Dragon Raja; Chapter 28: Golden Eyes (3)

Dragon Raja

The conductor took Finger’s ticket and swiped it through the machine. A green light lit up with a beep.

“Finger, still haven’t dropped out yet?” the conductor asked. “I thought I wouldn’t see you this year.”

“I’m a man who finishes what he starts,” Finger said. “The train came so late. Did my rank drop again?”

“Down to ‘F.’ You’ve fallen from A-Rank all the way down—it’s like falling from heaven to hell,” the conductor said.

“Really gone from serf to beast…” Finger muttered.

Lu Mingfei’s ticket was swiped through the machine, the green light turning on, but this time accompanied by a cheerful chime.

“Lu Mingfei?” The conductor’s bright green eyes lit up. “Sorry, there was a mistake in the schedule. Your rank is ‘S.’ There aren’t many people with such a high rank, so the system probably messed up—just like the Y2K bug.”

“S?” Finger’s eyes widened. “Isn’t the principal the only one with an S-Rank?”

“Not the only one, but fewer than ten people have it,” the conductor said. “Hurry and board, the train won’t be stopping long.”

“I have a question… Is this really an official train? Why isn’t it on the timetable? Why isn’t it on schedule?” Lu Mingfei couldn’t hold back any longer. Everything about this train seemed strange. If it really was some kind of hell express, at least he could say a prayer before boarding.

“Yes, it’s specially approved by the Chicago government, a direct line to Cassell College. It’s not on the timetable because it’s a branch line, with no set schedule. You know those special trains that use public railways but head to some mines or factories? We’re just like those.” The conductor answered very straightforwardly, not withholding any details.

They followed the conductor onto the platform. The high-speed train was stopped on the tracks, its bright headlights shining. The train was black, with a streamlined body, covered in dazzling silver vine patterns spreading across its glossy black surface, looking like a piece of art. Standing by the only open door was a familiar figure—Professor Guderian.

The train sped through the pitch-black night. Across an oak strip table, Lu Mingfei, Finger, and Professor Guderian sat facing each other. The carriage was decorated in an elegant European style, with walls adorned in Victorian patterned wallpaper, portholes encased in solid wood, dark green leather sofas embroidered with gold thread—every detail was exquisite. Lu Mingfei and Finger had changed into the Cassell College uniform: white shirts, dark green suits edged with silver trim, and deep rose-red ties. The world tree emblem of Cassell College was embroidered on the chest pocket. Although the college tailor had never measured him, the clothes fit perfectly. Lu Mingfei rolled up his cuff and saw his name embroidered inside in dark green thread—Ricardo M. Lu.

Since boarding the train and changing into the uniform, Lu Mingfei suddenly felt like a superior person—a very superior person.

Yet he couldn’t help but feel a bit afraid. He didn’t know why, but it seemed like something bad was about to happen.

“Finger, don’t put your bare feet on the sofa.” Professor Guderian said, “You should know how important the admissions counseling is for our freshmen.”

Finger had no choice but to keep his feet still. In front of Professor Guderian, this senior who looked like a science madman behaved much more obediently.

“Coffee or hot chocolate?” Professor Guderian asked. He was leaning against the wall, behind which was a large painting covered by canvas.

“Hot chocolate,” Finger raised his hand.

“I wasn’t asking you. Be serious—I’m your temporary mentor, assigned by the school. This is freshman orientation,” Professor Guderian looked at Lu Mingfei. “You can also have a shot of something strong, if you’d like.”

“Meeting a mentor… and we can drink?”

“They just give you something to calm your nerves so you don’t end up screaming halfway through the orientation,” Finger whispered in his ear.

“Is it… that intense?” Lu Mingfei shrank back.

“More intense than you think…” Professor Guderian said softly. “First of all, I’m sorry I’m late. I got held up in Russia. On my way back to the college, I realized there was a scheduling error and hadn’t picked you up, so I decided to come along on this train. Secondly, the college requires every student to take an entrance qualification exam, which we call the ‘3E’ exam. If you don’t pass, you won’t be admitted, and your scholarship will temporarily not take effect.”

“Qualification exam?” Lu Mingfei let out a sigh of relief. “That’s scary enough… but at least my heart can take it.”

“Here, sign this confidentiality agreement.” Professor Guderian handed him a document.

Facing the strange document written in a mix of Latin and English, Lu Mingfei’s hand trembled a bit, but he signed it nonetheless. He was currently on a train speeding toward the mysterious Cassell College at over 200 kilometers per hour. This was the path his parents had set for him—what choice did he have?

Professor Guderian carefully put away the document. “As a properly registered university under the U.S. Department of Education, Cassell College has always been committed to providing high-quality education to students with special talents and recommending them for employment. Our official program lasts four years. It’s very rare for someone like Finger, who’s been here for eight years and still hasn’t graduated. Our college follows a classical, closed education system—all students must live on campus. When you complete your studies, we will grant you an official diploma, but unfortunately, our degree might not help you find a corresponding program in other universities, so if you want to pursue a master’s or doctorate, you’ll have to continue at our college.”

“Are you saying… it’s not a legitimate degree?” Lu Mingfei became alert.

“No, it’s very legitimate. Our degree fully meets the requirements of the Department of Education. What I meant is that our field of study is special,” Professor Guderian chose his words carefully, “very special.”

“How… special?” Lu Mingfei blinked.

“Do you know about seminaries?”

Lu Mingfei nodded.

“A seminary is a special kind of school where students primarily study knowledge about deities. Then there are medical schools, where they mainly focus on the mechanisms of the human body, and a business schools, where the focus is on the ancient concept of ‘transactions.’ Cassell College is also a special kind of school. What we study is…” Professor Guderian stood up, grabbed a corner of the canvas covering the giant painting behind him, and shook it open.

The ferocious scene was exposed under the light, and the instant Lu Mingfei’s gaze touched the painting, he felt as if he was being pushed back by an immense force.

It was the oppressive presence of the painting.

Series Navigation

<< Dragon Raja; Chapter 27: Golden Eyes (2)Dragon Raja; Chapter 29: Golden Eyes (4) >>