"Um, Madam Mejiro, I don't quite understand what you mean."
The thought in Trainer Imanami's mind only appeared for a fleeting moment before he subconsciously erased it. Now, gradually realizing the seriousness of the situation, Imanami forced himself to calm down and asked, "Madam Mejiro means… if I agree, will I be employed by Mejiro Ranch for life?"
"No, it's even more intimate than lifelong employment, Mr. Imanami." However, the Mejiro Family Head mercilessly shattered Imanami's fantasy and said very seriously:
"I will, in the name of the Mejiro Family Head, declare you a member of our Mejiro Family—of course, we will not force you to change your surname, and you will retain all your original assets, but we can, in the name of the Mejiro Family, establish with you… well… a kinship-like relationship."
"Furthermore, if you fancy any child from the Mejiro Family, after their retirement, I can officiate your marriage. In that case, you would truly become a member of our Mejiro Family…"
"—Please wait."
The Mejiro Family Head's words grew heavier with each sentence, and the repeated good intentions made Imanami feel a bit dizzy, as if he hadn't woken up yet, and was still under anesthesia in the hospital.
However, the slight pain still emanating from his nasal bone told Imanami that none of this was an illusion. Imanami also endured the toothache-like feeling and said:
"Thank you for the Old Mistress's kindness, but I don't have any plans to get married right now… And, regarding Mejiro McQueen, although I don't know how to explain it, I truly only guessed her illness based on intuition."
"I am just a Trainer with shallow qualifications. The Mejiro Family should have more seasoned Trainers than me, shouldn't they?"
"—No, Mr. Imanami, actually, the Mejiro Family's situation is more severe than you imagine."
However, as soon as Imanami said this, the Mejiro Family Head, after some hesitation, suddenly blurted out this sentence. She looked directly into Imanami's eyes, seemingly deliberating whether she should reveal these words to an outsider like him.
But in the end, she decided to take a gamble. This might be the Mejiro Family's last chance.
"Mr. Imanami, what did you think of our Mejiro Ranch when you first visited?"
"It was very grand, magnificent, completely different from the ranch I imagined." Imanami didn't know why the topic suddenly shifted here, but he still honestly replied, "To be honest, I initially thought I had come to some zaibatsu family's estate."
"This is all the result of the construction and management by generations of Mejiro Family Heads, and the relentless efforts of generations of Uma Musume from the Mejiro Family."
The Mejiro Family Head also sighed and turned to look at the wall behind her—there were many black and white photos, all of past Mejiro Family Heads. Some were Uma Musume, others were ordinary people, but without exception, they were all ancestors who had given their all for the Mejiro Family.
"My ancestors handed the heavy burden of the Mejiro Family to me. I, like everyone else, initially thought that a great family like the Mejiro Family could rest easy. We are arguably the most famous Uma Musume family in the country, and every one of our rookies is a prodigy—this notion only changed after I took over."
"Great families have their great family troubles, Mr. Imanami. And my current trouble is how to maintain the Mejiro Family's glory, how to allow our children… to run for a longer, longer time while also stepping onto the arena."
"The Mejiro Family's excellent bloodlines are few now, Trainer Imanami. Look at the few children remaining in my Mejiro Family."
As she spoke, the Mejiro Family Head's expression grew somewhat somber, and Imanami gradually recalled some things about Mejiro Ranch—he hadn't paid much attention before, but now that the topic was brought up, he certainly knew about the ultimate fate of the Mejijo bloodline.
As the Mejiro Family Head said, the Mejiro Family's bloodline was indeed dwindling. Gold Ship, having both "Mejiro" and "Gold" bloodlines, could also be considered a Mejiro Family bloodline. However, the Racehorses remaining from this bloodline were few. According to what Imanami knew, another Mejiro Family bloodline seemed to be in another large country across the sea, a continuation of Mejiro Ardan's bloodline.
However, Shadai had offered a hefty sum but still couldn't purchase the Racehorse from this bloodline to Japan, which showed how difficult those negotiations were. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Mejiro Family's bloodline had declined.
"Old Mistress, you don't need to worry too much. As long as a few bloodlines are preserved, in this… um, this era, it shouldn't be difficult, right?"
