Regarding the previous discussion, Leon gave a mysterious smile.
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained. My car is high-tech. No one can get close unless I'm in it myself."
He only explained half and left the rest unsaid, leaving Hobbs confused.
But once Hobbs remembered that Leon could push his car to 900 km/h with perfect handling, it made sense.
A car capable of such speed could easily incorporate all kinds of strange, advanced technologies.
Hobbs could only nod helplessly. What else could he do?
Hand the car over to the government? In the United States, private property is sacred. The Constitution guarantees that; if Leon doesn't hand it over, no one — not even the authorities — can take it.
"Where is tomorrow's race route?" asked Shaw, his expression serious.
With Braga involved, the situation would become extremely complex.
If they didn't prepare in advance and study the route carefully, being ambushed by Braga would be a major problem.
"Tomorrow night, the race starts at midnight. From Detroit to the Washington highway entrance, totaling 1,300 km," Leon explained.
Hobbs' eyes widened. 1,300 km straight to Washington? That's practically racing into enemy territory!
It was almost like voluntarily walking into a trap. Was the race designed to lure drivers into Braga's ambush? Or to curry favor with powerful people like Monark or President?
"Why arrange it like this? Is there a deeper reason?" Hobbs wondered.
His physical abilities were formidable, but he wasn't the sharpest when it came to strategy.
Leon's eyes grew sharp.
"This is Dino's revenge race," he said. "If the finish line were elsewhere, Dino might kill people even if Tony wins. But finishing in Washington changes everything. The final strike must happen before reaching the city."
Leon explained the key logic:
"If Tobey makes it to Washington, Dino is restrained. His ability to exact vengeance is limited. Tobey's survival depends entirely on reaching the endpoint safely."
He then smiled slyly.
"I'll make things even more interesting — I'll drag Braga into Washington's trap. Let's see who really ends up being the hunter and who's the prey."
Leon's eyes gleamed with anticipation: the old hunter thinks he's in control, but in reality, the mantis may be caught by the cicada — a clever twist of fate.
The next morning, after a night of chaos, hotel guests had dispersed. To appease them, the hotel waived their room fees, suffering heavy losses.
Leon and his companions slept until noon, then checked out.
The hotel carefully returned their deposit — they weren't about to risk upsetting Leon.
In the parking lot, all other cars had been cleared. Only Leon's Diomas Nilo remained, standing alone — a symbol of unchallenged dominance.
"Looks like they cleared the lot overnight," Shaw noted.
His own car had been destroyed last night; he had no choice but to ride with Leon.
Leon grinned smugly:
"Next time, don't park your car next to mine."
With unmatched speed and impenetrable defense, the Diomas Nilo was a natural tyrant. No other vehicle could dare stand alongside it.
They got into the car: Shaw in the passenger seat, the three women in the back.
The Diomas Nilo's cabin was spacious enough for three in the rear.
The engine roared to life. Even idle, it produced thunderous sound, reverberating across several blocks.
"Awesome!" hotel guests exclaimed, pulling back curtains to watch the spectacle.
Outside, a white, older Toyota Corolla (the 9th generation, still called "Corolla" before the name switched from "Corona") waited at a traffic light.
Inside sat a familiar figure — Takumi Fujiwara, with his iconic swept bangs, instantly drawn by the roar of Leon's engine.
Takumi instinctively sensed a fierce vehicle waiting in the lot. Beside him, his friend Amu, slightly chubby and short, groaned:
"Don't, Takumi! This is America, not Akina!"
They had flown from Japan to further upgrade their AE86.
Years ago, the TRD race-grade engine they installed was already pushing the limits. Now, they were upgrading it again:
Engine displacement: 16.2L
Horsepower: 1,000 HP
Upgraded intake, reinforced suspension, adjustable for mountain roads
Low-tone, high-flow exhaust for performance, not noise
Takumi's eyes burned with excitement.
"Since we've installed the new engine, let's test it!" he said, stomping on the accelerator. The car growled, challenging Leon's engine — a prelude to the upcoming race.
~~----------------------
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