Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 75 is also a kind of returning to one's hometown.
In June in Germany, the early summer sun carries a lazy warmth, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of grass and distant river water.

Bochum, a small city with a population of only 38.7, presents itself to them as a somewhat desolate town on the edge of a station, as if hastily left behind by the train of time.

Lu Mingfei tugged at the cheap cotton T-shirt he was wearing, which had a small patch of back soaked with sweat. He felt that he, like the bright sunlight and the dilapidated train station in front of him that was looking a little wilted by the sun, were all exuding a lazy and decadent vibe.

Standing next to him was Chu Zihang, wearing a high-quality light gray linen shirt with the cuffs neatly rolled up to his elbows, revealing his smooth forearms. He wore khaki casual pants and looked as clean and refreshing as if he had just stepped out of an air-conditioned room, forming a stark contrast with the peeling paint and rusty iron chairs on the platform.

Lu Mingfei thought to himself, this must be what is called the "cool barrier of the male god".

"So Professor Schneider, before summer vacation even started, couldn't wait to airdrop us into this rural area, just to retrieve a piece of alchemical junk that was supposedly stuffed into the municipal sewer by a Nazi junior officer who was being chased by the Soviet Red Army at the end of World War II? And he even solemnly marked it 'Priority B'?"

He wiped the sweat from his brow, his tone full of disdain:
"It's just like being called by the teacher to clean up that overgrown wasteland behind the school before the final exams! And we two are the ones who were conscripted, senior!"

Chu Zihang's gaze swept over the obscure German text on the machine, his tone calm and devoid of any emotional fluctuation:
"The alchemical matrix structure of the target item seems to have important calibration significance for the academy's current experiments. Due to the increasing signs of dragon resurgence around the world, the Executive Department is also short-staffed, and most of the senior students have been assigned to internships."

With his exceptional senses, Lu Mingfei keenly detected a very faint trace of irritability.

Even the senior student who was killing embryos probably felt that taking on this "garbage picking" task at the critical moment of final exam review was just adding to the chaos.

To make matters worse, the only permanent staff member of the academy in this remote corner of Bonn, a fellow named Hans, was currently shouldering a mission even more sacred than searching for the treasures hidden in the sewers—picking up his daughter from school to take her swimming lesson.

On the phone, Hans spoke with a heavy accent, mixing German and broken English, and spoke so fast it was like he was being chased by a dog. He apologized repeatedly and swore that he would be at the door of their booked guesthouse by "dinner time at the latest." He also enthusiastically recommended a nearby "good value" ice cream shop.

Thus, the two "elites" of Kassel College were ruthlessly abandoned on this desolate platform, where the heat was so intense that even the stainless steel casing of the automatic ticket machines was burning hot, just as the clouds of the final exam season began to gather.

“One-way ticket…Einzelfahrt…”

Lu Mingfei grimaced as he tapped the screen. The translation software seemed to be suffering from heatstroke, reacting sluggishly and sputtering out a few words intermittently, the German words twisting and turning into equally headache-inducing Chinese.

"A zone...? Is this place even the size of a palm, yet it's divided into zones?"

He felt like a caveman in a spy movie trying to crack Morse code.

Chu Zihang silently handed over a euro banknote, slightly damp with sweat, and pointed it precisely at the screen.

Lu Mingfei felt like he'd been granted a pardon and quickly stuffed in the money and pressed the button. The machine emitted a feeble groan and slowly spat out two paper sheets as thin as cicada wings.

"Done!" Lu Mingfei handed one of the tickets to Chu Zihang, then wiped his sweat, feeling as if he had just run a kilometer.

He looked at the empty platform.

"Senior brother, if we could get this ticket reimbursed, do you think we could find a loophole?"

Chu Zihang did not respond, his gaze calmly fixed on the platform entrance, where an old bus with peeling paint, like an old ox that could not bear the burden, was panting heavily and emitting heat waves as it swayed and stopped at the platform.

The car door opened with a "whoosh," as if deflated.

"Get in the car," Chu Zihang said succinctly.

Lu Mingfei sighed and resignedly followed.

The bus wasn't crowded. A few students in short-sleeved school uniforms and carrying backpacks squeezed into the back, chattering away. An elderly woman wearing a straw hat and a floral dress sat listlessly. A man in a grey short-sleeved polo shirt, stocky and with a thin briefcase tucked under his arm, boarded in front of them and naturally stood near the front door in a slightly better ventilated spot. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, as if he had just finished get off work.

The car started swaying and pulled away from the station, merging into the sparse afternoon traffic on the edge of the town. Outside the window, vast expanses of bright green fields and languid farmhouses flashed by, and the clouds in the azure sky hung low, seemingly within reach.

Lu Mingfei wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, leaned closer to Chu Zihang, and, using the noise as cover, lowered his voice:

"Senior, look at how German bus drivers don't even check tickets! A single bus ticket can cost tens of RMB. Don't you think so?"

Chu Zihang still didn't look at him, but slightly adjusted his posture, letting a faint breeze from the aisle blow through him. His gaze swept over the man in the gray short-sleeved polo shirt in front of him with utter nonchalance.

