I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

Orn nodded, took two horseshoes from his pocket, and handed them to Elisabeth.

"These are training horseshoes I forged using a similar method. The lighter one is a modified version of an existing top-quality horseshoe, while the heavier one was hammered out using the same method I just described."

"The new project involves studying these two horseshoes and finding a way to replicate heavier horseshoes, ideally at a lower cost."

Alice tossed the two horseshoes in her hand, then frowned and asked, "Is it really that simple?"

"Yes, it's that simple."

Seeing the other party's completely unconcerned expression, Orn reminded him, "The Satomi family's research group has been studying this for three months, but they haven't made any progress, and they can't even replicate it."

"This topic isn't as simple as you think, is it?"

Alice looked down at the horseshoe in her hand. The high-end equipment used in the summer training camp was jointly developed by the Satomi family and herself. She naturally knew their capabilities; even they were helpless against it...

"That's interesting. Just from the perspective of the research topic, it's indeed very interesting."

She placed the horseshoe on the table beside her and then asked, "So tell me what you want next. The word games you just played weren't just about getting me to research a horseshoe for you, were they?"

Looking into the other person's dull, grid-like eyes, Orn nodded and said, "There are indeed other requirements, but I'm afraid we'll need the help of my friend from the Manchester City tea house to keep an eye on things in this regard."

"From now on, you must sleep eight hours a day and cannot take stimulants or similar drugs to stay up all night."

"Also, I'll find a way to treat the injury to your left leg later. Don't do anything reckless on your own, otherwise the condition might worsen to an irreversible point."

"In addition, although your family bought the fourth floor of this laboratory building, you should at least clean it properly and remove all that sticky stuff from outside."

That's all. I'll add more later if I think of anything else.

Alice raised an eyebrow. She had initially thought this man might have ulterior motives, perhaps wanting her or the teahouse owner to be her team's instructor.

The fact that the other party only made this request was indeed somewhat unexpected.

"It's not an unreasonable condition, but I can't guarantee I won't stay up all night. After all, when inspiration strikes, not staying up all night is like killing me."

Alice slumped back in the recliner and continued, "I have no objection to the second point. Anyway, I haven't found a suitable method yet, so it wouldn't hurt for you to try your method."

"As for the third point..."

She turned her head and looked down the corridor through the half-open laboratory door.

Obstructed by newspapers and grease, the corridor on the fourth floor of the laboratory remained extremely dark, even at midday.

After glancing at the corner displaying match reports, Airi Soko closed her eyes.

She said softly, "I'll go back and clean it up when I have time later. For now... let's just leave it for now."

Orn didn't press the issue; after all, getting this unruly inventor to listen to reason even a little was already a significant improvement.

Having finished his business, he was preparing to say goodbye and leave the Manchester tea house when Alice, who had just been lounging around like Ge You, suddenly jumped up.

She pushed the table aside, and her wheelchair led her to another lab table with bottles and jars on it.

Alice skillfully picked up the colorful bottles, mixed and layered them, and then produced a bottle of green solution emitting smoke.

She picked up the glass of what looked like a dangerous liquid, pushed the table again, and slid her wheelchair over to Orn's side.

"Drink."

Seeing the strange expression on Orn's face, Alice's lips curled up slightly.

She raised her chin and said, "This is proof of the contract. After drinking it, I'll consider it as agreement to your rules."

"Of course, I'll also help you with some other small research projects. And remember to bring me meals when the tea house isn't open..."

In the past, trainers who had either ulterior motives or genuine concern for the teahouse and herself all hesitated and refused the drink she offered.

Even worse, some might lose control of their emotions, hurling insults and then fleeing the lab in a panic, never daring to approach the building again.

This is her final test. If someone doesn't even have the courage to drink this liquid, it's impossible for them to become her like-minded companion.

Just as Alice was about to say something sarcastic, she shook the glass in her hand, and before she could even utter the word "you," the glass was snatched away.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the Manchester City tea patrons, Ornn downed the strange beverage in one gulp.

