Sham at the Doorstep?
After sending the text and confirming that Secretariat was on her way…
The unscrupulous young doctor froze for a moment, immediately recalling how Sham had gotten injured in the first place…
That severe fracture, the kind of "serious injury" that could end an Uma Musume's career—wasn't it exactly because she'd been pushed beyond her limits by Secretariat?
Of course, you couldn't blame Secretariat for that. How could you fault an opponent for being too strong and causing your own injury? It was always a matter of pushing one's own body past its breaking point.
Just like Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon, who'd also suffered fractures while chasing Pegasus Platinum, forcing them to withdraw from the Osaka Cup and take time to recover.
It was a delicate situation. You couldn't exactly resent your opponent, but praising them didn't feel right either.
And now… after their fierce rivalry throughout the Triple Crown races, Sham and Secretariat—these two acknowledged arch-rivals—were about to meet again, of all places, in his recently reopened clinic?
Lin Anran fell into deep thought for a few seconds, then ultimately brushed it off.
After all… it wasn't that big a deal, was it?
As a certain unscrupulous young doctor would say, isn't this kind of thing pretty common?
Back when Lin Anran first crossed over to America, planning to play the long game, he'd had no shortage of experience dealing with whole groups of young fillies.
That group had included Secretariat, Flightline, Ruffian, and later ones like Sunday Silence and Sea the Stars, too.
You could say that long before coming to Japan, Lin Anran had already grown accustomed to having multiple young fillies showing up at his clinic.
From any angle, it made sense for Sham, as an injured patient, to seek him out for treatment.
Whoever you are, don't get in the way of Uncle making money!
These days, Lin Anran was perfectly comfortable calling himself "Uncle."
Age-wise, being in his twenties meant that to teenage fillies, he could either be considered a big brother or an uncle, depending on how you looked at it.
And most of the fillies who came to him for treatment knew he was Margaret Nearl's uncle.
Some had even curiously asked if he had another name, something like "Nearl"… though Lin Anran had never answered that one.
So Sham was just another patient in need of treatment—another filly ready to shower him with gold.
Compared to the others, Sham was more exceptional, more gifted! Just look at how she was hailed as Secretariat's rival, finishing second in two of America's three classic races—that alone spoke volumes.
Not only was she incredibly talented, but her injury was also more severe than those of the other fillies who came to him for treatment.
After all, most Uma Musume who sought him out had minor injuries—the kind where any decent doctor would probably do.
Even though Lin Anran had an excellent reputation in Japan and was known as the exclusive doctor for the Pegasus, many injured Uma Musume still had their doubts. Most of the time, they'd prioritize choosing renowned doctors at international hospitals.
That's what made Sham's appearance so valuable!
"If I can heal Sham and she makes a successful return to the track…"
"With her fame, combined with the news of her comeback from a severe fracture to win a major stakes race—it would instantly make my name known in American Uma Musume circles!"
"Sham must be treated!"
In Lin Anran's eyes, Sham was on par with Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon during their URA days! She deserved the same level of careful attention and treatment.
The unscrupulous young doctor believed that Big Red wouldn't possibly pick a fight with an injured, defeated, limping Sham, right? No matter how competitive she was, she surely wouldn't show it here.
As America's current number one, having secured her place in the top five in American history with the Triple Crown, a new-era monster like Big Red challenging Man o' War's status as the dirt GOAT ought to have the dignity of a champion.
So, in theory, there was no way a fight could break out!
Sure enough, it wasn't long before…
Lin Anran turned off the screen in front of him and looked up toward the door.
What he saw was a young girl moving slowly, with a slight, noticeable limp.
She was a black-haired Uma Musume, her hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders, dark and glossy, swaying gently with each step.
This girl, known as Sham, lacked the determination and intensity she showed during races. Compared to the overwhelming presence of Secretariat or Nearl, who left a deep impression at first glance, she seemed much more approachable, almost like the girl next door.
Her features were delicate and refined, her figure well-proportioned—neither too thin nor too heavy. Her long, powerful legs were clearly the result of rigorous training.
Yet now, she walked with a limp, clearly injured from a race. Her right foot dragged slightly, each step seeming to cause her pain.
Sham's attire was simple yet tasteful—a white T-shirt highlighting her pure and gentle demeanor. A colorful hairband adorned her arm, adding a splash of brightness to her girl-next-door image.
She looked less like an injured Uma Musume and more like an ordinary girl who'd gotten hurt during gym class.
