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In the realm of the Lords of the Race, many stables have emptied their coffers, leaving Malaria and Catastrophe with almost no money to run their plows. Rich Bernie, however, remains unmoved and declares loudly, “Good riddance.”
The sudden bankruptcy of Catastrophe and Malaria Stables sent shockwaves through the kingdom's sporting circles, exposing a web of broken promises and mounting debts. At the heart of the crisis is Doc Ravetto, long-time caretaker of the struggling Catastrophe stable, who spent countless hours begging for a miracle as his prayers to Lord Bernie went unanswered.
Judge Rap'tout, the magistrate overseeing the insolvency proceedings, quickly seized the remaining assets of both stables to satisfy creditors. At a recent hearing, he warned the struggling owners that “four years of evasion end today; it's time to pay your bills.” His comments underscored the legal pressure now weighing on these struggling businesses. Meanwhile, Father Booth-en-train, rector of the Malaria stable, faces equally bleak prospects. The stable, already described as “twenty thousand leagues under the sea,” is struggling to stay afloat despite its precarious financial situation. The abbot defended his team, insisting that the current situation was not of their making, a claim that drew a scathing retort from Judge Rap'tout: “If you think it's not your fault, what do you suggest we do? ” This turmoil dates back four years, with the arrival of Bernie the Enriched, a wealthy patron whose lavish promises attracted three impoverished teams, including Catastrophe. Bernie's initial promise to protect the weaker teams quickly dissolved into a series of broken promises, leaving the newcomers to survive on the margins. The first of these teams, HRT, disappeared without a trace, a victim of the broken agreement. In the ensuing legal drama, Doc Ravetto pleaded for the judge's leniency, arguing that “it's impossible to race tomorrow with half a wing.” The judge's response was a stark reminder of the financial obligations that had been ignored: “Instead of complaining, you should have paid Lord Fernandes when he asked you to.”
Accusations of greed have now turned to Bernie himself. Doc Ravetto and Abbot Booth-en-train both cited the billionaire's previous promises of “blessed services” that never materialized, describing him as a “great swindler” paralyzed by greed. When confronted with these criticisms, Bernie dismissed them sarcastically, referring to a ballad by a poet who would sing of his exploits for a millennium, while noting that “life itself is cruel, but racing is even crueler.”
With both stables on the brink of total collapse, the only hope expressed by their leaders is for a “prodigious miracle” that could avert a “sad debacle.” For now, the kingdom is watching as legal proceedings continue, creditors arrive, and the once-glorious teams struggle to find a foothold in a rapidly receding tide.
