Chapter 184: Growth and Parting, the Upcoming Transfer Period!

"I'm planning to design the recall animation like this!"

"Ornn's ultimate effect is the easiest to do, right? Hey Jie, you tell me, if the ultimate is him headbutting your pig over, wouldn't that be super cool!"

"I don't care, I just want the model! I've even drawn the sketches, look!"

"Damn, the Factory Manager will definitely beat you to death if he sees this."

The five members of EDG gathered in the voice channel, chatting away with the team of designers sent by Riot headquarters.

Everyone shared their own ideas, and the designers asked questions one by one.

"Player Ye, are you really not considering Sylas?" the designer couldn't help but pitch one more time.

"To be honest, our team has a very interesting idea for Sylas. Although the workload is huge, I believe it has a high chance of becoming one of our top-selling skins. We've been waiting for the right opportunity."

"And as I just mentioned, starting this year, the FMVP championship skin will receive an additional 'Prestige' chroma. This is the first championship Prestige skin in our history~"

This was also news that hadn't been announced to the public yet.

Starting from the S12 season, Riot would add a separate Prestige chroma for the FMVP to better highlight that "individual honor" is not just a title.

However, hearing this news only made Ye Bo more determined.

"It's okay."

"I'll strive to come back and win the Sylas skin next year!"

The designer looked at the simultaneous interpretation on the computer, stunned for two seconds before coming back to his senses.

On the video, the standard Western look of surprise appeared on his face, astonished by these "young and arrogant" words.

But when the designer met the eyes of the boy on camera, he didn't feel a shred of arrogance in that clear gaze.

It felt like it was just pure and firm self-confidence.

"Alright, but your ideas for Akali are also very unique. I can see you really understand this hero," the designer said with a meaningful smile.

After collecting the skin suggestions, the design team left the voice channel.

The EDG members continued chatting in the channel.

"I say Zhao Lijie, you stingy guy, how come you only gave Master Ye two Viceroys? The Factory Manager already gave five!" Meiko teased.

"Master Ye and I are close, aren't we? Brother Flandre only gave one!" Jiejie deflected the fire.

"Hey, hey, hey, I just bought a house so my little treasury is a bit tight. Once the bonus comes down, I'll definitely make it up to Master Ye. Don't you run away when the time comes!"

Everyone talked about the interesting things they had experienced over the past few days and discussed Ye Bo's live stream content from just now.

The atmosphere was quite comfortable.

But when asked when Viper would be going home so everyone could get together, the conversation suddenly shifted to the next season.

"So, how about it, have you settled on which team to join?" Meiko asked, feigning indifference.

Viper didn't hide anything from his brothers and spoke frankly: "There are quite a few options. It will probably be between GEN, DK, and HLE... but given the choices, I might lean more towards GEN."

"GEN has a greater influence in the LCK, so it might be easier to compete for a spot in the Asian Games, and the roster is also good."

"I heard Ruler is coming to China, so they are in urgent need of an AD, and the pay is good too."

Viper only looks mature, but he is actually a standard post-00s kid, currently at the age to charge forward.

So, even though he already holds two championship titles, he still has huge drive, so the priority of the team's roster is inevitably high.

Meiko gave a soft "hmm."

He had experienced many AD teammates, but apart from the "succubus" Deft, the one he had the best relationship with was Viper—after all, they were people who had climbed to the peak together.

Unlike Viper, Meiko didn't have much obsession with this.

"Jiejie and I should be staying on the team. Coach Abu just came to me and said the boss will try his best to match outside offers for us."

What Ye Bo didn't know was.

Just while he was live streaming, a heated discussion had already taken place within EDG.

And Meiko seemed to appear a bit hesitant.

But in the end, he spoke up: "It's Master Ye and Brother Flandre, you two need to think clearly, especially Master Ye."

"As far as I know, the club's financial situation this year isn't very good. It's unlikely we can offer high salaries to everyone... and for the AD position, we might have to promote a cheap rookie from the second team."

