Dragon Raja 5; Chapter 290: For Your Majesty (105)

Dragon Raja 5

It was late at night, but the party at the bar continued as usual. Christina, Lu Mingfei, and even Zero were there. Tomorrow was the auction, and everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, unlike the boisterous atmosphere of before.

Sonia also arrived. The girl seemed to have fully recovered from her grief; she was still radiating energy in her high heels, silk skirt, and big, curly red hair, only her makeup was heavier, probably to cover her tear-stained eyes.

Auchinez led everyone in playing card games, with each hand resulting in wins and losses of tens of thousands of dollars. This would be considered a huge sum in a regular casino, but in City 023, it was just a warm-up.

The atmosphere was very harmonious; everyone left their cards at the bar, and the money circulated automatically.

Christina was dressed tonight in a sky-blue tulle gown and greyish-blue knee-high boots, exuding a domineering and flamboyant aura. However, no one paid her any attention; they were busy playing cards and drinking, leaving her to the side. She wandered around aimlessly until Zero finally beckoned her to sit beside him. Christina was a strikingly beautiful woman with a fierce allure, while Zero was docile and childlike. it resembled an empress with her beloved concubine.

“What are you doing carrying a knife?” Lu Mingfei whispered to Chu Zihang.

Chu Zihang brought his knife bag out tonight, carrying it openly across his shoulder. Everyone could tell it contained dangerous weapons, but no one paid much attention. The waiter glanced at it a couple more times before letting him in.

“I have a feeling these guys might start fighting at any moment,” Chu Zihang whispered in response, “like a life-or-death struggle.”

“That’s right.” Lu Mingfei nodded. “If a fight breaks out, remember to protect Senior Sister Number Three.” In terms of seniority, Nuonuo is Senior Sister Number One, Su Qian is Senior Sister Number Two, and Zero is ranked third.

“Does Senior Sister Number Three even need my protection?”

“That’s true. But for some reason, I’m a little worried; I have a feeling something big is about to happen.”

Suddenly, a clear bell rang out from the street. Everyone who was playing cards, drinking, or chatting stopped and turned to look in the direction of the bell.

Then, led by Auchinez, the guests stood up silently, put on their coats or furs, and left the bar. Lu Mingfei and Christina exchanged a glance and followed them out.

The black hearse slowly made its way through the wind and snow, the copper bells on its front jingling. The somber “Volga Boatmen’s Song” echoed through city 023, the very music Vishnyak had chosen for his own funeral.

People first took off their hats, bowed their heads, and stood by the roadside. When the hearse came, they all stepped forward, put their hands on the vehicle, and escorted it forward, looking ahead like loyal and brave guards.

They were both familiar with each other and engaged in subtle rivalry, but at this moment, Lu Mingfei had no doubt about their grief for their friend.

The hearse traveled almost the entire length of city 023 before stopping at the edge of a glacier outside the city, where a tall pile of firewood had been erected. Alexander Bunin stood silently beside the firewood.

The guards carried Vishniak’s body bag onto the woodpile, and Bunin poured a whole bucket of kerosene on it, then took the cigarette from his mouth and threw it on top.

This morning Bunin ordered that Vishnyak’s body be frozen, but tonight he was cremated. It’s unknown if he had any relatives; he wasn’t even given a chance to say goodbye.

The bonfire soared into the sky, like a totem on the icy plain, and people gathered around the fire, supporting each other.

The world was silent, but the wind and snow were blowing hard. Lu Mingfei thought about the last lonely figure in the bar.

Everyone came to see Vishniak off, but Sonia didn’t. She sat at the card table, heavily made up, drinking strong liquor, without moving, as if the people she was playing cards with were still sitting opposite her.

Christina yawned. The intelligence officer didn’t seem affected by the atmosphere. “You don’t even know him well, what are you upset about?”

“It’s not sad,” Lu Mingfei said softly. “I’m just wondering if my funeral will be this grand.” The funeral ended just like that; as the fire burned, people gradually dispersed.

Returning to the apartment from the river, passing the bar, Sonia was still sitting there drinking, but no one pushed open the glass door again.

Perhaps because he had witnessed the funeral, Lu Mingfei had a very long dream. In the dream, he was walking on a frozen river with a group of people. Among them were distinguished guests from City 023, as well as Caesar, Chu Zihang, Nuonuo, and Zero. Even Lu Mingze was mixed in with the group. The river was wide, and everyone was spread out, walking in silence without speaking. As they walked, fewer and fewer people remained, until finally, when Lu Mingfei suddenly turned around, only Lu Mingze, who had been following him like a shadow, was left behind.

“Are you the only one left?” Lu Mingfei asked him.

“The day the demon leaves you, the angel will also leave.” Lu Mingze tilted his head and looked at him, uttering words that sounded like a prophecy.

The dream was so vivid that Lu Mingfei thought Lu Mingze had come looking for him again, but it really was just a dream. In the dream, the cold wind howled, the world was frozen for thousands of miles, and he and Lu Mingze supported each other as they trekked, the great river seemingly endless.

When he woke up it was already morning. Recalling the events of the dream, it felt like a funeral, but he couldn’t tell whether he was saying goodbye to everyone or everyone was saying goodbye to him.

He brushed his teeth, washed his face, and tidied himself up. The breakfast cart was already placed at the apartment door, along with a black formal suit hanging on the door. The suit was in the style of a Soviet-era military uniform, double-breasted, with gold embroidery on the cuffs and collar. It was clearly made to fit Lu Mingfei’s physique perfectly, fitting him flawlessly in every way. Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt as if he had become part of this old city, though he still looked quite handsome. Lu Mingfei struck a few poses, then spent some time removing the guard from his short curved sword to conceal it securely to his body.

He finished his breakfast alone, put on his coat, and went out. The snow on both sides of the road was like walls. The snowstorm had stopped, and the sun hung low above the horizon, its rays spreading across the edge of the sky.

He walked along the cleared path toward the city center of City 023, to that huge circular building beneath which lay the dying dragon.

The trade fair will be held there, starting at noon and continuing until midnight.