"You must be new here, right? Want me to show you around? I've been here almost a month."

Ji Jue was taken aback: "Won't I be bothering you?"

"Oh, no need to be polite! Let's go!"

Shi Ran waved nonchalantly, leading the way in front of him, taking Ji Jue on a tour around the camp, familiar with the place, occasionally introducing Ji Jue to others.

For the whole Desert Sea Rally, there are sixteen classes in both stock and modified categories, with over sixty teams. It's rare to see someone like Ji Jue arriving just one day before the opening. Most started preparations a month in advance.

Even in terms of lineup, it encompasses most of the Federation's major automotive companies. The larger teams sent over a hundred people. Yet, it seemed like Shi Ran knew people everywhere he went, also helping to introduce Ji Jue.

There was no shortage of Chosen Ones, and some even without any cover-ups. Among them, Ji Jue also saw resident craftsmen from other major Federation workshops.

By the end of the morning, he had collected a pile of business cards.

Everyone came and went, meeting like strangers, but didn't mind making a new friend, especially a young Yan Jun like Ji Jue, who was the chief craftsman of this edition.

There were also many who kept their distance, treating him indifferently, staring coldly from afar.

"Look, those over there... You know them."

Shi Ran shrugged slightly and didn't take Ji Jue over there.

Echo, Sky City, Xingyuan, and Northern Realm, the camps of the four groups were clustered together. Especially the Northern Realm, being the military industry enterprise of Huang Province, occupied the best position.

Taking a glance from afar, Shi Ran didn't lead him to offer a warm face to cold shoulders. He sighed, hesitating as if wanting to say something but ultimately held back.

Some matters probably weren't for him to comment on.

What a pity for such a fine young man to wade into this muddy water.

Shi Ran sighed silently.

Soon, a voice came over the walkie-talkie urging him.

"Ah, I have to get back to the meeting." He shrugged, "Remember to make the registration promptly, and let's have a meal together when there's time!"

Ji Jue waved goodbye to him.

When Ji Jue returned to the site at the coast, he saw the busy staff approaching him.

"Mr. Ji, you're back?" The head of the repair crew said: "The navigator just arrived, we need to hurry and complete the registration for our car team."

"Navigator?"

Ji Jue was immediately curious: "Where?"

According to the Desert Sea Rally rules, participating teams are allowed to set up a repair crew at a designated repair station, and their vehicles can be equipped with a driver and an assistant navigator.

The driver's role needs no explanation, while the navigator often plays multiple roles, not only as a backup driver to replace the main driver if necessary but also as an assistant for maintaining the vehicle during incidents in the wild. Sometimes, a retired major driver may take the role due to age, and in challenging conditions, the navigator may even act as the driver's bodyguard to handle trouble in the wild.

A duo and a vehicle, this is the lineup stipulated by the organizing committee. Once the race starts, unless they reach a repair station, only these two can touch the vehicle.

Otherwise, it would be deemed a violation.

The Coast Team, although it was named a team, was actually a support group hastily put together by Tong Shengnian to mainly provide support for Ji Jue.

With Ji Jue there, naturally, there was no need for others to perform maintenance. With the Mechanical Descent, the vehicle could practically drive itself, let alone a trusty steed.

Originally, Ji Jue planned to bring someone randomly, but unexpectedly, when Lv Yingyue called, she offered not only lots of support but also manpower to assist Ji Jue and ensure his safety.

However, She had been holed up in the workshop and hadn't come out, so they hadn't even met.

Since Lv Yingyue introduced the person, they would naturally be reliable, but hopefully, they would get along.

At worst, they could both just grit their teeth and bear it. After all, it was only half a month, and they could tough it out.

And as soon as he saw the navigator, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

From the Snowfall camp, amid huge empty oil drums, that petite figure with upgraded prosthetic legs, with an air of serenity like a young girl, a surprised smile appeared on that androgynous face upon turning around.

"Ji Jue bro!"

The young figure waved excitedly.

"Little An?!"

Ji Jue was pleasantly surprised, walked directly over, lifted him up with both hands and spun around several times, laughing heartily: "Long time no see!"

However, as he spun, his smile froze on his face.

"...Hmm?"

Wait a minute, this feeling, seems, maybe, somehow... not quite right?

But everything was right; the weight and touch were as expected, the spiritual aura the same as always, even the scent of body wash was familiar, yet why the inexplicable unease?

"What's wrong, Ji Jue bro?"

Suspended in the air, Little An looked over, puzzled and confused.

But still smiling.

Ji Jue would undoubtedly have his reasons for doing such things.

But, a momentary visual illusion made Ji Jue subconsciously draw a sharp breath.

Once bitten, twice shy, he really was a bit scared.

"Little An?" he asked tentatively.

"Hmm?" Little An tilted his head, the smile growing softer under his short hair.

The sense of deja vu from a hallucination became even stronger!

It wasn't Little An!

No, it seemed like it was Little An?

Right, right, no, no, no...

Cold sweat began to seep from Ji Jue's forehead.

He couldn't distinguish!!!

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