"Didn't we win the championship?" Ye Bo asked, somewhat confused: "Do we still lack money after winning the championship?"

"I don't really understand business matters. Although esports clubs have significant influence, their profitability has always been worrying. In the entire LPL, we were the only ones not losing money, and this time I heard something happened at Boss Zhu's home."

Ye Bo knew nothing about business and didn't ask further.

Li Xuanjun, however, said nonchalantly and comfortably: "It's okay, at worst I'll just take a year off next year and make room for the rookies. I've been playing for so many years, I'm so tired."

"Ah?? Brother Flandre, are you retiring!" Ye Bo widened his eyes.

In terms of relationships, with Ye Bo's extroverted personality, he got along quite harmoniously with everyone.

Relatively speaking, he and Jiejie were of similar age and had more common topics, and being in the mid-jungle positions, they had more daily contact.

But when it came to teammate affection—without a doubt, his "roommate" of half a year, Brother Flandre, was definitely the deepest.

"How could that be!" Li Xuanjun quickly explained, but didn't explain further.

Li Xuanjun was a smart man.

Just hearing the news Meiko inadvertently revealed, he already understood some things.

Just as Meiko said, since the financial situation this year was not optimistic—and Li Xuanjun knew very well that his "positioning" was an awkward existence.

In terms of honors, he was the LPL's only domestic champion top laner, and even the only two-time champion top laner!

No matter how you put it, he should, and must, deserve a top salary.

But if you talk about performance... Li Xuanjun knew very well that his cost-effectiveness for a top salary was actually not high.

And since Abu had already approached Meiko to talk about a contract renewal, but hadn't come to him yet, it actually already explained something.

Li Xuanjun was currently at the end of his career and had injuries.

He had to consider more for himself.

Ye Bo didn't think that much, just breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Oh my, you scared me to death."

"Then don't worry, Brother Flandre, you are undoubtedly the greatest domestic top laner in history! You'll definitely find a job easily!"

Li Xuanjun laughed dumbly, but his heart felt warm.

As everyone knows, Ye Bo's technique for comforting people is very poor.

And this expressed recognition was clearly from the heart, and of course, it was the best recognition for him.

No matter what outsiders say, the recognition of his teammates was more important to him.

"Master Ye should think more about himself. Your career has just begun. If our team next year..."

Li Xuanjun stopped at the right point.

Ye Bo wasn't a fool, and gave a soft "hmm."

He knew what the other meant; it was highly likely he wouldn't stay at EDG.

And if that happened, even if he was willing to lower his own salary, the original EDG lineup would only have Jiejie and Meiko left.

"Oh, let's not talk about it, let's not talk about it."

"This isn't a life-and-death separation, why be so sentimental? It's just a transfer period!"

Seeing everyone was a bit silent, Ye Bo actively livened up the atmosphere.

"Just because Brother Viper is going back to his country doesn't mean we aren't good brothers anymore, right? Maybe in two years the club will have money again and buy all five of us back~~~"

"Yeah, anyway, we're all in Shanghai, we can visit anytime."

"Master Ye can visit, but Brother Flandre is not allowed! I will seriously suspect you're just here for a free meal!"

"It's fine, maybe when Master Ye and I leave, the chef team will leave too, and then you'll have to eat the cafeteria food again~"

Before parting, everyone agreed to gather again before Viper left.

Closing the screen, Ye Bo also began to think about his own future.

With the grand occasion of today's live stream, and those IDs he also knew a thing or two about, Ye Bo knew he shouldn't be lacking work.

His phone suddenly rang.

The caller ID showed 【7777777】.

"Hey! Factory Manager, you're still not asleep this late."

Ming Kai, who had deliberately waited for Ye Bo to end his stream before calling, felt a smile unconsciously appear on his lips when he heard the cheerful voice on the receiver.

He really liked this young man... and it was precisely because of this that he did what he just did.

