Chapter 10

"You've completed your first official game and earned 10,000 Glory Tokens." 

"You scored your first official goal and earned another 10,000 Glory Tokens." 

"By completing your first career match and scoring twice, you've gained 30,000 Glory Tokens." 

"You scored a brace in your debut match, and as a reward, you've earned a Glory ability card. Please redeem it at the mall." 

... 

As the referee blew the final whistle, marking the end of the game, Su Dong was met with a cascade of notifications from the system. 

Su Dong stood momentarily stunned by the flood of rewards. 

Had he really been awarded so many Glory Tokens all at once? 

And there was even a Glory ability card! 

This was no small reward; it was a treasure trove of achievements. 

In hindsight, it made perfect sense. It was his debut in an official match, and not only did he score, but he netted two goals—an achievement that would be hard for anyone to believe, even for himself. 

Even now, a sense of disbelief lingered in his mind. 

"Great job, Su!" 

"Those goals were unreal!" 

"The second half was completely under your control. Both strikes were spectacular." 

"You're truly our God of War out there!" 

In football, respect is earned through performance on the pitch. Su Dong's impressive display not only helped Clube Atlético de Portugal overcome a formidable opponent but also earned him admiration from his teammates. His two goals were nothing short of brilliant, and everyone recognized that. 

Matello, his coach and mentor, strode over, grinning broadly. He grabbed Su Dong's shoulder firmly, walking alongside him. 

Over the past few weeks, Matello had invested extra time in Su Dong's development, providing him with daily specialized training. While it was part of his job, it had been rewarding for him to witness Su Dong's progress, little by little. 

But even Matello, in his most optimistic moments, wouldn't have predicted such a dazzling debut performance. 

A brace in his very first game? 

To score twice in Segunda Liga B was no small feat. How many players could boast of such an achievement over an entire season, let alone in their debut? 

"As long as you keep this momentum going, we won't be able to hold onto you for long," Matello said, his voice a mix of pride and bittersweet resignation. 

This was the harsh reality for smaller clubs in professional football. 

When a talent like Su Dong emerges, they simply don't have the resources or stature to keep him. No matter how hard they might try, a bigger club will eventually come calling, and they'll lose him. 

That's the nature of their survival. 

"Don't overthink it, Su. Keep pushing, keep working hard, and aim higher!" Matello added, brushing off the melancholy and focusing on encouraging his young prodigy. 

... 

... 

In the stands, over a thousand fans of Clube Atlético de Portugal rose to their feet as the players walked off the field. They offered warm applause, especially directed toward Su Dong, who was walking alongside Matello. 

At just sixteen years old, Su Dong had scored twice in his debut. Could there have been a more impressive start to his career? 

Most of the fans didn't know him by name yet, but that didn't seem to matter. They chanted his jersey number—36—loudly, and as Su Dong and Matello approached the stands, the applause reached a fever pitch. It was the crowd's way of showing their appreciation and approval of this young talent. 

Matello had been named Man of the Match, which came as no surprise. However, it was Su Dong who had been the revelation in the second half. His two goals had helped Clube Atlético de Portugal secure victory over a tough Louletano side. 

What made the moment even more exhilarating was the manner in which Su Dong had scored. His two goals weren't just clinical finishes; they had the flair and power reminiscent of the legendary Batigol—Gabriel Batistuta. 

As they passed by the stands, Matello stopped and pulled Su Dong close. Together, they clapped vigorously, expressing their gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support. After acknowledging the crowd, both players made their way into the players' tunnel, still basking in the glow of the moment. 

The fans continued their applause as Su Dong disappeared from view, their cheers even louder now, as if they knew they had just witnessed the birth of a star. 

... 

Among the fans sat Gorba, the head coach of the youth team, flanked by several members of the club's top management. Throughout the first half, when the team had been struggling, Gorba's expression had been grim. 

However, the second half had brought a complete turnaround, largely thanks to Su Dong's two-goal display. By the time the final whistle blew, Gorba's face was practically glowing, his mood as bright as a sunflower in full bloom. 

The team had emerged victorious, and it was largely down to Gorba's decision to promote Su Dong to the first team—a decision that had led directly to those two crucial goals. It was, without question, a feather in his cap. 

