Chapter 400: Target (Everyday Transition)

North London.

A fine drizzle.

The grand red-and-white bus convoy began its championship parade.

Arsenal's senior management were very confident, believing they would surely lift a trophy this year, so they applied to the city council three months in advance for traffic control and parade permits.

North London's championship parade differed from Lewokusen's, requiring substantial manpower and resources, with various municipal departments needing to coordinate and cooperate.

The London government was pleased with the outcome: among the many Premier League clubs in the city, a "triple crown" winner had finally emerged.

The damp, slightly chilly air did not dampen the fans' enthusiasm.

The streets were decorated with team badges, scarves, and slogans, turning them red and white.

Many fans also hung Arsenal flags from their balconies and windows.

Li Kang stood at the front of the bus, with three precious championship trophies placed before him.

He kept tossing scarves folded into balls to the fans lining the streets.

Wenger and his teammates guarded him closely, fearful that the £200 million man in a cast might suffer any mishap.

"2016/17 season."

"Premier League champion."

"FA Cup champion."

"UEFA Champions League champion!"

"Arsenal!"

"!"

The three trophies were held high.

The scene seemed to freeze.

Li Kang and his Gunners teammates' championship journey will forever be recorded in Arsenal's history!

After North London fell silent for two seconds, the celebrations erupted.

"eonyougunners!"

"!"

Night fell.

The club bus slowly drove toward the Emirates Stadium amidst splendid fireworks.

Welbeck excitedly embraced Li Kang.

Xiao Heidan's tears and snot smeared all over his red jacket.

"Li, I will miss you."

"Without you, I might drift aimlessly through the rest of my career and never have a chance to return to Manchester United."

"You are the lighthouse of my life."

Welbeck's goal and assist tallies both reached double figures this season.

The former Red Devil "Dark Heavenly King" Bei Bujin has become a black whirlwind that makes opponents tremble at the mere mention.

Sanchez said nothing and gave Li Kang a powerful hug.

The frustrated Barcelona castoff finally proved himself with the Gunners.

"Li isn't retiring, why are you all acting like women?"

Cech slipped a pair of platinum-colored gloves into Li Kang's pocket; he will become Chelsea's technical director next season, and no one knows what terms the other side offered that could make Cech abandon his hockey dream.

Cazorla, Giroud, Koscielny, Bellerín, Monreal and others were equally reluctant to part.

Looking back on the whole season's campaign, it felt like a dream.

Schweinsteiger hesitated for half a day, never managing to utter Bayern's assigned "political task"... Since he himself couldn't see out his career at the Allianz Arena, why bother advising Li Kang...

Morata patted his chest: "Wherever Li goes, I'll go."

Everyone burst out laughing.

The sorrow of parting was blown away somewhat by the night wind.

June 9, the Premier League summer window opens, and the Gunners will go their separate ways.

The championship ceremony at the Emirates Stadium was extraordinarily grand.

This five-star UEFA Champions League stadium finally had the chance to unleash its full power, releasing dazzling, splendid lights.

Tens of thousands of Arsenal fans kept the beat, sang the anthem, and reveled in joy.

After a long while.

The music ended, the crowd dispersed.

The lights dimmed.

In the vast Emirates Stadium, only Li Kang and his mentor Wenger remained.

"Li, Sir Keswick promised me that regarding your future transfer, they will respect your own wishes."

This is the last face Arsenal's senior management can give Wenger.

Li Kang nodded.

One can imagine: when the professor first tried to mobilize two billion funds to bring himself to Arsenal, how much resistance he encountered.

If Arsenal ended the season with nothing to show for all four competitions, Wenger's twenty‑one years of contribution would vanish, and he would forever be branded a sinner by the club's hierarchy and local fans.

He is very grateful to Wenger for giving him freedom in matches and maximal on‑field command authority.

These two powers are unparalleled in the Premier League.

"Take good care of your injuries, study well, learn well."

"Watch out and protect yourself."

Your road is still long.

Wen Ge helped Li Kang zip up his jacket and gently patted the disciple on the back of the head.

Immediately, the master and disciple walked one after the other toward the passage.

Li Kang gazed at Wen Ge's back.

Suddenly he felt that the whole of European football had grown old.

The summer transfer window opened in full swing.

One after another, confirmed transfer news and transfer predictions sparked a heated discussion across the internet.

Unable to sit still, European giants flung money like dirt.

"【Official announcement: Roma centre-back Rüdiger joins Chelsea for €31.5 million!】"

"【Official announcement: Chelsea midfielder Matić joins Manchester United for €40.23 million!】"

"【Official announcement: Roma forward Salah joins Liverpool for €37.8 million!】"

"【Official announcement: Benfica goalkeeper Ederson joins Manchester City for €36 million!】"

"【Two-hundred-million record broken! Neymar leaves Barcelona, joins Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million!】"

"【€180 million! Monaco superstar Mbappé descends upon Prince's Park Stadium!】"

Neymar and Mbappé completely disrupted the European transfer market.

Multiple transfers between giants were suddenly called off, the reason being: price hikes!

The comment section went crazy.

"-【Paris Saint-Germain's '400 million folly': If Arsenal can win a triple with €200 million, then I'll put up €400 million—how should other giants respond?】"

"-【This summer's transfer window truly belongs to Barcelona! Barcelona has again taken out €200 million, buying superstar winger Dembélé, Chinese Super League warrior Paulinho, and Portuguese Super League winger Semedo!】"

"-【Real Madrid hasn't made a move... scouts swarmed to South America to sign underage youngsters!】"

"-【Compared to that, Li Kang's €200 million transfer fee isn't anything special!】"

Arsenal club meeting room.

""Robert, get the fuck out!""

""Arsenal could never sell Li!""

""He is our hero! A legend! A cornerstone!""

""No matter which coach, no matter what tactical system, everything must be built around Li!""

""Arsenal is willing to give him ample time to recover from his injury, even if it takes a whole season!""

""Meeting adjourned.""

Sir Keith Wilkinson flung a stack of documents onto the new sports director's face.

Robert, covered in dust and looking dejected, left the meeting room.

After the crowd dispersed.

Gazdis looked at the knight with a bewildered face: 'In last night's secret meeting... didn't the knight agree to Robert's proposal?'

Sir Keith Wilkinson rubbed his face and said with a smile:

""My idea hasn't changed, but we must put forward a scapegoat to bear the public's anger.""

""Robert, selling the Barça sinner, the La Masia heir, in installments for one million, is the perfect scapegoat.""

Gazdis suddenly understood.

Li Kang ultimately became a sacrifice in the club's equity struggle.

Before the Kroenkes fully took over Arsenal, they wouldn't invest a single penny into the club.

Even buying other shareholders' shares... would require leveraging.

Arsenal's performance over the next few years simply wouldn't matter.

The new manager's squad-building funds? He can only spend the last bit of money Wenger left for Arsenal.

The €200 million man brought the treble.

His departure could also create the greatest value.

The transfer fee he left behind will become dividends for over two hundred shareholders.

""The club has received offers for Li from multiple clubs.""

""Let Wenger keep his last shred of dignity; Li's destination will be decided by Li himself.""

""All right.""