"Did you notice the eagle tattoo on his arm?" Aria said, feeling a bit uneasy.
"Joseph might not be that simple. We need to find someone to get more information," Ethan responded thoughtfully.
After Ethan and Aria left, Joseph's henchman, A-Gan, stepped forward and handed Joseph a lit cigar, saying, "Boss, that kid thinks he can beat us? He doesn't know his own limits. In a month, he's doomed for sure." This gaunt, yellow-skinned man cast a disdainful glance in the direction Ethan and Aria had gone.
Joseph continued to puff on his cigar, a sinister gleam in his eyes, with the eagle tattoo on his muscular arm particularly striking in the sunlight.
Eagle totem, a top predator in nature, represents the powerful and decisive nature of its species. Legends say that when an eagle reaches the age of forty, its wings and beak become worn out. The eagle then breaks its beak on rocks and plucks out its old feathers to allow new ones to grow. After five months, it can soar the skies again and live for another thirty years. The eagle is the true god of war.
Joseph was once a legendary racer. Although he retired 18 years ago, his remarkable feats in racing continue to be told in racing circles.
Ethan and Aria walked out of the racetrack and through the exit lane, where race cars, one after another, drove past—Lamborghinis, Apollos, Koenigseggs, Ferraris, Aston Martins—each showcasing wildness and speed. Ethan and Aria looked at these solid, powerful cars, still bewildered by the upcoming race in a month.
"We might need a race car," Ethan suddenly thought.
Looking up at the area outside the racetrack, rows of storefronts alternated between auto repair shops, car maintenance shops, and racing car dealerships. Ethan suggested finding a nearby 4S store to buy a race car and gather information about Joseph.
"Solovt, let's choose this one," Ethan said, pointing in the direction of the 4S store.
"But look at Ivankoten's store, it seems bigger and more professional," Aria countered.
"Of course, I know, but the money Sherry gave us is probably not enough to buy anything from that store."
They chose the most inconspicuous store called Solovt. As soon as they entered, they were warmly greeted by a salesman named Vanka.
"Hello, sir and madam. Do you have a racing dream? If so, take a look at this beginner's F3 race car. It's smaller, similar in appearance to an F1 car, with a minimum weight of 500 kilograms, equipped with a 2-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine, and a power output of about 170 kilowatts. Every professional racer has to go through the training with such a car," Vanka enthusiastically explained.
Vanka was a top salesman at Solovt. He was short and dark-skinned, standing next to Aria, resembling a dwarf from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Yet, this seemingly small man had a sharp tongue, was very talkative, and had high emotional intelligence, quickly reading people's minds. He saw that Ethan was a racing novice.
Ethan looked at the car, not understanding much, and said, "I can buy your car today, but I need some information about someone."
Vanka replied, "There's no one around here I don't know. Ask away. But before I tell you anything, you need to pay a deposit of ten thousand dollars. This deposit can be deducted from the cost of whichever car you choose."
Indeed, a top salesman is a top salesman. Ethan had no choice but to take out the card Sherry gave him. Vanka skillfully took out a POS machine, swiped ten thousand dollars, and handed the receipt to Ethan.
"Alright, you can ask now," Vanka said with a smug smile.
"I want to know if you know Joseph, Joseph Bonanno!" Ethan stood aside, expectantly looking .
"Hahaha, you just want to ask me such a simple question." Vanka straightened his chest, cleared his throat, and began to tell Joseph's story.
Joseph was a famous racer before; his career was legendary. Fifteen years ago, he was a mechanic at a car repair shop. He didn't have a professional race car, but he used his skills to modify a $100,000 car. With it, he participated in the preliminary selection for NASCAR drivers. At that time, his opponents' cars far exceeded his in speed, but he led with excellent driving skills, making it to the NASCAR finals. That final was known as "Death is Coming." All the top racers from around the world, with careers boasting numerous medals, participated. No one thought highly of Joseph.
However, in the final, he competed against Jordan Dulles, nicknamed "Death." Dulles used his car's superior speed and performance to push Joseph's car to the back. Once Joseph was at the back, it was difficult to move forward, and his car's speed and performance were far inferior to those of the other racers.
Just when everyone thought Joseph had failed, he drifted along the outer wall, accelerating along the spectator side, sparks flying from the friction. He overtook one car after another. The racers in front of him grew anxious and began to crash into each other.
A massive collision ensued, creating a pile-up of dozens of cars. Joseph, driving on the outermost lane, avoided the accident, sped ahead, and completed the final lap, ultimately winning the race. The spectators erupted into applause, and he became famous overnight, joining the Flying Eagles Club and gradually becoming the king of NASCAR, with countless followers.
The champion racer of today's race was personally trained by him. The reason Joseph withdrew from that race remains a topic of much speculation. Some say he was controlled by the mafia and would be assassinated by a killer infiltrated into the racing team if he raced again. Others say his left arm was injured and he could no longer grip the steering wheel. But these are just legends in NASCAR.
Ethan and Aria listened intently to Joseph's story, growing more concerned about the race happening in a month.
"Is there anything else? Like, where should I go if I want to find an experienced racing coach?"Ethan inquired.
"You can try your luck at the Midnight Bar, pal," Vanka added. "Many racers frequent that place."
"Midnight Bar, maybe we should go there. What time does it open?" Ethan inquired.
"It opens at 8:00 PM and closes at 4:00 AM. By the way, guys, I've received your deposit, remember to come back and choose your car later."Vanka enthused
As they drove away from the dealership, Ethan's mind was filled with various thoughts. The race was just a month away, and they still couldn't get closer to understanding Joseph Bonanno. They needed more information about the race, and they needed it soon.
Ethan and Aria left the dealership and headed to the bar called Midnight. It was a place frequented by racers and mechanics, where people secretly discussed everything about racing under the guise of drinking. Ethan and Aria hoped to find someone who could unveil the secrets of Joseph's mysterious past.
They walked into the bar, which was in the basement. Following the cement stairs down, they entered a hall filled with various racing models. The environment was dimly lit, and the air was damper in the basement. As they walked further in, the space suddenly opened up. The bar was bathed in red lights, with live music enhancing the ambiance.
"Didn't expect the place to be this spacious," Ethan said, looking around.
"This is incredible, Ethan. It's my first time in a bar, and I'm really not used to it," Aria said, adjusting her headscarf.
The people in the bar watched Ethan and Aria walk in, their curious gazes following them like they were witnessing something unusual.
The atmosphere was filled with the energy of the race track, and the air was thick with the scent of gasoline and rubber. They overheard snippets of conversations about cars, races, and bets. It was the perfect place to gather information.
A burly man with oil-stained hands approached their table. "What can I get you?" he asked, his voice rough but friendly.
Ethan looked at the menu and ordered a cherry-flavored cocktail called "Passionate Blaze," while Aria ordered a cocktail called "Pink Lady."
As the waiter was about to leave, Ethan called him back. "We'd like to ask you something. About Joseph." The man's face darkened. "We have the information you need here." With that, the waiter walked straight back to the kitchen.
Ethan sensed the waiter was hiding something. He glanced towards the kitchen, lost in thought. Suddenly, a pair of eyes stared at him from behind a pillar. Those eyes looked familiar. It was Leander!