Lu Mingfei, who had read Dragon Clan before slaying the dragon

Yuan Zhisheng was silent for a moment. "Dad, are you reminding me not to have mercy on the fallen?"

"I know you've always been righteous, Zhisheng. But if you want to uphold justice, you must pay a price. The price is the compassion deep in the heart." The old man said solemnly, "I already know about Yexue's situation. You did the right thing. Zhisheng, you are firmly on the path that belongs to you."

"From your tone, Dad, do you also know the woman named Miyamoto Noyuki?" Gen Chisheng asked.

"How could I not recognize her?" The old man continued painting, a trace of reminiscence crossing his weathered face. "I met her on the first day she entered the Rock Flow Research Institute. She was only seventeen then, as blooming as a summer flower. But the impression she left on me was as cold as frost and snow, just like her name: a life as thin as cherry blossoms and wild snow. She spoke very little, and there was always something hidden in her eyes that I could never see through. Only now do I realize that her eyes had always reflected the world. That world was beautiful, with sunshine, cities, and mountains and forests... but she was the only one missing."

For no reason, Gen Chisheng thought of what Miyamoto Noyuki said... She came to this world without telling anyone, and lived in a place where the sun couldn't reach... It turned out that she had really excluded herself from the beauty of the world, and had been wandering on the edge of human society and "ghosts", with neither a human stance nor one, but when she really degenerated into a "ghost", she was so unwilling, so why was she so stubborn?

The five years she truly lived were the five years she lived in this world as a "human". For her, who was born as a ghost, what a luxury it was to live just one more moment in her short life?

I probably will never understand it in my entire life, because my fate is determined by Amaterasu, and I was born with sunshine all around me. I am completely different from her.

"The fate of a law enforcer is truly exhausting. Compassion is a part of my heart, and every time I kill someone, a piece of it wears away. It hurts, Dad." Yuan Zhisheng smiled wryly. "Sure enough, I still want to go to France. I met a French friend online. He owns a small sunscreen shop on Montalive Beach... He's living the life I dream of."

"The nude beach that's famous because you don't have to wear clothes?"

"That's right. Every summer he goes to the beach to run his little shop. He doesn't need to wear clothes all summer long. He walks back and forth on the soft sand in beach shorts and a sun hat. He sees thousands of beautiful women a day. Sometimes when he sees a girl he likes, he'll strike up a conversation and ask if they want free sunscreen. He'll apply it from the girl's swan-like neck to her ankles in one go. It's like riding a roller coaster with ups and downs, making you dizzy... That's how he described it to me," Yuan Zhisheng said longingly. "After the summer, he'll go to Paris to collect unemployment benefits. At least he'll be able to survive and he won't have to worry about life... The more I think about it, the more jealous I feel. That guy is living exactly like me, you bastard!"

"Asshole! As the director of the Executive Bureau, your dream is just to apply sunscreen to women on a nude beach in the summer?" The old man murmured. "Chisheng, your mission shouldn't be to apply sunscreen to others. The light of Amaterasu's destiny should illuminate more people..."

"I know. I know everything." Yuan Zhisheng sighed. "Let's not talk about that. I have one more question for you. It's about the last Director of the Executive Bureau, Miyamoto Noyuki's brother. You should know him well, right, Dad? I hadn't come to our family when he left office, and the older generation in the family doesn't seem to talk about him."

"Kenshiro?" A fleeting glint flashed across the old man's eyes. "Let's not talk about this person today. If I talk about him, I probably won't be able to maintain my current state of mind to paint."

Seeing the old man's face full of secrecy, Yuan Zhisheng nodded gently, "Okay, okay, then let's talk business, about the commissioner of this headquarters."

"This afternoon, the branch director sent me an urgent message saying the principal is sending an elite team to Tokyo. They've detected a heartbeat suspected to be that of an ancient dragon embryo deep in the Japan Trench," the old man said. "They plan to use a manned submersible to transport a refined sulfur bomb to eight thousand meters underwater. They'll manually destroy the embryo. The submersible set off two days ago and is currently conducting simulations at Tokyo Harbor. As for the team, they're already on a plane and are expected to arrive in three hours."

"Is that team here to supervise?"

"No, they're responsible for the dive. The submersible was also manufactured by headquarters. Schneider, the head of the executive department, is in charge of the transoceanic command, and Norma is supervising in place of Kaguya," the old man said. "We're responsible for the rest of the mission. Headquarters doesn't seem to trust us."

