Derek Su looked at Zane with a complicated expression.
Zane lived up to the nickname "deadbeat" in every possible way.
"You were eyeing my cornering technique, banking on the idea that I'd help you, weren't you? That's why you didn't reject the wager outright."
"Not completely..." Zane muttered, head lowered. "Even if you hadn't come by today, I was already planning to break free from Xavier Young's grip these past few days. Then I'd find a way to bring Broken Moon back. She and I trained relentlessly together—we were confident about the Greenfield Advancement Race. I just never imagined..."
"You never imagined that the Mecha Girl you worked with for five whole years would walk away the moment she saw a purple Module, right?"
"Yes..."
Zane's head drooped even further.
He stared at Derek Su's shadow on the floor, hope swirling in his eyes.
If Derek Su taught him cornering techniques, then at the Echo Valley training race, he could use Lingwind to beat Broken Moon. After that, he'd reenter the advancement tournament with Broken Moon and secure a spot in the provincial rounds...
But Derek Su poured a bucket of ice water over his fantasies.
"I'm not teaching you how to take corners."
Derek Su leaned against the doorframe, his expression cold.
"I won't let you guilt-trip me, and I'm not about to teach my skills to someone who blames his failures on his Mecha Girl's 'insufficient attributes.' A loser like you isn't worth my time."
He slammed the door shut and dragged Stella away.
...
Derek Su stopped beneath a streetlamp, far away from Zane's shop.
Stella tugged at his sleeve, big eyes blinking up at him. "Master, don't be mad. I'll buy you pineapple later—I'll peel it for you too."
"I'm not mad." Derek Su pinched the tip of her nose. "I'm just disappointed. As Mr. Liang's student, I thought he'd at least be reliable. Who knew he'd be this impulsive?"
"Mm~ Honestly, ever since Broken Moon left, he's been obsessed with underground fights. That kind of stubbornness usually comes with extreme behavior," Stella said with exaggerated seriousness.
"True, but Zane takes it to an extreme that's beyond saving. Let him deal with the mess he made."
Derek Su snorted.
If not for Mr. Liang, Zane would've earned himself another punch today. He'd have Derek Su begging Xavier Young to lock him up again.
"It's just that Lingwind is so pitiful," Stella sighed, pouting. "If she had a master like me, she'd be so much happier. As a secondary Mecha Girl, all the resources go to the primary one. Zane never even dares bring her to the racetrack."
"Hmph. At least he hasn't modified her. That's the only sliver of conscience he's got left."
Derek Su reached into his pocket for a cigarette, only to find the box empty.
Then he remembered—Mr. Liang had helped him quit.
Mr. Liang...
Who knew how he was doing now? Prison wasn't at all the "free food and housing" people pretended it was.
"Master."
"Mm?"
"Lingwind is really, really pitiful~"
"Mm."
"Master, Zane is definitely going to lose the day after tomorrow. Once he loses the nutrient shop, Lingwind will have to sleep on the streets with him. She's sooo pitiful~~"
"Mm..."
"Master~" Stella wrapped her arms around his, circling around to stand in front of him. She rocked his arm back and forth, pouting dramatically. "And then Stella won't be able to freeload her favorite limited-edition AD Calcium High-Energy Nutrient Solution anymore~"
Derek Su stared at her soft, adorable face, his mouth twitching.
"Just say what you want."
"I... I mean... maybe you could..." Stella fidgeted with her fingers, eyes wide.
"No. I'm not helping Zane."
"Not that dumbass!" Stella quickly corrected. "I meant Lingwind!"
"Help Lingwind?" Derek Su blinked. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
His first thought was that Stella wanted him to boost Lingwind's stats.
But he quickly dismissed the idea—only he knew about Deep Blue stat allocation. Stella couldn't possibly be referring to that.
"I heard the Echo Valley training track has tons of turns. It's practically designed to test a pilot and Mecha Girl's cornering abilities. So what I meant was..." Stella smiled up at him, full of flattery, "…could Master personally pilot Lingwind so she gains more experience with cornering? Just think of it as training. Maybe she'd even finish the race on autopilot!"
Derek Su narrowed his eyes, studying her.
Well, well. They say even three days apart makes you see someone in a new light—but they hadn't even been apart for one day, and Stella was already plotting against her own master.
Impressive progress.
The truth was obvious: she wanted Zane and Lingwind to win at Echo Valley. She could say it was for Lingwind's sake all she liked, but the nutrient solution excuse? That was at least ninety percent of her motivation.
When Derek Su's piercing gaze met hers, Stella simply smiled sweetly. "Hehe~"
The cold wind cleared Derek Su's thoughts.
Zane had turned Hansen down, meaning Hansen and Broken Moon were still lurking out there.
Accepting Hansen's conditions meant Lingwind stood no chance in her current state—unless Derek Su drove.
Helping Lingwind didn't require teaching Zane any techniques. It would also allow Lingwind, timid as she was, to push her limits. It might even give Zane the push he needed. Stella's plan was a little manipulative, but psychologically speaking... it was tolerable.
And frankly, setting aside Broken Moon—the traitor who'd sold out three masters—Hansen, that talent-poaching, asset-coveting little upstart, was even more disgusting...
Pure Love Warrior Derek Su narrowed his eyes.
Killing intent flickered.
...
"Master, get up. They're gone now. You don't have to kneel anymore."
Lingwind helped Zane to his feet.
He slumped into a chair, rubbing his face with both hands and raking his fingers through his messy curls. "Lingwind, what do we do? We can't accept the wager. I can't gamble my last savings on this."
If they couldn't win Echo Valley, the Greenfield Advancement Race was as good as lost. Without the superior attributes of Broken Moon, Zane had made one rash mistake after another—until even Derek Su got fed up and refused to teach him. He'd trapped himself in a dead end.
Lingwind fell silent.
She couldn't bring herself to say, "Master, let's train. Let's push forward together."
Because she knew Broken Moon was much faster than she was.
And even if Zane had the money to buy her purple Module, wouldn't Hansen just give them to Broken Moon instead?
The shop gradually fell quiet, both of them sitting like statues in their corners.
Until the door burst open with a loud bang.
Derek Su strode in, Stella in tow.
He swept a cold glance over the exhausted Zane and Lingwind. "Lingwind will train with me all afternoon tomorrow. You'll cover the nutrient solution and tire costs... Hey. Did you hear me?"
"H-Heard you," Zane stammered, staring blankly at him.
Then, realizing what that meant, his eyes filled with tears.
"Over thirty and crying over every little thing? Pathetic."
Derek Su snorted, his smile sharp.
"You agreed to the wager. Lingwind is going to win the Echo Valley training race. After that, this shop goes to me. And your Mecha Girl—Broken Moon—will be handled by me as well. Any objections?"