Dragon Clan: Starting with the Azure Dragon Fruit

Chu Zihang stood frozen in place like a statue.

In those usually resolute eyes, a bewilderment that had never appeared before surged.

Lin Yuan's words precisely cut through the obsession he concealed, which was wrapped in indifference and loneliness.

The boy who had been relentlessly running like a ghost, driven by guilt and constantly brandishing his knife in the torrential rain on the Zero Elevated Road, suddenly stopped.

He stared intently at the bamboo sword hanging in his throat for a long time before the fervent golden light in his eyes slowly faded.

"Click".

Murasame returned to her sheath.

Chu Zihang lowered his eyes and bowed deeply to Lin Yuan.

"I've learned my lesson, I admit defeat."

A dazzling display of fireworks erupted on the giant holographic screen, and Norma announced the end of the grand event through the loudspeaker:

"One day of freedom, and Lin Yuan will be the ultimate victor!"

Chapter 71 Aren't you going to ask me to dance?

As night fell, the Norton Building lit up.

Looking through those giant floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights are dazzling.

The Gothic spires point straight to the starry night sky, the deep red roof tiles gleam warmly under the interlaced lights, and the exterior walls covered with precious granite from India exude an almost excessive luxury.

Along the long corridor leading to the main gate, student council officers, all dressed in black evening gowns with deep red roses pinned to their jacket pockets, solemnly greeted the guests for the evening, their pomp and circumstance resembling that of an Italian mafia family hosting a grand banquet at their estate.

Lin Yuan and Fingel walked along the tree-lined path, stepping on the fallen leaves, towards the magnificent ancient castle.

In preparation for tonight's dinner, the two made a special trip to a boutique menswear store on campus this afternoon.

The facilities at the Kassel campus are very comprehensive. As long as you show your black student card, you can get anything from amazing firearms to hand-tailored bespoke suits in a very short time.

When it came time to pay the bill, Fingel, who was usually very stingy, surprisingly insisted on paying and generously covered all the expenses for the two formal suits.

The useless senior brother patted his chest and vowed that this was to repay Lin Yuan for treating him to takeout during this period, and that he had to do everything he could today.

Lin Yuan glanced at him sideways, too lazy to expose him.

He knew very well that he had previously stirred up trouble on the Night Watchers forum, encouraging many students to place heavy bets on Chu Zihang, and then, as the bookmaker, he had taken all the profits.

The cost of just two suits is negligible for Finger right now; it's purely for keeping quiet.

However, putting aside the sponsor's ulterior motives, this money was indeed well spent.

Lin Yuan always wore loose-fitting sportswear, looking casual and undisciplined.

However, his body, strengthened and trained by the Azure Dragon Fruit, had long since developed into a perfectly broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted physique.

At this moment, his tailored black suit was stretched taut and full by his strong muscle lines, perfectly blending power and elegance, making him extremely impactful.

Even the usually slovenly Fingel, after shaving his stubble, combing his hair into the style of a big shot, and putting on a dark gray suit, managed to find a few traces of his former A-level elite.

Lin Yuan looked up, his gaze sweeping over the rows of floor-to-ceiling windows in the Norton Building, illuminated by huge crystal chandeliers. He clicked his tongue and said, "Caesar usually lives in such a big house by himself. It feels like there would be enough room for a hundred people. Capitalism really knows how to enjoy life."

“Caesar usually lives in the district dormitory, and Norton Hall is more of a base for student council activities.” Fingel straightened his wrinkled tie; he was a little uncomfortable not wearing a suit for so long.

"By the way, you've won a day of freedom today, and for the next year, you'll have the right to use this mansion."

Lin Yuan's eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together eagerly: "Then what are we waiting for? After dinner tonight, let's move in directly, one room each, and ask Chu Zihang if he wants to make room for him too."

Upon hearing the words "Let's move right in," Fingel paused slightly in adjusting his tie.

A complex emotion flashed in those eyes that had always exuded a sleazy and nonchalant air.

But it was only for a moment, and he perfectly concealed this ripple beneath his signature smirk.

He looked at Lin Yuan, who was beaming with excitement, and sighed softly: "The annual maintenance fee for the Norton building, the lawn mowing fee, the heating fee for the whole building in winter, and the expensive property tax here, all add up to at least fifty or sixty thousand US dollars a year. As long as you are willing to pay this amount, I would be happy to not only move in, but also warm your bed every night."

