Outside the door, a fully-armed figure strolled leisurely under the curious gazes of the onlookers, her steps light and carefree, as if there was no one left in the world worth her attention.
"Although this matter was requested by Nearl, it's surprisingly to my liking this time. I just wonder if Spe-chan has been slacking off or sneaking carrots while I've been away?"
Platinum's thoughts drifted aimlessly.
That's right—this carrot-masked oddball was none other than Platinum!
Ever since she picked up on Nearl's unusual anger, she had actively opened a channel of conscious communication. This convenient method allowed her to grasp the whole situation in an instant.
"Ah, yet another all-too-common scenario. Humans—ordinary folks really do make up the majority, unable to restrain their desires."
Remembering the guy she'd knocked out cold with a single chop of her hand, Platinum felt nothing at all.
"I've helped as much as I can. If they still can't handle the rest, then Rudolf's just useless. Time to head back. Spe-chan's training regimen needs updating. Maybe it's time to formally let her try awakening her Domain?"
At the thought, Platinum let out a low, mischievous chuckle.
"Perfect timing—that kid's been acting less and less respectful toward her teacher lately, even daring to cling to me from time to time. She's got some nerve. Just wait till she sees this new training plan."
--+--
"Achoo!"
In Hokkaido, Special Week sneezed, pausing her movement. The halt caught the attention of her foster mother, who was accompanying her during training.
"Spe-chan, what's wrong?"
The only response was Special Week shaking her head, along with a faint tremor coming from beneath her body.
"This child… she's been talking less and less lately. Even though I can still sense how active her mind is, will she be able to make friends in the future?"
Her foster mother began to worry about Special Week's future.
"And Centaurea… she's so sensitive and delicate on the inside, yet she always wears that indifferent face. Even now, after over a year, she's only relaxed a little around Spe-chan. I still can't break through her defenses."
"Screeeech—"
A sudden, grating sound from ahead cut off the foster mother's thoughts. She stuck her head out of the large truck's window and called her daughter's name.
"Spe-chan! Too much force!"
No verbal reply came—just an "okay" gesture from Special Week, followed by a slight easing of her strength, granting the already strained rope a brief reprieve.
That's right—Special Week was currently undergoing her daily training: pulling a fully loaded truck single-handedly with a hemp rope all the way to her destination.
Along the road, aside from the truck's tire tracks, there were deeply sunken impressions in the middle—nothing like ordinary footprints—showing just how immense the force was.
But for the current Special Week, this was no longer extreme training.
Back then, she could barely manage to pull an ordinary sedan. Yet, over this past year of training, she had grown to her current level. Even Centaurea could no longer afford to act lax during their training sessions.
Though she still hadn't managed to force out her Domain.
"When will Master return?"
During a short break, Special Week gazed into the distance, thinking of that white-clad figure.
Her heart beat a little faster, unbidden.
"You know, over this past year, my dream has quietly changed. I promised Mom I'd become Japan's top Uma Musume, but now it's something else."
"I just want to see Rea's face on the racetrack. That's all."
Remembering the frustration of always chasing after Platinum's back, or the pressure of being pushed forward without daring to look back, Special Week unconsciously applied more force again.
"Spe-chan! Ease up!"
Her foster mother's voice called out from behind once more.
--+--
"This is the evidence of those individuals' crimes. I've photographed it all—please take a look."
At the Symboli estate, Symboli Rudolf distributed a stack of photos to today's guests: the head of the Mejiro family, the head of the Sakura family, and representatives from various other well-known families.
"..."
The materials were examined, and as time passed, the atmosphere grew heavier, simmering with the threat of eruption.
"How dare they?!"
Bursting with anger, the Sakura family head—who had a notably fiercer temper compared to the Mejiro head—slammed the evidence onto the table and roared.
"A path to their own ruin."
Hiding half her face behind a folding fan, the ever-elegant C.B. Queen also seemed deeply troubled.
"And to think we trusted the URA so much..."
"What you trusted was the original support association at its founding. It's no longer that. Over time, decay has become inevitable."
Symboli Rudolf stood up.
"Seniors, initially I only hoped you would stand with us at Central Tracen Academy, jointly pressuring the URA to agree to reform the racing system."
"But now, that may no longer be enough. Without changing it, surely even worse things will happen in the future. This is not the time to hold back. I ask for your full assistance."
Her gaze swept over the room. No one looked away.
As figures of authority, as elders to the current generation of Uma Musume, they all understood their responsibility.
"Then tomorrow, a petition will be submitted. Simultaneously, we will discreetly begin spreading this evidence to ensure they are overwhelmed and distracted, leaving them no room to address the petition—so it will naturally fail."
"And this rejected petition will be spread by the media. The audience is already deeply dissatisfied that Nearl cannot participate in the Classic Triple Crown. This denial will be the spark that ignites everything."
Here, Rudolf turned her gaze to the head of the Mejiro family.
"Lady Mejiro, you have good connections with many online media outlets. We'll need your help in this area—at the very least, to ensure these rising complaints aren't suppressed."
"Leave it to me."
With an elegant nod, the Mejiro family head accepted the task.
"Thank you. Then, once public opinion has fermented, I will seize the moment to propose that the URA's management has become bloated and that it's time for new leadership."
"Of course, they will never agree. But the URA Chairwoman has decided to cooperate with me. She will take responsibility and resign after my proposal, simultaneously shifting the blame onto those higher-ups, forcing them into a corner."
"But that's still not enough. The forces backing them are complex and tangled..."
"Leave those elements to us, the Sakura family. I swear I will sever every one of their filthy tendrils!"
Before Rudolf could finish, the hot-tempered Sakura family head took on the mission.
"Very well. Then this task is in your hands, Senior."
"Now, for the final matter. This evidence wasn't obtained through proper channels, so it can't directly send them to prison. But it provides leads. If we investigate along these clues, we will surely find something."
"C.B. Queen, I recall that several Uma Musume from the C.B. family have connections with the police. Could I entrust this to you?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.