Original subtitles

Episode 9

The cart's still here.

Episode 9: Banquet of Countless Dragons

The food's real?

It's for me.

Ricardo M. Lu

"This is a notification about a mission.

Come down to the first floor immediately upon receipt.

A black car is waiting at the entrance to the hotel.

The details will be provided to you there."

Danger is approaching. Stay on guard.

A message was left for you at the front desk.

Check the cart.

A letter with a mission from the college?

Did something happen suddenly?

They'd usually have Chu Zihang do it.

Why me?

Where's the black car...?

Wow, look at that car!

The number matches too!

Is this here to pick me up?

Do hybrids like showing off?

I can't see inside...

Hey, who's inside?

Are you blind?

You hit me with the door!

Hello, Lu Mingfei.

Hello, Principal!

I didn't mean...

Get in.

Principal, does this car have a driver?

Norma is driving.

Hello, Lu Mingfei.

Hi, Norma.

Feel better?

Sure do... haha.

Are you stuck here because of the strike, too?

I suppose so.

But I was planning on staying several days anyway.

There's an auction.

Then this mission...

Yes. You'll be attending the auction with me.

Sotheby's is one of the world's most prestigious auction houses.

This will be an art exhibition.

Wow, they're all insanely expensive...

Don't tell me...

Don't tell me...?

What is it?

Principal... I don't think we can do this without more planning.

You can use your Yanling to stop time, but it's risky to carry them all at once!

What kind of mission are you envisioning?

I know what this is.

Of course I know.

It's like this, right?

Did you think we were planning to rob the place?

We're not?

Of course not.

Whew... Thank goodness.

That list is for the general public.

But there are special auctions for items that can only be sold to certain groups,

and so only special guests are invited.

Most of the items sold there are of unknown origin,

and even the largest auction houses won't make them public.

You can find the real treasures only by appearing in person.

So today we're just bidding?

Of course.

That's what you do at an auction.

That makes me feel so much better.

Anjou's here.

Activate the Yanling Barrier, and trap them.

Sir, something just happened, right?

We've been trapped in a virtual maze created by a Yanling.

It's set to target hybrids,

with those of weaker bloodlines being automatically ejected from it.

Then why am I still here?

You're an S-Rank.

What do they intend to do with us?

Kill us, most likely.

Song of the spiral, lifting the foundations of the earth.

Yanling, Fold!

The ground's heading straight at us!

I'll be right back.

What about me?

Principal, what are you doing?

Stay put.

Norma, protect Lu Mingfei.

Understood.

Anjou doesn't even need to use his Yanling.

There are four of us. We won't lose.

Try your Yanling again.

Okay, I'll expand its area.

Wail, world in my palm. Yanling, Compression!

Song of the spiral, lifting...

Solidify, my blood.

Become steel! Become a hammer that destroys everything.

Yanling, Physical Hardening!

Yanling, Compression!

Yanling, Zero Time!

Now die.

Yanling, Wheel of Time!

They disabled Zero Time!

They disrupted my Yanling... and they're close!

Where?

Zero Time.

Yanling, Wheel of Time!

To the left?

Found you.

She can't move while she's using her Yanling!

After him!

Too slow.

Zero Time.

If you want to stop me, you'll need at least a whole army.

You okay, sir?

Yes.

It's dealt with.

Those people...

Enemies.

Our enemies are the dragons, right?

There are other enemies.

Some of them can be more trouble than the dragons.

More trouble than the dragons?

Who could they be?

Shush.

You don't need to know that just yet.

Of course!

In the movies, whenever somebody learns too much, they always get killed, yeah!

I'm sorry. We failed.

It's fine.

Get to the auction, and approach the young man Anjou brought with him.

Got it.

I'll go over it again.

I want you to pretend to be a new buyer and help me acquire a certain item.

Got it.

Introduce yourself.

I'm Lu Mingfei, from the countryside, and I just made a fortune.

I'm in love with a girl at an art college,

and I'm here because I want to develop some artistic taste.

Since I'm here at this big, fancy auction,

I'm going to buy something expensive-looking and put it up in my waterfront mansion.

Good. Take this.

A cigar?

I don't smoke cigars.

I don't even smoke cigarettes.

You don't need to.

Just keep it in your mouth.

This is an auction, after all.

You need to do something to look rich.

That single cigar costs 4,000 dollars.

It does?!

Well, I definitely look like new money.

Hence, I chose you.

Chu Zihang wouldn't look the part.

I see! Yeah, I'd fit the role way better than he would.

Here's your invitation.

Norma got access to your bank account and added two million dollars.

Wow! Two million dollars?

Necessary expenses. When it's over, we'll take any unused money back.

Aww, well let me enjoy being rich for a little while.

Anyway, you look like you're totally loaded, Principal.

Why don't you just buy it yourself?

An auction is a battle of wits.

Especially with items that rarely come on the market,

it's hard for anyone to estimate their worth quickly.

But if a powerful buyer bids,

others get interested and drive up the price.

And I am a powerful buyer.

Everybody knows this.

So anything you bid on is valuable.

Then, I'm a decoy?

Correct.

I'm just going to buy a few small items.

I won't bid on what we're really after.

And while nobody else cares about it...

You, the ignorant, newly minted rich kid, will start bidding.

And everyone else will ignore it because of that.

So you'll be able to get it for the minimum bid, without anyone else bidding at all.

Got it!

Hey, where did Chu Zihang and that new girl, Xia Mi, go?

I have assigned Chu Zihang another mission.

Norma.

Chu Zihang has taken Xia Mi to the Seven Flags amusement park

and is giving her pre-enrollment instructions.

