Dragon Clan: I am Lu Mingfei, the Intelligence Strategist, the God of Concepts!

Chapter 185 Herzog: Please, give me a loophole!

At the bottom of Genji Heavy Industries, in a deeper layer even below the Iron Dome,
A deep red light shone in the absolute darkness; it was an elevator indicator light.

The word 'naraku' originates from the Buddhist term Naroka, which means the deepest part of hell, an infinitely falling void. The evil spirits in Naroka can never return to the human world and can only live eternally in an endless fall.

This is a top-secret area of ​​Genji Heavy Industries.

It was secretly overseen by the previous patriarch, Tachibana Masamune, and is also the location of the "Deadpool Breeding Farm" that he 'frankly' mentioned in the confidential documents he left for Genji.

The confidential folder records many unknown stories about Tachibana Masamune's identity, which is enough to flesh out the image of this patriarch.

In Tachibana Masamune's deduction, if Genjiro actively picked up the folder, it would mean that he had escaped control to some extent. The specific way he reached this floor naturally did not need to be recorded on paper.

If you really have any doubts

Let Genjiro ask himself... if he can do it.

At that moment, Tachibana Masamune, the patriarch of the Snake Clan, who was clearly dead in the eyes of the higher-ups but whose death had not yet been made public, stepped out of the elevator.

"Finally... I've had this opportunity."

Tachibana Masamune's face was grim and uncertain as he looked at Takahashi Shosuke, the head of the 'φ' Research Institute at the end of the passage, his dark eyes filled with urgency.

For over a decade, he painstakingly cultivated an image of a diligent and conscientious ruler. This was both an asset and a constraint. But with the sudden death of this persona, the asset vanished by a large margin, leaving only the constraint, especially...

Uesugi Koshi!
The last emperor of the Snake Clan has actually survived!

Furthermore, immediately after Tachibana Masamune's death, Inuyama He found him and brought him back from outside. Not only did he take charge of Genji Heavy Industries, but he also haunted Genji Chisei and Erii like a ghost all day long, making it impossible for him to carry out many of his subsequent plans!

"Damn it, I should have gotten rid of that old guy sooner," Tachibana Masamune cursed inwardly.

Of course, I'm referring to Inuyama He!

Dr. Herzog, who dedicated his life to studying dragon civilization and led the eight Serpent Clans for many years, knew all too well the immense power a true emperor possessed.

After all, the frozen genetic material that was sent to Black Swan Harbor came from this man named Uesugi Koshi.

Using genetic engineering technology and a little bit of mysticism, Herzog successfully created three perfect embryos, which he named 'π', 'ω', and 'ξ'. They later grew up to be named Genjiro, Genjiro, and Uesugi Erii, respectively, and were key to his godhood plan.

But now... the plan seems to be facing tremendous resistance.

No! It's not just the plan that's facing obstacles.

Even Herzog's own life seems to be facing an unprecedented threat.

"Could it be that Genjiro is starting to suspect me?"

"Why has he been having Miyamoto Shio repair Kaguya-hime's database lately?"

"But I've already crashed the servers. Without computing power, what's the point of just fixing a database?"

"No... we should still be on the safe side."

"Find a way to send Kaguya-hime on her way again, then take Erii out to lay low for a while before coming back..."

Inside that remote mountain laboratory in Hokkaido,

Dr. Herzog decisively awakened another fifth-generation Shadow Warrior.

He was given the identity of 'Tachibana Masamune' and secretly infiltrated Genji Heavy Industries.

And tonight,
at last……

Uesugi Koshi left Genji Heavy Industries, and this is his opportunity!
Bomb the server room and steal Rii Eri!

"Hmph, I hope you two die together..."

A cold light flashed.

Just as Takahashi Shosuke was about to step forward to greet him, he looked at the huge gash in his chest and abdomen with disbelief. It had been cut open by the 'patriarch' with his bare hands.

The head of the 'φ' research institute has been conducting closed-off research deep underground for many years and has no idea what dramatic changes have taken place in the outside world during this time.

"Patriarch...you..."

Tachibana Masamune retracted his claws and said calmly, "Takahashi-kun, go in peace. It was all for the sake of the family."

