"Oh, so it's a big shot from Central. Come, pour our Lord Katsumi a glass of whiskey."
"Heh heh... No need. We don't have a custom of drinking upon first meeting in Central. Besides, I'm not fond of whiskey."
Ivan shot Ebinuma a sidelong glance, thinking, He's really not giving me any face.
"Please, have a seat."
As a manager, Ivan prioritized maintaining decorum. Even though Ebinuma had snubbed him, he treated the man with courtesy.
Ebinuma plopped down into a chair, adopting a swaggering posture. Dressed so respectably, yet he acts like a street punk, Ivan mused. Why would Central send someone like this?
"May I ask what important matter brings Lord Katsumi here today?"
"Oh, right. Almost forgot."
Ebinuma snapped his fingers, and a crowd of figures squeezed into the room. Ivan looked closer and realized they were all Umamusume.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Didn't the NAU Committee inform you? Kousei lacks opponents, doesn't she? Well, here they are."
Ivan stared at the Umamusume behind Ebinuma. This was clearly not part of the plan. The information he'd received stated that the Umamusume scheduled to compete in the Yunlin Stage were still on a plane. This group had arrived a full five hours early.
So they're forcing these girls into the race, Ivan thought, his gaze sweeping over the Umamusume again.
Ebinuma waved a dismissive hand. "Don't just stand there. Introduce yourselves to Mr. Ivan for me."
Hyacinth stepped forward. "Hello, Mr. Ivan. I'm Hyacinth, the temporary leader, I suppose."
"Hello, Hyacinth," Ivan replied, mentally noting, She seems like a serious girl.
Hyacinth gestured with her right hand toward the blue-haired Umamusume he'd seen earlier. "This is Tides."
"Yo! Good evening, Mr. Ivan."
Ivan nodded in acknowledgment.
"Next to her is White Grimoire, in the middle is Marvelous Dance, and by the wall is Happy Meek."
"Happy Meek?"
The name sent a jolt through Ivan. He quickly looked toward Happy Meek, who was huddled in a corner, seemingly uninterested in everything.
When that flash of white caught his eye, Ivan knew he wasn't mistaken.
Meek! What is she doing here? What happened to that Kiryuuin Family brat?
A storm raged within Ivan. Meek's presence deeply unsettled him. His gaze toward Ebinuma turned hostile—a rare display of enmity for a man like him.
However, Ebinuma, a man of apparently little substance, seemed completely oblivious to Ivan's change in mood and kept boasting.
"So, what do you think? Impressive talent, right? Let me tell you, these girls were handpicked by the Central Committee—top-tier contenders, absolutely qualified."
Ebinuma continued his sales pitch. After five or six seconds, the hostility in Ivan's eyes vanished completely, replaced by a smiling mask.
"Of course. The Central Committee's judgment is impeccable. However, the race roster is already full. Making last-minute substitutions would be unfair to the other contestants."
"Oh, don't you worry about that. Who said the roster is full? Mr. Ivan, why don't you double-check?"
Skeptical, Ivan made a phone call. After a brief exchange, his expression darkened.
"Well, Mr. Ivan? Was I right?"
"You were. Five contestants have withdrawn. According to the ranking system, these girls are eligible to compete."
"The Central Committee leaves no loose ends. They're all Beginner Grade Umamusume, just as Yunlin's official announcement stated. You won't have to worry about public opinion."
"Then I must thank the Central Committee for their kindness."
"Don't mention it. We're a bit tired from the long journey. Would you be so kind as to arrange accommodations for us, Mr. Ivan?"
"Of course. Attendants! See to it that Mr. Ebinuma and our contestants, who have traveled so far, are well taken care of."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ebinuma was led out of the office by an attendant. Ivan's gaze remained fixed on Meek until the group had completely disappeared. Then, he lit a cigarette.
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?"
Ivan couldn't make sense of the situation. He sat at his desk, lost in thought for a long time, his finger repeatedly tracing the buttons on his phone without ever making a call.
Frustrated, he stubbed out the barely smoked cigarette and decided to step outside for some fresh air.
"Good evening, Mr. Ivan. The weather is lovely, but you don't seem very happy."
The moment Ivan stepped out, he was stopped by Reiko, who had been waiting nearby.
"Good evening, little girl. A lot of people seem eager to greet me today. Are you lost? The nightlife district isn't this way."
Reiko flashed a brilliant smile and skipped over to stand before him.
"Ooh~ A faint scent of tobacco. A mature, brooding man."
"Save it. I'm old enough to be your father."
Despite himself, Ivan found his mood lightening slightly at Reiko's playful teasing.
"I saw a group of people leaving just now. The one in the lead seemed to be from Central."
"How'd you know?" Ivan asked casually.
"The badge on his chest was so flashy, it's like he was afraid people wouldn't notice."
Ivan hadn't planned on hiding it anyway. Knowing Ebinuma's personality, he'd probably blab about it himself within a few days.
"So, what does the little girl from the Chiin family want?"
"Just to chat. Think of it as passing the time."
"Right. Fantastic."
They obviously couldn't talk by the entrance, so they found an empty room and sat down.
"So, what kind of scheme is the Chiin family's little brat cooking up?"
"I'm here to ease your worries, Lord Ivan. So why don't you start by telling me what's troubling you?"
Ivan paused to think, then spoke slowly. "The Central Committee sent someone over to force their way in. They somehow bypassed the NAU, and by the time we found out, it was too late to do anything."
"So, Lord Ivan, you're worried that..."
"No, it's not a major problem so far. We have to accept the people, and the race has to go on. It's just that among the Umamusume who came with the team... there's a junior I know."
"You mean the Umamusume named Happy Meek."
"That's right. Meek shouldn't be here. I'd heard the situation at Central was unstable, but has it really gotten this chaotic? Even Aoi's trainer is taking orders from them now." Ivan shot Reiko a sidelong glance. "You seem to know quite a bit. Tell me. What the hell is that old bastard T up to? What does he gain from turning the situation into this mess?"
"What makes you so sure I know anything, Mr. Ivan?"
"Cut the crap, kid. You always do a thorough background check before collaborating. I know every move you've made so far. I also know that T has been plotting something ever since the Japan Cup. The Director, Caesar's group, the Emperor, the Three Great Families...
"Those are some formidable names. Are you planning to overthrow the Central Committee's rule?"
Ivan tried to appear amiable, but years of habit made him unconsciously maintain a sharp edge during conversations.
It seems I won't be able to get away easily without explaining everything thoroughly, Reiko thought.