Chapter 53: Signing and Official Photos

Lin Jingyi handed the contracts out to each of them.

Song Yuan, most eager of all, flipped straight to the second page.

【Party A (Club): NXG Esports Club】

【Party B (Player): ___________】

【Game ID: ___________】

【...】

Skimming over the above content quickly—since he wouldn't understand it anyway—Song Yuan looked straight at the salary and benefits section.

"The base salary rises from 1600 to 2800 yuan. Salaries are adjusted once per season, and performance bonuses are also set; different rankings achieved in the league each season will yield corresponding bonuses."

"League champions receive 20,000 each, runners-up..."

Jiang Ming's base salary for his own NXG players was not high; in 2013, the salary of an ordinary LPL player generally fluctuated around 2000 to 10,000.

Top-tier players who brought their own traffic, like Ming Kai, could earn up to around 15,000 at most.

At present, the terms of this NXG contract could at best be considered not the lowest.

However, the accounts shouldn't be calculated this way; while Jiang Ming controlled the base salary, he additionally increased performance rewards. That is to say, as long as the NXG team could achieve results, including the end-of-season bonus, everyone's actual monthly salary had already reached a mid-to-high level within league teams.

Not to mention the generous benefits NXG players could enjoy regarding living conditions.

For instance, regarding player meals, members of many teams lacking sponsorship had to survive on instant noodles during times of financial difficulty.

As for housing, that went without saying; the basement Jiang Ming had previously rented for NXG could be counted among the better conditions. Dilapidated, small, and broken team training locations were the norm; otherwise, the term "internet cafe team" would not have appeared.

Players only hoped the team could pay wages on time; that would be a matter of extreme good fortune, after all, in this era, teams that disbanded midway while playing could be counted innumerable.

Some professional players who couldn't get paid simply made a meager living by taking on boosting orders for others.

So regarding benefits, the five members of NXG naturally had no objections.

"Subsequently, the team will arrange live-streamed contract signings. If you stream under the team's name, you do not need to sign with any guild; the club will provide promotional resources. The revenue split is 7:3; the club takes 70%, and you will have 30% pure income."

"If e-commerce live streaming is arranged later, the club will also provide commission rewards based on the sales volume within each of your live rooms."

"The contract term is a minimum of two years; the club holds the right of first refusal for renewal."

For players just starting out with no fame, team live streaming was actually more like a personal obligation they had to bear.

Under normal circumstances, it would only be necessary to give team members a fixed salary, but as mentioned before.

One could do that, but there was no need.

The contract term was the same in this regard.

Jiang Ming, knowing how vast the esports market would be in the future, would not limit himself to this small profit right in front of him; as long as he acted and developed within a reasonable and compliant scope, NXG's future was already bright.

Holding the thought of draining the pond to catch all the fish and then running away was very dangerous; one must know that for an esports club, the traditions established at the very beginning were extremely important.

Furthermore, Jiang Ming, possessing foreknowledge, had no need to worry about the club lacking talented players.

What he wanted to build was a true esports powerhouse that any LOL player with talent would place as their first consideration.

"The minimum is two years, so one can sign for three years?" Jungler Stone asked with a goofy smile.

"You can sign for three years at once, but I suggest you sign for two years first."

Song Yuan blurted out the question, "Hey, Brother Ming, why?"

"Are you stupid? Sign for two years; if we achieve results and gain fame like WE, won't our benefits be raised the fastest?" Xu Jing complained. "After two years, you can still transfer."

"Ah, Brother Ming, I'm not saying I want to run away, okay?"

"Hehe, seems like that makes sense."

"Don't rush; there are still some clauses inside you need to pay attention to."

After Jiang Ming played the good cop, Lin Jingyi, understanding the situation, took over the conversation: "First, look at Article 3 on the third page; every player must strictly complete and abide by the following obligations: daily training duration ≥12 hours (including Rank score record verification), obey team tactical arrangements and personnel rotations, and all social media accounts must be reported to the club."

"Especially regarding the social media account section: during active service, any posts made by a player's social account must be reported to the club."

"Article 4, Point 2, regarding commercial activities: players must unconditionally cooperate with commercial activities arranged by Party A (≥6 times per year). During active service, personal business cooperation must be approved by Party A. The split ratio is 7:3 (Party A takes 70%)."

"Article 5, Special Clauses: players must obey all image management and health management arrangements assigned by the club."

"Finally, breach of contract liability: if a player terminates the contract before the term expires, they must pay a penalty of 2XXXXX yuan, and according to the non-compete agreement, they cannot join any of the top six teams in the LP rankings within one year."

Pang Ran and the others understood only half of it, but with the good feeling of their own boss actively reminding them that contracts were signed year-by-year, they did not develop any resistance to such rigid requirements.

Song Yuan's hand speed was extremely fast; after quickly signing his name on the contract, he took the ink pad from Lin Jingyi and added his thumbprint.

The other four followed suit, but due to age restrictions, supplementary signatures from guardians were still required for the contract to officially take effect.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

With the contract matter basically settled, Jiang Ming lightly clapped his hands, celebrating the signing of the first batch of official members after NXG entered the LPL.

"So next, there is this."

Lin Jingyi pulled a box out from under the table. "Ta-da! Our team's first set of jerseys has been made; come try them on quickly."

A paper cutter sliced through the tape on the box; the friction between the palm and the plastic bag packaging the jerseys made a rustling sound. Five sets of brand-new jerseys were neatly arranged inside.

Black, white, and red interlaced, identical to the exterior design of the team base.

The back bore the NXG logo, while the front center and right shoulder featured sponsor advertisements for YY and Youchen Meat Floss Cakes.

Lin Jingyi held up one set.

"Damn, that cool?" Top laner Song Yuan's authentic Sichuan-Chongqing accent exploded in the training room; immediately, Hua Xuanji couldn't wait to step forward and take the jersey from the manager's hands.

With a rip, he opened it and, very deftly, put the jacket on himself.

Each set of jerseys consisted of three pieces: a jacket, pants, and a long-sleeved T-shirt.

"Everyone change into them; let's see if they fit. If any don't fit, we'll replace them in time. Next, we need to shoot the team's official photos; we can't be without the jerseys."

Hearing this, everyone hesitated no longer and stepped forward to find the jersey printed with their own ID.

Putting on the jerseys, the five members of completely different builds standing in the room created a strange visual; top laner Song Yuan was somewhat burly, forming a sharp contrast with the most slender support, Pang Ran.

A tanky top laner and a financially deprived support!

The jungler Shi Tou was the tallest, which happened to perfectly match the team's shortest mid-laner, A Qiang.

"Hehe, let's see how the guys look with the battle robe effect. Has it made us any more handsome?"

Xu Jing, who had the most average build among the group and a decent appearance, asked narcissistically.