The middle-aged man, who had dedicated his life to research, collapsed, still worried about the future of dozens of researchers in the institute, thinking that the head of the family had come to him with new and better arrangements.

"You're just as naive as I was back then. It's a pity you're not as ruthless as I was, nor as lucky as I am."

Tachibana Masamune casually took a pass from the corpse and pierced the man's head, turning it into a honeycomb.

"Heh, if the Fifth Generation Shadow Warrior can't handle Uesugi Kotsu, he can't handle you?"

With his own card added, all permissions would be combined, and everything about Na Luojia would be open to him.

Tachibana Masamune arrived near the largest, bloody breeding pond.

The human-faced fish swam silently in a transparent water tank, surrounded by iron beds and restraints used for dissecting them, bloody dissecting knives, operating procedures posted on the walls, and a large number of Deadpool specimens that had been dissected.

Some Deadpools are complete, their internal organs removed and suspended in formalin; others are individual glands or brains; some are even pregnant female Deadpools, cut lengthwise. Even though they are bloodthirsty beasts, it's still heartbreaking to see.

Not to mention, they were originally human beings who were turned into Deadpools under the influence of drugs.

What I am witnessing is undoubtedly the cruelest hell on earth.

Of course, we can't let that righteous boy see it; at most, we can let him know that this place exists.

"Isn't this also a way for me to protect you?"

Tachibana Masamune smiled as he swiped his card on the controller, skillfully completing the operation.
Finally, press the red button, which represents extreme danger.

"Then awaken, you demons!"

"Scream your voices to the world!"

……

Countless deep black seawater cubes fell from the sky. They did not have extremely low temperatures, but they contained supreme power that could devour everything. Faced with such overwhelming power, anyone would feel as insignificant as an ant.

When 'Word of Power: Return to Nothingness' ended, the tide gradually receded, leaving only devastation before our eyes.

Uesugi had already collapsed long ago.

He is still alive.

That black corona could create gravity, and conversely, it could create repulsion. According to Lu Mingfei's analysis of the black sun's effect, it was the application of the 'earth' element among the four basic elements, and it had a similar effect to the 'Word of Power: Dustless Land' of the wind element. Unexpectedly, Uesugi Kotsugu had developed the 'black sun' to such a level. Relying on the continuous high temperature, repulsion, and sword dance, he finally withstood nearly seven seconds of rain.

Even a powerful hybrid like the Emperor-level could only withstand the world-destroying incantation containing the power of 'authority' for seven seconds.

If the duration of the 'recording board' had increased by just one second... no, even just half a second, the tough body with its copper and iron skin would probably have ended up like this park and the surrounding neighborhood, vanishing without a trace.

Two dull alchemical swords were stuck crookedly in the ground, one of which was wrapped with a soaking wet ramen chef's headscarf... I wonder where this guy got it from.

It looks like a white flag.

"What does Master Yue mean by this?"

Lu Mingfei was also soaked to the bone, and he finally understood the meaning of the note on the 'recording board' panel.

Apart from the spiritual incantations, most high-level incantations in the other four elemental domains do not have the effect of 'immunity'. As the releaser of the incantation, he endured a small portion of the power of 'Return to Nothingness' at the edge, and only with the blessing of 'authority' was he not seriously injured.

"I can't beat you, I can't beat you... I, Uesugi Kotsugi, am willing to admit you're the strongest." Uesugi Kotsugi blew bubbles from his mouth. "You really have the ability to defeat the Dragon King, and maybe you can even beat that bastard Angers..."

"Aren't you going to fight now?"

"I'm not fighting anymore, I absolutely refuse to fight anymore, I surrender..."

"But didn't you come to fight me on behalf of the Snake-Headed Eight Families? Are you just going to surrender like this?"

Lu Mingfei stared at Uesugi Yue, who was dangling a white headscarf on the ground, with a strange expression.

He never expected that the old emperor of the Snake Clan would react in this way.

So you said you were going to take revenge after I messed up Japan and bullied your children?

Where is your sense of righteousness? Where is your integrity?
You charged in so aggressively, shouldn't you stand up now and say, 'This is my country and my home, and no outsiders are allowed to interfere! You want to take what I must protect with all my might, and I will never give up'?

