Chapter 702 Horse Racing·Gun of Morning Light V
The city is a greedy monster. In its black cavity, thousands of souls are tumbling. We are silent, but we are grateful and crawling in the hustle and bustle. Its nest of flesh and blood.
Its pulse, roaring like thunder, devouring the vibrato of life, iron and concrete make up its limbs, and each street, like an artery, sends away our last gasps.
When we approach the end of life, what awaits us is the digested fate, the remnants crushed by the city.
Flesh and bones will turn into soil and become sacrifices to nourish its endless growth. Everything about us will eventually return to dust;
Be the motivation that keeps that great machine moving forward.
Civilization is prosperous, but it empties us out with every breath,
until we are only shadows left for this monster to continue walking at the end of prosperity.
So I want to...
Kill this monster!
——Mikhail Garcia.
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Terran calendar 1591.2.03.
08:30AM. Weather/Sunny to cloudy.
New Manhattan-Central Park Arena.
The arena in the Central Park is located in the most prosperous area of New Manhattan, perfectly integrated with its surrounding natural environment.
This arena was built by the 'Speed Construction Company' spawned by the new world's modified value economy. It cost 15% of the New York City's annual fiscal revenue. It is full of the collision of high technology and natural beauty. .
There are huge vertical forests on both sides of the track. The lush trees seem to be within reach, surrounding the entire venue in a vibrant ecosystem.
There are rumors that the design fee for the Central Park Arena is almost over 100,000 solid gold coins.
This is not a small amount.
The current exchange rate between the New World and the border area in [Financial Street] is:
1 Solid gold coin ≈ 9790.21 US dollars.
The Central Park Arena is one of the most unique venues for horse racing, hosting the famous "Oasis Cup".
This is a long-distance endurance race. Participants need to race in a holographic simulation environment. The track constantly changes as the race progresses. Sometimes it is a forest path, sometimes it is a stream passing through a river. , and even occasionally suddenly turn into an endless desert.
In these ever-changing terrains, horse racing girls not only need speed, but also need to use strategy and endurance to adjust their rhythm at any time.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
In addition to the Central Campus Arena, the federal government has also established four other racetracks in New York, each with its own unique features:
Liberty Lighthouse Arena, famous for its holographic interactive obstacles;
Skyline arena, high-altitude racing, extremely thrilling;
The Titan Arena is the perfect combination of machinery and power;
The Manhattan Sky Arena is a high-altitude challenge on the holographic virtual track.
The investment in these venues is for the huge benefits generated by horse racing.
Event betting, ticket revenue, sponsorship advertising...
The federal government has already grabbed huge wealth from these invisible "gold mines".
Thousands of spectators flock to the arena every week, investing not only money but also enthusiasm for the game and the players.
In their eyes, horse racing girls are not just contestants, they are a new era shaped by capital and financial giants - heroes, idols, and even a part of their entertainment life.
For the federal government, the success of this commercialization not only brings huge economic benefits, but also drives the vigorous development of surrounding industries.
Through the impact of horse racing, more and more companies are pouring in, and the surrounding economy, player cards, and virtual currency trading chains surrounding the game are also rapidly expanding.
For Federal Capital, what they want is no longer just an event, they want to gradually shape it into one of the entertainment pillars of the entire Terran society.
As new worlds developed beyond the borderlands, the federal government looked beyond New York.
Through these horse racing events, the federal government has made more back with interest on its initial investment.
The giants want more.
They want to trap the racing girls in the Commonwealth's Triple Crown. These three races are the most famous: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
This is the first step to promote, comprehensive and popularize the Edici Federation event.
Next, there are the various countries of Terra and various hubs, including:
The George V Championship in Twist, the Royal Ascot Festival, the Arc de Triomphe of France, the Empire Cup, the Great Western Cross-Country Race, and the Great Food in White Cup...
For these reasons, the giants are even willing to bring the Kingdom of Heaven into the market, or the Management Bureau into the market.
They need a visible hand, a strong hand to help them correct market failures, protect public interests or maintain social fairness, and formulate relevant policies to regulate the market.
As long as the cake can continue to grow bigger - the giants behave politely, generously and selflessly.
