Chapter 55: Battle Armor? Too Ugly, No Thanks!

"So the conclusion is, that warlord's residence likely hides an awakened dragon?" Lu Chen asked.

Meryl shook her head, "If the esteemed third-generation dragon had already awakened, there would have been no survivors among those specialists who entered the warlord's home."

Lu Chen paused, thinking it over. It made sense; a dragon of such authority would not resort to hypnotism to evade confrontation. Instead, it would confront its pursuers directly and eliminate them.

"So we believe that the third-generation dragon was still in a dormant state at the time. The specialists were likely hypnotized out of instinct for self-defense. The warlord was probably also hypnotized, which is why he cooperated and protected the bronze coffin. The Academy had previously attempted to purchase it directly at a fair price but was playfully rejected," Meryl explained.

"I suppose the bronze coffin is no longer in the warlord's possession now?" Lu Chen speculated.

"No, the third-generation dragon likely sensed something and had the warlord relocate it to be buried once again. It should be within the anomalous area in Namaqualand. Our specialists are currently investigating," Meryl confirmed.

"Why not just have Professor Fushan Yasushi hypnotize the warlord and extract the burial location?" Lu Chen inquired, though he already had a suspicion about the answer.

"The warlord committed suicide, as did his associates who were involved in the matter. Hypnosis from a third-generation dragon is not something ordinary people can resist," Meryl replied.

Lu Chen thought to himself that hypnotism was indeed a terrifying ability. He would never subject himself to psychological counseling from Professor Fushan Yasushi, even though he was confident in his mental resilience.

"So, if the Academy already knows the approximate location of the third-generation dragon, why not simply employ heavy weaponry after evacuating the local populace? With today's technological prowess, eliminating a dormant third-generation dragon shouldn't be a problem, right?" Lu Chen questioned. If, as Meryl suggested, the dragon was still dormant, there was no need for him to be involved. Ground-penetrating missiles were not toys, and the Secret Party, bold as they were, would hesitate in major countries like China, but in a desolate place like Namaqualand, they were capable of such actions.

"It's the decision of the Board of Trustees. They want you to handle this task," Meryl looked at Lu Chen meaningfully.

"The Board of Trustees? The school's investors?" Lu Chen was surprised. He had thought that the principal of Cassel Academy held the highest authority, but now it seemed that the investors were overstepping their bounds to command him.

"Cassel Academy was established with funding from the Board of Trustees. Principal Angre is merely the agent of the Secret Party. The authority of the Board of Trustees is at the top. Although this mission was specifically appointed by the Board of Trustees, Principal Angre also gave his approval. This time, their goals align. Cassel Academy's cellar is lacking in certain artifacts," Meryl explained, her implication clear.

Lu Chen chuckled wryly, "They really hold me in high regard. So, they want me to capture it alive?"

Meryl fell silent for a moment before responding, "You're an S-rank; naturally, everyone has high hopes for you."

Lu Chen twisted his neck, which had stiffened from the long journey, making cracking sounds. He grinned and quipped, "Old folks, let your mouths do the talking, and leave the legwork to us youngsters."

Meryl couldn't quite gauge Lu Chen's attitude at the moment. She wasn't sure if her previous words had triggered some resistance in the S-rank agent. She realized that Lu Chen had only joined the Secret Party less than half a year ago and was previously just a "hillbilly" running a martial arts school in Vietnam. Loyalty and a sense of duty seemed unrelated to him.

"Nevertheless... I'll take this job," he declared.

He enjoyed challenges, especially when it came to facing third-generation dragons. He hoped they could withstand a few more strikes.

However, it was a pity that if he captured the dragon alive, he wouldn't fulfill his first kill mission.

"If you would like to," Meryl replied, noticing his reluctance. "This is a combat suit custom-made for you by the Equipment Department. It can reduce air resistance and friction-induced heat during instant bursts of power. Additionally, it provides some level of bulletproof, fireproof, and cut-resistant capabilities."

Meryl produced a silver box containing a tight-fitting combat suit. Lu Chen took one look at it and expressed his resistance. On one hand, it didn't seem comfortable to wear, and the combat suit with its flashy patterns on a black background, coupled with the somewhat tacky headgear, resembled a superhero from American movies but also looked out of place, making it appear ridiculous.

On the other hand, he voiced his concern, "This thing... won't explode, will it?"

Lu Chen had previously used equipment provided by the Equipment Department. For instance, during a mission to infiltrate an Egyptian pyramid to retrieve an ancient artifact, he had used a specially modified communication device, an old-fashioned mobile phone. When he attempted to input coordinates after finding the target... Boom! Fortunately, his quick reflexes saved him from being seriously injured. The explosion caused the tomb chamber he was in to collapse, almost burying him alive.

Afterward, he learned that the coordinates he entered happened to be the "bomb activation code" preset by the Equipment Department. At that moment, he was furious and wondered why the hell the perfectly fine phone had such a feature. Even if it had such a feature, why didn't they tell him the password in advance?

If he considered that experience as a coincidence, thinking he was just unlucky, there was another incident. He had a lighter among his equipment.

After killing his target, Deadpool, he instinctively pulled out a cigar Caesar had given him, intending to light it. But then... Boom! Flames shot out like welded steel, almost singeing his eyebrows. Startled, he threw the lighter away, but then it happened again... Boom!

He thought to himself, "Is the Equipment Department of this Academy all a bunch of lunatics? Why does every piece of equipment have to come with a bomb function?"

After these two experiences, he had developed a psychological shadow. From then on, before using equipment provided by the Equipment Department, he would always ask if it was made by them. If it was, he would absolutely refuse to use it!

"This combat suit is made of the latest carbon fiber supplemented with alchemy. It's a combination of science and dragon technology. It doesn't have an explosive function," Meryl assured him, understanding Lu Chen's concerns. The reputation of the Equipment Department's lunacy had spread far and wide within the Secret Party, and many had suffered from it. She herself was no exception.

Lu Chen skeptically picked up the combat suit and examined it, pondering whether adding a bomb function to this material would indeed be difficult. Meryl probably wasn't lying to him.

Hmm, the spatial system scan revealed that it was still of blue quality. In terms of quality, it was indeed a good piece of equipment.

However, he shook his head and shoved the combat suit back into the box. "I won't use it."

"Why?" Meryl asked, puzzled. The research and development cost of this combat suit was astronomical.

Lu Chen disdainfully rejected the combat suit, saying, "It's too ugly."