"Benefits? What good could possibly come from getting involved with the Central Committee?" Kousei scoffed.
"I don't know the full details, but from what I've heard, although Central is leading the team, only one of its members is actually from Central. The rest are top performers who distinguished themselves in the smaller leagues."
This piqued Kousei's interest. "What's the name of the one from Central?"
"Happy Meek. She's said to be an Umamusume from an elite family."
"Happy Meek?" Kousei had never heard the name. "Is it a famous family?"
"Of course, but it's the Trainer, not the Umamusume, who's famous. The Kiryuuin family is a prestigious lineage in the Trainer world, having produced numerous G1 runners. You could say the Kiryuuin family is the number one Trainer family in Central. Happy Meek's Trainer is the sole daughter of the Kiryuuin family—Kiryuuin Aoi.
"Though she's a rookie, she's diligent and meticulous in her work. By adhering to the Kiryuuin Style Principles, she quickly established herself in Central. Happy Meek's performance in her rookie year was outstanding."
"She secured a solid victory in the Hope S, becoming a G1 runner. I don't know about the other members, but they probably aren't any weaker than Happy Meek."
Winning a G1 within a year of her debut was truly impressive. Kousei pondered, If what Amel said is true, why is Happy Meek here? Does the Central Committee really have the power to command these powerful elite families?
Happy Meek had just won a G1 and was at the peak of her development. Her Classic Year, with its once-in-a-lifetime Triple Crown Race, was just ahead. It was baffling that instead of letting her rest and prepare, they had sent her all the way to the NAU.
This move offers no benefit to Happy Meek. If her Trainer is as competent as Amel claims, what's the reason for this? Could the Central Committee have some kind of leverage over them?
Kousei couldn't fathom what could possibly be more important than Happy Meek's Triple Crown Race.
"Did you happen to see Tides earlier?"
"Tides?" Kousei hadn't heard the name before, but she quickly connected it to the Umamusume she had encountered earlier. "I think so. The one with eyes as blue as the sea."
"That's her."
"Why mention her?"
"I don't fully grasp Central's intentions, but I understand the others' motivations."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know what the outside world is saying about you? You're the 'Villain' who appeared out of nowhere, a unique presence who has seized countless crowns. Your fame is immense, and countless runners are desperate to defeat you and make a name for themselves.
'Whoever defeats the Villain becomes the hero of the era.' It started as a joke, but over time, the topic fermented online and has now become a chance for them to prove themselves.
Considering you've defeated countless formidable opponents, including powerhouses like Jade and Morgan, it's not an exaggeration."
Kousei understood what Amel was saying. "So, the others are here to defeat me."
"Exactly."
"I see."
Kousei pieced it together. Central couldn't have sent all five members in alone, so even they had to cooperate with runners from other regions. Central wanted her gone, and the others wanted her fame.
A mutually beneficial partnership. What a neat model.
"It seems they're not a united front after all."
"Everyone has their own selfish motives. It's always wise to be cautious. After all, they might start by fighting individually, but once they realize they can't beat you alone, they'll likely team up. Whether they want to or not, they have missions to complete, so they have no choice.
I bet their ideal scenario is to beat you on their own, without needing to cooperate."
"Saves their pride and completes the mission," Kousei added.
"It's a bit delicate, sure, but who would pass up the chance to race against a World-Class runner?"
Kousei could understand. She, too, craved competition against stronger opponents. It was only after racing Jade that she felt truly alive again. Powerful rivals were indispensable.
Having McQueen by my side for so long made me forget what a luxury it is to battle formidable foes.
"Alright, it doesn't matter. Whether it's one-on-one or a group effort... let them come. I won't lose."
After everything she'd been through, there was no way she'd be intimidated now.
"So, what about you? Are you participating in this NAU?" Kousei asked, tilting her head.
"I'm not participating. Yunlin's entry list has already been published, and it would be against the rules for me to join now. Besides, they're only trying to beat you for the fame—to see how they stack up against a 'World-Class' runner.
I'm already famous and have faced plenty of 'World-Class' runners. The NAU is beneath me."
Kousei had seen her share of arrogant geniuses, but Amel might just be the most arrogant of them all. The implication was clear: she didn't even consider Kousei a worthy opponent. Kousei didn't mind; she was used to it.
"We'll race eventually," she declared.
"I'll be waiting," Amel replied with a smirk.
Knowing Amel wouldn't be in this race meant they weren't immediate enemies. Kousei's posture relaxed slightly.
"So, what did you really want from me? You didn't come all this way just to share intel, did you?" Kousei shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Of course not. I came for purely personal reasons. I'm very interested in you."
"Me? I thought you looked down on me."
Feigning politeness... I'm not buying it.
"I naturally look down on your skill. But I'm extremely interested in your bloodline."
"Heh—"
It was the best joke Kousei had heard all year.
"Bloodline? I'm a kid from the Shopping District. My mother was a Stakes Runner. Even counting my erased records, the only major title I have is the Japan Cup.
A runner active in the Second-Tier League—what kind of 'Talent' do you think I could possibly have worth investigating?"
Kousei stared into Amel's eyes, spitting out each word with biting sarcasm.
If I really had some top-tier bloodline, all the suffering I've endured over the years would be a complete joke.
Amel naturally detected the scorn in Kousei's words, but instead of getting angry, she replied patiently, "You're right. You don't have much talent. Even now, your speed doesn't match that of a first-rate runner.
And as I said, I don't care about your skill, so there's no need to be sarcastic with me."
Kousei waved her hand dismissively. "Then what about my 'bloodline' is so interesting to you?"
The evening breeze rustled as silence fell between them. After a moment of composure, Amel spoke. "Have you ever seen an Umamusume who burned like fire? Even in your consciousness?"