ACT 4 – 4000RPM 'In Training'
I
continued to accelerate futher on my way to my next lap. Surely, I
had already done enough, but I did not seem to have enough time to
slow down. I somehow kept going. I pushed the car harder and harder.
Or perhaps, it began to push me. This was getting out of hand.
Each
corner had now become overwhelming. Every twist and turn was so deep
and sharp that my body did not allow any room for error.
I'm beginning to get a headache, so much information feeding right into my head… I don't even have time to think about it as the system began to overload my head. This is just a machine! It is insane how it could do something like this. I am now struggling to contain myself as I try to cope with the stress and at the same time, keep up this wild pace.
I feel so helpless! This machine is
overwhelming!
No… I cannot allow this to go on! I must not
allow myself to lose control of this thing…
I have to be strong…
I have to be strong for you, Fu Huo! I will not let this piece of
crap control me!
That's right… I have to… take control,
but how? Help me… somebody, please help me!
The levels were
increasing, I struggled to catch my breath, this is too much…
Just
when I thought I was about to lose it, the system had suddenly
responded to the last hope I ever had in my mind. That was it. This
thing can play with my mind, but it cannot reach my heart.
Fu
Huo, you always give me strength and that is all I need. There is no
match for me because you are here. There is no match for us! You have
a part of yourself engraved in this system, and now I know that I am
not alone.
Rather than becoming tenser, I released my entire
struggle and tried to relax and smoothen my actions, defying the
system itself. I drove on as I began to attempt to free my own mind
from this broadened perspective from this system feedback. I somehow
figured it out, but I'd rather feel it within me rather than find
an explanation. I was able to reverse the control process by letting
myself be taken by the system itself, then I could use it's own
capabilities to get a grip of my own mind.
I'm not quite sure
how I am doing this, but thanks to you, Fu, I am able to endure all
the mental stress as long as I never let go. You always taught me how
to be independent, and now I can use all the strength you've given
me. Thank you.
I began to feel the breeze flowing through my
face and along my neck, while continuing at a moderate pace through
the circuit. The system continued to focus on every little detail,
from the air resistance, to the current temperature, along with wind
directions, drifting angle, and line mistakes among others. I don't
even understand why I need all this information just to drive.
Perhaps this enables the system to calculate on different outcomes
and put the desired results into action. So that was why I began to
lose control a bit. All the stress from the vast amounts of data
filling my head causes some extreme anxiety while my body responds
regardless and does what it is meant to do accordingly.
There
more stress I can handle, the better I can become aware of my
actions. My mind and body have to stay connected.
At last, I could see the entrance to the pit lane. It was right there, waiting for me. I slowly lifted my foot of the throttle at the same time, clutching down as I tapped the brakes and dropped my speed. I finally got it. It just takes a bit more practice and I can handle the system in no time. I slowly rolled back into the pit lane where Hyuga and Kumiko had been waiting for me. Fortunately, they seemed rather impressed according to their faces. I parked the car in front of them and shut the engine off as I removed myself from the headset and hopped out of the car.
"You've done much better than expected," said the Emperor, "You've lasted more than twice as longer than you did last time. We're both impressed."
"The new system still has its records from the previous version, doesn't it? That is why Fu Huo's records are still there," I confirmed.
The Emperor nodded, but for some reason, Kumiko had a slightly glum look on her face the moment I mentioned Fu Huo's records. Does she know something?
"Before you are fully recognized as Shireishou X, there are still a few essential things that you need to get used to," explained the Emperor.
He began to explain a few things are to be introduced to me as I progress further in my career with Zui Hou R. The four Generals, along with Miss Kumiko are there to help me out. Since I am to be the central General, I have to learn from the different traits and perspectives of each of these different sections.
Being part of the Divine Unit does not only mean I race for them. But I am also to receive some active hands-on training on how I should operate as a member of the Divine Unit.