Open your eyes and look around you.

Now your city is even worse, shouldn't you be using your strongest Black Sun? Even Genjiro managed to score twice... Perfect, I can test my learning results!
"I'll definitely do it next time."

But Uesugi Kotsushi remained lying there like a salted fish, as if his mind had been washed away by a flood. "Anyway, you didn't actually make things difficult for my son and daughter, did you?"

"You know I didn't make things difficult for Genjiro and the others... so why did you come looking for me? And cause such a commotion?" Lu Mingfei was somewhat surprised.

"I just wanted to prove that I'm not old yet, and that I'm still useful to them."

Uesugi Koshi's voice was low, and he looked utterly hopeless. "I know I am indeed old, and I should have died long ago. All my organs have long since failed, most of my brain nerves and blood vessels are blocked, and my cardiovascular system is covered with inexplicable growths. This process has been going on for the past thirty years."

"Now I've finally found out that my son and daughter are alive in this world, but they resolutely refuse to acknowledge me, treating me like an enemy."

"Fine... If you're planning to kill me now, that's fine too. To be honest, I haven't really wanted to live for a long time. This way, they'll at least take a second look at me, and maybe they'll even attend my funeral." As he spoke, Uesugi Yue seemed to have figured something out, opening his eyes and staring intently at Lu Mingfei.
"Why don't you just kill me? I really wanted to beat you to a pulp just now!"

"No...you mean birth, right?"

Lu Mingfei's face turned completely dark. "You actually came to see me for such a ridiculous reason?"

"What's this? A dying old man just throwing a tantrum?"

"Yes." Uesugi Kotsushi surprisingly admitted it without hesitation.

long silence.

Lu Mingfei sighed speechlessly, "You are completely different from the Japanese I imagined. I don't see any sense of righteousness in you. Instead, you seem like an old bastard."

"Stop talking nonsense. The concept of righteousness is just a way to fool people. It can be used in one way or another. As long as you speak loudly enough, you're considered to be right."

Uesugi Kotsuya sighed, a look of weariness and disgust swirling deep in his eyes.
"If you've read about Japan's Sengoku period, you'll be familiar with the phrases 'two-faced' and 'a wise man submits to circumstances.' Admitting defeat now is my way of showing loyalty... Besides, I'm actually French. I admit I'm an old bastard. I've lived my life in a daze. Sometimes I think I should be more clear-headed, but then I feel like I've already lived the first half of my life this way, and there's no need to try to change anything at the end. It's too tiring."

As he spoke, he waved the ancient alchemical sword wrapped in a white turban in his hand.

He had an attitude of "Do whatever you want with me."

Lu Mingfei's lips twitched involuntarily.
I simply cannot comprehend Uesugi Kotsugi's mental journey.

Is that human being?
It's as if they were deliberately sent to smear the French and Japanese.

It must be admitted that the label that the Snake Clan group put on this former 'Emperor' was very accurate.

The fact that the Snake-Headed Eight Families had Uesugi Kochi was a blessing for them.

"Ok?"

Lu Mingfei was suddenly stunned.

Suddenly, lines of text flashed across my screen like a screen.

[Experience +100]...

[Experience +200]...

[Experience +500]...

The experience points, which had been stagnant for a long time, were now visibly increasing.

"Damn, is it a bug?"

Lu Mingfei was taken aback.

Calming down, he heard the sound of water rolling beneath his feet in the super drainage system, and the faint sound of waves coming from the east. He immediately understood what was going on.

"Wait, I'm fighting monsters! Are there undead crawling around inside the Iron Dome Temple?"

"Or...on the street?"

……

Lu Mingfei got in touch with Zero.

This girl always had an incomprehensible confidence in him, and even when she saw Uesugi Kotsu release a magnificent divine-level incantation like 'Black Sun,' she had no doubt that Lu Mingfei would ultimately win.

Zero immediately took Erii and ran far away to the high slope.

Later, when the torrential rain of 'Guixu' locked onto Uesugi Yue, the two of them were only soaked to the bone. Because they possessed strong bloodlines, they wouldn't catch a cold like ordinary girls after getting wet in the rain.

