Chapter 20: Mysterious Treasure Box Opens!

That night.

Lewokusen's official website and social media accounts heavily reported the victory in the season's opening round.

Among them.

Li Kang's appearance in the final moment of injury time accounted for one-quarter of the coverage.

The pharmacy fans were unhappy, and they all complained in the comment section.

-【Oh God, is Li Kang Wo Le Er's biological grandson? No one at the pharmacy club has ever received such treatment!】

-【I'm certain they have no blood relation; Li Kang is more handsome than him!】

-【Wo Le Er has held power these past few years, basically turning our club into a lapdog of the Dragon Kingdom; the money he earns there is more than the supplies he donates!】

-【Li Kang is outstanding, but he's still young; he may not be able to adapt to the Bundesliga's intensity. I suggest the club let him train two more seasons in the youth team! Please return the number 10 jersey to Hakan Çalhanoğlu now!】

-【Return the number 10 jersey to Hakan Çalhanoğlu!】

Office.

The depressed assistant handed over a report: "Boss! Li Kang's number 10 jersey in the Dragon Kingdom has sold only 12 copies since he joined the club..."

Wo Le Er exclaimed delightedly: "Beautiful! This is a great start!"

The assistant had a black line across his face.

I really can't figure out the sports director's brain circuitry.

He hesitated slightly, then added: "Regarding the jersey number change incident, fans have strong opinions, and the coaching staff also worries it will affect Hakan Çalhanoğlu's mood..."

"Boss! Our Champions League qualifier in a few days is very important! Mr. Schmidt said Li Kang cannot be included in the Champions League squad... You know, we can only bring seven substitute players to Old Trafford."

Wo Le Er tapped the table, shook his head: "The Bundesliga is not Japan's J-League; you can't change jerseys mid-season—don't bring this up again! As for the Champions League qualifier, Li Kang must be in the squad! He must get playing time! Manchester United has a huge number of Dragon Kingdom fans!"

Assistant: "..."

He no longer knew how to relay this to Schmidt.

Looking across the five major leagues, only Wo Le Er has such authority as a sports director.

Wo Le Er lit a cigar and smiled: "Our opponent is not the Manchester United of the Ferguson era."

"If Schmidt cannot defeat this Manchester United undergoing reconstruction and transformation, then he should get lost!"

After finishing training, Li Kang returned to the first-team dormitory.

Even if the supporting facilities are luxurious.

No first-team star would live here.

He was about to open the door when suddenly he heard a shout.

"Hey! Newcomer, shouldn't you greet me?"

He turned his head.

He saw a blond young man in casual clothes.

The other's attitude wasn't very hostile.

Just the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Li Kang struggled to recall his name; it seemed to be... 19-year-old Brandt?

"You don't know me? Well... I just recovered from injury, and I'll officially return to the first-team reporting tomorrow!"

"We're both poor losers living in the dorm area! If you need any help, just speak up—this is my turf!"

Brandt pounded Li Kang's chest, trying hard to put on a 'big brother' act.

He threw down a pack of chocolate and then slipped into the neighboring dorm.

【Ding! Congratulations Host on completing the mission: Bundesliga debut!】

【Mission reward being distributed...】

【Congratulations Host obtained: Mysterious Treasure Box ×1!】

A black-qi swirling treasure chest floated in midair.

This is a Mysterious Treasure Box that can only be obtained with low probability in the Champions League!

He quickly glanced at the prize pool.

【0.0001%: Cruyff 'Ball Saint' Module.】

【0.0001%: Beckenbauer 'Super God Libero' Module!】

【0.001%: Platini 'King of Free Ball' Module!】

【0.001%: Messi 'Dreamy Dance Steps' Module!】

【0.001%: Ronaldinho 'Devil's Arc' Module!】

【...】

No messy hair growth lotion and latex gloves!

A dazzling array of player modules.

Just this drop rate, Li Kang finds it a bit hard to understand.

Are Beckenbauer and Cruyff really that much stronger than later generations?

After carefully studying the module names, he roughly understood.

For example, Messi is merely a 'Dreamy Dance Steps' step-frequency module, and does not include Messi's other abilities.

Whereas Cruyff's and Beckenbauer's modules definitely encompass their peak-era comprehensive abilities.

【Mysterious Treasure Box opening...】

【Congratulations Host obtained: Mihajlović 'Bogvo Missile' Module!】

【Additional attribute increase: Ball control +3, Defense +5, Set pieces +??】

【He is the last elegy of Yugoslav football...】

The Mysterious Treasure Box instantly emitted rolling black smoke.

It surged frenziedly into Li Kang's body.

A wave of indescribable severe pain came from the back of his head.

In his memory, fragments of devastating free-kick goals flashed one after another...

Half an hour later.

He climbed up from the ground.

He was drenched in cold sweat.

The classic showdown between Lewokusen and Manchester United.

One must trace back to the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League semi-final.

First leg 2-2.

Second leg 1-1.

Lewokusen eliminated Manchester United, advancing to the Champions League final thanks to the away-goal advantage.

The head coach at the time was none other than Tuopu Laotou.

That year's Champions League final would be forever etched in football's annals.

Because Zidane kicked a once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece, the "Heavenly Flying Immortal".

In the blink of an eye.

Today, more than ten years later.

Lewokusen and Manchester United meet again, though their strengths are no longer what they once were.

Both teams finished fourth in their respective leagues last season, the Bundesliga and the Premier League, failing to qualify directly for the Champions League.

They had to fight through the qualifying playoffs to reach the main tournament.

The Bundesliga and Premier League media quickly launched a "showdown".

The mascots of both teams were innocently shot.

Bild rigorously analyzed the two teams' strength gap and tactical style, with an illustration: Lion Bryan frantically chasing Red Devil Fred.

The Sun dug up a series of scandals involving Lewokusen's senior management, with an illustration: Red Devil Fred wearing a scarf, holding a knife and fork, with a cartoon lion's head on the table.

Fans of both sides also suddenly erupted in argument across European online communities.

Arguing and arguing.

Even retired Beckham got caught in the crossfire.

Manchester United fans thought: Calhanoglu's free-kick technique was imitating Beckham!

Lewokusen fans countered: Calhanoglu's free-kick is far stronger than Beckham's!

Three days later.

Lewokusen training base.

The assistant coach read out the last player's name on the Champions League playoff roster.

"Li Kang!"

Schmidt's face darkened.

He lacked the courage to defy Wo Le Er's arrangement.

Belarabi snorted contemptuously: "Wo Le Er must have been a Dragon Kingdom person in a past life; if we fail to qualify for the Champions League proper... well, I mean to say: doesn't the club have any interest in the revenue from Champions League broadcast shares?"

"Shut up! Don't act like a woman!"

Schmidt shouted angrily.

He glanced at Li Kang.

A distorted idea formed in his mind: the arrival of the Dragon Descendant kid had sown the seeds of dissent in the locker room.

"'Why does he pick on you and not anyone else?'"

The Lewokusen head coach took a deep breath and quickly suppressed that thought.

He patted Li Kang on the shoulder and offered a few words of comfort.

Calhanoglu chewed gum and looked up at the sky.