“Haa… haa…”
Julian’s chest rose and fell as he took deep, steady breaths, his eyes closed.
He stood a few meters away from the ball that was placed on the penalty spot, facing the open goal post.
Opening his eyes, Julian ran up to the ball.
He firmly placed the left foot next to the ball, leaned back slightly, his right arm went up automatically, centering his balance.
His right foot went up before quickly coming down.
-thud-
The ball made a dull thud as his leg followed through, striking it with the inside of his foot.
The ball slid into the bottom right corner, skimming past the post with a ghost of a touch.
“Goal!”
Julian held a clenched fists in the air as he celebrated, enjoying the simple moment without a care in the world.
–ding–
A chime sounded in his mind, followed by the appearance of the status window, breaking him out of the celebration spirit.
[Finishing +(0.1)]
“Oh?” He muttered.
“I can increase my attributes by training?”
[Yes. How else did you think you’re going to get better?]
“I thought you were going to give me missions.”
[…how did you know?]
Julian walked up to the ball.
“Stuff like this is everywhere in my previous world.” And picked it up.
[…Right.]
Julian placed the ball at the edge of the penalty area before taking measured steps back.
“So when are you going to give me my first mission?”
His chest rose and fell steadily as he took deep breaths.
[Tomorrow…]
Julian bursted forward with speed, kicking up blades of grass.
[…when you take the trials at the academy.]
Mini-ball’s last words caused Julian to slice the ball, sending it past the wide-open goalpost.
“…what did you just say?” He asked, eyes on the floating ball next to his head.
[When you take the trials at the academy.] Mini-ball repeated.
“The academy?”
[Yes. The Ashton Imperial Academy.]
“Fuck.” Julian took another ball that was off to the side and placed it where he put the first.
“Does this mean I have to go to school?”
[I don’t know how they do it in your world. But in my world, when you’re sixteen, you go to school.]
“My world has the same thing, dude. It’s just…” he hesitated for a few beats.
“I’m not very good academically.”
[I figured that out from the very first moment I met you.]
“And what the fuck is that supposed t–”
[What I’m trying to say is,] Mini-ball cut him off.
[All you need to do is attend classes and come exam times, just write down whatever I tell you.]
Julian’s eye twitched a little at getting so disrespectfully cut off, but he let it go, for now.
“Basically you’re saying I’m the brawns and you’re the brain.”
[Exactly.]
The ball moved up and down, a action which Julian could only assume is meant to convey nodding.
“I presume this is also the way I’m going to help you save your family? You’ll tell me what to do and I’ll do it, depending on if it comes in direct conflict with my own goals.”
[You catch on faster than I thought.]
“That is what you call street smarts.” Julian stepped back a few steps, measuring up the ball.
“And sometimes it is more important than book smarts.”
-thud–
The ball flew towards the goal, swerving slightly against the air currents, hitting the middle of the net before dropping.
[Technique +(0.1)]
[There’s still a lot of rust on you skills.]
“Tch. Fuck you.”
********
The sun was just begin its steady descend when Julian stepped out of the stadium after a few hours, wearing the same clothes he came in but the sweat still clung to his skin, making him feel in desperate need of a shower.
“Young Master.” Mira pushed off of the limo she leaned against when she saw him approach, his eyes unable to hide the enjoyment.
“It seems you’ve thoroughly enjoyed yourself.”
“That is indeed the case.” He said with a small smile, stepping into the limo as Mira held the door open for him.
The ride back to the hotel went fast, faster than thought possible, with Julian’s eyes closed and fingers digging into leather seats the entire time.
He said a stiff goodbye to Mira, trying to hide his shaking legs, before he went up into the penthouse to take a well needed shower.
“Damn.” Julian sucked through his teeth, laying on the bed dressed in a loose night gown.
“The Valecrest Family is a bigger deal than I thought.”
Mini-ball just gave him the gist of the Valecrest Family, but even that was enough to make him curse in amazement.
According to Mini-ball, the Valecrest Family is one of only three Grand Dukedoms across the entire Ashton Empire.
They earned that title decades ago due to their role in technology and social media, being the world’s frontrunner in Artificial Intelligence, gaming, cellphone production, quantum technology, social apps, online banking, etc.
Basically anything to do with technology and media.
Their business empire is spread far and wide, with even the most remote places having at least a company belonging to them.
And because of this, the Valecrest Family is sitting with quantillions in banks, banks that they own themselves.
“Damn.” Julian cursed again at the sheer number of money that he now had access to.
Back on Earth, the concept of having that amount of money didn’t even exist, and now here he was, able to use it without a care.
But not everything is butterflies and roses, as the Valecrest Family is in danger of crumbling and losing it all.
A couples of months ago, the Patriarch of the family suddenly died, leaving the company and the family in the hands of his two children.
The sixteen year old son, Julian, and the twenty-six year old daughter, Giselle.
And like in every kingdom, when the alpha of the pack is gone, the foxes start circling.
For the last couple of months, there has been constant attempts from enemies and allies alike to destabilize the Valecrest Family, but they are barely holding on due to the efforts and business genuis of Giselle.
“You knew that your family was in danger of collapse and that you’re the only family Giselle had left, but still you tried to kill yourself.” Juliann paused, gazed locked on the floating football.
“Why? Why did you do it?”
[…]
Mini-ball stared at Julian, a loss for words.
Or rather, he didn’t want to say anything.
[I don’t want to talk about it.]
“Fine, then.” Julian removed his gaze from Mini-ball.
“For someone who prides themselves on their intellect, that was a pretty stupid thing to do.”
[…]
Mini-ball had no retort this time, probably feeling guilty, or regret for his actions.
Julian couldn’t tell.
“Anyway,” Julian chose to break the awkward silence.
“Tell me about the trials.”
[I don’t know much about football since I’ve never had any interest in it, but every year, a month after the school year starts, the trials for various sports take place. These trials are fierce and competitive, with thousands of the continent’s most elite children vying for a place in the team of their respective sports.]
“So I just need to outperform a bunch of sixteen year olds?” A confident smile crossed Julian’s features.
“Sounds easy enough.”
[Did I mention that they are some of the most elite sixteen year old in the entire continent?]
“Yep.”
[Did I mention that my body has never underwent any physical training, ever?]
“Nope, but duelly noted.”
[And did I mention that failing was not an option?]
“It never was.”