NOVPUBThe sound of a chapel bell rang once... then twice... and then a third time, echoing everlastingly as voices rose and footsteps shuffled.
"Help the poor! Help the poor! Thank you! Help the poor!"
"Help the poor! Help the poor! Thank you! Help the poor!"
"Help the poor! Help the po— oh! Thank you very much, young sir!"
Even though she never voiced it out loud, Luca could tell Isabella didn't like it when he donated generously in church. And that could account for every time, because he only attended Sunday services episodically, and whenever he managed to attend, he left a huge chunk in any donation basket he came across.
This Sunday, Luca repeated the same feat and again, he felt her repudiating aura. He wasn't sure what it meant. Maybe she didn't like him giving out recklessly... or perhaps she questioned the church's transparency... or even the credibility of the direct donation receiver. Or maybe it was something else entirely. Whichever it was, Luca liked giving to charity, and he believed that if he continued—but not extravagantly—she'd eventually learn to live with it.
The Sunday continued like every other attended-service Sunday so far this year: return home and have lunch with both his mother and Mr. Schafer, who would come over—all four of them in the villa throughout the afternoon till evening.
It felt right and...paradisaic
Providentially for Luca, he might not even have to verbally ask Isabella to come live with him because it was already happening. Ever since, she'd been gradually moving in some of her things: her clothes, her sketchbooks, her hair care appliances, a pair of her sneakers, and even a few books. She'd also spent more nights here than at the home with Mr. Schafer in Harborne. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝔲𝔟.𝔠𝖔𝖒
Luca knew he'd have to say it out loud soon enough and inform Mr. Schafer as well, instead of simply insinuating that everyone had agreed to it.
It was a buoyant and splendid late morning. Luca really looked forward to such days. Isabella was happy now, totally different from her mood back in South Africa. The call had come in, and she would soon be a Ferrari Lead Performance Engineer once everything was settled. Isabella couldn't believe it. She? Being appointed as the Head of the Tipo Series Special Projects? This was monumental.
Even though she knew she was the originator of the crucial blueprint that Ferrari was now adopting, she still remembered how she and her team had sold off the entire plan to them, meaning Ferrari had full technical ownership and all the credibility.
But the man on the phone reminded her that she was the one who evolved the ThunderKat. And even among the best engineers within Ferrari's ranks, she should be recognized as a mind one doesn't simply discard. And to keep her focused, progressive, and productive, they believed that putting her in charge of the entire Tipo Series—engines like the older variants tied to the ThunderKat, the ThunderKat itself (Tipo 052/A/C), the ThunderKat 2.0 (Tipo 053/FR), and whatever was to come next—would serve exactly that purpose.
Luca didn't tell her anything, but Isabella couldn't shake the feeling that he had a hand in all this. How could it be that, just under a week after it felt like her progress in life might be stalled for much longer, such a sudden stroke of fortune came directly to her?
Since Luca was a Jackson Racing driver, drove a Ferrari, and knew people, Isabella suspected even more. They all spoke elatedly around the table about what this could mean for her future. Mrs. Rennick was truly happy for Isabella, but Mr. Schafer, as usual, acted slightly indifferent—obviously.
Luca hated to leave their little gathering, but duty called him to the HQ this Sunday. He left early so he could return early as well.
Usually, Jackson Racing wasn't supposed to be hopping and laborious on Sundays, but this Sunday was different because the new chassis was going to be disported to the team, and right in its design was Jackson's very own super engine.
Its name had been revealed recently as FRC-91, bringing an end to the long-running JRX (Jean Reparto Experience) series. Luca was beyond eager to see this new chassis in person, even though he'd already been sent photos, so you could imagine his delight when he arrived and saw it with his own eyes.
Everyone surrounded the magnificent machine, admiring its striking and imposing presence. This was, without a doubt, the most polished car on the grid! Comments, compliments, and remarks flew from everyone and rained lavishly on the FRC-91, while Rodnick, who was present, had the most aplomb as he ran his fingers along its frame from the obscenely sculpted front wings, past the flared sidepods, through the sharp-cut bargeboards and seamless mid-section, all the way to the elegantly risen rear wing that reflected the ceiling lights in the garage.
Luca had thought it was going to resemble the JRX-97 a little. After all, it housed the ThunderKat 2.0, so one would expect it to inherit the styling and stance of the chassis that had carried the OG ThunderKat. But the FRC-91? It was something else. Completely different in its aesthetic, even though it still featured all the required characteristics that every single-seater in the competition had to comply with.
But there were quite notable distinctness, and Luca was sure this contrast wasn't only external but internal as well, since it was built for a High-Intensity Combustion Engine. The body had a certain maturity to it. Ferrari really created a well-thought design with bold intakes, slightly wider sidepods, and narrower slits on the nose bridge that curved just a bit sharper than the usual. The front wing had a faint dip in the middle, giving it a subtle V-contour, something that could almost be missed at first glance but once noticed, gave off a refined aggression. The suspension arms were arranged in a tighter fashion, but nothing that stepped out of regulation and everything still fit within the rules of modern Formula 1. The rear wing had a distinct sharpness at the tips, almost like folded corners, giving it this crisp outline that framed the car from behind.
