Chapter 283: How Does He Manage It?

Chapter 283: How Does He Manage It?

The Lionheart Society was once the top student organization in Cassel Academy, the most traditional fraternity, and a youth organization from the era of the Secret Party, with a history of over a hundred years, even older than Cassel Academy itself.

Before Caesar's support for the Student Council and Lu Ke's establishment of the "Hostel," the Lionheart Society had always been the strongest leader among the student groups, with all its members possessing A-class heritage and being the cream of the crop within that class.

Although they have gradually faded in recent times, with the injection of Chu Zihan, a "Hyper A-class" powerhouse, the Lionheart Society's status has seen a slight revival.

In the society's martial arts hall, Chu Zihan held the "Murasame" and gazed at the members with cold eyes. Everyone here was the elite of the elite, and he spoke sincerely.

"I want to enter Norton Hall, please lend me your strength."

He was the quiet and reticent type, lacking Caesar's exceptional leadership skills, unable to deliver rousing speeches, and could only rely on sincerity to move others.

"There are three spots available, and with our strength, it's not impossible to compete for one of them."

Vice President Susie glanced at Chu Zihan's serious expression and sighed inwardly while beginning a calm analysis.

"But from some private intelligence, I've learned that the Student Council has secretly asked the Equipment Department to prepare a new batch of equipment, making them a formidable opponent this time."

The members all frowned, and one with a short temper spoke up impatiently.

"We are the Lionheart Society, and lions should have the ambition to challenge everything. It's impossible for us to bow down to the Student Council's lackeys."

"We can't ignore the fact that Caesar's strength is evident to all. He sees the president as a rival and will never willingly let him in. Moreover, there's also an S-class newcomer on the way, who will arrive soon."

"So what?"

Another member scoffed, "It's just an S-class who hasn't undergone systematic training yet."

"Have you forgotten how Lu Ke single-handedly defeated us last year?"

Susie's tone was cold as she looked at Chu Zihan and paused.

"Norton Hall is going to be very dangerous. Lu Ke recently stated on the Watchmen Forum that there might be casualties if someone breaks in, which exceeds the acceptable losses for a normal activity."

"My suggestion is to make a strategic retreat. There's no need to force it."

The last sentence ignited the lions' emotions, and most of them glared at Susie, dissatisfied with the vice president who had lost the lion's heart.

"Impossible! The Lionheart Society will follow the president's lead and crush any obstacles in our path!"

The decision to participate in the Free Day event was made swiftly and decisively, even bypassing the voting process, which was a rare occurrence in the Lionheart Society.

"Thank you all, I'm truly grateful."

Chu Zihan expressed his sincere gratitude. Although competing with the Student Council was a tradition, this decision did have personal implications. He took out the school's distribution map and marked several key areas.

"Next, let's discuss the battle plan."

His peripheral vision caught Susie, who gracefully stood up with a blank expression, quietly leaving without disturbing the others.

Even after the door closed, and that exquisite and beautiful face disappeared from view, Chu Zihan couldn't discern anything from it. He only knew that Susie always managed to help him in various matters, be it public or private.

"Thank you."

He whispered.

...

Outside the door, Susie, who had just closed it, turned and saw Nonno with her dark red hair. She was still wearing the dazzling dress from when she picked up Lu Mingfei, looking like a queen with an intimidating aura.

"Is it worth it?"

"There's nothing worth or not worth it. I'm willing to do it, and that's enough."

Susie responded indifferently, her eyes as deep as the night sky. This attitude made Nonno's question falter, and she initiated a different topic.

"You're not being fair. You turned around and revealed our private matters to the Lionheart Society."

"Sorry, the leftover chips under the bed are yours."

A faint smile appeared on Susie's face, and she hooked her arm around Nonno's and walked out side by side.

"Forgive me, this is the last time."

"Get lost! I know Itachi Uchiha's lines too!" Nonno scoffed, pouting.

"It's nothing. Caesar already knows that you and I are best friends. Maybe he's worried about not having a worthy opponent and deliberately revealed this to me."

"It sounds like you get along well with him. Are you planning to change your target? Caesar is actually quite outstanding."

