Chapter 155 - 156

Chapter 155: Hidden Agendas

Derek Su looked up and saw the sponsor. What a rare guest.

He told Zane to take over the interviews, then quickly led Beto Ming, Blazing Wind, and Vanessa Ming into the lounge off to the side.

“Sir, what brings you here? We haven’t even used up the racing suits yet.”

His eyes fell on the little girl in the wheelchair, who was staring at him with bright, sparkling eyes. He smiled. “Is this your daughter? She’s just as cute as in the photos.”

“Yes, my daughter.” Beto Ming nodded.

Blazing Wind felt awkward under Derek Su’s gaze.

At The Blade Path Training Match, she and Chloe Qin had taken the initiative to stir up trouble. In the Maratela Training Race afterward, they hadn’t gone looking for conflict, but they had still been Derek Su’s opponents. Now, standing in front of him, she lowered her head in embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the floor.

“Derek Su, I’m your fan!”

Vanessa Ming was visibly excited the moment she saw him. Her pretty face flushed red—though the redness carried a faint, unhealthy tinge. Beto Ming’s expression changed, and he hurried to take out her medicine, but Vanessa Ming had already taken several deep breaths and steadied herself.

She shook her head at her father.

She didn’t want her idol to see her taking medicine.

Vanessa Ming pulled out a racing suit and a marker she had prepared in advance. Blazing Wind immediately pushed her up to Derek Su. Holding the racing suit in both hands, her eyes shining with longing and joy, she said, “Please sign it for me, idol!”

Derek Su naturally couldn’t refuse such a little angel. He signed without hesitation.

He had once suspected that the old man’s claim about his daughter’s illness not being too serious might be exaggerated. But seeing Vanessa Ming now—her knuckles so thin the bones were clearly outlined as she clutched the suit—it was obvious that beneath her clothes she must be nothing but skin and bones.

With that kind of wealth, would the old man really deny his daughter good food and care?

It could only be her condition. Strict dietary restrictions. Perhaps IV drips were her main source of nourishment.

“Yay! I got my idol’s autograph!” Vanessa Ming cheered, hugging the racing suit tightly. She giggled. “Mission accomplished today! In the future, I’m definitely going to race on the track wearing a suit signed by Derek Su!”

“You’ll have that chance.” Derek Su gently patted her head.

The sponsor stayed for a while before leaving with Vanessa Ming, leaving Blazing Wind behind at the Stella Club.

He only introduced Blazing Wind’s basic background. As for his true identity and anything related to the Maratela treatment team, he didn’t mention a word.

“Blazing Wind, train hard!” Vanessa Ming waved her pink-cased phone and grinned mischievously. “I’ve got Derek Su’s contact now. If you slack off at the club, I’ll know anytime~”

Blazing Wind waved back at the little angel.

How could she possibly slack off?

If becoming world-class could cure Vanessa Ming’s illness, she would give everything she had.

Blazing Wind knew that many people’s gazes in this world were fake. But she refused to believe the purity in Vanessa Ming’s eyes was fake too. If Vanessa Ming and Beto Ming turned out to be as good at deception as Chloe Qin, she would accept that.

“Blazing Wind?” Derek Su smiled as he looked her over.

Today really was a double blessing. First the wealthy Absolute Shadow Mecha Girl, and now Blazing Wind.

The club not only had enough Mecha Girls now—it even had one extra.

You couldn’t underestimate the number of Mecha Girls in a club. The more they had, the more drivers they could attract. And the overall quality of the Mecha Girls reflected the club’s strength, naturally drawing talented drivers to apply.

“Boss, I’m sorry about what happened on the track.”

Blazing Wind’s face flushed red. She lowered her head in apology, twisting her skirt so hard it nearly tore.

“Whether it was at The Blade Path or the Maratela the other day, I’m really sorry!”

Facing Derek Su alone was manageable.

If Stella were here too, she’d want to sink into the ground.

Bang!

The door was shoved open by Ironhead.

“Wow, Master, it’s lively today!” Stella walked in from outside.

She had a pineapple helmet perched on her head and shopping bags slung over her shoulder. Through the opening, you could see they were filled with all kinds of novels.

Imperial Scale and Tunbao followed behind her.

Imperial Scale held a pink pig plushie in her arms. Her pretty face was expressionless, almost cold. Her chin rested on the plush pig’s head as her gaze swept around the hall, finally settling on Blazing Wind with a trace of caution in her eyes.

Tunbao carried a pile of large and small shopping bags, her face dark, teeth clenched, resentment written all over her.

“So many people came to apply today! Our Stella Club is really famous now!”

Stella bounced over and plopped down beside Derek Su.

Imperial Scale sat on the sofa close to Blazing Wind. Tunbao crab-walked over, dumped the shopping bags onto the coffee table, threw her head back onto the couch, then wriggled toward Imperial Scale’s long, pale legs like a squirming caterpillar.

