"President, are you done with your business?"
At the main gate of Kasamatsu Trezan, Maruzensky was waiting when Rudolf Symboli walked out from inside the school.
"Mm." Rudolf Symboli nodded and stretched lazily.
"That shop was more interesting than I expected… and the owner was far more valuable than I thought."
"Oh?" Maruzensky was surprised. It was rare for her president to give praise that high.
"Is he really that amazing?"
"Of course." Rudolf Symboli lowered her head and patted her legs.
"After he worked on me for a bit, I felt refreshed all over."
"Someone who can relax people with massage alone is a rare talent. If we could invite him to Central and have him serve our academy's students, it would definitely help the kids in Central a lot."
Those words came straight from Rudolf Symboli's heart.
Central Trezan did employ people like therapists, but none of them came close to Su Luo's "casual press and you're fixed" level of effectiveness.
In fact, the truly strange part was this: with skill like that—something that could let him live it up anywhere—why was he still completely unknown?
Why?
"You sure seem more interested in that shop owner than in Oguri Cap~" Maruzensky said, covering the corner of her mouth as she laughed.
Rudolf Symboli looked at her calmly, voice steady and assured.
"Talent's value shouldn't be buried, no matter where it's found."
She lifted her chin slightly, gaze cast down the road as if she could see through the buildings to that tiny massage shop.
"Oguri Cap's gift belongs on the track. Mr. Su Luo's talent lies in his hands. Both of them have shown extraordinary value in their own fields."
"For Central Trezan, whether it's a miracle-making horsegirl or a capable person who can heal the body, both are assets worth valuing—and recruiting."
Then she added, in her usual calm, decisive tone:
"But in a certain sense… Mr. Su Luo may be even more valuable than Oguri Cap."
"Since we've discovered him, we naturally need to find a way to develop that talent—put things to best use, put people where they shine. That's the most efficient approach."
"After the Chukyo Cup, I'll come back to Kasamatsu and invite Mr. Su Luo."
"But the most urgent thing right now is to confirm Oguri Cap's value first."
—
Chukyo Cup.
Chukyo Racecourse.
Up in the stands, Su Luo looked around and couldn't help sighing quietly.
"The facilities here are way better than Kasamatsu…"
Smooth seats, a clear view, and an atmosphere that screamed "professional racecourse"—completely different from the plain, friendly feel of a local track.
Even more obvious was the crowd: packed stands, roaring noise that nearly lifted the roof. The audience size wasn't even comparable to Kasamatsu's days.
"Oguri Cap's been winning nonstop in the region," Kitahara said with a grin when he heard Su Luo's mutter. "Now everyone's heard there's a 'monster rookie' in Kasamatsu, so of course they want to come see her for themselves. Once the buzz rises, the crowd follows."
He paused, sounding proud—yet also faintly expectant.
"Today's Chukyo Cup is her first real step toward the Tokai Derby!"
"The Tokai Derby…" Su Luo's mouth twitched.
Top-tier regional races meant the prize money wouldn't be low.
If Oguri Cap really won the Tokai Derby…
Su Luo felt like his heart was bleeding.
Just as Su Luo and Kitahara were talking, an older—but still forceful—voice sounded from behind them:
"Jō!"
Kitahara turned and instantly broke into a smile.
"Sixth Uncle!"
Su Luo followed the voice and saw a vigorous middle-aged man in sunglasses walking toward them—sharp-eyed, steady-footed.
"And this is…?" Su Luo asked quietly.
"My uncle—Roppei Ginjirō. He's a trainer from Central," Kitahara hurried to introduce, then turned to the man. "Uncle, this is Mr. Su Luo. A friend I met in Kasamatsu, and… um, a very special kind of investor."
Su Luo nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Roppei."
Inside, he couldn't help thinking: this uncle clearly held real weight with Kitahara, and those eyes looked far too shrewd for someone easy to fool.
A Central trainer, huh…
Hiring him for Kinno Academy actually sounded like a pretty good move.
Roppei Ginjirō didn't acknowledge Su Luo's greeting at all. He turned toward Kitahara and suddenly lifted a fist—thunk—knocking him squarely on the head, not too hard, but solid enough to make a dull sound.
"Ow!" Kitahara clutched his head, aggrieved and confused. "Sixth Uncle! What was that for?!"
"You idiot!" Roppei hissed, voice low and packed with barely contained anger and urgency. "Didn't I warn you again and again not to let Oguri Cap run in the Chukyo Cup?! You just ignored everything I said?!"
"Why can't she run?!" Kitahara shot back, still keeping his voice down but clearly worked up.
"Sixth Uncle, you've seen her strength! The Chukyo Cup is the best springboard to a higher stage—this decision is obviously the right one!"
"Right my ass! You blockhead!" Roppei looked like he was about to rip off his sunglasses. He jabbed his finger sharply toward the highest point in the stadium—the VIP stands with the best view, the place that symbolized status.
"Today is different! Look up there! Open your damn eyes and see!"
His finger trembled slightly as he forced the words out through clenched teeth.
"Today, that 'Emperor'… Rudolf Symboli—she came in person! She's watching from up there!"
"Do you know what that means?!"
"What does it mean?" Kitahara blinked, clearly not getting it.
Standing to the side, Su Luo listened to the argument and immediately understood most of it. He rubbed his chin and cut in:
"Mr. Roppei is worried that if Oguri Cap performs too well, that 'Emperor' will take a liking to her… and poach her straight into Central Trezan, right?"
His tone was flat, but he nailed Roppei Ginjirō's biggest fear in one sentence.
Roppei snapped his head around. For the first time, the man's gaze truly landed on Su Luo—sharp with the edge of someone whose thoughts had just been exposed.
He let out a heavy "hmph," not admitting it outright, but the tight line of his jaw said everything.
"Once the 'Emperor' sets her sights on you, do you think Kasamatsu can still keep her?" Roppei's voice sank.
"If your goal is the Tokai Derby…"
"Then this is absolutely not the best time to let her show her edge in front of Central!"
-------
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