Long before Platinum picked up the phone.
In Dubai, inside a luxurious racing complex, an important meeting regarding the selection of invitees for the World Cup had just begun.
In the conference room, even the association president with full authority over the [Dubai World Cup] was present among the attendees.
On the large screen they were all watching, footage was playing from… the Arima Kinen, which had concluded just days prior and had already made headlines worldwide!
From Japan to Dubai, Europe, the United States, Australia, and beyond—it was trending everywhere.
Even in the U.S., where turf racing isn't prioritized, people were stunned by the special effects unique to the Pegasus Platinum.
[Special effects in the Uma Musume Racing Zone—seen for the first time in history! We are witnessing history!]
[Platinum's unique overtaking special effect! Dirt legend Seabiscuit regretfully tells fans: "I don't have it; only Platinum does…"]
[Who is Pegasus Platinum? Does she run on dirt?]
Even in the U.S., where turf racing is often overlooked, a wave of interest surged—frame-by-frame analyses of Uma Musume's special effects and intense scrutiny of Pegasus Platinum.
Needless to say, in regions outside the U.S. where turf racing thrives, the name "Pegasus" resonated even more powerfully!
In the conference room, all the staff wore expressions of excitement and anticipation. They could easily imagine the unprecedented buzz and clout that would follow if Platinum agreed to compete in the Dubai World Cup.
"Even the Arima Kinen, which has little international influence, managed to achieve visibility rivaling the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup, all because of the Pegasus…"
"Pegasus Platinum!!"
"She is absolutely the one we've been waiting for—the perfect candidate, perhaps even surpassing [Dubai Millennium]!"
In reality, the Arima Kinen, despite being one of Japan's premier events, simply doesn't have a large enough stage.
In terms of international reach, the Arima Kinen is little more than an all-star event within Japan—it doesn't hold a candle to the Japan Cup, which has seen overseas stars like Fantastic Light come and claim glory.
On the global stage, so-called Japanese Star Uma Musume have almost no recognition; they're like underground idols or the lowest rung of the celebrity ladder.
No matter how much promotional effort was poured into previous Arima Kinen events, overseas attention remained minimal—efforts were futile. Many international viewers would close the tab the moment they saw "Japan" in the title, with zero interest in watching what they perceived as amateurs competing.
So, the overseas promotional effect of the Arima Kinen and Japan's URA for Pegasus Platinum…
Well, it wasn't just ineffective—it was counterproductive, actively holding the Pegasus back.
Under these circumstances, Pegasus Platinum managed to elevate the Arima Kinen—an event the URA hadn't even invested much in promoting—to a level comparable to the [world's premier turf race: the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe] and the [world's premier dirt race: the Breeders' Cup Classic]!
In the eyes of Dubai's event staff, if the total credit were ten parts, Platinum alone deserved twelve.
As for the URA and the Arima Kinen? Combined, they owed two parts. If not for the drag of being a Japanese event, and if it had the usual international influence of a G1 race, the hype would have been even greater.
This assessment wasn't an exaggeration in their view—it was a factual evaluation.
And the Dubai World Cup… is an internationally influential G1! But in the eyes of Dubai's event organizers, that wasn't enough; they wanted to keep expanding its reach.
Unfortunately, simply throwing money at prize pools and splashing cash around wouldn't directly elevate it to the level of the world's top races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe or the Breeders' Cup.
It's fair to say the Dubai World Cup had hit a somewhat awkward bottleneck.
After years of massive spending and continuous promotion, it had surpassed most international G1s in recognition and prestige.
As for the Japan Cup, it was often joked as the "Little Dubai World Cup," which speaks volumes about the efforts and achievements of Dubai's event organizers—far surpassing Japan's URA.
If we were to score them:
[Japan Cup: Influence 50, Prize Money 85]
[Dubai World Cup: Influence 80]
[Turf: Dubai Sheema Classic, Prize Money 90]
[Dirt: World Cup, Prize Money 98]
The gap was quite significant.