"We have never relied on them. Even when the Eight Snake Families were at their lowest point, none of them accepted any gifts from our headquarters. Isn't their attitude too presumptuous?" Yuan Zhisheng was half shocked and half angry.

"Child, you're still young. Some of our family's ancient almanacs are unknown to you." The old man stared at the scroll with his pupils as dark as ink. "Not all families have no connection with our headquarters. The others in our headquarters are nothing to be afraid of, except for that man named Ange..."

"Decades have passed, and he's still alive, still holding the title of the world's greatest dragon slayer. As long as he lives, this headquarters will bear down on us like a mountain. Today, that mountain... has finally collapsed," the old man said. "That man wanted to slay every dragon in the world, including the 'god'. She's dead, and that's her grave. Even though our gods carry her bloodline... Let's destroy the burial place. We can't allow a dead person to crawl out of the grave!"

"Do we really have to go this far... to cut off history?" Yuan Zhisheng took a long time to say this short sentence.

"History and the like should be left in myths and historical records. Tragedy that repeats itself over and over again is not history, it's tragedy."

"This will be a tough battle. There will be much bloodshed and many will die. In the end, we may not win. If we lose... the world will be turned upside down!"

"That is the fate of this world."

"These are truly tragic words, just like what the last man standing on the battlefield would say to the world that is about to be destroyed, saying, there is no hope for you, this is your fate." Yuan Zhisheng smiled bitterly.

"The world's fate wasn't destruction, and neither was the family's fate bloodshed," the old man sighed. "That's why the God's Burial Ground must be destroyed. We inherited power from the White Emperor, a gift and a curse. She created the rising sun, all things that grow, and the dreamlike world of the living. We protect all of this, but she also created the cold moon, the dry bones and cold sand, and the eternal underworld—the very things the fierce ghosts pursue. She watches us from within her tomb, clad in the burial garments of the dead, rusted with patterns of skulls and maggots. She laughs secretly as she watches us fight and bleed. One day, she will return to the human world, but the price she pays is to drag all her descendants into the underworld."

"It sounds creepy, like it's eating people."

"Yes, it's cannibalism. If they eat us, the underworld will be overcrowded, and the 'gods' will rise from our bones. They will be a rotting corpse crawling with maggots, clad in a colorful shroud." The old man's voice was like thunder. "To break free from the bloody fate she has arranged for us, the first step is to take our own destiny into our own hands. We need change. People like you who don't want to become Amaterasu will no longer have to slay demons, and children like Noyuki who don't want to become 'demons' can be born as humans."

"If I succeed, can I escape my status as a young master and the fate of Amaterasu and go to France to sell sunscreen?"

"You little brat, are you just trying to get rid of this once and for all? Are your father's expectations and trust in you worthless?" The old man scolded with a smile, then murmured, "But it's all good this way. After all, fighting fate is too hard and tiring. If you're lucky enough to survive the war, then go to France. But if we fail, then let an old man like me die first. Have you heard the story of Yugong moving the mountains? As the head of the family, you must lead your descendants in fighting fate, for your descendants to see forever."

"It's a really inspiring story, but it sounds very torturous." Yuan Zhisheng frowned bitterly.

"The team sent by headquarters is said to consist of three people, all of whom are Angers' most beloved students. They are known as the aces who can 'secure victory even against Dragon Kings.'" The old man paused his painting and set it aside. He pulled a folder from beneath the rice paper. "I suddenly remembered that their information is here."

Yuan Zhisheng looked at the ink-stained resume placed beneath the drawing paper and took it with a frown. He flipped through it casually, from the first to the last page, his brow furrowing ever tighter. The last few pages, featuring the specialist named Lu Mingfei, were mostly blacked out, making them hard to read, but he could vaguely tell they weren't very long. So, even though he was an "S" rank, he was only a sophomore.

"They're still kids, they haven't even graduated yet. Do they really understand what they're about to face?"

If it weren't for Ran Mo, Yuan Zhisheng would probably have seen information about Lu Mingfei. Apart from the basic overview, the rest of the content was described with only two words - "Top Secret".

"But they have excellent bloodlines. Aside from you and Eri, we probably can't find any young people who are more outstanding than them," the old man said. "At least Ange's judgment of people is never wrong. Although those young people may not have much experience, they must have their strengths. Especially that Lu Mingfei, he is hailed as a genius that the secret party has not seen in decades. The Gattuso family heir and the child who possesses the 'Word Spirit: Sovereign Flame' are also not to be underestimated. And you are our genius, so you are actually competitors."