Almost everyone’s gaze landed on Blazing Wind.

Her face turned bright red, and with a hiss, a puff of white steam shot out from her head.

She covered her burning cheeks, her brain feeling like it was about to short-circuit.

What do I do? What do I do…

Why did everyone have to show up? This is so embarrassing!

What if Derek Su refuses my apology? What if he won’t let me join the club?

Should I run out crying? Walk out coolly? Or cling to the doorframe until I get kicked out?

When I leave, should I step with my left foot first or my right?!

Ahhh…

This is impossible!

...

“What’s there to apologize for?” Derek Su said. “Competition on the track is normal. I can even understand Chloe Qin’s actions. I’ve seen worse… Mr. Ming already told me you’ve terminated your contract with Chloe Qin. You want to join the Stella Club? No problem at all. We welcome you.”

“Huh?” Blazing Wind looked up blankly, revealing her red, rabbit-like eyes.

Stella beside Derek Su was all smiles.

Tunbao and Imperial Scale didn’t seem to object either.

The Stella Club—what she had considered hell-level difficulty—was cleared just like that?

Oh, just ignore me.

What she didn’t know was—

Derek Su wore a sincere expression, but in his heart he was chanting: Free talent is great. Free talent is sweet. Free talent is unbeatable.

Stella beside him was indeed smiling.

“I’m going to be the queen! I’m going to be the queen! Keep smiling, keep smiling… keep smiling! Hehehe~”

As for Imperial Scale and Tunbao…

One was wondering where to place the pig plushie.

The other was thinking about what to eat for lunch. And if nothing else worked, maybe chop Derek Su into pieces and pickle him.

After all, she had been the one forced to carry so many heavy bags!

“Really? I can really, really join the Stella Club?”

Blazing Wind asked again and again.

The sudden happiness left her tongue-tied.

The corners of Derek Su’s lips lifted into a sly smile. “Of course you can. But before that, let your boss here give you a checkup.”

He narrowed his eyes and focused.

Blazing Wind’s attribute panel appeared before him.

At first, Derek Su didn’t react.

The stats were the same as before.

【Drifting: 70 points】
【Acceleration: 89 points】
【Cornering: 60 points】
【Boost Charge: 80 points】
【Stability: 68 points】
【Impact Resistance: 72 points】
【Endurance: 74 points】

But beneath those attributes, there was something new—something that made his pupils contract sharply.

Holy—

It was a special skill.

Called—

Hyper-Core Synchronization!

...

Chapter 156: Post-Match Arrangements

【Hyper-Core Synchronization: Achieves driver-machine unity, enhancing neural reflexes and allowing shared muscle memory and techniques. Both parties bear the mental and physical strain. When the Hyper-Core state is actively activated, it triggers a mental storm, placing both the Mecha Girl and the driver into “bullet time.” However, Boost Charge consumption increases with each use.】

Derek Su stared at Blazing Wind’s special ability, at a loss for words.

He was certain Blazing Wind wasn’t supposed to have a special skill.

Back when she was under Chloe Qin, he had no way of confirming whether she had one. But if she did, why would Chloe Qin not use it?

Unlike Stella’s ability, Blazing Wind’s skill didn’t seem to have any attribute restrictions.

Hyper-Core Synchronization was a hybrid passive-active skill.

The active effect was easy to understand—bullet time.

In a game, that would be considered extremely beginner-friendly. When a corner exceeds the limits of neural reflexes, bullet time can carry you through. Even the most outrageous, high-difficulty maneuvers become manageable when slowed down like that.

The passive aspect, meanwhile, looked like a constant enhancement.

It fused the Mecha Girl and the driver into a single whole.

That naturally improved the driver’s control over the machine body—each becoming an extension of the other.

But the real question was…

Where did Blazing Wind’s special skill come from?

Could an ordinary Mecha Girl awaken into a top-tier one?

He had never heard of such a thing.

Derek Su looked at Blazing Wind with a complicated expression, like a scientist staring at a white lab mouse that had suddenly grown three heads and could still move freely.

“Blazing Wind,” he said bluntly, “tell me honestly—where did you get that special skill?”

No probing. No subtlety. Straight to the point.

Blazing Wind looked up in shock, eyes wide.

Stella’s mouth fell open in an O shape.

Blazing Wind was secretly a top-tier Mecha Girl?

Imperial Scale frowned slightly, hugging her pig-head plushie as she edged closer to Blazing Wind.

Tunbao, who had been about to launch a sneak attack on Imperial Scale’s legs, suddenly pounced at empty air and slammed headfirst into the hard sofa armrest. She clutched her forehead and rolled around in pain.

...

“I—I… um…”

How did Derek Su know?