"Not asleep yet? I knew you sleep at 12 o'clock sharp."

"Wanted to chat with you about next season."

Ye Bo could probably guess the other's purpose: "Yeah, go ahead."

"It's like this, we've just prepared to start the contract renewal process internally, and the current decision is..."

As soon as Ming Kai started, he laid out the entire plan that the club had discussed half an hour ago, which was during Ye Bo's live stream.

Without the slightest concealment.

It was basically the situation Meiko had just mentioned. Clearly, even if he had held back from saying it earlier, Ming Kai wouldn't have hidden it.

The general result was—

Seeking the opinions of Meiko and Jiejie, letting them choose freely whether they wanted to go out and contact other teams.

If they didn't leave, then EDG would do its best to match their standard top-market salary.

Just from the scene in the live stream, Edward Zhu had once again witnessed the determination of all the other teams.

He knew very well that with the funds he currently had, it was absolutely impossible to keep everyone!

Therefore, letting Brother Flandre go and promoting a rookie AD from the second team to save money was the first foundation that had to be done.

Simply because, if they were to keep the whole team at standard market prices.

The entire EDG team's salary must be over a hundred million!

"This season, the league is starting to implement a 'Salary Cap' system; it's different for everyone, it's all 'personally customized'."

Ming Kai was patiently explaining to Ye Bo.

"The core component is the 'current year's world-class tournament' championship—that is, the MSI and World Championship winners—only then will they be rated as S-tier, and based on this foundation, an evaluation is made according to the player's actual performance."

"So, our team's top salary is very exaggerated; if we renew everyone, even if other teams don't start a price war, it will still be a terrifying number, and we will likely have to pay a luxury tax."

"And your evaluation result is higher than all four of them, even much higher, even though you only have one championship."

What Ming Kai said was not false, but he did not go into more detailed things.

He just directly stated a few exaggerated numbers.

Ye Bo asked some of the questions in his heart.

Opposite him, Ming Kai was silent for a moment before shaking his head and laughing out loud.

"I knew you kid would say that, which is why I hurried over to persuade you—absolutely don't."

"First of all, even if you take a pay cut to stay on the team, it's hard for us to find an AD to piece together a championship-caliber roster. Most importantly, it's unfair to Li Xuanjun, Tian Ye, and Zhao Lijie if you do that; if you take a pay cut, they have to take one too, otherwise we still have to pay a sky-high luxury tax."

"Li Xuanjun doesn't have many years left in his career; letting him go is actually because we don't want him to be held back. He deserves a better contract."

After listening, Ye Bo realized that he was indeed a bit of a novice in business matters.

Many things were not as simple as he thought.

"So the club's intention now is..." Ye Bo asked aloud.

Ming Kai also answered simply and directly, his voice gentle: "The club's intention is very simple: let you go out and contact other teams first. If you find a roster you are satisfied with, then join them with peace of mind."

"Even if you leave, EDG will always be your home, I promise."

"If you can't find a suitable team outside," Ming Kai gave a fake smile, "but that is almost impossible, because among all the teams, no one can refuse your joining."

"But if it really happens, then come back. Boss Zhu said he will do his best to save a contract for you."

In fact, reality was not as smooth as Ming Kai expressed.

Because this was clearly not the choice that best served EDG's interests—it could even be said that this was a "very losing" choice for EDG.

Anyone knew that if only the jungler and support remained from the original lineup, next year's results would be a complete unknown, and in all likelihood, a bad unknown.

Yet EDG was still willing to give the jungler and support top salaries.

Just because these were two veterans of the team, and upon hearing this decision, the jungler and support indeed chose to stay with almost no hesitation.

As for Ye Bo, that was the true key.

Actually, at the very beginning, the most obvious idea—of course—was to do everything possible to keep Ye Bo.

Ai De Zhu was naturally incomparably clear that as long as he could keep Ye Bo!

