Chapter 111: System, Add Points!
“Hello everyone, I’m your Kool Kenny.”
“And I’m your Taimei.”
The two hosts appeared on the big screen, side by side, both wearing the same practiced smiles.
“Regular viewers should be quite familiar with us by now. Today’s Silverstone Advanced Race will be jointly commentated by me, Kool Kenny, and your favorite Taimei!”
“This advanced race uses full-track surveillance to make sure every competitor’s performance is recorded—and, of course, to prevent certain drivers and Mecha Girls from doing anything indecent inside their vehicles.” Kool Kenny spoke with a solemn, righteous expression.
At the starting grid, Snowpeak heard this and awkwardly tucked the [Okamoto 001 (Wolf Fang Edition)] behind her back. The Silverstone Advanced Race was an official event, and privacy films were strictly forbidden. Otherwise, she would have plastered the entire car with them long ago—then she and Leon Li could do whatever they wanted inside.
“Kool Kenny, there are quite a few popular contenders in this Silverstone Advanced Race!”
Taimei smoothly took over as the big screen shifted to Laiya An and Dawnbreak.
“The ace of TSD Club—Laiya An–Dawnbreak—is wearing a bright red racing suit today. Very festive. Let’s wish them a strong start to the race!”
A week earlier, Laiya An had enthusiastically invited Derek Su to join the club, only to be flatly rejected. She believed her idol hadn’t acknowledged her strength—or the strength of Dawn’s Voice. That was why she intended to go all out in this Silverstone Advanced Race and force Derek Su to see her in a new light.
Laiya An smiled brightly and waved at the camera.
Beside her, Dawnbreak maintained a sour expression.
Her wolf-like gaze locked viciously onto Derek Su in the distance.
How dare that brat reject her precious Laiya An?!
She had never once turned Laiya An down. Just thinking of the disappointment on Laiya An’s face back then made her grind her teeth in fury.
That damn man!
Today, she would crush him on the track!
Derek Su scratched his butt and turned around in confusion.
There were simply too many drivers and Mecha Girls clustered around the volcanic crater. He never noticed Dawnbreak’s murderous stare.
He only felt a chill run down his back, as if someone were thinking about him in a very unfriendly way.
The camera shifted again, landing on Miles Wang and Hurricane.
The young master of SSC Club looked the same as ever—sunglasses on, cigarette in his mouth, acting arrogantly before the race.
Hurricane, by contrast, appeared calm and composed, hands folded in front of her abdomen, a gentle smile on her face.
Next, the camera moved to Derek Su and Stella.
The stands instantly erupted.
“Magician! Magician! L–O–V–E! Magician~”
A chorus of clear, high-pitched voices rang out, instantly recognizable and completely drowning out the surrounding chatter.
Derek Su stared toward the stands in a daze.
At the very front of the Silverstone Circuit stands were five rows of girls dressed in revealing outfits. They all wore the same flashy pink racing suits with Hello Kitty prints, chanting slogans and waving pom-poms energetically.
Oh?
He had a cheer squad now? Since when?
Derek Su gazed at them with a blissful expression.
Who would’ve thought that just racing could earn him celebrity treatment?
Not bad at all~
“Hmph! Where are you looking, Master?” Stella stepped in front of Derek Su and covered his eyes with her hands. Pouting, cheeks puffed out, she scolded, “Don’t look. The race is about to start—focus!”
Before she even finished speaking, another roar rose up.
“Stella! Stella! Charge forward!”
“Stella! Stella! Unstoppable!”
This time it was a group of middle-aged men and otaku types, going head-to-head with the girls’ cheer squad. They held support banners and wore headbands printed with “XC-99.”
Their voices weren’t as loud, but they had megaphones.
“Oh? You’ve got a fan club too?” Derek Su pinched Stella’s soft cheeks and said sarcastically, “When did this happen? How come I didn’t know?”
“How would I know?” Stella was just as confused.
She had never realized she had so many middle-aged fans.
