Dream Weaver was utterly certain. With the power Shinzan had displayed, even capturing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would have been within her grasp.
Yet, she had halted her own forward march, freezing her glory at defending her Triple Crown titles.
Shinzan didn't show a flicker of anger at Dream Weaver's words, rely nodding calmly.
"That's right. I stopped."
"Because after defending those three classics, I finally realized sothing…"
"Shinzan was no longer just ."
At this point, Shinzan let out a few mocking laughs.
"I went to Europe for training from a young age and was already branded with Europe's mark. From then on, no matter how many victories I achieved, a portion of the glory's light would always shine back on Europe."
"The more I won, the more the strength of the European training system was proven. If I beca the world's strongest Uma Musu, then Europe's system would undoubtedly be hailed as the world's strongest."
"By then… the shackles they had built would truly beco unbreakable."
Dream Weaver furrowed her brow tightly. She had originally thought the European Racing Association had constructed this system rely to show the world the superiority of European training thods.
She hadn't expected such a hidden agenda.
Just as Shinzan said, if she truly beca the world's strongest, that fact would beco immutable.
Even if she retired, even if European horse racing later declined, this 'world's strongest' title would be set in stone, utterly unchangeable.
With that glory in hand, European horse racing could truly claim absolute authority.
Watching Dream Weaver lost in thought, Shinzan gently shook her head.
"I suspect their vision wasn't that long-term. The original intent of this chanism was likely just to promote the European system."
Seeing lingering confusion in Dream Weaver's eyes, Shinzan gave a self-deprecating smile.
"It's just that I was too strong."
"So strong it surpassed even their imagination."
"So, in a sense, it was actually who proved the superiority of the European training system."
Having faced off against the councilors at the European Racing Association headquarters many tis, Shinzan was certain they hadn't thought that far ahead.
Back then, the triple crown system was already on shaky ground. They were too busy fixing their mistakes to plot for the future.
No one could have predicted Shinzan would be this formidable.
Even though her actions essentially challenged Europe's core, they indirectly demonstrated the efficiency of European training thods.
One could say that without Shinzan's three-ti defense of the dual classics back then, the European system's influence on the world wouldn't have reached this point.
So, in the later stages of Shinzan's defenses, the European Racing Association, realizing this fact, chose to let go completely.
They no longer restricted news about Shinzan; instead, they pushed the wave, making Shinzan's na resonate across the world.
Yes, they had lost. Even deploying all their powerful Uma Musu couldn't stop Shinzan's defenses.
But they had also won, because Shinzan was an Uma Musu molded by the European training system. Her strength was proof of Europe's strength.
Thinking of this, Shinzan found it sowhat laughable. She had initially wanted to help Uma Musu break free from Europe's shackles, yet unwittingly beca the finest smith forging those very chains.
"The more I won, the greater the influence of European Uma Musu racing beca."
"After realizing this, I gradually withdrew from the track, finally leaving it completely a year ago."
Choosing to build her fa outside the racetrack wasn't what Shinzan wanted. Her talent, her brilliance belonged on the track.
It was only there that Shinzan was the Uma Musu worthy of being hymned by the gods.
After leaving the track, even if she attended countless shows, banquets, participated in docuntaries and films day and night, she could never recapture the glory of her triple crown days.
Only on the track was she Shinzan.
Off the track, she reverted to being that rustic Niiyama. No one cared about a country Uma Musu, and Niiyama couldn't command everyone's gaze like Shinzan could.
"So… that's how it was…"
Dream Weaver was montarily speechless. She hadn't imagined Shinzan left the track for such a reason.
A Uma Musu peerless in the world, one who truly could have overturned European Uma Musu Racing by herself, yet forever bound by the brand imprinted in her youth, unable to shed her European identity.
If Shinzan wanted, she could have kept on winning. After becoming the world's strongest, the European Racing Association wouldn't have begrudged her a re Japanese circuit.
But she abandoned that future of dominating circuits and carving out her own realm.
Because Shinzan knew if she did that, the countless circuits and Uma Musu across the world would truly have no hope of resistance.
Dream Weaver clenched her fists.
Her disgust for the European Racing Association grew fiercer. But then, she suddenly rembered the news Shiragawa had shown her earlier.
"'The Uma Musu Blessed by the Gods… A Dazzling Return After a Year?'"
She unconsciously recited the headline.
Knowing full well that continuing to win would only add more prestige to European Uma Musu Racing, why would Shinzan choose to make a coback? And more fundantally, why was she telling Dream Weaver all this?
From Symboli Rudolf's attitude towards Shinzan last ti, Dream Weaver could easily guess Shinzan had never shared this story with anyone else.
So why choose here, now, to tell Dream Weaver these things alone?
Bombarded with so much information, Dream Weaver felt her mind reeling, unable to think straight. But before she could ponder Shinzan's purpose further…
The other's next sentence threw Dream Weaver's thoughts into even greater disarray.
"Because I made a deal with the councilors at the European Racing Association headquarters."
"I will make a coback, compete in the upcoming Kikuka Sho, and finally sever your path to the triple crown. And they… will completely relinquish their power over the Japanese circuit, ceding it entirely to ."
"Wha—"
Dream Weaver's eyes widened in shock. Shinzan had just been speaking of resisting European Uma Musu Racing. Why would she suddenly say sothing like this?
As if reading the confusion in her heart, Shinzan spoke softly.
"For you, this is a story you've just heard. But for , it has been an exceedingly long year. During this year, I've contemplated many possible paths forward."
"Now, an exceptionally advantageous option lies before ."
"Defeating an Uma Musu who hasn't even obtained a triple crown won't enhance my own prestige any further. It won't add more glory to the European training system. Yet, it can secure the transfer of the entire Japanese circuit."
"It's actually a rather good trade, don't you think?"
Dream Weaver fell silent for a long, long ti—so long she lost track of it. Shinzan didn't disturb her, rely watching her downcast eyes with a steady gaze.
"So… why did you tell all that?"
She didn't understand. If Shinzan had already chosen to beco an enemy, why share those past stories?
"Perhaps as an intimidation. To let you know at least how strong your opponent is. So strong it's almost hopeless."
"That way, you might obediently step down. Choose to bide your ti and build your strength, waiting for a better opportunity, just as I suggested before."
Shinzan's voice remained utterly calm. From the mont she stated her purpose for returning, her tone hadn't wavered once.
All the emotions she'd displayed earlier when speaking of the past seed to have vanished.
Dream Weaver was familiar with this tone. It was the tone of soone absolutely determined to achieve sothing—resolute, calm, and utterly unshakable.
"Biding our ti and yielding is not the future we chose."
Dream Weaver tightened her fists, reiterating the path she, Symboli Rudolf, and her comrades had chosen.
Shinzan rely nodded, her expression blank.
"I know. But—"
"Defeat first. Then we can talk about the future."
-- --
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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