"Hi, Dr. Lin!"
"Finally… I get to see you again."
The girl named Sham wore a soft smile, her dark eyes curving into gentle crescents, radiating genuine happiness.
But beneath that friendly, approachable exterior lay an incredibly fierce competitive spirit.
The reason was simple: choosing [Sham] as her racing name revealed her fierce, relentless drive to win. To achieve the victories she craved, she was willing to risk everything!
From her near-miss second-place finishes in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, to the Belmont Stakes where—knowing she couldn't catch up—she still pushed herself to the brink, chasing Secretariat until she fractured…
All of it proved that behind that gentle, refined appearance lay an astonishing will to win.
And now, fully aware that she couldn't surpass Secretariat and unable to return to the track anytime soon…
Would that competitive fire within the young Sham simply fade away?
Or—would it manifest in another way?
No one knew yet, at least not now…
In the eyes of the unscrupulous young doctor, Sham was a golden opportunity, a future patron worth his careful attention!
"After I got injured in that race and woke up in the hospital, I wanted to come see you right away for treatment."
"But unfortunately, my family insisted on waiting awhile. They only let me come see you after my condition stabilized and the hospital confirmed they couldn't do more."
"So, ever since I was in the hospital, I've…"
The approachable black-haired girl next door, with her crescent-moon smile, greeted Lin Anran warmly and even confessed her "feelings."
"No, that's not right. Actually, from the moment I opened my eyes, I wanted to see you again, Dr. Lin."
She spoke these words as she walked up to Lin Anran, seemingly overflowing with joy as she took his hand, finishing in one breath.
This left Lin Anran momentarily stunned. He blinked, sensing something unusual.
This filly… since when was she so enthusiastic?
Lin Anran had treated many fillies before. Even Sunday Silence, who later became very close with him!
At first, that dark, thin, overlooked Sunday Silence had watched him warily when injured, like a cautious young animal wary of predators.
Back then, Sunday Silence—accidentally injured and unable to even afford medical fees—didn't believe that someone as disliked and unwanted as her would ever meet a truly good person. She thought maybe she'd encountered a Uma Musume trafficker! Or a doctor trying to trick her into signing for exorbitant loans or sky-high medical bills!
But after actually receiving Lin Anran's treatment, and him seemingly sensing her dilemma—and because a certain unscrupulous young doctor playing the long game couldn't be bothered with small change and waived all fees…
Finally, that dark, unloved young creature felt warmth for the first time and fully opened up to him, dropping her guard.
But when Lin Anran later realized he hadn't treated Manhattan Cafe, but Sunday Silence who looked exactly like her… he was the one left speechless.
Though, looking at the results now, Sunday Silence turned out to be no worse than Manhattan Cafe, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise?
Lin Anran knew that being as wary as Sunday Silence was rare, but this Sham… not only wasn't she wary…
She seemed excessively friendly toward him?
Usually, it took two or three treatment sessions with injured fillies to reach this level of rapport.
But now—he'd only given Sham one simple emergency treatment after that race, right?
That one time could barely count as half a treatment!
Could that critical [half-treatment] really boost recognition and closeness as much as two or three major sessions?
No wonder that after the first successful, free treatment, that introverted dark-haired girl had latched onto him.
Once he processed this, Lin Anran didn't dwell on it. Instead, he felt pleased.
This was good news. The more Uma Musume willing to shower him with gold, the better.
Since he'd made a good impression on this American filly… after successfully treating her and spreading his reputation and skills, he wouldn't have to worry about more Uma Musume coming to spend their gold!
Before Lin Anran could free his hand from Sham's grasp…
Another figure appeared at the door.
A tall, red-haired girl, her long hair flowing wildly in the wind like burning flames. Her figure was tall and sleek, her slightly fitted top accentuating her perfect form.
In front of the clinic, the crimson-haired Uma Musume stood proudly, her sharp, eagle-like eyes and overwhelming presence making her seem like a queen surveying her familiar territory, and…
Her most familiar black-haired young doctor, and—her three-time defeated rival, Sham?!
The girl named Secretariat frowned slightly, a flash of displeasure and vigilance in her eyes.
'Sham… why is she here?'
Toward her rivals, or rather, her defeated opponents, Secretariat had the demeanor of a champion.
Whenever people brought up Sham's losses or injuries, Secretariat would express regret and acknowledge her talent, strength, and competitive spirit.