He gets to take a pretty junior to an amusement park, and I'm stuck here?

I'm the principal, you know.

Would you rather spend the day with a pretty junior?

Of course, I'd rather spend it with you, sir.

Get out!

Hey, you're kidding!

Do you have to go that far just because I wounded your manly pride?

You're a decoy.

You can't arrive at the venue in my car.

Someone will come to get you soon.

Be sure you're dressed properly and walk with your head held high.

You've got two million in the bank.

Act like it.

As I recall, you're failing two classes.

If this mission is a success, I'll change your grades to passing.

How about that?

Thank you.

It's better for your future to be hanging out with me instead of a pretty junior, right?

Yes, of course.

Put this earphone in.

I will give you orders during the auction.

But are you sure about this, sir?

I don't know anything about this... If I mess it up—

Don't worry.

I'll make sure you get plenty of experience from now on.

You're the school's only S-Rank.

There's a lot for you to learn.

Learn as much as you can while I still have control of the school.

There's not much time left.

Not much time left?

Look at how old I am.

How long do you think I have?

I'm actually one of the first members of the Lionheart Society.

Once you've lived through a whole century,

you'll be as indifferent to your life as I am.

Is that why you smoke so much?

Having dragon blood means you'll never die of a fatal disease.

When I die, it'll be because my body's so old it can't even move,

or because a Dragon Emperor has crushed my brain.

No, you can't mean...

It's about time.

No, but...

Principal!

Now, go fight your first battle in high society,

young, rich child of Shin!

He's mad about what I said, I bet.

Sorry, let me through.

Look at that car!

Who could that be?

Sir, may I see your invitation?

Ricardo M. Lu?

Apologies.

The auction will start soon. Please head inside.

I'm not him.

That car was just driving in the lead?

Whoever it is, they want to attract attention.

Mr. Lu, if you would.

What a dork.

He's just some show-off nouveau riche kid.

Let's go.

Did you see that?

That loser's wearing two watches!

Does he not realize how dumb he looks?

Why are you all laughing?

They're all luxury brands! They're real!

Hey! Hey! Why are you laughing at me?

You're wearing nothing but famous luxury brands, so they think you have no taste.

Don't worry about it. That's the role you're supposed to play.

What kind of role is this?

My seat is... row 10, seat 17?

Is this 10-17?

Indeed.

Thanks.

I'm Tang Sen.

Nice to meet you.

Hi, I'm Lu Mingfei.

I don't believe we've met.

Is this your first time?

Um, I'm an architect from Shin.

Oh, you're in the same line of work I am.

Don't talk too much. You'll mess this up.

Ladies and gentlemen, the auction will begin in five minutes.

I'll be your auctioneer for the evening.

Please hold your number tight and don't miss your chance.

Now, when night falls, please close your eyes.

What, are we playing a werewolf game?

Everybody's doing what they're told.

Now open your eyes.

Calm down. Look dead ahead.

Those eyes... are they all...

Correct.

Those are all real golden eyes.

This isn't some cosplay event.

They're showing their golden eyes to prove their bloodlines.

They're all hybrids.

This is a banquet for hybrids.

A banquet for hybrids?

Everyone at this party is a half dragon?

I'm like a helpless little rabbit!

Night has ended.

Well? Think you can get used to the ritual?

Yes.

It's been so long since I've shown my ultra-pure golden eyes.

Is it always like this?

Yes. We always start the auction with this ritual.

People want to show off the purity of their bloodlines.

It serves as a way of intimidating the people around us.

There are a lot of different groups here, after all.

There are normal people like me,

but also folks from the Thirteen Nobles Alliance,

the Secret Party, and the Hunter Organization.

What the heck?

There are factions among the hybrids?

Look over at the VIP section, those guys are from the Thirteen Nobles.

They're very powerful in the financial world.

Rumor has it, they've joined forces with another faction.

I, the Principal, will tell you the rest.

Sorry!

Principal, go ahead.

You always believed that the hybrids all gathered at Cassell College, right?

Yes. I'm ashamed to say.

Hybrids can be found all over the world.

Only a small portion ever goes to Cassell.

Secret Alliance

Each of them has their own ideology and beliefs.

Medial Society of the Sacred Heart

Hunters

So what faction are we?

The College's predecessor was the Secret Party.

They existed to wipe out every pure-blooded dragon.

Secret Party

But not all hybrids agree with that.

They hate dragons, but don't want to side with humanity either.

All of them, including the Secret Party, view themselves as superior to humanity,

and believe themselves to be a "third race" between human and dragons.

But because their positions differ, they're enemies from time to time.

So then...

We will begin bidding on lot number 1.

We'll talk later. Enjoy the auction.

When I give the signal,

hold your number high and confidently and start driving up the price.

As you kids would say... "Go hard."

Got it. That's just what I'm good at!

Up next is our usual special segment,

"Unexpected Encounters."

Encounter, huh? Sure, I'm down to encounter something.

There it is. Your mission today is to win the bid for that item.

It's important. Don't screw it up.

So, it's finally time for me to shine...

Let's see what you've got to show me!

This is an extraordinarily rare item.

All the auctioneers were amazed by it.

He's talking it up, but I bet it's nothing special.

But unfortunately, we don't know where it came from,

or even how old it is.

And so, we were unable to set a suitable starting bid.

With the seller's permission,

we'll be setting the initial bid at zero.

And the minimum is... One An dollar!

It's allowed to be that cheap?

Looks like it's nothing to write home about.

You think so?

You'll never get another shot at this item...

A weapon of myth can be yours for just one dollar!

An alchemical sword and dagger set!

The Seven Deadly Sins...

Now let us view them in their true form...!