The morning after the derby didn't start with an alarm clock. It started with the persistent, rhythmic buzzing of Alex's phone. By 8:00 AM, the clip of the "Ghost Pass" against Atletico Madrid had already surpassed 2 million views on social media. The Spanish press was having a field day. MARCA ran the headline: "The 10-Million Euro Vision," while AS simply called him "The Silent Executioner of Getafe."
Alex sat up in bed, his body still feeling the "Oxygen Debt" from the night before. He summoned the interface to check his status.
[System Notification: Recovery Phase]
Stamina: 12% (Recovering slowly).
Physical Status: [Heavy Fatigue] — Warning: Avoid high-intensity training for 24 hours.
Major Reward: +1,500 System Credits (Derby Win + MOTM Bonus).
[Reputation Update]
Local Standing: [Rising Star - Tier A].
Scout Interest: 35% (↑ +23%).
Notification: Scouts from Real Madrid and Liverpool have officially requested your tactical profile.
"Alex! Someone is here to see you!" his guardian called out from downstairs, his voice strained with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
When Alex descended the stairs, he didn't find a club official or a fan. Sitting at the small kitchen table was a man who looked like he belonged on a private jet rather than in a suburban apartment. He wore a tailored Italian suit and had a leather briefcase that probably cost more than Alex's car.
"Alex Villar," the man said, standing up with a practiced, cinematic smile. "I'm an associate of Gestifute. I believe you know our work—we represent some of the greatest names to ever touch a football. Cristiano, João Félix, the list goes on."
[System Notification: Social Analysis]
Entity: High-Level Agent Representative.
Objective: Secure representation rights before Getafe realizes your true ceiling.
Risk: Loss of autonomy over career trajectory.
Alex sat down, his Composure (87.09) acting as a natural filter against the man's charisma. He didn't look impressed by the suit or the names mentioned.
"I appreciate you coming all this way," Alex said calmly. "But why today? My phone has been off for twelve hours. Why now?"
The agent chuckled, leaning in. "Because yesterday you were a 'prospect.' Today, you are a 'phenomenon.' That pass... that wasn't just football; it was marketing gold. You have the 'Architect' brand written all over you. I'm here to make sure you don't get cheated by Getafe or some low-level agent."
He slid a document across the table. A representation contract. "Sign this, and I'll have a Nike sponsorship deal on your desk by Friday. Six figures, Alex. Just for wearing their boots."
Alex looked at the document, but his eyes were actually scanning the red text flickering in his mental vision.
[System Notification: Contract Analysis]
Clause 14.2: Grants agency 20% of image rights in perpetuity.
Hidden Fee: 15% commission on all future transfers.
System Advice: This is a "Golden Cage" contract. High immediate reward for long-term control.
Alex looked the agent in the eye. "It's a generous offer. But the image rights clause in section 14.2 is a dealbreaker. And 15% commission is 5% above the standard FIFA recommendation."
The agent's smile faltered. He expected a dazzled teenager, not a contract lawyer. "Alex, you're 15. You should be thinking about the boots and the fans, not the fine print. We handle the boring stuff."
"The boring stuff is what determines where I play in three years," Alex countered, sliding the contract back. "I'm not looking for a master. I'm looking for a partner. And right now, this looks like a bill of sale."
The agent's expression shifted. The predatory charm vanished, replaced by a cold, professional respect. He pulled a silver pen from his pocket and tapped it against the table.
"You're not like the others, are you?" the agent whispered. "Most kids your age see the Nike logo and stop reading. But you... you see the trap."
[System Notification: Negotiation Status]
Target: Gestifute Representative.
Mood: Impressed / Re-evaluating.
Reputation Gain: +50 Professional Respect (Gestifute Internal Records).
"I don't see a trap," Alex replied, his 87.09 Composure making his voice sound like a veteran's. "I see a business proposal that doesn't value my future. If I'm as good as you say, you don't need to lock me in 'in perpetuity.' You should be confident that I'll want to stay with you."
The agent began to speak, but he was interrupted by the sharp, urgent vibration of the house's landline and Alex's mobile phone simultaneously. His guardian answered the landline, his face turning pale within seconds.
"Alex... it's Rubén García. The Sporting Director," his guardian stammered, covering the receiver. "He sounds... panicked. He says we need to be at the club offices in thirty minutes. No excuses."
The agent smirked, standing up and adjusting his cufflinks. "I'll save you the suspense, Alex. Rubén is panicked because my office isn't the only one that saw the Atletico game. A formal inquiry arrived this morning at 9:00 AM from Germany."