Compared to other races, the Japan Cup could at least boast about its prize money. But when stacked against Dubai's events—both turf and dirt—it was completely outclassed.
However, Dubai's ambitions weren't just about surpassing the Japan Cup or other ordinary international G1s.
The organizers aimed to make the World Cup a globally renowned event—one where winning would immediately establish an Uma Musume as a world-class standout, even a contender for Horse of the Year!
But races of that caliber—like the Breeders' Cup, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes—all had something in common: decades of history, countless world-class winners, and even multiple legendary champions.
Reaching that level isn't something money alone can buy; it requires serendipity and the slow accumulation of history.
But now—
A shortcut to drastically reduce that long accumulation time, to break through the Dubai World Cup's bottleneck, was right before their eyes!
That was—[Pegasus Platinum]!!
In short, they wanted her—badly. They desperately wanted the Pegasus to compete.
No matter the cost, in the eyes of Dubai's top brass, it would be worth it.
"But the trouble is, Platinum is a Japanese Uma Musume."
"The Japanese racing world's aversion to overseas expeditions—except for the [Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]—might extend to Platinum as well."
"If Platinum has zero interest in racing abroad, she definitely won't come for the [Dubai World Cup]."
After all, the Dubai World Cup only has slightly more international influence than the Japan Cup, but it doesn't surpass the Epsom Derby in the UK, which Platinum has already won.
To Platinum, the Dubai World Cup probably isn't much different from the Japanese G1s she's already dominated, right?
Given that Japanese Uma Musume rarely race overseas, Platinum has even less reason to come to Dubai.
So even they had to admit: aside from a decent prize pool—just a tad higher than the Japan Cup or the Japanese Triple Crown—
Their World Cup didn't have many advantages or highlights to attract a historical-level talent like the Pegasus. Beyond the money, they had nothing.
Right now, they were worried—deeply worried—that they couldn't attract Platinum.
World-class Uma Musume need international G1s to prove themselves.
Historical-level Uma Musume, on the other hand, are sought after by most international G1s—their participation itself validates the race's prestige.
The legendary Eclipse, once the strongest turf Uma Musume in history, even had a European G1 named after her: the Eclipse Stakes!
As for the current Pegasus Platinum, she has already transcended world-class status. She's reached a level where Dubai World Cup officials are racking their brains, hoping she'll enter—worthy of the title "historical-level."
It's likely that even the top-tier super races with the highest influence and status would be thrilled to have Platinum compete.
In the future, when Platinum becomes a legend, some G1 might even be renamed in her honor!
"The trouble is… from the time the Kikuka Shō doubled its prize money to lure the Pegasus back, it's clear the URA still has brains—they're shrewd."
"So, the URA will likely ride the momentum and add very high additional prizes for the Spring Triple Crown as well, to keep Platinum from racing overseas and continue running in Japan."
"Realistically, no matter how much the URA offers, it can't compare to what we have."
At this point, the Dubai World Cup chairman's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
Because…
"But Platinum is a Japanese Uma Musume."
"As long as the URA doesn't mess up internally, and as long as they show enough sincerity, even if their prizes and benefits are slightly inferior to ours, Platinum probably won't come."
"After all, Dubai is quite far away."
"If the URA has helped Platinum in the past and now shows sincerity by offering a large bonus, who wouldn't be moved? That might be enough to keep her here."
These words left the room in silence.
Then…
One staff member, fluent in Japanese, looked down at some documents he was scanning and seemed to spot something unbelievable.
They were two recent Japanese documents: [New Additional Terms for Spring Triple Crown Benefits] and [Advance Ticket Sales for the Osaka Cup!].
"W-Wait a minute!"
The staff member immediately picked up the documents and began reading.
"The URA's new benefits are out. Specifically…"
After a short while, he finished reading.
Instantly, the room fell silent again.
But unlike the previous silence filled with collective sighs of disappointment, the Dubai staff now reacted with surprise and astonishment.
"Huh??"
"Wait, they're offering that little to the Pegasus?"
"No, that's not an offer—that's only if she wins all three Spring Triple Crown races. One misstep and she gets nothing—it's basically making her work for the URA for free."
