Crush Overtake Love

It was natural that Nicholas couldn’t do anything. Nicholas was worse at driving than an average person, those guys drove at an ordinary level, and Johann was exceptional. When Johann took the wheel, he could become more aggressive than anyone.Name, Johann Hayward. Profession, motorsport athlete. Affiliation, IndyCar’s ‘elite’ independent team Phoenix Racing. Age, a vigorous 21 years old.Johann wasn’t holding back because he couldn’t drive. If Johann drove, he could leave those idiots in the dust before even reaching New York, arriving several times faster than them, but this wasn’t a track…Beep! Honk! Honk! Beep! Honk!Johann’s thoughts were cut off by the Starlight drumming on the horn like it was a drum.No, why should I hold back?Johann smiled at the Starlight honking beside him, then commanded Nicholas.“Nicky, pull over.”Those bastards weren’t exactly innocent drivers.“What?”Then, even if Johann took the wheel, it wouldn’t make much difference.“I said pull over.”Nicholas, with the hazard lights on, hesitantly pulled over to the shoulder as Johann instructed.“Get out.”“…Huh?”“Are you going to make me repeat myself?”When Johann snapped, Nicholas answered with an “Oh, got it!” and quickly got out of the driver’s seat. Instead of getting out on the passenger side, Johann hopped over the gear box to the driver’s seat and quickly adjusted the seat. Only then did Nicholas come to his senses.“Johann, you can’t leave me behind!”Before Nicholas could even buckle up, the car took off.“Aaaah, Johann!”“If you’re scared, hold on tight!”Nicholas, barely managing to buckle his seatbelt, asked stutteringly.“Johann, I just thought of this in a hurry to ask. Your license? You got it reissued, right? You did?”Johann paused for a moment before answering.“Um… well, you see, I have a super license.”A super license is for driving racing cars, not for driving on public roads.“Will that work, you crazy bastard Johann—!”The purple Porsche shot forward at a tremendous speed. One car, two cars, three cars. It was a series of overtakes.Johann floored it to catch up with the Starlight that had mocked them and gone ahead. They soon appeared in front of Johann.When the slow Porsche suddenly charged like a madman, they seemed startled. Johann aimed for the slight gap ahead, floored the accelerator, and quickly changed lanes with a swift turn of the wheel.People call this maneuver “dive-bombing.”“Johann, what are you doing!”And as a motorsport athlete, the right virtue is to perform such perfect driving without getting excited.“Nicky, that Signity from earlier, it seemed like a victim, didn’t it? I mean, look at me, driving is my job. How can I just leave someone being harassed by those guys? They might even get into an accident.”“Stop lying! Since when were you such a just person!”When Nicholas pointed out the facts, Johann grumbled.“Who’d know you’re not a lawyer…”In fact, Johann’s interest in the Signity was clearly selfish.Motrix Primo was one of the top five global car companies, but uniquely, it didn’t own any motorsport teams. That wasn’t always the case.Ten years ago, Motrix Primo withdrew from all motorsport sectors including F1, and since then, they only provided technical support for events like the WRC (World Rally Championship), never creating or sponsoring a team at the corporate level. That was, well, the policy of some high-up in the company or something.Nonetheless, putting aside such interests, Johann was genuinely curious about that Signity. Would they tell him which model it was, how it was ordered? Seeing such a car outside was not a common occurrence.Even without such impure motives, Johann had plenty of reason to intervene. It was clear that those Starlights, like road mafias, were picking on an innocent Signity; if he could help, he should!Johann couldn’t stand the Starlights mocking the Porsche and the Signity. He found it repulsive. In Johann’s world, if you lined up Starlights, Porsches, and Signities, he wasn’t sure which would be at the front, but the Starlight was definitely at the end.Racing with a car like that? They don’t know their place?Goodbye, Starlight!Johann floored the throttle without hesitation. With a roar, the RPM on the dashboard spiked.“Aaaah! Too fast! Johann, please!”Ignoring Nicholas’s pleas as he clung to the door handle, Johann approached the black body of the Signity.