"Rival? I've never had one, and I don't know how to compete." Yuan Zhisheng thought for a moment. "Beat them up and then laugh at their weakness? That's probably what an opponent does, right?"

"Can you please read less chuunibyou comics? I've never liked you reading those since you were little, and I'm afraid you'll say I'm depriving you of your childhood. You're going to be the head of the family." The old man smiled bitterly, "Remember, treat the people in this department with courtesy, like guests of honor."

"Okay, I know what I'm going to do. I'll just try my best to meet their demands." Genji wrapped his windbreaker tightly around his waist. "By the way, Dad, how's Eri doing?"

"It's relatively stable. It seems like I dreamed that something wonderful is about to come." The old man took a sip of liquor, picked up the paper he had finished painting, and looked at it carefully.

Most of the originally plain white paper was stained black by the messy ink strokes, like a huge... ghost painting.

"I have to say, Dad, your painting skills have deteriorated a lot." Yuan Zhisheng left after saying this.

After he left, Tachibana Masamune spat the liquor in his mouth onto the paper, and the real drawing only became visible after being soaked in the warm liquor.

It turns out the black areas are the white space, the ink serving as the base, outlining the vast earth of the human world, the background. In the center of the paper, a huge white dragon looms over the human world.

The firelight made the dragon's shadow sway in the old man's pupils, like a living thing.

Chapter 180 The boy and spring arrived as promised

Caesar adjusted the reading light above the airplane seat, and the warm yellow light poured down, shining on a document bag wrapped in brown paper.

The seal of the briefcase was stamped with the red "SS" seal, signifying that the contents were top secret secrets of the secret party. Professor Schneider personally handed the briefcase to him before boarding the plane, solemnly instructing him that only the team leader was authorized to read the contents, and that they must be read between takeoff and landing, and then burned immediately.

Caesar tore open the tightly sealed bag. He held his breath. The bag was pitch black, as if some wild beast was about to emerge from it... Suddenly, two heads appeared behind him in the darkness.

"Didn't I see you guys were asleep just now?" Caesar said without turning his head. "This is a confidential document."

"Don't say that, senior. Have you ever seen a spy movie? Many times, the villain entrusts the most important information to only one agent. When the agent dies, the confidential information goes to hell with him, so they always fail!" Lu Mingfei leaned over.

"Do you mean to curse me to death? Or do you mean to say that we are villains?"

"For example, just an example." Lu Mingfei said righteously, "Senior, do you know what I have always admired most about you? It's your strong egoism and rebellious spirit! Ignore what stupid Professor Schneider says. We are now a team, and this is the time to test the trust and tacit understanding of the Caesar team!"

"That makes sense." Caesar glanced at Chu Zihang. "What about you? Do you also admire my rebellious spirit?"

"I'm simply curious about the contents of the document." Chu Zihang said truthfully with a blank expression.

Caesar turned around, glancing at one, then the other, both of them with faces that said, "I want to see, you can't stop me." Knowing he couldn't stop them, he simply ignored Schneider's serious instructions and generously dumped the contents of the document bag onto the table.

The things scattered on the table were not very rich, just a black and white photo, a memory chip, and a Russian document with a translation.

Kaiser first picked up the black-and-white photo. It was taken in 1990 and showed a majestic giant icebreaker with a white hull and a black bridge. A huge red five-pointed star was embedded on the bow, symbolizing that it belonged to the Soviet fleet.

Chu Zihang picked up the Russian file about the ship and read, "The Lenin, a meritorious warship of the former Soviet Union's Northern Fleet and the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker. During its service, it received numerous awards and was truly laden with honors. However, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, it quietly disappeared from the Northern Fleet's warship fleet. Records end here, on December 25, 1991."

"Christmas?" As a Westerner, Caesar was very sensitive to the day of December 25th.

"Yes, it disappeared on Christmas Day. I don't know if there's any meaning behind this," Chu Zihang said. "Logically, the loss of a valuable warship would be a major disaster for the entire fleet, but it seems no one cares about the Lenin's whereabouts. It seems like it's been forgotten by the world."

There was a subtle pause in his voice, a sign of Chu Zihang's fluctuating mood. He couldn't help but care, because, like the lost Lenin, there was an important person in his heart who had been forgotten by the world overnight.

Caesar inserted the black chip into the notebook's card reader. Norma's voice came from the speaker, "Caesar Gattuso, the infrared thermal sensor shows that there are two other people around you. According to Professor Schneider's instructions, confidential information is not allowed to be leaked. Therefore, you have violated the confidentiality regulations of the confidential mission in the school regulations and will be punished once..."

