PitBabeS2, Chapter 1 pg2

 pg2

   Of course, no one expected them to rise again so quickly after losing their key player, Way. Though he never clinched first place, it’s undeniable that Way was one of the crucial figures who brought X-Hunter to the pinnacle of the racing world. Pitbabe couldn’t stand proudly on the podium without the solid foundation provided by Way and Alan.

   On top of that, they lost their young, rising star, Dean, to misguided ambition. Dean’s story is a deep wound for Alan. As team captain, Alan always blames himself first, no matter how much his teammates stray or damage the team. He believes he’s solely responsible for those mistakes. Alan has governed his team with the word “family” from day one, so sending a family member to prison isn’t a wound that heals quickly.

   X-Hunter was directly impacted by Tony’s death. The upside? No one has to suffer or fear that old dog’s power anymore, especially his adopted children. They’re like birds freed from cages, their shackles shattered. Now, they can choose which direction to fly. But within that freedom, they’re still bound by new, invisible chains. X-Hunter is under more scrutiny than ever, not just in the racing world but in society at large.

   Even those who never cared about racing before are starting to pay attention. Babe, the team’s sole star, has been thrust into the spotlight. Some admire his talent, looks, and dangerously captivating personality. Of course, there’s no shortage of opposition either.

   Babe was labeled as using his special ability as a tool to outshine other racers. The extraordinary sense, once just a rumor in the racing world, was exposed to the public. Some accepted it, viewing the special sense as a form of talent, while others opposed Pitbabe’s participation in races, arguing it was unfair to racers born without such abilities. This debate has persisted since the day Tony’s news broke and continues to resurface. However, thanks to Alan’s connections and the influence of the main sponsor, Pitbabe was still able to compete. It was confirmed that Babe no longer possesses the special sense, though some groups remain skeptical, as Babe’s consistently strong performance makes it hard to believe he has no lingering special powers.

   Charlie and the other adopted children were fortunate not to have their special senses exposed. Only the famous Pitbabe couldn’t escape the unethical media scrutiny. On the day Tony died, Babe’s image dominated every news headline, making him the frontline figure absorbing the public’s reactions during that intense period. Not everyone saw Team X as heroes; many still believed Tony’s death stemmed from internal conflicts involving X-Hunter from the start (despite police clarifying they were victims, who doesn’t love a conspiracy theory?).

   Even though the senses of others were kept secret, society couldn’t help but speculate that they might possess something special like Babe. However, with no clear evidence to confirm these suspicions, the hatred directed at Team X remained mere rumors, dependent on what people chose to believe.

   “The race is about to start. You still have the mood to sit and read something, Charlie?” Alan flopped onto the old sofa across from Charlie, who was engrossed in reading something on his tablet, so focused he seemed to forget he was in a racing suit, sitting in a chaotic pit surrounded by busy staff. In just a few minutes, the final race of the season would begin.

   “Just a bit more,” Charlie replied calmly, eyes still glued to the screen, scanning lines like a nerd obsessed with their passion, oblivious to the world. “I’ve checked the car already. Have you made the adjustments for me yet?”

   “Would I miss it? No way,” Alan chuckled, glancing at the tiny kid in a mechanic’s outfit, pointing and directing the other mechanics with a serious expression, looking like the leader of a stray cat gang. “The garage owner’s got it covered. I don’t need to get my hands dirty with something this small.”

   “You’re working Jeff too hard,” Charlie said.

   “Me?” The Team X captain made a mock grimace, pointing at himself, incredulous at the absurd accusation. “Your little brother’s the one overworking himself. I just sat down!”

   “When you asked to take my Phii under your wing, I thought you’d let him chill a bit.”

   “Huh? What made you think that? No—”

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