Chapter 37: A Mysterious Weapon

United States, Cassell College.

Midnight, beneath the library. The red light of the security gate blinked at a constant frequency—the mark of a safety system functioning normally.

It was quiet, save for the occasional high-speed whirring of hard drives. A massive central mainframe was housed here, spanning from the first to the sixth sublevel; if exposed on the surface, its scale would rival that of a small building.

The facility operated under the highest security standards. Retinal, vocal, and fingerprint recognition systems were fully engaged; the outer walls were reinforced with explosive-resistant alloy plating, and infrared lasers scanned every inch of space, leaving gaps no larger than those a mouse might squeeze through.

Footsteps approached from the distance. The red light began to blink with increased frequency as a dark silhouette drew near. The security system failed to identify the intruder, and just as it was about to trigger an alarm, the figure swiped an unmarked black card through the reader.

Instantly, the alert level, which had been nearing the threshold, plummeted. The infrared laser scanners powered down, hundreds of cameras ceased operation simultaneously, and countless metal doors unlocked in unison, as if welcoming the arrival of the shadow.

"During the interval of the security system's dormancy, the cameras are inactive, and your entry will not be recorded," Norma’s voice echoed. "When you leave shortly, I will put the security system back into dormancy. Is there something you need here?"

"I wanted to see an old friend." The shadow smiled, bowing his head to straighten his attire. "Initiate the EVA personality activation program."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the massive screens went dark. In the gloom, only a multitude of small red and green lights flickered. Suddenly, all the lights extinguished, and the basement plunged into absolute darkness.

A beam of light shone from above, revealing the figure of a girl. She was translucent, shimmering with a faint, ghostly glow. Her long, black hair cascaded like a waterfall, the tips floating in the air and swaying gently, resting upon the shadow's shoulders.

"EVA..." The man slowly reached out, but his hand passed right through the projection.

The girl placed her translucent hand over his palm. Their movements were practiced and fluid, as if they had done this countless times before.

Yet, it was merely light and shadow. Humans can never grasp light, just as they cannot reverse the flow of time. What is lost is lost; it can never be changed.

After a long silence, EVA spoke softly, "Did you come here to confide in me?"

"I came to ask you a few questions. How much potential do those new students have this year?"

"Which ones?"

"Chu Zihang and Ivina."

"You know I cannot disclose academy secrets."

"Just consider it a favor for a friend. I know you’ll tell me, EVA; you have never denied my requests."

EVA sighed softly. After a moment of silence, she said, "Ivina is too mysterious. The academy does not possess much data on her, and the Principal suspects she is of dragon lineage; he is still observing."

"As for Chu Zihang... the conclusion has already been reached. He is simply a hybrid with an exceptionally high-quality bloodline."

"A mere hybrid with a high-quality bloodline could not easily defeat the genius heir of the Gattuso family, nor could he escape and counter-kill after being surrounded by them."

"True. The most mysterious aspect of Chu Zihang is that he once possessed a weapon—a weapon rumored to be lost by Odin. It is said to be Gungnir, the spear that can strike any target."

"Gungnir?" The shadow froze. He clearly had not expected such an answer, and for a moment, he seemed bewildered. "Isn't that a mythological weapon?"

"According to investigations, Chu Zihang obtained this weapon three years ago, which is also when his bloodline awakened. With the help of the living spirit within the weapon, he went from an A-grade hybrid to his current S-grade status."

"And that weapon is closely related to the dragon race; it might even be an artifact on par with a Dragon King."

Hearing this, the man couldn't help but scratch his head. "A weapon, at the level of a Dragon King? Doesn't that sound absurd?"

"And where is this weapon now? Did Angers take it?"

"No. Chu Zihang was allegedly attacked by a pure-blooded dragon in Greenland. To protect him, the weapon fell into the deep sea. The academy has attempted to salvage it, but there have been no results."

"Interesting." The shadow mused for a moment, then whispered, "If the academy recovers that weapon, remember to notify me."

"What are you planning?" EVA asked. "Many people are watching this weapon, and they all have significant backing. If you act rashly, you will easily become a target for everyone."

"I know." The man chuckled softly. "A weapon of the Dragon King level—who wouldn't want to possess it?"

"In just three years, it elevated an A-grade bloodline to S-grade. The value of this weapon far exceeds our imagination. No one would be unmoved, and I am no exception."

"But I will not act rashly. Don't worry, I won't be impulsive."

The illusory figure nodded. The man asked again, "Has there been any movement from Chu Zihang lately? I mean, if that weapon belongs to him, will it come back to find him?"

"Chu Zihang currently appears to be normal, spending most of his time in the Lionheart Society's archives," EVA said. "On the contrary, Caesar seems to be constantly looking for an opportunity to challenge Chu Zihang. He should be scheduling another duel in the next two days."

"Caesar..." The man laughed and shook his head, offering no critique, only saying, "I look forward to their battle."

EVA smiled as well. Neither of them noticed that in the pitch-black basement, a figure had slipped away silently.

...

Japan, Bliss Pavilion.

The alluring and stunning manager, Kogure Sakurai, apologetically declined an invitation from a guest. With the crisp sound of her high heels, she stepped into the VIP elevator, leaving behind a trail of regretful gazes.

This was the first week since the Bliss Pavilion opened. By leveraging certain unspeakable forces and the black-market deals that could help fulfill any wish, the casino had built a reputation with incredible speed.

Only a very few knew that the force behind the Bliss Pavilion was actually the "Demon-Hunting Party," a group that stood in rivalry with the Katana Eight Families.

Japan is the only country in the world where the Yakuza is legal; the Yakuza culture is almost integrated into the fabric of the nation, and the indisputable emperors of the underworld are the Katana Eight Families. The Demon-Hunting Party had only risen in the last two years.

Moreover, an interesting point is that most members of the Demon-Hunting Party are defectors from the Katana Eight Families. Most of them possess unstable dragon bloodlines and were imprisoned by their families from a young age because they were prone to losing control.

In a sense, the Demon-Hunting Party is the shadow of the Katana Eight Families—they are the people abandoned by them, which has fueled their extreme hatred for the families.

Because of their unstable bloodlines, the Demon-Hunting Party does not follow the rules like the Katana Eight Families; most of their members are fierce, bloodthirsty, and steeped in evil.

And at this moment, these vicious criminals were all gathered in the basement of the Bliss Pavilion, looking with malice at the girl dressed in a wizard's robe.