Lin Yuan's smile froze instantly, and he immediately abandoned the idea of ​​staying at the Norton Hotel, unable to help but mutter under his breath that he could afford a horse but not a saddle.

As the two were talking, they had already reached the main entrance of the Norton Building.

In front of the Norton Building, Caesar stood in a snow-white custom-made suit, his long golden hair gleaming under the crystal chandelier.

A pure white lace scarf was tied at the neckline, with tiny rhinestones adorning the edges.

He stood there like a young emperor ready to receive his subjects at any moment.

Seeing Lin Yuan approaching, Caesar took the initiative to walk down the steps to greet him.

Even though he lost to his opponent during the day, he still maintained impeccable demeanor, with not a trace of gloom in his every move.

"Welcome tonight's star." Caesar bowed slightly, his tone sincere.

"This Norton building will be yours from now on. If you don't like the furnishings, you can have it renovated to your liking before I move out."

He immediately offered to cover the renovation costs of hundreds of thousands of US dollars, showcasing the extravagance of a top-tier wealthy young master.

Lin Yuan was deeply impressed, but considering the high maintenance costs that would follow, he decisively shook his head and declined the offer.

Caesar didn't seem to care at all. He looked past Lin Yuan's shoulder and glanced back, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "You came alone? Where's your companion?"

Lin Yuan asked in astonishment, "You have to bring a female companion to a buffet?"

Caesar chuckled, glanced at Fingel who was pretending to look around at the scenery, and immediately realized who had led this S-class freshman astray.

He casually joked, "I thought you would bring that red-haired girl who's always with you. Last time I saw you escort her all the way back to her dorm."

Lin Yuan's eyes twitched, and he quickly clarified, "What do you mean by always being together? We've barely seen each other a few times. Last time, I was just helping her move some packages."

Caesar smiled meaningfully, gently patted Lin Yuan on the shoulder and ushered the two inside, then turned to continue entertaining the other guests.

Passing through the entrance hall, the interior of the lobby is extremely luxurious.

Several crystal chandeliers cast a dazzling halo of light, while melodious symphonic music echoed throughout the venue.

As Lin Yuan entered the hall, the men and women who had been chatting in small groups all turned their attention to him.

Hybrids are naturally inclined to worship violence, and the stronger the genes, the more they attract followers.

In the eyes of this group of elites dressed in gorgeous evening gowns, the "monster" who had crushed the entire scene with overwhelming force during the day undoubtedly exuded a fatal attraction.

The crowd began to stir, with many raising their champagne glasses and trying to approach and strike up a conversation.

Seeing the crowd gathering around, Lin Yuan's face immediately fell. He could forgive himself for not being able to eat properly at the last freshman lunch party.

Now, with a table full of lobsters and king crabs, I still have to deal with these people?

He decisively pushed through the crowd and rushed straight into the buffet area, where he began to devour his food.

Lin Yuan would simply nod and give a perfunctory response to anyone who came to socialize with him.

The mixed-race people in the hall were all from wealthy families. Their main purpose in attending the banquet was to expand their network. The top-quality seafood on the table was just an embellishment to them.

Gradually, the people around realized that this S-class person really had no interest in socializing and was just there to eat at the buffet, so they wisely stopped bothering him.

Half an hour later, seven or eight huge empty plates had piled up around the two of them. Lin Yuan grabbed a napkin, wiped the grease off his hands, and nudged Fingel, who was still locked in a fierce battle with a crab claw, with his elbow.

"Have you eaten enough? Let's go back to the dorm and sleep."

"Go? Where to?" Fingel swallowed the crab meat in his mouth and grabbed Lin Yuan's suit sleeve.

"You eat and then run away? You're really not giving young master Gattuso any face."

Lin Yuan was a little puzzled: "He booked the whole place and I ate everything; isn't that a sign of respect for his wealth?"

"Isn't that a narrow perspective?" Fingel stopped him.

"We should wait until the party is over before leaving together; this is basic social etiquette."

As the two were whispering to each other, a clear, melodious bell rang from the dome.

The lights around the hall slowly went out, except for the giant crystal chandelier in the center, which remained lit.

