"Don't be so quick to refuse me. Why don't we sit down and have a proper chat? Since you can be friends with Caesar, why can't you be friends with me?"
"You are you, and Caesar is Caesar."
Despite her words, Kousei sat down directly. Seeing that Kousei was willing to talk, Morgan's eyes crinkled into a smile.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"What do you want to know?"
Kousei pondered for a moment. "I want to know what really happened with Sirius back then."
Morgan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised. "I thought you'd ask about something related to yourself."
Kousei didn't reply, and Morgan, not wanting to press the issue, put down her fork and began to speak slowly. "Where should I begin? Since you asked, let's start with Sirius.
"Back then, the Symboli Family was at the height of its power. The Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, reigned supreme at the pinnacle of Central, her prestige unmatched. The title 'Emperor' alone was enough to represent Central at the time; even Mr. CB, another Triple Crown winner, was no match for her.
"With an undefeated record, she stood at the top of the Triple Crown winners. As the saying goes, 'There are no absolutes in Umamusume racing, but Symboli Rudolf is an absolute.' The Emperor's emergence gave Central the capital to stand on the world stage. In a rare move, Central even granted Symboli Rudolf herself significant authority—though the Emperor's power back then wasn't as extensive as it is now."
"It must be admitted, Symboli Rudolf was special. Every era has a few individuals whose appearance marks a special historical turning point. Built on Rudolf's foundation, the behemoth known as Tracen Academy began to develop rapidly, leaping to become a world-renowned Umamusume academy."
Morgan couldn't hide her admiration when mentioning Rudolf; the Emperor's influence was clearly immense.
"This was just the beginning of the Symboli Family's glory. During the era of Rudolf's reign, another Umamusume from the family also shone brightly.
"Sirius Symboli. It's said that within the family, her strength was considered no less than Symboli Rudolf's."
In Kousei's mind, Sirius was certainly formidable, but she never imagined she could be compared to Rudolf.
"As members of the same family, their personalities were worlds apart, and the paths they chose were completely different." A flicker of hidden disgust crossed Morgan's eyes. "Sirius ran freely through France and Italy, conquering Europe's soft turf and torrential rains. She traveled the world, challenging different races and leaving her mark on all sorts of racetracks.
"She dedicated her life to overseas expeditions, paving the way for Central. Half of the Symboli Family's glory came from Rudolf; the other half came from this hero who single-handedly challenged the world abroad."
The appearance of the two "Symboli" was epoch-making, which is why Central's rise seemed like a miracle. Kousei noticed the fleeting disgust in Morgan's eyes. She knew that Rudolf had become the Emperor, but Sirius had not become a hero.
"Then came the founding of the First Generation Sirius. Led by the two Symboli, several heroes gathered. The members of 'Sirius' were determined to win, embarking on the Expedition to claim the ultimate honor." Morgan glanced at Kousei. "Do you know the result?"
"I do. The Expedition ended in total failure, and in the aftermath, 'Sirius' crumbled."
"You seem quite calm."
"I've already been shocked."
It was precisely because she knew this outcome that Kousei couldn't understand. Even if "Sirius" couldn't win the championship, they should have at least achieved some decent results. The utter rout left Kousei filled with doubt.
"I assume you've heard the rumors about the Emperor. What I'm about to tell you is what lies beneath those rumors. Have you ever wondered why the Emperor was suddenly injured right before the Expedition?"
At these words, a chill ran down Kousei's spine.
"Because certain people didn't want the Emperor to compete unharmed."
Kousei felt a bone-chilling cold. Even though she was mentally prepared, hearing the truth so plainly still left her unable to remain composed.
"The Emperor couldn't participate on time, and the other Heroes were also absent for various reasons. Sirius, fighting alone, was overwhelmed and defeated. Her legs sustained permanent damage from the prolonged Expedition.
The Emperor's Trainer clashed violently with the Committee. Under the Committee's immense pressure, the Emperor was forced to compete on her injured legs. The result was predictable: after suffering a devastating career defeat, her leg injuries worsened, forcing her to retire from the front lines.
And so, the two 'Symboli' withdrew from the stage of history."
Kousei listened intently. It seemed there was no conflict between Sirius and Rudolf, so why had they become bitter enemies?
"If that's the case, what was the source of the conflict between Sirius and Rudolf?" Kousei immediately voiced her confusion.
"I'm not entirely sure why they became enemies. If you want me to guess, I can offer a theory."
"Cut the crap."
"Heh heh... The reason they turned against each other, I suspect, was the Emperor herself."
"The President?" Kousei couldn't imagine what that President could have done to make Sirius hate her so intensely.
"Even outsiders like us know these secrets, so how could the two involved not know? The Emperor, despite knowing what the Committee had done, still chose to side with them. I suspect this was the breaking point of their conflict."
Kousei's thoughts suddenly cleared, and the scene from that year vividly replayed in her mind.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing, Luna?!"
The Sirius of that time was still somewhat naive, with a fiery temper and a fierce hatred for injustice. Burning with rage, she confronted others like a cornered, furious wolf.
In stark contrast to Sirius, Rudolf remained unnervingly calm.
"I'm going to take the position of Student Council President."
"I didn't ask you to repeat yourself!"
Sirius lunged forward, grabbing Rudolf by the collar and slamming her against the wall.
"You know damn well who ruined your legs! And now you're going to sell your life for them?!"
Rudolf said nothing, merely averting her gaze.
"Damn it!!!"
Sirius smashed her fist into the wall behind Rudolf, leaving a spatter of blood. Silence fell between them again. Sirius slowly withdrew her hand, her anger gradually subsiding.
"I never thought we'd end up like this," Sirius said, her voice now eerily calm—a stark contrast to her earlier fury.
Rudolf remained silent, and Sirius let out a few self-mocking laughs.
"Go on, keep being your Emperor. We..." In the dim hallway, the heavy silence seemed to amplify her next words: "...are no longer dearest friends."
A faint light illuminated the small patch of ground where Rudolf stood. From the brightness, she watched as Sirius walked into the deep darkness until the shadows completely swallowed her figure. Only then did Rudolf finally lower her head.
Kousei looked up. Morgan seemed to be waiting for her. The past events connected in Kousei's mind, and the task Sirius had entrusted to her began to take shape.
"One last question."
"Please, ask."
Kousei stood up, her face cold as she stared at Morgan. "Were you sent by them?"
Morgan nodded, confirming it.
"I see. I understand now." Kousei lost all interest and turned to leave.
Just as she reached the door, Morgan suddenly asked, "About the matter of friends... have you considered it? If you're willing, I can tell you why they're targeting a seemingly mediocre Umamusume."
Morgan extended an olive branch as the wooden door creaked open.
"Don't be ridiculous," Kousei retorted. "I'm going to crush you so thoroughly you won't be able to lift your head."
Slam—