It was 4:30 pm in London, and the Stadhaven Circuit was yet to be emptied, fans still filling the muted surroundings as if waiting for the next day's Formula 1 action. Some of the teams still hadn't rolled out either, leaving the venue crowded and buzzing with activity.
The weather remained prolific, with a light rain shower drizzling shortly after the podium celebrations. The drizzle ceased and picked up at sporadic moments, and now it fell lightly as Trampos Racing prepared to roll out of Stadhaven, heading back to Fulham where their general temporary residence lay.
Deep within the garage, Luca sat in the changing room, undressing from his damp racing suit and into more casual attire—his custom-made Trampos tracksuit. He held his phone to his ear while slipping on his sneakers, speaking to Sara. He told Sara that he won't be meeting up with she and Mallow that evening because the team had an indoor party. He also told her to come very early tomorrow morning to pick him up.
When Sara acknowledged all his plans, Luca dropped his phone and focused on dressing himself appropriately. Grabbing a towel, he wiped away the lingering residue of sweat and rain from his face and neck before pulling on a fresh white T-shirt. He then reached for his gray-and-red Trampos Racing tracksuit, slipping it on and zipping it halfway. His gray sneakers followed, laced tightly for a snug fit.
Luca took a moment to calm his nerves, arranging his damp, tangled hair into something more presentable. He paused briefly, inhaled deeply, and uttered quietly, "System display."
[ANALYZING DATA AND ATTRIBUTES...]
"Cheers," Luca whispered, navigating swiftly to his recent notifications.
[Do you accept Advanced Bundle?]
The notification reappeared the moment Luca selected it. He paused briefly, his finger hovering before decisively pressing yes, his curiosity and ambition driving him to take this next step with his System.
[Congratulations! The Advanced Bundle will now be embedded into your Activity!]
"Alright. Tell me what this is all about," he said, leaning back against the bench with growing intrigue.
[The Advanced Bundle offers a slightly more challenging Daily Routine and harder Daily Tasks. However, it maintains similar dietary requirements as the Intermediate Bundle.]
Luca nodded cynically. "Oh…. okay."
[Engine, Chassis, and Car brands can now be assessed and analyzed by an additional 5-meter distance.]
"Nice," Luca muttered, already considering how this could give him a better edge during pre-race setups, or even in a race.
[Sync Buff and Sync Bar requirements remain unchanged from the Intermediate Bundle.]
[Focus Mode is now available. A feature that minimizes all non-essential notifications and helps host maintain concentration during races.]
Out of everything, you gimme that, Luca mused with a sigh. The Advanced Bundle didn't seem particularly groundbreaking compared to Intermediate Bundle's difference from Rookie Bundle. Have I ever even complained about notifications? He asked, unsure if he'd overlooked complaining about it sometime ago.
[No, host. And yes, Advanced Bundle is practically an upgraded version of Intermediate. However, the Professional Bundle is an entirely new level.]
[Most importantly, the Advanced Bundle unlocks two new Skills, host.]
[You have unlocked 2 Skills:
Now, this sounds authentic! Luca boomed with joy. Care to explain?
[Night Mastery allows host to excel in night racing conditions by enhancing host's vision, reaction time, and supporting his Awarenesses. It helps maintain consistent lap times when most drivers struggle with reduced visibility in artificial lighting.]
[Grid Launch helps boost host's reaction time at the starting grid, aiming for optimal throttle control and seamless launch off the grid. It improves starting speed by 4% up to 35%, providing an advantage in gaining positions right from the beginning of the race.]
This is much better. Wonderful, in fact. It'll really help me out, especially now that I have a pole position.
[REANALYZING DAILY ROUTINE...]
[DAILY ROUTINE WOULD COMMENCE OFFICIALLY SUNDAY MORNING—5 AM]
Wow, I don't even have time to rest, do I?
[System is willing to grant host that. Would you like to reschedule Advanced Bundle's new Daily Routine?]
He bit his lip thoughtfully. "I'll think about it later. For now, show me my status."
[Waiting for notification....]