Alex felt a jolt in his chest. [Tactical Awareness] immediately began scanning the European landscape.
"Bayer Leverkusen," the agent continued, heading toward the door. "They love young architects. They don't care about your age; they care about your 10-million-euro release clause—which, after yesterday, looks like a clearance sale. Getafe is about to try and triple your clause before the Germans land in Madrid."
[System Notification: Urgent Event - The German Shadow]
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga).
Interest Level: High.
Scenario: Getafe is about to pressure you into a 'loyalty' contract to raise your release clause to 40M.
The agent stopped at the door, handing Alex a different card—this one was private. "Think about what I said. Don't sign anything at the club until you call me. You've proven you can read a contract, Alex. Now prove you can survive a boardroom ambush."
As the black sedan pulled away, Alex stood in the doorway. He looked at the System.
[Strategic Opportunity]
Option A: Stay at Getafe (Safe, guaranteed minutes, slow growth).
Option B: Force the Leverkusen move (High risk, world-class facilities, Bundesliga pressure).
"Leverkusen," Alex whispered, the name tasting like cold steel. "The road to the top just got much shorter."
The atmosphere in Rubén García's office was thick with the smell of stale coffee and pure, unadulterated panic. Rubén wasn't alone this time; two members of the club's board were present, their faces pale, looking like men who hadn't slept since the final whistle at the Derby.
As soon as Alex entered, Rubén stood up and locked the door behind him. There was no small talk.
"Alex, we're in a situation... or rather, we are facing a historic crossroads," Rubén began, wiping sweat from his brow. "Bayer Leverkusen's offer arrived officially this morning. They are prepared to trigger your €10 million release clause immediately. In cash."
Alex sat down, his hand resting flat on the mahogany table.
[System Notification: Target Analysis - Rubén García]
Stress Level: 92% (He fears being fired for losing a generational talent for a 'low' fee).
Primary Objective: Force you to sign a contract amendment to raise the release clause to €50 Million.
"Alex, listen to us," one of the board members said, his voice dripping with forced emotion. "You are Getafe's son. The fans are already chanting your name. Leverkusen will put you in their youth academy and forget about you. Here, we are ready to promote you to the First Team for daily training sessions immediately. You will wear the Number 10 for Getafe B starting next week."
Alex tilted his head slightly. "And the price?"
The room went silent. Rubén García cleared his throat. "A simple adjustment. We will double your current salary, but the release clause must become €50 million. We want to 'protect' you from clubs trying to steal you."
[System Notification: Logic Check]
The €50M Clause: This is a 'Golden Prison.' Big clubs won't pay that for a 15-year-old yet, effectively trapping you at Getafe for years.
The First Team Promise: Purely verbal. There is no legal guarantee of match minutes.
Alex looked at Rubén with his 87.09 Composure. "Do you want to 'protect' me, or do you just want to hike the price of the sale?"
Rubén's face hardened. "Alex, don't be ungrateful. We gave you the platform when you were coming back from injury."
"And I gave you a Derby win and a market value you never dreamed of," Alex countered, his voice quiet but unshakable. "If you want me to sign for €50 million, I want guarantees. I want a contract clause that ensures I feature in at least 5 La Liga matches for the First Team before the end of the season. And I want 10% of my future transfer fee for my family."
The pen dropped from Rubén's hand. "Ten percent? And La Liga minutes? You're fifteen!"
"And the clause is fifty million," Alex said, standing up. "That's the price for playing with the big boys. Either we are partners, or let me go to Germany to see what the future looks like there."
[System Notification: Negotiation Critical Point]
Director's Reaction: Shock / Hesitation.
Leverage: Maximum.
Rubén García stared at Alex as if he were seeing a stranger. The quiet boy who used to just nod and train had vanished, replaced by a cold-blooded negotiator.
"Ten percent of a fifty-million-euro transfer? That's five million euros, Alex! No club in Spain gives that kind of percentage to a youth player," Rubén hissed, his voice cracking. "And the La Liga minutes... Coach Quique Flores makes the decisions, not the board. We can't force him to play a fifteen-year-old."
Alex didn't blink. He reached into his pocket and placed his phone on the table. The screen was already active, showing a FaceTime call with a familiar name: Gestifute Associate.
[System Notification: Tactical Gambit]
Action: Involving the 'Super-Agent'.
Impact: Immediate shift in power dynamics.
Risk: Getafe might see this as an act of war.