It wasn't for show or to elevate herself by praising her opponent—Secretariat didn't care about that. She genuinely respected determined rivals with strong wills.
But that didn't mean… she approved of Sham trying to steal Dr. Lin away from her!!!
Secretariat didn't have any peculiar interest in watching her beloved interact with other members of the opposite sex.
That track-side regal demeanor was nowhere to be seen now, replaced entirely by wariness and dissatisfaction.
Secretariat refused to believe that a simple doctor-patient relationship involved Sham holding Lin Anran's hand!
Unless roles were reversed, and Sham was the doctor while Lin Anran was the patient needing diagnosis?
"Good afternoon, Dr. Lin."
The crimson girl's voice was calm yet powerful, carrying a natural authority. She didn't even glance at Sham, focusing solely on the black-haired young man.
"I assume Sham's injury isn't in her hand, is it?"
"If she doesn't need immediate treatment, perhaps she could let go and allow Dr. Lin to examine me first."
Straight to the point.
The next second, Secretariat finally saw her familiar rival, Sham, turn to look at her.
The same girl who had just been wearing a gentle, girl-next-door smile for Lin Anran…
The moment she turned around, her smile vanished, replaced by an icy cold expression.
In a position where Lin Anran couldn't see, Sham's lips parted slightly without making a sound. From the movement of her lips, she seemed to be saying…
'You're the one who should let go.'
'Big Red, focus on your own races.'
After silently rebutting and warning her, Sham reassumed a faint smile, once again displaying a gentle expression within Lin Anran's line of sight.
But the words she spoke, while not openly confrontational, carried a similarly cunning meaning.
"I'm sorry, Miss Secretariat…"
"I got too excited. This is my first treatment with Dr. Lin since my injury, so I lost my composure."
Sham released Lin Anran's hand and continued cheerfully.
"Since appointments are first-come-first-served, and my injury isn't minor…"
"My apologies, Miss Secretariat, but I'm afraid Dr. Lin won't have time to examine you right now."
"Could you please wait patiently? As friends who've met several times on the track, I'll cover your next examination fee, how about that?"
The cunning girl named Sham never backed down easily when facing an unusual rival.
Her words thoroughly displeased the crimson monster Secretariat, who frowned slightly.
But the next second, Secretariat crossed her arms, adopting a queenly stance as she counterattacked, a warning glint in her eyes.
"In terms of injury and treatment order, you're first. But other orders… aren't so certain."
"This time, you can have it. But don't get any wild ideas about the rest."
"As for examinations, if I run into you again next time, I'll just have to find a way to visit Dr. Lin's home after hours for my check-up."
Run into her?
No, that was a direct warning to Sham not to monopolize Lin Anran's time under the guise of treatment, not to make a move under that pretext.
That final counterattack made the cunning Sham's smile stiffen slightly.
'Huh? Secretariat and Dr. Lin are actually that close…?'
'It seems I can only try to get closer to Dr. Lin for now.'
"Sham, you wouldn't want me to do that, would you?"
Gritting her teeth slightly, Sham maintained her faint smile, saying nothing.
But her silence was undoubtedly an acknowledgment of Secretariat's words.
Seeing this, the crimson girl turned back, her overwhelming aura—enough to make any Uma Musume tremble—instantly vanishing. She uncrossed her arms from her ample chest and offered the young doctor a gentle smile.
"If you won't come to me, then I'll come to you."
"Dr. Lin, if you have time, I'd like you to visit my training ground and review my recent training plan."
"Consider becoming my exclusive doctor. Contact me anytime once you've decided."
With that, Secretariat waved her hand, and the imposing crimson-haired girl turned and left, disappearing from the sight of Lin Anran and Sham.
Sham's mind was now filled with surprise and contemplation.
That Big Red… really is relentless!
Even though Big Red was here first…
In Sham's eyes, when had something like this ever been about who came first?
After finally meeting someone who suited her so well—a young man who'd gently held her on the track, not dazzled by Secretariat's overwhelming brilliance…
If she let herself be intimidated by Secretariat and didn't dare make a move…
Wouldn't that mean she'd have to hand everything over?
'Even though Secretariat warned me… she definitely has less free time than I do.'
'There's no such thing as guarding against thieves forever—only thieves who strike after a thousand days!'
If she couldn't beat Secretariat on the track, did that mean she had no chance at all off it?
The opportunity for revenge—was right before her eyes!
Maintaining her smile, Sham lifted her fair, delicate foot toward Lin Anran.
