On the other side of the world, in Lithuania, the nation at the very heart of Europe, lies the headquarters of the European Uma Musume Racing Association, situated just beyond the outskirts of its capital, Vilnius.
To be honest, Lithuania itself isn't exactly a powerhouse of a country.
Within the concept of "Europe," it doesn't carry much weight. Even the top-tier races for Uma Musume wouldn't choose to be held here.
Whether it's Paris or Berlin, both are far more suitable as strongholds for the European Uma Musume Racing Association's headquarters than this place called Vilnius.
Those cities boast not only the most elite Tracen Academy but also world-class events like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, gathering all kinds of high-level resources and networks. Countless legendary Uma Musume have left their marks there.
Compared to them, the name Vilnius is hardly recognizable to most as a city, let alone its suburbs.
Yet, the European Uma Musume Racing Association stubbornly placed its headquarters in this obscure, quiet suburb.
The reason is simple—so simple it's almost laughable.
Simply because this is the geographical center of Europe.
That's all.
But in a way, that very choice reveals their arrogance.
Rather than choosing a metropolis where resources converge and legendary tales abound, they chose the precise center of Europe.
The message is clear: they are confident that from here, they can command the attention of the entire world.
And true to their lofty arrogance, this small city of Vilnius, this remote outskirts, has indeed echoed across the globe because of the European Uma Musume Racing Association's name.
Paris is too big; perhaps not everyone knows the exact location of the Paris Tracen Academy.
Vilnius is small, but anyone with even a passing knowledge of Uma Musume knows of this place.
The headquarters of the European Uma Musume Racing Association—the entity that almost dominates the entire racing world, the very hand that established the modern racing system and rules, reigning supreme with its Triple Crown framework and training systems that transcend borders, wielding supreme authority—stands right here.
Getting a head start means staying ahead.
As the pioneers of the modern racing system and the perfectors of contemporary training methods, the successors of the European Uma Musume Racing Association have not squandered the vast legacy left by their forebears.
Over centuries of operation, this place has transformed from merely the geographical center of Europe into a true symbolic center in the hearts of all Uma Musume.
Here lies the most advanced training equipment, the most authoritative training regimens.
Even the mysterious realms of breakthrough that once relied on sheer luck have been reached, one after another, within the European training camps.
If you want to become a true powerhouse, to approach that supreme realm, the only path is to submit to the direction of the European Uma Musume Racing Association.
Of course, they don't make it look so blatant.
After all, powerful Uma Musume bearing the European imprint are the very foundation of European racing.
Any Uma Musume whose strength reaches a certain level or whose talent is exceptional enough enjoys preferential treatment.
Compared to those struggling in the training camps, grasping for a slim chance, the European Uma Musume Racing Association is never stingy with the true rising stars.
Yet, they've also left a sliver of hope for those whose talent falls short or who haven't yet reached the realm of the truly strong.
As long as they demonstrate their abilities in the grueling cycle of training competitions within the camps, their priority rating gradually rises.
If they can endure the hellish ordeal, they too can earn the Association's favor and become genuine pillars of the sport.
Under this precise, cold, mechanical screening process, countless powerful Uma Musume have been stamped with the European mark.
And these batches of Uma Musume, having battled their way out of the training camps, wave the banner of European racing, sweeping across the world with unstoppable momentum.
With such a head start, how could other racing regions, which haven't yet fully established modern Uma Musume systems, possibly resist?
Even when a uniquely gifted Uma Musume occasionally emerges, she could never withstand the expeditionary force from Europe.
Dozens of solid pillars, several leading absolute powerhouses, would bring the skills they learned in Europe and, like modernity crushing primitiveness, erase any source of instability.
But today, this long-operating, seemingly flawless machinery has developed a problem.
A sense of stagnation from one small cog has, over the past year, gradually spread to other gears, slowing the roar of progress from this colossal machine on the ground.
All the top executives at the European Uma Musume Racing Association headquarters have had to turn their full attention to the other side of the world map, staring intently at that small Far Eastern nation.
"Where are Anthony and Richard? Why haven't they returned to report for duty?!"
At the top floor of the European Uma Musume Racing Association headquarters, an elderly man with a stern face, wrinkles sharp as blades, slammed his palm on the table with a thud.
Under the force of his roar, several staff members recording the meeting couldn't help but flinch.
"Calm down, Ludendorff."
"No one can locate those two right now. Rather than focusing on them, isn't it more important to decide who to dispatch to the Japan branch next?"
From the other side of the round table, a blond man with a Kaiser mustache soothed the furious Ludendorff.
But hearing his words only made Ludendorff even more incensed.
"Don't think I don't know what you've been up to! To shield your family's junior, you've overreached, Bernard!"
This Bernard, whom Ludendorff berated, was the one trying to steer the conversation away.
He was, naturally, the family backing behind Anthony. Without his influence, someone of Anthony's caliber would never have become the head of an entire racing region.
"Youngsters, when they make mistakes, they tend to avoid their elders' gaze. Let them gain a bit more experience out there. Who knows, they might even bring us a pleasant surprise."
Bernard responded with a smile, as if Ludendorff's words hadn't affected him at all.
He actually had a pretty clear idea of Anthony and Richard's whereabouts.
The two were currently hiding out in some corner of Japan, wandering around. But Bernard didn't intend to intervene further.
As he'd just said, letting the younger generation of his family go through such trials was good for them.
It's just that Richard came from too humble a background.
He only knew Anthony had connections but had no idea his family actually held a seat among the upper echelons of headquarters. Otherwise, he would never have dragged Anthony into running away together.
Under the shelter of such a prominent family, the mistakes they'd made amounted to little more than a trifle.
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.