"Hey, hey, watch your eyes," Lu Mingfei said, displeased.

"Oh oh..."

Uesugi lowered his head in embarrassment.

But he couldn't help but glance a few times at Erii's knee-length dark red hair, which was wet and draped over her expressionless, delicate face, exuding a dangerous aura, as if she was about to give him a hard blow at any moment.

It looks so much like her...it really does look like her, just like my daughter!

Uesugi Koshi still followed.
Lu Mingfei ultimately had no intention of helping Uesugi Yue fulfill his wish. Based on his experience of releasing 'Word of Power: Nine Infants', he could roughly guess several possibilities for the sudden increase in experience points.

But whatever the reason.

It's highly likely... that Herzog is involved.

After years of this gradual, unpredictable process, the old man has finally had enough.

Even when Uesugi Kotsuki suddenly ran over to fight him, Lu Mingfei suspected that Herzog was behind it all.

Tune the tiger away from the mountain?

In principle, Genjiro should be able to figure out the current priorities and there shouldn't be any problem in protecting his base of operations.

But now, the tsunami, which was largely caused by itself, has severely disrupted communication signals in Tokyo.

Unable to contact Genji Heavy Industries, Lu Mingfei decided to go there in person to check on the situation.

Uesugi Kotsushi, standing to the side, followed without any remorse.

He kept saying things like, "Of course, if you don't kill me and are willing to help me and my son and daughters get back together, I can give you something in return... After all, it's only right to pay some compensation after losing a fight, isn't it? Actually, I've always wanted to pay something in return... I like Chinese culture."

Uesugi Kotsu's actions once again surprised everyone.

Lu Mingfei was initially speechless.

But then Uesugi Kotsugu recounted events from a century ago, telling Lu Mingfei about his true connection with the Snake-Headed Eight Families.

"So you deliberately released Black Sun in Shibuya?"

Lu Mingfei looked around at the scene of destruction in the surrounding block and couldn't help but sigh.

"It's not that I did it on purpose, I just don't care. My first home is France, where I was born. My second home is China, where my mother passed away. As for here... ha."

Uesugi Koshi scratched his gray hair, his voice filled with an indescribable complexity, "I have sins, but I have never owed anything to the Snake-Headed Eight Families. On the contrary, they owe me, and they still owe me, for almost a century."

"Why are you suddenly telling me all this?" Lu Mingfei remained silent. "Are you trying to make me pity you?"

“I just feel that you already possess the strength of the first High Priests of the Snake Clan. There are few people as powerful as you in the world, so it wouldn’t hurt to share some things with you,” Uesugi Etsu said.

“But the affairs of the Snake Clan have nothing to do with me,” Lu Mingfei said.

"No, it concerns all of humanity."

Uesugi Koshi suddenly laughed, "And you're not necessarily completely unrelated to the Snake-Headed Eight Family..."

As he spoke, the old man gestured toward Erii with his lip, a glint of wisdom flashing across his face.

"Don't you plan to be with her?"

Lu Mingfei: "...?"

……

Inside Genji Heavy Industries, the lights were on.

The headlights in Roppongi became hazy spots of light under the rain.

Faced with the sudden natural disaster, the employees were forced to work overtime.

Busy employees carrying documents moved through the circular corridor. In the event of an earthquake or tsunami, this mafia family would also answer calls for help from civilians. More than 50,000 people under the family had participated in disaster relief before, and this time was no exception. Everything was so well-organized.

Few people noticed the sound of scales scraping against steel cables and concrete coming from deep within the elevator shaft and various pipes.

Their expressions changed slightly, and they quickly picked up their respective communicators.

until--

boom!
A series of explosive cracking sounds rang out.

Suddenly, a piercing alarm and intense gunfire erupted throughout the building... The enemy had invaded from within Genji Heavy Industries.

It comes from underground.

At the same time, a ghostly figure emerged from the Iron Dome Temple area.

Keep going up, passing through secret passages.

Finally, they arrived at the hidden area between the 55th and 56th floors—the ξ floor.

Wearing a black haori, Tachibana Masamune touched the clapper in his arms, a devilish smile on his face.

"I've come to pick you up, my dear child."

(End of this chapter)