All the Pieces in Place (2)

"Wow, so you're saying that car we just saw is basically a rare gem?" The guy wasn't a car enthusiast, but he still understood what "rare" meant—it meant expensive! His eyes widened with excitement at the thought.

Tch. Xiao Tian shot him a disdainful glare. "Who said anything about a 'rare gem'? While it's true that the DTM racing series was discontinued for a while, it didn't take long for it to be revived. And of course, the Mercedes C-Class made its triumphant return to the track. The only difference now is that its tech has become even more advanced and powerful!

"The new Mercedes C-Class racing car is equipped with the same 4-liter V8 engine as the CLK. This engine, overseen by HWA's technical director Gerhard Ungar, underwent numerous upgrades by the engineers at Mercedes-Benz's racing division. The result is an engine that's even more powerful than before. Additionally, the new AMG-Mercedes C-Class chassis was designed to accommodate the dimensions of a four-door body, making it 75 millimeters longer than the CLK, with a wheelbase extended by 95 millimeters to 2,790 millimeters.

"Following the revised 2004 technical regulations, the new AMG-Mercedes C-Class also underwent several modifications. For instance, the rear diffuser was moved from the tail lights to the center of the rear bumper. The aluminum front wheels were narrowed from 10 inches to a uniform width of 7 inches. Meanwhile, the Dunlop tire diameter was increased from 650 millimeters to the standard 660 millimeters.

"The engineers also worked to improve the compatibility between the engine and the drivetrain, resulting in a car with outstanding handling and power. Every test driver who's taken it for a spin has sung its praises.

"HWA's rookie driver Gary Paffett said: 'This car left a deep impression on me—it's a race car with incredible potential.'

"Meanwhile, F1 champion Jean Alesi added: 'The new AMG-Mercedes C-Class offers unparalleled driving performance. Its basic configuration is excellent, and I felt very comfortable driving this new model.'"

Lost in his own world of excitement, Xiao Tian continued to rave about the car.

The guy beside him, starting to get intrigued, muttered, "Man, that's seriously impressive."

"Of course!" Xiao Tian said proudly, puffing out his chest.

Engine: Displacement: 4 liters

Cylinder head: 4 valves per cylinder

Cylinders: V8, 90-degree angle

Power Output: Approximately 470 hp @ 7,500 rpm

Transmission: Carbon-fiber driveshaft Triple-disc carbon-fiber clutch Six-speed standard transmission Rear-wheel drive with mechanical locking differential, no traction control

Braking System: Standard carbon brake system, no ABS

Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 liters

Weight: 1,080 kg (including the driver)

"Can you believe it? Including the driver, the car only weighs 1,080 kilograms! Isn't that insane?"

"That's… ridiculous!" the guy exclaimed, his jaw dropping.

"Amateur!" Xiao Tian scoffed, giving him a condescending look. "You don't even know what kind of advanced technology they're using… though, honestly, neither do I." He chuckled. "But I do know one thing: it's the kind of tech that's so expensive, most racing teams couldn't afford to field two DTM cars. That's why the series was canceled for a few years. It's a sport that runs on mountains of cash!"

"Fair point," the guy said, nodding thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll buy one someday and see for myself… Hey, Xiao Tian, why are you lying on the ground all of a sudden?"

Xiao Tian glared at him, his face turning red with frustration as he spat out two words through gritted teeth: "…Idiot!"

Meanwhile, Shuangshuang followed Xiao Tian's directions, speeding through the city streets. Fortunately, it was already early morning, and traffic was sparse. Even so, her driving speed was beyond shocking—she was hitting 180 km/h in an area with a speed limit of 40 km/h.

"Kid, don't think you can drive like a maniac just because it's nighttime and there are fewer cars. This is a 40 km/h zone! Don't forget you're still a student driver, even if you're almost ready to graduate."

A driving instructor was berating his student for going slightly over the speed limit when suddenly, two dazzling beams of light shone directly into their eyes.

"What the hell? Who the heck passed this guy's driving exam? Doesn't he know… that you're not supposed to… high-beam… other cars… Oh my god, was that… a car? What was that? So fast! Watch out!"

The startled student panicked and jerked the steering wheel, sending their car toward the sidewalk.