“Instead of just staring, report this.”“You already did that!”“They haven’t come yet, do it again!”Nicholas quickly tried to contact 911. A yellow Starlight suddenly appeared to block Johann’s path. It was driving erratically, braking, a very basic and laughable form of defense.“Is that supposed to be weaving?”At Johann’s sneer, Nicholas turned pale and closed his eyes. Nicholas could predict the next second. As expected, Johann moved the car in a lightning bolt pattern, and Nicholas’s head on his neck shook violently from side to side. The steering wheel, which felt different, had to be roughly turned, but the car moved smoothly.Slick tires, which are delicate enough to require handling like glass, are used by F1 drivers to warm up for normal race conditions by weaving.“Did you see that?”“What am I supposed to do with seeing that!”“Ha ha, not you, but for those bastards to see. This is real weaving!”“Why do weaving on public roads… these aren’t even slick tires… Oh, yes. Police? This is the highway from the airport to Manhattan… Oh, yes. You received the report? You’re checking? Look, I feel like I might die right now. This is really serious. Can I report via video call?”The Signity was currently surrounded by four Starlights. Johann stuck close to the right side of one car. The driver, quick to react, blocked Johann every time he tried to merge.“Oh really?”Johann immediately slowed down and fell back. Then, he made an action to push the Porsche between the Signity and another car. Of course, it was a feint.Startled by Johann’s bold move, the driver, worried about scratching or denting his car, unconsciously moved to the right, and through that gap, Johann floored it.The Starlight that slid out collided with another Starlight that was chasing Johann.“Okay. Now we’ve taken care of one.”“Lord, please watch over this young lamb…”Nicholas mumbled a prayer with his hands clenched tightly.“What did the police say?”“They said they understand for now…”“Damn slow New York cops.”Clicking his tongue, Johann steered with one hand while waving the other out the window. The new Signity had such dark tinting that you couldn’t see inside from the outside.“Hello!”Johann greeted with a cheerful voice.🏁Inside the Signity R9R where Rose was seated, it was a nightmare where they couldn’t notice anyone waving or shouting outside.Beep—! Screech—!“Ugh!”“Gasp!”The car behind them honked its horn incessantly, the car in front kept slamming on the brakes, and the Starlights blocked any lane changes, effectively trapping them.The Starlight, with its flashy paint, rear wing on the trunk, and some unknown wing sticking out to the side… in short, it looked like crap, just like Robert Wellington, the chairman of Wellington Industries who made the car.Finally, Rose exploded.“As expected from a car made by a piece of trash, look at how they drive!”“Yes, Boss, you’re right. Wellington Industries is a company that makes weird cars… Ow!”While reciting his lines without spirit, Brian suddenly slammed his head against the front seat due to an abrupt deceleration. Of course, Rose, who was holding onto the handle above the window with his seatbelt on, was fine.“I apologize, Mr. Rosenberg. Mr. Levin, are you alright?”Even Joseph, the veteran driver with 30 years of experience, seemed to struggle with this ordeal.“I’m fine, Joseph. This isn’t your fault… Ugh!”“Argh! My head! I hit my head!”“Mr. Rosenberg! Be careful!”Four Starlights were performing dangerous stunts, threatening the Signity from both sides. Their driving was so close that it seemed like the side mirrors could shatter any moment.Beep!Joseph honked repeatedly as a warning, but all he got in response was more sudden braking from the car in front.‘Daring to pick a fight with us? A Signity, against a Starlight?’Like they were arrogantly showing off, the Starlights that had gathered from all directions surrounded Rose’s car.“Aaah!”Sudden deceleration.“What the hell are these bastards doing!”Beep!Another honk.Then another sudden deceleration.The Starlights, doing things they shouldn’t on the road, drove recklessly as if to mock them.“Mr. Rosenberg, don’t be surprised. It seems our car has gotten involved in, um, a street race.”As Joseph said, the Starlights that had crowded around the Signity were flashing their headlights and honking repeatedly.