allendalepharm Chapter 91 Chess Pieces, Chess Players
Chapter 91 Chess Pieces, Chess Players
Chapter 91 Chess Pieces, Chess Players
"A scholarship? That's great!"
Upon hearing that there was money to be made, Lu Mingfei immediately beamed with joy.
Although he had only been at Kassel College for a short time, under the coaxing and persuasion of his roommate Fingel, he had already adopted the American habit of overspending and enjoying things before paying, and now his credit card was heavily in debt.
With this principal's scholarship, he no longer had to worry about not being able to repay his debts.
Fortunately, he was quick-witted enough to seize the opportunity. After his initial excitement subsided, he hurriedly imitated what he had seen in TV dramas, standing up from his chair and giving a salute: "Thank you for your guidance, Principal."
"Sigh—" Angers waved his hand, "It's the Secret Party's cultivation, a manifestation of bloodline."
"I hope you will continue your efforts and make new contributions to Project Bronze."
"Yes!" Lu Mingfei saluted again, his head held high.
Then, it seemed that something was wrong.
He looked at Angers, blinking blankly, "Uh—Project Bronze?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you? You've been assigned to the Bronze Project, a difficult but glorious dragon-slaying mission. Only two people were chosen from the entire first year, and you're one of them," Angers said nonchalantly.
"Slay, slay—slay a dragon?" Lu Mingfei's eyes widened immediately. "Principal, isn't slaying a dragon a highly specialized task? I've only been at the academy for a few days; I'm afraid I'm ill-equipped for such a heavy responsibility!"
"No need to be modest, I know you're ready. Complete this task, get full marks in all subjects at the end of the semester, are you ready to receive the cheers of the crowd?" Angers' face was full of "I believe in you" expression.
"Come, have some tea, this is—"
Before Lu Mingfei could figure out how to refuse, Principal Angers personally handed him a teacup and began explaining the origin of this top-grade tea.
Bronze City.
On a bronze throne, Li Yuan opened his eyes, his brow furrowed slightly, and he sighed softly.
He had been waiting here for more than twenty days, but still hadn't seen the Dragon King Norton, who was supposed to come in a rage.
-
"Is she avoiding me because she knows she's not feeling well, or is she being influenced by an unseen force behind the scenes?"
Li Yuan pondered for a long time but still couldn't determine the real reason. In the end, he could only sigh and say, "Fine, I'll just leave first. You'll come back someday, won't you?"
Before the words had even faded, he had vanished like wisps of smoke.
After an unknown amount of time, another figure easily entered the Bronze City.
He strolled around the city as if it were flat ground, searching the entire city thoroughly. He discovered that not only had the Seven Deadly Sins disappeared, but even the dragon servants who were supposed to be guarding the city were nowhere to be found. He then raised his head and let out an angry roar.
On the Monyach
"It is now the night of February 13, 2010, Lunar New Year's Eve."
"The Moniach is now anchored in the Qutang Gorge area. The river is calm and the equipment is functioning normally."
"Tonight, we will officially begin Operation Bronze."
"I am Captain Mans, and this is my eighteenth entry in the captain's log on this voyage."
Professor Mans glanced at his watch, dialed an overseas call, placed the phone on the table, turned on speakerphone, and said in a deep voice, "Ready? Please issue the final order to the Board of Trustees."
Because he had successfully led a team to complete a mission here before, Mans will once again lead the team for this dragon-slaying mission.
"Get started. Good luck." Principal Angers' voice came through the loudspeaker, and then he hung up the phone.
Mans picked up his phone from the table and put it in his pocket. Then, he looked around at everyone else in the meeting room and slowly said, "You all heard it. The principal has confirmed it."
"Although we have rehearsed it many times, only tonight will you know all the details of the mission."
"Please listen carefully and remember this well: only through close cooperation can we ensure success."
Looking at the students in front of him, all dressed in black combat uniforms, standing solemnly with their hands behind their backs, his expression also became extremely solemn: "First of all, I want to congratulate everyone."
"You were selected for this ship solely because you are the most elite of the elite!"
"This is a true dragon-slaying operation. Here, you will no longer be seen as students, but as true warriors!"