"I can't believe the URA is this stingy. How can they offer this?"
Then, one voice after another filled with emotion and delight.
Because they realized immediately—the opportunity had arrived!!
The URA's recent surge in overseas popularity and buzz had made them green with envy.
And the reason behind it wasn't the URA—it was all because of Platinum!
After Platinum had brought them so much success, the URA actually had the nerve to offer such meager terms. The Dubai staff were baffled.
But one thing was certain: their chance had come!
The prize money for each G1 in the Spring Triple Crown wasn't high; combined, the three races were only slightly more than their turf classic, the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Three GIs barely surpassed one G1, and the benefit terms were strict—only awarded if she made history by winning all three!
In fact, even if she won all three Spring Triple Crown races plus the new additional bonus, the total still wouldn't match the highest-paying dirt race in their World Cup—the [Dubai World Cup] itself.
"Not only that, but they started advance ticket sales for the Osaka Cup just days after Platinum won the Arima Kinen."
This wasn't just a lack of sincerity—it was a blatant attempt to squeeze every last bit of value out of Platinum's fame to boost the URA's performance metrics.
"They're clearly trying to maximize profits by exploiting Platinum's popularity."
"Since they're in it for the money, no wonder they're trying to cut costs on Platinum's bonuses and benefits."
Then, the Dubai World Cup chairman showed a smile that was confident, but only slightly.
"Good, then… this changes things from impossible to somewhat possible to invite the Pegasus."
"By the way, although our pure prize money is already on par with the URA's G1 prizes plus benefits, we should still show our sincerity."
"How about adding a [Promotional Benefits Clause]? Top contestants who bring significant attention and buzz to the World Cup will receive an additional…"
"33% to 50% of their prize money after the race?"
Direct competition!
Dubai has never been afraid of anything—except maybe not having enough money to throw around!
If the URA is only offering a measly one-third bonus for winning the entire Spring Triple Crown?
Well, then Dubai Racing will offer a base 33%—even if she doesn't win! The more she wins, the more she gets!
Up to 50%! That's equivalent to the prize money of two or three Japanese G1s—and they're willing to throw in half again as much!
"I think that works."
"Yeah, no need to overthink it or worry about recouping costs. We need to show sincerity to foreign talent."
"Is the percentage too low? Platinum would definitely run the 2400m turf Dubai Sheema Classic, which has a lower prize than the 2000m dirt World Cup. It's only equivalent to two or three Japanese G1s."
"Right, to show sincerity, we should go all out!"
In front of the chairman, some staff nodded in agreement, thinking it was a good offer; others even shook their heads, calling it too conservative and stingy.
The radicals proposed doubling the Osaka Cup's prize money and bonuses; the conservatives thought the radicals were being too conservative and miserly.
"Well, we can discuss the details and potentially increase it further."
"We must not be as stingy as the URA toward the Pegasus. We need to showcase Dubai's style and generosity."
The chairman nodded, believing that if the Pegasus was willing to come, it would be worth it—they could go higher!
Keep in mind, Japan's race prizes are already among the highest in the world—famous for being "generous to a fault."
If the URA executives heard the Dubai staff's discussion, they'd probably be stunned speechless.
"Seriously, guys…"
"Aren't you worried about making a profit or covering costs?"
But the truth was—
Exactly.
Because… Dubai's Uma Musume racing events are funded by the Dubai Royal Family, overseen by one of the nation's leaders!
If a problem can be solved with money, it's not a problem.
Concepts like profit, breaking even, or cost efficiency simply don't exist in Dubai Racing's dictionary.
No matter how well they manage or how much they earn, it's nothing compared to the Royal Family enjoying the races and writing a check…
So, Dubai Racing only cares about—is the race exciting? Can it expand their global influence?
And Platinum? Every race she runs—whether it's a front-running dash or a come-from-behind charge—is executed in the most spectacular style, guaranteed to make the event incredibly thrilling.