“What’s street racing?”“It means these cars are currently racing, illegally occupying this road.”“Aren’t they crazy?”Rose cursed briefly. Joseph continued speaking to reassure his employer.“I will do my best to get us out… but.”“Will that be possible, Joseph?”Brian asked with a pessimistic tone. With all sides blocked, Joseph couldn’t think of a safe way to escape without causing an accident.“Yes, I will do my best.”At the reliable driver’s response, Brian turned to look beside him.“…Boss. Are you alright?”Rose had been tightly holding onto the back seat handle since earlier. Brian nodded.“You seem fine.”Rose suddenly snapped.“No, I’m not fine! Can’t you see my heart is racing? Why did Robert Wellington make such a shitty car?”“I can’t see heartbeats though…”“Maybe they’re filming a movie here today? Tell me they’re shooting the next Fast and Furious. It might make me less angry.”“There’s no way that’s happening.”“That’s why education in arts and humanities is important. If someone has eyes, there’s no reason to drive around in such trash, right? What do schools even teach these days?”“…Is the illegal racing the problem, or is it the Starlight?”“Obviously, both!”Brian couldn’t bring himself to say it. The Starlight GT 800, Wellington Industries’ latest sports car, became a bestseller right after its release, stirring up a storm. It wasn’t because schools didn’t teach arts and humanities; it was because the public chose the Starlight.Of course, Rose would never admit that. By Rose’s standards, even if the Signity he was driving came from Wellington Industries, it would be considered trash.But even Brian felt like he would genuinely hate the Starlight from today onwards.“Mr. Levin.”Joseph spoke with a trembling voice.“It seems the security vehicle has been pushed far back. They’re trying to get closer, but it looks difficult.”“Then pull over.”At Rose’s words, Joseph shook his head with determination.“That would cause an accident, Mr. Rosenberg. We can’t let them deliberately crash into us.”Moreover, the car behind was flashing its headlights like mad, making everyone dizzy.“Have you seen such crazy people! Connect to the FBI now, ow!”At that moment.A car suddenly appeared from behind, approaching the right side of the Signity. Like in a painting, it accelerated and decelerated, sticking close beside the Signity, merging at an impossible angle. It was like teleportation.The Porsche driver, with one hand on the steering wheel, smiled broadly and waved arrogantly while the window was down, signaling Rose to lower his window.“What’s that now?”Brian hesitated with the phone in his hand.“…I wonder?”But surprisingly, that car was not picking a fight with Rose. It wasn’t a Starlight, after all.“A druggie?”The Porsche, which had been out for a walk to New York with Rose, painted in a flashy fluorescent purple, driving as if on drugs.“A druggie? Who?”“That, that Porsche.”Rose pointed at the Porsche with his hand. Then, Johann moved close to the Signity and rolled down his window.“Hey! Open your window a bit!”The deeply tinted window didn’t budge, like a locked door.“I’m not a bad guy!”No matter what Johann said or how loudly he shouted, nothing could be heard inside the well-soundproofed Signity. They could only see. A handsome young man with short hair and a youthful look, smiling brightly, performing an incomprehensible crazy driving maneuver, waving his hand as if to say hello.“What the hell is that?”“Who knows.”“He was driving like he was on drugs earlier, so slow, but now he’s like a completely mad dog…”Johann shouted energetically.“Open—the—window!”If the situation weren’t like this, one might mistake him for a black-haired prince from an animation singing ‘Open the door’.“Let’s—talk!”“Is he telling me to do something?”Having barely understood Johann’s words, Rose made a face of disbelief.“He must be asking for a favor, Boss.”“He’s not a paparazzo?”“In my experience, there’s no paparazzo driving a Porsche.”As Rose was about to lower the window, Brian quickly shouted.“Wait a moment!”“…Why? You said he’s not a paparazzo?”“Still, you shouldn’t open the window recklessly. Do you know how much your photos are worth? If they get into some weird magazine, the cost to fix it would be four times my salary. If you have that kind of money, give it to me as a bonus.”While saying this, Brian looked around and pulled out sunglasses from his pocket. They were pink heart-framed sunglasses he had bought for his rabbit-like daughter waiting at home. They wouldn’t be new anymore, but he could charge the boss for the gift with an extra zero at the end.