Fortunately, the instructor quickly intervened, helping the student regain control and stop the car without incident. Both of them were drenched in cold sweat as they sat there, wide-eyed, trying to process what had just happened.

"Lightning! That was lightning—so fast!" the instructor muttered in awe. Little did he know that the driver who had just sped past them was nicknamed the "Lightning Queen."

Shuangshuang glanced in her rearview mirror at the near-accident behind her. She quietly noted down the license plate number of the instructor's car before stepping on the gas again, her speed climbing even higher.

"It seems I'll need to visit that driving school after I save him," she murmured to herself. But as someone who had lived abroad for years, it was clear she wasn't dwelling too much on the incident.

Back at the conference room…

"What's wrong, Ms. Xiao?"

Xiao Liji frowned as she slowly hung up the phone. "That girl… where did she go? Why isn't she at home?"

Song Jinfei couldn't hide his concern. "Director, who is this person? Can she really meet my requirements? If she can't, the young master might…"

A faint smile crossed Xiao Liji's pale face. "Don't worry. She's a girl, but don't underestimate her. While I'm not sure exactly how skilled she is, I trust her. I've heard from her friends that she made quite a name for herself in San Francisco's racing scene."

Song Jinfei's eyes widened in realization. He inhaled sharply. "Director… is she the Lightning Queen?"

Xiao Liji's eyes lit up with surprise. "That's right—her nickname is the Lightning Queen. Xiao Fei, how do you know about her?"

Song Jinfei let out a bitter laugh. "How could I not? Even though China is far from the U.S., for racing enthusiasts, distance means nothing. And with modern communication, there's no such thing as keeping someone like her a secret."

The Lightning Queen was a legend in the racing world. She was considered the most mysterious racer ever—no one had ever seen her face. Like Zhuifeng, she never issued or accepted challenges. She simply joined in whenever others were racing, starting late but always finishing first.

Whether it was drag racing or mountain courses, she had never lost. Her stunning speed during a drag race earned her the title of "Lightning Queen," and her undefeated streak across San Francisco cemented her reputation.

"Honestly, I'd love to see what this 'Invincible Queen' looks like in person," Song Jinfei muttered. He glanced at the confused expressions around him and explained, "That's what she's called in China—'Invincible Queen,' because her approach is so similar to the character from the novels."

"Do you think she can handle it?" Xiao Liji asked, a faint hint of color returning to her face.

"Of course. But can you reach her?"

Xiao Liji nodded and quickly dialed another number on her phone. Seeing the puzzled looks around her, she explained, "I already tried her mobile phone and her hotel, but no one answered. This time, I'm calling her car's satellite phone. If she's not in her car, I can't imagine where else she'd be… Hello? Shuangshuang, where are you? … Don't worry, we've found a way to help… but we'll need your assistance… Really? That's great! Here, let me pass you over to Xiao Fei to explain the details."

She handed the phone to Song Jinfei and said, "She's already on her way. She should meet up with Xiao Feng and the others soon."

****

After hanging up, Song Jinfei noticed Xiao Liji had collapsed entirely into his father's arms. Startled, he quickly reassured her, "Director, don't worry. If everything goes according to plan, I can't guarantee a 100% success rate, but there's at least a 70% chance the young master will make it out alive!"

Xiao Liji gave him a weak, exhausted smile. "Thank you, Xiao Fei."

Commander Song noticed his son giving him a meaningful look and realized what it meant. His face flushed with embarrassment as he whispered to Xiao Liji, "Ms. Xiao, since Xiao Fei says there's a 70% chance, why don't you rest for a bit? You haven't had a proper rest in days."

It was true—Xiao Liji had been pushing herself to the limit. After using her son as bait to lure out the enemy, she had spent every waking moment worrying about his safety. Even an iron-willed person would have been drained by now.

Xiao Liji pushed herself upright, staring at the screen with trembling lips. After a long pause, she said, "No, I've already let my son down too much. I know there's nothing I can do here, but… please let me stay. I don't want to regret this. I don't want to have any more regrets."

Song Jinfei felt a pang of guilt. While the Lightning Queen might be heading to help Zhuifeng, the situation was still a 50-50 gamble. Seeing the hope in Xiao Liji's eyes, he knew the weight of failure would be unbearable.

Once again, the conference room fell into a heavy silence.