When Lin Anran met Haidoushi's daughter, Star of Kaido, he'd been overjoyed and treated her like some young lady from a prestigious family.
To Star of Kaido, Lin Anran was one of the extremely rare people who spoke Chinese whom she'd met while traveling from Europe to America. She'd had many conversations with him.
But then...
Lin Anran suddenly learned how Star of Kaido had done in her Debut Race not long ago!
She'd lost her debut, coming in fourth!!
When he found out, he was completely dumbfounded.
Because Secretariat's Debut Race had gone exactly the same way: she'd lost, too!
Even the details of their defeats were identical: both Secretariat and Star of Kaido had come in fourth!
And after learning more, Lin Anran realized that Star of Kaido's mother had only won one GI race in her career—the Arc de Triomphe—and there weren't many outstanding Uma Musume in her family at present.
So Star of Kaido probably wasn't some young lady from a prestigious family, and she couldn't even win her Debut Race!
At the time, Lin Anran had instinctively labeled Star of Kaido a "loser," but then he thought...
Star of Kaido's mother had started out as a loser, too, only to turn things around and become the Arc de Triomphe champion. Maybe Star of Kaido had a chance of doing the same?
So Lin Anran had chosen to keep building a good relationship with Star of Kaido, then send her to Europe.
And a little over a month ago, before leaving, Lin Anran had sent her a copy of the group message with his promise, too.
The other girl had only replied, "Okay, then I'll take it seriously," and that was the end of it.
It wasn't until now, when Dahlia—who was also in Europe—sent him the news that her debut had gone well and happened to mention Star of Kaido, that Lin Anran remembered.
"So just like Secretariat, she came in fourth in her first Debut Race, then did well in the second."
"I wonder if Star of Kaido can win major races later on, like Secretariat?"
Lin Anran didn't dwell on it. He quickly put the matter out of his mind.
After all, even plenty of Uma Musume from prestigious families struggled to win in a place as competitive as Europe, right?
Let alone Dahlia and Star of Kaido. There was no need to pay attention to them.
He'd better check on Secretariat next door!
Lin Anran immediately opened the message from Secretariat.
Big Red: Doctor Lin, I just won a GII race.
Big Red: I'll start preparing for a GI race soon. I'm planning to enter the American Triple Crown!
Big Red: I hope my opponents in the Triple Crown will be strong. Otherwise, it'll be too boring.
The messages were brief, but the information they contained made the unscrupulous young doctor's eyes widen.
Winning a GII race meant she was qualified to enter a GI race!
"Gah! I leave, and you make your debut, go from winning a GIII to a GII, and now you're setting your sights on a GI?"
"Don't do this to me!!"
Lin Anran pressed his left hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat race, while pounding on the desk with his other hand.
He regretted it. He really regretted it now.
If only he'd signed an Exclusive Doctor contract with Big Red... Then he could've made bank off her.
What a shame. He'd already moved to Japan, so he couldn't make any money off Big Red now.
But Lin Anran soon regained his composure.
The American Triple Crown was far better known around the world than the Japanese Triple Crown, the French Triple Crown, and even the British Triple Crown!
It was also widely considered the hardest of all the major Triple Crowns, requiring a competitor to win three GI Races in just over a month!
That was why every Uma Musume who won the American Triple Crown went down in history and shocked the entire Uma Musume world.
Winning a GII didn't mean she could win a GI, let alone pull off the incredibly difficult American Triple Crown!
But then again—
If Secretariat really did win the American Triple Crown, then the strongest Uma Musume they'd promised each other they'd become might be within reach!
"Th-that... surely won't happen, right?"
Whenever Lin Anran thought about those losers he'd once been on great terms with, he'd confidently decided there was no need to pay attention to them.
But this time, he felt a little hesitant.
She probably... wouldn't win, right?
As Lin Anran pondered this...
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Someone knocked on the infirmary door from outside.
Lin Anran immediately got up and went to open it.
"Miss Teio?"
Lin Anran quickly spotted Tokai Teio standing outside with a smile.
The first thing that crossed the unscrupulous young doctor's mind was... Had she broken a bone again?
But Tokai Teio's posture was perfectly normal, and she showed no sign of an injury.
It was worth noting that Tokai Teio was holding a sheet of paper covered in lines of text. It looked like some kind of speech.
As soon as Tokai Teio entered the infirmary, she spoke up.
