Chapter 4: Soccer Card System
For Joshua Smith—
Becoming the head coach of Luton Town F.C.…
It was not a bad choice.
In fact—
Given his current situation—
It might be the best possible option.
First—
He was unemployed.
Completely.
If he continued drifting like this, it wouldn't be long before the £780 in his pocket ran dry.
And in London—
Running out of money meant only one thing.
Trouble.
Second—
Reality was harsh.
No matter how talented he was, no matter that he had just led Chelsea F.C. U18 to win the FA Youth Cup—
His qualifications were still too shallow.
Premier League?
Impossible.
Championship?
Unlikely.
Even League One clubs would hesitate before handing him control of a first team.
And let's be honest—
A young Jamaican coach trying to break into European football management?
That path was harder than winning the lottery.
But Luton Town—
Was different.
In England, the role of a head coach carried real power.
Unlike many clubs across Europe, English teams often gave their head coaches direct control over:
Training Match tactics Player recruitment Transfers Even elements of salary decisions
It wasn't just coaching.
It was control.
Joshua leaned back slightly in his chair as the tavern noise blurred into the background.
Luton was a mess.
That much was certain.
Relegated.
Points deducted.
Squad broken.
Barely functioning.
A club that had practically booked its place in relegation before the season even began.
But Joshua's eyes were calm.
Because—
He wasn't seeing the present.
He was seeing the future.
He had knowledge from ten years ahead.
He knew which unknown players would rise.
Which overlooked talents would explode onto the scene.
Which tactical trends would dominate football.
And—
He had something else.
That strange ability.
That system.
When David Morton had extended the offer earlier—
Something had appeared.
A light.
A screen.
Words that only Joshua could see.
"Soccer Card System initializing…"
Joshua had almost thought he imagined it.
But then—
The interface expanded.
Clear.
Precise.
Unmistakable.
"As a first-time activation reward, the host may draw a beginner gift pack.""Draw now?"
[YES] [NO]
Joshua didn't hesitate.
YES.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
Not loud.
But distinct.
Two glowing cards appeared in front of him.
Floating.
Spinning slowly.
Radiating a faint blue light.
Joshua's pupils contracted slightly.
Training Card (Blue)→ Increases defensive training efficiency by 15%
Match Card (Blue)→ Increases successful defensive steals by 15%
Joshua froze.
Fifteen percent…?
That number didn't sound big.
But in football—
It was massive.
Defensive steals weren't guaranteed actions.
Most defenders didn't aim to take the ball cleanly.
They pressured.
They delayed.
They disrupted.
A successful steal—
Meant immediate possession.
And often—
A counterattack opportunity.
An increase of 15%?
That wasn't improvement.
That was transformation.
Joshua's breathing slowed.
His mind sharpened instantly.
If this system was real—
Then everything changed.
But before he could explore further—
Reality interrupted.
David Morton was already standing up.
Ready to leave.
Joshua had no choice but to suppress the system for now.
He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
The rest—
Happened quickly.
A contract was printed.
Right there in the tavern.
Simple.
Direct.
No complications.
Joshua Smith—
Signed as head coach of Luton Town.
£8,000 per week.
After agreeing to travel to Luton the next day—
They parted ways.
The rain had stopped when Joshua returned to his apartment.
Seventy square meters.
Modest.
Temporary.
Rent paid for only one more week.
He closed the door behind him.
Stood still for a moment.
Then—
Spoke quietly.
"…System."
The light returned.
A translucent interface unfolded before his eyes.
Clearer this time.
More stable.
Joshua immediately pulled out his phone.
Tried to take a picture.
Nothing.
The screen didn't appear in the photo.
It was as if it didn't exist.
Joshua exhaled slowly.
Good.
That meant—
Only he could see it.
The interface shifted.
Displaying his information.
Name: Joshua Smith
Level: 1 (0 / 3000)
Nationality: Jamaican
Date of Birth: March 1981
Occupation: Football Coach
Cards Owned: 2
Special Skill: Wisdom Eye (Cooldown: 24 hours)
Joshua nodded slightly.
"Wisdom Eye…"
That explained it.
The ability he used earlier—
To view Kenny's attributes.
His gaze moved downward.
Cards.
That was the core.
As if responding to his thoughts—
A new panel appeared.
A soft, mechanical female voice echoed in his mind.
"Cards are the core of the system."
"They are divided into ranks: White, Green, Blue, Purple, Orange, and higher tiers."
"Equipping cards grants abilities to teams or players."
Joshua's expression shifted.
Interest.
Excitement.
Control.
"So the more cards I have…"
"…the stronger I become?"
"Correct."
Another panel appeared.
"Card usage depends on card slots." "One slot = one equipped card." "Maximum cards usable in a match = twice the number of slots."
Joshua immediately looked at his character model.
Three empty slots.
"…Three slots."
"So I can equip three cards."
He tried to assign one.
Nothing happened.
A prompt appeared.
"Cards can only be equipped during training or matches."
Joshua nodded.
Makes sense.
"Then how do I get more cards?"
"Win official matches to earn draw opportunities."
Joshua paused.
Then laughed softly.
"…So it's luck-based."
"Correct."
He stared at the interface for a moment.
Then shook his head slightly.
"Of course it is."
One final question.
"What about leveling up?"
"Winning matches grants experience."
"Leveling up increases card slots."
Joshua's eyes sharpened instantly.
More slots.
More cards.
More power.
Everything—
Came back to one thing.
Winning.
He leaned back against the wall.
Closed his eyes briefly.
Luton Town.
League Two.
Minus points.
A broken squad.
And now—
A system that could reshape football itself.
Joshua opened his eyes.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Interesting."
Outside—
The city of London slept under fading rain.
Inside—
A new journey had already begun.
(End of Chapter 4)