Firstly, I spent my time with Ling Luan, as he explained to me briefly about the policies and regulations of Zui Hou R as well as the Divine Unit. Stuff like how I was not allowed to share or lend a car to another General or bid off any of the company vehicles to any outside parties. There was a ton of other stuff as well, but they are all pretty much common sense and anti-treason related. I guess the Emperor hardly trusts anybody. Ling's perspective was of 'strength and aggression'. We spent a couple fo sessions learning his style of track ethics and concepts as we used the test track on the base for developing myself in his department. His car was completely different to mine, but if I were to adapt his sense and combine it with the system's resources, I could wield a more amplified and enhanced version of Ling Luan's style.
Mark was to show me the more technical and strategic side of things. His motto was 'keeping it real' as he's the more rational type and encourages me to make the best courses of action to bring me victory no matter what. It was similar to what Fu Huo usually explains to me, only Mark had different explanations. I could not say they were easier, but at least I got both sides. He taught me to seek out weaknesses of my opponents as well as being aware of mine in order to turn them out into my strengths. Mark also taught me most of the theory stuff and terminology relating to my role and activities. So my car is referred to as 'NA2'. We also went through drives along the track, practicing weight shifting, spin turns, and one that I never heard of called 'slow in, fast out'. He showed me a rough idea on times and situations when I should make the car slip and when I should 'grip' through the corners.
Stephen also took me a bit further among the technicals. Sessions with him focused on explaining the purposes of various components of my accessories and how they are used by the pilot system of my car. It was like learning the body parts all over again. Using some of the accessories from the headset, he showed me easier ways to work with the car's settings while onboard. He showed me why and how I should adjust gear ratios, adjustment between front and braking power and suspension settings. I heard that increasing the front braking strength causes understeer but focuses on more stability, and setting them on the rear causes more oversteer but less stability. He said I should use the system to find out how I really want to drive, but work out the correct settings to match for myself. However, a lot of it was very complicated to, as we moved on to stuff about limited slip differential. Apparently, the cornering performance is affected by the LSD acceleration and deceleration settings and I would have to use the system to find a balance between them in accordance to my skill. Afterwards, we went out for a drive together on the test track for the mean time. His theme in the Divine Unit was something like 'talented gift and style', in which he explains that how and when I could conceal my true abilities and do it to the best of the situation at hand.
Mr. Shijian had begun to teach me something rather different. It became clear to me that they are really building me up to replace Fu Huo. He ran me through various different exercises on combat. I was put through some brief weapons training – I was even signed up for my own pair of pistols. He also introduced me to the various districts in which the organization operates on and I was to become in charge of parts dealing and marketing further in the future, just like Fu Huo was. Working with Shijian had a lot more of the 'apprenticeships' feel than anyone else, as the others seemed more casual to me because I was already well acquainted with them in the past. It was like when I first went through my hospitality course with Maya.
And finally, I was able to catch up a bit of time with Miss Kumiko once again. She said that she would be the one accompanying and assisting me on my activities relating to street racing. This was apparently her finest department. She briefly ran me through all these different road racer ethics as well as different concepts that have to be taken into account on the road. Just for kicks, she also went through some ideal fashion criteria when grooming for a race! No wonder Fu Huo always had to look fly during a battle.
Speaking of Fu Huo, I
had come to ask her a few things about him in particular.
When I
asked her where she thought he could be, she was nearly brought to
tears. I admit I was too.
On the same night, I saw the news with
my own two eyes – there was a report of a wrecked vehicle found
crashed down the valley of Route D1. I was absolutely stunned when I
recognized the familiar characteristics of the vehicle. It was Fu
Huo's car! I could not believe it! So they lied to me all along!
I hurried my way to see the Emperor himself. I was devastated. Firstly, because I saw with my own eyes that Fu Huo had really fallen into tragedy as I feared he would, and second, there was nothing I did about it. At this point, I had almost begun to lose all of my beliefs and turn back on myself.
"You lied! You told me that you would find him and keep him alive!"I cried to Hyuga. "All this just for a stupid car!"
The Emperor's words were
not very comforting either. However, he explained the whole story
with a bit more clarity. So Fu Huo planned to steal from him in the
beginning?
But even so, there was no reason to kill him!
"It was an accident, according to my men. I strictly ordered them to keep Fu Huo alive," he explained.