Races like the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen, which are inferior to the Dubai World Cup, skyrocketed to Arc and Breeders' Cup levels solely because of Platinum! The boost in influence was nothing short of legendary!
In short, Platinum perfectly met both of Dubai Racing's most desired criteria.
Since the inception of the Dubai World Cup, no Uma Musume had ever been so adored and anticipated by them!
This was like a gift from heaven—a heavenly horse!
If Japan's URA didn't appreciate her, then their association would just have to comfort the little Pegasus with astronomical prize money.
"As long as Platinum is willing to come, this year's Dubai World Cup will be the most spectacular one since its founding!"
"This might be a Dubai World Cup that won't be surpassed for the next ten or twenty years, right?"
"Platinum will undoubtedly challenge the 2400m turf Dubai Sheema Classic."
"And on the dirt, in the 2000m World Cup, we'll have that monster who is, in a way, the [Strongest in History] in both disciplines!"
Usually, Uma Musume crowned "Strongest in History" have a regional prefix.
For example, the former "Strongest in Japanese History," Symboli Rudolf, actually had her world-class status frequently questioned.
But the "Strongest in History" mentioned by the Dubai chairman had no prefix! Meaning she was considered top-tier globally!
This level is typically… [a once-in-a-century legend], but this monster isn't quite a legend yet—she hasn't reached that level of dominance.
But in a way, her rarity is almost on par with legendary Uma Musume.
That horse girl is Dubai Millennium!
A super talent whose name carries "Dubai," she is the world's first terrifying monster to demonstrate at least world-class ability on both turf and dirt!
Keep in mind, turf and dirt are completely different racing surfaces.
So, pursuing a "dual-surface" career inevitably means reduced training focus on each. With less training time than specialists, defeating them becomes extremely difficult.
Therefore, even if an Uma Musume has talent on both surfaces, she usually chooses to focus on just one. Very few attempt to "have it all."
Dubai Millennium is one of those "have it all" monsters—a dual-surface talent who has still managed to win world-class races on both turf and dirt. Her strength speaks for itself!
Currently, Dubai Millennium is widely acknowledged as the strongest dual-surface Uma Musume in history!
On turf, those stronger than her can't match her on dirt.
On dirt, those stronger than her can't match her on turf.
Although Dubai Millennium's ceiling is historical-level rather than legendary, her rarity is almost at the legendary tier.
Coincidentally… the Pegasus is the same! Her unprecedented special effects, combined with her historical-level status, have led to comparisons with past legends!
And Dubai Millennium has already confirmed she will run in the highest-paying race of the [Dubai World Cup]—the 2000m dirt World Cup.
Barring surprises, the two legends will avoid a direct clash.
"[Pegasus Platinum], [Strongest Dual-Surface Uma Musume Dubai Millennium]!"
"Although it's a pity they won't face each other, having one compete in the turf Sheema Classic and the other in the dirt World Cup will generate unprecedented buzz. That's enough."
"Now… let's prepare to invite Pegasus Platinum. We hope to win her over."
--+--
Japan!
The Silver-White Maiden had just answered the phone. She was about to brush off the caller and hang up when she casually asked about the prize money…
And thus, the gears of fate—and the gears of prize money—began to turn.
Upon hearing the amount clearly, Platinum fell silent for a moment.
Her amber eyes instantly sharpened with clarity!
Even she, who hated overtime, was tempted.
To be precise, Platinum wasn't swayed by the unprecedented high prize money alone; she was moved by the sincerity of the Dubai racing officials, touched by their diligent and responsible attitude.
"Alright, I'll enter."
"The race I want to enter is—"
Platinum paused, as if considering something.
During her hesitation, the voice on the other end quickly added.
"By the way, starting this year, the World Cup will introduce a [Promotional Benefits Clause]. If a participating Uma Musume significantly boosts the race's viewership and impact…"
"Then, qualifying Uma Musume will receive an additional 50% to 75% of their prize money."
"This isn't some empty promise; we guarantee that regardless of the outcome, you will receive at least an extra 50%."
Hearing this, even the silver-haired girl, who had competed in many races, was briefly stunned.
