Dragon Raja 5; Chapter 384: For Your Majesty (199)

Dragon Raja 5

“A terrifying parasitic phenomenon: certain fungi of the genus Cordyceps parasitize carpenter ants, but this parasitism goes beyond simply turning the ant into food for its spores. After parasitism occurs, the carpenter ant’s brain is quickly eroded, turning it into a zombie ant. Its nervous system and muscles are controlled by the fungus; it still appears as a living insect, capable of movement and even feeding, but its behavior perfectly matches the fungus’s needs. It seeks out the most suitable environment for the fungus’s survival, biting into a tree and continuously sucking sap to provide nutrients for the fungal spores.

Finally, the spores break through the host’s body, infecting other carpenter ants. A single such zombie ant can destroy an entire colony. Similar parasitism occurs in lower organisms such as spiders, crabs, and ladybugs, but the parasites vary. Currently, there are no cases of higher organisms being controlled by parasites because the nervous systems of higher animals are too complex, and the capabilities of typical parasites are limited. But let’s assume, that this parasite is a dragon king-level being?”

Lu Mingfei sat there blankly, feeling as if a crack had appeared in his heart, and a cold, ghostly claw was reaching out from within.

Was that despicable yet endearing little devil actually a parasite residing deep within my body or consciousness? It wasn’t a bond of brotherhood, a mutual dependence, but rather a parasite’s eternal duty to protect its host until the host’s value was exhausted. And it would eventually break free, without even glancing at the corpse behind it, just as Christina wouldn’t look at her shed shell.

“A parasite at the level of a dragon king—if such a thing really exists, it would be far more terrifying than those large, fire-breathing monsters,” one committee member said.

“We haven’t observed the parasite itself yet, but it turns out dragons come in all shapes and sizes. Like the Chinese saying goes, ‘The dragon has nine sons.'” Duden paused, finally turning his gaze to Giovanni. “Dear Giovanni, things aren’t as bad as you think. Your child has mentioned the word ‘deal’ several times because the thing eroding him still can’t control his body beyond Lu Mingfei’s will. It has to obtain Lu Mingfei’s consent through some form of deal. In other words, it can’t act on its own if Lu Mingfei refuses it. That’s why I said from the beginning that Lu Mingfei is safe. He’s a good kid, a completely trustworthy human being. He’s not our enemy.”

“Can Mingfei stay here?” Giovanni immediately asked.

“Based on the notes the committee members just exchanged, we not only want Lu Mingfei to stay, we desperately want him to stay! He is a valuable research case, and also the cage that traps that Dragon King-level target! As long as he doesn’t admit defeat, the Dragon King will be imprisoned in his body forever!” Duden smiled. “We still need about 24 hours to make a final decision, but I can already congratulate on your family reunion in advance.”

Giovanni jumped up excitedly, while Lu Lincheng loosened his tie, let out a long sigh, and slumped in his chair. He was finally spared the pain of being smashed to death by his wife with a wardrobe. The committee members rose and left, and Natasha removed the tiny electrodes from Lu Mingfei’s body.

To her surprise, the young man who received the good news did not show any joy or relief. Instead, he silently looked at the ground with a hint of sorrow in his expression.

Duden approached Lu Mingfei, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “Congratulations, kid. Keep your courage and your human heart. As for finding that parasite and separating it from you, that’s our job. Oh, by the way, what does the demon in your mind look like? Does it have a fixed appearance?”

Lu Mingfei forced a smile. “When I first met him, he was seven or eight years old. Later, he grew a bit older, around thirteen or fourteen. He was a baby-faced Chinese boy with slightly upturned eyes, and he always seemed to be smiling.”

He tried hard to recall what the little devil looked like, only to find that the face was also blurry in his memory, but the mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth was very clear.

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. The committee members who were leaving stopped, and Duden was also stunned. Their pupils dilated slightly as they exchanged silent glances. This was the most tense moment in the entire evaluation meeting since it began, and it happened even after the evaluation was already completed.

Lu Mingfei didn’t understand why the little devil’s appearance was what they cared about most. The fictional character could have any appearance; appearance didn’t matter.

“Dear Winnie, take the boy out for something to eat; he looks a little tired,” Duden said softly.

***

The fact that there’s a “canteen” in this haven makes it feel like stepping back into the 1970s or 80s. But thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. In a haven that hardly relies on external resources, food is precious, and waste must be eliminated. So they adopted a public canteen system. The guinea fowl that Joe Winnie slaughtered to give Lu Mingfei as an extra meal is probably a rare exception.

Whether it’s young people still in school or uniformed men and women responsible for maintaining the safe haven’s operation, eats here. Occasionally, you’ll see those “treasure-level” old guys who have their own seats and can get food first, but what they eat is no different from everyone else’s. Compared to the numbered guinea fowl, the cafeteria food was truly awful. The beef and chicken must have been “grown” using stem cells. Outside, this technology was still in the laboratory stage, but in this haven, it’s already the main source of protein. Spirulina and lichens replaced vegetables, served with large cups of dark green soup that flowed from a metal tap, and huge lumps of nutritional supplements. It was a paste squeezed into a stainless steel cup, like a milkshake, but the The taste was bland and almost like chewing toilet paper.

But the diners didn’t complain about any of this. As they walked from one side of the cafeteria to the other, the topics of conversation were varied. Young boys were still talking about pretty girls, while men and women in uniforms were exchanging glances or complaining about the long night shifts. An old man with a colorful silk scarf tucked into his collar was discussing topology with a bearded man across from him, and a boy wearing thick glasses was having a heated debate about prime numbers with a thin British gentleman. They must have been the mathematicians waiting for permission to duel.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll slaughter another guinea fowl tonight,” Giovanni whispered.

“Do you have a lot of guinea fowl?” Lu Mingfei asked, chewing on the sawdust-like curry beef.

“Anyway, they will reproduce. One year, I even slaughtered one of the dogs they used for a control experiment, and your old man and I ate Huajiang dog meat for a week.”

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