According to the System's internal logic, treasure chests were categorized into three tiers: the blue Excellent, the purple Epic, and the shimmering gold Legendary.
When Renzo saw the blue glow of his reward, a flicker of regret crossed his mind. But he quickly shook it off. He had already pulled the Legendary Platini Passing Model during his initial loading; expecting back-to-back gold pulls was just asking for a lightning strike.
Besides, the €100,000 cash injection was a literal lifesaver.
Back in England, Renzo had signed a standard trainee contract with Liverpool. An annual salary of £85,500 was a king's ransom for a sixteen-year-old, but the reality of professional football was often less glamorous than the headlines. Michael Edwards, Liverpool's pragmatic Sporting Director, had authorized a six-month advance to cover Renzo's stint in Italy.
After the British taxman took his pound of flesh, Renzo was left with roughly £20,000. Converted to Euro, he had arrived in Florence with about €30,000 to last him half a year. In a city where the cost of living rivaled London's West End, he had been staring down a very frugal six months.
He winced, remembering the scene at Heathrow. His father, Ren Jianjun, had tried to slip a credit card into his backpack. Renzo had pushed it back, boasting about "professional independence" and "earning his own way."
I really dug my own grave with that one, Renzo thought, looking at his spartan dormitory room at the training base.
While Fiorentina provided his room and board, the €100,000 reward meant he no longer had to sweat the small stuff. He could finally afford to take the veterans out for a meal without checking his balance under the table. More importantly, it bought him peace of mind. He just needed to perform; the big-money contracts would follow.
[Milestone Mode Unlocked!]
Renzo shifted his focus back to the holographic interface.
[Milestones Achieved:]
First Professional Victory: +100 Honor PointsFirst Serie A Assist: +50 Honor PointsFirst Professional Assist Brace: +150 Honor PointsMan of the Match Debut: +100 Honor Points
[Total: 400 Honor Points — Conversion: 4 Attribute Points Available]
Renzo felt a surge of excitement. This was the shortcut he needed. He pulled up his current profile, the numbers stark against the dark interface.
[Renzo Uzumaki - Attributes]
Passing (Platini Model): Short Pass: 99 | Long Pass: 61 | Vision: 68Shooting: Accuracy: 65 | Long Shots: 67 | Heading: 70Skills: Ball Control: 71 | Dribbling: 70 | Set Pieces: 60Physical: Speed: 62 | Acceleration: 60 | Strength: 73 | Stamina: 72Defensive: Tackling: 60 | Interceptions: 59 | Anticipation: 58Overall Rating: 71
He analyzed the spread. His short passing was already "Sublime" at 99, and he knew that once he activated the remaining "light spots" on the Platini card, his Long Passing and Vision would likely jump to elite levels automatically. Spending points there would be a waste of resources.
To survive in Serie A, he needed to protect his greatest asset. In Italy, midfielders are hunted. If he couldn't hold onto the ball long enough to see the pass, his 99-rated vision was useless.
You can't pass what you can't keep, he mused.
He dumped all 4 points into Ball Control.
[System: Ball Control Attribute Increased: 71 → 75!]
As the number ticked upward, the text changed from a neutral white to a vibrant Green. According to the system's hierarchy, 75 marked the entrance into the "Professional Level"—the baseline average for a regular starter in Europe's Top Five Leagues.
75-79 (Green): Professional Standard80-89 (Yellow): Excellent90-94 (Orange): World Class95-98 (Red): Peak Legend99 (Dark Red): Sublime / Historical Peak
Renzo reached for the football resting by his desk. He flicked it up, catching it on his toe, then began a series of rapid-fire juggles and close-quarters turns in the cramped space between his bed and the wardrobe.
The difference was immediate. The ball felt "stickier," responding to the slightest micro-adjustments of his ankles. In the past, a stray touch in this small room would have sent the ball clattering into a lamp. Now, he was dancing with it.
The hesitation that had plagued his debut—the split-second fear of being dispossessed by a charging Serie A defender—began to melt away. He wasn't just a passer anymore. He was becoming a pro.
"Next match," Renzo whispered, killing the ball dead on his laces. "No more hiding."