Chapter 291: Fishing is a Skill

Chapter 291: Fishing is a Skill

Caesar was preparing for her 121st underwater combat training session.

She dove into the lake, her agile figure gracefully moving through the water, causing a surge of waves. Countless fish swam towards her, but in the deep darkness, a pair of dazzling Golden Eyes suddenly lit up.

The aura of a top predator in the food chain made the fish change direction, avoiding the source of danger. Caesar swiftly swam, as agile as a water-dwelling creature, performing various high-difficulty maneuvers and practicing her underwater hand signals.

As she finished her patrol, she leaped out of the water and slowly climbed back to the shore, ready for her assessment.

A woman's physical strength was slightly weaker than a man's, but her agility and dexterity were significantly enhanced. To be honest, if used properly, this could be a means to increase combat power. He remembered that Digimon had three forms.

Thus, transformation seemed to be the future trend.

Caesar took out her phone, which was placed on the shore, and noticed several missed calls from Nonno. She skillfully poured hot water from a small pot onto herself, and in the rising steam, she transformed back into the towering Caesar Gattuso. Then, she called Nonno back.

After a few seconds, Nonno's gloomy face appeared on the screen, and she seemed a bit irritable.

"You went out to practice diving again?"

"To be precise, it's underwater mission training."

Caesar wiped the remaining water droplets from her body with a towel, "I want to make sure that Luke understands that I'm his opponent."

"Is there anything else in your mind besides him and Chu Zihan?"

Nonno hummed, seemingly asking casually.

"Are you and Luke going on a mission together soon?"

Caesar understood her concerns. The little priestess had always been enigmatic before Luke's arrival, which had once intrigued him. But after Luke came, Nonno became more understandable, and her mysterious aura diminished.

He didn't answer Nonno's question and went straight to the point.

"Nonno, if you can't accept his behavior, it's best to distance yourself and forget about him. That's the remedy."

Nonno fell silent for a moment, a hint of loneliness on her fair face.

"I... I'm not completely unable to accept it, but it seems like he doesn't have any good feelings towards me."

Caesar's eyebrows twitched as he scrutinized the silhouette on the phone.

Nonno's features and figure might not be exceptionally outstanding among halfbreeds, but they were still top-notch. Moreover, her powerful aura could significantly stimulate men's desire for conquest.

Would Luke really reject such a girl? "Are you sure? Is it because he's handsome?"

"I'm sure."

Nonno tugged at her dark red hair, her irritability increasing, "I have profiling skills, and I won't make a mistake. The way he looks at me has a subtle sense of detachment, like... like when you see an online product ad that you don't like, so you skip it when purchasing offline."

"That's indeed a novel analogy."

Caesar contemplated, "But if you can accept the existence of the dormitory, I still suggest you take the initiative."

"Do you know what he's thinking?"

Nonno hesitated.

"No, but I know he's a pervert."

Nonno couldn't refute, and after a moment of silence, she asked again.

"Is this mission very dangerous?"

Caesar stopped drying his body, his sharp gaze fixed on Nonno.

"You have profiling skills, which allow you to notice the key issues through minor details. No one can hide anything from you, so when you asked, you should already have the answer, right?"

Nonno was noncommittal, "Profiling allows me to be more perceptive than ordinary people, but I can't create something from nothing. At least, I don't know the specific mission."

"... It's indeed very dangerous. If it were anyone else, saying it's a mission with no chance of survival wouldn't be an exaggeration. But if the executor is Luke, I don't think it will be too difficult. Of course, danger always exists objectively.

Nonno looked at Caesar in surprise, "You seem to have a lot of faith in him."

"After all, he's the man who defeated me."

Caesar spoke with conviction, "Although I dislike his playboy nature, just like someone else, his abilities are unquestionable. I won't deny Luke, as denying him would be denying myself, who is less capable."

"So, what's the mission about? Is it a pureblood dragon clan? A third generation... or a second generation?"