Upon hearing this, the students present were all filled with enthusiasm and excitement, their faces radiating determination.
Except for — Lu Mingfei.
At that moment, hearing Professor Mans's inspiring words, he could only mutter to himself, "What top elite—can I just say I'm just cannon fodder to make up the numbers—"
Seeing the students' determined eyes, Professor Mans nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Unlike the last mission, this time, the Moniach is practically fully armed!"
"The academy's equipment department has already stuffed all the latest developed equipment into the lower deck."
"They assured me with absolute certainty that this ship incorporates the most advanced technology ever developed by humankind, and its firepower is sufficient to rival that of a cruiser!"
"As long as you don't make any operational mistakes, dealing with any creature shouldn't be a problem!"
He turned his back and pointed to the large screen behind him: "Now, please allow me to introduce the weapon you will be using next—Storm!"
"This is currently the world's fastest torpedo, with an underwater speed of up to 200 knots, almost comparable to the speed of a small aircraft."
"The equipment department equipped it with an alchemical warhead!"
Professor Mans pressed a button on the remote control in his hand, and the bullet part on the screen was immediately magnified.
"This warhead contains 8000 gold shrapnel fragments embedded in a spiral pattern. Their edges are exceptionally sharp, enough to cut through the scales of any dragon in the world!"
"After the warhead explodes, the 8000 shrapnel fragments inside will burst open like a metallic flower!"
"The shrapnel will spread across a plane with a diameter of 30 meters, spinning wildly at a speed far exceeding that of any circular saw in the world!"
"In a mere fraction of a second, a full rotation can be completed, slicing the Dragon King in two!"
As he explained, he opened a simulation animation demonstration, allowing everyone to intuitively experience the powerful force of modern technology.
"Um—" Lu Mingfei raised his hand timidly, "I have a question."
"It's just a reservoir, are we really sure it's okay to use naval weapons?"
Professor Mans smiled upon hearing this, his expression calm: "Don't worry, this is nothing. The Equipment Department has done far more outrageous things than this."
"The reservoir is currently about 170 meters deep. After the last mission, there was a subsidence of about 200 meters near Bronze City."
"The two combined have a depth of nearly 400 meters, which is more than enough to use the Storm Torpedo."
"Even if it explodes upon hitting the bottom, it will only cause an underwater landslide."
"What do you mean by 'just a landslide'? Where does this nonchalant tone come from?" Lu Mingfei thought to himself, utterly bewildered.
However, he didn't say it aloud.
Because everyone around him had the same expression: "Well, it just caused an underwater landslide."
His calm expression.
Although he was a normal person, living among a group of lunatics, he was forced to adapt to their logic.
Seeing that everyone understood the key points of the mission, Professor Mans continued to explain the details of the operation: "There is only one Storm Torpedo, so we only have one chance to succeed."
"The underwater team will lure the Dragon King out of the Bronze City. Once he is within range of the sonar, we will launch the torpedoes."
"This is the power of new-age technology; dragons haven't had time to adapt to it yet."
"For centuries, humanity has consistently armed itself with the power of science, and now it can finally contend with alchemy and the power of words!"
"Now, let's repeat the list of each unit again:"
Captain Mans, First Mate Grayson, who was in charge of steering;
Second Officer Graeme, responsible for sonar and torpedoes;
Third Officer Alfred, in charge of the lower deck;
Chief Engineer Kumagai Kinao was responsible for engine and fuel supply.
"Underwater Operations: Group A, Caesar and Zero; Group B, Chen Motong and Lu Mingfei!"
"Gentlemen, do you all understand your respective positions?"
"Understood!" everyone answered loudly in unison.
But then, as if he had been prepared all along, Zero raised his hand: "Captain, I cannot go into the water today."
""
Upon hearing this, Professor Mans looked Zero up and down: "Can't go into the water? Are you sick? You look to be in good condition."
"Yeah, right!" Lu Mingfei immediately chimed in, "You look great!"
If Zero can't go into the water, then it'll be his Group B's turn! He really doesn't want to go!
However, Zero's answer was so irrefutable.
"I'm on my period, so I can't go in the water," she said with a calm demeanor that came out of the two-hundred-degree-of-freedom depth.