"Doctor Lin, thank you for treating me before. You helped me recover quickly so my injury wouldn't affect my performance for long."
"I've recovered now, my training's going really well, and I've gotten back into top form. I've decided to enter either the Takarazuka Kinen or the Tenno Sho! I came to share the good news with you!"
Tokai Teio's bright, lively smile was infectious, and even Lin Anran couldn't help smiling.
That was great news!
He'd be able to collect his share of the prize money from her next GI race!
(Gah, for the sake of my cut, Teio, you absolutely can't lose!)
That was what he thought. After composing himself, Lin Anran said, "Miss Teio, I hope you'll take good care of yourself during training and races!"
"Racing is important, of course, but as your doctor and friend, I hope you'll stay healthy."
Sure enough...
The innocent little filly Tokai Teio looked moved!
"Mm, I'll be careful."
After chatting a little longer with his highly valuable sponsor, Tokai Teio, Lin Anran glanced at the paper she was clutching and asked, "Miss Teio, are you... going somewhere to give a speech?"
Tokai Teio immediately shook her head.
"No. This is what I said about the student council president yesterday, when I was discussing Platinum's Japanese Derby performance!"
"That bit's spread everywhere now. They're calling it the Platinum Bible! I saw it trending!"
At that, Lin Anran's expression shifted ever so slightly.
Tokai Teio lowered her head and added, "The president was so excited and happy that her face turned red."
"As her number one fan, I'm going to memorize those words. Then, after my next race..."
"I'm planning to recite the whole thing live, too!!"
Tokai Teio spoke with firm resolve and a determined look in her eyes, leaving Lin Anran utterly stunned.
Did this little filly have a head made of iron? What a genius!
A loving father and filial child? Was she rebelling against her dignified father?!
Miss Teio, were you Mordred, about to slay King Arthur?
Oh, no—was it a loving mother and filial daughter?
"Ahem..."
"Then I wish you the best of luck, Miss Teio!"
With that, Lin Anran picked up his phone from the desk, ready to send off a few perfunctory replies to Secretariat and Dahlia.
"By the way, Miss Teio, what do you think... If an Uma Musume I know wants to become the strongest and then take me back to America..."
"What would be the best way to reply?"
Lin Anran's question immediately caught Tokai Teio's attention.
The petite Miss Teio put down the paper with the Platinum Bible and turned serious.
"Huh? Become the strongest and take you to America, Doctor Lin?!"
"Gah, no way!"
A fiercely possessive look flashed across Tokai Teio's face.
To her, this witty, good-natured, handsome young doctor was the best doctor she'd ever met!
When she'd broken a bone before, she'd gone to the prestigious Mejiro family for treatment and recuperation, but the results hadn't been very good. They'd even used a particularly huge needle!
By comparison, Lin Anran's treatments had been so comfortable and smooth, and they'd worked so quickly. He was a miracle worker! And he was such a nice person, too!
What was so great about America? He should stay in Japan.
"Doctor Lin, what are the names of these Uma Musume you know?"
Tokai Teio pressed him.
"Secretariat and Dahlia."
"I've never heard of them..."
Hearing that, Tokai Teio breathed a small sigh of relief.
She hadn't heard of either of them. The best Uma Musume might come from Europe or America, but just from those names, it was clear neither was a GI champion.
So there was absolutely no chance that some foreign Uma Musume from across the ocean would steal Doctor Lin away!
Having confirmed that they were losers, Tokai Teio lifted her head and addressed Lin Anran in a serious, almost icily confident voice.
"If that Secretariat really dares to try anything, I'll deal with her!!"
As Japan's Undefeated Two Crowns and the heir to the strongest Emperor!
Tokai Teio felt she had every right to compete against non-GI-champion Uma Musume from Europe and America. That wasn't blind confidence, was it?
Hearing that, Lin Anran smiled and nodded.
"Mm, I hope so~"
A little while later, Lin Anran saw Tokai Teio out.
After closing the door, he sent off a casual reply to Dahlia and Secretariat,
and the unscrupulous young doctor finally turned his attention back to his post-race system reward.
"System Superman, open your eyes. It's Lin Anran!"
The next moment, the system panel opened.
Winning race: Japanese Derby (14 lengths) Calculating rewards...
A few seconds later, the already brief text changed.
Reward: (Inherited Factor), (Three months of paid leave · one-time)
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