Blazing Wind bit her lower lip, panic rising in her chest. A thin layer of cold sweat formed on her back. How was she supposed to explain this?

She had always known she would have to tell Derek Su eventually. She just hadn’t figured out what explanation to give for her special skill before he charged straight at the question without warning. At that moment, the gaze of the Stella Club’s owner felt even more terrifying than that old man’s.

Standing under his stare, she felt completely exposed. Not just her secrets—she felt stripped bare, with nowhere to hide.

“I don’t know.”

She lowered her head, fingers twisting together in front of her stomach as she answered honestly.

“It was after the tornado. Chloe Qin beat me so badly, and my Endurance was completely drained. I couldn’t hold on and passed out. When I woke up, I’d already been taken away by the Colossus Group medical team. That’s when I realized I had gained a special skill.”

A special skill that appeared out of nowhere?

Derek Su could tell she wasn’t lying. Blazing Wind was the kind of Mecha Girl who wore everything on her face. Just explaining this much had nearly brought her to tears.

Perhaps, when pushed to the brink, Mecha Girls could erupt like humans sometimes did, triggering unimaginable changes. It was just that such cases were extremely rare—or perhaps deliberately covered up. In any case, no one knew how to awaken an ordinary Mecha Girl into a top-tier one.

And now he had encountered one himself.

That alone made it worth studying.

Since Blazing Wind truly didn’t know, he didn’t press further.

“Alright. I was just asking casually. No need to be so nervous.” Derek Su’s expression softened, returning to that of a kind and approachable boss.

Blazing Wind glanced at him cautiously, finally relaxing a little.

What she had feared most was that he wouldn’t believe her.

After all, not being able to explain anything made her look extremely suspicious.

Now it seemed that this genius driver known as The Magician was actually easy to get along with. If it had been Chloe Qin…

Blazing Wind shuddered.

Given Chloe Qin’s personality, she probably would have peeled her skin off to get to the truth.

“Come over. Don’t just stand there. Sign the agreement. From now on, you’ll be a Mecha Girl of the Stella Club.” Derek Su took out a contract and slid it toward her.

Contracts varied slightly from club to club.

The differences mainly lay in the benefits and degree of freedom granted to the Mecha Girls.

The Stella Club’s benefits were average, but the level of freedom was exceptionally high.

So high that Blazing Wind felt a little dazed.

After joining the Stella Club, she was free to come and go as long as she didn’t learn Derek Su’s techniques.

If she wanted to learn his techniques, she had to pay tuition.

The courses would get progressively more expensive, but as long as she participated in enough training races, she could afford it. There were no penalty fees.

It almost felt like Derek Su was running a charity.

But from his perspective, that wasn’t the case. Techniques would eventually spread. Even if he kept them to himself, someone talented would analyze race footage and figure them out—people like Leon Li or Lucy Luo, both extremely sensitive to technical details.

Instead of hoarding them, it was better to monetize them openly.

A master leads you to the door; cultivation depends on yourself.

Even if he taught everything without reservation, racing still relied heavily on talent. How far someone could go depended entirely on the individual.

Besides, he was confident that once Mecha Girls like Blazing Wind and Absolute Shadow experienced the benefits of learning his techniques, they wouldn’t want to leave the Stella Club.

As for those who left—so be it.

Those who abandon me are merely yesterday’s past.

Only those who remain become the backbone.

There might be Mecha Girls and drivers who left in the future.

But once they walked out, no matter how much they regretted it or how much money they threw at the door, the Stella Club would never take them back.

That was his confidence—and his principle—as the Track Emperor.

...

With Blazing Wind and Absolute Shadow officially accepted, Stella volunteered to take them to the fourth floor to pick their rooms.

She walked ahead, glancing back at the cool and elegant Absolute Shadow and the somewhat dazed Blazing Wind, excitement bubbling inside her.

“Ahem. As Master’s starting Mecha Girl, I should clarify something,” Stella said, coughing twice and planting her hands on her hips. “Don’t let my height fool you—I carry plenty of authority. That fierce pink-haired girl in the living room earlier? She’s actually my personal palace guard.”

First impressions were very important.

“So amazing!” Blazing Wind stared at her with sparkling eyes full of admiration.

Even though she had no idea what a “palace guard” really meant.

Still—so impressive!

Absolute Shadow glanced around at the empty rooms, stroking her chin with mild dissatisfaction.

“Oh! Pretty impressive, right?” Stella felt Blazing Wind’s admiring gaze inject a surge of confidence straight into her heart.

Next came the room assignments.

This was an art.

If she assigned them well, she would reign supreme.

If she did it poorly, chaos would erupt in the harem.

Blazing Wind looked a little simple and easy to sway.

So…

Stella led her to a room decorated in a cute, fresh style and smiled sweetly.