Her eyes narrowed at Caesar, her face turning grim, and she blurted out three words.

"First generation?"

Caesar didn't respond. The Gatekeeper Plan was an important and secretive mission, so it was inconvenient for him to disclose details to others. However, silence was also an answer.

He ended the call, had some energy bars for a quick boost, rested for a moment, and began the next training session. If he was going to do something, he would do it to the best of his ability.

...

On the other end, Nonno put down her phone, feeling a bit anxious.

Cassel was a school established for dragon slaying, and the students underwent military training. However, those who didn't graduate or join the execution department rarely had direct encounters with dragon clans. Pureblood dragon clans were already rare, let alone first-generation ones.

The sense of crisis made her restless. First-generation dragons were creatures only read about in textbooks. They were masters of the elements, and their fully unleashed incantations could destroy an entire city.

After a while, Nonno, filled with hesitation, unbuttoned her school uniform, letting it fall to the ground. Her youthful and alluring figure walked into the bathroom, letting the hot water wash over her.

After her bath, she put on a deep purple skirt suit, paired with a moon-white silk blouse and purple stockings. She adorned herself with a custom-made set of jewelry featuring gold and purple crystals, making herself look radiant.

"Don't leave any regrets."

She took a deep breath, left the dormitory, and drove her purple Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano straight to Norton Hall. Although this car model wasn't unique in the school, her bold driving skills still attracted the attention of many.

Upon arriving at their destination and parking the car, Nonno let her instincts take over, kicking open the door and rushing inside.

In the living room, Lu Mingfei was comforting a sobbing girl with beautiful golden hair. Her body and face were attractive, but her posture was sloppy, lacking any semblance of ladylike grace.

Nonno felt a sense of dissonance; this girl reminded her of Fenger, as if she were a gender-swapped version. Nonno didn't mind this, as her sharp instincts cut through the atmosphere between the two.

"Senior Sister."

Noticing their slight panic, the girl became even more tense, covering her face, while Lu Mingfei stared wide-eyed.

"Why are you all dressed up?"

"Luke."

"Huh?"

Nonno glared at him, "I mean, where's Luke?"

"He's in the game room, but he probably doesn't want to be disturbed."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, unsure if he should tell her that the boss was flirting with a Japanese girl online and spending all his time in the game room playing Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. with her.

The Japanese girl was great—kind, considerate, and willing to accompany him to Akihabara, the mecca for otaku, with its abundance of comic conventions, figurines, merchandise, and cute maid cafes.

As Lu Mingfei was thinking this, he saw Nonno striding towards the game room with the determination of a general heading into battle.

A man and a woman alone, a dry fire, and a lewd couple... Oh well!

Lu Mingfei sighed, "Useless senior brother, let's go. Let's not be a third wheel here."

"I'm not leaving until you give me back Little Fenger!"

Fenger's mother silently shed tears, her eyes filled with accusation towards Lu Mingfei. She never expected to be betrayed by her good brother, losing her little partner in the process.

"Alright, alright. She can turn back, I'll go back and boil some hot water for you."

Lu Mingfei glanced at the game room, suddenly feeling a toothache. If they were messing around in there, it would be so awkward for him to play games in the future.

But thinking carefully, with the boss having almost an entire company of girlfriends, the entire Norton Hall was probably...

He didn't dare to think further, only silently thanking the diligent cleaning staff, whom Luke called "Ruhua," the alchemy doll.

...

Fishing is a technical skill that requires patience, perseverance, and constant self-encouragement.

Luke had also tried fishing in his past life, but he wasn't a skilled angler, always returning empty-handed. While other fishing buddies posted on social media, he could only go to the market to buy fish to save face.

Fortunately, Uesugi Elii, a baby fish, who lived in isolation, was as pure as distilled water due to her sheltered life and overprotective family, unaware of the harsh realities of the world."

Elii's emotions were straightforward; she approached those she liked and avoided those she disliked. Luke could gauge her reactions well.

