The office of Cha Bum-kun Football Academy.
Two of the academy's key figures were sitting with coffee in hand.
Chief coach of the S-Class, Lee Sang-woon, and Korea's football legend, Director Cha Bum-kun.
Lee Sang-woon opened the conversation.
"What do you think, sir?"
"Well... So you're debating whether or not to include this kid in the squad?"
"Yes, that's right."
Cha Bum-kun's eyes turned to Ho-young's evaluation report.
It contained basic stats like goals, assists, passing accuracy, and work rate from recent friendlies and training sessions.
"Impressive."
Even within the S-Class, his stats stood out.
But that alone didn't mean Ho-young was essential to the team.
"With only a week left before the tournament, it's hard to just throw him into the squad... but based on his skills, it might be an unnecessary worry."
"You never know until you see it yourself. Stats alone don't tell the full story."
Since the tournament was being held in Korea, Cha Bum-kun was showing more interest than usual.
It was also a chance to assess the academy's youth development results.
"Well then, let's watch it. Play the footage."
"Yes, sir. Starting now."
Nod.
As Cha Bum-kun leaned forward, the LCD monitor started playing a football match.
"This was from this morning, right?"
"Yes."
It was none other than the FC Shoot Dori vs São Paulo FC match.
Footage provided by MBS.
As a commentator for MBS, Cha Bum-kun had access to the unreleased recording.
"Heh."
Wrinkles formed at the corner of Cha Bum-kun's eyes as he watched.
"Reminds me of Du-ri when he was young."
"Sorry, sir?"
"He runs like a maniac."
To Cha Bum-kun, Ho-young looked just like his son Cha Du-ri in his youth.
No, based on this one match alone, perhaps even more impressive.
"He's young, but his play is cunning. Looks like he could become a fun player to watch."
"So, your opinion is...?"
"I need to see him in person. I've been meaning to for a while, but things got too busy. When's his class?"
"Tomorrow at 2:30. Should we move it up?"
"Then contact his parents in the morning. The kid might have other plans too."
The next morning.
As soon as school ended, Ho-young arrived at the academy with Kim Hee-sun and couldn't believe his eyes.
"You must be Ho-young?"
"Yes... Hello! I'm Ho-young!"
Cha Bum-kun.
Seeing the legend of Korean football right before him, it would be strange not to be shocked.
And the man's talent, as seen by the system, was in a league of its own.
'Since he's a retired legend, the acquisition conditions are insanely hard... I'll think about that later.'
There was no time to worry about that now.
Ruffle ruffle.
Cha Bum-kun gently patted Ho-young's head.
"You know who I am?"
"You're the Brown Bomber!!"
"Haha!"
What kind of old soul is this kid?
That was the amused expression on Cha Bum-kun's face.
"You're an interesting one. Madam, let's step inside to talk."
Inside the office, the three sat down for a face-to-face conversation.
Cha Bum-kun's point was simple.
"So, you're saying that depending on the results of a test, you'll decide whether or not to include Ho-young in the tournament?"
"Yes. With your permission, of course. And as for Ho-young... ha, judging from his face, I think he's already agreed."
"Of course I have!"
"And you, ma'am...?"
"If it's what's best for Ho-young, then of course I agree. What parent wouldn't want the best for their child?"
And just like that, Ho-young got his chance to compete in the World Youth Tournament.
All that was left was the test.
'I can do this!'
Ho-young tied his laces tightly.
"So, what kind of test is it?"
"Well..."
Ho-young joined the U-13 team's scheduled training at 1:15 p.m.
'Oh. It's my first time seeing the older kids.'
Having only played with lower elementary students until now, the difference was stark.
'Is that guy a giant or something...?'
One of the kids was over 170 cm tall.
Ho-young kept a close eye on him.
His name was Suk Hyung-jun.
'His talent is insane.'
At 130 cm, Ho-young could have been intimidated. But instead, his heart raced with excitement.
The reason was clear. That talent was too tempting.
But this time, it was an 11-a-side full-pitch match.
'Not going to be easy.'
Tweet!
The team training began.
Ho-young's team was assigned a 4-4-2 formation featuring a breakthrough-target man duo up front.
His role was the "timing runner" among the strikers.
More specifically, a poacher.
Players like Filippo Inzaghi, Ronaldo Nazário, and Ruud van Nistelrooy were typical examples of poachers.
