area51novel Page 26
Page 26
In any case, he even invited me to visit Qingshan Temple.
"Is that so?" Sato Miwako responded noncommittally, her tone gradually softening.
"Then let's hurry up and go." Sato Miwako turned around and continued walking down the bluestone path.
Yuki Takada followed her, and the silence between them was no longer as tranquil as it had been at the waterfall; instead, it carried a subtle tension.
The air still held the echoes of Sato's questioning and the coolness of the water vapor.
I ultimately didn't get to try the matcha warabi mochi from the old shop near the temple gate.
When the two arrived at the shop, they found a long, winding queue of people.
They were clearly all tourists attracted by the fame of Kiyozanji Warabi Mochi.
Miwako Sato glanced at her watch: "Time is indeed a bit tight; the Emperor's Slam competition is about to start. Let's do it another time, Takada-senpai."
"Alright, I'll come over and accompany you to buy matcha warabi mochi after the Emperor's Appreciation Ceremony is over."
Yuki Takada did not insist. His gaze swept over the long queue, and a hint of regret seemed to flash across his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual calm.
"Then let's go straight to the racetrack."
They hailed a taxi and headed towards the Donghuang Racecourse.
The scenery outside the car window kept changing, gradually transitioning from ancient temples and forests to modern urban complexes.
The carriage was quiet, with only light music playing on the radio and the slight hum of the engine.
As Miwako Sato gazed at the fleeting street scenes outside the window, her thoughts drifted somewhat.
Yuki Takada closed his eyes to rest, his hands folded on his knees, enjoying every minute of his rare rest time.
Chapter 39 Donghuang Racecourse (Please continue reading)
When the iconic, massive white-roofed grandstand complex of the Donghuang Racecourse comes into view, a completely different atmosphere instantly washes over you.
Even before getting off the bus, you could already feel the fervor unique to horse racing day fans.
The place was bustling with people, and all sorts of flags were fluttering in the breeze.
The air was filled with the aromas of various foods, which made Yuuki Takada feel a little excited.
"Wow, there are so many people." Sato Miwako got out of the car and looked at the surging crowd in front of her. Her habitual behavior made her subconsciously start to observe the entrances and exits of the environment.
"The Emperor's Slam Spring Tournament is an important GI event in the international Tier 1 competition, so it's naturally going to be a grand occasion." Yuki Takada stopped beside her.
Yuki Takada's gaze swept over the huge electronic screen, which was displaying information about the participating horses and changes in odds.
With a focused expression, he entered a wonderful state. After browsing the electronic screen, he noticed Megumi McQueen number 15, and a faint smile appeared on his lips as he placed a bet of nearly 200,000 yen.
Sato Miwako was startled by Takada Yuuki's actions and couldn't help but ask, "Takada-senpai, we didn't just come here to watch the game. Even if we were to place bets, you don't need to wager so much money, do you?"
"You know, quite a few people have gone bankrupt because of betting on horse races!"
Yuuki Takada glanced at Miwako Sato and smiled faintly: "Of course I know, but since we're already here, how will we know if I'm right or not if we don't test the waters?"
"Um……"
“Not bad, not bad... I agree with this gentleman. How can you be sure you won’t win if you don’t try?”
Just then, following the sound, I looked over and saw a spiky, messy-haired man with a slightly square face, strong features, a clear jawline, and a small tuft of beard on his chin.
He was wearing a casual suit with a white shirt underneath, but his tie looked crooked and the top two buttons of his shirt collar were always undone. It was clear that he was casual and even a little sloppy.
"Hello, sir. My name is Kogoro Mouri."
Kogoro Mouri smiled and greeted Yuki Takada warmly:
"I just saw that you bet on Mejiro McQueen number 15. Take my advice, brother. I still favor White Ryan over it. In the previous Yayoi Sho, he overtook his rival Ennis Huays on the inside track during the sprint and won his first big prize race."
"Although it lost in the later competitions and came in third place against White McQueen in the Chrysanthemum Sho, I still believe that it will definitely win the championship of this Emperor Sho Spring Competition."
Yuuki Takada waved his hand and smiled, "Brother, I appreciate your kindness, but I have a different opinion from you regarding this Emperor's Prize competition."
"No matter what, I still believe that number 15 White McQueen will win the Emperor's Prize this time."
Before Kogoro Mouri could speak, Yuuki Takada went inside first.
Yuki Takada quickly disappeared into the surging crowd, leaving Miwako Sato and Kogoro Mori standing there, stunned.
"Seriously, what's wrong with Takada-senpai today..." Sato Miwako looked in the direction where Takada Yuuki disappeared, her brows furrowed, her tone filled with confusion and worry.
Although 200,000 yen is not much to Inspector Takada, it is still a lot. Could it be that he... he is really confident that he can make a small profit?
Looking back on this period of time, during my interactions with Takada Yuuki, even though Inspector Takada made some mistakes in his judgments, his general deductions and what he said were not much different from what I had learned.