He wiped the liquid from the corner of his mouth, smacked his lips, and said, "It tastes a bit awful. Will it cause a genetic mutation or something if I drink it?"

Alice blinked, then nodded with some delight, saying, "Hehe...maybe it really will cause genetic mutations? After all, no one has ever drunk this stuff before."

“Very interesting, indeed very interesting! The contract is established, and I will abide by most of the requirements you mentioned.”

"The research on the horseshoes will take about a week. Come to my lab around this time in the second week, and I'll update you on the progress. You can also demonstrate how you made them."

"Also, if I need to go out after the tea house, you'll be in charge of bringing me meals."

Alice pressed a button on the armrest of the chair, and the wheelchair floated towards the lab table.

"Just a heads up, if you don't bring me food, I might starve to death in the lab, you know?"

"Don't let your assistant deliver the food. You're the only one I'm contracted with. Understand? Now, please see the customer out of the tea room!"

Ornn and the two from the Manchester City tea shop entered the elevator again. Looking at his blurry reflection in the elevator door, the black-haired horse girl suddenly said, "Trainer Ornn, you don't actually need to drink that potion."

"Although that's what Suko says, if it were you, even if she didn't drink it, she would listen to your advice as a partner."

Orn shrugged and said, "It doesn't really matter. At least to me, that potion just looks like a scary-looking soda, but I didn't seem to have any other reaction after drinking it."

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, showing off his muscles, and said, "Look, I even feel stronger and more powerful now!"

The man in the Manchester tea room opened his mouth slightly, then closed it again, finally letting out a sigh.

She hesitated before saying, "Trainer Ornn...you...sigh."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"If Suko's gaze suddenly becomes excited, her pupils shrink, and her eyes become bright, then you should be careful,"

"why?"

"Because that's the look she gives a lab rat."

The elevator slowly came to a stop on the first floor. Orn stepped out of the elevator and turned to ask, "Guinea pigs? I don't think this brilliant scientist would stoop so low as to use human experimentation so quickly, would he?"

Standing inside the elevator, she didn't speak, but looked at the other person with worried eyes.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, she finally spoke.

"Maybe."

Chapter 248 The Supercar Duel Invitation

'Maybe?'

'What does this mean? Is that stuff poisonous?'

Completely bewildered, Orn walked out of the experimental building.

He reached up and touched his body, asking suspiciously, "I'm fine. My breathing is normal, my heart rate is stable, and I don't have any abdominal pain."

"Aside from being a little excited right now, there doesn't seem to be any other problem?"

After giving himself a full-body massage with a hammer, Orn still couldn't find anything wrong, so he could only shake his head and turn to walk towards the playground.

Four days have passed since Dolan's team returned at the end of August.

Students began returning to school one after another, and the playground gradually became lively again.

"Turenna! You're back?"

Oguri, who was resting in the stands beside the track, waved to her trainer. Judging from her rapidly heaving chest, she seemed to have just finished a training session.

Orn walked over and sat down beside her, then reached out and pressed his hand against the girl's soft knees.

"Hmm, well done. You've completed half of today's training quota."

"Take a break, then do three more sets of sprints."

The little chestnut hat's ears swayed, a sign that she was in a good mood.

She glanced at Orn discreetly, then whispered, "Toron, Xiaoyu invited me to the playground for a match tonight. Can I go?"

"Of course, but I'll have to impose some restrictions on you,"

Orn then raised his hand and rubbed the gray and white patch on the little chestnut hat's head. He really liked touching the strange gradient color on the head of this goatee-haired pony.

This kind of bizarre hairstyle, which looks like it was dyed badly at birth, seems to be quite common among horse girls. Orn has seen more than once some horse girls with white tips on their hair, but the upper half of their hair is brown or yellow.

As he spent more and more time as a trainer, he gradually began to distinguish the different playing styles of the members of Dolan's team.

Her brand-new, shiny hair was a little fluffy, but overall quite smooth, just like her fawn-like personality—soft and limp.

Fujimasa's hair was more like a steel blade being sharpened... no, it should be described as very smooth.

