Chapter 86 - An Accident (1/2)
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Even though the Heaven Execution Training Camp’s extreme hovercar race was not considered as a first-class racing event, it was still able to draw the attention of quite a sizable crowd to cheer and support for their favorite teams.
Most of them came due to the name of the well-known Adjudicators; after all, they were one of the largest elite warrior organizations across the universe. With such high appeal to the masses, they were respected anywhere they went.
Various TV stations on Planet Hek were broadcasting the race live, with plenty of broadcasting agencies fitting it into their schedule to show the entire event. The most-renowned motor team, Twin Dragons, even volunteered to participate in the race, not charging a cent from the Adjudicator Union. To them, being able to race with future Adjudicators was a great honor in itself.
The title ‘Adjudicator’ was like a golden nameplate. As long as anything bore that title, even a common confectionery could become a booming business overnight.
The Adjudicator Union relied on their name to gain astronomical revenue and sponsors every year. All the profits would then be invested in the continuous operations and expansion of the organization, turning it into a virtuous cycle.
The Monastic Order was the other elite warrior organization that was of equal renown, but that was where their similarity ended. They stayed true to the old way of obtaining funds, focusing mainly on completing assignments and missions.
The Monastic Order’s main source of income was the remuneration they got after completing their missions and assignments, but they were of course running a few mines, businesses and other such ventures on the downlow, though they would never attach their organization’s name to any of those.
From a certain point of view, the Adjudicators were like swaggering warriors, possessing honor, money, beautiful women, et cetera—all the things the strong ought to own.
Meanwhile, Monastics were like knights-errant, living a life of poverty while devoting their time and effort toward the pursuit of martial arts, warding off evil and protecting the weak, but never leaving their name behind.
Within the most luxurious private suite in the east stand of Moonlit Bay Circuit, Ye Jingshan and the branch president Robert were sitting by a window, enjoying the free fruit and light refreshments available in the venue.
“This time, who do you think will win?” asked Robert with a smile.
Ye Jingshan thought about it. “Last year’s champion, Nie Wei’s team, had a lot of hope, but if you’re talking about coming in first, I’m certain it’ll be the five-time extreme racing champion Twin Dragons.
Robert nodded. “Xia Fei got the fourth placement for his team. That’s a very decent result; do you think he’s got a chance?”
“Nope,” replied Ye Jingshan confidently.
“Oh?” Robert suddenly got interested. “Why would you say that? That young man is in the limelight right now, and I heard that five of your supervisors are almost fighting over getting him to join their divisions.”
Ye Jingshan sighed. He took a sip of the tea in his hand. “Xia Fei is indeed quite smart and possesses an outstanding tenacity, but that young man is simply too fond of taking the side road; he’s not the sort who plays by the rules.”
“What’s so bad about winning through unconventional means?” asked Robert.
Ye Jingshan was quiet for a good while before answering, “He gives me this indescribable feeling of someone who is both good and bad; someone like him can become a peak expert, but he will never be the heroic sort who can sacrifice himself for justice or a righteous ideal.”
Robert rumbled with laughter. “Oh, Chief Ye… I truly admire you for your principles, but you should keep in mind that not everyone is like you, someone willing to lay down their life for the sake of justice.”
Ye Jingshan became silent. He was an extremely principled person, and he had been in many situations throughout his life where his righteousness ended up putting him at a disadvantage, so he knew perfectly well what Robert was saying.
“You were once the youngest Gold Adjudicator in Endaro Star Region and the first in the history of this star region to hold the position of a deputy department chief at the headquarters. How could you not see that after all that you’ve been through?” commented Robert half-jokingly.
Ye Jingshan furrowed his brows and sighed. “Forget it; let’s not talk about the past anymore. Let’s talk about the future, instead. Your apprentice Xiao Haili is only twenty-five years old, yet he’s already achieved a five-star silver badge. Looks like he has a high chance of breaking my record by getting promoted to gold before the age of twenty-seven.”
Robert chuckled bitterly. “Even if you don’t mention it, I am indeed thinking of this matter. Do you know why I sent Team 13 to the training camp?”
Ye Jingshan shook his head. “Team 13 of the Executive department is your most important chess piece, assigning that group to the training camp will just leave its members idle… Is there something wrong with that team?”