“At least wear these.”Rose, wearing the sunglasses, looked in the mirror, turning his head side to side with satisfaction.“Hmm, to others, I might look like the star of a Disney parade, so glamorous and special. Though I doubt these will hide my beauty.”Isn’t this closer to a bad uncle stealing sunglasses from his niece…? Brian was briefly tormented by guilt.Yeah. They won’t know. They won’t. No one would imagine that the face hidden behind this look is Rose, Brian convinced himself, reassuring that only the sunglasses would be visible. This would prevent Motrix Primo or Greenpeace from whining about why Rose wasn’t doing promotional interviews for their acquisition or campaign.“Brian, are we done?”“…Yes. We’re done.”Having prepared, Rose quickly rolled down the window. Then, Johann, holding the steering wheel with a bright smile, waved.“Hi, good afternoon!”“…”“…”The two men sitting in the back of the Signity fell silent at the same time.“…Brian, I think there’s something wrong with my ears.”“No, I heard it too this time.”As Brian unbuckled his seatbelt to look at Johann, Johann stopped him.“Nothing’s happening, so keep your belt on! Of course, no one would die from this, but it’s better to be safe!”“Now he’s even giving orders…”But Rose’s muttering was drowned out by the loud exhaust sound and didn’t reach Johann.“Have you reported this yet? I’d appreciate it if there were a faster line than regular reporting! We did report it, but the New York police are so slow. Too slow!”Johann spoke, looking at Rose with the bizarre heart-shaped sunglasses. Rose, completely dumbfounded, asked abruptly.“Do you know who I am?”“No?”“Then how do you know about police lines or not?”“Uh, just a feeling. You seem like someone with money? But, what’s this car? Is it a Signity? Is it a new model? It looks much more elegant and beautiful than the R9. I could tell just by the bonnet angle. But I’ve never seen such a car before?”At the unexpected compliment, Rose’s shoulders rose with pride.“This was something I ordered…”Brian quickly covered Rose’s mouth.“Ah, this car is the Signity R9R, which was first unveiled at a motor show a few days ago by Motrix Primo.”“So it was! Are you some kind of representative? I thought the headlights’ curve was a bit different, which was curious!”Johann, while driving, extolled the impressive exterior of the Signity R9R with an upbeat voice, thinking that R9R could stand for ‘Royal’, a very nice model name. Meanwhile, Brian quickly called the New York Police Commissioner.“Yes, it’s Brian Levin. Yes, that Brian Levin, and the boss is with me right now. Do you know what’s happening in New York? Oh, you’re still figuring it out. Are you serious? Can you take responsibility if something happens to our boss? Can you?!”Brian Levin summarized the situation with a very irritable and urgent voice. It took him exactly 38 seconds to finish all the reports.During those 38 seconds, Johann kept pace beside the Signity without overtaking or falling behind. His eyes were clearly fixed on Rose, yet the car moved forward perfectly straight.“The police have been contacted. They’ll be here soon.”At Brian’s words, Johann smiled.“…Smiling?”Rose couldn’t understand this man who was urging them to report, driving the Porsche leisurely, and even smiling in this situation.Because Johann wore an innocently charming smile that could captivate anyone, he genuinely looked like he was enjoying himself.“Alright. Then go home and have a nice dinner. Good luck!”Johann’s final words were barely audible. Brian and Rose simultaneously grimaced and covered their ears. The deafening roar from Johann’s Porsche engine was something they’d never heard before.All that remained where the Porsche had been were skid marks on the ground.“He didn’t recognize me, did he?”“Yes, fortunately, the boss’s money seems to be safe.”Rose was puzzled.“I don’t have a face that’s easily forgotten or unrecognizable, do I?”Rose seemed to have completely forgotten that she was wearing heart-shaped sunglasses.“Yikes!”“What now!”