[Advanced Mission has been Issued!]
[-·-WIN YOUR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP-·-]
Luca widened his eyes. That was quite some height his System was pushing him to achieve. The F2 championship was what he would have to win to get into Professional Bundle?
Taking a deep breath, he acknowledged the mission. It wasn't as though winning the championship hadn't been his goal all along, but the System had a way of amplifying everything. He had a good chance, and Luca could as well call himself a fierce competitor for the final trophy.
He glanced at his bag, where today's trophy was neatly packed, gleaming as a symbol of his progress and a proud smile spread across his face.
[Hosts status generating....
[..... Generation completed]
[Personal Information:
Nationality: Italian ]
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[Physical Information:
Weight: 71kg / 154 lbs
Body Fat Percentage: 10%
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Status: 2 year contract
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[Skills & Techniques: Total Grade - B
Straightaway Chopping:3
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Luca stroked his jaw, nodding thoughtfully. "There is progress," he muttered aloud.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention, and he instantly recognized the familiar, deliberate pace. Ansel appeared from the viewing post, already changed out of his suit and ready to head out. He wore a Trampos tracksuit like Luca's, but the colors were reversed—Ansel's outfit featured more red, whereas Luca's had dominant gray.
Two more figures followed Ansel into the room: Haas and Victor. Haas sported a black-and-red version of the tracksuit, while Victor's was red-and-black. Luca couldn't help but appreciate the neat coordination of their attire.
"What's up, guys?" Luca greeted, glancing at the team drivers gathered before him.
Haas shrugged, his bag slung over one shoulder. "Not much. Just heading to the bus with Beany," he replied, nodding toward Victor.
"I'll be there in a while," Ansel murmured, pulling a head warmer over his hair before digging into his bag.
Haas nodded and glanced at Luca, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, me? I'll wait for Han," Luca said quickly.
"Alright," Haas replied with a slight wave before he and Victor exited the garage, their footsteps fading into the corridor.
Luca's eyes drifted back to Ansel, who had settled onto a bench, absentmindedly rubbing his palms together. Luca's brow furrowed as he noticed Ansel hadn't taken anything out of his bag. A familiar feeling stirred in Luca's gut, but before he could say anything, Ansel broke the silence.
"Why didn't you follow them, heh?" Ansel asked, his voice slightly echoing off the lockers.
Luca burst into laughter, slamming his palm on his knee. "What about you?!" he cackled. "You think I didn't notice you waiting them out?!"
Ansel raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, you caught me. But at least you should spend more time with them. It was okay when the balance was slanted with me beneath and them above the plank. Now, you've made it equal," Ansel said. "You understand?"
Ansel exhaled deeply as he stood up, gripping his bag and stretching his legs. "We need to head out soon. I can't stand being here too long. The UK just isn't for me," he muttered.
Luca glanced at his trophy one last time before zipping up his bag. He stood, phone in one hand, bag in the other. "Why?" he asked, tilting his head. "Is it the weather? The accents?"
"Those are on the list."
"If the weather keeps being bad, you might end up staying longer," Luca said with a grin. "I could use the company. How about dinner? I'll invite you over."
Ansel nodded without hesitation, a casual smile tugging at his lips. "Sure, no problem."
But just as they reached the door, Luca stopped him. "And I'll introduce you to my family."
Ansel's brows furrowed in confusion, the sounds of the team's shuffling and clanking in the background adding a layer of noise to the moment. "You mean your mother and sister? The ones you've mentioned?"
"Yeah, that's right," Luca replied, his eyes locking onto Ansel's. "Tomorrow evening, 6 p.m. I'll send you the address."
For Ansel, he couldn't quite believe Luca was offering that. If he did dine with his family, then their friendship would surely be sealed and complete—that's how it goes. He nodded slowly, suddenly curious about the kind of household a well-groomed boy like Luca had grown up in.
"No problem," Ansel replied as they stepped out into the calm evening breeze, ruffling their hair.
"Your mother cooks, right?"
"I just like home-cooked food better."