All Soccer Abilities Are Now Mine! - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: CHAPTER 27 – The Place with Dreams and Skills (1)

<The Place with Dreams and Skills (1)>

Ho Yung had already predicted that he would win the Golden Ball the day before the ceremony.

It was because director Carlos had said it to him with certainty.

There was the worry of Ho Yung being a foreigner, but he was the protagonist of victory.

There would be no disagreements.

Because of that, he could decide which skill to select the night before.

It was soccer genius (A-).

As much as it was the time to focus on developing skills, the first priority was skills that would help his development.

If he couldn’t obtain an L-rank skill.

However, there was one concern.

If his soccer prodigy (B+2) becomes absorbed by the soccer genius (A-), then the struggles he went through to develop the skill would be meaningless.

But what’s this?

[Soccer prodigy (B+3)^]

[Soccer genius (A-)^]

The skill level increased, as expected.

[Soccer genius (A)^]

There was an unexpected result.

The combined skill level wasn’t A-, but A.

“Wow….”

Ho Yung tightly clutched the Golden Ball trophy that he had received from the president of the league and internally expressed his delight.

‘This is a jackpot.’

He had been anticipating it, but he didn’t know that it would actually happen.

He couldn’t be happy just yet; there were still some queries.

‘Something’s a bit weird.’

(A-) + (A-) is an A, but (B+2) + (A-) is also an A?

Wasn’t this an incoherent theory?

Ho Yung wasn’t an idiot who couldn’t notice these things.

‘This means….’

If he thought about the process of his skill development, he could find out a method of calculation.

‘Mmm, there are a lot of variables.’

He wasn’t sure yet, but there was one thing that he knew for certain.

Patu’s skill was very high in the A- grade range.

That was why it resulted in an A grade when combined with Ho Yung’s B+2.

The important thing was that his efforts weren’t for nothing.

That was all he needed to know.

[It will take 30 days to fully absorb the skill. You cannot take more skills for 30 days.]

‘This one takes quite a while.’

There were 30 days until he would be the greatest future star in Asian history.

And.

‘There isn’t much time left.’

Professional soccer.

He felt like there weren’t too many steps until his debut.

He was only just 11, but it didn’t seem too far away.

‘The world record was 13 years.’

He remembered it clearly.

In 2016, a soccer prodigy that came out of Messi’s country, Argentina.

At 13 years old, a child named Roa debuted in the Argentina league.

That wasn’t the only one, there were many other records in the world.

Ho Yung’s future days looked bright enough for him to take all of those records.

However, there was one condition.

‘I need to at least raise my physical features.’

There wouldn’t be a director that would let a 150cm boy stand on the stage of professional soccer.

He could grow over 160cm next year, but being tall wasn’t all.

Stamina was the basic, and he needed to grow his competence to last in a fight against a grownup.

Because of that reason, the preseason was very important.

A fork in the road.

Would he spend a few more years in youth, or step into the shoes of a professional player early, even if it is just a year?

A fast debut wasn’t always a good thing, but meeting the qualifications was an important factor.

‘It’s going to get busy.’

He felt like it would be a preseason busier than the regular season.

2003, 8th of November, Saturday.

The second semester of Brazil had ended.

Ho Yung stepped into South Korea, greeted by a breezy autumn wind that came every now and then.

Thanks to the tickets that the local support officer for foreigners, Lukas Kim, had given him, he could fly back for free.

He said that it was a kind of complimentary ticket for Ho Yung, who had given his team the victory, but from what he heard, it was supplied by the leaders of the FC.

Thump thump!

Everything felt so real.

All the amazing achievements and activities he had accomplished in this year.

And.

“Let’s see~”

Ho Yung hurriedly turned his head side to side after carrying a heavy bag through the entry gate.

It was at that moment.

The thing that put a smile on his face.

“Ho Yung!”

At the sight of his family that he hadn’t seen in 9 months, Ho Yung couldn’t help but smile.

“Eugh, dad’s beard.”

“Hahaha. When did our son grow this much?”

After rubbing cheeks with Hwang Sun Wu, hug time with Hi Sun Kim was waiting.

“My baby. It must’ve been so hard. You’ve done well.”

The family reunion ended with Hi Sun’s eyes becoming red with tears.

The family was just about to go out of the airport to eat something tasty.

“Hello!”

What was it now?

It was a man in his 20s with a camera on his shoulder and a notebook in his hand.

They knew just from looking at that.

“Are you a reporter?”

“Ah, haha. Yes. Hello, Ho Yung’s mother and father. I am reporter Tae Suk Hwang from Daily Sports.”

How he had found them was a mystery, but the request for an interview arose.

After listening to the request for an interview if it didn’t bother the family, Ho Yung accepted.

However, he wanted to spend time with his family, he finished the interview in 3 minutes.

That day was the best day of his life so far.

The best part was being able to eat everything he always wanted to eat.

He had missed Korean food so much.

And after the meals, he spent a leisurely time at home.

He wanted to recharge in the one day off he had for the entire year.

The home he had returned to was nice, as usual.

If there was something that had changed, it was his 3-year-old younger brother who had grown.

“Brother.”

“Ho Il, you can sleep with your brother for today.”

“Yep.”

“You’ll be proud of me later on.”

“Huh?”

“By the time you’re in elementary school, I’ll be running in a famous soccer club. Haha. If you tell everyone that your brother is friends with Messi, they’ll be surprised.”

There was also one more thing that had changed.

The members in his fan cafe had grown from 1000 to over 20,000.