"I'm not a lawyer, Rubén," Alex said calmly. "That's why I called someone who is. He's been listening to this entire conversation."
The voice from the phone filled the room—sharp, confident, and dangerously professional. "Rubén, it's been a while. My client's demands are not only reasonable; they are necessary. If you want a fifty-million-euro asset, you have to treat him like one. Either give him the 'Step-Up' protection and the percentage, or we fly to Leverkusen tomorrow morning. Their flight is already booked."
The two board members looked at each other in terror. Losing Alex to Leverkusen for 10 million was bad, but losing him to Leverkusen because they were "cheap" was a PR nightmare that would get them fired by the fans.
[System Notification: Decision Matrix]
Rubén's Stress Level: 98% (Critical).
Likelihood of Acceptance: 91%.
Rubén slumped back into his chair, looking defeated. He grabbed the phone, muted it, and looked at Alex. "You really have no loyalty to the colors, do you? It's all just numbers to you."
"I have loyalty to my career," Alex replied, his 87.09 Composure making him sound like a veteran. "I want to win here, but I won't be a bird in a cage while you wait for the highest bidder. Give me the path to the First Team, and I'll give you the fifty-million-euro signature."
Rubén grabbed a fresh sheet of paper and began scribbling. "Fine. Five La Liga appearances by June. Ten percent of the profit on the next sale, not the total fee. And the Number 10 shirt for the B-Team. This is the absolute limit, Alex. Sign it, or get out."
[System Notification: Objective Achieved]
Reward: Early First Team Access.
Financial Gain: Future 10% Profit Share.
Reputation: [Boardroom Conqueror] — Management now respects and fears your intellect.
"Deal," Alex said, taking the pen.
As he signed his name, the System erupted in a shower of golden light that only he could see.
[Achievement Unlocked: The First Team Gateway]
Bonus: +2,000 System Credits.
New Quest: The Debut. (Appear in a La Liga match).
Alex walked out of the office, leaving the stunned directors behind. As he reached the hallway, he saw a notification on his phone. It wasn't from the agent. It was a text from an unknown German number:
"Congratulations on the new contract, Alex. We'll be watching your first five games very closely. Don't get too comfortable in Madrid. — B.L."
The "Golden Cage" had been upgraded, but the doors were finally starting to creak open
The next morning, Alex didn't turn toward the youth academy pitches. Instead, he walked toward Pitch 1, where the luxury cars were parked and journalists hovered near the fences. This was the sanctuary of the Getafe First Team.
As he entered the locker room, the difference was visceral. Here, the bodies were massive, the faces were hardened by years of professional combat, and the air smelled of intense muscle rub and serious focus. No one greeted him with a hug; he was met with cold, piercing stares that asked: "Is this the kid worth 50 million?"
[System Notification: High-Tier Environment]
Location: First Team Training (La Liga Level).
Tempo Level: +40% faster than the U-19s.
Warning: Your current Sprint Speed (56.5) and Strength (42.0) will be under extreme duress.
The session began with a high-intensity 5-vs-5 rondo in a tight space. Alex found himself facing seasoned La Liga defenders. Here, time didn't exist. The second Alex touched the ball, he was swarmed by muscle and bone. They didn't just press; they used elbows and body weight to erase his space.
[System Analysis: Level Gap]
Tactical Awareness (89.50): Working at maximum capacity, but your body isn't responding fast enough.
Result: Possession lost twice in the first two minutes.
"Wake up, kid!" a veteran defender barked, shoving him aside. "This isn't the schoolyard. If you're too slow, go fetch the water bottles."
Alex felt the sting in his shoulder, but he summoned his Composure (87.09). He realized he couldn't compete with them physically—he had to use his mind as a shield. He began dropping deeper, scanning the defenders' movements before the ball even reached his feet.
On the next play, the ball zipped toward Alex. He didn't try to dribble. With a single, lightning-fast flick (The Compass Touch), he sent a "blind" through-ball that threaded the needle between three defenders, putting the starting striker one-on-one with the keeper.
A brief silence followed. Head Coach Quique Sánchez Flores, watching from the sidelines, made a slow, deliberate note in his folder.
[System Notification: Tempo Adaptation]
Experience Gained: +200 Credits (Adapting to La Liga Speed).
Status: You have earned the "Silent Respect" of the veterans.
The session ended, and Alex felt like he had been hit by a truck. But as he walked off the pitch, he was smiling. He had signed the contract, entered the lion's den, and now the real countdown to his professional debut had begun.
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The next chapter will contain a surprise.