Caesar twitched the corners of his mouth and resisted the urge to swear.

"Norma." Lu Mingfei suddenly said, "Publicize the contents of the document."

"'S' level voiceprint verification passed, authorization granted." Norma said.

Caesar curled his lips and wanted to curse even more.

"Your mission this time is to dive into the Japan Trench and investigate the wreckage of the sunken icebreaker 'Lenin'. The meritorious icebreaker 'Lenin' is known as the red behemoth of the polar regions. It is the world's first polar icebreaker claimed to be able to conquer 'all oceans' because there is no ice it cannot break. On the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union, it disobeyed the orders of the Northern Fleet and made a secret voyage to the waters of Japan. Nearing the top of the Japan Trench, it sent out a distress signal, but sank before the rescue ship dispatched by Japan arrived. We have detected that the Lenin carries forbidden items related to the dragon civilization. After you land, the Japanese branch will send someone to pick you up and hand over the mission details. The chip will automatically destroy in three seconds. Good luck."

Norma's voice faded away. Three seconds later, the laptop suddenly displayed "Memory card unrecognized," and the chip ejected from the card reader, self-destructing.

"Could the shipwreck of the Lenin be related to the forbidden objects of the dragon clan on the ship?" Caesar set fire to the paper documents and threw the burning photos and papers into the metal trash can.

"It's very likely." Chu Zihang nodded. "The Lenin's hull is quite tough. Even the Arctic ice and sea storms couldn't sink it. But it encountered an accident in the relatively calm waters of Japan and sank quickly. There must be a dragon behind this."

"So our mission target is this forbidden object related to dragons that sank to the bottom of the sea, right?" Caesar asked.

"That's what it seems at the moment, but I always feel like something is wrong." Chu Zihang frowned slightly.

"It shouldn't be that simple." Lu Mingfei suddenly said, "The sinking of the Lenin...maybe it wasn't a shipwreck, but a man-made one."

"What do you mean?" Caesar raised his eyebrows.

"It's obvious that someone used the Lenin just to transport this forbidden object, so he should also know how dangerous it is. News about the dragon clan must not be leaked, but the Lenin still sent out a distress signal after encountering the situation. This shows that the other crew members did not know that the shipwreck was related to the dragon clan, and the transportation of this forbidden object was carried out without telling others on the Lenin... Christmas, secret voyage, Japan Trench... These keywords sound too coincidental. This matter has been a conspiracy from the beginning, and the outcome may also be in the hands of the person behind the scenes." Lu Mingfei said in a deep voice.

"Are you saying the person behind this deliberately sank the Lenin near the Japanese coast? This was all his plan?" Caesar pondered. "But why would he do this? Why would he even risk his own life?"

"If we follow the idea that 'he was the one who caused this shipwreck,' he could have completely excluded himself from the plan," Lu Mingfei said. "That is, he moved the Lenin to the waters near Japan and planned a shipwreck, but he managed to save himself from it."

"Then what was his purpose? Was it simply to sink the dragon-related items into the sea? Would he be so kind?" Caesar asked. "You have a point, but it's only a possibility. It's also possible that the actual situation simply went beyond his plans. For example, something happened to the items being transported on the ship, and he had no control over it, so he could only call for help, but that was fruitless and the ship eventually sank."

"No, to be able to sink a giant steel ship like the Lenin, leaving it no time to wait for rescue, this force must be at least a second-generation species." Chu Zihang analyzed, "A second-generation species is at least fifteen meters in size, and it is impossible for it to be placed on the Lenin without anyone knowing. Moreover, if a second-generation species had escaped from the waters near Japan, it would be impossible for them to have been at peace for so many years."

"I agree with Lu Mingfei's point of view. Someone is planning to sink something related to dragons into the waters near Japan," Chu Zihang concluded. "But we don't know their purpose, and we know very little about the Japanese branch. This is an unfamiliar land to us."

"If this truly is part of someone's plan, regardless of their purpose, he must be a complete lunatic!" Caesar glanced out the window at the vast, brightly lit city. "From what you're saying, this lunatic is very likely hiding in the city right below us... I thought our mission this time was just a sneak peek, but now it sounds like we've been dragged into some kind of mystery."

Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, but seeing Caesar and Chu Zihang looking out the window with serious expressions, he couldn't say anything.

Through the window, they could see the dense, jagged cluster of high-rise buildings in the distance. Countless roads crisscrossed the city, forming a vast, luminous web. This was Tokyo, one of Asia's largest and most prosperous cities, their destination.