“Blazing Wind, this will be your room from now on! Work hard and aim to become a world-class Mecha Girl!”

The room wasn’t large, but the decor was delicate and charming.

Blazing Wind fell in love with it at first sight. She bowed deeply to Stella, words tumbling out in gratitude.

“Thank you! Thank you! I—I’ll work hard and bring glory to the Stella Club!”

To her, this room must have been specially prepared by Stella.

Chloe Qin had never treated her this kindly.

Especially considering she used to be Stella’s rival.

Everyone at the Stella Club was so kind…

Blazing Wind felt as if, ever since leaving Chloe Qin, the entire world had begun showing her warmth.

It felt wonderful.

“Mm.” Stella lifted her chin proudly.

She resisted the urge to crown Blazing Wind with a pineapple helmet.

It wasn’t that she had given up on the idea.

It was just that, after dealing with Imperial Scale and Tunbao, she had realized she didn’t possess the kind of heroine aura described in novels. She couldn’t simply stand there and radiate the majesty of an empress.

So she had to proceed step by step.

After settling Blazing Wind, Stella brought Absolute Shadow to a larger room.

The decor wasn’t as intricate, leaning instead toward an elegant, minimalist style with a refined feel.

It suited Absolute Shadow perfectly.

“Absolute Shadow, this room is yours. Do you like it?”

“It’s alright.” Absolute Shadow smiled politely. “The style is what I like, but it’s still a bit small.”

“Oh?” Stella froze for a second. Outwardly calm, inwardly panicking.

Was this the start of a harem crisis?

“I won’t be staying at the club,” Absolute Shadow continued. “I bought a large duplex near here. Over three hundred square meters, two levels. I have three cats. It’s only a five-minute walk from the club. You’re welcome to visit anytime. I’ve got five gaming consoles and plenty of snacks.”

“Oh… oh.” Stella nodded blankly.

She hadn’t expected that.

Who would’ve thought Absolute Shadow was actually a wealthy Mecha Girl?

But strangely, that made her feel relieved.

Not a harem crisis after all—just a permanent return to her own estate.

...

The day’s interviews came to an end.

Still, no driver or coach caught Derek Su’s eye.

Fortunately, there were many appointments scheduled for the next two days. As the impact of the Maratela Training Race continued to spread, more applicants would arrive.

With the provincial-level Panlong Mountain Circuit still far off, he wasn’t in a hurry.

The immediate priority was preparing for the upcoming Brana Ruins Advanced Race.

Brana Ruins was tailored for combat-type Mecha Girls.

Other types could participate, but the organizers didn’t recommend it.

Most speed-type and skill-type Mecha Girls didn’t have strong Impact Resistance. Not everyone was a monster like Snowpeak.

So this event had little to do with Absolute Shadow and Blazing Wind. They would mainly observe.

“Stella, during this period, you and Tunbao will train Impact Resistance with Imperial Scale.”

Derek Su had already drawn up a training plan for Stella, Imperial Scale, and Tunbao.

This time, Imperial Scale—the king of Impact Resistance—would act as head coach, with Derek Su assisting.

“Wait, boss, why do I have to train too?!” Tunbao squeezed her slender arm, looking aggrieved. “Look how skinny I am! If you make me spar with Stella and Imperial Scale, that’s basically asking for my life!”

Derek Su let out a cold laugh and pointed at the hole in the wall and the shattered sofa armrest.

“If you’re unhappy about being sent to purchase supplies, you can say so. But there’s no need to punch the wall. Repairs cost money! With your energy level rivaling a husky’s, you’re perfect for Impact Resistance training. That’s an order.”

Tunbao glanced at the hole and muttered softly, “The wall’s just not sturdy…”

“What was that?” Derek Su raised an eyebrow.

Imperial Scale also shot her a look.

Tunbao instantly stood at attention.

“Yes, sir! Boss!!”

After arranging the next few days of training, Derek Su finally felt the fatigue from the long day and decided to return to his room to rest. Stella, who had no “bedchamber” of her own, naturally followed behind him.

Just then, Blazing Wind’s voice called out.

“Boss, I—I have something I want to tell you.”

Derek Su turned around.

Blazing Wind stood shyly beside the coffee table, face flushed, clearly struggling to speak.

Stella: !

That bashful expression…

Could it be?!

“Go ahead,” Derek Su said with a nod.

“I—I want you to drive me…”

Blazing Wind clutched the hem of her skirt, biting her lip.

Stella: !!!

“I mean—I want to test what my special skill actually does!” Blazing Wind quickly waved her hands in clarification.

She had to fully understand her ability to be sure she could protect Vanessa.

Stella: “Ohhh.”

So that was it. She’d overthought it.

Today, the harem of the Pineapple Emperor remained as solid as ever.

...

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