At this time, the audience was in the Oasis Cup channel.
Xia Xiu stood in the crowd and slowly moved forward with the crowded audience.
There were noisy noises all around, and the atmosphere inside and outside the stadium was tense and warm.
He held his hat in his left hand and held a silver cane in his right hand. His golden eyes swept over the surrounding crowd from time to time, looking around like a 'hillbilly'. His eyes passed over the long queue in front of the ticket gate. .
Beside him, a middle-aged man holding a thick game manual in his hand was discussing betting enthusiastically.
"I'm telling you, the odds this month are much more stable than last month," the man whispered excitedly, as if he was afraid of being heard.
“‘Silver Wings’ Camilla’s odds this time are 3 to 1, but her performance in long distance races has always been stable and her endurance is strong. The most important thing about this kind of race is I think she has a good chance of winning this time if she works hard later."
"Don't be so sure!" Another voice intervened, "Although Camilla's odds are indeed good, 'Jin Hui' is not bad either. , the odds are 5 to 1. She has always been a fast player in the early stage, and the first half of the track is flat grass, which is her advantage."
"But haven't you seen her tactics? She burst out too hard in the early stages and often couldn't survive the 2,400-meter race. Endurance is the key, and she often stalled in the last 200 meters."
On the other side, several young people were also discussing the competition intensely. Tactics:
"On a 2,400-meter track, you must maintain a stable pace for the first 1,000 meters and not rush too hard, otherwise you will not have the energy to adjust in the end. The slope in the first half of this track is gentle, but if the rhythm in the second half of the slope is wrong, Sprinting too early is suicide.”
“Yes, the most important thing in the competition is the balance between speed and endurance. Looking at the contestants this time, ‘Prairie Arrow’ is good at speeding up on slopes, but her The disadvantage is that the rhythm in the first half is not good, and it may be too wide, and it may be insufficient at the critical moment."
"Then whose tactics do you think is more suitable?" A young girl interjected, "'Yin. Moon Hoof's tactics are the smartest. She plays steadily in the first half and uses the slope to start sprinting in the middle and later stages, which can take advantage of her endurance."
"Yes, Silver Moon Hoof is very good at taking advantage of the game. The pace of the game changes, and her game rhythm is very accurate. Relatively speaking, 'Storm' is a powerful player, and no one can compare with her, but her tactics are too simple and she cannot break the rhythm in front of her. ”
Xia Xiu stood in the crowd, silently listening to the sounds around him.
He gently let go of his spirituality, and the noise in his ears gradually became clearer.
The fourth sword holder in the Kingdom of Heaven listens to other people's corners, but it feels like a private visit incognito to understand public opinion.
"But it's really strange. I thought the five major events would be suspended for a while."
A middle-aged man wearing a black jacket whispered, with a hint of suspicion in his voice.
“You see, the circle of infected people has not been peaceful recently. The lunatics from the Liberation Shoes launched another terrorist attack and killed the president of the Neutral Federation. And those guys from the Workers’ Federation, listen. It’s really sad to say that they are restless and protesting.”
The friend next to him immediately poked him and warned: "Shh, keep your voice down! Don't you see there are many infected people here? Don't say such things, it's not good to get into trouble."
Man Glancing back, I saw several infected people standing on the other side of the team, all of them with serious expressions, especially those infected with the characteristics of odd hoof disease - although not all equine infected people, their expressions He was obviously unhappy, as if he was ready to attack at any time.
"Look, you can tell from queuing up that they are different from us 'normal people'." The man lowered his voice again and continued to mutter, "I heard that the infected people are now different from ordinary people. People are becoming more and more antagonistic. "
"Yes, we don't really discriminate against them. It's obvious that they discriminate against us and look down on us."
"Also, Previously, the Federation boasted about the awesome Triple Crown, saying that it would give the title of "Good Times" to the winner of the Triple Crown, and now it is due to the internal struggle between the terrorists and the infected. And announced that it will be suspended indefinitely. I think if the government does not solve the terrorist attacks and their internal affairs, there will be no need to make such a big announcement.”
