章 79: Chapter 79: Dominated!

"Well, we're going to have a meeting with those... the top executives of the Football Association!"

Anri said with a smile.

"Let's go. Mr. Ego is already in the car!"

As she finished speaking, Anri immediately stepped forward and opened the car door for Kira.

"Thank you very much."

Kira nodded and got into the car, where a slender man was already seated.

Ego Jinpachi.

"It's been a long time since we've had a meaningful face-to-face meeting, hasn't it?"

Ego pushed his glasses up and turned to Kira. Since coming to the Blue lock, Ego had only communicated with the players through cameras and screens and had never met them in person.

His voice was deep, and he had a gloomy demeanor that made him the type of person strangers would try to avoid.

Although Kira didn't fully agree with Ego's somewhat absurd football philosophy, he had to admit that Ego was indeed a capable person and someone who genuinely valued football.

"It has been some time indeed."

Kira replied with a smile.

Ego carefully scrutinized Kira for a few seconds, as if contemplating something, but in the end, he didn't say much. He simply turned his head and said to Anri:

"Anri, let's get ready to leave."

...

About an hour later, Anri drove to the headquarters of the Football Association.

"Well, I'll go ahead. I have to pick someone up. Anri, you take Kira to his destination. Kira, I'll contact you again in three days."

After leaving these few words, Ego simply got out of the car and walked into the building alone.

After Anri inquired about Kira's destination, she started the car again and drove in that direction.

"Ego-san always seems very indifferent."

Kira turned his head and said, but Ego's figure was already out of sight.

"That's true. Ego-san does have a very peculiar personality, but he really cares about football. Compared to those parasites in the Football Association... Haha, never mind, don't mind me."

Anri realized she was being too talkative and quickly changed the subject.

Although she was aware that the higher-ups in the Football Association were incompetent and only cared about their own interests, as a lowly employee, she couldn't freely express her opinions.

"Is the destination a gym? Aren't you going home first, Kira?"

Anri asked.

"Aida Gym... sounds familiar."

"I'm going to see my girlfriend first. Besides, I live alone now, so I'm not in a hurry to go back."

Kira replied candidly.

Today was the weekend, and Riko didn't have to go to school. She was still in the gym at her house, and in the afternoon, she would go to the stadium to prepare for the final training with the team before the match.

"Oh, a girlfriend... huh?! Girlfriend! Kira, you have a girlfriend?!"

Anri was somewhat surprised.

"Right, Miss Anri, look ahead! Look ahead! You're driving!!"

Kira's eyes revealed a second expression of fear, the first being when he saw Riko's cooking.

"Oh, oh, oh, I'm really sorry!"

Anri quickly turned her gaze forward.

"Why are you so surprised, Miss Anri?"

"I just didn't expect you to have a girlfriend at such a young age. You should be a high school student!"

"It's quite normal at this age, isn't it? I never thought Miss Anri would be so conservative. Does that mean you've never been in a relationship?"

"Well..."

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Anri's face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

Yes, Anri, female, twenty-two years old, and single.

With her outstanding looks, she had no shortage of suitors. However, once others discovered her somewhat clumsy personality and her strong obsession with football, most of them chose to keep their distance.

"Miss Anri, don't cover your face! Hold onto the steering wheel, hold onto the steering wheel!"

"Oh, oh, oh, sorry!"

Kira could feel that getting into Anri's car was the worst decision he had ever made in his life. Sweat was even starting to form on his forehead.

After several tens of minutes, Anri finally arrived at their destination. Prior to this, Kira had called Riko to let her know that he was coming back early. Riko was already waiting at the entrance of the gym.

"This is it."

Anri parked the car and then turned her head to look at Kira.

"So, this is Kira's girlfriend? She's quite beautiful. They really make a good-looking couple!"

Anri smiled and continued to scan the surroundings. She noticed that there was another man standing next to Riko.

"Wait a minute..."

Anri immediately recognized the person's identity.

"Kagetora Aida!"

She quickly got out of the car and walked briskly towards Kagetora. There seemed to be a gleam in her eyes.

"Excuse me, are you... Kagetora Aida, the senior player?"

Anri was aware of Kagetora's identity. Although she was currently a member of the Football Association, she used to follow various sports events when she was younger.

And Kagetora was a former key member of the national basketball team!

Although he had retired long ago, Kagetora still had a considerable influence in the sports world. Many well-known athletes sought him out for personalized training schedules, and he had good relationships with many high-ranking officials in the sports industry.

"Ah, that's right."

Kagetora was startled by Anri's sudden reaction.

Anri finally realized that the name of this gym sounded familiar. It turned out to be owned by Kagetora.

The person next to him should be Kagetora's daughter...

In a roundabout way, Kagetora was Kira's future father-in-law!

No wonder, the snobbish president of the Football Association had specifically instructed her and Ego to take care of Kira.

So that's how it is!

Anri didn't expect that Kira had this connection as well.

"Thank you for your help, Miss Anri."

After getting out of the car, Kira greeted Anri before approaching Riko.

At the same time, Riko's attention was fixed on Anri, and she couldn't help but glance down at her own chest.

A world of difference!

It was like comparing a straight line with a curve of enormous amplitude.

Riko involuntarily took a step back.

