vncnus Chapter 38 Father and Son
Chapter 38 Father and Son
"Principal!" Professor Mans rushed over, his voice trembling. "The energy reading at the explosion's epicenter... is equivalent to 50,000 tons of TNT. This... this isn't just a word of power, this is..."
"It's Rhine," Angers said calmly. "Serial number 112, high risk. Releasers usually die during the release process."
Everyone fell silent.
death.
Lu Mingfei is dead.
In order to complete his mission and defeat the dragon servant, he chose to perish together with the dragon.
"No..." Ye Sheng murmured to himself, "He's still so young..."
Aki turned her head away, her eyes reddening.
Caesar clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms until they bled. He couldn't quite describe his feelings—not relief that his rival was dead, nor regret for the fall of a genius, but a deeper, indescribable emotion.
That boy was capable of going to such lengths to complete his mission.
One can choose death without hesitation.
This kind of determination, this kind of madness...
Caesar suddenly understood why Nono cared about him.
Because he and Nono are the same kind of people.
They're all crazy.
They are all madmen who would fight the whole world for the things they care about.
"How much longer until the rescue team arrives?" Angers asked, his voice still calm.
"Twenty minutes," Professor Mans said. "But Principal, the core temperature of that kind of explosion exceeds fifty million degrees, and Lu Mingfei..."
"I want to see him alive or dead," Angers interrupted him. "That's the rule in Kassel."
Professor Mans was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."
Twenty minutes later, three rescue helicopters arrived.
Professional divers and salvage equipment were deployed to begin searching the explosion area. Because the explosion altered the riverbed topography, exposing parts of Qingtongcheng, the search operation proceeded more smoothly than expected.
An hour later, the first news arrived:
"Signs of life detected! Inside the ruins of Bronze City! Faint, but definitely present!"
In the command center, everyone stood up.
"Location!" Professor Mans roared.
"Coordinates sent! Demolition required! The bronze structure is too sturdy!"
"Demolish immediately! At all costs!"
Another forty minutes passed.
The diver's excited voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Found him! He's alive! Lu Mingfei is alive! Repeat, Lu Mingfei is alive!"
A suppressed cheer erupted from the deck.
Ye Sheng and Aki embraced tightly, Caesar let out a long sigh of relief, and Professor Mans took off his glasses and wiped his eyes.
Only Angers remained calm.
But a very faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Any other discoveries?" he asked.
"Yes! The urn containing the bones of the King of Bronze and Fire! And... a set of weapons! Seven of them!"
"How many bone flasks?"
"...Two. But...one of the jars is empty. The seal was broken, and the contents...are gone."
Angers' gaze darkened.
empty.
Norton's ossuary was empty.
What does this mean?
Norton, the Bronze and Fire Lord, is not dead?
Or...did they already wake up and leave?
"Get them out of here first." Angers suppressed his doubts. "We'll talk about the rest later."
"clear!"
---
Inside the Golden Curtain: The Future World, Kassel College, Level 1 Special Care Ward
When Lu Mingfei woke up, it was three days later.
He opened his eyes to a pristine white ceiling. His nostrils were filled with the smell of disinfectant, and the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment filled his ears. His entire body ached, especially his chest; each breath felt like a knife cutting into it.
He tried moving his finger.
It can still move.
He is still alive.
"You're awake."
A familiar voice came from beside the bed.
Lu Mingfei turned his head with difficulty and saw Nuonuo.
She sat on a chair by the bed, wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her hair casually tied in a ponytail, her eyes dark-circled, clearly indicating she hadn't had a good rest in a long time. She held a book in her hand, but it was closed, and her gaze remained fixed on Lu Mingfei's face.
"Senior... Sister..." Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and unlike his own.
"Don't speak." Nono stood up and pressed the call button by the bedside. "You've been unconscious for three days. You have seventeen fractures, internal bleeding, and severe burns. It's a miracle you survived."
Lu Mingfei wanted to laugh, but the muscles in his face were also aching.
Nurses and doctors quickly entered and performed a series of examinations. The results were astonishing—Lu Mingfei, who had been on the verge of death just three days prior, now had stable vital signs and his wounds were healing at an alarming rate.
"S-level recovery ability..." the attending physician exclaimed, "This is beyond medical common sense."
After the examination, only Lu Mingfei and Nuonuo remained in the ward.
"Where are the others?" Lu Mingfei asked, his voice still hoarse, but he could speak coherently.
"They're all alive," Nono said. "Principal Angers sustained minor injuries, and Professor Mans, Ye Sheng, Aki, and Selma were all injured, but their lives aren't in danger. Caesar..." She paused, "...he was also injured, but not seriously."
Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief.
They are all alive.
very nice.
"The mission..." He remembered something, "The flask... the seven deadly sins..."
"They've retrieved it," Nono said. "There were two urns containing the bones of the Bronze and Fire King. One contained Constantine—Norton's brother—who is still asleep. The other…" She took a deep breath, "...is empty. Norton is gone."
Lu Mingfei was stunned.
Empty?
Is the urn containing the remains that has been guarded in the Bronze City for thousands of years empty?
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't know." Nono shook her head. "The executive department is investigating. But there's something more urgent right now—"
Her words were interrupted by the commotion outside the ward.
"Let me in! I am his father!"
"Professor Lu, you can't go in now, the patient needs to rest..."
"I said get out of the way!"
The door was pushed open roughly.
Lu Lincheng stood at the door.
He looked much older than Lu Mingfei remembered; his hair was gray, his eyes were sunken, and his face was etched with fatigue and anxiety. His suit was wrinkled, his tie was crooked, and he was carrying a metal briefcase.
Behind him, several men in black suits tried to stop him, but Lu Lincheng shoved them away roughly.
"Mingfei!" Lu Lincheng rushed into the ward, threw himself at the bedside, and grabbed Lu Mingfei's hands with such force that he almost crushed his bones. "How are you? Does it hurt? Where does it hurt?"
Lu Mingfei stared blankly at him, at this father who had been absent from his life for eighteen years, at the undisguised concern and fear in his eyes, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
"Dad..." he finally uttered this unfamiliar title.
Lu Lincheng's body trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Mingfei..." he choked out, "Dad is too late... Dad couldn't protect you... You've suffered so much..."
Lu Mingfei looked at him, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
There was resentment, grievance, and confusion, but more than anything... there was a belated warmth.
At least, there is still one person in this world who will shed tears for him, worry about him, and do anything for him.
"I'm fine," Lu Mingfei said softly. "I'm still alive."
Lu Lincheng nodded vigorously, wiped away his tears, and straightened up. The expression on his face instantly switched from the gentleness of a father to the calmness of a scholar and... a kind of madness.
"Nono," he said, looking at Nono, "could you please step outside for a moment? Mingfei and I have something to discuss."
Nuonuo raised an eyebrow and looked at Lu Mingfei.
Lu Mingfei nodded.