Even if EDG's results plummeted next year.

Even if the new top laner and AD were all nobodies that no one cared about.

As long as Ye Bo was there, next year's EDG would absolutely still be the most popular team in terms of traffic!

But when Ai De Zhu found Ming Kai to discuss this matter, Ming Kai immediately gave a firm opinion.

"Boss, I really don't think this is a good idea."

"We have all seen Ye Bo's talent; his future is unimaginable. Next year is his most critical year!"

"Even if he goes to a new team, he will still carry our EDG brand. Everyone who sees him will still say 'the Icelander' or 'the Jinshan man'; everyone knows that is our EDG person!"

"Even if we pay a huge price to force him to stay for a year, what does that get us? The decline of his career? And what about the year after?"

"If our team is indeed in difficulty now and can't give him the best roster, it's better to let go."

Ai De Zhu's feelings for Ming Kai were by no means simple employee relations.

To use Ai De Zhu's own words: EDG is the team he founded for Ming Kai.

This is also why Ming Kai was the first player in the world to hold club shares, even earlier than Faker and T1.

Therefore, Ming Kai's words had a great impact and influence on him.

Moreover, what Ming Kai said was indeed reasonable.

Even if they really spent everything to force Ye Bo to stay, risking the cost of a year of "Waterloo," it would only be for this year.

Next year, the year after, the year after that—it's all hard to say.

Since the current situation is not optimistic, it is better to let Ye Bo go out and explore the world, preserving this precious affection.

If in the future, when conditions allow, welcoming him back when he might be "full of honors"—wouldn't that be a better result?

Ai De Zhu soon understood.

Of course, Ming Kai would not tell Ye Bo these things.

But Ye Bo naturally knew in his heart that this definitely could not be considered a good decision for EDG.

"I understand, Director." Ye Bo said softly.

Ming Kai on the other end showed a gratified expression: "Hmm, don't resist making contact. We will release the news tomorrow. The transfer period will open in a few days, and you will be very busy then."

"Still the same words: no matter where you are, EDG will always be your home."

"Later, we need to come and film documentary segments; when the time comes, everyone will gather properly and also send off Xian..."

"Hmm."

He hung up the phone.

Ye Bo looked at the wall in front of him and suddenly felt a sense of "growth" for no reason.

Don't look at how he was chatting in the voice channel earlier, carelessly comforting everyone by saying "It's not like a life-and-death separation, it's just a transfer~"

But for Ye Bo, EDG was after all the place where he debuted, the place where he won his first meaningful championship, and they were his first official teammates.

But he also knew now that in reality, everyone has many problems to consider.

He understood the logic.

But thinking of this, he still felt a bit depressed.

Ye Bo suddenly wanted to find someone to talk to.

So, he entered the pot.

The place he appeared this time was the jungle camp; every time he teleported, it was to the location of the hero.

Akali was sitting on the head of the Red Brambleback, lightly tapping her calves, not knowing what she was thinking—she just saw Ye Bo appear, and her pupils clearly brightened.

Her tone sounded just as cold as ever: "You're here. Don't you have training today?"

"I'll go in a bit!"

Ye Bo's mood seemed to suddenly improve, and he started his chatterbox mode to talk to her: "By the way, do you know about the skin design I thought of for you? The clothes are what I imagined, I don't know what the result will be like when he draws it, as for the weapon..."

Akali rested her chin on one hand, not making a sound, just quietly watching him ramble.

Even though she had actually already "heard" the scene of him communicating with the designer just now.

But she still listened to it quietly once more.

"How is it! Do you like it?" Ye Bo shook his head triumphantly, almost putting his hands on his hips.

"I like it." A concise and clear voice replied.

"Hehe, I'm already looking forward to the finished product. I just hope this designer doesn't ruin it for me..."

Akali still didn't speak.

She just jumped down from the head of the Red Brambleback and walked over, her figure light, and she didn't know where she conjured a bowl of ramen from, handing it over.