As he listened to the fans chanting Su Dong's jersey number, Gorba's excitement grew. He leaned over to the club president, José Manuel Gorjão Henriques, who was seated beside him. "This kid is progressing so quickly," Gorba said with obvious pride. 

"If I remember correctly, he was introduced to us by someone outside the club, wasn't he?" the president asked. 

Gorba nodded. "Yes, a rather unorthodox Chinese agent arranged his trial here. The agent paid us a sum of money to give Su Dong two months of training. Honestly, at first, we didn't pay much attention to him. His early performances were underwhelming, and there was even a period when he didn't report to the team for a month." 

Gorba paused, a smile spreading across his face as he glanced at the president. "But in recent evaluations, it's clear he's made incredible progress. It might be that his earlier training wasn't up to standard, but since joining the team, his development has been leaps and bounds. Now, I believe he has the potential to be a regular starter." 

"I acted quickly and renewed his contract as soon as I noticed his growth. Since he's only sixteen, we could only sign him to a youth training contract, but after today's match, I'm convinced we've found a true gem. He's only going to get better from here." 

The president nodded thoughtfully, catching on to Gorba's intent. "Are you thinking of recommending him?" 

As a Lisbon-based club, Clube Atlético de Portugal didn't have close connections with giants like Benfica or Sporting Lisbon, due to the stark difference in their financial capabilities. However, Atlético had a long-standing cooperative relationship with Belenenses, another Lisbon club that operated on a more modest scale. The partnership had always been mutually beneficial, with Atlético often acting as a feeder club for Belenenses. When Atlético unearthed talented players, they would pass them on to Belenenses for further development or a potential transfer, which often meant a financial boost for Atlético. 

Su Dong's stunning performance—scoring a brace in his first senior match—had certainly caught the attention of Atlético's leadership. His potential was evident, and Gorba was already eyeing the next step in his career path, knowing that the agreement with Belenenses could be the perfect opportunity for the club and for Su Dong. 

"Let's put him on Belenenses' radar," the sporting director suggested. "He's made a statement with his debut, and if he continues to perform, they'll want to take a closer look." 

President Henriques, ever focused on the club's finances, stroked his chin as he considered the suggestion. "We need to give him more opportunities to shine. If he maintains this level of performance, Belenenses will be interested. And if they like what they see, we could turn it into a profitable transfer." 

The scouting arrangement between Atlético and Belenenses was clear: once a player demonstrated promise, Belenenses would send their scouts to monitor the player's progress closely. If the player continued to deliver consistent, impressive performances, Belenenses could then make a formal offer. 

"Do you think we could get €30,000 for him?" Gorba asked, cautiously optimistic. In the second division of Portuguese football, that was a reasonable sum for a young talent. 

The sporting director smiled knowingly. "With a few more performances like today, I think we could push it closer to €50,000. Su Dong's potential is clear. If he stays consistent, Belenenses will see the value in investing in him. And who knows? Maybe someday, he could make an even bigger move." 

Gorba's eyes lit up at the thought. A €50,000 transfer would be a substantial boost for Clube Atlético de Portugal, a club that thrived on discovering and selling promising players. "Let's keep him in the first team and continue to support his development. If he keeps scoring like this, we'll have a valuable asset on our hands." 

With a decisive nod, President Henriques agreed. "Let's proceed with that plan. Keep Su Dong as a regular starter, and we'll see just how high we can raise his value." 

... 

Su Dong had no idea that, while he was receiving congratulations in the locker room, Gorba and the management were in the stands, already discussing how best to sell him for a good price. 

Inside the dressing room, Su Dong was greeted with pats on the back and words of praise from his teammates. Defeating Louletano had earned Clube Atlético de Portugal their first three points of the season—a crucial step forward. 

While no one on the team harbored any serious hopes of promotion, they all understood the importance of avoiding relegation. Dropping down a division would mean playing against amateur teams, which not only lacked the prestige but also the challenge necessary for player development. 

Even head coach Antonio Pereira, who wasn't known for handing out praise easily, made a point to commend Su Dong. "That was a great performance," he said with a nod of approval. "You've shown your potential today. Keep it up, and I'll make sure you get more opportunities and playing time." 

