Chapter Ninety-Eight: Brother Lu, Please Don’t~ (Additional 3,000 Words)

“Who knows,” Lu Mingze replied casually.

“Look, look! He paused for a moment—that pause was way too obvious. You must have hit the nail on the head for him to hesitate like that! Haha, we guessed it right. We’re really amazing! Haha, there really is a Dragon King!” Funina laughed heartily in Lu Mingfei’s mind.

“Yeah, we got it right. Hmm?” Lu Mingfei smiled, but the smile froze instantly as a question suddenly struck him.

How did she notice Lu Mingze’s pause?

“Why aren’t you laughing anymore?” Funina asked, puzzled.

“I’m curious about something—how did you just catch the subtle change in Lu Mingze’s expression? How can you see him across worlds? None of us here can, so how did you see it clearly?” Lu Mingfei fired off a series of questions.

“Uh...” Funina’s smile instantly stiffened, replaced by an unmistakable awkwardness. Her gaze darted away as she subconsciously twirled a strand of her silky soft hair, then looked back at Lu Mingfei, tilting her head slightly and replying with a coy “Ehehe?”

She was trying to bluff her way out.

“What’s with the ‘ehehe’?” Lu Mingfei couldn’t help but tease.

Suddenly, he realized something: after communicating with Funina, he not only gained willpower and courage but also experienced a spiritual transformation.

Since Funina was the one he was communicating with, she must have gained something as well.

It’s known that ordinary people in the world of Teyvat cannot activate elemental vision or harness elemental power without a Vision.

Before this, Funina remembered herself as an ordinary person, and at that time, they weren’t as familiar as now. Her speech carried a certain theatrical flair, much like the performances she gave to the people of Fontaine.

So...

Maybe she was acting!

And her elemental vision had just awakened!

But there was another question: earlier, when I was making excuses and said I could see clearly through elemental vision, she believed me. I thought maybe she was just a little naive and didn’t realize I was teasing her, but now thinking about it carefully...

She doesn’t seem entirely honest either. Well, looks like I’ve met a worthy match!

Besides, if Funina can now observe elemental details that ordinary people can’t, could she also control and manipulate elemental power to some extent? Has she just been pretending to be fragile all along?

If that’s the case, it’s easy to understand why she didn’t take Linni’s threat seriously. Even though I could see some explosive information on that side, her reaction was way too nonchalant about her own safety.

She was practically fearless!

“Funina, Funina, you can see what’s on my side, and I can see what’s on your side. Yet here you are, in the middle of the night, relentlessly scolding me in front of Fukaros. I think you’re going a bit too far,” Lu Mingfei teased with a smirk.

“Uh, hehe, the reason I’m angry isn’t because you can see me, but because you didn’t tell me! It’s an attitude problem. I don’t want the result—I want your attitude! Yes, your attitude!” Funina blushed and retorted.

“Well, your attitude isn’t that great either. You’re hiding just as much as I am,” Lu Mingfei crossed his arms, his smile growing more playful.

“I-I’m a girl! Girls are a bit more sensitive. Wanting some privacy is normal, right? It’s only natural!” Funina continued to defend herself.

“I don’t care if you’re a boy or a girl; you’re my bad kid! Hmph, bad kids deserve a good punishment. Just wait and see how I’m going to turn you into a little cream puff tonight,” Lu Mingfei said proudly.

“Oh no, stop it, Brother Lu, I was wrong, I was wrong~ Don’t do this~”

“Hmph!” Lu Mingfei’s smile deepened. Although he and Funina had a warm relationship and their interactions were usually gentle, over time, both of them craved a bit more exciting stimulation—that was the lubricant of any relationship.

Moreover, while Lu Mingfei suspected Funina might be hiding some power, he wouldn’t press the issue openly. They were friends, not enemies. It was normal for friends to keep a few secrets.

Once discovered...

Hehe.

Maybe he could pinch that little cream puff once more?

Finally, Lu Mingfei’s gaze subtly fixed on Funina’s chest, unable to help but wonder: I distinctly remember she didn’t have anything there before, so why does it now seem a bit more pronounced? Could it be because she’s grown up?

But that didn’t seem likely, as she had been the Hydro Archon for five hundred years without any change. Growing in such a short span of time was illogical.

Perhaps it was related to her physiology?

Because her body wasn’t human?

A non-human body...

Just thinking about it was thrilling!

