NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Planned Success
A Viral Morning
That morning, Lana woke to the incessant sound of notifications on her communicator. Vera, busy in the workshop, glanced at her with a surprised expression.
"Have you seen this, Lana?" Vera asked, pointing to her holographic screen.
Lana approached and stared intently at the display. A video of her latest race had gone viral across multiple social media platforms.
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Unexpected Fame
The video showed Lana overtaking Cyrus on the final turn, with the Falcon-X looking magnificent. The post was flooded with comments:
"Who is this girl? Her technique is incredible!"
"That old car should be scrap metal, but look at what she's done!"
"Lana Veil—definitely a name to watch!"
The buzz even reached local news portals, with headlines like: "Rising Star in Racing: The Girl and Her Legacy Car!"
"I can't believe this. I haven't even reached the peak of my career," Lana said nervously.
"That's because someone made sure you looked like a star," Vera responded seriously, pointing out that the video was first uploaded by an anonymous account.
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A Mysterious Trail
As Lana and Vera tried to trace the account's origin, they discovered that all posts related to Lana led back to a mysterious user with the initials A.R..
"Rai?" Lana whispered to herself. But why?
Though filled with confusion, Lana realized one thing: the public's attention couldn't be ignored. With Cyrus's help, she decided to seize the moment and train harder.
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Dangerous Training
The next training sessions were unlike anything before. Under Cyrus and Vera's guidance, Lana pushed the Falcon-X to its limits. They simulated extreme race conditions—slippery roads, sharp obstacles, and low visibility.
"If you can handle the Falcon-X here, you can handle it anywhere," Cyrus said, setting up the training course.
In one session, Lana nearly lost control when dodging a large obstacle. Her car sped dangerously toward a barrier, but she instinctively turned the wheel, pulling off a perfect drift.
"Lana, that was amazing!" Vera shouted.
"I didn't know I could do that," Lana replied, breathless, realizing she had just mastered precision drifting.
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Rai's Secret Revealed
That night, after training, Lana received another anonymous message on her communicator.
"Lana, don't be shocked by what you'll learn about me. Everything I've done is to protect you. Don't stop."
The message left Lana restless. Determined to uncover more about Rai, she enlisted Cyrus's help. Together, they accessed old archives, revealing shocking details:
Rai was a fugitive from a notorious mafia group known as the Raven Syndicate. He had been deeply involved in illegal racing, acting as a shadow racer for the organization. However, after a conflict, Rai betrayed them and went into hiding.
"This doesn't make sense. How is he connected to my mother?" Lana asked, her voice filled with frustration.
"Maybe your mom didn't know Rai's darker side. Or maybe she was trying to protect you from the truth," Vera suggested.
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Confronting Rai
The next day, Lana received another message from Rai, this time providing a location to meet. Despite her doubts, she decided to go, bringing Vera and Cyrus along.
Rai was waiting in an old warehouse, his face weary and burdened.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lana demanded immediately.
"I was trying to protect you, Lana," Rai replied calmly. "The world I was part of was a huge mistake, and I didn't want you caught in it."
"But you lied! You knew about my mom, you knew all of this, and you never said anything!" Lana shouted, her emotions overflowing.
"I owe everything to your mom. She saved my life, Lana. When I lost my way, she gave me a reason to race again. But I also brought danger into her life. That's why I left."
Lana's anger softened, but her disappointment lingered.
"What do you want from me now?" Lana asked.
"Just one thing," Rai answered. "Don't stop. You have the chance to create something great from this. Don't let my past mistakes hold you back."
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A Step Toward Mastery
Though her conflict with Rai remained unresolved, their meeting gave Lana a new perspective. She realized she wasn't just racing for herself but also for her family's legacy and Rai's hope for redemption.
With support from Vera, Cyrus, and her newfound skills, Lana began building a new reputation in the racing world. Every small step brought her closer to her ultimate goal—becoming a professional racer who was not only recognized but respected.
Yet behind the scenes, the threat of the Raven Syndicate loomed closer, ready to destroy everything she had worked for.
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