The Den didn't look like a place where dreams were sold.
It looked like a place where they were tested.
Ethan arrived early, hood up, hands in pockets, following Jordan Graham through the heavy glass doors. The walls were lined with old photos—muddy kits, bruised faces, promotion celebrations that looked more like relief than joy.
No glamour. No shine.
Just proof.
"This isn't a sales pitch club," Jordan said quietly as they walked. "They won't convince you. They'll challenge you."
Ethan nodded. He already felt it.
They were led into a small meeting room. No long table. No big screen. Just chairs, a whiteboard, and a window that looked out over the pitch.
The Millwall manager walked in a minute later.
He didn't smile.
"Ethan," he said, offering a firm handshake. "Sit."
Straight to business.
"I'll be honest," the manager said, leaning back. "We don't buy projects. We buy players who can survive pressure."
Ethan met his gaze. "That's fair."
The manager nodded once. "We've watched every minute since January. You don't hide. You don't waste movement. You make grown men work."
The system reacted.
Evaluation Tone: Positive
Trust Threshold: Near
"You won't start every week," the manager continued. "Not straight away. Championship's unforgiving. But you'll play. And if you earn it, you'll stay."
Ethan appreciated the clarity.
Jordan slid a document across the table.
Transfer fee: £750,000
Contract length: 4 years
Base wage: £6,000 per week
Appearance bonus: £1,000 per start
Survival bonus: £50,000
Ethan read it carefully.
Six thousand a week.
Not fantasy money.
Real money.
Enough to change things.
The system updated silently.
Financial Commitment: High
Career Tier Shift: Pending
"This isn't about the money," the manager said, watching him. "It's about whether you want to be uncomfortable."
Ethan looked up. "I do."
The manager studied him for a long second.
"Good," he said. "Because The Den doesn't care about potential."
He stood. "If you come, you work. If you don't, we move on."
No pressure.
All pressure.
They left the room ten minutes later.
Outside, Ethan exhaled for what felt like the first time.
"Well?" Jordan asked.
"They didn't lie," Ethan said. "I respect that."
Jordan nodded. "So does your old manager."
Ethan paused. "He knows?"
"Already spoke," Jordan replied. "He said if you go, go ready."
That evening, Ethan went home again.
His dad was waiting.
"They serious?" he asked.
"Yeah," Ethan said. "Very."
"And the money?"
Ethan told him.
His dad shook his head slowly. "Mad."
Then he looked up. "You scared?"
Ethan thought about it.
"No," he said. "But I will be."
His dad smiled faintly. "That's usually the right move."
Later that night, Ethan lay in bed, phone resting on his chest.
The system activated without warning.
CAREER PROGRESSION INTERFACE: ACTIVE
Status Change Detected
Decision Authority: Player-Controlled
A new prompt appeared.
Transfer Acceptance: Awaiting Confirmation
He didn't press anything yet.
Instead, he opened another message.
From Jordan.
"Millwall want an answer by morning."
Ethan closed his eyes.
He thought about Leyton Orient. The trust. The patience. The grind.
Then he thought about The Den. The noise. The edge. The test.
This wasn't about comfort.
It was about growth.
He opened the system again.
Accept Transfer: CONFIRM
He pressed it.
The screen dimmed.
Transfer Approved
New Club: Millwall FC
League: Championship
Start Date: Immediate
The system added one final line.
Competitive Elevation Achieved
Development Template: Pending Sync
Ethan sat up, heart pounding—not from fear, but from certainty.
By morning, it would be official.
By next week, everything would be different.
And for the first time, the climb wasn't theoretical.
It had an address.
END OF CHAPTER 21
Author's Comment
The move is done.
New level. New pressure. New eyes.
Next up: first training session at Millwall — and the reality of the Championship.
Let me know what you're most excited to see next:
• First appearance at The Den
• Dressing room dynamics
• System template activation
• Off-pitch consequences
We're just getting started.