Dragon Clan: Thought So Far.

"About the ship and..."

"Let's talk about it in detail after the dance. Who would do such boring things at this time? We are still young and have plenty of time that can be exchanged for Faust's devil to buy countless gold, so never show your eagerness on your face!" Han Gao pressed the cowboy hat that seemed to never leave his body against his chest, nodded slightly to Ling, and then greeted Lu Mingfei.

Ling's grip on Lu Mingfei's arm suddenly increased. Although the girl had no expression on her face, there was a fleeting smile on her cold little face.

"I am very grateful that the Henkel family is willing to respond to my call." Lu Mingfei nodded.

He carefully looked at the old man in front of him, whose calcium loss was so severe that his spine was bent. In comparison, Angers looked fifty years younger than Henkel.

It is hard to imagine that they were actually people from the same era. Even a hundred years ago, Henrik almost killed Angers.

After entering Kassel Academy, everyone told Lu Mingfei that their principal Hilbert Jean Ange was the greatest dragon slayer in the world. His achievements could be compared to those of St. George 1,800 years ago, and 3,200 years ago, he could even be compared to Dayi who killed nine pure-blooded people in the Eastern legend. If there was someone in the world who could completely end the era of dragons, there would be no other choice except Ange.

But Lu Mingfei knew very well that even Angers would never expose his back to Han Gao. He was a proud and powerful warrior. If he didn't do so, it must be because he had suffered a great loss in this matter.

In the depressed yet vibrant American West in the early 20th century, Angers and Henkel had a legendary duel. The outcome of the duel is unknown, but Angers told Lu Mingfei that he did not win.

Since he didn't win, he lost. It's really hard to imagine that a hundred years ago, Han Gao was able to defeat Angers, a man who could make the whole of Japan dare not raise their heads for decades with his own strength. But today he is already very old and has difficulty even standing up straight.

And a hundred years later, the man who had been defeated by him was still active on the front line of dragon slaying. The flame of revenge in his chest was still burning, and he even wished to burn every world of the dragon clan to ashes.

"You are a very nice young man, and my children and I owe you a huge favor." Henkel smiled.

"A big favor?"

"Don't underestimate the value that a second-generation species can bring to us. There are only dozens of princes recorded in the entire history of the dragon race. In the ancient era of gods, Samson even ruled over a vast area of ​​more than 100,000 square kilometers along the Red Sea. Before that, we fought with the dragon race for thousands of years. In thousands of years, no one has ever brought the prince's body out of the burial ground. You are the only one. We can use the purest blood to refine alchemical potions that can strengthen bloodlines, and we can also explore the deepest secrets of this ancient species through the analysis of dragon DNA."

Han Gao glanced at his pocket watch and waved to the man not far away.

Then a handsome waiter in a tuxedo, holding a silver tray, trotted over to Lu Mingfei and Ling.

Henkel raised a glass of champagne from the silver tray, and Lu Mingfei did the same. The two smiled at each other and then drank it all in one gulp.

"You probably don't know that the respected Beowulf family was able to pass down the title of Dragonblood Eater because they stored the remains of a prince whose activity had not yet completely faded in a secret ice cellar. Every generation of Beowulf swallowed the poisonous dragon blood crystals at birth. They withstood the impact of those manic forces and gained a powerful body comparable to that of those who received the golden holy syrup. We and Kassel Academy once wanted to pay a high price to obtain a very small amount of second-generation gene samples from Beowulf's family, but were rejected. The Samson corpse you provided filled this gap in the research of North American hybrids and Kassel Academy."

The old man's expression was so kind that it was hard to tell that he was once a tough guy who had left a great reputation among the degenerate half-bloods in the American West. Han Gao put the cup back on the tray and patted Lu Mingfei on the shoulder.

"Besides, you carry the hope of this era. Ange always says that I am a shameless businessman, but a businessman may have been a chivalrous cowboy before becoming a businessman!"

Han Gao paced away. Ling held Lu Mingfei's arm and quietly watched the old man's hunched and swaying back with Lu Mingfei. As he walked away, groups of men in black immediately appeared from the shadows or corners.

These men had bulges around their waists, obviously hiding dangerous weapons.

Even though Henkel and the North American hybrids it represents have been operating in Hokkaido for decades, these businessmen who are very powerful in the business world and even control the lifeline of certain national development banks are still not confident about their safety when operating in Japan.

"You are the center of attention here tonight, even though our attendance at this event was just a last-minute decision." Zero said calmly, "Why didn't you bring me a glass of champagne just now?"

"Children can't drink alcohol." Lu Mingfei said, and then he saw the girl next to him looking at him with a murderous look. He smiled awkwardly and shut up.

However, Lu Mingfei did not refute Ling's words.

Just as Her Royal Highness the Princess said, they are the center of attention tonight, with clouds and swords blazing all around them. But even if you are Mei Chaofeng, Lu Xiaofeng, Dugu Qiubai, or you are invincible, you still have to put away your swords and put on a flattering smile in front of the boy and girl who have been silent since Han Gao left.