Su Dong felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. The recognition, the encouragement—it was all he could hope for after such a demanding game. He thanked his coach and teammates before retreating to his locker. 

As the room gradually cleared out, Su Dong sat down heavily on the bench in front of his cabinet and exhaled deeply. 

The game was over. 

It had only been 45 minutes, but it had been intense. 

This was his first experience playing in a senior team match. Everything about it felt different from the youth team games he was used to. The pressure of competition, the physical battles, the tactical discipline—everything weighed heavily on him, constantly sapping his energy. 

It was the kind of intensity that couldn't be replicated in training, no matter how hard he pushed himself during drills. You could only truly understand it by stepping onto the pitch in a real game, facing opponents who were determined to stop you at all costs. 

Su Dong took a moment to reflect. 

I'm not sure I have the stamina yet to handle a full 90 minutes at this level, he thought to himself. 

Youth matches, especially at his age, typically lasted around 60 minutes, split into two 30-minute halves. The pace, the physicality, the execution of tactics—none of it compared to the demands of a senior match. It was a completely different level. 

What concerned him even more was his physical condition. While Su Dong's stamina had increased to 57 in the Path to Glory System, his strength lagged behind at just 41. 

In practical terms, this meant his endurance was barely up to the standards of a semi-professional team, and his ability to win physical duels—especially against taller and stronger defenders—was far below par. 

If I had to go up against these powerful central defenders for a full 90 minutes, they'd run me into the ground, he admitted to himself. The gap in strength was evident, and he knew he needed to address it quickly. 

The physical demands of playing at the senior level were immense, and if Su Dong wanted to succeed, he needed to become stronger. 

With that in mind, he decided to focus on his development. 

He entered the Path to Glory System and navigated to his personal attribute panel. 

The match had earned him over two thousand Glory Tokens, but that wasn't the highlight. 

At the end of the game, the system had rewarded him with a massive bonus of 50,000 Glory Tokens in one go. 

Without hesitation, Su Dong converted the 50,000 Glory Tokens into 100 Glory potential points and distributed them across his physical attributes. 

First, he maxed out the Glory potential for both speed and acceleration, increasing them to 99. Then, he poured additional points into stamina, also raising it to 99. Finally, the remaining 15 Glory potential points were allocated to his strength, pushing it up to 65. 

Still, it wasn't enough. Su Dong felt there was more work to be done, so he converted the rest of his Glory Tokens into an additional 34 Glory potential points and increased his strength attribute to 99. 

With that, all four of his physical attributes—speed, acceleration, stamina, and strength—were maxed out in terms of potential. 

In addition to the physical improvements, Su Dong had previously focused on developing his technical attributes, pouring Glory potential points into areas like dribbling, ball control, and finishing. Those attributes had also reached their potential limits. 

Now, Su Dong found himself with two sets of fully maxed-out potential—both physical and technical. 

The next step was clear: he needed to bring his current attributes up to their full Glory potential. While this process would take time, he felt confident that it was achievable. 

After months of using the Path to Glory System, Su Dong had begun to understand how it worked. The so-called "potential" was essentially a player's talent ceiling. 

In the past, Su Dong had reached the limits of his natural talent quickly. No matter how hard he trained, no matter how dedicated he was, his growth had plateaued. No amount of effort seemed to yield further improvement. 

But the Path to Glory System had changed all that. It allowed him to expand his potential, enhancing his natural talents and giving him room to grow. Once his potential was increased, hard work and practice would translate into actual progress on the pitch. 

He had noticed, however, that the rate of improvement slowed as he moved from amateur to semi-professional levels. He suspected that as he climbed higher, the gains would continue to slow. But that didn't bother him. He was still progressing, and it was far better than the stagnation he had experienced before. 

Now, with his increased potential, Su Dong knew that, with time and effort, he could reach heights that were previously unimaginable. 

... 

... 

"Ha, looks like you've got it in you, kid!" 

As Su Dong finished showering, changed into fresh clothes, and stepped out of the locker room with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder, he was greeted by José Semedo, who rushed over and playfully grabbed him by the neck, pretending to be both envious and impressed. His exaggerated grimace looked like someone with a toothache. 