"Do you think it's better to visit Akihabara first or Kabukicho first?" Caesar suddenly asked, his brows furrowed, looking at the city in the distance with a serious expression.

"You put on a serious face as if the whole world owes you 100 million, but are you actually thinking about where to have fun?" Lu Mingfei held his forehead.

"What else is there to think about? That madman who sank the Lenin? I thought we'd already covered that topic," Caesar said. "That's not what we should be thinking about right now. It's pointless to dwell on it until we see the Lenin. The real business is to consider our itinerary for the next two days."

He was just that kind of person. It seemed like even if Tokyo was going to be destroyed tomorrow, Caesar Gattuso would definitely visit all the places he wanted to visit tonight. As for how to save Tokyo, that was probably his after-dinner activity after he finished drinking shochu and buying souvenirs.

Seeing Caesar's serious expression due to such an idiotic question, Lu Mingfei sighed and looked at Chu Zihang, "Brother, what about you? Are you thinking about the identity of the person behind this?"

"No, there are too few clues. I can't think of anything." Chu Zihang shook his head. "I was thinking that the cherry blossoms in Chidorigafuchi should be in full bloom this season. There is a one-mile-long cherry blossom path there, with eight hundred cherry blossoms blooming along the path in early spring. I want to go and see it."

"My suggestion is... we can go to Chidorigafuchi in the morning wearing kimonos and carrying ancient swords. It will probably complement the scenery. Then in the afternoon we can go to Akihabara Electric Town, where all the Cosplay masters gather. We don't need to change clothes, and we should get a lot of attention." Lu Mingfei sank down on the soft chair. He gave up. Since his words couldn't alert these two idiots, he might as well join the ranks of the idiots.

At least Caesar and Chu Zihang did not quarrel, and the team at least managed to hold on without collapsing, which was much stronger than he expected.

Even though he himself was an idiot, they were all different kinds of idiots. Caesar was an extremely self-absorbed idiot. Even if disaster struck, he would first try the three-star Michelin sushi restaurant he wanted to visit, enjoy the snow-covered hot springs in Hokkaido, and then go to Kyoto and Osaka to buy souvenirs for Nono and the student council members before considering death. Chu Zihang was a stubborn idiot. He would risk his life to complete a mission, but he would definitely feel regret in his heart, regretting not having found a certain man, but he would never say it to his death. As for Lu Mingfei, he used to be a complete idiot, a top-notch idiot, the idiot of idiots. As for him now... he didn't want to think about it right now, because he was thinking about more important things, and his state of mind was far from as calm as he seemed.

The plane tore through the clouds as it descended, rain falling from the leaden clouds beside them. Tokyo slept in the night, but the rain pelted the car windows, and the lights flickered, as if this huge city had quietly awakened, hiding in the deep rain, quietly gazing up at these three uninvited guests from afar.

Lu Mingfei gazed at the brightly lit Tokyo and suddenly recalled gazing out at the CBD from his uncle's rooftop. While the CBD of that coastal town wasn't nearly as bustling as Tokyo's, he'd been mesmerized by it back then. The neighborhoods around him were pitch black, the nights deathly silent, but the CBD was perpetually a dazzling white, as if there were no night. Even in the wee hours, energetic elites streamed through the streets and intersections. The giant screens of the International Business Center were perpetually ablaze with neon colors, a scene reserved only for those filled with confidence. Unlike him, they didn't need to look up to see the mirage; they lived within it, needing only to gaze forward, their spirits high and mighty.

Until now, a more prosperous city was at his feet. When he looked at the city through the porthole, he no longer yearned for the dazzling neon lights there, no longer envied the successful people wrapped in branded clothes there, and no longer chased the warm lights in the house through the thick glass like a moth... It turned out that time had passed so quickly, but it also seemed as long as a lifetime.

Lightning bolts flashed past them, illuminating the world with a penetrating light. Lu Mingfei caught sight of the boy in the porthole. Was there any trace of weakness left? He stood tall and majestic, courage taking root between his brows. The ambition hidden in his eyes, radiant as stars, could conquer the world.

With thousands of mountains and rivers to cross and a long time to go, he is nervous and expectant... Spring has arrived as promised, and some beautiful stories are about to happen in this season of hope.