If you look carefully, you will find that everyone's eyes will pass by Lu Mingfei and Ling's position intentionally or unintentionally, and then quickly look away.

The lights did not shine on them, but they seemed to be bathed in a majestic glow and no one could ignore them.

Lu Mingfei would respond to those looks of scrutiny and awe. His name was not only spread within the system of Kassel Academy, but there were few mixed-race people in the world who did not recognize his face.

Ling's cold little face remained indifferent, her back was straight, and her platinum pupils swept around without lingering on anyone's face, as if Catherine was examining her own subjects.

She was just like a lone queen sitting at the entrance of a palace, with the hazy sky behind her. Majestic murderous intent flowed casually from her slender wrists, her dazzling platinum hair, and even her fair face.

The little devil Lu Mingze once told Lu Mingfei that in a closed space, where the person who holds power is, the center of that space is there.

But he suddenly had a strange feeling that even if he was not here today, the girl next to him would still be the one who held absolute power in this dance.

It seems that the noble Romanov family is definitely an unshakable ancient behemoth in the vast Russia. Even the North American mixed-races far away on the other side of the Pacific Ocean will express awe to Zero, who represents this family.

Lu Mingfei didn't think any more and turned his gaze towards the bustling dance floor.

The young and pretty girls on the dance floor have their skirts flying, their slender heels stepping on the shiny marble floor, and their calves stretching out in graceful curves.

The men were well dressed, all in black tailcoats and evening gowns, their collars open to reveal their luxuriously embroidered white shirts, with thorny family crests pinned to their chests. Some held lit cigars between their fingers, and the smoke from the cigars seemed to be stagnant in the air, kneaded into abstract devil images by the wind brought by the waiters as they walked.

In just a few months, Japan, a country that was once unknown in the mixed-race society, has become the center of a vortex that could sweep the entire world.

No wonder Lu Mingfei did not see many North American mixed-race forces and organizations in Tokyo, nor did he see anyone from Henkel participating in the various activities organized by the academy.

It turned out that these young people from prominent families were all concentrated in Sapporo, the administrative center of Hokkaido.

Every family crest on the men's chests is a behemoth comparable to the Gattuso family. Some are royal branches of the ancient Windsor dynasty, and some are noble dukes who once occupied the fertile land along the Seine.

These nobles, who already enjoyed fame and wealth in Europe, went to the then wild New World along with the North American immigration wave started by the Mayflower, and established themselves there. Like insatiable hatred, they greedily absorbed all nutrients until they grew into towering trees that blocked out the sky.

"Now that you're here, aren't you going to invite me to dance?" Ling raised her head and looked at Lu Mingfei. This girl only showed that kind of cute and naive expression that only girls have when facing this man, but it was only fleeting.

"But the dance hasn't started yet..." Lu Mingfei hesitated.

This guy has been hanging around in the Student Union and the Dragon Blood Society, and has been in the upper class of the student community for many years. He is no longer the idiot who used to step on his female partner's feet while dancing tango.

He also knew that as soon as he and Zero stepped onto the dance floor, the jazz band that had been paying attention to them would immediately change the song they were playing to dance music.

But wouldn’t that be a bit too…sexy?

The only person in Kassel Academy who could do such a showy thing is probably Caesar Gattuso.

Lu Mingfei had thought that one day he would do something as glittering and showy as to burst into the sky, but that was many years ago when he was studying at Shilan Middle School in another world...

"So is this an invitation?" Ling stared into Lu Mingfei's eyes. Lu Mingfei was stunned for a moment and a smile appeared on his face.

"Okay," he said.

"Then let's dance waltz, can you do it?" Ling stretched out her right foot a little, and the silky evening dress skirt slid down the girl's slender ankle, revealing her tight and graceful calves.

"This dress isn't very suitable for dances that involve big movements," said Ling.

The waltz steps used in performances and competitions are incredibly tense and focus on visual experience, but few people can perform the waltz so vividly at such dances.

"I know a little bit. Someone taught me before." Lu Mingfei said honestly. The person who taught him this dance was actually Isabel, Caesar's nominal ex-girlfriend, because they probably didn't have much skin contact, so it was called nominal.

At that time, Chairman Lu had just taken office. He could not even dance at the inauguration ceremony. He could only sit in the main seat, eating melon seeds while rejecting invitations from beautiful junior high school girls one after another. Later, it was Isabel who eased his embarrassment and used a duet waltz to make Lu Mingfei barely keep up with the tastes of the previous chairmen.

“Do you know Shostakovich?”

“I haven’t heard of him, but he looks like a Ukrainian Red Army martyr…” Lu Mingfei was a little embarrassed.

"He's not a Red Army martyr, but he is indeed a Soviet citizen. In 1938, he composed the 'Second Waltz' which is hailed as a classic waltz. You may not be so skilled at dancing at the beginning, so I will guide you." Zero blinked and a smile like a thawing iceberg appeared on his face.

Before Lu Mingfei could say anything, Ling had already grabbed his hand, and the two of them walked into the dance floor in the center of the hall.