Huh??
The Dubai Sheema Classic's prize money was already more than two Japanese G1s combined, and the Dubai World Cup's purse surpassed the entire Spring Triple Crown plus bonuses!
And Dubai officials were promising her a high additional percentage on top of that?
Could they really be this generous?
If she won the highest-paying dirt race, the Dubai World Cup…
Platinum then responded in a firm, clear voice.
"Please enter me for both the [Dubai World Cup] and the [Dubai Sheema Classic]."
After she spoke, it was the Dubai staffer's turn to be shocked.
"Huh?? The Dubai World Cup? Are you considering running on dirt?"
Was she… planning to challenge the strongest dual-surface Uma Musume?
Or was she not fully decided yet, entering both and choosing which to run after arriving in Dubai?
Recovering, the Dubai staffer replied seriously.
"Understood. We will enter you in both events. No entry fee is required, and you may choose to withdraw from one later."
"Finally—"
"Dubai awaits the arrival of the Pegasus!!"
"—The entire Dubai Racing Association offers you our highest respect."
With that, the call ended.
The lazy Pegasus felt a flicker of anticipation in her eyes.
Who were her opponents? Platinum didn't know, didn't care.
But she knew one thing: she was going to dominate!!
"[Dubai World Cup] has the highest prize money. No matter what, I must run that."
Contrary to the Dubai staffer's expectations, Platinum wasn't considering choosing one.
From the moment she heard the Dubai World Cup's prize was double that of the Sheema Classic and higher than the entire Spring Triple Crown combined…
The Pegasus's choice was already made: the dirt race she'd never run before—the Dubai World Cup!
The highest-paying Dubai World Cup was her default choice!
As for the other turf race she entered, she was considering whether to run a [double header]?!
"As for the [Dubai Sheema Classic]… should I run it?"
The silver-haired girl fell into thought.
But she didn't ponder long before setting down her phone.
"Forget it, I'll decide after I get to Dubai."
"Rather than worrying about Dubai, which is still a while away, I should think about tomorrow's [awards ceremony]."
The URA's awards for outstanding Japanese Uma Musume were tomorrow night!
It would be broadcast live.
"Then… tomorrow night, during the live broadcast, I'll announce my overseas campaign!"
--+--
The next evening.
At the URA office building, many news reporters and a few Uma Musume had gathered.
The URA didn't actually care too much about tonight's awards ceremony.
Because the truly weighty awards had no suspense—everyone knew only Platinum could win them; there was no second choice.
So…
In the room where award ceremony details should have been discussed, URA executives were cheerfully chatting.
"Ticket sales for the Osaka Cup are unprecedentedly good. This is the heat brought by the world-renowned Pegasus."
"Yes, first there's Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon. Even though they lost to Platinum, they still have strong popularity. A rematch with the Pegasus would be a great selling point."
"But the real heavyweight is Pegasus Platinum. We added money for the Kikuka Shō, and she came back…"
"Now we've added money for the Spring Triple Crown, so everyone assumes she'll run, and tickets are selling fast."
"Even overseas, thousands of tickets have been reserved—it's almost sold out!"
"In other words, the URA and Japanese racing are now… thriving!"
"Yes, thriving!"
The metrics were unprecedented.
Even if Platinum won the Spring Triple Crown and they had to pay out the new bonuses, it would be a drop in the bucket compared to the URA's new earnings and profits!
Besides, Platinum might not even win the Triple Crown.
If she lost one or skipped a race, she'd essentially be working for the URA for free!
They might even be able to create a "Pegasus Slayer" or "Pegasus Rival" narrative and cultivate the next super horse girl.
Maybe Japanese horse girls would lose, but the URA would always win. From a commercial, profit-driven perspective, this was the URA's development strategy.
Amid the cheerful atmosphere…
One female executive frowned slightly, expressing concern.
"What if Platinum doesn't come? Wouldn't most tickets be refunded then?"
"No, why wouldn't she? We added benefits. If she wins the Spring Triple Crown, the reward is substantial. Not many places in the world offer more than us, right?"
