The 30-minute intra-squad training match ended in a blink.
Other than that one stunning assist, Su Bai had created nothing else.
As a striker with a stat line of zero shots, he was given the usual empty words of comfort by North George, just as everyone had expected.
Watching the Dortmund U18 players file off the pitch one by one, Su Bai sighed and turned back to the sideline, quietly packing up his jersey and boots.
He'd arrived at Dortmund with just this bag.
That morning, before heading to the training ground, he'd already stuffed his passport and all his documents inside.
The dormitory was inside the club complex, a fair walk away—unlike the training pitch, which sat right by the main entrance.
Su Bai had long known how this would end, so he had no intention of going back to his room.
Just like Uncle Li from the Chinese FA had told him, his flight home had already been booked the night before.
The training ground was now completely empty, save for Su Bai alone.
He peeled off the Borussia Dortmund jersey he was wearing, then his shorts too.
He was leaving in defeat, but he didn't want to take a single thing that belonged to the club.
He didn't even want the kit.
Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Su Bai put on the pair of boots he'd brought from China and slowly walked out of the lavish Borussia Dortmund complex.
The security guard at the gate didn't even glance at him.
Su Bai pulled a loaf of bread he'd bought himself out of his bag and took a big bite, washing it down with mineral water, eating as if he didn't have a care in the world.
If he didn't have his system, he might have felt down right now.
But ever since the system activated, he'd had nothing to worry about.
If Dortmund didn't want him, it was their loss, not his.
Someday, he would make Borussia Dortmund regret letting him go.
But just a few steps later…
A strange old man stepped in front of him.
"Leaving already?"
The man spoke in perfect English.
Su Bai looked up, confused.
"What?"
He had no idea who this guy was. Total stranger.
Su Bai wasn't in the mood to talk, so he tried to walk around him and kept eating his bread.
"Tell me—you interested in trying out for Schalke 04?"
Schalke 04?
Su Bai turned around and studied the man properly.
He wore old, worn clothes, but his hair was combed neatly, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine.
"What are you on about, old man?"
Seeing Su Bai finally showing some interest, the old man smiled.
"Gonna slink back home like this?"
"What else? My flight's already booked. If I'm late, I won't get home at all!"
"What time's your flight?"
"Seven in the evening."
The old man checked his watch.
It was 10:50 in the morning.
"Plenty of time before seven. Wanna go try your luck at Schalke?"
Su Bai hesitated.
The system mission was all he could think about right then.
That reward was way too tempting.
Who knew? Maybe it'd be another Max Stat Card. Then he could finally max out the shooting stat he'd wanted all along.
"I don't know anyone there. They won't give me a chance."
"Also, I've got no money. Don't even think about asking for a fee."
"And don't try anything funny. I know martial arts!"
Su Bai wasn't naive. There were plenty of scammers who targeted young kids like him.
And despite his young appearance, in his past life, he'd been a hardcore keyboard warrior online—he'd seen everything.
The old man laughed at his suspicion.
"Haha, relax. No fees, and I don't want your organs. Do I look like a scammer to you?"
"Maybe."
The old man smiled.
"My car's over there. Schalke 04 isn't far. Their training's probably still going. Why not just go and try?"
Without waiting for Su Bai's answer, he turned and walked toward a beat-up old car by the road.
Su Bai wrapped up his bread, wiped his hands, and followed.
For the mission reward, he'd risk it.
If anything felt off, he'd just knock the old man out cold first.
But once he got in the car, Su Bai relaxed.
A camera was in the back, and the man's press pass was lying on the seat.
"You're a journalist?"
"Yep… sort of. Amateur journalist, amateur scout. Guess you could say I'm a jack-of-all-trades."
The old man nodded at the glove compartment. "Open it."
Inside was a scouting license.
Su Bai was stunned.
This guy was bold—scouting a player right under the noses of Dortmund, Schalke's local rivals!
"Haha, being a journalist makes scouting a whole lot easier, trust me."
Su Bai didn't know what to say to the proud old man.
The car rumbled along slowly, just like its owner.
Su Bai stared out the window, bored.
Having grown up with smartphones, Su Bai still hadn't gotten used to being in 2010.
No Douyin, no live streams. As a former keyboard warrior, his only hobby was playing Pro Evolution Soccer.
But this was still the 2010 version of PES. After getting used to high-definition graphics, even the game didn't interest him much.
"You always play as a striker?" the old man asked, noticing his boredom.
"Yeah! Back in China, I was the striker for my school team."
Su Bai knew he was unskilled. He'd already been at Dortmund when he transmigrated, and he still had no idea how the original Su Bai had been picked for that ten-man trial group.
From what little memory he had, the guy's dad was just loaded.
"No wonder you've never had proper formal football training." The old man nodded as if everything made sense.
Su Bai sighed helplessly.
At 17, it was too late to fix his basic skills.
But then he thought about his system, and his energy returned. The system mentioned a training mode, which would definitely make him stronger.
Excited, he sat up straight.
"Ever thought about switching positions? Playing in midfield? Maybe as an attacking midfielder?"
The idea made Su Bai frown.
"What's fun about passing? I love scoring goals. Passing to someone else to finish… it's just not the same."
Suddenly, Su Bai thought back to his assist a little earlier.
Ever since he'd maxed out his passing stat, his passes felt completely different.
Everyone thought he'd gotten lucky, but he knew he could pull off passes like that again and again.
"I think you're far more talented in midfield than anywhere else."
The old man had a sharp eye.
Everyone else had written Su Bai's pass off as luck. But a pass like that, with that angle and technique? Could anyone really just fluke it?
This kid wasn't bad—he was just playing the wrong position.
If he could keep delivering passes like that…
The old man had just stumbled upon a hidden gem.
Thrilled, he slammed his foot down on the gas.
VROOM VROOM!
But the old banger clearly didn't appreciate being treated so roughly. It roared a few times but didn't speed up at all.
In the end, the old man sighed and continued at his slow pace, heading toward the Schalke 04 club building.
Schalke 04…
Su Bai leaned against the window and stared blankly ahead.