On the two curved staircases leading to the second floor, boys in sharp black suits and girls in flowing white dresses walked down towards each other to the rhythm of a soothing waltz.

Lin Yuan stopped what he was doing as he watched the girls descend the stairs with the grace of white swans.

"See that?" Fingel leaned close to his ear, lowered his voice, and introduced it in a cheeky tone.

"Caesar personally funded a lace-clad white dress dance troupe within the student council, specifically to perform the opening dance at parties and banquets."

"To...support a dance troupe at the school?"

Lin Yuan couldn't help but wipe his mouth, once again marveling at the extravagance of capitalism.

He reflected on whether his decision to join the Lionheart Society without hesitation had been too hasty.

The melodious symphony flowed through the hall, and the crowd dispersed to the edge of the venue like a receding tide, leaving the wide dance floor in the center.

"What are they doing?" Lin Yuan asked, clutching his napkin, completely bewildered.

Fingel, busy cracking open the last crab claw with his front teeth, mumbled without looking up, "What else can we do? Dance. At these kinds of banquets, those with female companions definitely have to go and dance, while those without just sit on the sidelines with their wine glasses, pretending to be deep and looking for their targets."

Lin Yuan then realized as if waking from a dream that it was no wonder Caesar had wondered why he hadn't brought a female companion.

As large groups of couples slid into the dance floor, the single people left on the edge suddenly became conspicuous.

At the edge of the venue, many well-dressed girls noticed that this popular S-class star was all alone, and they immediately became restless, exchanging glances and preparing to "capture" this potential star.

Just as the first girl was about to take a step, a tall figure blocked everyone's path.

She wore a deep purple suit, a pale white silk blouse, purple stockings, and ten-centimeter Mary Jane heels. Her full set of custom-made gold jewelry inlaid with purple diamonds reflected a dazzling halo under the lights.

Her dark red long hair was neatly combed.

Like a queen surveying her territory, Chen Motong completely ignored the surprised looks around her, walked past the crowd, and went straight to Lin Yuan.

He generously extended his right hand, a sly smile playing on his lips: "Aren't you going to ask me to dance?"

The overwhelming sense of oppression made the eager mixed-race individuals around them feel completely crushed.

The girls silently stopped in their tracks, abandoning the idea of ​​going forward to invite them.

Lin Yuan stood there, a chill running down his spine. He didn't even know the starting stance for a waltz.

He instinctively turned to seek help from Fingel, only to find that the German scoundrel who had been feasting beside him had already slipped away into the crowd of onlookers.

With all eyes on him and no way to avoid it, Lin Yuan had no choice but to bite the bullet and take the little hand wearing a velvet glove.

The two glided into the center of the dance floor.

In this duet, Nono naturally took the lead.

She led Lin Yuan, twirling under the crystal chandelier to a soothing rhythm.

Lin Yuan's muscles were tense, and he barely managed to keep up with the girl's guidance, relying solely on his extraordinary reflexes, and narrowly avoided the expensive Mary Jane high heels.

Nono found it somewhat amusing to watch her dance partner's stiff movements.

His tense appearance reminded her of when they pretended to be a couple before, and he was just as alarmed.

He was completely different from the monster who single-handedly dominated the arena during the day.

"You really stole the show today, S-rank." Nono used a light turn to naturally move closer to his side.

Lin Yuan chuckled twice, his gaze hesitant, not daring to meet her bright red eyes, and could only vaguely respond to the rhythm of his feet.

As the song drew to a close, the rhythm gradually became tender and soothing.

The dance steps became smaller, and with the final spin as the dance ended, the distance between the two was brought extremely close.

Dark red hair gently brushed against Lin Yuan's neck, carrying a faint scent of roses.

Nono tilted her head slightly, leaned close to Lin Yuan's ear, and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

"The privilege of pursuing a girl without ever being rejected, and maintaining a relationship for three months..."

She paused, then her red lips curved into a sly smile.

Have you decided who you want to use it on?

Chapter 72 Wouldn't you just be making things worse by going along?

Forty meters underground at Kassel College, the enclosed basement relies solely on a temperature-controlled system to maintain air circulation.

All around were neat rows of black server racks, with thousands of server indicator lights flashing like schools of fish in a dark deep sea, following a mysterious rhythm.

This is a restricted area of ​​the academy, and also the central location of the artificial intelligence Norma.