The cocktail party had just begun and no one had started dancing yet. They looked a little awkward standing there. Everyone realized that something was about to happen, and the jazz band conductor turned his eyes in that direction.

Zero stretched out his right hand, opened his palm and slightly raised it upwards. The conductor turned around as if he had suddenly realized something, and the music was immediately changed to dance music.

"They are all looking at us." Lu Mingfei lowered his voice.

"Are you nervous?"

"No, I was worried about making a fool of myself."

"I'm here." Ling raised her head and stared at Lu Mingfei's cheek. She slowly tightened her abdomen and straightened her chest. Her petite body under the evening dress was actually hazy and graceful.

They were standing face to face, one body length apart. Lu Mingfei stepped out with his left foot and Ling stepped out with his right foot, the tips of their reflective leather shoes and their shiny stiletto heels pointing at each other.

The crystal chandelier cast Lu Mingfei's shadow on Ling, and half of her plain white face was in the shadow.

But no one can deny that this girl is stunning, as perfect as a porcelain doll.

"No need to greet, let's get started." Ling said.

"Oh." Lu Mingfei was a little confused.

At this time, the girl had already held his left hand with her right hand and was standing on tiptoe with her right foot forward. Lu Mingfei was a beat slower in a trance, but he still caught up with the rhythm of Her Royal Highness the Princess. They kissed each other, then separated, kissed each other, and separated again, like lovers running towards each other.

At certain moments, the two people could smell each other's breathing. Lu Mingfei could see that every eyelash of the girl in front of him was trembling slightly like the feathers of a baby bird, and he could also smell the faint fragrance of osmanthus in the honeysuckle.

The pair of platinum eyes were originally covered with thick ice, but during the elegant waltz, the ice seemed to melt and sparkled with joy.

"Did you plan this in advance?"

"Well, it was me who asked Han Gao to change the dance music to this." Ling answered casually. Lu Mingfei clasped his palms and raised his arms high, while Ling took his fingertips and rotated under the man's arms. After a week, she stepped out like a curtain blown by the wind. She turned around as the melody of the music changed, and the ends of her hair danced with cloud-like haze. She put her right hand into Lu Mingfei's left hand again, and Lu Mingfei took the opportunity to pull the girl into his arms.

"Why?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"You know."

"I still want to know why."

"Because I want to." Ling said, which was a bit unreasonable, but also showed the rare arrogance and stubbornness of a girl.

Lu Mingfei held the princess' slender waist, while Ling put his hands on the man's shoulders.

The two people stared into each other's eyes in the flickering light, and suddenly laughed at the same time.

Lu Mingfei learned very quickly, and their dance steps began to seem like they were taught by the same teacher, fitting in perfectly.

The sound of music and the men and girls spinning on the dance floor attracted more and more people to come closer.

"Are Lu Mingze and I the same person?" Lu Mingfei suddenly asked.

"Why do you ask about this?"

"I want to know if you like me or him."

"It's you." Ling said, but did not answer Lu Mingfei's question.

Lu Mingfei was shocked by the princess's calmness, and then his heart trembled slightly, like a bird pierced by a feather arrow.

"Someone told me that if you like someone, you should tell him or her, because you might both die tomorrow, and then you can't express your love to him or her. I thought about it for a long time and decided to tell you." Ling buried her head in Lu Mingfei's chest so that she could hear the man's heartbeat.

More and more people entered the dance floor, and the spinning figures slowly surrounded them...

—The man wearing the medieval doctor’s crow mask walked in the shadow of the pillars and turned his head to look at the dance floor.

People in the entire hall gradually gathered towards the dance floor. Even the elderly who had not left their homes for decades were talking about the dancing girl and the young dragon-slaying hero.

The girl, whose white and transparent skin was wearing a long dance skirt, looked like a plain flower blooming in the center of the dance floor.

Two rows of columns form the walkway. The columns, which are plated with gold and decorated with reliefs on the base, are very much in the Byzantine style of its heyday. At the end of the 50-meter-long walkway is an exquisite marble fountain.

The hunchbacked old man sat on a bench right in front of the fountain, supporting his collar with one hand and pressing the revolver with the other.

It's very quiet here, unlike other places.

Han Gao looked at the end of the alley, where was the dance floor. He was waiting for Lu Mingfei to arrive.

But the old man didn't seem to see the man in front of him. His eyes fell on the crow-like mask and then went straight through it.

From the angle of the mask, the old man looked like an ancient emperor sitting on the throne, and the man was an envoy who traveled across miles to meet him.

"It's a pity that even the schemes of mortals can deceive... the eyes of God." The man's voice was low and magnetic. He was right here, but Han Gao could neither see nor hear him. Everything around him seemed to be still, and even the sound was stretched out.

He came in front of Han Gao, stared into the old man's dull and turbid eyes, and his surging spirit surged out.

"I see. You want to send the key out by boat?"

"My dear sister, you are traveling with her?"

"This is really an unexpected gain..."

"Let's hope there are enough McAllens on that ship..."

"Use strong liquor to bid farewell to the old times..." (End of this chapter)