I’m not human, and neither is she. We’re both non-human. That actually suits us well—even if I don’t know her exact race, the fact that she can change her figure in unknown ways means her race must be top-tier! Perfect!

“Brother, what are you smiling about?” Lu Mingze asked curiously, leaning on the table with his chin in his hand.

“I’m going to eat cream puffs tonight,” Lu Mingfei answered with a smile.

“Huh?” Lu Mingze was puzzled, unsure whether eating cream puffs was literal or figurative.

“By the way, do you think the two of us could take down Odin?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. I just feel like Odin might be the King of Sky and Wind. After all, he appeared amid a storm with thunder and lightning. If we ban him directly, then senior brother can be the undisputed King of Sky and Wind,” Lu Mingfei said cheerfully.

“Huh?” Lu Mingze was momentarily stunned but soon smiled again. “Yeah, we can kill him, but Odin has a cocoon. We can’t kill him outright—he’ll be reborn in the cocoon.”

“Then we just kill him again, right? How long does the Dragon King need to revive? Just roughly,” Lu Mingfei asked.

“That varies. Some Dragon Kings shed their power-bearing dragon bones before reviving. Once the cocoon touches the dragon bone, they can quickly come back. Others die with their dragon bones, and their cocoons are buried in secret places, needing thousands of years to revive,” Lu Mingze explained.

“Oh.” Lu Mingfei nodded slightly.

Odin has a cocoon and is a Dragon King. He even spoke during his fight with Chu Zihang’s father, suggesting he understands human society.

As a side note, Konstantin from the Bronze and Fire Kings seems to still be reviving, Norton is Old Tang; the Ocean and Water King is still idling in the spring; the Earth and Mountain King is Xiamie, who once said Chu Zihang’s senior brother is dumber than his own younger brother. So Fenrir is probably a rather dim Dragon King, which doesn’t fit Odin’s image at all.

Based on this information, Lu Mingfei could easily deduce that Odin is the King of Sky and Wind, or a mighty original breed. Combined with senior brother’s description of Odin’s dramatic entrance, he must be the King of Sky and Wind.

And the only Dragon King who could become the school director...

Seems to be him alone?

However, all Dragon Kings are twins. Lu Mingfei still cannot confirm if Odin and the school director, the King of Sky and Wind, are the same Dragon King—they might be twins.

Odin’s Nibelung is quite close to my home. Maybe after school tomorrow, I’ll drop by and take care of him?

But...

I only have the power of a juvenile Dragon King right now. Can I really beat Odin? Even if Lu Mingze is willing to help me at critical moments, if I go looking for trouble on my own, he might be disappointed.

If I were Lu Mingze, I wouldn’t like my brother risking his life just because I’m there to back him up.

And what if he suddenly says when I’m near death, “I’ll help you win with three-quarters of your life left”? Should I accept or refuse?

Better safe than sorry—I won’t go.

Odin’s old life force can’t compare to mine. Besides, I haven’t even pinched that little cream puff yet—I can’t afford to die.

Also...

If Odin and the school director are twins, after I kill Odin, the director might launch an all-out attack on me with the entire Cassel Academy’s power, creating an even bigger crisis. That would be dangerous.

I need to grow stronger first. When I can stand alone against the world, I won’t fear them anymore.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.

Never underestimate a young dragon in hardship!

But before that...

“Odin—is he the school director of Cassel Academy?” Lu Mingfei asked suddenly again.

“Huh? Why do you ask that?” Lu Mingze’s expression remained unchanged on the surface, but inside, turmoil surged. He hadn’t imagined that his brother had already analyzed things to this extent.

If I let them be sure, and they start digging around, they might uncover crucial information about this world.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, that’s scary~

“Nothing, I just had a feeling,” Lu Mingfei answered.

He had tried to catch a slip from Lu Mingze with the sudden question, but unfortunately, this guy was tight-lipped—no clues. No matter; for now, he would focus on slowly developing and helping senior brother forge the Thunder-element Evil Eye.

Besides...

“By the way, do you know where the other Ocean and Water King is reviving?” Lu Mingfei continued.

“What are you planning?”

“Nothing, I just want to take a look and maybe swipe something,” Lu Mingfei said with a smile.

“Maybe you should go find the White King? That guy’s stronger than the Four Monarchs. I think his power suits you—he’s a Dragon King specializing in spirit-based abilities,” Lu Mingze said with a devilish grin, tempting him.

(End of chapter)