Two Hours Later!
As a tour guide, Tokai Teio was exceptionally diligent. After showing Platinum around the entire facility, she even escorted her all the way to the gate.
"Thanks, the tour was actually pretty nice."
At the entrance, Platinum flashed a faint, satisfied smile as she thanked the petite former sponsor standing before her—Tokai Teio.
The full two-hour tour hadn't even covered the entirety of Tracen Academy, given that it was a top-tier institution in Asia with a student population in the tens of thousands.
But for Platinum, it had been enjoyable and stress-free—after all, this wasn't part of her job. It was more like a leisurely stroll, a little vacation.
That said… while her impression of Tracen Academy was positive, she had picked up on the subtle hints from Symboli Rudolf and the others about possibly joining the school. Still, she felt no urge to commit.
Sure, dropping by occasionally was like a fun little getaway. But if she actually enrolled, she'd have to come every single day—wouldn't that just be the same as [Unpaid Overtime]?
And when it came to overtime, Ms. Pegasus loathed it with a passion. Unpaid overtime? Even worse! And if she joined some trainer's team, she'd even have to fork over a cut of her prize money!
Absolutely no way I'm joining this school! Who cares about some measly Tracen Academy anyway?!
Firm in her resolve, Platinum bid Teio farewell.
"Um… can I ask you something, Platinum?" Teio couldn't resist her curiosity any longer. "Why did the President keep bringing up your [Race Schedule]?"
"Just what kind of races are you planning to run?"
Before leaving, Platinum turned back, held up three fingers, then dropped her hand and walked away without another word.
The peculiar gesture left Teio frozen in place, utterly baffled.
"Huh? What… does that mean?"
"It can't be the Classics, right? The first crown of the Triple Crown was already snatched by Tachyon. And the first leg of the Filly Triple Crown is over too."
"No matter which Triple Crown it is, it's already incomplete. So it can't be the Classics… then what is it?"
Teio, who was obsessed with an Undefeated Triple Crown herself, naturally saw Platinum as a kindred spirit.
If Platinum had a shot at an Undefeated Triple Crown, why would she bother competing with another monster like Tachyon for the pathetic remaining two crowns?
Not only was the difficulty sky-high, but even if she went through all that suffering, the best she could achieve was becoming just another "Dual Crown" horse girl in history—hardly worth the effort.
Logically speaking, it's impossible!
"So what was it that Platinum was trying to say…?"
[Sponsor · Fracture Count: 2 · Undefeated Dual Crown · Tokai Teio] was deeply confused!
"Ah, whatever. If I can't figure it out, I won't bother. Better head back to the training field and keep preparing for my next race."
As Teio mulled it over, her thoughts drifted to that young doctor she kept running into at the infirmary.
I've gotta win my next G1 race—or at least place well.
That way, I can give a bigger cut of the prize money to that kind Dr. Lin!
--+--
Chairwoman's Office.
"Question—how did it go?"
The loli chairwoman, Akikawa Yayoi, fluttered her folding fan lightly as she addressed Symboli Rudolf, who had just entered.
Beside her, assistant Hayakawa Tazuna also looked up from her paperwork, pausing her duties to await the answer.
"Failed."
"Her stance was firm, and she radiated absolute confidence in victory. Even knowing her youth and natural disadvantages, she showed no fear."
Rudolf spoke earnestly, her tone laced with admiration for the young horse girl.
"I believe that even if she loses to Speed this time…"
"Someone with that much confidence and fighting spirit will still reach the top someday—and get her revenge."
"And who knows? She might not even lose in the first place."
Hearing this, Akikawa Yayoi nodded slightly, a smile playing on her lips.
"She sounds like quite the interesting filly."
"Very well. I'll inform the URA shortly and tell them to stop hesitating—just approve Platinum's race application outright."
"Such an intriguing little one… I do wonder if she'll ever join Tracen…"
--+--
Not long after.
The black-hearted young doctor had returned to his room—but instead of immediately flopping onto his bed to rot, he seemed preoccupied.
He headed straight for his desk and booted up his computer.
The moment it turned on, Lin Anran navigated straight to the URA's official race site.
He wanted to check—just when would that damn approval come through?
To his surprise, the moment he logged in, his inbox already displayed a [Registration Approved] notification.
"Efficiency… not bad. Not agonizingly slow, at least."
"Now all that's left is—"
"Paying the registration fee?!"
Lin Anran's entire body locked up as he stared at the approval notice—and the exorbitant fee listed beside it.
The emotional highs and lows he'd experienced earlier, watching Platinum dominate the track, were nothing compared to the sheer dread flooding him now at the sight of that price tag.
Dammit, why is it so expensive?!
Outrageous registration fees are a blight upon civilization!
From what Lin Anran knew, Europe was infamous for its sky-high entry fees. Instead of qualifying based on recent earnings or popularity, they just slapped an astronomical price tag on participation.
As a result, many open European G1 races had only a handful of participants—either keeping weaker horse girls out or letting rich heiresses pay for the experience of getting stomped by world-class competition.
Japan, on the other hand, usually determined eligibility through recent winnings or fan votes.
The reason Platinum's fee was so high? She'd missed the standard registration window, so now she had to pay extra.
"Guess I have to win the Oaks and the Derby now—gotta make back that fee tenfold!"
Thanks to this, I've got no choice but to go all out!
Just as he was about to shut down his computer, Lin Anran suddenly remembered something.
He quickly closed the URA site and pulled up the official American Uma Musume racing page instead.
"Right, that idiot Big Red should've had her second debut by now."
"Let's see how she did this time…"
He instinctively searched for [Big Red], then immediately backspaced and typed her actual racing name—[Secretariat].
"Secretariat!"
The moment the results loaded, Lin Anran's eyes bugged out.
–Ten days ago—Second Debut Race: Crushing Victory!
–Yesterday—First Stakes Race: Another Dominant Win!
"?????"
Lin Anran lunged forward, his face nearly smashing into the screen.
"BRO, SERIOUSLY?!"
I got played like a damn fiddle?!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.