In the luxurious box at the very top of the stands, Blaze, Black Rabbit, and Meng Qiya, the muntjac who had made a special trip from the Imperial Capital, sat on a long bench, watching the racetrack.
"Landen's idea was brilliant," Meng Qiya praised. "How much money must this one competition bring in?"
"Actually, it doesn't even make tens of thousands of Gold Coins a year," Blaze said indifferently. "The important thing is that it brings together the Herbivore Beastmen, who used to be scattered all over the place, and helps them integrate into the Gallop Plains."
After several months of refining the competition format, the Centaur Maiden Racing Competition had become a comprehensive event. To outsiders, it was a brand-new tourism draw for Night-Kirin City. Seeing the pandas, watching the races, and enjoying the hot springs had replaced the Spring Ceremony as the city's main attraction, improving how outsiders viewed Night-Kirin City.
For Night-Kirin City, the income from these competitions and tourism was more transparent and healthy than the money the priests made from their customs-related businesses. It also gave Landen ample confidence to manage that bunch of priests.
For the Beastmen, it was a year-round celebration. The Centaur Maidens selected through the competition would become Blaze's priests, touring the various tribes to spread Blaze's will.
"Indeed. These girls come to Night-Kirin City not just to compete. They also learn to care for magical beasts, manage their tribes, and interact with the various races in the city. When they eventually become Blaze's priests and return to their own tribes, they'll also serve as a link between their tribes and the city." Meng Qiya could see the bigger picture.
"Exactly. In addition to the races, there are specialized competitions and assessments. Even if they don't become priests, they can still