...

During the slow jog rest phase.

"Silence Suzuka, you've grown stronger," Symboli Rudolf suddenly said, looking at the figure running ahead. "You've grown so much more than when you were at 'Rigil.'"

"Thank you, President..." Silence Suzuka thought the other party was simply praising her.

"Is the next race the Arima Kinen?"

"Yes."

"You should be quite familiar with Nakayama Racecourse, right?"

Nakayama Racecourse is where this Arima Kinen will be held.

"Yes, Lu Jue-jun analyzed the track a long time ago, and he should go over it again before the race," Silence Suzuka nodded.

"Trainer Lu is truly an excellent Trainer," Symboli Rudolf sighed with emotion. "Then what about you? With what kind of feeling will you reciprocate him and yourself?"

"What kind of feeling..." Silence Suzuka looked back, but Lu Jue, who had been to her side and slightly behind, was already gone.

"Silence Suzuka, do you know? Trainer Lu privately approached Maruzensky and Narita Brian; he hopes to have a simulated race after the training camp ends."

Symboli Rudolf understood Lu Jue's intention.

To reach the next level, competing against stronger opponents is undoubtedly the best method.

"A race against our seniors?!" Silence Suzuka exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, it feels like we're being used as whetstones," Symboli Rudolf joked.

Silence Suzuka quickly defended Lu Jue, "I'm sorry, my Trainer didn't mean it that way!"

"Of course I know, which is why I agreed to his request."

Symboli Rudolf, the President of Teresen Academy, is also a legendary Uma Musume.

Throughout her career, she achieved 13 wins in 16 races, including 7 G1 championships, and won the Satsuki Sho, Japan Derby, and Chrysanthemum Award with an undefeated record.

She had long ago entered the realm called "domain," which Lu Jue considered the third stage.

Although she had already withdrawn from the G1 Series, and her physical condition was no longer at its peak, she could still enter that state.

This was also the reason Lu Jue contacted them.

Lu Jue had this idea a long time ago, and the reason he only approached Symboli Rudolf and others now was because he believed the time was right.

"President, please guide me."

"Mm, I look forward to our match."

Symboli Rudolf agreed to the request not only out of respect for Lu Jue but also because she believed Silence Suzuka was an Uma Musume qualified to usher in a new era.

The so-called qualification is the ability to maintain a pure love for running and enter that perfect state.

...

Lu Jue rode his small electric scooter, moving behind various teams.

He found that all three captains were very dedicated, especially during the slow jog rest period, they would give their team members some experienced guidance.

"Some Uma Musume who have withdrawn from the G1 Series are indeed quite suitable to be Trainers, or at the very least, Trainer assistants," Lu Jue had another sudden inspiration, a wild idea.

Because Uma Musume actually understand racing better than Trainers.

Being in "Rigil" together, El Condor Pasa and Grass Wonder must have also received guidance from seniors like Symboli Rudolf.

So why couldn't he do the same? Lu Jue had some good candidates in mind.

...

After more than an hour of long running, the three teams finally reached the mountaintop.

The three teams' times were roughly similar, but since it was a competition, a winner and loser needed to be determined.

Lu Jue held a small whiteboard and, while the Uma Musume were resting, walked to the center of them, "I will now announce the morning's rankings."

Somehow, the Uma Musume felt the urgency of a teacher announcing test results after an exam.

"First place goes to Team Two, led by Maruzensky, with 3 points."

"Second place goes to Team One, led by Symboli Rudolf, with 2 points."

"Third place goes to Team Three, led by Narita Brian, with 1 point."

...

"Yay! First place!" Uralala immediately jumped up from the ground. "Mimi, Uralala is first place!"

Rice Shower was also very happy, "That's great, Uralala."

"Let's continue to work hard together this afternoon, Uralala," Special Week, who was on the same team as Uralala, also smiled.

"I didn't expect it... to be last place," Narita Brian chewed on a blade of grass, and her fighting spirit suddenly surged.

Seiun Sky, belonging to Team Three, looked at Silence Suzuka, who was suddenly giving her a peace sign, and pouted tsundere-like, "We just lost temporarily, don't be happy too soon."

After Lu Jue announced the results, he looked around, "These are the final results after compiling everyone's scores from each stage. Does anyone have any objections?"

"No," the Uma Musume shook their heads and said in unison.

"That's good. You still have a chance to even the score this afternoon. The team in last place will have a super nutritious drink waiting for you."

"Trainer Lu, I have a question," Gold Ship raised her hand high again.

"Ask away."

"Trainer Lu only mentioned the punishment for last place in points, but didn't mention the reward for first place in points."

The blind student found the key point.

"Well..." Lu Jue chuckled, scratching the back of his head. He really hadn't thought of it yet.

The Uma Musume from the other teams didn't speak, but his own Uma Musume rebelled first.

Seiun Sky: "No way, no way~ Trainer wouldn't be that stingy, right~"

Tokai Teio: "Definitely not, Trainer has always been very generous."

Rice Shower and Nimble Beret covered their mouths, giggling to the side.

Special Week had already started thinking about what carrot dishes to make Lu Jue prepare later.

"There must be a reward, and I really haven't thought of it yet. Does anyone have any requests?"

The other Uma Musume began to think, but there were always a few off-the-wall ones.

Uralala: "Uralala's wish is to have a few more wishes."

Seiun Sky asked: "Uralala, what was that Dragon Kingdom banquet you mentioned earlier called?"

"Manchu Han Imperial Feast!" Uralala reminded her.

"Ah, right, that's it!"

"What is a Manchu Han Imperial Feast?" Taiki Shuttle looked puzzled, and Grass Wonder, the foodie, also had her attention drawn.

Uralala immediately explained it in detail to the two of them.

Agnes Digital pondered for a moment, "It would be great if tens of thousands of people could watch my theatrical performance at the same time... That's a great idea, right?"

...

Lu Jue's mouth twitched, "This isn't a wishing well here; if you want to make a wish, go to a shrine... As for the reward, the first-place team can make one reasonable request to me, it must be reasonable."

"Got it, Trainer is indeed the best," Uralala smiled at Lu Jue.

She herself was like pink cotton candy, and Lu Jue, tasting that smile, could feel its sweetness.

Just then, a "grumble" sound rang out.

Following the sound, he saw Rice Shower clutching her little stomach.

Shy, but there was nothing wrong with admitting it.

She cast her gaze towards her host, like a domestic kitten looking at its feeder when hungry, "Trainer, I'm a little hungry..."

"Okay, the bus will be here soon to pick us up and take us down the mountain."