"Well then, I'll take my leave! We'll be in touch later!"

Anri waved goodbye to Kira and drove away.

"Who was that just now?"

Riko turned her head to look at Kira and immediately asked, pouting slightly, as if feeling jealous.

"She's one of the staff members at the Blue lock. They happened to be passing by and gave me a ride back."

Kira answered promptly.

"Oh, I see."

Riko nodded, her straightforward personality not dwelling on it. At the same time, a smile of anticipation appeared on her face.

"Kira! You must be hungry since you've just come back. I've prepared a very sumptuous lunch for you! I made everything myself."

"Everything...?"

Kira's pupils shook, and he turned his head slightly to look at Kagetora.

But Kagetora had an expression that seemed to say, "If you don't eat it, who will?"

"This is the lunch my precious daughter made for you. Make sure to eat every single bit of it."

...

Headquarters of the Football Association, conference room.

"Superstar demands an appearance fee of one hundred million? And an additional one million bonus for every goal scored?"

"How much more money are you going to spend on this ridiculous plan?"

"They can't possibly win. What's the point of doing this? Explain yourself!"

The executives of the Football Association questioned Ego with displeasure. They had only recently learned about the enormous expenses he had created, and they viewed it as nothing short of a folly.

At that moment, Ego nonchalantly sat in his chair, looking indifferent as he faced the people in front of him.

"A jade stone needs carving to become a gem. I want them to experience the world-class level at this sensitive age of theirs. I don't expect middle-aged people like you, who have already learned to give up, to have any dreams left. So shut up."

Ego showed no respect to these executives and ruthlessly mocked them.

"You impolite brat!"

Several individuals became furious and stood up from their seats.

"Alright, alright."

Just then, a corpulent man cleared his throat, and the chaotic noise in the room quieted down.

The President of the Football Association, Buratsuta Hirotoshi.

"I say, Ego, let's put an end to the Blue lock project. We have received numerous complaints from parents of high school students who are participating in the project. Moreover, the plan lacks transparency, and we can't see the full picture. You haven't presented any tangible results either. If we continue like this, it will only become a stain on our reputation besides, we've already poured a considerable amount of money into it."

Although Hirotoshi provided various reasons, his true intention was crystal clear: the Blue lock project had not brought any substantial benefits to the Football Association.

"First of all, regarding the money, two of the five players have already chosen to waive their compensation."

Ego pushed his glasses and a smile seemed to appear on his face.

"Two players have waived their compensation?"

Confusion appeared on the faces of the people present.

"That's right, because I signed contracts with them. If they lose, they won't receive a penny. Strictly speaking, they haven't lost, but still, two players have waived their compensation."

Ego stood up and simultaneously turned on the large screen, playing a secret video.

"What you're about to see is an extremely confidential video. Technically, it should never be leaked as it could affect the players' market value. After you're done watching, I will destroy it."

The gaze of the crowd focused on the large screen, and the footage gradually became clear.

In the video, it showed a segment of a face-to-face duel between Loki and Kira. Loki displayed astonishing speed, but he couldn't get past Kira.

It was just a short segment, but it was enough to cause a huge uproar.

"A superstar of Loki's caliber was actually stopped by a high school player?"

"Is it real or fake?"

"Loki must have let him win. The footage must have been sped up!"

Like a bomb exploding among these executives, they began discussing it fervently.

"There are other players in the background of the footage. We can compare their movements to determine if the video was sped up, you idiots."

After playing the segment, Ego promptly turned off the video.

Not only this segment but also footage of Kira and others confronting and gaining an advantage over top-level players had been recorded. However, it absolutely couldn't be released. Once it was released, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on these top players' public opinion.

Hirotoshi's expression turned serious. He hadn't anticipated such a turn of events.

"That's just a part of it. Let me show you the real results."

Ego extended a finger.

"Let's have a match, the Blue lock representative team against the U20 representative team!"

Upon hearing Ego's words, Hirotoshi furrowed his brows deeply.

"Nonsense! What makes those high school players from the Blue lock project capable of playing against the U20 elites?!"

Even though he had just witnessed unbelievable footage, Hirotoshi still viewed this plan as unreliable.

Because it didn't benefit him in any way.

"I contacted someone who also wants to participate in this match," Ego said, and at that moment, a person strode into the room.

Itoshi Sae.

He disregarded all the executives present, as if they were meaningless entities, and walked straight to Ego. A cunning smile appeared on the latter's face.

"Itoshi Sae will represent the U20 team in this match," Ego added.

"If we lose the game, then I agree to terminate the Blue lock project."

Meanwhile, Hirotoshi's mind was racing.

Through these words, he caught a whiff of opportunity.

Previously, Sae had asked him for the Blue lock match footage, but Hirotoshi hadn't expected that he would...

Now, Sae, who had already made a name for himself on the international stage, could finally play in the domestic league. This would undoubtedly ignite public opinion!

With just a few manipulations, Sae's appearance could continuously fill Hirotoshi's pockets with money!

Moreover, the U20 team consisted of the elite young players of the entire country. It would be a piece of cake to defeat the Blue lock team composed entirely of forwards!

By winning the game, they could openly shut down the Blue lock project, making Ego and his plan a laughingstock in sports history!

Why wouldn't he seize this opportunity?