This child was an easy catch!

Finding her was simple; several well-known gaming companies in the industry were owned by Luke's family, and the rest had significant investments. With a simple background check, he could easily match with her, as she was famous in the gaming world due to her exceptional bloodline among halfbreeds.

Luke always "coincidentally" matched with her, displaying similar skill levels. They played intensely, and he usually won by a slight margin, leaving her with the illusion that she could win next time.

After a few matches, they added each other as friends. Then, after a few more matches, she told him her name, and...

Her older cousin discovered them.

Elii's brother, the head of the Japanese branch of Cassel Academy and the next head of the Serpent Clan, Yuan Zhisheng, confiscated the computer and swiftly extinguished their budding romance, replacing her gaming device with a Switch.

Zhisheng was particularly attentive to Elii, even when he openly declared his identity, he didn't back down, implying that if anyone dared to harm his sister, the entire Serpent Clan would fight back.

It was understandable for her older cousin to intervene; after all, who wouldn't protect their little sister?

But it was futile; as long as there was an internet connection, even with a Switch, they could still add each other as friends! Zhisheng couldn't completely cut off Elii's connection to the outside world. Due to her unique physical condition, few people could meet her, and with his own busy schedule managing the Serpent Clan's affairs, she was already quite lonely.

In the end, her older cousin compromised, turning a blind eye as long as there was nothing outrageous going on.

In a round of Super Smash Bros., Luke, controlling Link from The Legend of Zelda, was defeated by Elii's Skull Sans from Undertale using his ultimate move.

Elii often chose powerful monster species, while Luke preferred protagonist characters, creating an unspoken understanding between them.

As their relationship deepened, she confided in Luke that she was a monster, and monsters were destined to be killed by Ultraman.

Luke comforted her, saying that as long as Ultraman was about to run out of energy, monsters could easily overpower him. If that didn't work, she could find a monster capable of defeating the Land of Light and marry him, ensuring nothing to fear.

Hmm... Although he couldn't push the Land of Light at the moment.

A "ding-dong" notification sounded from his phone.

Little Monster: ^_^

Sealed One: ヽ(^▽^)))



Little Monster: Did you go easy on me just now?

Sealed One: No, it's just that Elii's skills have improved. Your timing was perfect last game.

Little Monster sent another smiling face, and after a while, asked when Luke could come to Japan to see her.

Luke replied happily, saying he would go to Japan on a business trip after finishing his current tasks. Elii then started telling him about some trivial matters, which were all about games, as her life had become monotonous, revolving only around gaming.

As the two chatted, Erii mentioned that she had used up her daily internet allowance, and Lu Ke reluctantly put down his phone.

Dating someone as pure-hearted as Erii really made his heart flutter, and he felt like he had become more innocent himself. However, Lu Ke had matters to attend to, so he couldn't go to Japan for the time being.

Could it be that I'm not a playboy, but a pure romantic at heart?

Lu Ke poured himself a glass of Romanee-Conti, savoring the aroma that filled the air. Just as he was about to take a sip, the door suddenly burst open with a kick.

Bang!

A dazzlingly dressed Nonno rushed in, causing Lu Ke to pause in surprise.

"Is there something you need?" he asked.

"You're about to embark on such a dangerous mission, and you still have the heart to play games?" Nonno exclaimed.

"It's dangerous for you, not for me," Lu Ke replied nonchalantly, lounging on the sofa and waving his hand dismissively.

After a moment of silence, Nonno spoke up, "The Free Day not only grants you a year's access to Norton Hall, but also another special privilege."

The privilege to arbitrarily designate any female student within the school as your girlfriend, maintaining a romantic relationship for at least three months.

"Oh, I don't plan to use that," Lu Ke responded casually. "I have more than enough girlfriends, and such matters require..."

Mutual consent.