“Well, the thing is!”Joseph, in the driver’s seat, was flustered and panicking. It seemed like they had sped ahead, but the Porsche was now right behind the Signity that Rose was in. The distance was so dangerously close that a collision could happen at any moment. When Rose turned around, it looked like the crazy person from before was waving and saying ‘Hello!’ through the window.“Brian, be honest. Is that a killer sent by Wellington?”“I wish it were. If it were, the FBI would be on the scene immediately.”“Or maybe my secretaries sent them!”Brian heaved a sigh of relief.“Thank goodness. I believe my innocence has been proven without needing to say anything… ”Rose had never felt threatened for her life. Not because she was great and amazing or because she owned Doodle Investments.“Yes, my secretaries wouldn’t let me die. It would be too troublesome if I died. I haven’t sorted out my life insurance or written a will for times like this. If I died, they’d probably take my body out of the coffin and defibrillate me back to life. Then, they’d make me write and sign a will before letting me die again. My secretaries are those kinds of people.”“…”“Brian, you should answer at times like this.”Brian remained silent. Indeed, if Rose died, all the secretaries would die of overwork and be buried side by side. So it was probably better this way.“So who is that, really?”The suddenly appearing Porsche ran as if protecting the Signity, blocking other cars. When a Starlight tried to pull up beside them, it turned its head threateningly, and when another car tried to cut in, it stuck close to the lane. Even looking out of the window and sometimes turning entirely around to look behind, Rose observed the various angles of the mad person driving the Porsche.“Hello!”Though the greeting was very strange, the Porsche’s driving was undoubtedly worth Rose’s complete attention.Meanwhile, Johann was looking at the GPS, which he usually didn’t use. The map showed they were soon merging into Manhattan. The distance remaining to the area where traffic started to build up was 11.7 km.For a motorsport driver who ran an average of 50 to over 70 laps on a 5 km track, this was a short distance, but it was long enough to overtake for victory.For Johann, it wasn’t about the illegal racing cars anymore. It was about retiring all of Wellington’s Starlights, reaching New York first, and winning this race.“This isn’t a race, Johann!”“I know, who says otherwise?”However, as long as Johann was behind the wheel, this road was a track. Initially, it was those reckless drivers who had dragged the ordinary passenger Johann into the driver’s seat.Johann, who had been tailing closely behind the Signity, matched the taunting Starlight beside him, weaving a few times to play with him and then quickly making a half-turn when space opened up.The Starlight, trying to avoid Johann’s car, quickly turned the wheel, but the brakes locked, causing the Starlight to lose control, spin, and hit the guardrail before coming to a stop.“Good boy.”Johann whistled. The Starlight with a crushed rear bumper slowly faded away from Johann’s car.Johann’s principle in dealing with those guys was simple. Don’t hurt people, meaning no hits to the front where the airbags would deploy. But it was okay for the car to be damaged enough to be undrivable. And it would be better if the driver, realizing their lack of driving skills, got scolded enough by Johann to never attempt such a thing again. Everything was as calculated.“Jesus…”Nicholas sighed, but Johann persistently dealt with the Starlight, tailing the Signity. Maybe the Starlight thought Johann could scrape his car anytime, or he was scared of a collision with the Porsche, the cowardly Starlight hesitated and backed off on its own.After sending off two cars in a row, Johann again guarded the Signity, moving around its sides and rear. By now, the driver of the Signity would be praising Johann as an angel.But the problem was the last car.The car blocking the front of the Signity was also a Starlight. And that car had been constantly harassing the Signity by repeatedly slowing down suddenly. When the Signity tried to change lanes, it kept moving left and right, blocking even that.