Chapter 65 - 29: Who Else But Me?

Chapter 65: Chapter 29: Who Else But Me?

The moment the commentator spoke, the production booth was instantly flooded with a blizzard of messages. The two commentators exchanged a look.

Tom genuinely believed it, but saying it on a live broadcast was also a way to stir up controversy and boost viewership.

"Let’s get back to the race. Wu Shi is maintaining his lead. He’s as steady as a robot when he’s cruising. It looks like Lunloks doesn’t stand a chance," John said, steering clear of the topic.

Just as John said, after taking the lead, Wu Shi’s concentration became incredibly focused, ensuring every entry and exit of the corners was within the fastest controllable limits.

SWOOSH!

The first round ended with Wu Shi leading from start to finish.

"Looks like you’re going to sweep the championships even in KZ2," Lock said as he walked over. He and Wu Shi had first gotten to know each other at the 2010 Europe Championship.

Back then, he had watched Wu Shi stand on the highest step of the podium, flanked by Albon and that ever-competitive Verstappen.

"Do your best, and leave the rest to fate," Wu Shi replied.

"I’m not planning to move up to shifter karts until next year. It’s a shame we won’t be able to compete on the same track," Lock said. Though his words were regretful, his face was full of smiles.

"Nothing to be ashamed of. We might find ourselves competing against each other in Formula racing before you know it." Wu Shi thought for a moment. ’Lock doesn’t enter F1 until 2018. That ’before you know it’ is a full six years away.’

But Lock didn’t see it that way. He said, "Alright! Let’s race again in Renault Formula!"

The second round started soon after, and Wu Shi once again settled into his kart.

Lunloks had taken second place in the first round, so his starting position had moved up.

After several rounds of competition, Wu Shi had a general sense of the threatening drivers’ styles. He knew Charlie, who had been pushed to third, wouldn’t be as reckless as Lunloks had been earlier. That meant he only needed to defend against Lunloks.

The formation lap ended. The race began.

VROOOM!

Wu Shi shot into the lead, with Lunloks right behind him.

"Whoa! An internal battle for the CRG Team! Lunloks is forcing his way up the inside! No, that’s just a completely irresponsible way to drive! He’s going to throw himself into the inside line!"

"Will Wu Shi avoid him...?"

’Avoid him? Like hell I will!’

Wu Shi slammed the door shut, leaving Lunloks just a car’s width of track.

’Just as I thought. The guy has terrible control; he can’t brake in time.’

CRASH!

The two karts slammed together and spun out of control, skidding and turning circles in the corner. This caused the drivers following them to crash into each other, creating a chaotic pile-up.

Faced with this chaos, the race officials decisively threw the red flag.

Wu Shi climbed out of his kart. This time, because he wasn’t perceiving the vehicle, he only felt a jolt during the collision. It was nothing serious.

He walked over to Lunloks’s kart, flipped up his visor, and said, "A despicable person like you can never win."

After saying his piece, he turned back to push his own kart.

"Are you hurt?" Sid asked with concern.

"I’m fine." Wu Shi shook his head.

"Whew, that’s good." Sid breathed a sigh of relief.

"I’m going to withdraw from the race," Wu Shi said suddenly.

"Huh? What’s wrong?" Rosa asked hurriedly.

"I’ve discovered something very important." Wu Shi looked at the bent chassis of kart number 164.

"What is it?"

"Uncle Sid, I need to go to Salerno."

"What for? To prepare for the next race early? You don’t have to give up on this one," Sid said.

"Something like that," Wu Shi murmured. The recent collision seemed to have made him realize something.

Kart number 164. Although he hadn’t fully perceived it, he had a rough sense of its key components.

And because he now mostly ignored that perception while driving, he hadn’t been affected by the collision at all. It was like the clutch had been disengaged; no matter how the wheels spun, the engine wouldn’t be damaged.

’I have to go to Salerno and try this out.’

The team manager did not approve of Wu Shi’s insistence. Even if the kart couldn’t be repaired today, he could race with the spare kart tomorrow. Withdrawing directly went against the manager’s principles.

Unfortunately, the terms of Wu Shi’s contract were rather unusual, so the team manager had no choice but to approve it.

"Wu Shi has withdrawn from the race," John announced after the race restarted.

"There’s no way the CRG Team doesn’t have a spare kart, right? See? I was right! He can only win because there’s some kind of ’problem’ with his vehicle," Tom declared loudly.

...

Wu Shi and Sid rushed to Salerno, arriving at the C.D Speed Team’s headquarters.

Returning to his old stomping grounds, Wu Shi was greeted by an enthusiastic Seth, who pulled him into a big hug.

"Whoa! Our genius has returned! What a pleasant surprise!"

"Team Manager Seth, my apologies. With practice every weekend, it’s been hard to find time to visit," Wu Shi said politely.

"Haha, don’t worry about it. You can come whenever you want. You’re at a critical stage right now; your performance in karting over the next two years will determine your future path," Seth said.

"Hey, wait a minute, aren’t you supposed to be in a race?" a mechanic asked, confused.

"Boss! You’re here!" Ling Kang’s voice rang out from the workshop in the back.

"Do you always have to be so dramatic?" Wu Shi was speechless.

"I’m just excited, aren’t I? Hehe! Boss, you have no idea. This whole damn place is full of legends about you. One guy says you’re the God of Karting, another says you’re Senna reincarnated," Ling Kang said, clicking his tongue in wonder.

"It’s just exaggerated praise," Wu Shi said with a wave of his hand.

"Tch, what a show-off," Ling Kang said, giving him the middle finger.

Wu Shi just smiled. It was always so easy and familiar talking with a fellow countryman.

"You two can catch up later. Didn’t you say you came here for something important?" Sid said.

"Yes. Team Manager Seth, are the karts I used to drive still here?" Wu Shi asked.

"Of course."

The group went to the warehouse, where there was an area specifically for storing the karts and parts Wu Shi had used.

Even before he touched these old companions, Wu Shi’s heart began to race, as if answering some kind of summons.

He walked over to the kart he had used in the ACI Mini category and placed his hand on it.

WHOOSH!

It was like an extension of his own body—this detailed perception.

The structure of this kart was far simpler than the ones he drove now. Looking back, he realized his perception back then had been nowhere near complete.

Now, he could perceive it on a much deeper level.

He asked for help getting the kart down and sat in it. The seat was far too small to accommodate his body now.

However, all he needed was the posture.

Perception.

Absolute Perception.

Complete Absolute Perception.

WHOOSH!

In that instant, his mind achieved clarity. The entire kart became a transcendent part of him.

It was like how a person can sense their whole body but can’t consciously trigger many of its perceptions and actions. At this moment, a new element of control had been added to his perception of the vehicle.

It was this control that allowed him to choose to press... the clutch.

CLICK!

Wu Shi opened his eyes. Kart number 398 sat there quietly, the rubber marks on its paintwork a testament to its former glory in the battle for championships.

"I understand now."

"Understand what?" Ling Kang’s head was spinning with confusion.

Sid, however, slowly widened his eyes. He didn’t know what Wu Shi understood, but he felt that Wu Shi was now exactly as he had been from 2008 to 2011.

If one had to describe this state, it was an aura of: Who else but me?