He didn’t know because he had focused on soccer in Brazil, but there was a hero that had revived his fan club.

[Writer: Power brother.]

Hello. I’m power brother, the source of information for WoahWoah fan club. I bring good news today too. According to my sources, it looks like Ho Yung will skip a grade soon.

– Is that true?

– First the Golden ball, now skipping a grade?

– Does that mean he is going to the U14?

– There probably isn’t a U14.

– Wow! He’s the best~!

“What is this guy. Is he the owner of the club or something?”

Skipping a grade, that was something that even Ho Yung hadn’t heard or seen anything about.

“Fuhahaha!”

Since this was an anti-fan who had turned into a hardcore fan, it was a sight that brought up laughter.

“Ho Yung?”

Hi Sun put an end to Ho Yung’s laughter.

The couple who had entered the room were holding Ho Yung’s bags.

“What’s all this?”

“Oh right. That’s money.”

It was as he said; it was money that was in the bags.

Not one or two stacks, but bundles.

It was full of bundles of Korean $10 notes that shined a bright jade green colour.

Hi Sun spoke as if she was reasoning with him.

“Ho Yung. I know that. I’m asking where you got all this money.”

“Why are you acting without asking? Our distinguished son obviously brought it for us. Haha!”

Hwang Sun spoke jokingly, while Hi Sun had a worried look in her eyes.

Ho Yung responded to both of them.

“That’s right.”

“Mmm?”

“That’s right. That’s the return present I got for you both.”

Money is the best.

And the best kind of money was in cash.

To the couple, the return present of $6300 from Ho Yung was a lot of money.

For the surprised parents, Ho Yung revealed the origins of the money to them.

The $6300 was the combination of the allowance and performance-based benefits, as well as the incentive money.

Usually, the money for winning is given considering the player’s contribution, and is divided into 5 classes and separated into differential payments, but Ho Yung could receive $4000 because he had the highest class.

“How could a child be so distinctive?”

“Why, that’s because he’s our son. He’s a bundle of luck.”

As the couple lay down to sleep, they couldn’t close their eyes.

It was a lot of money, but more than anything, they were proud that their young son had those thoughts.

“Eldest sons are the best.”

“Even then, how would he have thought to…. We should at least put some into Ho Yung’s savings.”

“Haha. Well, you take care of that since you are wiser than me in that. Are the kids asleep?”

It was a night where the smiles never left.

The next day.

“Ho Yung? Ho Yung?”

Ho Yung’s eyes opened a little at Hi Sun Kim’s voice.

“Mmm. Yep… 5 more minutes…”

“You’ve got a call from the director.”

“What?!”

Ho Yung’s eyes snapped open.

“Director Carlos? The season’s ended, so why is he calling?”

“No, Director Cha. He wants to see you today, if possible.”

“Ah!”

‘Right. He told me to contact him when I returned.”

12 pm.

The Sunday afternoon had suddenly become busy.

Ho Yung went down together to Suwon with Hwang Sun.

It was because Cha Bum Gon, who was scheduled to be the director for the Suwon Shinsung Bluewings next year was going to be there.

The place they arrived at after 30 minutes of driving was a traditional Korean restaurant near Suwon.

It was Cha Bum Gon’s mindset to treat his guests.

“Ho Yung, you’ve been working hard.”

“Thank you!”

“Haha. Yes, eat a lot. There are no other additional plans?”

“Yep.”

Since they had kept in touch even when he was in Brazil, Cha Bum Gon knew his schedule.

That was also the reason why he wanted to meet him today.

“Mr. Wu, I’ve said this before, but overseas expeditions will be a good experience for Ho Yung. Since it is the preseason, he has a lot of time. What about it, Ho Yung? The dream tree expedition, do you want to do it?”

“Dream tree… expedition?”

It was the first time hearing about it.

Hwang Sun had already heard about it, but he hadn’t told Ho Yung because it might have interrupted his competitive flow.

Cha Bum Gon explained it thoroughly.

“From the 18th of next month?”

“Yes.”

Dream tree expedition.

It was a project backed by the Shinsung Group, Cha Bum Gon and the Korean Soccer Agency, and was an overseas expedition by FC Dream, which consisted of aspiring soccer players who would be responsible for the future of soccer in Korea.

The team of elite players were to compete in a small youth competition.

The players’ ages were to be below 13.

The timeframe was from the 18th of December to the 17th of January.

For Ho Yung, who had nothing scheduled, this was an opportunity he could not miss.

All he needed to do was let his soccer club know.

“But is it something anyone can go to? Even me?”

“You silly boy. Don’t you think I would’ve reserved a spot for you in advance?”

“Haha. Thank you.”

The expedition was to consist of 11 players who had won the Cha Bum Gon award along with 3 players who would be nominated by the Korean Soccer Agency, and Cha Bum Gon was planning to nominate Ho Yung for that spot.

He didn’t have a good relationship with the leaders of the Agency, but he had more than enough power to do so.

“Then let’s go with that.”

“Yes. I definitely want to go!”

There was no reason to reject, especially since Cha Bum Gon had taken care of things like this.

“But am I just going to play matches there?”

“You’ll play matches, train with other future stars, as well as spectate other soccer matches.

“Wow…!”

Thump Thump!

His heart couldn’t refrain from beating harder at the mention of future stars.

“What team are we going to battle?”

“Haha. Do you want to know that already?”

Of course.

He couldn’t help but be curious.

The place that the expedition was held was a country with deep ties to Cha Bum Gon.

The heaven of future stars.

Germany.