"Don't worry. The Pegasus will only choose the Spring Triple Crown."
Another executive in charge of the awards laughed.
"Later, during her award presentation, we'll just praise her more, let her know how much the URA values her."
"Young fillies are easily moved. She'll stay. If she goes overseas, it won't be until the second half of the year."
"So now, we should take advantage of the first half, while Platinum hasn't gone abroad, to use her for promotion, boost influence, and sell more tickets."
In short, business was booming!
--+--
Amid the lighthearted chatter, the awards ceremony was about to begin.
Nearly all the horse girls qualified for awards had arrived.
Many reporters' cameras were already rolling or live-streaming, waiting for the ceremony to start.
Only one silver-haired figure arrived fashionably late.
Agnes Tachyon, Daiwa Scarlet, Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Dober, and other Uma Musume sat around tables, chatting.
Tokai Teio, currently without her crutches, wanted to present a good image to her fans.
Next to her, Agnes Tachyon, also recovering from a fracture, appeared normal on the surface.
"Platinum is late."
"She's the sole protagonist of this ceremony. She'll probably sweep more than half the major awards, right?"
"Yeah, why does it feel like the Pegasus doesn't care much about the important awards the URA is giving out?"
There were many award categories, but the most prestigious was undoubtedly [Horse of the Year].
Additionally, there were [Best Older Mare], [Best Three-Year-Old], [Best Two-Year-Old], and others.
For example, Daiwa Scarlet, sitting here, was nominated for Best Two-Year-Old…
Her achievement of only losing to Platinum by five lengths definitely qualified her.
Normally, such ceremonies would be tense or nerve-wracking.
But this year… there was no controversy. Uma Musume like Agnes Tachyon and Mejiro Dober knew they were just there for appearances.
"It's starting!"
"Platinum… she's here."
Daiwa Scarlet was the first to notice the silver-haired figure. She spotted an Uma Musume emerging from the participant entrance.
Pegasus Platinum was walking in slowly.
But what surprised them, and even the URA executives nearby, was…
Unlike the other young Uma Musume wearing dresses and elegant attire ready to receive awards or be runners-up, Platinum was wearing her G1 racing silks—her victory outfit!
Except for the missing long, giant bow, she looked ready to race somewhere!
The silver-haired girl with a cold expression approached and sat in an empty seat at Daiwa Scarlet's table.
"Not bad, I'm not late."
--+--
Then, the awards ceremony began!
After a URA executive gave a boring speech, they finally started announcing the awards.
The first were minor, insignificant awards.
Then, it was Agnes Tachyon's turn to receive an award.
Typically, a popular Uma Musume like Agnes Tachyon, winner of the Satsuki Shō and second in the Arima Kinen, would receive a decent award.
But unfortunately, the emergence of a certain Pegasus meant the once Phantom Triple Crown winner and mad scientist girl could only receive a minor award.
Walking up the red carpet, Agnes Tachyon calmly accepted the trophy.
The URA staff, hoping to generate buzz, asked for her acceptance speech.
If Agnes Tachyon mentioned the Osaka Cup!
And then Tokai Teio and Platinum did the same, it would maximize hype for the Osaka Cup, perfectly aligning with the URA's profit-driven goals!
"Congratulations, Miss Agnes Tachyon. What are your goals for this year? Which race do you want to challenge?"
During the live broadcast, Agnes Tachyon looked toward the silver-haired girl in the audience and gave a cold response.
"The Takarazuka Kinen."
Instantly, the staff member froze.
"W-Wait, what about the first major race this year, the Osaka Cup… Miss Agnes Tachyon, aren't you interested?"
Agnes Digital turned away calmly and delivered her final words before leaving the stage.
"Fracture. Resting."
Clearly, after the Arima Kinen showdown, where she was directly defeated by the Pegasus…
This exceptionally talented young girl couldn't avoid injury, making her unable to compete in the Osaka Cup.
Immediately, the URA executives in other seats turned pale.
'It's… it's fine. Without Agnes, we still have Teio and Platinum.'