Nonno's lips twitched helplessly, "Forget it. Caesar only has Lu Ke and Chu Zihan on his mind. I'm not going to join that crowd."

Susie smiled, "It sounds like a combination of us... Actually, if you want, Lu Ke would probably welcome you as his girlfriend."

"One of his girlfriends," Nonno corrected, biting her lip disdainfully. "That jerk has girlfriends everywhere. I'm not cheap enough to compete with them."

Susie was taken aback, "Is there that many?"

"More than you think," Nonno's face turned green, and her tone rose.

"He held a massive pool party at Norton Hall and invited all his nearby girlfriends. Conservatively, there were three digits."

"I know that S-class hybrids might be exceptional in that aspect, but no matter how skilled he is, he's still just one person... How does he manage it?"

Susie was a bit skeptical, "Do you think he has tentacles or can clone himself?"

"Who knows, I didn't go!"

Nonno was a bit embarrassed and then became a bit self-deprecating, "Anyway, Lu Ke is completely different from your Chu Zihan. I, I can't accept it."

Yes, they were completely different, but at least you have a choice, right?

Susie lowered her eyelids, quickly composed herself, and changed the subject with a smile.

"Never mind, never mind. What about the S-class you're picking up?"

"He's coming by train and might be a bit late..."

The two girls walked and talked, their shadows stretching in the sunlight, side by side.

...

At Chicago Train Station, Lu Mingfei searched for his train with a throbbing headache.

He checked several times but couldn't find the CC1000 Express on his ticket. As he was getting anxious, a pitiful voice echoed behind him, making him shiver.

"Sir, please spare some change."

He turned around and saw a tall, burly young man with a face hidden in his beard, which was somewhat handsome. His eyes, like flickering candles, were filled with longing. His dark green plaid shirt and baggy pants looked like they hadn't been washed or changed in ages.

An American who speaks Chinese so well and colloquially is a rare find, and Lu Mingfei couldn't help but give him a couple of curious glances, shaking his head.

"Sorry, brother, I'm broke. Customs took all my money."

"I don't believe it. Let me see your Alipay and WeChat balance."

Lu Mingfei looked around at the nearby surveillance cameras, thinking it unlikely that he'd be mugged. He took out his phone, tapped a few times, and placed it in front of the big man.

"Here... Hey, what are you doing!"

The big man stared intently at Lu Mingfei's phone, grabbing it with a tight grip, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Is that an iPhone 16 Pro in your hand?"

Lu Mingfei was taken aback, "How do you know the model of this phone...?"

Before he could finish, the big man pulled out an identical phone, only it was covered in a layer of grease, contrasting sharply with Lu Mingfei's new phone.

Lu Mingfei remembered Nonno mentioning that this was the hard currency within Lu Corporation. He widened his eyes in surprise.

"Are you from Cassel Academy?"

The big man also realized the connection, and his face broke into a shallow smile, nodding enthusiastically.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Fingal, an eighth-grader at Cassel Academy. You must be a new student this year."

Lu Mingfei: ???

"Eighth grade?"

"What's so surprising about that? Failing and postponing graduation four times will do it."

Lu Mingfei: (°ー°〃)



Could the school's curriculum be that difficult? After all, it was a renowned foreign institution. He wondered if this was a glimpse into his future.

Fingal scrutinized Lu Mingfei, as if contemplating what set him apart from others. He was of average looks, slightly frail, with a hint of meat on his buttocks, appearing timid. His eyes were a bit red, suggesting a lack of sleep or a recent crying session under the covers.

Impressive, a real expert! Fingal couldn't immediately discern anything extraordinary about Lu Mingfei.

But an S-level student couldn't possibly be this ordinary. The principal was a formidable figure capable of competing with the next-generation Flame King. The Watchmen could silence the entire school's incantations. Lu Ke had killed his way through Cassel Academy on the first day of school, and even Chu Zihan, that murderous embryo, was only classified as 'Super A-Class'.

"Senior, do you know where the CC1000 train is?"

Fingal's thoughts were interrupted by Lu Mingfei's question. He smiled and offered an explanation, his words carrying a sense of gravity.

"You've arrived at just the right time, junior. We'll take the train to school, and by the time we arrive, it'll be Free Day. Both the Student Council and the Lionheart Society will be ready, presenting the perfect opportunity for you to make a name for yourself."

