After eting Ansel at the Le Grand Palais mall, Luca finally clarified that Sara was his personal assistant and not his spouse, putting an end to the running joke. This ca after Ansel heightened his surprise at seeing her in Monte Carlo.
Ansel scoffed, offering Luca a sarcastic congratulations for fooling him all this ti. They laughed it off and wandered through the bustling mall, exploring what else to purchase while Sara handled boutique shopping for Luca.
They began by picking up grooming products before heading into the books, comics, and magazines section. Ansel ntioned he had always wanted to finish reading an entire book for once, so Luca helped him choose a perfect pick from his favorite genre—History. Luca grabbed a few comics for himself, even though he knew he might have little to no ti to read them.
With that session done, Sara announced she had selected the finest stylish apparel for Luca—and a few for herself—her hands full of bags. Luca and Ansel concluded their visit by purchasing the wonderful PlayStation 3, swearing to each other they'd find ti to play together.
They left the magnificent mall and returned to the hotel, marking the end of another day. The following morning, their travel plans ca into motion. The Celestial Riviera Hotel emptied as the Trampos Racing team headed to the airport.
Once their plane took off for the two-hour journey, they sought ways to pass the ti—especially Ansel. Without hesitation, he flipped through the pages of the magazines he'd purchased, the history book tucked at his side as though he was debating whether to dive into it next.
Luca, anwhile, engaged in conversation with so of the staff, their discussions andering far from motorsport and into other facets of life unrelated to their profession. Eventually, he drifted out of the conversation, picked up a magazine, and slipped on his earpiece, connecting it to his MP3 player as he idly studied the pages.
The flight was uneventful, and before long, they began their descent into Berlin. Landing safely, the team disembarked to find Trampos security waiting for them, along with their original, gleaming team bus basking in the afternoon sun.
One staff mber Luca had grown fond of ntioned they wouldn't be heading to the headquarters imdiately. Instead, the team was scheduled for a visit to an U-13 motorsport academy located in the suburban region of Berlin. Luca didn't recall seeing this event on the team schedule in his phone, but he followed along as everyone piled into the bus.
They arrived a few minutes later at a semi-modern facility nestled in a suburb Luca struggled to pronounce—Hohenberg. The exterior boasted sleek lines and glass windows, a hallmark of any motorsport facility. A charming go-kart track wound around the main building, surrounded by less-developed structures and an open field stretching to the right. In the distance, Luca could see children playing together, their laughter blending with the faint hum of motorsport activity. From the main building, more young voices filtered out into the warm air.
The Trampos team was greeted by facility officials who shook their hands enthusiastically and congratulated them on their commanding victory in Monte Carlo. The officials introduced the academy, explaining it was under governnt supervision and designed to nurture young motorsport talent. Luca learned that all F2 teams were required to visit this month, with Trampos being the third to arrive so far.
Squinting through the sunlight, they were led further down the path and away from their bus. Luca feeling the heat, had to remove his jacket and tie it around his waist. His eyes caught the row of brightly colored go-karts lining the entrance with banners attached to them fluttering in the breeze.
A mischievous thought crossed Luca's mind as they approached the facility. He wondered if the System could retrieve data from go-karts as well. Curious, he edged closer to the row of vehicles while following the team into the main building.
Nothing's happening? Luca questioned silently, his brow furrowing when the system interface failed to display any data.
Stay connected with empire
[I'm sorry, host. System cannot proceed with this request.]
Why? Isn't it a single-seater?
[It surely is, host. However, it lacks the necessary details for analysis.]
[This single-seater lacks an operative super engine for system to assess]
[Drag Reduction System is unavailable]
[There is no fuel tank. This single-seater runs on electricity, host.]
I see, you win this ti.
"Everyone! Can we welco the Trampos Racing team?!" a staff mber of the young academy clapped her hands and announced cheerfully as they stepped inside. Her feminine voice resonated through the space, drawing the attention of the bustling crowd of young children.
The academy was alive with energy, its atmosphere was vibrant and youthful. Young drivers zipped around a well-maintained indoor track, their adorable focus evident as they maneuvered their little karts. The spacious lobby was adorned with gleaming trophies displayed prominently in glass cases, a tribute to the academy's past U-13 champions.
Luca's eyes wandered to the large viewing area overlooking the track. A group of adults, likely parents or guardians of the aspiring drivers, sat attentively, watching the kids with pride. The track itself seed compact, with a layout suggesting it wasn't even long enough for a full standard lap, but the young racers made the most of its tight turns and straightaways.
The children imdiately stopped their training, scrambling to their feet and chorusing an enthusiastic, "Hello!" Yet amidst the excitent, a particular 12-year-old boy stood out. He didn't bother masking his disdain for Trampos Racing. The sight of Luca and Ansel—the drivers responsible for dethroning his idol, Max Addams—only deepened his scowl. Regardless of his feelings, the event continued seamlessly.
The Trampos team was tasked with interacting with the kids, taking pictures, and sharing insights about the art of racing. As part of the program, a larger go-kart was even rolled out for demonstration. Ansel shrugged and refused to enter it, Haas and Beany not even bothering to glance in its direction.
Unwilling to disappoint the academy staff or the eager children, Luca stepped up. Without hesitation, he squeezed himself into the tiny cockpit, his legs awkwardly folded to fit. The sight drew a chorus of laughter from the children and staff alike as Luca joined them on the track. Despite his best efforts, he failed to even place in the top ten, eliciting playful jeers from the young racers.
As the visit wound down, the team bid the children goodbye, wandering out to the field and inspecting the less-developed buildings nearby. Along the way, the academy staff shared their hopes for expanding the program. They emphasized the need for a broader scope to nurture future talents and elevate the potential of young racers.
All Luca could do was smile. His smile wasn't deliberate, it was just on his face, his ears red.
He surprisingly had a good ti, and Ansel could tell because he caught a glimpse of Luca change his phone's wallpaper from an apocalyptic racetrack to a picture he had taken with the kids.
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