What a perfect opportunity!
Su Luo thought carefully about Kitahara's question and realized—wasn't this a chance?
He didn't know why Kitahara, a professional trainer, was asking a complete outsider like him about training Oguri Cap… but if Su Luo used this chance to feed him a bunch of useless advice, wouldn't Oguri's rate of improvement slow down?
And if Oguri got held back, then her chances of winning the Japan Derby would drop a little too, right?
Damn!
Wouldn't that be the perfect way to suppress Oguri's money-making potential?!
I'm a genius!
So Su Luo cleared his throat and asked Kitahara:
"What do you think the essence of this so-called 'Domain' is?"
First—act mysterious and throw a question back at him. Even if Su Luo didn't know what "Domain" was, as long as Kitahara explained it, Su Luo would understand and could start bullshitting from there.
"Mm… it's probably a state. A state of extreme focus. Once a horsegirl enters that state, supposedly she can unleash strength far beyond her normal level."
Oh…
Got it.
Kitahara's description was pretty clear. Su Luo now more or less understood what "Domain" meant in Kitahara's head.
Key intel acquired—time to demonstrate the art of talking out of his ass!
"Kitahara, listen…"
Su Luo lifted his chin slightly, eyes unfocused as he stared at the ceiling, putting on the look of an enlightened master.
"That's all your understanding amounts to?"
"I'm disappointed in you."
"Wha…?!" Kitahara hadn't expected Su Luo to say something like that—it completely threw him.
"You think Domain is just 'concentration'? Wrong!"
"The real Domain can pressure your opponent mentally! It can recover stamina on corners! It can boost your finishing kick during the final sprint!"
"That's exactly why horsegirls who master Domain are so terrifyingly strong!"
Su Luo bragged about Domain's "effects" with a straight face. He'd played online games before—based on Kitahara's description, this Domain thing was basically just some kind of ultimate skill that needed certain conditions to trigger.
And if it was an ultimate skill… then he could make up whatever effects he wanted.
"As for how to train Domain…"
Su Luo gave Kitahara a cryptic smile.
"It's actually very simple!"
"All you need to do is tell Oguri Cap this: the moment she learns how to eat while running, she'll master Domain."
"…?"
Now it was Kitahara's turn to not understand.
"Wait, Su Luo—what does that even mean?"
Su Luo put on an expression of unfathomable mystery.
"A rotting piece of wood can't be carved. I've said what I'll say. Those who understand, understand. Those who don't—there's nothing I can do."
A real professional "riddle guy" had to maintain this kind of posture!
Whether you believe it or not—suit yourself!
Anyway, Kitahara had no way to verify if Su Luo was telling the truth. Su Luo could just keep acting.
As for Kitahara actually using this method to teach Oguri Cap Domain…
No way in hell.
He made up the Domain effects!
And this "training method" was pure improv too—how could it possibly produce anything real?
Rock-solid. Absolutely safe.
"That's all the advice I'm giving. I still have things to do—go think about it yourself, Kitahara."
"O-okay…"
Watching Su Luo leave the lounge, Kitahara fell into deep thought.
"Why would she need to eat while running…? What does that mean?"
If he took it literally, it sounded like the fastest way to speedrun appendicitis.
But would Su Luo really give such unreliable advice?
No. Definitely not.
So by that logic, Su Luo's words couldn't be taken at face value.
But if not literally… then how should he interpret them?
"…Maybe I should ask Oguri Cap. Maybe she'll understand."
If even he, as a trainer, couldn't grasp Su Luo's intent, then maybe Oguri—as the actual horsegirl—might have some clue.
——
Central Tracen Academy.
Tamamo Cross brought Oguri Cap to a quiet, secluded corner on campus.
"Tamamo… what did you want to say?"
Oguri was confused. Why pick such a remote place? Was she going to say something that couldn't be heard by anyone else?
Tamamo turned around and asked bluntly:
"What is Su Luo to you?"
"Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"Just answer."
"Su Luo…"
Oguri thought for a long time, hesitated, then finally said:
"Su Luo is my investor… my friend… an important person!"
"An important person, huh…"
Tamamo nodded.
"Then do you know what Su Luo's goal is?"
"Su Luo's goal?" Oguri's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"He invested in you and me for a reason."
"If you really see him as an important person… don't tell me you don't even know that much."
"..."
Oguri fell silent.
She really didn't know what Tamamo meant by Su Luo's "goal."
Come to think of it—Su Luo had been helping her selflessly all this time, and yet she didn't even know what he truly wanted…
"Tamamo… please tell me Su Luo's goal."
Oguri looked at her seriously, asking sincerely.
Tamamo crossed her arms, sighed, and shook her head.
"So you really don't know anything… I thought Su Luo would've told you what he was thinking…"
"Whatever."
Tamamo turned fully to face Oguri.
"If I'm not mistaken…"
"Su Luo's goal is actually simple: he wants to revive the local scene—revive it to the point it can even surpass Central!"
"That's why he invested so much money into you and me."
"But… now that we're in Central, and I'm here—me, the one who took the Spring Tennōshō—reviving the local scene's reputation only needs one person. Me."
Tamamo looked at Oguri and spoke seriously.
"In other words, if Su Luo wants to achieve his goal…"
"He only needs me."
"Oguri Cap."
"He doesn't need you by his side anymore."
....
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