"You actually bagged a brace—good job, man!" 

Su Dong grinned widely, allowing Semedo to hoop him in a headlock. He didn't mind the rough play—it was all in good fun. 

"Not bad at all," Cristiano chimed in, nodding with mock seriousness. "You didn't embarrass me out there." 

Su Dong rolled his eyes, nearly tempted to kick Cristiano for his pretentious act, but Cristiano had anticipated it. He had already distanced himself, keeping well out of range. 

By now, the fans had mostly cleared out of the stadium, and the three boys were left to mess around outside without drawing much attention. They spent a few minutes joking and pushing each other, then began walking away from the stadium grounds. 

"So, where to next?" Semedo asked, falling in step with Su Dong. 

Their youth team had a match coming up soon, but not today. The afternoon was theirs, and they had plenty of time to relax before heading back. 

"Dinner, obviously," Su Dong replied, naturally assuming the next move. "Aren't you inviting me out to eat?" 

Semedo blinked, looking genuinely confused. "When did I ever say I'd treat you to dinner?" 

"Just before the game, didn't you shout that if I scored, you'd take me to Indentonte for dinner? You said you'd pay!" Su Dong said, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice as he reminded Semedo. 

Cristiano and Semedo exchanged looks before bursting into laughter. Clearly, Su Dong had misunderstood something. 

"Please, Su, don't you know?" Cristiano shook his head, trying to stifle his laughter. "Indentonte's not the place you go for food." 

Su Dong was still puzzled. "Isn't Romário's seafood restaurant around there?" 

Semedo nodded, grinning. "Yeah, the restaurant's there, but that's not what the place is known for. Sure, there are a lot of restaurants—immigrants from Asia, Africa, and the Americas have set up all kinds of places. But the area is mostly famous for... other things." 

Seeing that Su Dong still didn't get it, Cristiano rolled his eyes and nudged Semedo. "Come on, tell him already." 

Barely able to hold back his laughter, Semedo finally spilled the truth. "Indentonte is Lisbon's most famous red-light district, man. You know what a red-light district is, right?" 

Su Dong's face flushed red in an instant. He wasn't clueless—he understood perfectly well what Semedo was talking about. 

It all made sense now: no wonder Matello hadn't mentioned it! 

How embarrassing! 

Feeling like he'd been played, Su Dong lunged at Semedo, aiming a playful kick at his backside. Semedo yelped in surprise and took off running, laughing and pleading for mercy as Su Dong chased him. 

Despite all the joking, none of them could actually afford a meal at Romário's—or anywhere else in the area for that matter. 

Semedo, for one, was scraping by on a modest monthly subsidy of around 200 euros from Sporting Lisbon, most of which he had to send back home to help support his family. Coming from a large family with many siblings, every bit of money he earned was precious. 

Cristiano's situation wasn't much better. He received a larger subsidy, with a minimum of 300 euros a month, but none of it went directly to him. His club transferred the money straight to his mother, and she, in turn, gave Cristiano just 50 euros a month for pocket money. He certainly wasn't living the high life either. 

In truth, all three of them were broke. Going to Hey—which they often jokingly referred to when talking about fancy restaurants—was completely out of the question. Even treating themselves to another seafood dinner would stretch their limited budgets. 

After some back-and-forth discussion, the trio finally reached a conclusion about where to eat… 

... 

"I've always said Su's a good guy." 

At the edge of the indoor court in Edward VII Park, José Semedo praised Su Dong while devouring the meal Su had bought for them. Su Dong, pretending to step outside for a moment, had discreetly exchanged his Glory Tokens in the system's mall to purchase the food. 

Cristiano, sitting nearby with a piece of bread in one hand and a can of energy drink in the other, nodded in agreement as he munched away. He had been spending nearly every day with Su Dong recently, and to his delight, Su had taken it upon himself to provide for all three meals. 

The food was simple, mostly takeaways, but Su Dong somehow managed to mix things up with every meal, introducing new flavors and combinations that left Cristiano never tiring of the choices. 

"Where do you even find takeaways this good?" Cristiano would often ask, only for Su Dong to wave him off with a grin, replying, "Don't worry about it. Just come to me when you're hungry. No need to buy it yourself." 