"When you're in a bad mood, have a bowl of ramen."

"Alright," Ye Bo took it and shoved it into his mouth without thinking.

"When I finish killing people, I'm also in a bad mood. I eat a bowl of ramen, and my mood gets better."

"..."

Ye Bo's slurping of the noodles froze in mid-air, and he said unclearly: "That's a... cold joke, right?"

"If you say it is, then it is."

The two walked to the cliff of the Dragon Pit.

Akali jumped onto the cliff wall with a light leap, but the angle was clearly a bit strange... Ye Bo just raised his head to follow her figure, then quickly turned his head to shift his gaze!

And Akali looked down at Ye Bo, who was still awkward below, with a somewhat helpless expression.

"You've learned from me for so long, you're so clumsy. And this is your world, you just have to jump."

Hearing this, Ye Bo jumped with all his might and actually "flew" onto the wall.

The two sat side by side, dangling their legs on the edge of the cliff, looking at the Ocean Drake sleeping in the center of the Dragon Pit below.

"So, Akali, how do you think I should choose?"

Ye Bo still asked this question, even though he didn't think she could give him any answer.

"I don't know," Akali shook her head as expected: "But I hope you haven't forgotten your original dream and goal."

When she said this, she seemed to become a bit emotional; perhaps this was also what she was thinking about when he just came in.

"I have a teacher in the Kinkou Order. She is not tall, she is a Yordle, but she is very knowledgeable and very smart, and she taught me a lot."

"Everyone thought that my not taking over my mother's responsibility as the 'Fist of Shadow' was a wrong choice. Only she let me believe in myself and go toward my own dreams and goals."

"So I became the Rogue Assassin, and I have never regretted my choice."

"Moving toward dreams and goals, at least I am very happy every day."

"I hope you are the same."

Ye Bo listened to her story and fell into thought.

What... was his own original dream and goal?

The air was silent for a long time.

Ye Bo, however, suddenly stood up abruptly.

"I'm going to train! Training is what's most important!"

Akali looked up at him.

Her cherry-blossom-colored pupils shimmered like moonlight fallen into a deep pool.

"By the way, when did I ever tell you I liked being barefoot? It's very inconvenient to go on an assassination without shoes."

"I-i-i-it's time! I really have to go train! See you tomorrow!!"

The time Ye Bo left the pot was exactly twelve o'clock.

He felt that perhaps he was just overthinking things.

He was not yet strong enough, and there was still much he could improve.

His goal and dream had always been to become the most formidable person in Summoner's Rift, striving and working hard for every championship, and nothing else.

Shaking off distracting thoughts, Ye Bo stepped into the trial grounds.

And it was right at midnight.

EDG began to release news externally, confirming that EDG was waiving the "1+1" priority clause for the player Ye.

All the various factions that learned of this were first extremely shocked, followed immediately by extreme ecstasy!

Those who had already crawled into bed immediately climbed out, those still drinking to pass the time immediately cleared the people from their rooms and began making calls; the offices of several clubs had already begun to bustle with activity.

All sorts of maneuvers had been set in motion.

Some began raising funds, some were contemplating various enticing additional conditions, and others were thinking of "finding a new path."

At the same time.

The transfer window opened early by the LCK was also officially unsealed starting at 12 o'clock.

Some popular players saw their phones begin to receive messages from multiple parties the very instant it turned 12: 0.

Some players waiting for news would also officially begin needing to think about their future for the next season.

And at this moment, BeryL, who was still staying up late grinding maps at 2: 0, suddenly caught a glimpse of his phone, which had been silent the whole time, lighting up.

He habitually picked it up and glanced at it, originally not intending to pay it any mind.

Suddenly, however, he saw several familiar words.

He pressed ESC to pause, picked it up to take a close look—then quickly exited, opened his chat software, found his target, and hurriedly sent a voice message.

"Brother Hekui, are you asleep?"

(End of this chapter)