Central Building, Chairman's Office.
Symboli Rudolf and the decision-maker for the entire [Twinkle Series] stared each other down.
Their plan to corner the opponent at the starting gate had failed because of interference from Tracen students, throwing the entire race into unpredictable chaos.
Regarding this matter, the Central Chairman questioned Symboli Rudolf.
"Manhattan Cafe and Agnes Tachyon, was it…"
She knew these two all too well.
The former was someone Maruzensky and Green Grass had asked her to look after, while the latter was notorious throughout Tracen Academy.
The number of Uma Musume who'd fallen victim to her bizarre experiments in her lab was too many to count on both hands.
When Manhattan Cafe had requested a classroom to store her things, Rudolf had arranged for her to share one with Agnes Tachyon. The two had become quite close.
From the Chairman's tone, it seemed that at the start of the race, the staff had mistaken Manhattan Cafe for the black Uma Musume and tried to apprehend her, causing them to miss their chance and allowing the target to appear on the track.
The Chairman's sharp gaze seemed to imply that Tracen bore inescapable responsibility for how things had turned out.
And as the student council president, Rudolf was inevitably the first in line to take the blame.
"Don't you think the timing was far too convenient, Rudolf?" the Central Chairman began. "The very moment the gates opened, they drew everyone's attention. It was as if it had been arranged beforehand."
"It certainly sounds that way," Rudolf replied.
The Central Chairman made no attempt to hide her suspicion of Tracen—though her suspicions weren't directed at Rudolf personally, nor at the other higher-ups at Tracen.
She suspected that the identity of the black Uma Musume was one of Tracen's students.
As this thought crossed her mind, Rudolf's gaze lowered slightly.
"It seems you understand. Then this should be straightforward. You surely know how a Uma Musume who intentionally disrupts Central's order should be dealt with."
A first offense meant a fourteen-month suspension. A second offense meant expulsion—a permanent ban from competing at Central tracks.
A Uma Musume permanently banned by Central typically had two choices: withdraw from the academy and leave, or transfer to a local branch of Tracen and compete in regional races.
But rarely did any choose to transfer locally.
The reason was simple: there was little point in continuing their careers.
A fourteen-month suspension was enough to wipe out nearly half of their Maturation period. Plus, local tracks were different—mostly dirt, ill-suited for those who excelled on grass.
Add to that the poorer facilities and smaller crowds, and trying to start over there was next to impossible.
So once banned by Central, an Uma Musume's racing life was essentially over.
This first disciplinary warning was like handing her a partial reprieve.
But for those already in the upper grades, fourteen months was enough to ruin all the races in the middle of their Maturation period.
The impact was nothing to scoff at.
"I will notify them, inform them that—"
"Please wait a moment, Chairman," Rudolf interrupted.
"When I said 'it certainly sounds that way,' I was referring to the timing being coincidental. I did not, however, say that the cause of this incident lies with the students."
Rudolf met the other's gaze unflinchingly.
"As students of Tracen, they have the right to watch races from the spectator stands. No, even ordinary citizens possess that same right."
"Manhattan Cafe and Agnes Tachyon merely happened to be in that place at that time. Their actions themselves were not at fault."
"If we must assign blame, isn't the cause of this situation the people who mistakenly identified Manhattan Cafe as the target? I believe the Chairman has already reviewed Tracen's student records and discovered someone who closely resembles that black Uma Musume—even the fact that the two of them appeared on the track simultaneously."
"Therefore, since it has been clearly established that Manhattan Cafe is not the black Uma Musume, and she was instead a victim of mistaken identity, placing the blame on her seems rather inappropriate."
Rudolf spoke with conviction, unwavering under the Central Chairman's hawk-like stare.
The clock on the wall ticked away. The room was so quiet they could hear each other's heartbeats.
Finally, after a few seconds that felt like years, the Central Chairman spoke again.
"This is sophistry, Symboli Rudolf."
Her points were logically sound, yet by common sense alone, it was hard to believe the two students were completely uninvolved.
"I hope Central will consider the rights of the students of Tracen."
"Are you suggesting we treat this incident as if it never happened?"
"Not at all. It's only right that Central should not have to bear such significant losses without consequence."
Rudolf straightened her posture.
"But making two innocent students pay the price for this entire incident seems far too unjust to them."
"Furthermore, before this race began, I myself encouraged students to actively visit and observe at the track. If my encouragement led to this problem, then the first to be blamed should not be the students who heeded the call, but me, the student council president."
"You wish to take the punishment in her stead?" the Central Chairman asked.
"It's not a matter of 'instead.' This is the responsibility the student council president should bear."
Hearing this, the Central Chairman fell silent.
Handing a suspension to the already legendary 'Emperor' was rather meaningless. Moreover, if word got out, it wasn't hard to imagine the public outcry it would cause.
Rudolf's status among Uma Musume was unshakable. She was the pinnacle, the top Uma Musume in all of Japan.
What's more, she was essentially in charge of all student information and affairs at Tracen. As an institution directly under Central's authority, any matter involving Tracen required her involvement.
So now, even Central couldn't easily control her.
Seeing Rudolf's attitude, it was clear she was determined to protect those two students.
The Central Chairman looked at her.
"In that case, Symboli Rudolf, due to your failure to properly supervise the students, resulting in significant losses for Central, your punishment is as follows: for the next several months, you will undergo supervision."
"Supervision?"
"Correct. We will supervise your conduct and management within the academy, assessing whether you are fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the student council president. A supervisory report will be submitted every week, and we will evaluate it accordingly."
Upon hearing this, Rudolf narrowed her eyes.
This meant Central would place their own personnel within Tracen Academy, able to report information directly to Central without going through her.
"What do you say, Symboli Rudolf?" the Central Chairman said.
If Rudolf refused to take responsibility, then Manhattan Cafe and Agnes Tachyon would face suspension.
Symboli Rudolf clenched her fist.
"I… accept the supervision…"
"Good. I will inform you of the supervisor's identity shortly."
"Understood. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
With that, Symboli Rudolf turned around, burying her anger deep within, and left the room.
With that, the preparations were complete.
The Central Chairman set down the list.
Truth be told, she hadn't been entirely confident. If Rudolf had refused to take responsibility, suspending those two Uma Musume wouldn't have meant much.
Especially Agnes Tachyon. The Central Chairman knew of her—or more precisely, she knew about the family behind Agnes Tachyon, a family that held considerable influence in the entire horse racing world.
This incident alone wasn't enough grounds for a suspension. If that family came knocking, she would have been in a very difficult position.
But, fortunately, everything had gone smoothly.
Now the wedge had been driven in. She would find out exactly where in Tracen that lawless individual was hiding!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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