Without fail, Su Dong would run off alone to "buy" the food, never letting Cristiano or Semedo follow him. It left Cristiano both grateful and slightly guilty. Each time Su Dong treated them, Cristiano felt a little embarrassed—he wasn't used to relying on others for food. 

As the saying goes, "When you eat someone else's food, you owe them." That's how Cristiano felt, and in return, he made sure to train with Su Dong whenever he had the chance, doing his best to help his friend improve on the pitch. 

"To be honest, you're improving really fast," Cristiano remarked between bites. It wasn't often that he handed out compliments, but Su Dong had earned it. 

When Cristiano first met Su Dong, he saw him as little more than an amateur player, someone who was determined but rough around the edges. Yet in just a short time, Su Dong had improved dramatically, enough to impress even someone as ambitious as Cristiano. 

At this point, Cristiano felt that Su Dong had the potential to compete in the first team of Clube Atlético de Portugal. He could even hold his own in Sporting Lisbon's youth camp, perhaps even in their U16 squad, and possibly with the older age groups as well. 

"You've taught me well," Su Dong responded with a grin, throwing in a bit of flattery. 

Cristiano, never one to shy away from praise, accepted it with a calm nod. "Of course." 

"And I really should thank Mr. Pontes and Mr. Naray," Su Dong added, his tone sincere. "Their training methods have been a huge help, even though I've never met them in person." 

He was referring to two youth training experts whose physical conditioning routines had significantly improved his game. Some of their drills were simple enough to be done in his dorm room without needing to hit the gym, making them both practical and safe, especially when practicing alone. 

Pontes' strength and endurance routines, in particular, had become an essential part of Su Dong's training, allowing him to increase his stamina and physicality in a way that complemented his development on the field. 

"Don't worry," Cristiano said with a grin, giving Su Dong a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I'll introduce you to them sometime. You can thank them in person when we meet." 

Su Dong smiled in response, feeling grateful not just for the training tips but also for the friendship and mentorship he had found in Cristiano and Semedo. They might tease him, but their support was invaluable as he continued to navigate his journey in football. 

... 

After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them found themselves with little else to do. 

In truth, whether you were a professional player or still climbing the youth ranks, life could be quite monotonous if you were determined to stay on the straight and narrow. 

For senior team players, the monotony became even more pronounced. There were strict rules to follow: no eating just anything, meals had to be carefully planned to ensure balanced nutrition. Personal cravings were often set aside in favor of healthier options—sometimes forcing them to eat foods they disliked. Cigarettes and alcohol? Absolutely out of the question for any player with self-discipline. 

And then there was the issue of privacy, or rather, the lack of it. 

Even players like José Semedo, who wasn't exactly a top star in Sporting Lisbon's youth setup, had to deal with a constant buzz of attention from women, fans, and reporters. But the truth was, none of that attention was genuine. Everyone had an agenda. 

Cristiano had been cautioning Semedo about this for some time. He knew from his own experiences that it was easy to get swept up in the allure of that lifestyle, but he also knew that it could quickly spiral out of control. Semedo understood this too, but he couldn't deny the temptation. Life as a professional footballer, if you followed the rules to the letter, could sometimes feel like a form of asceticism—rigid, demanding, and joyless. 

Rather than head back to their dorms and stare at the walls, they decided to stay at Edward VII Park for a while longer, squeezing in an impromptu training session. There was something about the park's open space and the quiet atmosphere of Lisbon in the late afternoon that made it an ideal spot for extra practice. 

Not only did Cristiano stick around to train with Su Dong, but José Semedo, who usually wasn't one to stay back, decided to join in as well. 

Su Dong had just played a full half in his debut match earlier that day, and while it had been exhausting, the rush of adrenaline from the game—and perhaps the energy drink he'd downed—gave him a second wind. By the time they had walked from the stadium to Edward VII Park and taken a short rest, his energy had almost fully returned. 

The trio threw themselves into their drills, working on everything from passing and ball control to positioning and tactical movement. The atmosphere was casual but focused, each of them pushing the other to improve. 

They practiced together in the park until well after nine o'clock in the evening, only calling it quits when the sky had turned dark, and they could barely see the ball anymore. Reluctantly, they said their goodbyes and headed home, each of them satisfied with the day's work. 

