Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 117: Subspecies (2)

Dragon Raja 3

Lu Mingfei imagined that another version of himself sat beside him, cold and numb, hugging his knees and gazing at the lights on the testing platform in the distance, saying not a word. He wanted to talk to that Lu Mingfei, but what could he say? At this point, who could comfort whom?

He took out the iPhone that Lu Mingze had given him, staring at the short contact list for a few seconds but found no one to text. Finally, he pulled up a photo from last night titled “Life Like Summer Flowers” and posted a Weibo message. Initially, he had intended to write only the four characters “Life Like Summer Flowers,” but after thinking about it, he deleted that and changed it to, “Top-notch cuisine in Tokyo! I won’t say I’m tall, rich, and handsome!”

At that moment, it seemed he heard the other cold and numb Lu Mingfei emit a laugh devoid of warmth.

Suddenly, a crackling sound came through the headphones, signaling the start of the communication channel test. The Norma system was interfacing with the Kaguya system from the Japan branch, while the command headquarters in North America, the Sumeru Throne, the Trieste ship, and the diving team were assigned to different channels. This was the signal that the mission was beginning, and both Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang instinctively sat up straight. Caesar, on the testing platform, pressed his wireless earpiece against his right ear.

After a heavy breath, Schneider’s hoarse voice began, “Caesar team, attention, Caesar team, the Dragon Embryo Project is about to commence. Before the mission begins, I have some matters to remind you of. I am currently using a secure channel, and the following precautions are only for the three of you to know; this information is also confidential for the Japan branch. Acknowledge if you receive this.”

“Received!” The three responded in unison.

“You are about to dive into the Abyss to destroy a dragon embryo. This task could be simple and smooth; all you need to do is locate it, press the button for the sulfur bomb, and then ascend. However, unexpected situations may arise during any mission. As you know, fewer than ten people in human history have reached the bottom of the Abyss, making it a mystery to humanity. In the deep sea, you may face various unforeseen circumstances. You are all excellent trainees, especially Caesar and Chu Zihang, who can be considered seasoned agents. In most cases, you can judge how to handle situations on your own, but there is one exception—if you see a door or anything resembling a door, you must never approach it! Do not enter! Return unconditionally!” Schneider’s voice became extremely stern at the end, leaving no room for doubt.

“A door?” Caesar asked, “How could there be a door in the Abyss?”

“Don’t ask questions; just remember. The term ‘door’ is a taboo in this operation. If you see a door or anything resembling one, return unconditionally! Do you understand?” Schneider said sharply.

“We understand, but we still don’t quite get it,” Caesar replied.

“You don’t need to understand; just remember it. During the descent, the head of the execution bureau from the Japan branch, Chisei, will maintain contact with you. He has undergone training at the headquarters, has rich diving experience, and is an excellent field commander; you can mostly trust his judgment. The only exception is if you see a door—then abandon the investigation and return immediately. This is an unshakeable principle! Good luck to you all.” Schneider paused, “Chu Zihang, remember to write an email to your mother before descending. She sent an email to Norma yesterday, saying she hadn’t received your emails for a few days and was a bit worried. She thinks Norma is a real woman and even offered to send her cosmetics, asking her to help look for you in the dorm.”

“Does she really read the emails I send her every day?” Chu Zihang asked in surprise. “I thought she just concentrated on the email titles.”

“Adults shouldn’t think they’ve figured out children, and children shouldn’t think they’ve easily figured out adults,” Schneider cut off the communication.

Caesar leaned against the railing and jumped down from the testing platform, walking up to Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei. “The testing is about to be completed. Are you ready? I still need a few minutes to change into my combat suit.”

“I’m ready, but what was that warning about? I didn’t understand it at all. What kind of door could there be in the deep sea?” Lu Mingfei asked.

“He said a door or something resembling a door; maybe he was referring to some broad concept of a door,” Caesar replied.

“A broad concept of a door could encompass so many things. The cockpit has a hatch, the air valve has a valve, and there are at least a thousand parts in the submersible that could be considered doors,” Chu Zihang said.

“If all of those count as doors, then does the photo scandal count as one?” Lu Mingfei scoffed. “Should I delete the photos on my phone?”

“Let’s do this: Chu Zihang will write an email to his mom, Lu Mingfei will delete photos, and I’ll change into my combat suit. We’ll meet in the submersible in 15 minutes,” Caesar draped his captain’s uniform over his shoulder. “Before we dive, I want to reiterate the principle: I am the team leader, and your job is to assist me. I don’t want to see my team members acting independently. We are a team, and a team needs a core. Rally around me, okay?”

Chu Zihang nodded slightly.

“Boss, I’m not just rallying around you; I’m your loyal dog! When you point with your whip, I’ll ‘woof woof woof’ and charge forward. Don’t worry!” Lu Mingfei said. “If I want to act independently, I should at least be able to do so, right? I can’t even understand that operation manual.”

Caesar nodded in satisfaction, turned, and walked away, with Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei following behind. After walking a considerable distance, Lu Mingfei turned back to glance, feeling that the cold, numb version of himself was still sitting there, the lights on the testing platform shining on his face as he hugged his legs and rested his chin on his knees.

A long, mournful sound drowned out the sound of the waves. Yellow lights lit up simultaneously on the six “Sumeru Thrones,” sweeping across the surrounding sea surface as helicopters in the sky, water police boats moving back and forth, and distant fishing boats assigned for surveillance all flashed their lights.

“The diving team has boarded the Trieste ship, the testing has been completed, the submersible is in good condition, and the seawater situation is stable. The headquarters has ordered the Dragon Embryo Project to commence; once you’re in position, the submersible can enter the water,” Sakura said as she approached Chisei from behind.

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