Chicago time, 8:23.
Lu Mingfei climbed out of his sleeping bag and left the tent.
The gentle sunlight shone on Lu Mingfei, making him think of the smile of the aunt who sold pancakes downstairs. Whenever he went to buy pancakes without eating breakfast, he would always see the aunt's smile full of love and warmth.
He could barely recall his mother's smile towards him anymore.
In the black tent of the abandoned industrial park, Lu Mingfei greeted from outside, and only entered the tent after hearing a response. Then, the smile that the aunt had awakened in him froze.
Why was Senior Sister Yaji also in Senior Brother Ye Sheng's tent?
Damn it, why was I in such a hurry to come and eat dog food?
"I talked with Rene during the action report last night, Lu Mingfei, you've grown very quickly," Ye Sheng nodded to Lu Mingfei.
"The mission results were quite good. The information carved on the bronze disk will help the professors in their research on Dragon Family history. We also excavated some alchemical creations under the bronze disk, but unfortunately, they're not very suitable for you, as their quality is a bit low. Regarding this, you don't need to worry; the Execution Department will compensate you later."
"The Three-Generations Breed's remains will be handed over to the Execution Department for disposal. You don't need to be responsible for the aftermath. From now on, you just need to wait for the S-class mission to be filed at the academy. Your internship score this year will probably surpass everyone else, which is good; an S-class should be like this."
Ye Sheng had seen the previous Lu Mingfei, so he was very clear about how big the difference was between the current Lu Mingfei and before.
"I understand," Lu Mingfei looked down and saw the photo on Ye Sheng's desk.
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The shriveled Dragon corpse lay on the bronze disk, its lusterless scales hanging sparsely on the Dragonborn's flesh like climbing ivy. The fleshy bone wings drooped to the ground like a mop that hadn't been changed in the school for ten years. The entire Dragon corpse was cut open in a cross shape, and the moonlight shone on the broken section of the spine, which was dull gray, no different from the walls in a rented room.
It was completely impossible to tell that this creature was once a noble pure-blood Three-Generations Breed.
"This is its tomb. It revived here, and it died here. It's quite good," Lu Mingfei said.
Ye Sheng was stunned, seemingly unaccustomed to Lu Mingfei speaking like this. After a moment of silence, he suddenly laughed, "Actually, you don't have to pretend to be like the Principal in front of us. Although the Principal is also an S-class in the academy, what you two bear is not the same. Mingfei, you can have your own style."
Lu Mingfei was silent.
"It seems you've experienced a lot at the academy. Is the S-class title putting a lot of pressure on you?" Shuhtome Yaji said softly, just like her tone when she first saw Lu Mingfei.
She still remembered Lu Mingfei's embarrassment and helplessness at that time, that child who dared not make eye contact with anyone, seemed to have suddenly grown up.
An S-class was such a heavy thing.
"It is very big," Lu Mingfei sighed, a tired expression on his face.
"Occasionally, let yourself relax, or find a tree hole to vent your grievances or something. Those are all good methods. Fingel is a good choice," Ye Sheng advised.
"Understood," Lu Mingfei nodded, then brought up another question, "So, our mission is complete now?"
"It's complete," Ye Sheng said, "Also, the intelligence specialist responsible for your mission was negligent and mistakenly identified the Dragon Tomb as a mine. He asked me to apologize to you."
"It's alright, I hope he can do better next time. If he mistakes a mine for a Dragon Tomb, I estimate I could save a lot of effort," Lu Mingfei laughed.
"No chance."
"What?"
"This is his first mistake."
I probably understand what the Principal means now," Lu Mingfei touched the heart guard on his chest.
"A sharp sword comes from grinding, plum blossoms smell fragrant from bitter cold," Ye Sheng said, "The Principal sent me this message at dawn, saying it was for the first person to come see me this morning. He guessed it was you."
"Our Principal really is well-read. It feels strange to hear such encouragement from him," Lu Mingfei showed a helpless smile.
"Have you had breakfast yet? The next car to take you back to the academy will arrive soon," Ye Sheng said, "You can ask the Principal about Family matters first. For the Kui Men Plan, the Principal has dealt a lot with domestic Families."
"Not yet," Lu Mingfei rubbed his stomach, "They should prepare it for me on the CC1000 train."
"There might not have been any just now, but now they're probably already heating up the pan," Ye Sheng patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder, "Go announce your triumph to the academy. The Principal is probably already waiting for you in his office."
"So my schedule is this tight."
"The driver is already here," Ye Sheng pointed outside the tent. It was the A-class specialist with the super-speed Rune.
"It seems we should say goodbye, Senior Brother."
"See you at the academy."
Lu Mingfei got up and left the tent. Ye Sheng looked at Lu Mingfei's back and sighed for no reason.
He still hadn't asked about the Rune. In his conversation with Rene last night, Rene also kept silent about it, as if someone had warned him.
"Ye Sheng, if you're really curious about the S-class's Rune, then go ask him yourself. All answers are with the S-class."
Ye Sheng shook his head.
Actually, it didn't matter whether he knew or not. Junior Brother Lu was a very good person. Asking or not asking, it no longer mattered.
"Thank you, S-class," the driver suddenly spoke.
Lu Mingfei was baffled by the thanks, "Uh, thanks for what?"
"Last night, I was also on the bronze disk. I was determined to die to kill the Three-Generations Breed, and you saved me," the driver said, "You killed the Three-Generations Breed and stopped me from going to my death."
Lu Mingfei scratched his nose, not knowing what to say. So, he and him had such a connection?
"It was nothing, nothing at all," Lu Mingfei said.
"Nothing at all..." The A-class specialist pondered for a long time, not speaking.
This time, it was no longer Lu Mingfei waiting for the CC1000 express train. When Lu Mingfei arrived at the Chicago train station, the train had already been waiting for him for some time, and he could even smell the aroma of scrambled eggs.
They really did prepare breakfast for him.
At the distant platform, someone was excitedly waving at Lu Mingfei. When he got closer, he realized it was a very familiar face.
"Fingel?"
"It wasn't in vain that I waited all night, Junior Brother, you're finally here," Fingel laughed, "I knew I could hitch a ride with you."
"So, Senior Brother, you didn't sleep in the park last night at all?" Lu Mingfei twitched his lips, finding it hard to imagine that Fingel, who loved to sleep in the most, would make such a decision.
"Of course. This afternoon is the day to print the campus newspaper. I have to add your heroic feat of winning the S-class mission MVP to the special edition! Time waits for no one! If I waited until I came back with the Execution Department, the news would already be all over the streets."
"Good plan, Senior Brother," Lu Mingfei gave a thumbs up.
He turned up the collar of his trench coat and said goodbye to the A-class specialist behind him, stepping onto the train one by one. Fingel followed closely, a happy look on his face, having once again hitched a ride with an S-class.
Lu Mingfei narrowed his eyes, remembering Fingel's completely broken standard longsword in his hand when they left the tomb last night.
Senior Brother, how much longer will you hide?