In other words, a pure goal-scorer whose sole focus was finding the net.
Naturally, it was a position that drew the most marking from defenders.
But Ho-young couldn't even get marked, let alone touch the ball.
"Ah! Pass! Just pass me the ball!"
His own teammates weren't giving him the ball...
Even once would've been nice, but they acted as if he were invisible.
'So these elementary punks are pulling rank, huh? Fine. If that's how it's going to be...'
Forgetting that he himself was in elementary school, Ho-young devised a plan.
If they wouldn't pass to him, he'd go get the ball himself.
From that moment, Ho-young began running all over the pitch like a dog on a mission.
"Hey! Here!!"
Forget age. Forget hierarchy. He shouted and gave orders without hesitation, throwing around casual speech to kids he just met.
The mood on the field instantly turned cold.
But on the bench, Lee Sang-woon couldn't stop grinning.
"Haha. I shouldn't be laughing, but..."
Cha Bum-kun, standing with his arms crossed, laughed even more heartily.
"Hohoho. That kid's got some fire. He's doing well."
"Sir?"
"If your teammates don't trust you, you've got no choice but to show them your skills. That's what I did in Germany."
Decades ago, Cha Bum-kun had silenced racial discrimination in Germany through his performance on the pitch.
"Remember what Henry said? 'You're only truly happy in football when you have the ball. Even though there's a risk of losing it, that's what football is.' Look at that kid. He's living it out."
At that very moment, Ho-young finally managed to get the ball.
Though, not by normal means.
"My ball!"
"Hey! That's mine!"
A pass intended for central midfielder Park Wan-gyu was intercepted by Ho-young, who had dropped deep into the midfield.
Thud.
In the end, Ho-young won the tussle against his own teammate and took the ball.
'Easy peasy.'
Park Wan-gyu shouted in frustration.
"Hey, what's your deal?! Why are you intercepting your own teammate's pass?!"
"Nice pass, bro!!"
Ignoring him completely, Ho-young drove the ball forward.
If they wouldn't acknowledge him as a teammate, he'd force them to through performance.
And that was the moment Ho-young lost it.
I'm running! I'm breaking through! Get out of my way!
He didn't say it aloud, but his movement with the ball screamed it.
A true poacher who lived for goals. A 'simple-minded goal hunter' in every sense.
Using Chaminator's Run and Drive, he slipped past the defensive midfielder and broke into the penalty area.
'How is he that fast?!'
Every defender had the same thought.
They'd never seen someone their age move like that.
It was like watching a wild Spanish bull charging at a red flag.
"Mark him!"
The opposing captain called for a group defense.
Immediately, defenders closed in around Ho-young.
But then.
Tap.
Unexpectedly, Ho-young chose to pass instead of dribbling through.
It wasn't a typical ground pass. He chipped it, gently lifting it over the defenders.
"Wha—?"
The ball sailed in an arc over the defenders' heads.
It dropped into open space inside the penalty box.
In that wide open space was his teammate, ace player Suk Hyung-jun.
"Header!"
This was Ho-young's plan.
'This is the kind of hospitality football I learned in the military!'
Though the lob pass was slow and imprecise, thanks to Ho-young's decoy run, Suk Hyung-jun was completely unmarked.
And he was only twelve years old but already 170 cm tall.
If he missed after being served like this, he had no business playing football.
Thud.
"Nice pass!"
With a firm header, Seok Hyung-jun buried the ball into the net and gave Ho-young a thumbs-up.
With that assist, Ho-young had proven his value to the team.
Cha Bum-kun watched it all unfold with a smile.
"Hey, Sang-woon. Look at that cunning little rascal. Haha."
There didn't seem to be any need to worry about team chemistry.
But Ho-young's true motive was something else entirely.
'Nice. That's one condition met.'
Ho-young took another look at Suk Hyung-jun's talent.
[Suk Hyung-jun]
[Possessed Talents: Football Prodigy (C+), Fully Open Growth Plates (B+), Confident Heading (B-)]
(You can obtain one talent by meeting the required condition.) (Condition 1: Make 15 assists in official or unofficial matches.) (Condition 2: Play over 250 minutes together in official matches.)
No one knew.
That the reason Ho-young gave up a goal and made an assist was purely out of personal ambition.
'This life, I'm hitting at least 180 cm!'
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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