But that was not good enough for me. He was the one who armed them! Even if Fu Huo really was that selfish monster that was described of him, he did not deserve such a fate…
"Why couldn't you have just told me the truth for the start? And what are you laying around here worrying about some stupid racing project when we could have at least given Fu Huo his proper funeral?" I demanded.
However, the Emperor's next few words had the most effect on me. He said, "I do not know the truth myself, so calm down as I am looking for some answers too. We cannot give Fu Huo the proper funeral that you speak of," I could not work out whether I was either confused or angry. Anyways, the Emperor continued, "How can we really know of his true fate when we have been denied the location of his body?" What did he just say? Fu Huo's body?
"His car was found by our men, though even if it had blown to smithereens, there were no traces of his remains whatsoever. Not even ashes! No bones, not even a thread of his clothing! If some of his in-car accessories had survived the explosion, how could his remains burned up so quickly?"
I was stunned at what the Emperor continued to tell me. Fu Huo's body was missing? But surely, won't it have vaporized if his car burst into flames?
"Look, I don't know autopsy, but my men extinguished the fire as fast as they could, and we found nothing of Fu Huo at all. His phone and weapons were still there, broken of course, but nothing else."
Could it be?
I do not want to jump into conclusions… but is it really possible?
He always told me not to get my hopes up in order to lessen
disappointment, but could Fu Huo have escaped after all?
The
Emperor could not give me a straight answer. He claimed to have his
men among the police still in search for him and still have found
nothing. Aside from that, we have no way of contacting him.
"Why do I continue my project? Because it is a lot better than just sitting here whimpering about it, which does not help us find him anyway! Minako-chan, I know that you are desperate to confirm the whereabouts or condition of Fu Huo but there is really nothing you and I can do, I'm sorry. It is up to you whether you want to continue to work for me or not."
I was still a bit frustrated, but Hyuga did have a point. After all, I did tell myself that I would race for him as a medium to defend Fu Huo's honour, as well as to find peace and be closer to him and his ideals, even in death. There was nothing else I could really do. Because racing brings me closer to Fu Huo… I am at least a portion happy.
The Emperor told me that I was ready to race for him on the circuit, but there was one last thing I need to do before I was ready for the street.
"You have to act upon yourself and challenge an opponent directly," he explained, "Find someone whom you believe to be on your capable level and challenge him or her to a battle of any course of your choice. The time and conditions are up to you. If you lose, try again or try someone else, but if you win, then you are ready to take on the role of X. Good luck!"
An
opponent of my choice? But, I hardly know anybody whom I can
challenge to begin with.
Unless…
I
had finally finished my sessions with all the Divine Unit Generals
and I was free for the rest of the evening. I took my car out and
cruised along the city, on my way back to my sister's cafeteria to
help out. However, I still had the Emperor's objective in mind.
I
parked along the lot next to the restaurant and left the car next to
my sister's. It seemed like she was already just outside eating
some ice cream – she must be taking a break at this point and
time.
I greeted her as I stepped out of the car, waving to her.
For some odd reason, she did not wave back to me, rather her jaws
had plummet so low that they could almost reach her toes and that her
eyes nearly poked out of their sockets.
Geez, what's the matter
with her?
"W-w-where, where, where did you get that?" she asked in such excitement. "Is that… is that the car they made you drive?"
Oh, so that's what she's oggling
at. Man, it's just a car…
She paced herself around and about
along the car, drooling over it like a silly kid finding a cool new
toy on the shelf.
"Oh my God, this is… this is so incredible! And Fu only had an Evo… how come you get an NSX-R? Wow, can we swap cars? Pleeeeeease?" giggled Maya.
"Calm down, sis. I did not come here to show off my new ride." I said to her.
"Yeah, I know! You've come to take me for a spin! Let's go then! Wooh, I can't believe it! All of a sudden, you show up here with an NSX-R… I get goosebumps just standing next to it!"
"I'd let you drive it, but its partly owned by Zui Hou and I'm not allowed to do that…" I explained.
"Oh… that's too bad… But you can still take me cruising with that, can't you? Wow, Minako, if I was a guy, I'd propose to you right here and now!" she would not stop blabbering on. I guess I should just get straight to the point.
"Hey, sis… I've come here to challenge you…"