“Hmm, what should I do?”The provocative Starlight… it’s funny to say in this situation, but he was a cautious and perceptive type. The type Johann disliked the most. He seemed to anticipate which direction Johann was going to cut in to mess with him and didn’t hesitate to drive recklessly to avoid giving up his position.A tiresome standoff continued.Johann repeatedly changed lanes to overtake the Starlight but failed each time due to the increasing traffic as they neared New York.Finally, Johann cut in right in front of the Signity, positioning himself between the two cars. At least the Signity would be safe now. The Porsche would be the one avoiding the Starlight’s crazy driving.Even if it meant suddenly slowing down from the front.“Yikes!”“Why are you so surprised? Do you think this is the first time something like this has happened?”In the world of motorsport, such events are overly familiar and quite normal. For those who need to shift from 350 km/h to 70 km/h in a second with a gear change. Johann matched the speed of the Starlight and followed closely behind.Weaving lightly within the lane, Johann’s erratic driving made the Starlight speed up. That’s exactly what Johann wanted. When the cars driving like turtles around them disappeared, Johann quickly overtook, like a race car riding a slipstream.And then.Screech!“Ahh!”A deafening noise erupted from the tires, drawing long skid marks on the road. The Porsche, drifting in an 8-shaped curve, occupied both lanes, causing the Starlight to finally stop on the road.White smoke from the tires rose, painting the surroundings like fireworks.“Hmm, that’s a perfect score. Flawless.”Johann praised his fancy drift and looked back at Nicholas with a face seeking approval. Nicholas, sitting in the passenger seat, was slumped in his seat, pale-faced.“Johann…”The Signity that had been following parked elegantly beside the Starlight. Johann smiled at the Signity.“Did I do well, mate? Praise me quickly.”“Mate, huh? Do you think this is a team radio? And Johann, the police are coming…”The recent drift was like a victory celebration. The New York police, rushing from the opposite side, had started to barricade and control the road.Woo-woo-woo!As cars with red sirens swarmed in, the road turned into chaos in an instant.The noisy commotion outside made Rose feel a tension in the back of her head. Despite the mess, the cars were largely unharmed, all thanks to Johann. Joseph and Brian were marveling at the perfect drift by the Porsche.“I never imagined such a drift was possible on such a narrow road!”“How can someone drive like that? I wonder what his job is. If he’s unemployed, we’d love to hire him!”“Brian, is that something to say in front of me right now?”“I just meant our security car driver seems incapable, Joseph. You’re the best veteran.”“Thanks for the compliment, Brian.”As Rose watched the two express their admiration in various words, she asked.“Can we handle this accident?”“Boss, there wasn’t an accident.”“They drove dangerously, and I was startled. My heart hurts, I feel like I have muscle pain all over my body.”“……”“File an insurance claim and sue for damages. Call the lawyer.”When Brian picked up the phone to call the lawyer, the door of the Porsche suddenly opened. It wasn’t the driver’s seat, but the passenger’s seat.“Blergh!”No wonder he didn’t look well. Nicholas ran far away, covering his mouth to vomit. Johann clicked his tongue as he watched Nicholas’s retreating figure.Johann also got out of the car to grasp the situation. People who witnessed it shouted.“Johann Hayward?”“Was that Porsche Johann’s?”They knew Johann’s name. Normally, he would wave and say, “Hello, I’m Johann!” but now was not the time.The scene before him was one even Johann, who always enjoyed himself, would find absurd. Even the illegal racers wore their racing suits properly, and some even had helmets on.Johann looked over his own attire. Simple jeans, sneakers, and a short-sleeved t-shirt he’d picked up. Based on appearances, they looked like professional racers, and Johann looked like an illegal street racer.“Oh, really.”Johann shook his head and quickly turned away when he spotted Nicholas vomiting. How would someone so faint-hearted survive this harsh world? Blaming his brother’s weakness, Johann, the very cause with his aggressive driving, clicked his tongue.The New York police controlled the road, leaving only one lane open, and handcuffed and arrested the drivers exiting the Starlights.One rebellious person marveled as if realizing it belatedly.