For Su Dong, it wasn't just the training that mattered. It was the camaraderie, the support, and the shared determination to improve, even in the face of the rigid and sometimes lonely life of a professional footballer. 

... 

Back at Don José's apartment, Cristiano took the first shower, then immediately called his family back in Madeira. 

He made it a point to call home every day, especially lately, as there had been a series of issues that had him worried. He anxiously awaited updates, fearing that any delay in communication might mean things had taken a turn for the worse. 

As José Semedo stepped into the room after his own shower, Cristiano was finishing up his call. 

"Don't worry, sis. I'll head to the mall soon and send over a game console. You won't be bored." 

After hanging up, Cristiano immediately dialed Lionel Pontes. Over the last few weeks, the two had been in constant contact, largely because of Su Dong. 

As soon as Pontes picked up, Cristiano eagerly launched into the details of the afternoon match. 

"What? He scored a brace?" Pontes sounded genuinely shocked over the phone. 

Given that it was just a Segunda Liga B match, there was no television coverage, and it wasn't likely to make the headlines in the next day's papers either. Apart from the local fans, no one really paid attention to these games. At best, a small blurb might be published with the final scores and a basic match summary. 

So Pontes had heard nothing of the game until now, and Su Dong's performance caught him off guard. 

"Yes, and honestly, it was unexpected," Cristiano admitted with a smile. 

Pontes hummed thoughtfully on the other end. "It sounds like he's progressing quickly. His talent must be quite something." 

Of course, neither Pontes nor anyone else knew about Su Dong's system. They simply believed that Su Dong had always had the talent, but his poor early training had hindered him. Now that he was receiving proper coaching, it seemed his natural ability was finally shining through, even though he was a bit older than most players developing at this rate. 

"If he had started this kind of training three or four years earlier, he might have been on par with you and Ricardo," Pontes said, a tinge of regret in his voice. 

The mention of Ricardo referred to Ricardo Quaresma, another player Pontes had mentored and one of Portugal's rising stars. Su Dong, though talented, hadn't come up through the same system and was late to the proper youth development process. 

Cristiano, however, didn't mind the comparison. Su Dong was his closest friend, and no amount of praise for him would ever bother Cristiano. 

Quaresma, on the other hand, was different. To Cristiano, Quaresma was a rival, someone he was constantly competing against. 

"Leonel, I've been thinking," Cristiano said after a pause. "Is there any way we could recommend Su Dong to Sporting? With the way he's been performing and how quickly he's improving, I don't think Atlético Portugal will be able to hold onto him much longer. He's bound to catch the eye of teams in higher leagues soon." 

As a friend, Cristiano wanted nothing more than to see Su Dong come to Lisbon and compete at a higher level. 

"It's complicated, Cristiano," Pontes replied, his tone heavy with the realities of football politics. "You know how it is. We don't have any direct ties with Clube Atlético de Portugal, and even more importantly, that club has a strong relationship with Belenenses. For years, they've been sending most of their standout players to Belenenses. Only one player has ever moved directly to Benfica from there." 

Cristiano felt a wave of disappointment. He had known about the satellite club agreements, but it didn't make it any easier to swallow. 

There was a pang of regret in his chest. Why couldn't Su Dong have been part of Sporting Lisbon's own satellite system? If he were, moving him directly to Sporting would have been much simpler. But now, with Su Dong tied to Clube Atlético de Portugal, things were far more complicated. 

The ideal scenario would be that neither Belenenses nor Benfica took an interest in Su Dong, leaving Sporting free to swoop in and sign him. 

But was that even realistic? 

If Su Dong performed well enough to catch Sporting's attention, surely Belenenses and Benfica would also be interested. It was almost inevitable. 

The cutthroat nature of professional football meant that any sign of interest from one major club would immediately spark a reaction from the others. 

"That's just the way things work in football," Pontes said, almost reading Cristiano's thoughts. "If Sporting shows interest, the other clubs will jump in, and it'll become a bidding war." 

Cristiano knew Pontes was right. The business of professional football was ruthless, and every opportunity was a competition. Still, he couldn't help but hope that Su Dong would somehow find his way to Sporting Lisbon.