His companion nodded, looking a little nervous:
"That's right, the previous attack almost caused the stadium to be suspended. This game has been in chaos before it even started. What if? If something happens again... maybe we will be unlucky too. "
Several people around me pursed their lips after hearing this. Although they did not dare to agree publicly, it was obvious that some people felt the same way. .
The infected people on the other side looked on with cold eyes, their expressions became more and more gloomy, and the atmosphere in this area quietly became tense.
Xia Xiu gently played with a [Silver Wings] card in his hand. The silver-haired horse racing girl on the card was lifelike, as if she was ready to jump out of the card and run towards the field at any time.
The atmosphere around them was still tense, and the separation between the infected and ordinary people was like an invisible barrier. Although there was no verbal conflict between them, they were like two strings that could be broken at any time.
The whispers from others, the occasional boos, and the quiet warnings all merged into a restless background in this huge arena.
Xia Xiu, however, seemed to be completely isolated from the tense atmosphere, silently walking to his seat and sitting down.
He just watched the field quietly, did not participate in any discussions, and did not try to change the tension around him.
He came here today just to watch this game.
No matter what quarrel happened among the people outside, he had no intention of intervening.
Even if the outside world changes, even if the situation is complicated, he will only be a spectator during this week. He knew what he was waiting for.
But all this does not require him to take the initiative to promote it. He only needs to release the bait and sit firmly on the fishing platform.
Xia Xiu leaned on the seat and gently turned the [Silver Wings] card in his hand. The sunlight filtered through between his fingers, reflecting a small ray of light that danced between his fingers.
His eyes were calm, and the tense atmosphere inside and outside the stadium had nothing to do with him.
There were a lot of people and discussions around him, but it was all like background noise isolated from him, unable to disturb his inner contemplation.
's heart was thinking about things that had nothing to do with horse racing.
“Sofia Williams was nicknamed ‘Morning Sun’ by the meddlesome Wand Man newspaper.
She became a prominent person in the second stage by relying on her pedigree of unpopular peripherals. At this stage, the secret key slot has been opened, and we have been trying to break through to the master..."
The blond young man's mouth curled slightly. He knew Sophia's background very well, and her ambitions and difficulties were also clear to him.
The sun shines through the clouds and shines on the tips of his golden hair. Small light spots flicker in his hair, making his face slightly softer, but behind the indifferent expression, there is still There is an elusive sharpness and calmness hidden inside.
"Let's enter the game with my own body..." His thoughts continued to flow, thinking about the chess being played in this game.
“Let me see how many obstacles you can help me clear within this week to prove my worth.”
And, without dirtying the administration and your own hands In the case of...
Remove obstacles.
The card in the hand of the fourth sword holder in the Kingdom of Heaven flipped slightly with his movements, and the light and shadow flickered between his fingertips.
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08:55AM.
In the players’ rest room on the field.
The early morning sunlight shines through the leaves of the trees and onto Alicia's face.
She stood on the edge of the field, looking at the Oasis Cup track that was gradually unfolding in the distance. The air was filled with the smell of soil and wet grass.
Today is the competition day of the Oasis Cup, a long-distance event focused on endurance and strategy. The holographic simulation of forests, rivers, deserts and other complex terrains will test the limits of every racing girl.
However, Alicia’s mind is not on this track.
Mother is dead.
The Liberation Hoof attack took away her mother, Selina Lockhart, president of the Neutral Federation.
The moment she heard the news, Alicia's world stopped spinning briefly.
The woman she always longed to understand but could not really get close to, the leader who was strong and courageous in front of the public, the woman who always looked at herself with indifference and rationality, with ruthlessness and selfishness, also took away those Unspoken words.
Alicia stood in the players' rest area, her eyes distracted, but her heart was filled with huge emotional fluctuations like a storm.
Surrounded by the noise and tension before the race, other racing girls were making final preparations, but all this seemed to be isolated from her perception.
How should she continue playing in such pain?
She has always been the championship hope on this track, the "star of tomorrow", and is expected and sought after by countless audiences. Her mother, Selina, has never concealed her expectations for her.
Alicia became a racehorse girl largely because of her mother. The complicated and repressed mother-daughter relationship was like a chain, tightly binding her.