“Did I just race with Johann Hayward?”Another person being dragged away head-butted his helmet-messed hair with his own head.“Idiot. Was that racing? You got completely crushed.”“It’s the same!”It was a total mess. But Johann brainwashed himself.‘Johann, stay calm. You’re a pro.’That’s right. Johann was a professional athlete, living on the attention and love of fans.“Johann, look here!”At the unfamiliar voice calling his name, Johann reflexively turned his head with a bright smile. At that moment, some guy was blowing a kiss and wiggling his bottom like a duck.“I love you, Johann! I’m a fan!”‘Yes, Johann. Even if they are crazy people sexually harassing you in the middle of the street…’What saved Johann, who endured with immense patience, was the police.“Mister Hayward.”A strict-looking officer recognized Johann.“Yes, good afternoon. You’re working hard as always.”“Good afternoon? I’m not fine. Mister Hayward, what are you doing racing illegally here? Come with us.”When the officer, armed with handcuffs, spoke imposingly, Johann’s face turned pale.“Me? No, not me.”“That Porsche.”The officer pointed at the Porsche Johann had parked.“That’s my car, but! How is that illegal racing? I just blocked the Starlight before it caused more trouble! Why would I street race? I’m Johann Hayward!”“Come with us. There’s also a report on drug use.”“Me? I get doping tests every week! Anyway, listen to me. The Signity got involved with that guy… Ah, right. You can hear from them over there!”The stern, silent-looking officer scanned the frantic Johann up and down.“Wait here.”The officer headed towards the Signity for an inquiry. The person who got out of the car upon seeing the police was Brian Levin.“Thank you for your work. I’m Brian Levin from Doodle Investments. I’m the reporter.”“I’ve heard from the director. And over there, according to the Porsche driver’s claim.”Brian Levin smiled.“You were helping us, right…”At that moment, the door of the Signity opened.“I’m the victim.”A long leg wrapped in a dark green suit with a shimmering texture gracefully stepped out. The shining shoes, seemingly never touched by dust or walked on outside, touched the road. Above them was a man with a perfect inverted triangle body that seemed to have no end.“Wow.”Johann involuntarily covered his mouth.Like a scene from a movie, Maximilian Rosenberg, who buttoned his suit jacket before getting out of the car, finally stood at the accident scene.Unlucky civilians, police, illegal racers, and even Johann, everyone paid attention to him. His presence was so captivating that one couldn’t look away. Calling it elegant wouldn’t do it justice.A black car, a vividly colored green suit, Oxford shoes without brogues, and dazzling blonde hair fluttering in the sky…And heart-shaped sunglasses with pink frames on his face.He’s really stunning.Johann whistled as he gazed at the car the man had exited. It was the car Johann fell for the moment he first saw it, the very one that made his eyes turn.“Even if the fashion is a bit avant-garde… the car makes it work.”The man, despite wearing somewhat strange sunglasses, looked like he had just stepped out of a commercial. The fact that the man in the suit got out of the back seat, not the driver’s seat, was the best part. He was perfect for showcasing the car. If it were recorded on camera, it would look great on a massive billboard in the middle of Times Square as part of a Signity promotion.“He’s really handsome…”And the Signity R9R up close deserved the term handsome. Perfectly luxurious, heavy, yet with a sleek sophistication that could appeal to the younger generation. The man’s image and the car matched perfectly. Without the sunglasses, one could believe he was a model hired for the car’s promotion.Looking at the luxurious sedan model, shiny black without a fingerprint, Johann’s eyes were filled with hearts.How much would that car cost? Johann, a driver who operated internal combustion vehicles, wasn’t particularly interested in electric cars, but the new Signity line seemed exceptionally well-made.The man with a statue-like perfect proportion noticed Johann’s gaze. He spoke to the police, leaving Johann’s eager expression behind.“Do you understand? I’m the victim.”