Dragon Raja 2; Chapter 18: A Birthday Cake is the Grave of Youth (7)

Dragon Raja 2

“Were there many casualties?” Manstein asked.

“Besides Raymond, only three were injured. The station was still in its trial phase, with not many departures and few waiting passengers.”

“A structure built to withstand magnitude 8 collapses in a magnitude 3 quake—there’s no explanation for that,” Manstein said.

“I know, in China they call this a ‘tofu-dreg project,’” Guderian interjected.

“If you don’t understand, don’t babble!” Manstein scolded. “A magnitude 3 quake can’t even topple a dilapidated building!”

“I don’t know, I’ve never heard of a Yanling like this,” Schneider said. “What kind of Yanling could destroy an aluminum-alloy hall large enough to hold thousands of passengers? The strength level is close to matching ‘Rhine.”

“We don’t have time to send out an investigation team, right?” Manstein asked.

“No investigation team. We need to send someone to recover the data directly. The School Board’s deadline is tonight at 19:00 local time.” Schneider glanced at his watch, “That’s about eight hours from now.”

“What about personnel?” Manstein asked. “Who’s closest? Deploy someone nearby!”

“No one from other cities can make it in time. Because of the fear of aftershocks, both railways and airports are closed until 21:00 tonight,” Schneider said. “The Maintenance Department has a team on vacation in China that can drive there.”

Manstein thought about the Maintenance Department’s members—muscular men with steel-like arms and stone-like chests—but he shook his head, “The Maintenance Department can only assist; the operatives should be those with a bloodline advantage.”

“Then only students can be mobilized: A-rank Chu Zihang and S-rank Lu Mingfei, both possessing absolute bloodline advantages,” Schneider said. “They are both at home in that area, currently on summer break.”

Even in such a serious and tense situation, where there wasn’t room for the slightest bit of humor, Manstein couldn’t help but crack a wry smile when Lu Mingfei’s name came up.

Bloodline advantage? Sure, the S-rank represented the highest bloodline, but awarding the S-rank to Lu Mingfei was like the British intelligence agency appointing Mr. Bean as the new 007 agent.

“Right! With Mingfei, there’s no problem! He’s S-rank!” Guderian spoke as if he had found a treasure in a pile of garbage. He was Lu Mingfei’s mentor and had always been confident in his student.

“I really don’t know where your confidence comes from. Your S-rank failed two subjects last semester; his report card has already been sent to the Academic Affairs Committee,” Manstein shook his head. “As an S-rank, he can’t even use Yanling. Without Yanling, he has no special abilities—he’s a waste as a hybrid.”

“Deploy Chu Zihang,” Schneider said. “He has experience with multiple successful missions.”

“I’m the Discipline Committee Director, responsible for student conduct. There are some things I remember clearly—your student, Chu Zihang, is a bona fide violent type. He has twelve demerits on his record for violent behavior during missions!” Manstein still shook his head. “Sending an unfinished, violent student to take charge of an SS-level mission?”

“The Execution Bureau itself is a violent organization!” Schneider defended his student fiercely.

“I know you’re a violent chief,” Manstein said, “but it’s not acceptable. Chu Zihang cannot act independently.”

“But we have no choice,” Schneider insisted. “I know my student well; Chu Zihang is fit to carry out the mission alone.”

“No need for a solo mission. Mingfei will support him!” Guderian interjected at the right moment.

Manstein stared directly into Schneider’s steely gray eyes, his tone firm. “A top-level mission requires a top-level team. Chu Zihang may have the bloodline advantage, but he’s not excellent enough to execute such a mission on his own. At best, he can only be a team member!”

“I am the head of the Execution Bureau. This is an Execution Bureau mission, and Chu Zihang is my student. Understood?” Schneider was equally stubborn.

“Mingfei is there…” Guderian glanced left and right, trying to mediate between the two.

A few seconds later, Schneider and Manstein both realized they couldn’t overpower each other and simultaneously turned, pacing back and forth in agitation.

“Mingfei…” Guderian looked from one to the other.

“Chu Zihang as the operative! Lu Mingfei as support!” Schneider and Manstein turned at the same time, speaking simultaneously.

They had finally reached a compromise. This was out of necessity—time was ticking away, and no one could afford to offend the School Board.

“Norma, notify the School Board of the team members,” Schneider’s fingers moved through the projection, swiftly pulling up information. “The action plan is being formulated, and we will report to them promptly.”

“Understood,” came Norma’s elegant and steady voice from the speakers around the room.

“The School Board has replied. The team is restructured, appointing S-rank Lu Mingfei as the operative for this mission, with A-rank Chu Zihang providing support. Chu Zihang is to follow Lu Mingfei’s instructions.” A few minutes later, Norma’s voice came again.

The three duty professors were stunned, and the central control room fell into a long silence.

“Oh my god! The School Board truly recognizes Mingfei’s talent!” Guderian exclaimed, pressing both hands to his chest in joy.

Manstein and Schneider both instinctively pressed their foreheads, as if to check if they were having a fever or hallucinating. They both knew exactly what kind of person Cassell’s only S-rank, Lu Mingfei, was—a so-called “genius” who was struggling to pass his make-up exams, barely keeping his ranking thanks to the principal’s unconditional support. A “wild card” who would definitely mess up when it was his turn to take the stage but would unexpectedly shine when he shouldn’t even be in the spotlight? Making someone like that the operative in charge of this mission? And to command Chu Zihang, the leader of the Lionheart Society, who had successfully completed twelve missions without a single failure?

That was like letting Finger, Cassell’s number one loser, handle the nuclear crisis in the Sahara. Were they trying to destroy the Earth?

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