'A showdown between two powerhouses—Teio vs. Platinum for the third time is still a selling point.'
'Teio and the Pegasus are enough.'
The other Uma Musume in the audience were stunned.
Thanks to excellent treatment from a certain Dr. Lin, although full recovery would take a month, brief free movement was possible now.
So, initially, other Uma Musume didn't notice anything wrong with Agnes Tachyon and Tokai Teio.
But after Agnes mentioned her fracture… Mejiro Dober, Jungle Pocket, Daiwa Scarlet, and others were dumbfounded.
Some Uma Musume began trembling slightly, sensing danger.
Soon, it was Tokai Teio's turn to receive an award.
The same question was asked about her upcoming schedule.
Unlike the cold-faced scientist girl, the race-loving Tokai Teio responded with a dejected sigh.
"I'll be running… the Spring Tennō Shō or the Takarazuka Kinen."
"Huh???"
"I also have a fracture. I need more rest."
With that, Tokai Teio turned and left the stage.
After she revealed her fracture, the room fell into prolonged dead silence.
For some reason…
The group of talented Uma Musume around Platinum all turned to look at the silver-haired girl.
"Gulp… how terrifying!!"
"No way, later I'll tell Trainer-san—what kind of Osaka Cup is he signing me up for? Does he want to shorten my career?"
"Ah, Agnes and Teio both broke their legs against the Pegasus. I should avoid her…"
"Wait, two monsters are injured. What about the biggest monster, Pegasus Platinum? Is she injured too?"
"N-No way, right? The Pegasus can't be injured. She's a super talent who won an Irregular Triple Crown in a month."
Instantly, looks of awe and fear were directed at the silver-haired figure, as if she were some monstrous entity.
At another table, Akikawa Yayoi and Hayakawa Tazuna were also stunned.
Both of Tracen's most talented active middle-distance Uma Musume were injured?
This is the Pegasus?!
At the URA executives' table, they were completely dumbfounded.
What??
They gritted their teeth, their breathing becoming heavy and rapid.
The three most popular and important middle-distance Uma Musume—two were already out.
But thankfully, Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon were just supporting actors. Their presence was ideal, but not essential.
As long as the main attraction was there, everything was fine. Losing a few side dishes wasn't a deal-breaker.
The Pegasus probably… wasn't injured, right?
Under the audience's gaze, the awards ceremony continued.
After a few more awards…
Finally, Platinum's name was called.
The silver-haired girl's expression didn't change. She stood up calmly.
During the live broadcast, when she appeared, the number of comments exploded—increasing more than tenfold, to the point where they almost covered her entirely.
The comments were in both Japanese and English—clearly, many international viewers had tuned in.
Unlike the other girls in dresses exuding elegance, the silver-haired girl walked with powerful, resolute steps on the red carpet. Each step made the audience's hearts skip a beat.
It was as if she were a warrior preparing for an expedition, not an honoree about to be decorated!
Upon reaching the stage, millions—if not more—viewers from Japan and around the world watched the broadcast, curious about what honor could match the Pegasus's achievements from the previous year!
But before the award could be presented, Platinum did something that shocked the entire venue—she took the microphone directly.
The so-called URA awards, the proof of being Japan's strongest of the year—the Platinum from the Armorless Union had no interest in them from the start.
Holding the microphone, the silver-haired girl scanned the audience with hawk-like, intimidating eyes, then calmly declared:
"The URA has no right to award me."
In the next second, everyone from the Uma Musume to the URA executives were stunned!
She stood proudly on stage, surveying the surroundings!
Before putting down the microphone, the Silver-White Maiden delivered her final statement—addressing what everyone, from the audience to the URA, was most curious about: her upcoming race schedule.
"—I will take my talents to Dubai."
Instantly, it was as if a massive bomb had been dropped—from the building to all of Japan, and then to the international Uma Musume racing world!
The historical-level Pegasus would spread her wings once more and campaign overseas!!
--+--
T/N: Lowkey, why is Dubai Millennium such a cold ahh name?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.