Before he could finish his sentence, Nonno, with a flushed face, had already unzipped her skirt, revealing a white lace bodice that gently drifted to the ground. She gracefully approached him, her swan-like figure, and sat beside him, speaking in a soft tone.

"Do you remember our first encounter? On the first day of school, my father was scolding me for being unruly at the entrance, and you came by asking for directions to the registration office. As soon as you arrived, he shut up and slunk away. Then you got caught up in the Free Day event, wielding a wooden sword and single-handedly stormed through the entire school, violent and crazy."

Lu Ke thought for a moment, recalling that it did indeed happen. Nonno's family, the Chen clan, was an ancient halfbreed family in China, but in modern times, they had declined, and their reputation was louder than their heritage. Not to mention when compared to the Lu Corporation.

Nonno's lips turned a deeper shade, or perhaps her face flushed, "I admire the composure you possess, standing tall in your position. That's true freedom, lawless, unrestrained, and unbound by rules. It's the self I aspire to be, yet cannot become."

"It seems that family factors have greatly influenced you," Lu Ke observed, gently caressing Nonno's glossy lips. He recalled reading novels where Nonno was portrayed as overly sympathetic and indecisive, especially in matters of the heart, causing discomfort for all involved.

But now, he realized he shouldn't judge her through his own lens. There was no reason to refuse such an opportunity, and girls valued their reputation, so accommodating her was reasonable. Moreover, Nonno and Erii looked remarkably similar! This would be a win-win situation! Yes, it's best to be a pure romantic for now."

"Chen Motong, I, as the winner of the Free Day, ask you to be my girlfriend for three months. Will you accept?"

Nonno, with a flushed face, placed her hands behind her back, and the white lace bodice gently floated to the ground. "According to the rules, I cannot refuse."

"Yes," Lu Ke confirmed, gently pecking the girl's lips. His hands roamed across her face, neck, and collarbone, and then he flipped her onto the sofa, his skilled movements causing Nonno to feel slightly deflated, wishing she could bite him.

---

Older people often carry burdens in their hearts.

Some memories wander through the mind, demanding attention and reminding them of unfinished tasks.

Anhe gazed at the river's surface upstream, the helicopter's rotor blades whirring in his ears.

Below, the Monarch was continuously scanning and searching. A mysterious force surrounded the Dragon Tomb, causing the sonar to be unable to pinpoint its location precisely, but it could mark the general area.

The preconditions for the Gatekeeper Plan were almost complete.

His silver-gray eyes sparkled, his white hair neatly combed, and a black suit draped over his still-erect figure. In his chest pocket, a fresh red rose, like a funeral offering.

The Monarch glided on the water's surface, creating ripples that caught Anhe's attention, reminding him of a surgical blade slicing through skin. Deep-seated memories surfaced unconsciously.

In the distant past, before Cassel Academy was built, when he was still a young man, on a pitch-black night, he and his companions had discovered a rotting coffin with a human-shaped dragon specimen inside.

The doctor cut open the boy's body, revealing fresh dragon blood. He removed the needle sealing the heart, but sensing something amiss, he crushed the heart. However, the doctor's hand trembled, captivated by the miracle of resurrection, and he injected adrenaline into the boy.

Subsequently, a thousand-year-sealed king returned to the mortal realm.

Everyone died that night, except for him...

Cheers snapped Anhe out of his memories. He looked down to see people bustling on the Monarch, and through the walkie-talkie, Professor Mans conveyed the news with delight.

"We've almost confirmed the general location. Now, let's gather the task force and proceed with the investigation."

"Well done, Mans," Anhe acknowledged.

Anhe's gaze penetrated the water's surface, as if seeing the majestic Dragon Tomb hidden beneath.

One of the supreme rulers of the dragon race, the Black King Nigghard, a direct blood relative of the split king, the most powerful alchemist, and the First Generation Sovereign, the Bronze and Flame King Norton.

---

I have a relative in the hospital, so updates might be irregular for a while.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end