Plus, the painting was very different. For the first time, Jackson Racing majored the white part of their colors, putting it at the forefront. Black that used to be the secondary color now took a back seat, even Jackson Racing's silvery blue was now almost hidden as they seemed to outsource the silver color. So, looking at it, the car was a princely blend of silver and white with the tiny designs of black and blue at its aerodynamic curves.
Jackson Racing must be the best designers for this outstanding artwork.
Luca felt a bit covetous with this FRC-91. He couldn't lie, but it sparked something territorial in him. Also, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly as Rodnick kept caressing the car, staying unnecessarily close to it, poking around, and inquiring way too deeply like it was his own.
Even though Luca knew the car was Rodnick's to drive, to pilot, to bond with, he just wanted Rodnick to chill at least. No one was taking it from him.
Soon after, Luca promptly initiated the car and engine analysis. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the car's specific status since he hadn't registered it yet. That made him wish he didn't use the one-time chance the system granted on the 92B back then. Had he saved it, now would've been the perfect time to know what a 300 percenter truly was.
However, he still received the basic car analysis.
[VEHICLE BEFORE HOST HAS BEEN DETECTED...]
[ANALYZING VEHICLE'S DATA]
[Vehicle's status generating...]
[... Generation complete]
[Car Specifications:
Brand: Ferrari
Model: FRC-91
Engine Type: Tipo 053/FR
Weight: 745 kg ]
[Performance Metrics:
Top Speed: 400 km/h (0 km/h)
Acceleration: 1.7 sec
Max Power: 1500 HP
]
[Operational Status:
Fuel Level: 60%
Tire Condition: New
Telemetry Status: Inactive ]
Wow. Luca couldn't believe it. The Performance Metrics category alone was enough to explain the capability of this car
[Performance Metrics:
Top Speed: 400 km/h (0 km/h)
Acceleration: 1.7 sec
Max Power: 1500 HP
]
A 400 km/h achievable speed was insane, and with 1.7 seconds to reach full acceleration, this car was shaping up to be the fastest thing ever constructed on land. Add to that a maximum power of 1500 HP that's greater than the MkII's?
Rodnick's golden now!
Could this be the best car of the next decade? Was there any way Mercedes could produce something better? So far, neither the enhanced RBioL nor the new R.S.25, announced just three days ago by Haddock Racing, had anything on the FRC-91.
True, Haddock Racing and Renault had revealed that they have prepared their own High-Intensity Combustion Engine (HICE) with a brand-new chassis as well. Luca hadn't had the chance to analyze the new R.S.25 just yet, but he knew the battle of power had truly begun in Formula 1.
He just hoped it wouldn't come with the kind of problems he saw with the radiation from the MkII at the RSA Grand Prix. If these engines were going to harm one another like that, it wouldn't be long before there were no cars left on the grid.
Currently, after reporting the flux radiation from the MkII, Jackson Racing was awaiting the next verdict from the FIA, who were conducting investigations and thoroughly scrutinizing the situation. In the meantime, Luca had dedicated some of his time to studying the Thermal Ion Flux phenomenon. Thankfully, Isabella knew a bit about it and had been helping with the research.
Eventually, Luca gained a solid understanding of how the flux was produced within the combustion chamber, its range of effect, and its dynamics. By the end of it, Luca had a clearer picture of what was going on and so, he now understood this—>
But Luca wondered if the 2.0 was toxic enough to emit something that could corrupt another driver's car, effectively taking them out of the race for good. While he knew the system couldn't directly tell him if that kind of contamination was possible, Luca figured he could at least pick up some clues from the data. Having studied the MkII and its Ion Flux radiation, he learnt certain arrangements in the S-level engine that brought about the radiation. So, if he did see a pattern here, it might mean the same or something similar. So, he analyzed the S-level engine.
[Data on Tipo 053/FR can be retrieved]
[Retrieving Data...]
[.... Data Retrieved]
[The Tipo 053/FR, classified as an S-level engine, is specifically designed for absolute competitive performance in F1.]
[It features a 2.1L quad-turbo V8 hybrid power unit, delivering 1,500 HP and 1,450 Nm (+220) of torque. Equipped with an ultra-responsive dual MGU system (MGU-KX + MGU-HX), it PROVIDES EXTREME POWER DEPLOYMENT and EFFORTLESS ENERGY RECLAMATION under high-strain conditions.]
[The ThunderKat 2.0 emphasizes PEAK-LINEAR ACCELERATION with aggressive ERS surge curves and high-velocity air-intake cooling, ensuring maximum output in long straights without thermal decay.]
[While its core is SPEED-BIASED, dynamic balancing architecture keeps mid-corner torque stable, maintaining fluid hybrid transitions and minimizing lag.]
