Uma Musume: To The Top!!

Chapter 327 327: 438

As a professional tabloid reporter, Jenna's ability to get things done was beyond reproach.

After being scared off by the pressure from Godolphin and McQueen that day, she needed only two days to deliver both her interview outline and the competitor data she had collected to Kuroha.

Afterward, Kuroha kept his word and gave her a one-on-one exclusive interview.

During the interview, Kuroha revealed almost no substantive tactical information, but that did not matter. An exclusive first interview found nowhere else in all of Europe was enough, in traffic and commission alone, to let Miss Reporter make a very tidy profit.

So when Jenna walked out of the manor, even though she had the faint sense that she had been thoroughly exploited, she was not dissatisfied in the slightest. On the contrary, she looked like she was about to float off from sheer happiness.

"Still…"

Jenna stopped and looked back at the magnificent manor behind her with a conflicted expression.

"I leaked information about Suave Dancer and the others too. That… probably won't cause any problems, right?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and for some reason, she felt a pang of guilt, as if she had become a traitor to France.

But that thought lasted less than three seconds before she decisively threw it to the back of her mind.

She was a reporter. What was she supposed to do, ask permission?

Could dignity be exchanged for money?

Could patriotic sentiment buy a Hermès bag?

As a qualified reporter, this was exactly the kind of moment when one had to keep an open mind.

After promptly correcting her attitude, Miss Reporter hummed a little tune and cheerfully walked away.

…

At the same time, inside one of the manor's rooms.

Kuroha sat quietly at the desk.

The computer screen in front of him had been split into several windows, each playing recordings of major graded races at the same time.

As he watched the figures galloping across the tracks on-screen, he narrowed his eyes and flipped through the information Jenna had provided.

"Generous, Magic Night, Blue Pistol, and… Suave Dancer."

"Even in the intelligence an ordinary reporter can gather, there are already at least four Uma Musume who have stepped into the second stage of Domain?"

Kuroha slowly exhaled and stacked the documents in his hand.

"If this were two years ago, any one of these girls would have had the qualifications to contend for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. But now, they're all in the same generation."

He had been mentally prepared for it.

Even so, the sheer number of genius Uma Musume suddenly erupting onto the overseas scene this year still surprised him somewhat.

There were still four full months until the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, yet four top-class Uma Musume who controlled Domains had already surfaced.

And that was not even counting any Uma Musume who might still be hiding their information or true strength.

No one knew how many dark horses would be waiting in full readiness by the day of the main race.

"This year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe… looks like it'll be even more interesting than I expected."

After closing his eyes and thinking for a while, Kuroha opened his computer and began organizing all the collected information for later use.

The Three Goddesses' evaluation of McQueen was: the strongest of this era.

Purely in terms of numbers, McQueen was indeed flawless.

Not only did she possess the absolute top tier of physical data, but she had also awakened to the third stage of Domain, something no one else in the current era had reached: World.

But Kuroha knew very well that Uma Musume races were never games where the winner could be decided by comparing numbers.

A toenail injury at the start, a late break, losing position, running out of stamina, terrible condition, a fully maxed-out UG losing to a B+. These things happened all the time.

Even an Uma Musume with every stat completely maxed out could still trip up in a ditch.

Kuroha could not control what happened during the race itself.

But at the very least, as McQueen's trainer, he needed to eliminate as many mistakes caused by off-track factors as possible.

"Tap, tap, tap!"

From the direction of the training grounds not far away, two thunderous sounds suddenly rang out, as if something were tearing through the air.

Even from such a distance, the sound of horseshoes striking the ground could still be faintly felt.

Kuroha was not surprised in the slightest. After saving the files, he shut the computer, stood up, and stretched.

From today onward, the brief period of leisure was completely over.

The overseas expedition had officially begun.

…

Chantilly Grand Manor, Dedicated Training Ground No. 08.

The blue-haired goddess stood at the edge of the railing, quietly watching the track.

Within her field of vision, two high-speed figures seemed wrapped in wind and thunder as they crossed paths again and again.

Every now and then, however, the silver figure would take advantage of a moment when the purple figure failed to react and clip her with a sudden hit.

The amount of physical contact was practically maxed out.

"How's their condition?"

A calm voice sounded from behind her.

Godolphin did not turn around. She simply smiled gently and said, "Excellent. Little McQueen's adaptation speed to French turf is astonishing. In just one morning, she's already recovered at least eighty percent of her competitive form."

"At this rate, she should be able to face the challenges here in her complete state in about three days."

"Oh? That fast?"

Kuroha walked up beside Godolphin and looked at the streak of purple light on the track with some surprise.

"It looks like your previous training was very effective."

Godolphin shook her head slightly and said softly, "That's because the technique you taught her is just too suited to this kind of situation. It isn't entirely thanks to us Three Goddesses."

Kuroha did not refute her.

Wet Conditions.

Ever since he had exchanged for this adaptability skill after becoming a trainer, it had played an enormous role.

From Fujimasa March to Inari One, this skill had been passed down to several top Uma Musume. Now, as it came to Europe with McQueen, it had become the sturdiest cornerstone for her challenge to the summit of the world.

"My eye back then really was pretty ahead of its time…"

Kuroha rubbed his chin. Fluorescent light flickered in his eyes, and at the same time, the system panel opened.

[Mejiro McQueen]

[Surface Aptitude: Turf S, Dirt C]

[Distance Aptitude: Short G, Mile B, Medium S, Long S]

[Running Style Aptitude: Front Runner S, Pace Chaser S, Late Surger B, End Closer F]

[Unique Skill: The Duty of Dignity Calls Lv5]

[Domain: End of the Sky - World!]

[Skills: Prudent Positioning, Concentration, Wet Conditions, Professor of Curvature, Hydrate, Spring Runner, Stamina Keep, Maintaining a Lead, Highlander, Long-Distance Straightaways…]

[Speed: 1572, Stamina: 1724, Power: 1521, Guts: 1601, Wit: 1643]

(End of Chapter)

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