The man was relaxed, fanning himself with his briefcase, and even took out his phone to check the time, looking exactly like an ordinary office worker who was so hot from the heat that he just wanted to get home as soon as possible.

"Someone will check tickets."

Chu Zihang's voice was kept extremely low:

"Look at the guy in the gray polo shirt in front of you. The bulging square hard object in his right trouser pocket is a portable ticket vending machine. He chose a position that gives him a full view of the train and is close to the door, making it easy to control."

Lu Mingfei was taken aback and turned his gaze in the same direction.

Sure enough.

His respect for Chu Zihang grew even stronger. His senior was practically a robot equipped with a 360-degree high-definition camera! How could he maintain such observational skills under these circumstances?
The train restarted, bringing with it an annoying noise and heat wave, and drove only a few dozen meters from the platform.

The man in the gray polo shirt, who had been fanning himself with his briefcase and looking at his phone, suddenly looked up. He smoothly shoved his phone back into his pocket, while simultaneously deftly pulling a palm-sized black ticket machine from his right pocket.

“Fahrkarten, bitte. Kontrolle! (Please show your ticket! Ticket check!)”

A young man with a Middle Eastern appearance turned deathly pale, sweat pouring down his face. He tried frantically to explain in accented English that he had just finished training, his wallet was in his bag and hard to reach, and he had forgotten his monthly pass, his voice sounding particularly weak in the sweltering heat. The ticket inspector simply pointed expressionlessly at the machine, the meaning clear:

Pay the fine, or get out of here at the next stop.

Lu Mingfei leaned close to Chu Zihang's ear, his voice filled with genuine awe:
"Holy crap! Senior! That's insane! Using entrapment in this heat! That dedication...it's insane! How did you even know that? You even knew he had a ticket vending machine in his pocket? Does the enforcement department teach this stuff?"

Chu Zihang's gaze was fixed on the German country road rushing past the window. His profile appeared sharply defined in the swaying light and shadow of the car window, and a bead of sweat slid down his clear jawline.

He paused for a few seconds before speaking in a flat, reciting tone, as if reciting a list of alchemical materials:
"On the Night Watchers Forum, in the 'Global Public Transportation Scam Prevention Guide' section, the pinned post is: 'Detailed Explanation of the Behavioral Patterns of Plainclothes Ticket Inspectors in the Federal Republic of Germany and Counter-Investigation Manual (with the Latest Version of Ticket Inspection Fines for Each State)'. Posted by ID: 'Owl on the Rhine River'. It is rich in data, illustrated, and has high practical reference value."

Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, a string of words stuck in his throat, neither going up nor down. He looked at Chu Zihang's matter-of-fact expression, as if he were just quoting a textbook on "Dragon Genealogy," then at the skilled plainclothes ticket inspector in front of the carriage, and finally his gaze fell back on the thin piece of paper in his hand, which had just been punched and was worth a few scoops of ice cream.

A complex and absurd emotion welled up within me. This damned, all-encompassing, ever-surprising Kassel life! Final exams? What are they? The real tests are in every corner of life!
When the faded wooden door of the guesthouse opened, the blast of cold air almost made Lu Mingfei groan with bliss. Behind the door stood a slightly overweight man, about forty years old, covered in sweat, wearing a wrinkled plaid shirt, his hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, his glasses fogged up, and holding the hand of a little girl of about seven or eight years old, blonde and blue-eyed, also soaking wet.

"Ah! Entschuldigung! I'm so sorry! Mr. Lu! Mr. Chu!" The man spoke with a heavy accent, but with extreme enthusiasm:

"This is Hans! Hans Müller! I'm here to pick up Lily for her swimming lesson. Damn, the school bus is late! And the pool showers are broken! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting!"

As he spoke, he frantically tried to wipe his glasses while simultaneously trying to hide his wet daughter behind his back, appearing both flustered and sincere.

Looking at this legendary "commissioner," Lu Mingfei felt that he was more like an ordinary German dad whose back was bent by life, far from the elusive and sharp-eyed agents he had imagined at Kassel College. The resentment he felt from being left out in the sun at the station dissipated in an instant, and he even felt like laughing.

Chu Zihang simply nodded slightly, his face still expressionless, but his tense shoulders and back seemed to relax a little.

Even the senior brother who kills embryos probably felt that it was really hard to put on the cold face of the Execution Department in front of a father who was sweating profusely and holding his daughter's hand.

"It's alright, Mr. Hans, we just arrived."

Lu Mingfei quickly waved his hand, revealing a standard "loser" friendly smile:
"It's because of the pressures of life, I understand."

Hans seemed relieved, and a deeper sense of apology appeared on his face:

"To make up for my apology, you absolutely have to treat me tonight! I know a fantastic local restaurant! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

He patted his chest and assured them, a warm glow gleaming behind his glasses.

Local specialties? Lu Mingfei's eyes lit up, and the tempting words "reasonable meal allowance" on Professor Schneider's expense report flashed through his mind.

He subconsciously nudged Chu Zihang's arm beside him, lowered his voice, and asked quickly in Chinese:
"Senior, let's eat out... The academy will reimburse us, right?"