Chapter 181 The Three-Man Group Has Arrived

The southernmost coastline of Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

The pier here is desolate, with waves rising higher and higher as they crash against the jagged rocks on the shore. Before World War II, fishermen once left traces of their lives here, but after years of being beaten by the sea breeze, only old wooden houses and the wreckage of fishing boats remain, stretching along the coastline, in a state of dilapidation.

Today, the former fishermen have all moved to nearby Yokohama, and the more capable have moved to Tokyo. This place has long been deserted. But tonight, two streaks of white light pierced the darkness. They were the xenon lights of a black Hummer, like the glowing pupils of a beast. It carved two long, fresh tracks in the salt flats along the coastline, then with a neat drift, drew a semicircle and landed on the shore.

"Damn it, are you sure we're in the right place? How can there be an airport in a place like this?" Yuan Zhisheng, who was in the driver's seat, slapped the steering wheel.

"The GPS shows it's definitely here," Ying said, navigating from the co-pilot seat. "The airport here has only one runway. It was built during World War II to accommodate private aircraft from the US military, but it's been abandoned for many years. The runway is short, and part of it was submerged by the rising tide. But with the skills of the Sleipni's pilots, landing shouldn't be a problem."

Ying tied her hair into a high ponytail, and wore a black suit with black trousers. She wore a pair of eight-centimeter high heels, which showed off her proud long legs. She had plain glasses on her high nose bridge and held a black folder in her hand. She looked like Yuan Zhisheng's personal secretary.

She did serve as the team's secretary, but her innermost garments were always her black fiber combat uniform, with twenty sharp throwing knives strapped to the non-jointed areas. Sakura was trained as a ninja to Minamoto Chisei's personal "little sister." Though a woman, she was a fiercely loyal guard. This was the ninja's way of life. When danger struck, she would undoubtedly die before her young master, Minamoto Chisei. She was both a deadly spear and a life-threatening shield.

Yasha and Crow sat in the back row, chatting about meaningless things. Their topics always revolved around cigarettes, alcohol, and women. Yasha, with his imposing physique, was a brave and skilled warrior, while Crow, with his sharp mind, was a strategic strategist. But mostly, they were just responsible for joking and making jokes. Yasha, while brave, had a bloodline far inferior to that of the Origin Child, while Crow had little education, so he could only show off his cleverness to the gangsters who had dropped out of junior high school.

The Hummer stopped at the end of the runway, with its headlights shining directly at the straight runway. The airport here has nothing except half of the runway exposed above sea level. The conditions are so simple that the pilots can only use the headlights as signal lights.

"Have you figured out how to play with them? Do you have any new tricks?" Yaksha asked Crow.

"Do you think we're meeting the mistress of that deputy chief of police last time? This time, we're three grown men!" Crow rolled his eyes. "How can that be considered teasing? That's torture! Communicating with an uneducated person like you is exhausting."

"Ahem." Minamoto Chisei interrupted his disgraceful subordinate's embarrassing conversation with a cough. "Mr. Masamune instructed us to protect them and treat them as honored guests. We can't mistreat them like we used to bully the children from our headquarters. Even if it's just superficial, we should at least show a welcoming attitude."

Ying opened the Hummer's trunk and switched on the rear-mounted light. Under the bright yellow light, a snow-white tablecloth lay spread out, upon it a bottle of expensive red wine and three goblets, the bottoms of the glasses covered in pink and white cherry blossoms.

"Is it really necessary to be so grand when treating those naive little brats here?" Crow asked. "Will it make them feel like we're really looking forward to their arrival? You know, kids their age are most likely to get carried away. A little kindness to them will make them think, 'Oh! I'm so popular everywhere I go! I must be the center of attention!'"

"Oh! I hate taking care of kids," Yasha muttered.

"Stop complaining. No one likes taking care of children. I looked through their resumes. The one who is known as the ace specialist of the headquarters is actually a playboy, a violent person, and a mysterious second-year student. It's a headache just thinking about it... But this is something that Mr. Masamune specifically asked for, and we have to carry it out even if we grit our teeth." Gen Chisheng suddenly looked at the dense dark clouds covering the sea.

"They're coming."

A piercing roar split the sky, and a pale light tore through the pitch-black night. Amidst the thick dark clouds, it seemed as if a giant whale, its pupils ablaze, swam in from the distant other side of the sky.

The pitch-black Sleipnir appeared in the sight of Gen Chisheng and the other three. It lit up all its searchlights, shining like a giant glowing pterosaur. It dived into the runway flooded by the sea in a low-swooping posture, rolling up waves higher than its fuselage. It glided at high speed on the runway with huge speed and kinetic energy, sparks and lightning all the way.