"Look at both sides of the road. These fans have been waiting here since early on, all to welcome you back to Liverpool!"
"They've already started calling you the 18-Year-Old King. That's the new nickname Liverpool FC gave you!"
A long motorcade drove into Liverpool. Once they entered the city, Leo Lin could see countless Liverpool fans welcoming him home.
Klopp and Leo Lin were sitting in the same car. As Klopp watched the Liverpool fans flash past on both sides, a new tactical idea suddenly began forming in his mind.
That spark of inspiration was gone in an instant. The moment Klopp arrived at the club, he rushed straight back to the coaching room, while Liverpool FC welcomed the Ballon d'Or winner home.
Leo Lin held up the Ballon d'Or trophy and showed it to everyone there. Countless fans surged toward him, all wanting a photo with the Ballon d'Or winner.
Security worked hard to maintain order, and Leo Lin was quickly escorted into the club.
From the moment he stepped through the gates until he reached the headquarters building, staff lined the path, handing him flowers, applauding, and calling his name.
Others set off confetti cannons along the roadside. Mike, the person in charge, stayed right beside Leo Lin the entire time, following him closely.
This was the respect Liverpool showed Leo Lin. When Leo Lin reached the entrance of the headquarters building, all his closest friends were waiting there.
Behind him, the entire road had already been covered in confetti. It had been laid down by the confetti cannons the staff kept setting off along the way, never once stopping.
Amid the cheers, Leo Lin placed the Ballon d'Or trophy in the very center of Liverpool's trophy room, in the most eye-catching spot.
Beside the Ballon d'Or were even two Champions League trophies.
All the players gathered in front of the Ballon d'Or for a group photo. Mike was delighted. For the club to have a Ballon d'Or winner was Liverpool's good fortune.
"We prepared a generous Ballon d'Or bonus for you in advance. The money will be transferred to your account very soon. At the same time, we'll begin negotiations on your new contract. We want to offer you a brand-new five-year deal!"
"We guarantee that, on top of your current salary, we'll give you another raise as a reward for helping Liverpool win so many trophies and for winning the Ballon d'Or!"
Mike had already started planning the new contract. He knew that after Leo Lin won the Ballon d'Or, his original contract no longer matched his value.
After discussing it with headquarters, Mike decided to make Leo Lin the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
That night, Liverpool held a celebration party. Since the Champions League knockout stage was about to begin, the club did not make too much of a spectacle out of it.
The players enjoyed a delicious feast in the cafeteria. After the dinner ended, they left one after another. Only Leo Lin remained in Mike's office, and Barnett rushed over at top speed.
Liverpool were showing real sincerity this time. They wanted to keep Leo Lin, and they did not want him poached by any other club.
The night before, when Mike discussed it with the chairman, they had both talked about Leo Lin's new weekly wage.
"When we signed Lin, we didn't spend a single penny on a transfer fee, so I think we saved an enormous amount of money."
"Chairman, other players may need to be limited by a reasonable wage structure, but Lin is now the most important player in the team!"
"He's young, he has the highest market value, and he's won the Ballon d'Or. We have to offer him a new contract good enough to keep him here and kill off every other club's interest in him!"
The Liverpool chairman agreed to Mike's request. He treated it as taking the transfer fee they would have paid another club and spreading it across Leo Lin's weekly wages instead. No matter how he looked at it, it was a deal they could not lose on.
"This time, I promise I absolutely won't disappoint you."
Mike pushed the contract forward. The title and name had already been printed on it in gold foil, making it clear he was confident this first offer would be enough to secure Leo Lin.
"Weekly wage: £450,000!"
After seeing that clause, Leo Lin skipped straight past all the remaining terms.
Beside him, Barnett handed over a pen at lightning speed, and Leo Lin signed his name just as quickly.
A new contract worth £1.8 million a month would keep Leo Lin at the club until 2023.
The highest wage in the Premier League right now.
The previous highest earner had been Manchester United's Sánchez. After Manchester United bought Sánchez from Arsenal, they gave him a weekly wage of £350,000. But now, that record had been broken by Leo Lin.
Sánchez was already a highly established star in the Premier League, which was why Manchester United dared to give him that kind of weekly wage. But Liverpool had clearly shown tremendous courage.
Looking at the new contract in front of him, Leo Lin could not stop himself from smiling.
Just then, the notification sound in his mind rang out again.
[Fourth reminder to the Host: the Ballon d'Or system reward has already been issued!]
[The points required for the Host's next top-tier special skill have been automatically filled. The Host may draw one top-tier skill!]
The Ballon d'Or reward had arrived as well. Leo Lin began the draw without the slightest hesitation.
His previous top-tier skill had been Maradona, which had raised his abilities by a huge margin. Who would this skill be this time? Leo Lin was full of anticipation.
Once again, the special scene construction that only appeared for top-tier skills unfolded. Leo Lin felt as if he had entered an entirely new world, and the commentator's urgent voice poured into his ears.
"He's everywhere!"
"He's storming into the penalty area!"
"He's attacking the header!"
"No one can stop him…"