He figured that since it was a local specialty, the price must be high. If he could get reimbursed, he might as well take the opportunity to order the most expensive dish! Anyway, it wasn't about ripping off this German dad; all he needed to do was have him and the group leader work together to write the report.

Chu Zihang remained silent, his gaze falling on Lu Mingfei's expectant face, and he understood his meaning almost instantly. He said nothing, only nodding almost imperceptibly.

The nod was very slight, carrying a subtle "you know what I mean" meaning.

Lu Mingfei immediately understood.

—Default reimbursement! All set!
His smile grew even brighter:

"That's wonderful! Mr. Hans, we won't stand on ceremony! We're really looking forward to the specialties!"

Hans was also pleased. After settling his daughter Lily in, he warmly led them out the door.

In the evenings of June, as the summer heat subsides, the streets of the small town are bathed in a warm golden glow from the setting sun, and the air is filled with the enticing aroma of barbecue and some kind of spice.

Hans skillfully navigated several street corners before finally stopping in front of a small shop with a striking red sign with a yellow star and crescent moon, and a huge rotating barbecue column at the entrance. The shop was bustling with business, with a queue outside, and the rich aroma of grilled meat and crispy flatbread filling the air.

"This is it!" Hans proudly announced. "This is one of the most authentic and popular local specialties in Bochum, no, I should say in all of Germany! Guaranteed to be a hundred times better than the stuff in the university cafeteria!"

Lu Mingfei's smile froze instantly. He stared at the enormous, swishing, dripping skewer of grilled meat, watching the staff expertly slice off pieces of charred chicken or beef, stuff them into sliced ​​flatbreads, add lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles, and finally drizzle with white garlic or yogurt sauce… This stuff was all too familiar to him! Wasn't this just the Turkish kebab you see everywhere?!
Specialty? German? Lu Mingfei felt a lump in his throat. He turned to look at Chu Zihang, only to see his senior brother's perpetually icy face furrow slightly.

Lu Mingfei could even picture his senior's inner monologue: That's it? Reimbursement? Special feature?
Hans seemed completely oblivious to the subtle changes in their expressions, and continued his enthusiastic introduction:
"...I know you might be a little surprised. But believe me, kids," he winked, with a knowing slyness, "after spending a long time in Germany, especially after experiencing that damn orientation season at Kassel College... believe me, you'll never want to see sauerkraut stewed pork knuckle or white sausage again in your life!"
That stuff can give even the toughest stomach a psychological scar! This is the lifeline for us permanent residents! Our salvation!

Lu Mingfei understood instantly.

He recalled the opulent yet nightmarish welcome dinner for new students at Kassel College. Huge silver platters were piled high with glistening, greasy pork knuckles, alongside equally massive mounds of sauerkraut, exuding a strong, fermented sour smell. The air was thick with the suffocating stench of greasiness and sourness.

Every freshman was "enthusiastically" required to finish at least one serving. How Chu Zihang managed to eat that large portion with such a straight face and precise movements remains a mystery to Lu Mingfei. He initially enjoyed it, but it became so greasy towards the end that he practically forced it down, which made him nauseous at the sight of anything red for several days afterward.

Thinking about it this way... Hans treating them to Turkish kebabs was an incredible favor! It was a thoughtful gesture that transcended petty concerns and was full of human compassion!
"I understand! I totally understand!"

Lu Mingfei immediately adopted an expression of deep empathy, almost on the verge of tears, and patted Hans's shoulder forcefully:

"Mr. Hans, you really... understand us so well!"

If they actually served a plate of authentic German sauerkraut stewed pork knuckle...

A little drama instantly played out in Lu Mingfei's mind:

Chu Zihang's right hand would flash to his lower back in a split second, making a standard gun-drawing motion. At the same time, his icy gaze would be fixed on Hans, and he would ask in a flat but freezing voice:

"who are you?"

Hans, the honest, slightly overweight commissioner, would probably pause for a moment, then shrug helplessly, push up his slipping glasses, and slowly reply in his thick German accent, tinged with a sense of weariness and vicissitude:
“Before… at the welcome dinner… I had no choice. Now…” He pointed to the fragrant roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) on the table, “I just want to be a good person.”

"Pfft..." Lu Mingfei was amused by the scene he had imagined and almost burst out laughing.

"What's wrong, Mr. Lu?" Hans looked at him, puzzled.

"No...nothing!"

Lu Mingfei quickly suppressed his smile and rubbed his stomach:

"I was so hungry from the smell! Come on, it's on me today! Mr. Hans, order whatever you like! And please add lots of meat!"

He waved his hand with an air of nonchalance, completely forgetting that he had just been thinking about reimbursement—as long as he didn't eat pork knuckle, anything was fine! This roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) meal was on him, Lu Mingfei!

Chu Zihang stood silently to the side, watching Lu Mingfei's sudden surge of enthusiasm and Hans's gratified expression of "this kid is teachable," then glanced at the huge, sizzling, rotating column of meat at the entrance of the shop. In the end, he said nothing, only sighed almost imperceptibly, and resignedly joined the waiting line.

The setting sun cast a long shadow of Chu Zihang.

(End of this chapter)