Smart Falcon was completely bewildered by the group of American Umamusumes.
Lillian still sat on the ground, she kept crying and wouldn't answer any of her questions.
She tried to pull Lillian up by the arm.
But Lillian resisted her, crying even harder.
Frightened, Smart Falcon quickly let go.
When Smart Falcon realized she couldn't handle Lillian, she prepared to ask the American Umamusumes watching for help.
But what she found was...
These Umamusumes, from what was supposedly the freest country in the world, were more cold-blooded than anyone else.
Not a single one offered to help.
They were utterly heartless.
After busying herself for so long, Smart Falcon suddenly felt a little annoyed.
"Cry, cry. Falco didn't bully you anyway."
Smart Falcon thought to herself, then walked back toward Sakura Baimu.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Smart Falcon left, several American Umamusumes leaped onto the track and pulled the sobbing Lillian to her feet.
Smart Falcon's ears twitched slightly; she had heard the commotion.
She turned back with a mournful expression, not understanding why they had waited until she left to help, letting the poor Umamusume cry for so long.
But when the group of American Umamusumes saw Smart Falcon turn around, they looked as if they had seen a ghost, quickly quickening their pace and dragging Lillian away.
"Sigh… today is so indescribable."
Smart Falcon suddenly felt inexplicably tired; even her horse ears drooped forward.
She walked heavily back to her team, only to hear Tokai Teio ask.
"Falcon-senpai, what happened to that American Umamusume? Why is she crying so much?"
"Falco doesn't know either."
"It's alright. Although the opponent wasn't very motivated this time, GG, your start and finish were quite good. With some practice, you should be able to surpass Daiki Shuttle soon," Sakura Baimu spoke with a smile.
"Daiki Shuttle?! Isn't she Japan's fastest short-distance Umamusume?!" The TCB team members were all shocked.
"Don't underestimate GG. I have a lot of faith in her."
Sakura Baimu smiled and placed her palm on Smart Falcon's head.
Hearing Sakura Baimu's words, Smart Falcon blushed and quickly jumped back, escaping the head-patting gesture.
She looked embarrassed and indignant. "I told you not to call Falco GG! Falco is going to be an idol. You can't give her weird nicknames!"
"It's okay. Nobody understands what it means, and they won't remember it anyway," Sakura Baimu laughed.
Just then, Mihono Bourbon, expressionless and looking even more blank than Oguri Cap, walked over.
"Trainer Sakura."
"Oh, the Cyber Umamusume is here. What's up?" Sakura Baimu asked.
"I want to talk to you alone," Mihono Bourbon said calmly, showing no reaction to the nickname.
"Okay." Sakura Baimu nodded and followed Mihono Bourbon to a secluded spot, where they began to talk quietly.
"There's no one around now. What's up?"
"I want to take care of Rice Shower this evening."
"You don't have to train this afternoon?"
"Yes. Master has already scheduled double the training for me."
"Don't you need to rest?"
"I'll manage my energy wisely; caffeine can effectively prevent the body from feeling fatigued."
"Whether you take care of her or not, I have to go to the hospital tonight. How about this: you take care of Rice Shower after your training, and I'll go over later. Then you go back to sleep."
"Understood." Mihono Bourbon nodded slightly, accepting Sakura Baimu's arrangement.
--
Meanwhile, the Umamusumes of TCB were somewhat surprised to see Mihono Bourbon speaking to Sakura Baimu alone.
"I never expected our Trainer-san to get along so well with Miss Bourbon," Satono Diamond exclaimed.
"It's probably because of the Rice Shower incident; it caused her relationship with Miss Bourbon to improve so quickly," Mejiro McQueen remarked casually.
Just as the TCB members were chatting, a tall blonde figure suddenly appeared beside them.
They looked over and saw a tall Umamusume with long, wavy blonde hair and green eyes—clearly from Pluto Academy.
"May I ask what brings you here?" Kitasan Black inquired, as neither of them recognized her.
Golden Crown Eagle didn't answer Kitasan Black's question but instead looked at Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
"You must be Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen?"
"Yes, I'm Teio. What can I do for you?"
"I watched your match, and I feel that your strength is indeed very high among active-duty Umamusumes. However, it seems that you haven't mastered your Zone yet, which is why you lost to Rice Shower at the Takarazuka Kinen," Golden Crown Eagle said with a smile.
"What does our loss to Rice Shower have to do with not mastering our Zone? Didn't that Abyss Umamusume just now also have a Zone? Didn't she still lose to us?" Mejiro McQueen said calmly.
"They only possess the lowest level of Zone, nothing special. Rice Shower used a higher-level Zone at the Takarazuka Kinen; you couldn't defeat her." Golden Crown Eagle chuckled, her narrow dark green eyes narrowing.
"However, if you awaken your Zones, it will be a different story. Your strength will definitely increase dramatically. You might even be able to defeat Rice Shower, who awakened a higher-level Zone."
"So?" Tokai Teio asked softly.
"I'll teach you how to break through to a higher Zone."
Golden Crown Eagle smiled softly. She didn't ask anything of Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen; she believed they had no reason to refuse.
However, she hadn't expected that it wasn't just Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
The other TCB Umamusumes present immediately became wary after hearing her words.
They clearly remembered Sakura Baimu and Symboli Rudolf's warning.
The more information one knew about Zones, the harder it became to break through.
This American Umamusume was so kind as to come and teach them how to break through Zones—it couldn't be that good, could it?
"Actually, breaking through a Zone is very simple; you just need to be in a reverse—"
"Please stop. We're not curious."
Mejiro McQueen interrupted Golden Crown Eagle directly.
"That's right, I'm not curious either."
Tokai Teio and the remaining Umamusumes from TCB covered their ears, appearing completely unconcerned.
"Without a Zone, you'll never be able to defeat an Umamusume who has mastered a higher-level Zone." Golden Crown Eagle sneered.
"Sorry, I don't think so, and neither does my trainer. I trust my trainer more. Thank you for your kindness. Please leave," Mejiro McQueen said softly.