Seeing Derek Su’s awkward expression, she suddenly smirked. Hugging his arm, she leaned close and whispered into his ear,
“Huh? Could it be that a little weakling Master is jealous because his Mecha Girl has her own fan club? As expected of a weakling~♥”
“Jealous? No way.” Derek Su waved his hand, pretending to be relaxed. “Only pure, innocent virgins get jealous. I’m a mature, steady dad-type. Jealousy? Impossible!”
“Oh?” Stella narrowed her eyes smugly. “Then after the race, I’ll go sign autographs for my fans…”
“No! You’re not going!”
“Why not?”
“I’m the master. What I say goes!” Derek Su said solemnly.
Stella stared at him, then burst out laughing.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.
“Hehe, alright, alright. I won’t go~”
The camera faithfully captured the scene.
Taimei couldn’t help giving them an amused, suggestive look. “Looks like our most popular racer—the Magician—and his Mecha Girl share quite a special relationship, huh?”
Kool Kenny immediately followed up. “Only the closest bond can achieve true human–machine unity!”
Taimei raised an eyebrow. “Why do I feel like you’re driving just now?”
“Was I?” Kool Kenny scoffed. “Only people with dirty minds see dirt everywhere!”
“Ahem. Enough banter. It’s now ten in the morning, and the Silverstone Advanced Race officially begins.” Taimei instantly slipped into professional mode as the screen switched to an aerial view, clearly showing the abyss-like terrain of the Loren Dead Volcano.
“This race uses a staggered start, with a 30-second interval between each competitor. The full course is 576 kilometers long. The racer who reaches the finish line in the shortest time will be crowned champion of the Silverstone Advanced Race. Countdown to launch begins!”
As the countdown echoed through the speakers,
Zane, positioned at the very front of the grid, couldn’t help swallowing.
What rotten luck. He’d been the road sweeper in the Greenfield Advancement Race, and now he was the road sweeper again here.
Looks like he’d have to draw lots himself next time—he couldn’t let Lingwind handle it anymore.
“Master, don’t be nervous. D-d-d… we can definitely do this!” Lingwind held Zane’s hand and tried to comfort him softly.
Zane turned back and looked at her helplessly. “Before you say that, could you stop shaking first? It’s not very convincing, Lingwind.”
“I-I-I’m not shaking… d-d-d…”
“Forget it. Just deploy already.”
Zane chuckled helplessly.
He had been nervous at first, but seeing Lingwind even more flustered than himself somehow calmed him down. Maybe that was the responsibility of being a driver.
One Mecha Girl after another launched onto the track.
Soon, it was Derek Su’s turn.
He climbed into Stella’s cockpit, eyes cold and focused on the track ahead.
In a corner of the stands, Purple Lightning clenched her fists tightly, eyes closed as she silently prayed for Derek Su and Stella.
“Please make it to the finish safely…”
“I’m counting on you.”
...
Elsewhere in the audience, Chloe Qin and Howard Wang watched with sinister expressions.
“Just wait and see, Little Moon. That kid Derek Su definitely won’t make the top ten today.”
“So confident?” Chloe Qin raised an eyebrow. If she really got to see Derek Su fail, it would be quite satisfying.
“Heh.” Howard Wang smiled mysteriously. “Money can make even ghosts push millstones…”
...
[Driver 55, prepare for launch!]
[10, 9, 8…]
Derek Su pulled up the handbrake and floored the accelerator.
Vrooom—!
The engine howled, spinning wildly as the turbulent airflow blasted dust away from the tires.
Stella stared straight ahead, eyes wide, breath held.
[…Three… two… one!!!]
The instant the starting gun fired—
“System, add points!!”
Derek Su dumped all 70 MP points into Stella’s acceleration.
Her base acceleration instantly jumped from 90.2 to 97.2. With the [Waterfall] Module equipped, it still reached a staggering 93.2—an absolutely terrifying figure. That seemingly odd extra 0.2 was the result of Stella’s relentless day-and-night training, proof that it had paid off.
He released the handbrake and gripped the control stick.
Sand and dust exploded outward as Stella shot forward like an arrow loosed from the bow!
“I’ll make sure none of you ever see my tail lights!”
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