......

A period of time before the race.

The Uma Musume had not yet competed in the Japan Derby, but the Trainer's office was already filled with tension.

"Sister Hua, are you saying El Condor Pasa is also participating in this Japan Derby?" Nishizaki Ryu leaned back in his seat, a toothpick still in his mouth.

"Mm." Tojo Hana responded perfunctorily, her pen not even pausing.

"This time, I've sent King Halo to participate in the Japan Derby. This child is very adaptable."

Tojo Hana slightly turned her gaze, "Hmm? That child has such poor judgment? You didn't use some trick, did you?"

Nishizaki Ryu nervously touched his nose, "Never mind that. Anyway, King Halo has my guidance, so El Condor Pasa might not necessarily win."

That wasn't his trick... It was Gold Ship's idea, it had nothing to do with him.

"We'll see." Tojo Hana had absolute confidence in El Condor Pasa and didn't take Nishizaki Ryu's words to heart at all.

Lu Jue, who was beside them, saw the two chatting and joined the discussion.

"Sister Hua, by the way, why didn't you let El Condor Pasa participate in the Yayoi Sho and Satsuki Sho?"

Before Tojo Hana could speak, Nishizaki Ryu joked, "If she participated, Special Week and Seiun Sky would have a hard time winning~"

Lu Jue was noncommittal, but now, it might not be so certain.

Tojo Hana put down her pen and, in the tone of instructing a junior, said earnestly, "It's not that I didn't allow her, but that child knows there's a more suitable track for her. As Trainers, we should prioritize them and respect their wishes. Except during training."

"Oh my, Sister Hua finally admits she's a training maniac?"

Tojo Hana clenched her fist, and her forehead furrowed into a 'well' shape, "Shut up!"

Lu Jue, of course, understood Tojo Hana's meaning. His own training philosophy was Uma Musume-centric.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that he felt even more conflicted and troubled about Silence Suzuka's situation.

"Xiao Lu, the participants from your team in this Derby are Seiun Sky and Special Week, right?" Nishizaki Ryu asked.

"Mm."

"Then you be careful too~" Nishizaki Ryu must have made ample preparations, otherwise, why would he be so confident?

However, Lu Jue didn't take it to heart. In his opinion, no matter how high King Halo's potential, it would be difficult to fully unleash it through training in the short term.

The real opponent to watch out for was El Condor Pasa.

As of now, El Condor Pasa had already achieved four consecutive wins, and she had likely touched the same realm as Seiun Sky.

But what of it? Lu Jue had enough confidence in Seiun Sky and Special Week.

He rose from his seat, preparing to leave, "Sister Hua, this is our two teams' first competition, isn't it?"

"Mm. Xiao Lu, are you issuing a challenge?" Tojo Hana looked at Lu Jue, feeling that he had grown quite a bit.

Lu Jue smiled and shook his head, "Not really, I'm just really looking forward to this race."

After Nishizaki Ryu's grand pronouncements, he felt ignored, "Then can I challenge both of you?"

Tojo Hana didn't respond, and Lu Jue had already walked to the door, "Nishizaki-senpai, you should spend some quality alone time with Sister Hua, and don't make Sister Hua angry."

He finished speaking and winked, then swiftly closed the door with a "whoosh."

"Hey, you little brat..." Nishizaki Ryu dropped his flippant demeanor, but then his gaze met Tojo Hana's murderous eyes, "Sister Hua..."

"Shut up."

......

On the day of the Japan Derby.

In the audience, Lu Jue was only accompanied by Uralala and Silence Suzuka this time.

"Finally, this day has come. It's time to see what these Uma Musume are made of."

If Seiun Sky won again this time, she would have the chance to become a Triple Crown Uma Musume, leaving a significant mark in competitive history.

But if Special Week won, that would also be reasonable and expected.

After her defeat in the last Satsuki Sho, Special Week's mindset had clearly changed a lot. She could fully immerse herself in training, and all her ability indicators had greatly improved.

Of course, there was another possibility: El Condor Pasa achieving five consecutive wins.

As a Trainer of "Dream," he naturally favored his own Uma Musume.

"Trainer, what are you mumbling about?" Uralala asked curiously.

"I'm praising your intelligence."

"Really?" Uralala slowly opened her mouth, looking at Lu Jue with an innocent expression.

"Fake, hehe."

"Lu Jue-jun, the race is about to start... Please don't bully Uralala." Silence Suzuka closed her eyes, expressing her speechlessness at Lu Jue's childish behavior.

"Exactly, exactly. No wonder Xiao Te said it, Trainer loves to bully people."

Lu Jue smiled, no longer speaking, and turned his gaze to the track.

......

"The race has begun! All the contestants had a very smooth start, with no one falling behind."

"The Uma Musume on the outside are cutting into the inner lane..."

"Leading is King Halo, she's still using the escape strategy."

"The favorite, El Condor Pasa, is in seventh place. In front of her are Special Week and Seiun Sky."

......

The overall pace of this race was very slow.

King Halo didn't open up a large gap after leading, which suggests Nishizaki Ryu gave her some advice.

Special Week is a late-comer type of contestant, so this slow overall pace was very advantageous for her.

Seiun Sky cleverly occupied a middle position where she could observe the movements of the surrounding Uma Musume.

Moreover, this position was at the front of the middle group, so when she rounded the bend, she could avoid congestion and break away from the crowded group behind her.

......

"Approaching the final bend! The trailing contestants are starting to accelerate, and the inner lane is gradually becoming crowded..."

"Currently leading is still King Halo!"

King Halo was the first to quicken her pace, intending to widen the gap.

Meanwhile, Seiun Sky and the others behind her maintained their own rhythm, poised to strike.

......

"Through the final bend! Which Uma Musume will first... Seiun Sky accelerates! She's chasing King Halo directly from the middle!"

"The gap is narrowing... King Halo seems to be struggling a bit."

Nishizaki Ryu's brows gradually furrowed below the track, "Still a bit too impatient."

......

"Sorry, King Halo! Goodbye, King Halo!"

Seiun Sky, like a silkworm devouring, went from lagging to side-by-side, then gradually surpassed King Halo, taking the lead.

"Damn it!" King Halo gritted her teeth and chased, but the most tragic thing was watching herself being overtaken with nothing she could do.

At the same time......

"Special Week is also starting her sprint!"

Special Week, who had been dormant for a long time, came from behind. This time, she had ample leg strength for the final burst, which was exactly what she wanted!

"Will the champion of this race be decided between Special Week and Seiun Sky!?

"Wait... El Condor Pasa bursts out from the outside!"

Her posture was like a strange bird flying low over the racetrack, her elegant winning uniform flapping loudly in the strong wind.

"Xiao Te, Seiun, I'll take the championship!"

......