Dragon Raja 4; Chapter 118: Chu Tianjiao (7)

Dragon Raja 4

The man glanced at the card and immediately straightened up, filled with respect. The Black Prince Group was well-known in the area, a major taxpayer, and it was rumored that even city officials needed to make appointments days in advance to meet with Chairman Shao. Shao Yifeng, the only son of Chairman Shao, was a high-profile figure who loved investing in films and was constantly surrounded by gossip involving actresses. He was one of the city’s most eye-catching celebrities.

Shao’s special edition business card was a thin sheet of platinum, with his name and number laser-engraved on it. Receiving this card meant that the holder was a VIP, and anyone in the city who recognized Shao Yifeng was expected to treat the person accordingly. It wasn’t surprising that such a charming girl with her striking appearance had connections with Shao Yifeng.

Nono noticed the man’s gaze but didn’t care. After all, no one knew who Chen Motong really was. The card wasn’t something Shao Yifeng gave to her; she had casually taken it from his desk. At the time, Shao Yifeng had panicked, saying, “Senior Sister, if you take my business card, what does that make me? If you need to talk to someone, I’ll just call them for you! If you want to go somewhere, I’ll drive you myself!” Nono had replied, “Thanks, but I know you’re not as good at driving as I am.”

“You used to be the office manager at Huanya Group, right?” Nono asked. “I’m looking for information about a person. You had a driver who drove a Maybach, last name Chu, right?”

“You mean Old Chu, Chu Tianjiao?” the man nodded. “Yes, there was someone by that name. The Maybach had an accident, and Old Chu didn’t make it.”

“Tell me about him. What kind of person was he?”

Nono had come all this way to the outskirts to learn about this man named “Chu Tianjiao.” It was her last clue about Chu Zihang. That car accident from years ago seemed suspicious.

“Old Chu was a good guy. He was married once; his wife was a beautiful dancer, and they had a son. Later, they divorced. He used to drive for a tax bureau official but quit to make more money and started working as our boss’s driver. We got along well, used to have drinks together sometimes.”

“Be more specific,” Nono demanded. “I need details.”

The man opened his mouth but then scratched his head. “He was just a regular guy, you know? Liked to brag a bit and have a drink. Nice fellow.”

Nono frowned. The description was too vague, offering no useful insights or even enough for her to profile him.

“Think harder. A living person—there must be something worth mentioning?” Nono stared into the man’s eyes. “Details, I need details.”

The man racked his brain for a long time. “He liked braised pig intestines.”

“And?”

“When he ate grilled chicken wings, he always asked for extra spicy. I couldn’t handle it.”

Nono rubbed her forehead in frustration. Were they really friends? Was all he remembered about Chu Tianjiao his love for pig intestines and chicken wings? Was their friendship based on food?

“There’s really nothing else to say,” the man chuckled awkwardly. “Old Chu was just that kind of guy. When the boss needed him to drive, he drove. When there was nothing to do, he stayed at the factory. He didn’t have any hobbies.”

“You’re saying he lived here?”

“Yeah, he couldn’t afford a house. He gave everything up when he got divorced. Of course, he lived here. The factory gave him a single dorm room. It’s still locked up, all his stuff is inside.”

“Take me there!” Nono jumped to her feet.

A person’s living space was crucial for someone skilled in profiling—it held a wealth of information about them.

“No problem, but it’s been years since it was opened. It’s probably covered in dust and maybe even mold by now. It’s in the basement, you know.”

“That’s fine! Take me there!”

“Alright, alright! Let me find the key!” The man didn’t want to offend a guest referred by Shao Yifeng, especially since Black Prince Group was one of Huanya Group’s creditors.

As they walked down the long corridor, the man jingled a large set of keys, talking as they went. “Old Chu’s been gone for years. No one’s come looking for him. It’s like he disappeared, and no one even noticed. It’s a bit sad when you think about it… Sometimes I order braised pig intestines for delivery and think of him.”

Nono felt a subtle stir in her heart, remembering something Lu Mingfei had said back at the Golden Iris Monastery’s wine cellar. He had lowered his head and spoken softly: “What if someone like Senior Brother really exists in this world? What if he’s out there, in some corner, waiting for someone to save him, but everyone has forgotten about him? He’s crying out, ‘Save me, I’m Chu Zihang,’ but no one knows who he is… That’s why I can’t forget him. If I forget him, no one will answer him.”

