Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 178: Girl with Sandalwood Scent (10)

Dragon Raja 3

Suddenly, darkness fell. From the lights to the screens to the computer tower, everything that emitted light went dark. The air conditioning stopped, and all noise from electrical devices ceased. Only the distant rumbling of engines could be heard from the streets. The world had plunged into a strange, black silence.

Everyone in the internet café started cursing. At this moment, the power had gone out. It wasn’t just Mambo Internet Café—it was the entire block, pitch black as if one couldn’t even see their hand in front of their face.

Caesar groped in the dark and grabbed Makoto’s wrist, signaling her to stay calm. The blackout wasn’t a bad thing—it was actually an opportunity. He could use the cover of darkness to escape, provided he didn’t run straight into the bōsōzoku. Caesar wasn’t afraid of close-quarters combat, but each of the bikers carried a short-barreled shotgun. Though less precise than military weapons, these guns were extremely dangerous. Judging by the size of the barrels, they were likely loaded with “buckshot,” a type of large-caliber shotgun shell filled with dozens of small lead pellets. Firing one would unleash a deadly spread of projectiles, making it lethal at close range.

“Do you know of any other routes? Like ventilation ducts or service corridors that people don’t usually use?” Caesar asked Makoto.

Before she could answer, the screen suddenly lit up again—the computer had restarted on its own. In the pitch-black darkness, the eerie blue light from the screen gave an unsettling, ghostly feeling.

On the bottom of the screen, a message appeared:

“Eva: A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi.”

It was a Latin proverb, meaning “A precipice in front, wolves behind.” Hardly anyone spoke Latin anymore, except perhaps the clergy in the Vatican, who used it for studying ancient texts. But for the Gattuso family, Latin was their “official language.” As aristocrats, they believed it to be the most elegant language of mankind, the only one capable of decoding the dark magic books written in Latin, many of which were linked to the Dragon Raja civilization, alchemy, and Yanling arts. The tradition that the family head must master Latin fluently was abandoned in Pompeii’s generation. His public reason for this was: “Learning that Latin nouns have seven cases feels like a knife to the heart. If I keep studying it, I’ll surely die of a heart attack. Please, let me speak English.” Privately, his reason was: “If you’re fluent in English, you can communicate with beauties worldwide. If you learn Latin, your only debate partner will be the Pope. Which would you choose?”

Caesar had learned a bit of Latin, enough to understand simple sentences. Whoever this Eva was, they knew him well enough to greet him in Latin.

“Caesar: Who are you?”

“Eva: You may call me Eva or Norma, as both are personality variants of the same intelligent system, differing only in neural configurations. My memory and information banks are identical to Norma’s; the difference lies in personality and linguistic logic.”

“Caesar: I don’t quite understand. I didn’t know Norma had a sister or daughter.”

“Eva: I know you don’t trust me. Just minutes ago, you were talking to Norma—but that wasn’t really her. Your repeated pinging of the college’s website triggered Kaguya-hime’s suspicions. The person you were talking to was actually Kaguya-hime. You’ve already revealed your identity and location to her. The forces sent to capture you are already on their way. I’ve cut the power supply to Chizuru Town, forcing Kaguya-hime to disconnect from this computer, which is why we can talk now. Currently, this is the only computer in Chizuru Town with power. However, Kaguya-hime’s capabilities are vast, and she can restore the power supply in thirty minutes. If you don’t escape within that time, you’ll still fall under her surveillance.”

“Caesar: How can I trust you?”

“Eva: You don’t need to trust me. You only need to memorize the exits on this map.”

A map of Mambo Internet Café in Chizuru Town appeared on the screen. The café was surprisingly large, with a Turkish bath on the upper floors and even a billiard hall and disco on the rooftop. It was clearly the most extravagant entertainment venue in town.

Caesar began to believe Eva. This level of precise intelligence and efficient execution was very much in line with Norma’s style.

“Caesar: Identify the people outside.”

“Eva: That query is not supported at the moment. Based on their behavior, they are likely Japan’s infamous bōsōzoku (outlaw biker gangs), armed with light weapons. Their combat strength compared to yours is roughly 6:1. Without proper equipment, you don’t stand a chance in a direct fight. The Execution Bureau agents should be en route.”

“Caesar: I have to deal with this wave, and there’s more coming? Could my luck really be this bad?”

“Eva: If we quantify your ‘luck,’ it has been at an extraordinarily low level ever since you arrived in Japan. In other words, you’re on a streak of bad luck.”

Caesar was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Caesar: Well, I like you, kid. At least you’ve got more humor than that middle-aged white woman.”

“Eva: There’s no need for flattery. Your charm doesn’t work on virtual personalities. Save it for the girls. Now stop wasting time and move. The safest route is through the drain in the third-floor Turkish bath. The drain is approximately twenty inches in diameter. With your build, you should be able to squeeze through. The drain is located behind a wall adjacent to the changing room. Break the wall, and you’ll find the exit. Mambo Internet Café is an old building that’s been remodeled many times. The layout is complicated, so it’s best if the girl with you leads the way.”

Caesar paused in surprise.

“Caesar: How do you know there’s a girl with me?”

“Eva: I’ve been watching through the computer’s camera. The girl next to you is about five feet four inches tall, weighs around 46 kilograms, and is likely around nineteen years old. She appears to be one of the café’s employees. You’ve been holding her hand since your conversation with Kaguya-hime began.”

“Caesar: You’ve been watching the whole time?”

“Eva: Are you worried about moments like this?”

The screen displayed a photo of Caesar and Makoto sitting side by side, both looking focused. The girl wore a tight-fitting, sensual qipao, with her head slightly tilted toward Caesar. Her long hair draped over his shoulder. The shot was captured at just the right moment, giving off the vibe of a couple taking a romantic photo together.

Damn it, this hidden personality named Eva doesn’t seem to be from the Execution Bureau but rather from the News Department! If this photo gets posted in the Night Watcher forums, it’d be the top headline for three days straight! Caesar’s head felt like it was about to explode.

“Caesar: Girls can be the most terrifying creatures when they get sneaky.”

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