"How about it? Are you tempted?"
"Ryosuke."
"Since you want to become the world's number one Forward, then joining the youth academy of an Elite Club is undoubtedly the faster choice, isn't it?"
Furancho stroked his chin, coaxing him.
Anri tried to persuade him, but Ego stopped her with a look.
To maintain Blue Lock's operations with ample sponsorship funds, Furancho's help was essential, and the demands he made were not too harsh. The choice was still in Kira Ryosuke's hands; if he was truly swayed, no one else could stop him.
A moment of silence fell in the control room.
Kira Ryosuke pondered for a moment.
Then he spoke: "I want to see it."
"A world-class Elite Club..."
The words slipped out.
The three had different expressions.
Anri's eyes held a hint of disappointment, while Furancho's eyes were wild, as if he saw a mountain of gold beckoning to him.
This time.
He absolutely could not let him go as he did with Itoshi Sae; he had to sign a major contract before letting him leave Japan.
A commercial contract was indispensable.
But Ego was different from them.
Behind those thick black-rimmed glasses, a faint gleam seemed to hide, as if he had seen through Kira Ryosuke's thoughts.
Sure enough.
Not long after their expressions changed, Kira Ryosuke spoke again, "Please arrange a meeting with the AC Milan scout for me, Mr. Furancho."
"I want to meet him."
"At the same time, I will not give up my goal of advancing to the world from Blue Lock."
"Ah, this..."
Furancho was flustered, "What is there to hesitate about, Ryosuke? Even though you are called Japan's treasure, this land is still too small for you, isn't it? Don't you want to go to a wider world?"
"Compete on the same stage as those true geniuses."
Seeing him stand up from the sofa, wanting to go and pester him.
Ego adjusted his glasses and interrupted, "Hey, hey, hey... Mr. Chairman, although I don't interfere with your contact with my players, we did have an agreement beforehand: you cannot force him."
Only then did Furancho realize he had lost his composure.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he sat back down, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, "Alright, anyway, after you meet the scout, I suppose your mind will change."
"It'll be tomorrow. I'll pick you up to meet the AC Milan scout."
"No problem?"
He looked at Ego when he said that last sentence.
Ego: "Of course."
After the arrangements were finalized.
Kira Ryosuke left first, returning to the players' lounge.
The Chairman also left, leaving Ego and Anri.
Anri then eagerly said, "Mr. Ego, why didn't you stop him? The Blue Lock project is proceeding smoothly, and Ryosuke is the most promising genius to reach the top. Once he leaves..."
"He won't, little Anri."
"In his eyes, I didn't see any wavering."
"But..."
"Well, he probably thinks that the unpolished gems at this stage haven't awakened yet, and his growth is too fast, which stifles the evolution of others, so he has other considerations."
"Is that how it is? Then it's not entirely incomprehensible."
As the two spoke.
Kira Ryosuke had already returned to the dormitory.
Late at night, no one was asleep, as if waiting for his return.
Ten pairs of bright eyes blinked in the darkness.
"Ah, it's Ryosuke, welcome back."
Bachira, leaning against the door, said groggily.
A cowlick stood on top of his head, and he was simply wearing shorts, standing up to turn on the light as if no one else was there.
"Hey, you, put on some clothes."
"Have a little shame!"
Raichi angrily slapped the clothes scattered on the floor onto Bachira's face, then turned to look at Kira Ryosuke, "So? Are you leaving? Blue Lock?"
Kira Ryosuke was taken aback.
His gaze swept over Isagi Yoichi and the others; they were all intently staring at him.
He shook his head with a wry smile and recounted what had happened today.
"What the hell, I'm really envious of you, you guy."
Raichi said, hands in his pockets, with a mix of envy and jealousy.
"That's great, I also want to get an invitation from an Elite Club. Then I could earn a lot of money, right?"
Naruhaya cupped his chin with both hands, full of longing.
"Will you play in the match against Team V?"
Isagi Yoichi asked the question everyone was concerned about.
After all, facing Team V, another undefeated team, going into the match with a crippled squad of 10 players would inevitably create pressure.
"Of course."
Thinking of the super genius in Team V, Nagi Seishiro, Kira Ryosuke was already eager to play. His flawless imitation would be incomplete without playing against geniuses; only then could he evolve to be stronger.
Everyone felt relieved upon hearing this.
Subconsciously, they had already acknowledged Kira Ryosuke's exceptional skill.
Team Z operated with him as its axis.
As long as this tyrant of the green field was present, Team Z would be invincible.
Kunigami clenched his fist, "Alright then, the next match will be my shining moment. Next time, let the scouts come and recruit me."
His words immediately earned a roll of Chigiri's eyes, "A rigid hero isn't going to be popular, you know."
The dormitory was instantly filled with laughter.
Time quickly came to the next day.
Kira Ryosuke woke up early and, led by Anri, arrived at the gates of Blue Lock.
The long-unseen morning sun emitted dazzling light.
He raised a hand to block it, and through his fingers, Furancho's figure appeared as he stepped out of a black car.
"We meet again, genius."
"Let's go, let's see a world beyond your comprehension."
Kira Ryosuke nodded.
The car sped along; there was no meeting at a cafe as imagined.
Instead, they drove to a more private, high-end football field.
Furancho babbled on about a lot of things, but Kira Ryosuke didn't listen to a single word, only learning from his speech that this expensive stadium was actually his private property.
"Sure enough, his belly is full of money-making schemes."
Kira Ryosuke pouted, muttering to himself.
Until the car stopped in a shady green pavilion, Furancho seemed to see someone extraordinary and excitedly rushed out of the car first.
He ran to a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, dressed in a suit.
He waved to Kira Ryosuke.
That person was probably the AC Milan scout.
Kira Ryosuke also walked over, but only when he got closer did he realize.
Behind the middle-aged man, there stood a blond teenager in a pristine white jersey, with an upright posture.