"Well then… Dr. Lin, please."
Lin Anran, with practiced ease but somewhat absentmindedly, took hold of Sham's foot. As he began his examination, his thoughts wandered.
'Big Red… becoming her exclusive doctor?'
'Should I do it?'
--+--
Meanwhile, at the Coolmore Group.
Within the expansive complex of buildings, inside the most central and luxurious villa, many high-ranking members gathered, having returned from various countries around the world.
After all, the Coolmore Group was a premier family-backed consortium in Europe, and Europe was known for its multitude of independent nations.
To maximize profits and development, it was only natural for Coolmore members to be distributed across different countries. Typically, gatherings of this scale and attendance didn't happen every year.
Only during biennial routine assemblies or moments deciding Coolmore's long-term development—or even survival—would all high-ranking members converge in one place.
But now… less than a year had passed since the last routine assembly. The reason was already evident.
Coolmore—was in trouble!!
"After we prepared our contingency plan, once the obstruction failed, we immediately mobilized our connections to have the Eclipse Stakes organizers issue a two-month suspension, hoping to end the matter entirely."
"But—we severely underestimated the popularity and influence of Pegasus Platinum. Even with multiple media outlets and connections mobilized, we couldn't suppress the backlash."
"Many media outlets had to shamefully retract their whitewashing reports within an hour of posting, afraid of being associated with us due to the relentless influx of readers and Platinum fans."
"In less than a day, half of Coolmore's golden reputation was shattered. Our attempts to whitewash were a complete failure."
A mature mare auntie with an extremely grim expression reported through gritted teeth.
It was worth noting that she was the one who had greenlit the plan, directing the three Uma Musume—aside from Fame and Glory—to pursue the greatest prize: surpassing the Pegasus and ending her undefeated streak!
If successful, this monumental achievement would have granted her more power within the Coolmore Group.
All-in! She went all-in!
But now… she had completely underestimated everything—from Platinum's strength to her influence.
And going all-in was like a front-running strategy in racing: there were only two outcomes—decisive victory or catastrophic defeat. There was no such thing as a narrow loss or a close win.
This particular high-ranking mare who had gone all-in on the obstruction plan was now… like a horse who'd lost all momentum, caught from the front, resulting in a failed gamble.
This all-in move was leading to the most painful outcome. Like cracking ice, the damage was spreading, shaking the foundation of Coolmore, Europe's top-tier consortium, destabilizing its situation and setting back its development!
"Not only that—"
"If it were just temporary public opinion and spectator dissatisfaction, Coolmore's size could absorb those losses. A two-year setback would be serious but not fatal."
During the Coolmore Group meeting, an elderly woman seated at the center sighed softly.
"What truly matters, what we least expected, is that the Japanese racing authority URA—known for its arrogance and dominance toward Japanese Uma Musume—originally had a decent, even good relationship with us."
"Not only did URA fully side with Platinum and sever ties with us, but they also publicly demanded an apology, threatening to ban us from the Japan Cup otherwise!"
To some extent, this also exceeded Coolmore's expectations.
They had developed deep roots in Europe over decades, producing countless elite Uma Musume. No single Uma Musume in Europe had ever held enough popularity and influence to make a racing authority wield its power so forcefully—crossing borders to clash with a top-tier consortium!
From their perspective and on paper, there was no way to gauge just how unprecedented Platinum's influence in Japan truly was.
You could say she was Japan's Eclipse, Japan's Man o' War!
On the surface, the stubborn URA should have been reluctant to sever ties with them after years of development. They should have been conservative, issuing a mere condemnation and leaving it at that…
But because they didn't understand the Pegasus's influence in Japan yet knew URA's stubbornness and conservative leanings, this situation arose.
In the conservatives' view, the Osaka Cup defeat and the backlash from countless Pegasus fans could absolutely not be repeated!
Under normal circumstances, offending the Coolmore Group wouldn't be wise. But if the other side of the scale held Platinum?
And this was precisely the best opportunity to repair relations with Platinum!
If the Pegasus were lost, she would be truly gone. Japan might not produce a second Pegasus for half a century!
Even without Coolmore sending Uma Musume, there were plenty of other second-tier European consortia who could send their own.
So now, the conservatives found the radicals not radical enough—they believed they should act swiftly and decisively, using the authority of a national central association to quickly resolve the matter and shake the Coolmore Group!