Robert stared at Ye Jingshan. “You’re spot on, and it’s not just a slight problem but a big one.”
…….
Xia Fei wore the Windshade IV combat suit inside the red protective outfit that racers would wear, looking like he was raring to go.
This customized outfit for a racer was not only made of strong fabric but also fire-resistant and impact absorbent; more importantly, it had a special belt around the waistband.
If any accident were to happen during the race, the belt would be passively activated to protect the wearer, wrapping them in a white energy bubble in the first instance of trouble.
Wedging the ultra-lightweight helmet under his arm, Xia Fei lit a cigarette and strode out of the changing room.
Moon Song had been waiting outside, and when she saw Xia Fei, her two eyes glistened as she circled around him a few times, excitedly saying, “Not bad; you’re pretty cool in that racer attire.”
Xia Fei nodded nonchalantly, turning on his microcomputer to establish communication with Avril.
Because there were quite a lot of people in the logistics area, Xia Fei adjusted the screen smaller; Avril appeared on screen in her pink dress while hugging a teddy bear. She was all smiles.
Avril was young, and adding the fact that the screen had been adjusted to just a narrow window, Xia Fei suddenly felt that she looked very much like Thumbelina from a certain fable.
Walking over to the side of his automotive, Xia Fei made sure he got himself and his red extreme racing hovercar in the frame. “Didn’t you ask to see my racing hovercar? Here you go. As I said, it’s nothing special.”
“Hehe! I just wanna see how the racing hovercar driver Xia Fei looked like,” chimed in Avril somewhat mischievously.
“The race is about to start; I’ll talk to you later,” said Xia Fei.
Avril very obediently nodded her head repeatedly. “Yes, go finish the race. I’ll wait for you here. This time, I’m sure you’ll come in first.”
Xia Fei laughed as he turned off the microcomputer.
Moon Song’s eyes flashed, cheekily pulling right up to Xia Fei’s side as she interrogated, “Was that your girlfriend? What’s her name? Where does she live? How old is she? Who’s in her family?”
Xia Fei was dumbfounded. “What are you probing me so thoroughly for? Avril and I are merely friends who occasionally exchange a few words here and there.”
Moon Song very uncharacteristically hugged his arm and quietly asked, “That little lady looks very pretty. Does she have a sister? Introduce me to one if she has.”
Xia Fei hurriedly extricated his arm from Moon Song’s clutches. “Stop dreaming. Introducing her to you will be a waste of a good lady; it’s best that you give up.”
Moon Song’s words did remind Xia Fei that he knew nothing of Avril’s background aside from her name. Every time he asked about such matters, that girl would always find some excuses to change the topic, almost as if the subject was a taboo.
Shaking his head, Xia Fei shoved all these random thoughts at the back of his mind as he told Moon Song, “Okay, go to Chen Dong and get them all ready. I’ll settle the things here myself.”
Moon Song pulled a funny face at him. “Understood, master. Your wish is my command.”
With that, she turned to leave the logistics area. The expression on her face suddenly changed to worry as she lightly bit her lower lip, that jovial and happy-go-lucky personality of hers melting away in the blink of an eye.
A member of the race track staff approached Xia Fei with a microcomputer, taking a look at the number on the hovercar before saying, “99’s up for departure. Head over to the inspection zone for testing; someone will lead you to your position once you pass.”
Xia Fei nodded and hopped into the cockpit, driving the hovercar over to the inspection zone. The staff in that zone used a large scanner on the hovercar to confirm Xia Fei’s identity and the vehicle before guiding him to the fourth position in the starting grid.
Already parked in place were 0, 73, and Bai Ye’s 201. They had all ranked better during the qualifying session, so they were closer to the inside, making it more convenient for them to enter the first bend.
Bai Ye slightly nodded his head in greeting while seated in his cockpit, which Xia Fei responded to by smiling and waving his hand.
Over three hundred cars were needed to be inspected and moved in place, so that would take quite some time.
Having nothing to do in the meantime, Xia Fei turned to look at the closest viewing platform and saw Xiaohan and Xiao Haili seated together.
Xiao Haili was very diligently talking to Ye Xiaohan, while the lady was as indifferent as ever, occasionally responding with a statement or two; her gaze spent more time looking at that red hovercar on the race track than on the man beside her.