Upon hearing this "perfect" reason, Lu Mingfei was petrified on the spot.
Aunt Flo is here — Aunt Flo is here —
At that moment, he was truly struck dumb, as if struck by lightning.
Then, he looked at Professor Mans expectantly, hoping that he would refuse Zero's request like his former teachers had.
However, Professor Mans' words immediately chilled his heart: "Women's basic rights must still be protected, so let Group B take their place."
Outside the ship, the night sky was bright with a few stars, and the silvery moonlight shone down, making the water surface ripple.
Meanwhile, somewhere high in the sky, invisible to people on the ground and to satellites in the sky, Li Yuan quietly looked down, listening to the sounds from inside the Moniach.
"As expected—the invisible hand is still in control—" he thought to himself in a voice only he could hear.
He was certain that Norton was in the Bronze City at that moment, as if he could find him as soon as he went in.
But he had a feeling that as long as Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong didn't go into the water, he would likely fail in various unexpected ways.
Despite this, he wasn't annoyed at all.
Because he also had another feeling, that his purpose in this trip would definitely be achieved.
Once he has acquired the complete power of Bronze and Fire by consuming Norton, he will be able to escape his fate of being a pawn manipulated by others.
Or rather, after that, he will also become a "chess player" in this world!
Inside the Moniah, Lu Mingfei, with a long face, changed into a diving suit.
Upon arriving on the deck, Chen Motong, who had also changed into her diving suit, had arrived even earlier than him.
Once everyone had arrived, Professor Mans gave his final instructions: "Pay attention to your individual oxygen gauges. The gas inside should last for about three hours, which should be enough for you."
-
"The diving suit is a specially made, fully enclosed suit with a surface made of nanomaterials, which can withstand 20 atmospheres of pressure."
"But be careful not to scratch it. Once it leaks, not only will it cause oxygen leakage, but the pressure difference will also be very dangerous."
"And this data cable also serves as a lifeline. Its outer layer is also made of special nanomaterials, so it will never break under normal circumstances. If you accidentally lose consciousness, we will use this cable to pull you back."
As Professor Mans spoke, he tugged at the black cord attached to Lu Mingfei's diving suit, indicating that he could rest assured that safety was absolutely guaranteed.
Then, he pushed Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong on the shoulders at the same time, causing them to fall from the ship's side into the water.
In the night sky, Li Yuan quietly watched this scene, seeing the two of them sinking down to the Bronze City, where they used their blood to open the gate and rushed inside.
Only then did his body seem to feel gravity again, plummeting straight down and silently sinking into the water without causing any ripples, once again entering the Bronze City as if walking on flat ground.
He was certain that Norton had sensed his arrival, because he had also clearly perceived Norton's location.
However, he didn't rush to find Norton. Instead, he watched as Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong got lost in Bronze City and then inexplicably bumped into Norton's face.
At this moment, Norton still maintained his human form, wearing a white robe and with flowing hair, looking just like an ancient person, as if from two thousand years ago.
However, his dragon eyes, shining with pure golden light, clearly revealed his ferocity.
It seemed that the two weak hybrids who had "stumbled" into the dragon's lair and dared to challenge the dragon king were about to be wiped out with a flick of their fingers.
But at that very moment, an accident occurred.
Suddenly, unimaginable power erupted from Lu Mingfei's body, easily blocking the attack that would have annihilated them in an instant.
And at that very moment, Li Yuan made his move!
He flashed forward, directly blocking Lu Mingfei and Norton, unleashing an unparalleled aura that caused the air to vibrate and the entire Bronze City to tremble.
Lu Mingfei and Chen Motong were blown away by the sudden burst of powerful airflow and "coincidentally" crashed into the passage leading out of Bronze City, sliding all the way out of the city.
Although shocked by Li Yuan's sudden appearance and inability to see his face clearly, Lu Mingfei was extremely excited after safely leaving the Dragon's Nest and immediately pulled Chen Motong towards the surface of the water.
Meanwhile, inside Bronze City, Li Yuan looked at the enraged Norton before him and smiled faintly: "No need for further words, act quickly!"