บท 163: Sport Shoes
(Genesis POV)
I tailed Arthur through the streets, trying to stay undetected. When he suddenly stopped walking, my breath caught.
"I've been aware of you following me for quite some time now," Arthur announced, his voice carrying easily to my hiding spot. "Your attempt at stealth needs work."
Of course he spotted me! What else should I expect from someone who took me down with a single strike?
Caught out, I had no choice but to reveal myself.
Arthur turned to face me as I emerged, my heart hammering against my ribs. "So you knew all along? As expected of someone skilled enough to knock me unconscious with one blow."
"You're about as stealthy as a drunk dragon," Arthur replied flatly. "Espionage clearly isn't your forte."
Heat rushed to my face. "Haha..." What else could I say to that?
"Why are you following me?" His tone made it clear he had better things to do than chat.
"I wanted to..." I steeled myself. "Would you consider becoming my martial arts instructor? I want to learn from you."
Surprise flickered across his features. "You want me to teach you?"
I nodded eagerly. "You must be incredibly skilled! My family will pay generously for your time!"
Arthur crossed his arms. "No."
"But we're prepared to offer thousands of dollars for just a few hours!" I protested.
"The answer's still no." He shook his head dismissively. "I'm not a martial arts instructor, and thousands mean nothing when you earn millions." His snort carried years of wealth behind it.
He turned and walked away. I chased after him, offering everything from my family's secret martial arts techniques to rare magic spells. Arthur didn't even slow down. Nothing I said seemed to matter to him at all.
***
(Arthur POV)
The Whitlock family really doesn't understand. A few thousand dollars? Secret techniques? None of that is worth my time when I have entire industries to revolutionize.
My focus remained on expanding business ventures in Wales. The Evros Football Association acquisition was still in negotiation, and I had my sights set on the Welsh Premier Football Association's tournament organization.
Back in my hotel room, I spent hours strategizing plays for my team's upcoming tournament matches. The players showed promise, but they needed intensive training.
The next day at the stadium, something caught my attention during practice. My players moved awkwardly, their movements restricted. The answer literally lay at their feet - their footwear was completely wrong for the sport.
After training, they all nursed sore feet. Their boots were heavy, the leather stiff and unyielding. I'd barely noticed similar issues with my own shoes thanks to my enhanced physical control, but for regular players, this was a serious problem.
"How do your shoes feel when you play?" I asked the team.
Rhys didn't hesitate. "They're loose and slippery during sprints."
"Can't bend my ankle properly in these," another player added, demonstrating the stiff leather.
More complaints followed, each highlighting different problems with their current footwear.
This isn't just a problem - it's an opportunity.
The solution crystallized in my mind: specialized shoes designed specifically for football. I accessed the system shop, purchasing comprehensive footwear designs from my previous life.
Later that evening, I sat at my hotel desk, sketching out modifications. The shoes would need cleats for grip, flexible leather for movement, proper ankle support... This could change how the game was played entirely.
***
(3rd Person POV)
Within days, Arthur acquired Morty's Cobbler Shop, a struggling local establishment. Its owner, Morty, was a master craftsman whose traditional skills hadn't translated into business success. Arthur saw potential in both the shop and its owner, keeping Morty on as manager while redirecting his expertise toward a new vision.
Together, they produced eight pairs of prototype football boots in just two days - enough to outfit Arthur's starting lineup.
When Arthur presented the boots to his players, their initial skepticism was clear. The unusual design drew confused looks until they actually tried them on.
The difference was immediate. Players found themselves moving with new agility, their movements more precise and controlled than ever before. The boots seemed to enhance every aspect of their game.
"These are incredible!" Aidan exclaimed, executing a perfect sprint and turn that would have sent him sliding in his old boots. "Boss Arthur, these are amazing!"
Rhodori tested his pair with quick footwork. "They look strange, but the performance... I've never worn anything like them."