"What's Free Day? Is it an entrance exam?"

"Of course, of course. For an S-level student like you, this is the entrance exam. Study hard, junior, and if you can make it into the top three, you're set for life!"

"Are there any exam tips?"

Fingal thought for a moment, "Don't go all out. Remember to be gentle."

Lu Mingfei: ???

The more he listened, the more confused he became.

The two bought a cup of cola to pass the time. Fingal shared stories about daily life at Cassel, and they rested on the seats, waiting for the train to arrive.

At 2 a.m., on a night without overtime trains, the express train pulled into the station. The ringing of the bell and the train's whistle echoed, and the train's lights flashed across the platform.

A dark figure appeared at the empty ticket gate, wearing a dark green train attendant's uniform, shaking a small golden bell in his hand, and sporting a golden train attendant's badge on his hat. He held a flashlight in one hand and a card reader in the other.

Lu Mingfei's eyes lit up, and he was about to pull Fingal onto the train, but to his surprise, he couldn't budge him.

He turned around and saw that Fingal's body had become rigid, and so had the train conductor and the electronic display above the station. At that moment, all was silent.

Lu Mingfei realized he had entered another strange nightmare.

"Brother, are you really going up there?"

The boy who couldn't transform into a beautiful girl, whom he had met while gaming, appeared again. He wore a refined suit and held Lu Mingfei's hand, his warm body temperature palpable.

"What kind of demon or monster are you!"

Lu Mingfei was startled and took a step back. It was odd to have the same dream twice, and even more so with such clarity.

"I'm your younger brother, Lu Mingze."

"Stop joking. Lu Mingze is a chubby guy who's 160 cm tall, horizontally and vertically. How can you be so cute?"

Lu Mingze looked at him with an obedient expression, "Although I don't like being compared to that fatso, I'll take it as a compliment. So, brother, are you really going to Cassel Academy?"

"What else can I do? I have to go to college."

Feeling that the monster-like younger brother didn't intend to harm him, Lu Mingfei gradually relaxed. He stepped forward and patted Lu Mingze's head; the boy's hair was of good quality and felt comfortable to touch.

For some reason, looking at the boy evoked a sense of closeness, making Lu Mingfei wonder if he really had a brother like this.

"Forget it, he doesn't seem malicious. Let's go."

Lu Mingze rubbed his palm, and his eyes suddenly turned deep, "I'll also test the quality of the other side!"

He suddenly kicked Lu Mingfei, causing him to fall from the platform. Watching Lu Mingfei's distorted face due to fear, Lu Mingze waved goodbye with a smile.

"Today's journey might be a bit dangerous. I've prepared a reliable bodyguard for my brother. Make good use of it~"

Lu Mingfei woke up panting, feeling a pulling force lifting him up.

Fingal looked at Lu Mingfei, who was sweating profusely, and blinked, "Junior, the train is here. Let's go. Are you feeling weak in the knees?"

"Don't slander me. I just didn't sleep well."

Lu Mingfei wiped the sweat from his forehead and followed Fingal onto the luxurious train, which resembled a work of art.

During the train conductor's rant about Fingal's grade retention issue, a delighted voice interrupted them.

"Mingfei, we meet again."

Professor Guderian, whom he had met during enrollment, greeted him warmly.

Lu Mingfei looked up, and next to the professor stood a girl as graceful as a swan.

The girl wore an exquisite lace gown, and her skirt trailed gracefully behind her, like a lily blooming in the dawn. The dress was ivory white, adorned with fine embroidery, exuding purity and elegance. The only drawback was her expressionless face, which radiated an aura that kept others at bay.

"Let me introduce you to Zero, a student in your year. She was delayed on her way here and will be traveling with us."

Zero turned to Lu Mingfei, gracefully holding up her skirt and bowing slightly. Her voice matched her appearance, cold as ice.

"I am Zero."

Lu Mingfei blinked. If the dream was real and the monster-like younger brother hadn't lied, was this girl the "bodyguard"? Who was protecting whom?!

Regarding the matter of deciding to give up on coming up with a title that's too suggestive, I choose to play it safe.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end