Because of her personality, Orn didn't dare to touch her head much. He always felt that every time he raised his hand to touch her head, March would look at him with a terrifying gaze, as if she wanted to devour him whole.

It's best to keep your distance.

Orn didn't even touch Ardan's hair. After all, she was a well-educated and refined young lady, and Orn felt that making such an intimate gesture might send a bad message.

However, just looking at Aldan's flowing hair, even without directly touching it, Orn thought it must feel quite nice.

Perhaps it will feel like touching brocade?

He rubbed Little Chestnut Hat the most; judging from the purring sound she made unconsciously when her head was patted, this little cat seemed to really enjoy this kind of physical interaction.

The girl's hair wasn't particularly smooth; rather, it was a bit rough, like some kind of high-grit sandpaper.

Seemingly because Ornn had been playing for too long, Little Chestnut Hat squinted and asked in confusion, "Drag on Na? What kind of restriction?"

Orn coughed lightly and said, "You can go for a run with Tamamo, no problem, but you need to keep a secret."

"Holding back a secret?"

"Yes, keep something in reserve,"

Orn nodded and said, "When you're running with her, don't use any of the techniques I taught you, except for the ones you figure out yourself."

"If Tamamo Cross tells you to use your full strength, then you absolutely must not use your full strength. If she tells you to run around casually, then you should use even less effort than the previous method."

"You should observe Tamamo Cross's running method more closely. You might even learn some acceleration techniques. Most importantly, try to understand the [domain] that has already taken shape within her."

Oguri Hat nodded thoughtfully. Although her academic progress in class was a headache for Aldan and Qingyun Sky in the team, her IQ would suddenly and continuously rise above the average level whenever it came to running!

"Hey! What are you teaching Oguri?! We won't allow you to teach Oguri these crooked and evil things!!"

A somewhat familiar voice came from below Ornn's field of vision. He quickly looked left and right, but saw no one.

He looked up at the sky again, but there was nothing there except for a few sparrows.

"Temei!! You bastard, are you looking down on me?!"

Two white ears peeked out from under the stands, and Tamamo Cross reached out and leaned on the railing at the edge of the stands.

She glared at the man with the expression that resembled neither a clam nor a clam, her two rows of teeth grinding together, making a clicking sound.

Orn seemed to only just notice Tamamo Cross. He feigned surprise, then smiled and offered a helping hand to the short, bushy-haired boy, saying, "Yo! Isn't this Tamamo-senpai? You've arrived!"

"Oh dear, your tall and imposing figure was just blocked by the steps in front of me. I was blind and didn't recognize you! I'm so sorry!"

This jarring remark ignited the anger within the short, bushy-haired woman, and the fact that the greatsword-wielding man in front of her was acting as if he were offering kind advice only fueled her rage.

Veins bulged on Tamamo's forehead as she gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! Fine! Fine!!"

"Then what's that trainer doing staring at us? Come on, lend a hand! Pull us up!"

After saying this, she gestured for Orn to pull her up.

Ornn made a series of clicking sounds, then extended a helping hand towards Tamamo Cross's outstretched right hand.

"There is a flaw!"

A fierce glint flashed in Tamamo's cross-shaped eyes. She suddenly opened her mouth and bit at Orn's right hand.

But Orn was no ordinary man; he was prepared. Just as Tamamo Cross opened her mouth to bite him, he pulled a piece of bread, still in its packaging, from his sleeve and placed it where the short, hairy boy's mouth was closed.

"Tear it!"

After a tearing sound, a neat teeth mark appeared on the bread, and two-thirds of the bread disappeared instantly, along with its outer packaging.

"What a set of iron teeth!"

Orn let out a soft sigh, then tentatively offered the bread in his hand to Tamamo Cross, who had a resentful look on her face: "Here, have some, don't be angry?"

Tamamo Cross snatched the remaining third of the bread, then spat out the wrapper from her mouth, used the steps to flip over the railing, and

After glaring at Orn, she shoved the bread into her mouth and then instructed Little Chestnut Hat, "Hey Little Chestnut, your trainer talks a lot of nonsense, don't believe everything he says!"