"Haha, miss, don't worry!"
Kogoro Mouri waved his hand dismissively.
With his signature, slightly cynical smile on his face, he said, "It's normal for a man to have his own principles on the racetrack!"
"Your senior seems very confident; maybe he really will be right?"
Changing the subject, Kogoro Mouri immediately promoted his own viewpoint, saying, "However, if you ask me, White Ryan is still the more reliable option!"
"Its explosive power in the final sprint, wow, it can definitely make a comeback on the last bend!"
"I've studied all of its race videos, and the track length and grass condition for this Emperor's Prize race are practically tailor-made for it!"
As he spoke, he habitually straightened his crooked tie, which only made it crooked even more.
"How about it, miss? Want to place a bet with me? Guaranteed to make a profit! My judgment is spot on!"
With his chest puffed out, Kogoro Mouri tried to show off his clumsy reasoning skills, but his open collar and messy hair ruined the image.
Miwako Sato gave a wry smile: "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Mori."
"However... I'm not really interested in horse racing, I'm just here to soak up the atmosphere. Besides, I trust Takada-senpai's judgment..."
In the end, I still placed a bet of 1,000 yen on number 15, White McQueen.
They then went inside.
Under the enormous canopy, the voices of tens of thousands of spectators merged into a continuous roar.
Inside the arena, announcements were broadcasting, providing a general overview of the eighteen horses in today's race.
The stands were filled with the shouts and calls of vendors.
The aroma of fried food and beer wafting in the air created a heart-pounding, almost frenzied atmosphere.
The huge electronic screen was still scrolling the odds, and the odds for Takada Yuki's bet on number 15, White McQueen, seemed to fluctuate slightly because of his rather large bet.
"The essence of horse racing lies in the sense of participation!" Kogoro Mouri didn't seem discouraged by Miwako Sato's polite refusal.
He was in high spirits and said, "Look, so many people, all for one goal—to win! That adrenaline rush, wow..."
As she spoke, she took out money and got a beer from the salesman. At that moment, Sato Miwako also found Takada Yuki, who had come in earlier.
Just then, the volume of the announcements inside the venue suddenly increased, drowning out the noisy crowd:
"Ladies and gentlemen! The Tenko Sho (Spring) GI race is about to begin! The horses are entering the gates!"
The crowd erupted in even louder cheers and shouts, with countless hands waving horse racing tickets and pointing towards the racetrack.
All eyes were focused on the row of neat starting gates.
Riders dressed in brightly colored uniforms were guiding their mounts into the designated gates. The horses snorted, their muscles taut in the sunlight, gleaming with power.
Kogoro Mouri instantly dropped his playful expression, stood on tiptoe, craned his neck, and tried hard to see clearly where Bai Ryan, whom he had his eye on, was located.
"I'm coming!"
"Look! Bai Lai'an is at gate number 7! Great spot!" He slapped his thigh excitedly.
Sato Miwako's gaze unconsciously searched for number 15 in the array of gates.
She saw it.
The racehorse known as "Meshiro McQueen" had a glossy chestnut coat and a well-proportioned, slender body. It was unusually quiet in the gate, contrasting with the slightly restless horses next to it.
Its rider lay on the saddle, seemingly soothing it gently.
Yuki Takada placed his 200,000 yen trust in this seemingly calm horse.
Chapter 40 Emperor's Reward
"Gateway—Ready!"
The broadcast commentator's enthusiastic explanation stirred a sense of tension and excitement in the crowd in the surrounding stands.
The clamor of tens of thousands of people in the stadium miraculously subsided at the same moment, leaving only the pounding of hearts and tense breathing.
Countless eyes were fixed on the row of tightly closed metal doors.
Yuki Takada had somehow arrived at a nearby front row seat. He stood tall with his hands in his pockets, glancing casually at the arena before fixing his gaze on gate number 15.
That focus was completely different from his previous calmness. He shut out the whole noisy world, leaving only himself and the chestnut horse on the track.
The faint curve at the corner of his mouth seemed to deepen slightly, and an all-knowing, almost coldly confident look flashed across Takada Yuuki's face.
Kogoro Mouri clenched his fists and muttered, "White Ryan... Charge! Break through the encirclement! Charge!"
Sato Miwako held her breath, feeling her heart pounding faster with the upcoming Emperor's Slam Spring Tournament.
Even though she wasn't usually interested in horse racing, the enthusiastic commentator made her realize how hard the horses trained, determined to win the Emperor's Prize race.
"Open the floodgates—!!!"
With a high-pitched shout from the announcer, just like the sound of a starting gun.
Click!
Click!
Click!
A row of neat metal gates sprang open instantly!
A dozen figures shot out of the gate box like arrows, accompanied by deafening cheers.
From the moment the horses' hooves flew and they strode towards the lush green grass, they had only one goal: to win the Emperor's Prize.