, attempted to attack an S-class freshman who had not yet enrolled."

"How could this be?"

Genjiro was taken aback, then quickly realized the crux of the matter: "How could he be there?"

"He went there as a member of an expedition team from the Gattuso family," the old man said casually.

"...The Gattuso family?"

Yuan Zhisheng frowned. He keenly sensed the implications. He didn't like these roundabout ways of communicating between departments and organizations, but he could still understand them.

"Shinnosuke Fujiwara has already betrayed the family. The China branch told us this, is it to get us to target the Gattuso family?"

"It's also to do us a favor."

The old man cautioned, "It is ultimately an ugly thing for a family to have a traitor. This matter has already spread on a campus forum called 'Night Watchers Forum' at Kassel College. Our Japanese branch is unaware of this due to information isolation. Outsiders may think that our entire Japanese branch is being bullied by the Gattuso family and that we are weak and vulnerable."

This is a blow to the image of the entire Japanese branch. If a strong response isn't taken, headquarters might use this opportunity to extend its reach back into Japan.

"The headquarters hasn't interfered in our affairs for decades, so why would they come back because of this?" Genji thought to himself.

"In the most primitive natural world, unless they are starving to the point of survival, the most powerful animals will never choose to attack prey that could injure them, even if it is only the slightest scratch. Because once injured, it means there is a vulnerability, and a vulnerability means that an enemy will try to attack, no matter how small."

The old man poured himself a glass of Kansai shochu and drank it all in one gulp.

“Once there’s a first one, there will be a second. Each confrontation will worsen the injury until it becomes unbearable and completely collapses. Therefore, we must heal the first wound as soon as it appears. We must respond strongly to this matter; there is no other choice!”

"Is this the open strategy you were talking about, Dad?"

"By occupying the right position, a magnificent trend can be formed and become irreversible. That's right, this is a strategy of open conspiracy."

The old man sighed again. "This time, I'll trouble you to go and bring back that seriously injured traitor, and teach the Gattuso family a lesson."

"Kill him?" Genji asked calmly.

"No, although we are forced to follow the plan by the open conspiracy, it does not mean that we should do everything according to the Chinese branch's wishes. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman will only benefit."

The old man shook his head. “This is a crisis, but also an opportunity. The Gattuso family must pay compensation for this, and we can profit from it. At the same time, it’s time for you, as Amaterasu, to show your strength… That S-class freshman who didn’t enroll is a powerful hybrid highly valued by the Chinese branch. According to the description, Fujiwara Shinnosuke, who possesses the Word of Power: Time Zero, had all his joints broken after launching a sneak attack first.”

"Is it also a speed-based incantation? That sounds complicated." Genji said, but there was no genuine worry in his tone.

"He is of the same S rank as Angers, and also possesses the same speed-type Word of Power. However, given his age, he is probably not yet able to elevate the level of Word of Power too much. Therefore, you, with royal blood, should be able to win if you are prepared."

The old man analyzed, "But don't let your guard down. After all, it's a speed-type incantation... Angers alone is enough to cast a shadow over us for decades. If another one comes out, we won't be able to handle it, let alone one from the Chinese branch. So this time you have to interrupt his 'momentum'!"

"I see."

Genjiro didn't seem very interested in this.

"The flight has been arranged. The Chinese branch is very efficient. You're going there as a specially invited audience member for an international piano concert, so you can also enjoy the music."

"Oh?" Yuan Zhisheng's tone rose noticeably.

"When did you become interested in music?" the old man asked, puzzled.

"No... it's just that Erii asked me if I had any interesting things to do outside when she was bored while playing games, but I spend most of my time on missions fighting and killing."

At this moment, Genjiro was completely like a caring older brother to his younger sister, and suddenly had a brilliant idea to give her a gift.

"Maybe I can show her this live?"

(End of this chapter)