Chapter 91. Interview and Symboli Rudolf's Plans
When a Longchamp staff member discreetly cleared her throat and politely reminded Shuta An that it was time to clear the track, the young man chuckled, a faint flush of embarrassment on his face.
"Apologies, I got a bit carried away. I'll pay whatever fines are necessary."
"Oh, no, we don't exactly have a specific fine for... this situation."
The flustered staff member waved her hands defensively. "But the next race is scheduled to begin shortly, so..."
"Understood." Shuta An nodded smoothly. "I'll head over to the media zone."
The staff member breathed a quiet sigh of relief; she genuinely hadn't known how to forcefully separate the winning Trainer and his superstar without causing a diplomatic incident.
"Mnn..."
Reluctantly untangling her fingers from his, Teio pouted. The intoxicating rush of embracing her lover under the gaze of the entire world had left her dizzy and craving more.
She didn't want to let him go.
But she also knew she couldn't disrupt the racing schedule. She watched Shuta An retreat toward the press area, taking a deep breath to center herself.
"Right. Time to greet the audience."
Remembering her duties as the conquering queen, she turned and strode in the opposite direction.
By the time Shuta An stepped into the media zone, the reporters' eyes were practically glowing with ravenous gossip. However, the young man had already formulated a flawless deflection strategy.
"What was your immediate feeling upon winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?"
The first French reporter called upon was surprisingly professional, opting for a standard sports question.
"Profound relief." Shuta An replied, flashing a relaxed smile. "Going into the race, everyone labeled Teio as the favorite. I was terrified of disappointing the fans who placed their faith in her. I'm simply overjoyed that we delivered on that promise."
"Next."
He casually pointed to another raised hand.
"We all witnessed your... actions out on the turf just now. Does this mean—" The second reporter blinked, his tone dripping with scandalous curiosity.
"It means I was overwhelmed by the moment."
Shuta An interrupted smoothly, wagging a finger with a charming smile.
"After all, I have the blood of a French Uma Musume flowing through my veins. A little excess passion on a historic day can be forgiven, right? Beyond that, team dynamics remain an internal matter."
Whether they bought the excuse or not was entirely irrelevant; it served as a polite, impenetrable brick wall.
"Will Tokai Teio remain in Europe to challenge the remaining autumn schedule?"
A British reporter pressed, clearly angling to see if she would enter the Champion Stakes.
"No. We will return to Japan immediately to prepare for her title defense at the Japan Cup." Shuta An stated without hesitation. "As an Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, defending our home turf is an absolute duty."
"Will she return next year to attempt to become the sixth Uma Musume to win the Arc in consecutive years?"
The next French reporter abandoned the gossip angle entirely.
"As much as I would love to say yes, Teio made it clear to me before the race that she has no interest in retreading overseas races she has already conquered. I respect her wishes. Today was her first and last appearance at Longchamp as an active racer. Next year, we will likely set our sights on the Breeders' Cup in America or the Champion Stakes in Britain."
With a few calm sentences, Shuta An mercilessly shattered the dreams of European Twinkle Series fans.
While her Trainer navigated the press, Teio approached the grandstands, her cheeks still flushed as she waved to the roaring masses.
The Parisian crowd responded with a deafening ovation, matching the intensity of her pre-race reception.
"Merci beaucoup!"
Tokai Teio shouted joyfully, utilizing the French she had specifically crammed for this exact moment.
"I'm so incredibly jealous."
User Friendly muttered, staring at Tokai Teio's radiant back. The crushing despair of her defeat had already boiled over into stubborn resolve.
"I'm going to Japan. I'm going to the Japan Cup to challenge her again!"
User Friendly refused to cower. The notoriously rebellious English filly wanted nothing more than a rematch.
Nearby, Subotica exhaled a long, heavy breath, her eyes locked on the Japanese superstar.
"I was completely dismantled. I couldn't even put up a fight."
But she knew her racing calendar wasn't finished.
"I'll go to America. I'll run in the Breeders' Cup Turf and reclaim my honor there!"
Refusing to wallow in dejection, Subotica clenched her fists and strode forward to formally congratulate the winner.
But Vert Amande beat her to it.
Unlike the brooding User Friendly, Vert Amande had already penciled the Japan Cup into her schedule before the Arc even started. Having accepted her crushing defeat with pragmatic cheerfulness, she trotted right up to Tokai Teio and immediately began grilling the champion about the best tourist spots and restaurants in Tokyo.
Tokai Teio blinked in bewilderment. She hadn't expected an opponent to bounce back from such an apocalyptic defeat so quickly. It took her a moment to process the rapid-fire questions and tentatively recommend a few local delicacies.
"Thank you so much, Miss Teio!" Vert Amande beamed brightly. "Let's have another great race at the Japan Cup! I'll definitely try to take the lead from you this time!"
"Alright. But I won't lose."
Tokai Teio nodded politely, her tone suddenly shifting into absolute seriousness.
As an Undefeated Triple Crown winner returning to her home turf, she was Japan's undisputed vanguard. The other Japanese contenders could afford to lose the Japan Cup, but she could not.
Thousands of miles away at Central Tracen Academy, Symboli Rudolf rose from the leather sofa, her imposing aura filling the room.
"We are going to be incredibly busy from this moment forward."
"Should we organize a grand welcoming ceremony for Teio's return?"
Maruzensky asked eagerly.
"Yes, prepare something spectacular. I'll leave that to you." Rudolf delegated without missing a beat. "I need to have a word with the URA Association. Teio is returning to run the Japan Cup. There is absolutely no excuse not to elevate this year's Cup into the most magnificent, solemn spectacle of the decade."
"Is the URA Association actually going to open their wallets for that?" Air Groove asked, her brow furrowing in skepticism. "They are remarkably fast when it comes to collecting revenue, but prying funding out of them is another story—"
"They will pay, whether they want to or not."
Symboli Rudolf stated, her voice dropping to a glacial, absolute chill.
"Calculate the astronomical merchandising and broadcasting revenue they are about to harvest solely because Teio conquered the Arc. It is only natural that they reinvest that capital directly into her next stage. And if they dare refuse—"
The 'Emperor' narrowed her eyes. "I will personally kick down the door to the Chairman's office."
Air Groove's mouth twitched. Knowing President Rudolf, she could vividly picture the Student Council President doing exactly that.