“Yes, we understand, Mr. Rosenberg.”And that blonde statue walked straight towards Johann, turning the road into a runway with his impeccable stride.Rose wasn’t a fool. If it weren’t for the Johann in front of her, she might have been in real danger. She looked at Johann and said in an elegant accent.“Rose.”“Yes?”“I’m Rose.”Johann, whose mind had wandered elsewhere, finally responded.“…Then I’m Delphinium?”“What are you talking about?”“Since you suddenly said a flower name?”Rose truly realized it. The man in front of her didn’t know who she was. It felt strange and unfamiliar to be in a situation where she had to introduce herself.Had Rose ever introduced herself?“Hmm, well. It’s embarrassing, but Rose is Rosen…”Just as she was about to take off her sunglasses, thinking it might be because her face was covered, the police, who had finished talking with Brian, called Johann.“Mr. Hayward.”“Yes!”Johann ran over to the police who called his name. Rose, who had taken off her sunglasses and was about to extend her right hand, stood there blankly like a dog chasing a chicken.“…Rosenberg, shortened…”The handsome man trying to explain the origin of Rose’s name awkwardly looked at his hand, floating in the air, and froze. At that moment, Johann looked back and waved his hand, shouting loudly.“Hey! I really enjoyed checking out your car! But I really want to ride that car! You know my name, right? Johann Hayward! Contact me! Oh, and if you’re thinking of sending flowers, I’m okay! I’m not really into roses!”At that moment, Maximilian Rosenberg’s face twisted miserably, unable to hold back any longer.‘What did he just say?’The absurdity made Rose chuckle with a mix of laughter and sighs. Brian, chuckling, approached the trembling Rose with a beautifully crumpled face.“Boss, he said no to Rose.”“…”“And apparently he likes the car more than the boss…”Well, as a driver, that made sense, Brian thought, laughing madly. Rose, her mind going blank for a moment, gritted her teeth and muttered.“Brian. What is. That guy.”“What do you mean, the savior of your life.”Of course, Rose knew. Exactly five seconds ago, she was well aware before hearing that shocking statement.Does the savior even realize how difficult and significant it is to receive gratitude from Maximilian Rosenberg?But truly, Johann had no thoughts. Firstly, the man’s beauty was so overwhelming that it rendered him speechless. Secondly, in Johann’s eyes, the sleek design of the new Signity model was far more attractive than the man’s beauty. And lastly, Johann couldn’t afford to get handcuffed here. He had a race in two weeks.“Mr. Hayward, I understand the situation.”“Yes, I was just helping. It’s so unfair. And by the way, I was the first to report it. The one throwing up over there… my brother also reported it. My brother is a lawyer.”Johann pointed to Nicholas, who was vomiting in the distance.“We’ll check. But we’ll still need to take a brief statement.”“Sure, that’s fine.”At that moment, someone yelled, “Wait a minute! I said I’m not running away!” and was approaching Johann, pulling a policeman along.“Johann! Johann! Can you give me an autograph?”The man, handcuffed, was stumbling while holding a precious helmet, but another policeman grabbed him. He cried out desperately.“Please, an autograph! I’m 8442!”8442 was the psycho-like driver Johann had forcibly stopped with his drift. The policeman warned in a low voice.“Please don’t.”“Of course not.”Johann replied firmly. If Johann Hayward’s autograph appeared on an illegal racer’s helmet, it would end up being sold for a high price on an illegal auction site.“But actually.”“Yes, go ahead.”The policeman scanned the people being arrested and then closely approached Johann, pulling out a notepad from his waist.“I’d like it here, please.”“Excuse me?”“An autograph. …I’m a fan too, Johann.”Watching the previously stern-looking policeman suddenly smile shyly, Johann took the pen with a bewildered expression.“Th-thank you?”“You’re welcome. Mr. Johann Hayward, I hope you finish the next race. You always make it to the podium when you finish.”“Uh, yeah. You really are a fan. Thank you…”And everyone there found out later. The whole process of Johann getting involved in the street racing, saving Rose, the police showing up, and arresting them was broadcast live on YouTube.It wasn’t just an illegal street race they had organized; it was a game with gambling involved.The incident caused a nationwide uproar in the United States.