F1: The Speed Legend

The orange-red sunset pierced through the clouds, almost disappearing into the horizon. The city lights were just beginning to flicker on, and the enchanting moonlight hazily outlined the city’s silhouette.

A yacht, returning from a day of indulgence, slowly motored into the harbor. The colorful lights and loud music shattered the port’s tranquility; the party was clearly far from over.

However, silhouetted against the light, a figure could be seen swaying on the gunwale, walking a tightrope like a circus performer. Even from a distance, it was clear he was struggling to maintain his balance, his footsteps precarious, a heart-stopping sight.

Kai grabbed Leclerc. ”Charles, look. Is that guy about to fall?”

Leclerc followed his gaze, his heart tightening. ”Oh no. What do we do? In Monaco, people fall off yachts every other day.”

Kai couldn’t believe his ears.

Leclerc spread his hands. ”I’m serious. You don’t want to know what they get up to on those boats.”

Taking a deep breath, Kai suppressed the urge to make a sarcastic comment and focused on the problem. ”Is the water deep here? Are there currents?”

Leclerc scanned the area. ”Depth shouldn’t be an issue, and there’s no undercurrent here. It probably won’t be life-threatening, but if he’s unconscious...”

That would be bad.

A quick estimate put the yacht at three stories high. If that man fell and hit the water hard, he could easily be knocked out.

Decisively, Kai looked around. He was sure the port had security personnel for exactly this kind of situation. They needed help.

”Charles, security, or lifeguards, where are they?” Kai shouted.

Without a word, Leclerc sprinted off, racing toward the lifeguard station.

Kai ran toward the yacht. He could vaguely see figures on the deck, twisting and dancing, lost in music and alcohol.

”Hey! Danger!”

He paused, then had an idea. ”Fire! Fire!”

He waved his arms and shouted, then pulled out his phone, turned on the flashlight, and swept the beam across the figures on the deck, trying to get their attention.

But the blaring music and dazzling lights on the yacht were working against him. Standing before the behemoth, Kai felt like an ant looking up at an elephant.

Worse, his time was running out.

The figure leaned heavily against the railing, swaying, then slumped over it like a wet towel. Kai could faintly see vomit falling.

The next second, the man flipped over. Gravity took hold, and he plummeted, giving no time to react, smashing hard into the sea.

Splash!

Kai had expected a huge splash, but it was just a dull thud, and then the man vanished into the dark blue water. The ripples barely spread before the surface was calm again. On the yacht, the singing and dancing continued, oblivious to the tragedy below.

Damn it, too late.

Kai looked in the direction Leclerc had gone. He was still sprinting, shouting as he ran, but it was all happening too fast. He wouldn’t make it in time.

Taking a deep breath, Kai sprinted toward the dock. As he ran, he scanned the water. It was calm, ripple-free, like a velvet curtain spread out before him. It looked more like a lake than a sea.

Without another moment’s hesitation, Kai dove.

He pierced the surface like a fish, feeling the water envelop him. The cold rushed in, wrapping around his body instantly.

Sure enough, Leclerc was right. There was absolutely no undercurrent in the harbor.

With his last worry gone, Kai oriented himself and began to swim at full speed. Judging by sight, the man had fallen about two hundred meters away; in reality, it was further, nearly three hundred. It took a significant effort for Kai to reach the spot.

But where was he?

Just moments ago, he could see the man bobbing like a buoy. Now, he was gone.

Taking a deep breath, Kai dove underwater.

Visibility was better than he expected. The hazy twilight filtered down through the surface like transparent jellyfish. Kai scanned his surroundings and immediately locked onto the figure, unconscious and slowly sinking. He relaxed slightly, stroked hard with both arms, grabbed the man, and kicked for the surface.

Whoosh!

Air rushed into his lungs. Kai looked down at the figure in his arms. Luckily, the man was unconscious and wouldn’t struggle or fight him.

Kai remained calm. He knew that panic would only make things worse. He needed to ration his energy. Now was the time to thank Coach Blasco back in Maranello; six months of relentless physical training had not been in vain.

Kai locked the man’s arm and chest, swimming side-stroke with one arm toward the harbor. Speed wasn’t the priority; rhythm was.

”Kai!”

”Kai Zhizhou!”

Leclerc’s voice drifted over on the wind, trembling slightly. But Kai had no energy to spare for a response. He just focused on kicking, on breathing, on holding on. Three hundred meters had never felt so long, like a distance he could never cross.

Splash, splash.

The sound of swimming came closer. ”Young man, good work. Let me take over.”

Kai finally let out a breath of relief. He looked up to see the lifeguard had arrived just in time. He didn’t try to be a hero; he handed the heavy body over.

The professional was impressive. Even carrying a person, he was faster than Kai, pulling far ahead and reaching the shore first.

Kai kept his steady pace, finally reaching the edge. A hand appeared in front of him. He looked up to see Leclerc’s anxious face. He grabbed Leclerc’s hand and was practically dragged onto the dock, his strength almost completely gone.

The emptiness that follows an adrenaline dump left Kai lying on the ground, his heart pounding like a drum, gasping for air.

Leclerc couldn’t control himself. ”Are you crazy? Just jumping in like that? Kai, you’re a racing driver, not a swimmer!”

It was a rare sight. In Kai’s memory, this was the first time he’d ever seen Leclerc furious.

Kai took a deep breath and sat up, a weak smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ”Looks like I need to add some extra cardio when we get back.”

Leclerc: ...

Leclerc was winding up for another explosion when a coughing sound came from behind them, followed by the earth-shaking sound of vomiting.

Kai let out a long breath. ”He’s okay. Thank God.”

He walked over. Now he finally had time to look closely. The man was around forty, with salt-and-pepper hair. His soaked suit and shirt clung to a physique clearly honed in the gym, but right now, he was a mess, lying on the ground gasping for air.

Like a fish out of water.

Kai looked at the lifeguard. ”He should be fine now, right?”

Receiving confirmation, Kai smiled. ”Then we’ll leave him to you. Thanks for your hard work.”

Although the lifeguard invited Kai to go to the hospital for a check-up, Kai waved him off, refusing. He grabbed Leclerc and turned to leave.

Leclerc was completely confused. Were they just going to do a good deed and leave without leaving a name? So noble?

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