"I'd very much like to do that, but who can stop those children's desire to step onto the arena?" The Mejiro Family Head also shook her head helplessly and said softly:
"Mejiro Ryan, our current flagship Mejiro Uma Musume. I have placed great hopes on her, hoping she can fulfill the Mejiro Family's aspirations and win the Tenno Sho… But I also know that with her current level, winning the Tenno Sho is still very difficult."
"Mejiro Ardan, very talented, but unfortunately her legs are too fragile… Stepping onto the track would be like shattering glass. I don't want her to take that risk."
"Mejiro Dober and Komei are too young… As for Mejiro Yoshin… she chose a path different from the Mejiro Family's principles."
"All things considered, among our Mejiro Family, the only children who can show their talent at an appropriate age, neither maturing late nor shattering like glass, are McQueen and Ryan."
"And this, Mr. Imanami, is the predicament the Mejiro Family faces now. Do you understand what I mean?"
In reality, the Mejiro Family's current problem was that, although there were outstanding descendants in each generation, the Mejiro Family's ancestral weak legs and tendency to mature late caused many problems for generations of Uma Musume.
The Mejiro Family's goal was the Tenno Sho, but not many Mejiro Uma Musume achieved this goal. Most Mejiro Uma Musume retired due to fractures or other reasons before they could even run the Tenno Sho, largely because of their late maturation.
And now, the Mejiro Family's new generation is shrinking, and outstanding descendants are also becoming fewer. The seemingly famous Mejiro Ranch has fallen into a state of being strong on the outside but weak on the inside.
"Therefore, we need your talent, Mr. Imanami. You are the Trainer who might be able to change our Mejiro Family's current situation, because you possess the composure, calmness, and… care for Uma Musume that most Trainers lack."
The Mejiro Family Head also slightly parted her lips, her tone tinged with a hint of sadness, saying, "I have witnessed child after child step onto the stage in pursuit of the Tenno Sho, only to end up with fractures and retirement… And whether they had the talent to run the Tenno Sho, each of them knew, but for the Mejiro Family's mission, they all felt duty-bound."
"But I don't want them to ruin their lifelong careers in pursuit of this mission, Mr. Imanami. I only hope these children can safely continue our bloodline. This is the correct way to continue the Mejiro Family's legend."
"You have the talent to make the Mejiro Family's Uma Musume gallop on the track; you have the gift to spare them from the torment of illness and fractures—that is why I so wish for you to lend us a hand."
With things said to this extent, the Mejiro Family Head had displayed her highest level of sincerity, to the point where Imanami couldn't find an excuse to refuse for a while, as if only "agree" remained as an option.
However, at this moment, a sudden commotion outside the mansion instantly attracted the attention of Imanami and the Mejiro Family Head.
"Da da da!" Urgent knocking on the door suddenly came, but before the Mejiro Family Head could speak, the main door burst open, and Mejiro Ardan rushed in, panting, and said to the Mejiro Family Head:
"Grandmother, Grandmother, something bad has happened…"
"What is it that makes you so flustered? Ardan, maintain our Mejiro Family's elegance." The Mejiro Family Head first reprimanded her, making Mejiro Ardan immediately remember to maintain her grace, and then asked, "What happened?"
"Someone… someone broke into our house through the main gate." Ardan also swallowed, clearly very frightened, and said tremblingly, "It's someone from the Gold Family…"
"From the Gold Family?" The Mejiro Family Head's eyelids twitched slightly upon hearing this, clearly aware of the Gold Family's troublesome nature, and immediately felt her head start to ache.
"Please invite them to the guest room first… after I finish talking here…"
"—After you finish talking! The old man would have been kidnapped by you scoundrels!"
However, before the Family Head's words could finish, a voice, unmistakably Gold Ship's, suddenly rang out. Soon, the main door was violently kicked open, and Gold Ship burst in, holding a wooden sword, radiating a fierce Presence. Behind her, several Mejiro Family bodyguards lay on the ground, clutching their stomachs… "Gold Ship…?"
"Old man, don't be scared! I'm here to save you! These cunning Mejiro Family members won't take you away in front of me!"