She longs for her mother's approval and a touch of warmth from her cold shell; however, Selina's 'ruthlessness' and resolute rationality often make Alicia feel suffocated.
Now all this is torn to pieces by the bombs of the liberating hooves.
Love and hate, expectation and disappointment, all mix into chaos in the heart.
Is such a competition still meaningful?
As the time for the game approached, Alicia had to put away her chaotic emotions.
As the game time approached, Alicia was forced to put those chaotic thoughts into her heart.
She walked towards the preparation area. The silver-white racehorse girl's uniform reflected a faint light in the sun and clung to her tight muscles.
Her pony tail swings gently in the breeze, symbolizing the unique elegance and strength of a horse racing girl.
However, in this brief silence, an invisible sense of oppression suddenly came around her.
Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and her skin seemed to sense a substantial killing intent.
It was a look with deep resentment, sharp and cold, pressing towards her back like a knife.
Alicia turned her head subconsciously and locked her eyes with the resentful gaze.
Standing not far from her was a tall and strong man.
His black curly hair was tied back casually, and there was unconcealable anger and hatred on his face.
It was a face eroded by distortion. The gray-white skin looked pale and cold, and the thick leather was covered with sparse horse hair, especially on the legs and shoulders.
His legs present a horseshoe-shaped lower limb, which gives him great strength and makes his steps heavy and steady.
There are several bone spur-like protrusions on his shoulders and back, which are like twisted marks, indicating his identity as an infected person. The combat jacket is covered with metal armor patches, showing that he has experienced countless The baptism of battle.
He was like a volcano about to erupt, his whole body filled with suppressed and twisted murderous intent.
Mikhail Garcia.
Fear swept through Alicia's body like a tide.
Her limbs were stiff, her body could not move, and her mind went blank.
Boom————
Before she could react, Mikhail's figure turned into an afterimage and appeared beside her instantly.
The next second, cold and strong hands grabbed her neck, and the suffocation cut her breathing like a sharp knife.
The air seemed to be sucked out, and she could not make any sound from her throat. Severe pain spread from her throat to her whole body. Her eyes began to blur due to lack of oxygen, and her face quickly turned red. She could only struggle feebly, feeling that death was approaching.
“Uh uh~~”
There was no hesitation in Mikhail's eyes, and the ruthless killing intent seemed to turn into a sharp blade.
He didn't leave any chance for her. He gradually strengthened his fingers, preparing to break her neck and end her life.
Kill this "traitor", this racehorse girl who in his eyes does not deserve to live.
Let her reunite with the mother he blew up to death - Selina Lockhart.
“锵——!”
A crisp impact sound cut through the dead air, and a spear with a cold light struck Mikhail fiercely.
The gun blade tore through the air and struck Mikhail with irresistible force.
His eyes flashed and he reacted quickly. Almost instantly, he used Alicia in his hand as a shield and threw it towards the blade of the spear without hesitation.
Alicia's body flipped helplessly in the air, despair enveloped her.
Her eyes widened, and the next moment, she clearly saw the gun head pointing directly in her direction with strong killing intent.
Just when the tip of the spear was about to penetrate her, a ray of light flashed next to the spear, and the movement was light but fast.
One hand firmly grasped the handle of the gun, and the gun head instantly changed its direction at an incredible angle, deflecting the blade a few inches, avoiding Alicia's fatal position.
At the same time, the figure quickly took over Alicia, who was almost unconscious, and hugged her body tightly.
That's Sophia Williams.
She wore a black tight-fitting combat uniform, her slender body outlined powerful lines, and her whole person was capable and cold.
The dark blue eyes were like sharp blades, emitting a cold light. The golden ponytail was tied high and swayed slightly with her swift movements.
Sophia's gun case has been opened, and the standard long gun flashes with a sharp cold light.
She held Alicia firmly with her left hand, and still held the gun barrel with her right hand, like an unshakable barrier in front of the two of them, with a cold and focused expression.
"Mikhail." Sofia's voice was as cold as the cold wind, without any emotion.
The eyes are like looking at a meaningless target, so indifferent that it is chilling.
Mikhail grinned.
“Long time no see, dear savior of the infected, leader of the Puppet Alliance movement, Gun of the Morning Light—Ms. Williams.”
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