Acceleration

"Oh my God! Racer Number 25 modified a 'glider'?"

It was the first time the host had ever seen such a scene.

The main venue's giant screen was now completely focused on Blue Margarita.

"The phone lines have been overwhelmed. Let's take a call from one of our listeners."

"Fu*ck, this is illegal modification! A violation! I %￥... demand a refund!"

Hearing the utterly vulgar response from the caller,

the host cut off the connection.

"Illegal modification—hearing that term in Detroit's unrestricted underground racing competition is certainly quite surprising."

She continued,

"Indeed, track regulations require vehicles to be ground-driven.

But there is one exception.

Anything involving the 'Emergency Evasion Clause'—such as flying off a cliff in a moment of danger—does not count as a violation."

At that moment,

the race car trailing dark-blue flames had already crossed an incredibly long distance through the air, visible even to the naked eye.

It landed back on the track with a heavy clang.

At the same time,

Su Wen connected to the chat channel.

He requested a conversation with the host.

"Racer Number 25 is actually in the mood to call in himself. Let's hear what he has to say."

The entire venue was now drowned out by a mixture of curses and cheers.

But then,

Su Wen's words silenced everyone.

He stepped on the accelerator.

At the same time,

flame-colored stripes from the Carnival Convoy buff, Speed and Passion, gradually appeared across the car's body.

The speedometer began spinning wildly.

Accompanied by the race car's high-pitched Vrooom~ as it accelerated at extreme speed,

he said,

"As for the bets involving Racer Number 25 in this race, I already discussed them with the Fals Merchant Guild.

Those who bet on me to lose—I don't care about your money. After the race, every cent will be returned.

Yes, thirty-two million dollars. I won't take a single cent. It will all be returned!

From this moment onward, cheer to your heart's content!"

The next second,

a note was handed into the host's booth beneath the elevated spotlights.

The host glanced at it, then said in shock,

"I've received an official confirmation from the Fals Merchant Guild. Everyone, what Racer Number 25 said is indeed true!"

In an instant,

the entire venue erupted.

"Racer Number 25, I love you!"

"I don't have to jump off a cliff anymore!"

"Blue Margarita! Blue Margarita!"

"Blue Margarita! Blue Margarita!"

"Blue Margarita! Blue Margarita!"

Everyone was shouting for Su Wen and Blue Margarita.

Even White Hound was shocked by Su Wen's sheer magnanimity.

That was right.

Everything had gone according to Su Wen's plan.

He had started by making a low-key entrance.

Then he provoked the entire audience and the other gangs and organizations, making them place huge bets on his defeat.

After that,

he struck them psychologically in the middle of the race with flashy, dazzling driving skills and terrifying acceleration.

That made them develop intense hostility and disgust toward him.

Finally,

at this very moment,

after he spoke those words,

all dissatisfaction was completely overturned!

It became shouts and revelry that rang through the night!

In this city where only profit and self-interest mattered,

there had never been anyone admired by every organization and gang at the same time.

But after tonight,

no one would ever forget Racer Number 25:

A legend.

A true legend of the Resistors!

Detroit was lawless and chaotic, but there had never been a Resistor like you—one who disregarded the rules so completely.

Cheer. For the sake of thirty million dollars, everyone would remember your name tonight!

Great legend of the City of Chaos, S-rank hidden mission progress reached 60%.

Obtained S-rank buff: Legend.

Effect description: As a legend, your attack and defense increased by 50%.

Additionally, your rallying calls would always receive a regional support modifier of at least 30%.

Finally, in the most dangerous circumstances, you would always survive through luck beyond ordinary imagination.

Oh, my God, you have achieved progress in an impossible mission!

Su Wen smiled.

He was not surprised by this result.

Since Detroit placed profit above all else, and chaos above all else,

then

he would first make himself everyone's enemy.

Afterward,

he would reverse everything with enormous benefits.

At this moment,

Su Wen watched the numbers in his status window surge once more.

He could probably now contend with a top-tier second-rank transcendent.

But that was not all he wanted to say.

Su Wen continued through the broadcast for the entire underground race:

"I have a proposal.

In fifteen minutes, every gang and organization will receive an email I scheduled in advance. It contains a small invitation. You may wish to try participating."

"Right now, if you wanted to smash open the vault of any multinational corporation, there would probably be people willing to go with you."

Grace said in a muffled voice.

After all,

this burly Black man had already been won over by Racer Number 25's Personal Charm.

At the very least, if Su Wen wanted to smash something, Grace would go with him.

"The championship is already within reach."

At that moment,

Su Wen stomped on the accelerator.

Then he asked the former record holder beside him,

"What was your record?"

"One hour, seven minutes, and fifty-three seconds."

"That's a little too slow."

With a confident smile, Racer Number 25 accelerated once more.

The torque acceleration of the jet-black race car, its surface streaked with dark-blue data patterns, grew even louder.

At that moment,

even the host was getting nervous.

"Racer Number 25 is closing in on the Scavenger Organization's Westerly Harvester.

He lost a great deal of time saving Grace earlier.

Can he still break the record?

Let's wait and see."

At the same time,

Su Wen connected to the communications channel again and said,

"Detroit is a city gradually rotting under the law of the jungle. That has been my most immediate impression since arriving here.

But where weeds grow wild,

it also proves that life has never disappeared.

It merely advances from order toward a more unrestrained direction.

Now, I have seen this place's most striking core: 'resistance.'"

Su Wen drove the speeding race car.

His voice was resolute and brimming with confidence.

"So I will also let this city witness everything.

Tonight, be proud of your 'resistance'!"

The dark-blue stripes rippled across the body of the car, becoming blazing flames that would never go out.

Amid the roaring sound of the heavily modified car,

he accelerated all the way!

He surpassed Westerly Harvester!

He surpassed the fastest record Grace had once set!

He even

surpassed all the clamor of this city!