Five minutes later, as the last Mecha Girl crossed the finish line, this year's Knox Rally officially came to a close. The award ceremony was about to begin—only for someone to suddenly question the results… or rather, to question how Derek Su–Stella managed to take first place.
That someone was Miles Wang and a few others from the SSC Club.
"We suspect Derek Su illegally modified Stella! Otherwise, how could he possibly break through the blockade my club's two racers set up in the tunnel?" Miles Wang said with a grave, righteous expression. "I ask the organizers to judge this matter strictly and give all participants a fair ruling."
Host Kool Kenny stared at him like, Are you kidding me?
This guy was bold enough to order intentional blocking maneuvers, yet he still had the nerve to bring up fairness?!
But a complaint was still a complaint.
Blocking was allowed in rally races, and both the blocker and the one being blocked accepted the risks. It was just that in a beginner event like the Knox Rally, the Mecha Girls being blocked had no real countermeasure.
In future provincial competitions filled with top-tier racers, if you ran into a Mecha Girl with maxed-out Collision Resistance or a special module installed, then if the blocking Mecha Girl got hurt, too bad—she'd just have to accept it.
Suppressing the urge to say something sarcastic, Kool Kenny reported Miles Wang's accusation to the judging panel.
The referees immediately began discussing the matter.
They then summoned the two SSC racers who had carried out the blocking.
"How exactly did you get overtaken? Do you remember?"
The two racers exchanged a look. One hesitated, then answered, "The tunnel was too dark, so it's all kind of blurry. That Mecha Girl just… hugged the tunnel wall and slipped past us. We don't even know how she did it."
"Hugged the tunnel wall!?"
The judges were stunned.
There was an overtaking method like that? They'd assumed Stella simply rammed the two blockers aside.
"I'm convinced Derek Su illegally modified his machine," Miles Wang said, face gloomy, teeth clenched. "This is the Knox Rally. All participants are rookies. It's the first time for both Derek Su and Stella. Don't tell me he's a Techmaster. Techmasters aren't even allowed in Knox! So it has to be illegal modifications!"
He fully believed his own reasoning.
Fancy cornering? Fine—maybe Derek Su had talent.
But that wall-hugging overtake? What kind of nonsense was that? Who could drive like that? If he could pull that off without external assistance, Miles Wang might as well wash his hair upside down.
There were only two possibilities: illegal modifications or a Mecha Girl with special abilities.
The judges discussed the feasibility of the maneuver.
To ride the wall like that, the Mecha Girl would have to lift one side of her chassis—while still at high speed. That was definitely not something a rookie pilot and Mecha Girl should be capable of. Techmasters and special modules were different cases, but all modules were registered before the race. The documentation clearly showed Stella only had a blue-grade [Hurricane] module installed.
"To lift the chassis, wouldn't she need some kind of ramp? Otherwise how would she raise one side?"
"Yeah, this just feels unrealistic."
"Shouldn't it be enough to confirm that Derek Su–Stella didn't use illegal mods?"
"We still need to check the tunnel footage. What if they really did find a slope to use?"
As they debated, Kool Kenny walked in carrying a USB drive.
"Judges, here's the tunnel footage. We installed surveillance there before the section called [Knox's Severed Wrist] last year. Didn't expect it to actually come in handy." In truth, the cameras were installed to prevent drivers and Mecha Girls from sneaking off to meet privately in the tunnel. Anywhere else was one thing, but in a tunnel that dangerous? A Mecha Girl might survive getting hit—but a driver wouldn't.
"Perfect. Footage is exactly what we need." The chief referee took the USB eagerly.
"Oh, and Kool Kenny, go call over Derek Su and Stella. We might need them to confirm a few things."
Kool Kenny nodded and left to get them.
The referees plugged in the USB and crowded around the computer.
The tunnel surveillance was pretty advanced—night vision, crystal clear, almost like daytime.
They scrubbed forward to the moment Stella entered the tunnel. The camera view conveniently showed her rear and the two SSC Mecha Girls blocking ahead.
"This is it!" one referee said and hit play.
In the footage, Stella suddenly swung sharply left, lifted her right side, pressed herself against the tunnel wall, and the tires burned white streaks along both the wall and the track. She surged forward, inches away from brushing the SSC Mecha Girl as she slid past. The entire maneuver was smooth, crisp, effortless—clean from start to finish with zero hesitation.
The referees stared blankly for a long moment before finally reacting once the Mecha Girls had exited the tunnel.
"Play it again! Slower!"
They replayed it at 0.25 speed.
Even squinting, none of them could find the slightest sign of a ramp…
Or any trace of illegal modification.
They'd seen modification violations before: high-density alloy launch frames under the chassis that would pop the Mecha Girl upward over tricky terrain; or Mecha Girls illegally equipped with mortars so the pilot could bombard opponents while the machine autopiloted.
Those modifications severely damaged the Mecha Girls and were strictly banned.
But if a jump or attack was executed purely with a Mecha Girl's own abilities or a Techmaster's power, then it was allowed.
From the footage, it was clear: Derek Su had made no illegal modifications.
"Looks like Derek Su used Stella's inertia to lift her right side… though the exact technique isn't clear," one judge said with clear admiration. "These newcomers get scarier every year. Fancy cornering wasn't enough—they're even inventing new overtaking methods. We old-timers really are outdated!"
"This… this can't be real?!" Miles Wang watched the footage, completely stunned. Beside him, the Mecha Girl Absolute Shadow stared wide-eyed.
"Could this XC-99 actually have some hidden special ability? But how would a Mecha Girl with special abilities only sell for 5,000 at auction?"
Auction prices were all recorded. Earlier, when Miles Wang glimpsed Kool Kenny's papers and saw the XC-99 listed at just 5,000, he had dismissed the possibility of special abilities. But if Stella really didn't have any, then that meant this Wall-Riding Overtake was completely reliant on Derek Su's insane driving skill.
Derek Su was just a street racer—a rookie with no coach, no club.
And him? He'd been training to pilot Mecha Girls since he was seven!
Over ten years of hard work—only to be overshadowed by some self-taught wild driver?
The more he thought about it, the angrier and more ridiculous it all felt. How could he accept that?
"You think I cheated? Does something as simple as wall-riding require illegal modifications?"
Derek Su and Stella walked in with Kool Kenny.
Derek Su glanced at the SSC badge on Miles Wang's chest and snorted.
"Oh, I remember you. You're the one who sent those two Mecha Girls to block me, right?"
Seeing Miles Wang's expression twist, Derek Su smiled warmly and said,
"In racing, cheap tricks won't get you far. Take my advice, man—if you're bad, practice more~"
Miles Wang flushed bright red. He clenched his fists, glared, and drew in a deep breath.
"What are you so smug about? You're still under suspicion! I request a full inspection of your Mecha Girl!"
"No need for all that trouble~" Derek Su said, waving lazily. His eyes shifted to the Mecha Girl standing beside Miles Wang.
"Just let me borrow your Mecha Girl for a moment. I'll show you a wall-riding maneuver myself—and that'll clear things up."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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