What does this mean?
How could I, Lu, be someone tempted by luxurious living?
Lu Mingfei was stunned for a long time, unable to guess if it was the Headmaster's intention or the Execution Department's, or perhaps, something above them, that tireless, steel beast of an organization… the Board of Directors?
If the Headmaster was worried about being abducted by the Family, he definitely wouldn't have sent himself to China for training.
As for the Execution Department, they didn't seem too concerned about the allegiance of their subordinates; even though Senior Brother Ye Sheng was from the Family, the Execution Department still used him.
So, circling back, only the Board of Directors remained as a possibility.
Lu Mingfei had caught wind of the Board of Directors's reputation on the Night Watcher Forum; words associated with this organization were always 'authoritarian' and 'unfeeling.' They only cared about results, never the process.
"Worried about the S-rank being abducted by the Family? Or worried about their weapons remaining with the Family?" Lu Mingfei tore the documents into shreds and tossed them into the sink, asking softly, watching the paper bits gradually disappear with the swirling water. He had his answer.
"The Board of Directors has no leverage over me, so they can only use this method to advise me. If I had leverage in their hands, perhaps this mission would be to copy intelligence from within the Family."
Lu Mingfei recalled everything he had done since enrolling; he had even personally severed ties with his original Family. If the Board of Directors wanted to make a move, they could only target those close to him.
But in his daily life, only the Headmaster and Senior Brother Fingel were close to him.
They wouldn't dare touch the Headmaster, and they looked down on Senior Brother Fingel… A flash of understanding crossed Lu Mingfei's eyes.
"It seems I'm quite a handful for them," he said flatly. Then he thought, if these 'adults' from the Board of Directors were to carefully examine his enrollment records, they would probably quickly find the description of him crying bitterly upon hearing his mother's voice.
"Mom and Dad?"
Lu Mingfei murmured, staring blankly at himself in the mirror.
The Gulfstream passed through leaden clouds; the sky darkened within minutes, and the pattering rain left messy patterns on the porthole like the veins of leaves.
While the Sleipnir was crossing the ocean, Lu Mingfei was resting on the sofa. This plane's speed surpassed most domestic and commercial flights, so he didn't have much time to wander around on the plane. He had to ensure his mental state was optimal upon arriving in China.
The Headmaster of Kassel College was on this plane, so the person picking them up must be of high status. As the face of Kassel College, it would be too embarrassing for Lu Mingfei to disembark yawning and with drooping eyebrows.
So, at the Headmaster's suggestion, Lu Mingfei put on the noise-canceling headphones provided behind the sofa and fell soundly asleep.
He hadn't dreamed in a long time; the last time was in that extremely comfortable presidential suite at the Lijing Hotel.
But even in the current environment, he could still dream. Lu Mingfei couldn't help but admire his own sleep quality.
Black sky, inky clouds, raging wind, and surging water.
"Brother, it's not time for you to rest yet," Lu Mingze's voice rang in Lu Mingfei's ear.
The waves rhythmically slapped against the boat's hull, and Lu Mingze's call woke Lu Mingfei.
"Lu Mingze?" Lu Mingfei sat up on the deck of a small boat.
Looking out, the sea was pitch black, with no islands or continents. Only his and Lu Mingze's small boat floated on the boundless water. He clearly remembered resting on the soft sofa seat of the Gulfstream.
"Because a worthy opponent has arrived, I specifically came to remind you," Lu Mingze sat on the boat's gunwale, swinging his legs and kicking up splashes in the black water.
Lu Mingfei pondered for a moment, "A Next Generation Species?"
"A Prime Species," Lu Mingze said flatly.
"How is that a worthy opponent?" Lu Mingfei lay back down on the deck, "Even if you swapped me with the Headmaster, you couldn't say it's a worthy opponent, Lu Mingze, is your combat power assessment a bit off?"
"There's no problem; he and I are indeed worthy opponents," Lu Mingze said.
"Coming for you?" Lu Mingfei raised an eyebrow.
"Coming for the objective of the Kui Men Plan; it just so happens our objectives are the same," Lu Mingze shrugged indifferently.
"What objective?"
"Can't say." Lu Mingze's infuriating riddle-like nature appeared.
"If you can't say, why did you disturb my sleep?" Lu Mingfei closed his eyes, intending to sleep in his dream.
"Just a reminder. Be careful when you go into the water. If something unexpected happens, you'll be aware," Lu Mingze said leisurely.
"Tch, riddle-man." Lu Mingfei gave him the middle finger.
"Mainly, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. You haven't even mastered the basics; how could you comprehend something like causality? Have you heard of the seven great achievements of Alchemy?" Lu Mingze smirked, spreading his hands as if mocking Lu Mingfei's ignorance.
Lu Mingfei sat up and rubbed Lu Mingze's head, "At least I'm your 'Brother,' as you call me. How dare you speak to your Brother like that?"
"Then, Brother, what's underwater is extremely important, important to everyone. The more important something is, the more people covet it, so you must protect it well," Lu Mingze looked directly into Lu Mingfei's eyes, "Don't be afraid, don't be confused. Some things, when the fated time arrives, everything will fall into place."
"Fated time?"
Lu Mingfei looked into Lu Mingze's eyes; this chuunibyou term lingered in his mind. A zigzag lightning bolt lit up the sky, and the pattering rain fell on Lu Mingfei's face. A dull storm sound began, with raging wind and surging water.
Lu Mingze stood up, "In any case, I wish Brother a smooth journey to China."
…
The Gulfstream jet vibrated. Lu Mingfei opened his eyes and took off his headphones. The light rain outside the window had turned into a downpour that made a dull sound as it hit the porthole. He unbuckled his seatbelt and looked around.
"Mingfei, you're awake?" Angers saw Lu Mingfei's movement and handed him a cup of refreshing hot tea. "Good sleep quality. I thought you guys wouldn't be used to it."
"The places I used to sleep weren't as comfortable as here; I'm used to it." Lu Mingfei rubbed his eyes, blew on the hot tea twice, and when the temperature felt right, he gulped it down in one go.
Slightly bitter, followed by a sweet aftertaste.
"We've arrived," Zero said softly, looking at the scenery outside the window, a hint of memory in her eyes. She still remembered someone saying they would take her to China.
Lu Mingfei turned his head to look. The plane was descending. Because of the rain, the sky was somewhat gloomy. Streetlights had already gone out, and people could be seen intermittently leaving their homes to drive or take the bus to work.
He couldn't help but think that if he hadn't joined Kassel College, in a few years, he might be living this very scene: clocking in on time for work, eating instant noodles casually after overtime, rinsing off quickly, and then falling asleep.
StarCraft, DOTA, all of them would be set aside; there would be no time to indulge in them.
"How's your appetite? Chinese hospitality is second to none in the world. The last time I was formally received by Chinese people was many years ago. I'm very much looking forward to this meeting," Angers said with a smile.
"I'm also very curious about what the Family actually looks like," Lu Mingfei said.
The black Gulfstream roared over the city, gliding down into an open field. The sound of rain faded quietly. The cabin door opened, and the howling wind blew Lu Mingfei's bangs. He looked down and saw someone waiting for them.
A black gauze robe covered most of the man's body, revealing only a pair of slender fingers beneath. A long sword hung at his waist. The man looked up at today's guests, and hidden within his narrowed eyes was the domineering aura of one who sweeps all before him.
"Liu Heguang of the Liu Clan, welcomes the Lu clan's disciples home."