It was that sense of isolation driving Lu Mingfei to search the world for Chu Zihang—a lonely soul searching for someone who shared his fate.

Raindrops drummed against the window as she stood there, her mind drifting to Lu Mingfei’s weary face. Suddenly, she felt as though someone was watching her from behind, and instinctively, she turned around.

The hallway was empty, but through a slightly open window, she caught a fleeting reflection of flames. The moment lasted less than half a second before the window slammed shut in the wind.

A chill ran down Nono’s spine. That night in the library, when Lu Mingfei had tackled her to the ground, she had seen something eerie in his pupils—an unsettling flash of fire.

She pushed the window open and looked outside, but all she could see was an endless stretch of wild grass. 

Night, storm, elevated highway—γ Spring, 47th reload.

Lu Mingfei leapt up, his injuries instantly healed, power coursing through his body. The little devil smiled at him before turning to vanish into the storm.

“Thanks for the pep talk,” Lu Mingfei called out.

“No problem! Always ready to be your loyal dog!” Lu Mingze waved flamboyantly. “Just make sure to give Odin a good beating for me!”

“Since you’re being so generous, can you help me with one more thing?” Lu Mingfei trailed behind him, looking sneaky.

“What kind of help?” Lu Mingze turned warily. “A small favor, maybe, but no big ones! I can’t just keep giving freebies—I have my own quotas to meet!”

“It’s nothing major, really. I just don’t have enough gear in my backpack. Can you conjure up some heavy weapons for me?”

Lu Mingze facepalmed. “Aren’t we supposed to be hardcore players who win with skill? Cheating would ruin your reputation in the gaming world!”

“No legitimate game would pit a guy fresh out of the beginner village against a god-tier boss, right? Especially while dragging along a reckless pet,” Lu Mingfei persisted. “You want me to beat Odin, don’t you? Give me a little boost, and I’ll really put in the effort!”

“You’re like an insistent leech! Even the devil can’t shake you off! Fine, just this once—no more after! What kind of heavy weapon are you after?”

“How about a Panther tank or an Apache attack helicopter?”

Lu Mingze let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest. “Oh, you just want that? I thought you were going to ask for a Gundam!”

“Wow!” Lu Mingfei was ecstatic. “But I don’t know how to pilot a Gundam, so it wouldn’t help. The Panther tank or the Apache will do! If you could throw in some teammates, that’d be even better. If we’re using fictional weapons, how about Gilgamesh from Fate? His ‘Chain of Heaven’ can seal gods, right?”

“Get lost! You wish! Why don’t you ask for Superman, Iron Man, and the Hulk while you’re at it?” Lu Mingze reached into the rain and pulled out a hefty item—a German-made anti-tank rocket launcher. “Just this rocket launcher—take it or leave it!”

“Add a crate of rockets. What can I do with just one shot?” Lu Mingfei bargained, grabbing the launcher’s strap.

With a resigned sigh, Lu Mingze extended both hands, and a crate containing 24 rockets materialized. “You really are like those mooching relatives who show up and raid your pantry.”

“Don’t be stingy! I haven’t even complained about the downgrade from a tank to a rocket launcher.” Lu Mingfei patted the launcher in satisfaction. “Can I keep this weapon after this round?”

He hadn’t expected Lu Mingze to actually conjure up a tank; asking for it was just a way to negotiate down. If he had asked for a mortar, he probably would have ended up with just a submachine gun.

“Yes, yes! You’ll have the rocket launcher after every reset!” Lu Mingze sighed in exasperation.

Lu Mingfei was about to push for more, but the world began to tremble slightly. The suspended raindrops quivered, hair strands swayed, and the gunfire expanded slowly. In the dead silence, a distant, low-pitched horse’s neigh echoed. The battlefield was back in motion: Nono spun like a windmill, cutting through the shadows; Odin stood afar with his spear raised, the golden light on Gungnir pulsing.

“Stick with me! Keep shooting!” Nono shouted over her shoulder, then froze in shock. “Where did you get that rocket launcher, bro?!”

“Long story!” Lu Mingfei yelled, standing atop a crate of rockets, unleashing fiery blasts in all directions. The shadows scattered from the explosions.

Nono followed the middle-aged man down to the second basement level. The air buzzed with the hum of air conditioning compressors, and broken parts were piled up in the corners.

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