The overly conservative Japanese URA rejected the option of maintaining good relations with both sides and instead chose… to conservatively go all-in on the Pegasus.
Coolmore Group went all-in, so Japan's URA going all-in was perfectly reasonable, right?
"URA's press conference caused even bigger waves. Even the Dubai racing authority followed suit, similarly expressing dissatisfaction."
"Rumor has it that among the royal family members during the Dubai World Cup, some mares had already become die-hard fans of Platinum since the World Cup earlier this year."
"From the Dubai royal family's affection to Platinum's significant boost in promoting the World Cup… the Dubai racing authority also sided with Platinum."
"Even in our home turf, the British racing authority—with whom we have excellent relations—now has reservations about us, filled with discontent."
The elderly woman sighed, her voice heavy with gravity, as she delivered the key point.
"The situation… is as such."
"You forgot that the Pegasus isn't an ordinary mare. She's a Uma Musume who has toured the world, winning the Epsom Derby and the Dubai World Cup!"
"Now, all of Coolmore's connections and resources are useless. No matter which racing official we call, none of them answer."
"After all, she is an Epsom Derby winner."
That's right, the Epsom Derby!
The Eclipse Stakes was also held in Britain.
In addition, Platinum had recently confirmed her participation in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes!
And Dubai's two most famous G1 races—the Dubai World Cup (dirt) and the Dubai Sheema Classic (turf)—were both won by Platinum in a single day, making her a darling in the eyes of the Dubai racing authority, who feared she might not return next year.
Britain's most prestigious top-tier G1 races were none other than the Epsom Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Platinum had already won one and was aiming for an undefeated season.
Even if she wasn't quite the darling of the British racing authority yet, having won the Epsom Derby meant many within the authority likely admired Platinum and found Coolmore's actions excessive.
Amid the Eclipse Stakes obstruction incident, with Japan's URA and the Dubai racing authority stepping in, the obstruction scandal had reached an international level, almost escalating into an issue of international image!
Externally, there was pressure from URA, the Dubai racing authority, and an international image crisis; internally, some officials were fans of the Epsom Derby-winning Pegasus Platinum, and massive numbers of fans across Britain and Europe were continuously voicing support…
Under these circumstances, the British racing authority's stance had completely shifted and could no longer firmly support the Coolmore Group.
After the family head's words spread through the room, the many Coolmore executives nodded slightly or remained silent. No one objected.
A minute later.
Just as the family head was about to say more, her phone rang.
When she saw the caller ID, her lips moved slightly, but ultimately she sighed as if she had expected this.
"Ah… it's finally here."
It was a call from the Eclipse Stakes organizing committee.
The initially mild punishment was undoubtedly about to undergo a severe change!
As the representative of the Coolmore Group, the family head finally answered.
A few minutes later—
After a brief call, the elderly woman's voice sounded utterly drained.
"The results are out. Officially, Fame and Glory and the others will be suspended for… six months. Their Eclipse Stakes prize money will be revoked, and they—along with Coolmore—are ordered to issue a public, livestreamed apology to Platinum."
"And the punishment doesn't end there. For the next three years, in any British G1 race, the Coolmore Group may enter no more than three Uma Musume! This is the first-ever targeted restriction on participant numbers."
"An unprecedented severe punishment has arrived!!"
The elderly woman's gaze sharpened once more as she finally turned her eyes toward the ashen-faced executive who had gone all-in…
No, former executive.
"Effective immediately, you are relieved of your executive position. Your new assignment will be…"
"Managing Coolmore's operations in Japan. Work on repairing relations with Japan's URA. If you achieve good results, you may return in ten years."
After the family head delivered her decision, the mare auntie who had suffered a catastrophic all-in failure went weak in the knees, collapsing into her chair.
Wasn't this tantamount to exile?
"As for now… we must prepare to apologize to the little Pegasus."
"Not just an apology—we must also prepare a very sincere gift!"
—The mighty Coolmore Group had thoroughly bowed to the Pegasus, a one-mare dynasty!
--+--
The next day.
A lazy silver-haired girl lounged in her room.
The next moment, as she scrolled through her phone, she came across several Uma Musume news articles!
Her amber eyes widened slightly, as if she'd seen something astonishing.
"Huh? The Eclipse Stakes punishment increased to… six months?"
"Coolmore Group holds a livestreamed press conference, executives bowing in apology?"
"The mysterious fearsome opponent in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes confirmed to be—Harbinger?!!"
--+--
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.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.