"Where did you even find these?" Finn asked, examining the unique cleats.
Arthur allowed himself a small smile at their enthusiasm. "Actually, I designed them myself."
"You designed these?" Rhys's jaw dropped, the team gathering around in amazement.
The players exchanged impressed looks. Their boss seemed to master everything he touched - martial arts, football, filmmaking, and now innovative footwear design. His reputation grew with each passing day.
"These will give us an edge against Arsenal Wales tomorrow!" Ioan declared confidently.
"No doubt about it," Cian agreed, still testing his new boots.
Arthur fell silent, contemplating tomorrow's match. Arsenal Wales FC represented their first real test - a chance to prove whether his innovations could truly transform the game.
The Welsh Premier League tournament was in full swing, complicating Arthur's negotiations with the Welsh Premier Football Association. The WPFA's hesitation to sell during an active tournament was understandable, even if it tested Arthur's patience.
"Wonder how my boys will handle Arsenal Wales," Arthur mused, allowing himself a quiet chuckle.
His team had developed remarkably. By his previous life's standards, they'd be considered decent players - but in this world, where football remained primitive, they were practically revolutionary. Wales Dragon FC had fallen far from their glory days of a few years ago, becoming one of the league's weaker clubs. But Arthur knew that was about to change dramatically.
***
During training sessions, Arthur couldn't ignore Genesis's persistent presence anymore. The boy's daily surveillance had grown tiresome.
When Genesis saw Arthur approaching, his eyes lit up with hope - surely now the demon would agree to become his martial arts instructor. Instead, Arthur grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the field.
"Kid, since you won't stop following me around, you might as well make yourself useful. Go train with the others!"
"What?" Genesis stood frozen, his martial arts ambitions suddenly derailed.
The football players looked equally baffled at their new training partner. None of them had expected their practice to include the notorious young noble who'd challenged their boss.
"Go on!" Arthur gave Genesis a firm push toward the waiting players.
Genesis stumbled into practice, completely out of his element. He moved like a lost duckling among the coordinated players, barely understanding the basic rules, let alone the strategic plays Arthur had been teaching.
After struggling through the first half, Genesis finally burst out in frustration. "What's the point of this stupid game? It's needlessly difficult and makes no sense!"
The team's collective glare could have melted steel.
Arthur delivered a quick smack to the back of Genesis's head. "Don't call the game stupid. The only stupid one here is you."
Genesis staggered from the light blow, but his eyes shone with admiration rather than anger. "Please, just teach me martial arts instead! I'm begging you!"
Arthur studied the persistent youth with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Tell you what - show me you can play decent football, and I might consider it."
"Really?" Genesis's face lit up with hope.
Arthur nodded, internally wondering about the Whitlock family's true motives. Were they simply seeking connections with him, or was there something more?
"I'll give it everything I've got!" Genesis declared, suddenly energized.
Arthur suppressed a smile. His real plan was simple - get the boy so absorbed in football that he'd forget about martial arts entirely. Who knew? Genesis might even discover a genuine passion for the sport along the way.
บท 164: Changes in the sport
(Genesis POV)
I'm stuck playing this ridiculous football game, but if it gets Arthur to train me in martial arts, I'll endure it.
The practice wasn't particularly strenuous - not compared to my training at the Royal Academy under Sir Horton. But Arthur clearly surpassed even Sir Horton's combat skills, which explained my parents' insistence on securing him as my instructor.
I gave the game my all, knowing Arthur wouldn't even consider training me otherwise. But these players made me look like a complete novice!
It made no sense. I clearly had superior physical training and martial arts experience, yet they outmaneuvered me at every turn. The whole thing was infuriating and humiliating.
Every time I thought I had the ball under control, someone would slip past my defense with some clever footwork and score.
"Are you even trying? You're playing like a liability out there," Finn called out, shaking his head.
"Just wait!" I shot back. "Once I figure this game out, I'll show all of you who's superior!"
