Juniper paused. Melvin wanted to transfer his nationality back to Orient Country? But that would mean all his previous aplishments would be nullified. He had been so determined to find J, terrified she would take his championship title. Why would he be willing to give it all up so easily? She couldn''t figure him out.


    And yesterday, he''d strangely imed she looked like his sister...


    Tossing her stic water bottle into the bin with a sharp tter, a thought suddenly struck her. One of the two things Melvin had hired Binary Oracle to investigate was his family, right? His sister.


    Juniper tried to recall Melvin''s features. He didn''t look anything like Jimmie.


    ...


    At nine o''clock, the bell rang, signaling the end of ss. Students immediately


    pulled out their phones to watch the F1 race live stream.


    "Only half an hour to go! Whichne is the Orient Country team in?”


    "It''s a shame J isn''t racing. None of these guys are even worthy of polishing J''s shoes."


    "The viewership ratings during the three years Jpeted were the highest in history. Orient Country racers were respected everywhere they went. Too bad J just vanished from the scene."


    "I heard J was in an ident and died," someone whispered, spreading a rumor. "That''s a load of crap!" Qadir, a die-hard J fan, shot to his feet, his face red with anger. "Don''t you dare curse my idol! I''m sure J''s alive and well."


    "If so, why isn''t Jpeting?" the other student retorted. “J ims to be so patriotic, right? Doesn''t J know that if we lose this race, Orient Country could be barred from F1 next year, maybe forever?"


    Qadir was speechless, his eyes welling up. He didn''t have an answer. All he knew was that he trusted J had some reasons.


    “Juniper, do you think we''re going to lose?" Qadir asked, turning to her. Her predictions were always eerily urate. If she thought they had a chance, they had a chance.


    “Hmm?” Juniper propped her chin on her hand, azy brow arched. "Why would we lose?"


    If Kurt lost this race, she''d personally break his legs.


    "Okay, that''s all I needed to hear," Qadir said, relieved. He pulled up a video of one of a''s races on his phone. "Juniper, look at my idol. Handsome, right?"  fo


    She


    Handsome? Juniper blinked, her expression unreadable. "Yeah," thought, "pretty handsome." No wonder everyone thought she was.


    some old guy.


    "Switch to the live stream," she said, ncing at the time. The drivers should be heading to the track.


    “Right,” Qadir said, quickly switching feeds.


    "Wait a minute," he mumbled, "aren''t we supposed to be inne 10? Why is it empty?"


    Staring at the emptyne, Juniper frowned. Just as she was about to call Ghoul, her phone rang.


    "Hello?" she answered.


    "Ms. Payne, it''s a disaster!


    Something happened to Kurt!"


    Ghoul''s voice was trembling


    violently.


    There was an ident...


    both his legs are broken. I don''t think


    he can race..."


    At that exact moment, the live broadcast showed an ambnce arriving at the


    scene.


    "What? Kurt''s legs are broken? How can he race now?"


    "He''s the only onepeting for Orient Country! If he''s injured, does that mean we have to withdraw?"


    "Withdraw?"


    "It''s over! Kurt was our best shot. No one else stands a chance. Unless... unless J shows up."