Cassell College – Principal's Office
Professor Manstein barged in, furious. He stormed up to the desk and slammed both hands down.
"Hilbert, I need an explanation!" The old man, wearing a monocle, was like an enraged lion. Spit almost flew from his mouth as he growled, "Why did you send Xia Mi, a first-year student, on the mission to the Bronze Ruins without informing me?!"
Across from him, the silver-haired old man calmly brewed tea, his movements unhurried. "Is there a problem, Professor Manstein?" he asked lightly.
"There's a huge problem! Hilbert, have you lost your mind?!" Manstein roared. "Xia Mi is a first-year student with no combat experience. Her grades and bloodline rank aren't even outstanding! Why did you insist on sending her on this mission?"
Cassell College trained hybrids to slay dragons, but that didn't mean throwing a freshman straight onto the most brutal battlefield to die!
To Manstein, sending Xia Mi to a mission that involved hunting a Dragon King was no different from sending her to her death.
Even Chu Zihang had grown stronger step by step. Since when did they start sending rookies to fight the final boss right away?!
"My dear friend, Professor Manstein, don't be so tense."
Hilbert remained composed. He poured the freshly brewed tea into a lidded cup, swirled it slightly, skimmed off the foam, and then poured some into the teacup in front of him.
"Would you like to try it? This is freshly harvested black tea, air-shipped. I heard it's quite expensive."
Manstein scoffed coldly. "I know it's expensive. I was the one who approved the budget."
As the head of the disciplinary committee and finance department, he knew exactly where every penny went. Every year, he had to submit financial reports to the board.
But right now, he couldn't care less about this damn tea or its price—that was the board's problem.
"Don't change the subject, Hilbert!" Manstein glared at the silver-haired man and said in a deep voice, "Tell me, why?"
"What exactly do you want to know?"
Hilbert picked up his teacup, took in the fragrance, and smiled in satisfaction before drinking it all in one go.
"Why are you sending Xia Mi on this mission?" Manstein asked sharply. "No matter how you look at it, she isn't the right choice!"
"I can't tell you the reason for now."
Hilbert shook his head, placed the teacup down, and said, "In short, this was decided by both the Board and me. That's all you need to know."
"The Board again! It's always the Board!" Manstein was furious, gritting his teeth as he glared at Hilbert.
"What exactly are you planning? Ever since the Japan mission ended, you've been locking down all information. And now, you're sending a freshman on a dragon-slaying mission? Hilbert, I don't understand you anymore."
"Times are changing, Professor Manstein. And so am I."
Hilbert' gaze lowered slightly, hiding the sharpness in his eyes as he spoke slowly, "As for this mission, I hope you won't ask too many questions. Soon... you'll understand."
Looking at the silver-haired old man before him, Manstein suddenly felt that Hilbert had become a stranger. He sighed, "Hilbert, I can feel it... you've changed. Not just you, but the whole Academy, the Board too. I don't know if this change is good or bad, and I don't know... if it will lead us straight to hell."
"Trust me, Manstein."
Hilbert said calmly, "My dream has never changed—to create a world without dragons."
In the end, Manstein didn't get an answer. He couldn't force Hilbert to speak.
As he watched Manstein leave, his figure heavy with disappointment, Hilbert softly said, "Now, as you wished, tell me—who exactly is this child called 'Xia Mi'?"
A blond young man suddenly appeared in the room, sitting on the chair across from him. He picked up the brewed tea, took a sip, and smiled.
"Of course. Her name is 'Xia Mi.' But in terms of human understanding, you should call her the 'King of Earth and Mountains.'"
"???"
Hilbert froze for half a second before he shot to his feet. He didn't even care that the hot tea had spilled on him. His eyes widened as he stared at the young man.
"What did you just say? Xia Mi is the King of Earth and Mountains, one of the Four Dragon Kings? You're not joking, right?"
"Of course not. I never joke."
Adam set down his teacup and smiled slightly. "Well then, thanks for the hospitality. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."
Meanwhile, in the ICU of First Hospital in Binhai City, an ancient Eastern nation—
After finishing his conversation with his mentor, Schneider, Chu Zihang called the girl outside into the room and briefed her on the mission.
"What? Say that again!"
The mischievous girl widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at Chu Zihang as if he were joking.
"Schneider from the Execution Bureau has ordered you to assist me on a mission in the Three Gorges region of the Yangtze River." Chu Zihang tried his best to avoid her sharp gaze, feeling strangely nervous. He forced himself to stay calm. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. Mm."
"…It's over. I'm doomed."
Xia Mi looked devastated, crystal-clear tears hanging from her long lashes, her watery eyes full of despair. She looked so pitiful.
Seeing his tearful junior, Chu Zihang felt a headache coming on. He couldn't help but seriously question the logic behind this mission assignment.
Honestly, he really didn't understand why Principal Hilbert and the Board of Directors insisted on sending a newly enrolled freshman to participate in a brutal dragon-slaying operation.
And not just any dragon.
Her first opponent was going to be one of the Four Great Dragon Kings—the King of Bronze and Fire, who was about to awaken!
That was like telling a rookie who had just passed the tutorial stage, "You're a seasoned adventurer now," and then throwing them into a boss fight against a max-level demon king!
Calling it ridiculous would be an understatement.
"Relax, they probably won't make you go into the water," Chu Zihang sighed, trying to comfort her. "Besides, we have Caesar and Chen Motong. It's not like they'll send you into danger."
That was true. With Caesar and Chen Motong around, plus himself, there was no way they'd let a freshman take unnecessary risks.
"Come on, big bro, we're talking about a Dragon King here!"
Xia Mi slumped onto the floor in a duck-like sitting position, completely unbothered by appearances. Her long, well-proportioned legs sprawled out as she sighed endlessly.
"I thought I could just coast through a few years at Cassel, graduate, and live an easy life… But in the end, I still can't escape the fate of being cannon fodder."
Chu Zihang was silent for a long time before finally squeezing out a sentence: "Anyway, I'll protect you."
However, Xia Mi still looked like she had lost all hope in life. She wobbled as she stood up and walked toward the door. "I want to be alone for a while. You stay here by yourself."
After stepping out, Xia Mi leaned against the hallway wall, a strange look flashing in her eyes. She muttered to herself, "Why does it have to be me? Was my identity exposed? But that shouldn't be possible. If I were exposed, I should be the target by now..."
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