Before the Select Sale

That afternoon, Kitano and Ogawa Kanna returned to Nishiken Farm.

After the private transaction was concluded, Resistance Queen would stay at New Life Ranch for a while.

Her official entry into the stable would have to wait until Kitano completed her name registration and racehorse registration, then submitted an application to race with the Hokkaido Racing Association.

In the meantime, New Life Ranch's staff would continue training Resistance Queen for the new-horse aptitude test.

The test primarily covered gate breaks and racing ability.

"Mr. Kitano, how did it go?"

After exchanging greetings, Ogawa Joe was the first to ask.

Ogawa Masaru, standing behind him, also looked over curiously.

Judging by his complexion, the boy seemed to have mostly recovered from his cold.

"The deal went through. Miss Ogawa was a tremendous help."

Kitano handed over some yokan and matcha daifuku he had picked up on the way as a token of thanks.

"You really didn't have to be so polite! My daughter only did a little thing."

Accepting the gift box with both hands, Ogawa Joe spoke with a beaming smile.

Meanwhile, the siblings began their own exchange.

You owe me one.

Ogawa Kanna's eyes clearly said exactly that.

"It was just a few words!"

"But I went in your place, you know~"

Ogawa Kanna lifted her chin slightly, looking rather pleased with herself.

There was truly no way to refute that.

Ogawa Masaru could only nod helplessly, admitting defeat in this round.

"Mr. Kitano, you'll be attending the Select Sale tomorrow too, right?"

"That's right, though I don't have anyone in particular I'm watching at the moment."

Kitano answered honestly.

Like the other owners, he had received this year's auction catalog early on, but he had not spent much time studying it so far.

Partly because he trusted his own eye, and partly because the Detector had to be used on site.

Besides, with bids at the Select Sale easily reaching tens of millions of yen, the little over ten million yen Kitano had available was hardly much.

Not to mention that a considerable portion of that money already had other purposes.

"I see..."

Ogawa Joe nodded without pressing the matter further.

Was he keeping his target confidential for now?

Still, he could more or less understand Mr. Kitano's difficulties.

In the past, owners and breeders had much closer connections, while trainers served as bridges between the two sides.

But that had been a long time ago.

The introduction of the auction system had completely shattered the unspoken understanding between owners, trainers, and breeders.

Even rookie owners now had the opportunity to purchase racehorses with excellent pedigrees and outstanding conformation through auctions.

Breeders and owners did not even need to make contact.

Under such circumstances, revealing one's target before an auction could easily invite unnecessary trouble.

The two of them nodded at the same time, as though they had reached the same understanding.

Kitano had indeed considered trying to win big with a small investment.

However, there were not many opportunities to pick up bargains at the upcoming Hokkaido Select Sale.

Compared with the wealthy tycoons who spent lavishly at the Shadai Select Sale, the owners attending the Hokkaido Select Sale tended to be more experienced and practical.

Taking advantage of them would not be easy.

So it would be better to focus on the summer auction a month later, as well as the subsequent auctions in September and October.

"There should be over five hundred foals and yearlings at this year's auction, right? Brother Kitano will have plenty to choose from."

Ogawa Masaru looked over with obvious curiosity.

Ogawa Joe sighed and barely restrained the urge to swing his cane.

This idiot who could not read the room!

"Take away the first horse and the last horse, and the rest are my options."

After saying that, Kitano laughed first.

Normally, the opening Lot 1 and the final horse to close the auction were the best in the entire sale in terms of pedigree and conformation.

Even if they did not become the sale topper, they would not come cheap.

With Kitano's roughly ten million yen, he probably could not even afford one of their legs.

As for searching through more than five hundred remaining horses and accurately finding a strong prospect within his budget—

He did not have that kind of ability.

Leaving the difficult work for tomorrow's self might sound a little irresponsible.

But with the Detector, it was a different matter.

The next day, Kitano set out early.

His destination was the Hidaka Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Business Division in Shizunai Asahi Town, a ten-minute drive away.

The place commonly known as Hokkaido Market.

Most owners from outside Hokkaido arrived in Niikappu Town a day early. Aside from enjoying local customs different from those of the big cities, they could also rest up for the Select Sale the next day.

Kitano, who could barely count as half a local, had no such awareness at all.

Like a redneck rancher heading to market, he drove his pickup into Hokkaido Market and strode into the Select Sale venue.

Along the way, he exchanged greetings with several acquaintances from the veterinarians' association.

"Good morning, Branch Chief Arakawa."

Under a support tent marked "Monbetsu Farm," he spotted Mr. Arakawa preparing various tools.

Though the weather was already scorching, Mr. Arakawa was still dressed head to toe in full veterinary gear.

"Kitano, huh—"

Arakawa gave a slight nod before smiling. "You're here as an owner today, right? Then may you buy yourself a Derby horse."

"Thank you for the kind words. Thanks for your hard work."

After that, he wandered around aimlessly for a while longer.

Only when the hostess's gentle voice began flowing through the broadcast speakers did Kitano pick up the auction catalog that every owner had received and begin flipping through it.

"First horse, sire Kitasan Black... next."

Expressionless, he turned to the next page.

"Sire Iron Bird Soaring Sky, damsire Good Omen... next."

He turned another page.

"Sire Equinox... next."

His page-turning speed began to increase.

To be clear, Kitano did not hold any prejudice against those famous horses.

He was simply poor.

"To avoid unnecessary errors, we will now announce the horses absent today in order of appearance..."

Over the broadcast, the woman began reading out a long string of numbers.

Following the example of the other owners, Kitano began marking the absent horses in his catalog.

Good.

They all looked like horses he could not afford anyway.

Then, just as he thought the Select Sale was about to begin, the hostess started introducing the accomplishments of horses purchased at last year's Select Sale.

It looked like this was going to drag on forever.

Kitano kept up the pose of listening attentively for less than two minutes before secretly pulling out his phone.

When he noticed that everyone around him was doing something similar, the faint guilt in his heart instantly eased considerably.

He had accumulated quite a few direct messages on X, most of them veterinary consultations.

He might as well answer them now.

"Mr. Kitano."

At that moment, a familiar voice came from beside him.

He looked up and saw the three members of the Ogawa family, dressed formally.

"If you don't mind, shall we go in together?"

Ogawa Joe smiled as he pointed toward the passage leading into the venue.

"Of course. Let's go together."

Kitano nodded, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Shouldn't they be using the breeders' entrance?

Apparently noticing his hesitant look, Ogawa Masaru explained quietly, "Strictly speaking, our farm counts as both an owner and a breeder. We're here to bid today too."

"Perhaps we'll become rivals, Mr. Kitano."

Ogawa Joe made a joke as well.