"Her new friend must be the same, but after keeping the line out for so long, I might as well keep going."
He might not care deep down, but Lin Anran wasn't about to reveal his true thoughts in conversation.
He typed away with practiced ease, then sent his reply.
Lin Anran: I may be in Japan, but I've been worried about you all this time, heading off on an expedition to Europe.
Lin Anran: You made a new friend so quickly. Now I can relax.
Lin Anran: You have to keep at it. No one believes in your potential more than I do. An overseas expedition is definitely the best choice!
Lin Anran: I know how badly you want to get stronger and fulfill our promise, but your health comes first. More than the races and the victories, I, as your doctor, just want you to stay safe and sound.
He still had to maintain his image as a gentle doctor and older brother.
Uma Musume who entered races only had to devote themselves to the competition and run with all their might. But Doctor Lin, back at headquarters, had a great deal to think about.
For example, how to earn their trust and even their affection; how to keep that whole bunch of fillies healthy; how to make them stronger while minimizing injuries; and how to keep the line out and reel in the big fish by getting to know other high-stakes-winning Uma Musume... Those were all things Lin Anran had considered—and genuinely done—back when he was in America.
Unfortunately, all he'd gotten in return was a little trust and affection from a bunch of useless minnows, and not a single gold coin. Bitterly disappointed, Lin Anran had left for Japan.
But the patient, scheming young doctor didn't think Dahlia was completely useless.
After all, who knew? Maybe Dahlia would meet some European monster even stronger than herself, one with a shot at winning a European GI someday.
Even if Dahlia couldn't pay a referral fee, she was still useful in her new surroundings!
Lin Anran: Dahlia, if you feel even the slightest bit unwell, remember—you absolutely must come see me right away.
Lin Anran: Since Lintailai is your new friend, she's welcome to ask me about any health problems she might have, too.
Lin Anran was showing Dahlia how much he valued her, while making it clear he was only offering to help for Dahlia's sake.
After a short while... Dahlia's reply appeared.
Dahlia: Don't get too worked up. Unless it's a serious injury, I won't give your contact information to anyone.
Dahlia: I absolutely won't let Lintailai "bother" you. There are plenty of doctors in Europe.
Seeing that, the scheming young doctor nodded with satisfaction.
As expected of the gentlest and most elegant of the Uma Musume he'd manipulated with his sweet talk. She really was good to him.
Dahlia: I'll always remember every word Doctor Lin has ever said to me~
Dahlia: So please wait for me to fulfill your hopes and the promise you made!
Dahlia: Once I've reached the top of Europe's turf, I'll fly to Japan to see you.
After reading the last message, Lin Anran's expression barely changed.
He calmly set down his phone and sighed.
"Dahlia's perfect in every way, from her personality to her figure. It's a shame... she's just way too confident in herself."
"Then again, she's still just a young filly. She has no idea how terrifying European turf can be."
Since arriving in Japan, Lin Anran had heard plenty about how terrifying European turf was.
Take the Arc de Triomphe, for example!
The Symboli family, home of Emperor Symbol of Rudolf, had once raised a genius Uma Musume who won the Japanese Derby: Sirius Symbol.
And back then, the Symboli family had done something incredibly bold and unbelievable: both of the family's greatest masterpieces had embarked on overseas expeditions at the same time.
Symboli Rudolf had gone to challenge the American turf GI St. Louis Ray Stakes; Sirius Symbol had gone to challenge the European turf GI, the Arc de Triomphe!
It was an audacious all-in! If they succeeded, the Symboli family would go down in the history books and shake the world!
But in the end, with only seven Uma Musume in the race, Symboli Rudolf—hailed as the strongest in Japanese history—finished sixth...
Sirius Symbol couldn't adapt to the Arc de Triomphe conditions at all, suffering a disastrous defeat and finishing outside the top ten.
One overseas expedition had been enough to set them straight!
Japan had long since recognized the gap between itself and the rest of the world.
Now, the URA was hoping Platinum would make an unprecedented breakthrough! If Platinum achieved anything in overseas races, they might as well treat her like their own ancestor!
The entire Japanese Uma Musume racing world had been trying for decades, yet had achieved practically nothing in European races.
Even Dahlia alone would probably have a hard time winning a race in Europe, wouldn't she?
With that thought, Lin Anran calmly sent his final reply.
Lin Anran: I never break my word. Keep working hard, Dahlia. I'll be proud of you!
Lin Anran: Whatever you want, I won't turn you down!
After all, they were all minnows. There was nothing to worry about!
He might as well keep making promises. It wasn't as if Big Red or Dahlia would actually manage to cash them in, right?
47. Lin Anran: I'm all about strength!
He might as well keep making promises. It wasn't as if Big Red or Dahlia would actually manage to cash them in, right?
Secretariat was on dirt, and Dahlia was on turf. There was no way they'd actually become the strongest, right?
That sort of thing... was impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Lin Anran believed that floundering fish could never turn things around—and the same went for minnows.
Back in America, Dahlia couldn't beat Big Red in dirt Training Races, while Big Red had fallen at the simplest of hurdles: the Debut Race!
