Chapter 24: You Have Been Seen Through

72 degrees north latitude, the Greenland Sea.

Beneath the pitch-black sky hung hundreds of pale cyan auroras, shifting unpredictably and looking as magnificent as a scene from a dream. Chu Zihang looked up, his brows furrowed slightly.

Surrounded by locals dressed in heavy furs, he watched them gaze upward as well, chattering away in a language he could not understand.

"That is the goddess's gown. It’s very rare; those who see it are said to have good fortune," the tour guide whispered to Chu Zihang. "Even the locals rarely see it."

The efficiency of Cassel College was formidable. After the Principal spoke with Chu Zihang, the Operations Department immediately drafted a plan, and Norma executed it. The entire process took less than three days; even the flight tickets and the tour guide had been arranged for him.

The identity they had provided for Chu Zihang was that of a student conducting research on local customs, as well as the history and habits of the indigenous Inuit people.

Yet, neither Chu Zihang nor Tang Xi had expected Ivana to be Inuit. She was the first student in many years to actively seek out Cassel College, leaving behind only a few brief lines of information: from Greenland, Inuit.

Beyond those few words, the entire college had been unable to dig up any further information.

Some of the computer experts in the Night Watch forum felt the matter was suspicious, but they eventually concluded it was likely because Greenland was too remote, and the Inuit population there was small and technologically underdeveloped.

Still, if Cassel College wanted to investigate Ivana, they had no choice but to start from the information she had left behind.

The guide was very diligent, translating the locals' words while explaining the rarity of the auroras. Chu Zihang listened in silence, capturing the information he needed.

Tang Xi, meanwhile, was deep in thought. She felt that Chu Zihang was unlikely to uncover anything on this trip, which meant he remained under suspicion.

No one knew what test Angers might devise next. As long as this suspicion wasn't cleared, their situation would remain unsafe.

The best way to clear the suspicion was for Tang Xi to leave.

Chu Zihang himself was fine; if Tang Xi were gone, he would be as clean as could be.

Tang Xi had originally chosen Chu Zihang because there were no other living people on the overpass; he was the only option, though not necessarily the best one.

Chu Zihang was fine on his own, but the problem was that he had attracted the attention of too many Dragon Kings. Leaving aside the predatory Jörmungandr, he also bore the mark of Odin. Before she had fully grown, Tang Xi did not want to confront a Dragon King.

Now that Chu Zihang had been noticed by Cassel College, their situation had become even more perilous. If they continued to stay together, no one knew how things might develop.

So... was it time to change hosts?

As Tang Xi pondered this, still without a conclusion, she suddenly heard a strange sound—the hollow, distant call of an animal.

Chu Zihang heard it too and looked up. The guide explained at just the right moment, "That’s the call of a whale. There are always many whales here. These locals even worship Leviathan, which they say is a giant monster of the deep from their mythology."

Chu Zihang nodded, his ears twitching slightly. He suddenly looked in a certain direction. Almost the moment he sensed the anomaly, Tang Xi’s voice sounded in his mind.

"Someone is coming," Tang Xi said.

Chu Zihang did not speak, but Tang Xi knew what he was thinking. She remarked casually, "Yes, they’re coming for you. I knew this trip wouldn't be just about research."

"Sending you out here was definitely a test. They suspect you are also of the Dragon race, they just don't know which faction sent you."

"What should I do?" Chu Zihang’s voice was almost imperceptible, perfectly concealed within the howling wind and snow.

To this, Tang Xi only said four words: "There is no need to hide."

In this situation, hiding was impossible. The seed of suspicion had already been sown. Rather than waiting for them to make the first move, it was better to face them head-on, seize the initiative, see what they were, and then consider how to respond.

Chu Zihang immediately understood Tang Xi’s meaning. He turned to the guide and said, "Could you wait for me here for a moment? I want to go over there to collect some samples."

"I'll go with you. It's dangerous here; there might be polar bears," the guide said without hesitation.

"No need," Chu Zihang replied coldly. The guide wanted to persuade him further, but upon seeing the boy's calm eyes, he suddenly found himself unable to say another word.

While the guide stood stunned, Chu Zihang had already strode away, disappearing behind the corner of an iceberg.

"Hello."

A black shadow stood quietly behind the iceberg. His demeanor was excellent, even bordering on polite. "My apologies for interrupting your Arctic journey."

By the light of the aurora in the sky, Chu Zihang saw the man's face. It was a beautiful, soft face, but a pair of strange, mesmerizing eyes drew all the attention—one eye was sea-blue, the other a pale gold, like those of a prize-winning Persian cat.

Chu Zihang looked into those eyes and inexplicably felt as though he were looking at a cat. Cats were unfathomable creatures, and thus, Chu Zihang could not read the man's gaze.

"My name is Pasi, from the Gattuso family," the man introduced himself.

"Hello," Chu Zihang said.

"I am here to invite you to the Gattuso family," Pasi said. "The family is very interested in you. We are eager to study what species you actually are; it is hard for us to believe that a hybrid could reach your level of bloodline."

His tone was light and breezy, as if he were discussing something inconsequential yet set in stone, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"And if I refuse?" Chu Zihang asked calmly.

"I am sorry, this is not a negotiation, but a notification."

Pasi smiled. "I have watched your battle with Young Master Caesar. Your performance was unforgettable. I fear I am not your match alone, so I have brought many people with me this time."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands. One by one, withered figures with heads bowed slowly emerged from the shadows. Pasi remained in his polite, refined posture.

"You have no chance of winning. Each of these individuals was a leader among hybrids during their lifetime."

He paused here, his smile meticulous. "To capture you, the family has paid a great price and has studied you very seriously."

"You respect your opponents; I could see you used your full strength when fighting Young Master Caesar. I am grateful for that; it allowed the family to gain a clear understanding and judgment of your capabilities, ensuring that nothing goes wrong."

"So, surrender. That is my most sincere advice to you."

Tang Xi: "?"

Chu Zihang: "..."