After leaving the principal's office, Chen Motong maintained her usual composed demeanor, ensuring no one could detect anything unusual about her behavior. But the moment she reached her dormitory room, she immediately called out:
"Susie? Susie, are you here?"
After confirming her roommate's absence, Chen Motong moved swiftly to her wardrobe and retrieved a locked briefcase from the back corner. Her fingers danced across the combination lock with practiced precision, revealing a black satellite phone nestled within protective foam.
She inserted the battery, powered on the device, and dialed a number she knew by heart.
Ring... ring... ring...
After several moments, a warm male voice answered: "Hello there, precious daughter. What's the occasion?"
The caller was Chen Yingfeng, Chen Motong's father and head of one of China's most influential mixed-blood families. His slightly indulgent tone suggested the guilt he carried over certain arrangements he'd made regarding his daughter's future.
"Father, have you ever known or heard of someone named Gustave?" Chen Motong asked without preamble.
"What's this about? My dear daughter, please tell me you haven't fallen for this Gustave fellow?"
Chen Yingfeng's immediate concern was understandable—given the existing agreements with the Gattuso family regarding Chen Motong's engagement to Caesar, romantic complications would be highly inconvenient. Though if Caesar proved to be as much of a playboy as his father, Chen Yingfeng wouldn't necessarily oppose his daughter finding genuine affection elsewhere. In wealthy families, marriages that maintained surface harmony while allowing private discretions weren't uncommon.
"What kind of question is that? I only heard this name today!" Chen Motong replied with exasperation. Was this really how her father viewed her—as someone who'd fall for the first interesting man she encountered?
"Haha, my apologies," Chen Yingfeng chuckled with relief.
"I'm being serious, Father. Have you heard of anyone named Gustave?"
"Why are you asking, dear?"
"Today I encountered this Gustave at the academy. He met privately with Principal Anjou, and I... overheard their conversation. His identity appears far more significant than it initially seemed."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"Father, do you remember that perfect second-generation dragon specimen the academy acquired before I enrolled?"
"Of course I remember." Chen Yingfeng's tone grew thoughtful. "A complete second-generation specimen—Cassel College eliminated it without information leaks or large-scale casualties, then recovered the body intact. It was unprecedented in our recorded history. We've eliminated second-generation dragons before, but never without significant losses, and certainly never with complete body recovery."
The memory remained vivid. When Ladon's remains were displayed to the major mixed-blood families, the ensuing bidding war had been fierce. The Chen family alone had paid three hundred million dollars for the dragon's left claw and connected forearm section. How could he forget such an expensive acquisition?
"What if I told you that dragon wasn't killed by the academy, but by this Gustave—acting completely alone?"
"What! This Gustave killed it single-handedly?"
"Yes, I'm certain. I heard their entire conversation clearly. Based on what they discussed, Gustave was solely responsible for that dragon's death."
Chen Yingfeng fell silent, processing the implications. Now he understood why his daughter had contacted him. Anyone capable of single-handedly eliminating ancient dragons demanded immediate attention.
"I understand, precious daughter. I'll begin investigating Gustave's background immediately."
"There's something else."
"What else could possibly—isn't discovering Gustave significant enough?"
"Today's meeting concerned future business—specifically, dragon slaying contracts. The academy believes they've located another second-generation dragon in the Kunlun Mountains. Once they confirm the intelligence, Gustave will handle the elimination."
"So that's why Cassel College has been pressing for negotiations," Chen Yingfeng murmured with sudden understanding.
Several days earlier, Cassel representatives had approached China's mixed-blood family alliance, requesting permission to deploy a "scientific expedition" to the Kunlun region. The families had immediately recognized this transparent excuse and resisted the proposal. Now the true purpose was clear.
"Anything else to report?"
"Not at the moment."
"Understood. I'll initiate investigations into this Gustave immediately and discuss the suspected Kunlun dragon with the other major families."
After ending the call, Chen Yingfeng wasted no time mobilizing his resources. He dispatched agents to gather intelligence on Gustave while personally reaching out to his European government contacts, hoping to leverage official channels for additional information.
Unlike Cassel College's privileged position in America, Chinese mixed-blood families operated under strict governmental oversight. Every administration had maintained an uncompromising stance: cooperate or face consequences. Families that had challenged official authority in the past served as cautionary tales—their complete eradication left no doubt about the government's resolve.
This harsh approach created a clear dynamic: families choosing cooperation received respectful treatment and mutual benefit, while those attempting independence faced extinction. The mixed-blood community had learned to work within these parameters.
Chen Yingfeng contacted a longtime government ally, explaining the situation surrounding this mysterious Gustave. His friend immediately accessed the international database.
Within hours, they'd identified what appeared to be the correct Gustave. Though his documentation seemed legitimate—complete with fabricated history courtesy of Norma's advanced systems—physical verification told a different story. When agents visited his supposed residence and conducted local inquiries, the deception became obvious.
Chen Yingfeng called his daughter back with the results.
"I have updates about your Gustave—both encouraging and problematic news. Which would you prefer first?"
"Just tell me everything," Chen Motong replied impatiently.
"We've located his official identity and residence address, but unfortunately, the identity is fabricated and he's not actually living there."
Chen Motong's expression confirmed her suspicions. A fake identity suggested they were dealing with someone operating far outside normal channels—which only made the mystery more intriguing and potentially dangerous.
The investigation had reached its first major obstacle, but Chen Motong was far from discouraged. If anything, the confirmation that Gustave was deliberately concealing his true nature only reinforced her belief that uncovering his secrets could prove invaluable to her family's interests.
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