Granted, he couldn't conclude from that alone that the average American Uma Musume was stronger than Big Red, who was stronger than Dahlia... and dirt and turf were entirely different disciplines.
But Lin Anran knew how terrifying European turf races were. The entire country of Japan had spent decades trying, and still struggled to win even a single middle-distance GI!
Big Red's failure had left the scheming doctor, who'd once pinned such high hopes on her, with a lasting, unfortunate impression. He'd decided then and there... they were all minnows!
Even though Big Red—Secretariat—had now won a GIII graded stakes race, it was going to take more than that to change his impression.
"Nothing to worry about. I'll give her the same answer next time."
Lin Anran remained perfectly composed. His utterly cold expression proved that he was...
A strength enthusiast!
In the eyes of this scummy doctor, there was no place for the weak!
All they had to do was listen to his sweet talk. They shouldn't expect any promises to come true—that would be harder than climbing to the heavens.
Lin Anran didn't know that he'd just made another promise he would deeply regret in the future...
The next day, at the Mejiro family home.
Several Mejiro family Uma Musume had gathered in the living room. The giant screen in front of them was showing a clip from the post-race interview after the Oaks, which had just concluded the day before.
That was, Platinum's interview.
The interview had become every bit as popular as an ordinary GI race, trending in the news all over the place!
Part of that was because the Oaks had been so shocking. You couldn't find another GI race anywhere in the world where a Looking Back at the Moon had occurred! Another reason was that the URA was treating Platinum like its "own daughter," constantly promoting her!
And then there were Platinum's answers in the interview, which were fascinating in their own right.
"Miss Platinum, what race will you prepare for next?"
"The Japanese Derby. The Triple Crown of Transformation."
"I've never been particularly impressed by any Uma Musume."
"—Just leave. No one will get hurt."
"As for the one who impressed me most..."
"Radiant Knight Margaret Linguang!"
On the screen, the silver-haired girl gleamed as she calmly answered the interviewer, her expression as placid as still water.
Even after winning with a Looking Back at the Moon—a victory that would go down in history—Miss Heavenly Horse didn't seem excited, surprised, or thrilled.
A victory in a style that would go down in the history books was nothing special in her eyes. It was as if Miss Heavenly Horse had long since grown accustomed to things far more dangerous and thrilling!
After watching the short interview clip, Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Aldan, and Mejiro Dober all showed a marked change in expression.
"Challenging the Japanese Derby in just a week? She's raced enough to be that terrifying already?"
"And she's... aiming for the legendary Triple Crown of Transformation, something no one has ever achieved before—or ever will again!"
Mejiro McQueen, hailed as the strongest long-distance champion currently racing in Japan, looked visibly moved—a rare sight.
Ever since defeating Tokai Teio in a long-distance race, Mejiro McQueen had had few rivals left in Japan. Her opponents in the Classic Year weren't usually worth worrying about.
Normally, no one would challenge Mejiro McQueen until the Arima Kinen at the end of the year, or until the peak of her Older Horses Year next year.
But that Miss Heavenly Horse had made even Mejiro McQueen feel... threatened!!
It was the same feeling she'd had when she faced top-class Uma Musume Tokai Teio in the Spring Tenno Sho.
And yet Platinum had only debuted a month ago. She'd just won her first GI and was still a newcomer!
"I won't give up the long-distance throne!"
At that moment, Mejiro McQueen no longer saw Platinum as a "promising junior." She saw her as...
An opponent! A terrifying opponent!
If it was Platinum, she really might win the Triple Crown of Transformation, then face Mejiro McQueen in the bloodiest battle of the Spring Tenno Sho!
Meanwhile, the clever and elegant strategist of the Mejiro family, Mejiro Aldan, was intrigued by the name Platinum had mentioned so earnestly.
Radiant Knight Margaret Linguang!
Just how strong was the one who could impress Miss Heavenly Horse?
"Unfortunately, judging by what Platinum said, that Linguang won't be coming to Japan."
"It's a shame we won't get to see the Radiant Knight in action."
The subjects that had caught Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Aldan's attention were also the most talked-about parts of the interview.
As for Mejiro Dober—
She suddenly looked dazed, as if she'd been caught in an Infinite Tsukuyomi.
As a "victim of the Heavenly Horse," Mejiro Dober's mind kept replaying the moment on the final stretch when that shining silver-haired girl had looked back at the moon and gazed down at her.
It was as though, atop the black, shadowy ruins, the silver Heavenly Horse—who stood above all others—had towered over the battlefield and coldly pronounced her verdict.
"That was a wonderful race. I don't think I'll ever forget you."
When she'd heard those words after the race, Mejiro Dober had felt a little comforted—and even a little relieved.
After all, that was a monster who'd won a GI by a dominant margin. Wasn't being remembered by her an honor in itself?
But—!!!
What was with this post-race interview?
"I've never been particularly impressed by any Uma Musume."
"I don't think I'll ever forget you..."
You said you wouldn't forget me!
Even the normally composed Mejiro Dober clenched her teeth, her heart giving a painful thump!
(So that meant... she'd forgotten me the moment she stepped onto the winners' podium, didn't she?)
Liar!!
Before you continue