But my boasting couldn't mask how far behind I was. I found myself actually having to focus on the basics - proper dribbling, ball control, accurate passing.
The next day, I swallowed my pride and visited Morty's Cobbler Shop to buy the same boots the other players wore. The difference in performance was immediate, but I still couldn't match their skill level.
As I spent my time playing football with the others, understanding gradually dawned. The more I grasped the game's nuances, the more unexpectedly fascinated I became. And in just a few hours, these players I'd been training with would face another football club in actual competition.
***
(3rd Person POV)
Wales Dragon FC faced Arsenal Wales FC on a quiet afternoon, with only a handful of spectators scattered throughout the massive stadium.
Arthur watched from the stands alongside Genesis and his coaching staff as the teams took their positions. Arsenal Wales's players carried themselves with the swagger of favorites.
"Best of luck," Arsenal's captain sneered at Rhys, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Same to you," Rhys replied with genuine calm, surprising his opponent.
The Arsenal captain's confidence wavered slightly at Rhys's unexpected composure, but he brushed it off with a dismissive snort as the whistle blew.
What unfolded next left the sparse crowd stunned. Wales Dragon players barely used any magic, yet they moved with precision and purpose, scoring through what appeared to be simple but devastatingly effective shots.
"What's wrong with Arsenal's keeper?" an elderly spectator muttered, his decades of football experience showing in his furrowed brow. "Those shots should be easy saves."
"The striker didn't even use magic enhancement," his companion noted with growing confusion.
Arsenal's supporters initially dismissed Wales Dragon's success as luck. Their team was known for superior skill and magical prowess, after all.
But as the match progressed, Wales Dragon's dominance became undeniable. They controlled the game with minimal magic use, relying instead on techniques the audience had never seen before.
"This is impossible! What in blazes are they doing out there?" Arsenal's head coach exploded during a timeout, gathering his bewildered team.
The coach bellowed at the team, unleashing a fierce scolding. After a brief break, they returned to the match, but the Arsenal Wales players were still no match for the formidable Wales Dragon team.
The Arsenal supporters watched in growing confusion as the match unfolded.
"Something feels off," a middle-aged fan muttered, shaking his head. "Wales Dragon barely uses any magic but they're dominating, while Arsenal's throwing everything they've got at them and still losing."
"It's not what you think," an elderly gentleman interrupted, his weathered face marking him as a longtime football observer. "Wales Dragon's technique is far more sophisticated than it appears."
"What do you mean?"
The old expert leaned forward, gesturing toward the field. "Watch closely. They're employing specialized dribbling patterns, shooting techniques I've never seen before. They don't need magic because their fundamental skill gives them the advantage."
Those within earshot turned to him with newfound interest. The middle-aged fan whistled softly. "If they're using such advanced non-magical techniques, their coach must be some kind of football genius."
Murmurs of agreement spread through the nearby spectators.
In his seat, Genesis watched the game with growing fascination. The crowd's impressed reactions only confirmed what he was beginning to understand - football wasn't the simple game he'd dismissed it as.
Arthur observed his team's dominance with mixed feelings. While their performance validated his training, he recognized a potential problem: one-sided matches wouldn't make for compelling television. Moreover, the current rules and play style were too primitive for his vision. It reinforced his determination to acquire the Welsh Premier Football Association and revolutionize the sport entirely.
From his privileged position in the stands, Welsh Premier Football Association Chairman Alun Griffiths watched the match with growing amazement. His eyes kept shifting between the field and Arthur, remembering their conversation days earlier.
"I'll change football," Arthur had told him with quiet confidence. "Starting with Wales Dragon FC, the club I just acquired."
At the time, Alun had dismissed it as typical business bravado. Now, watching Wales Dragon's revolutionary performance, those words carried new weight.
After the match, Arthur found him. "Have you reconsidered my offer?"
Alun released a heavy sigh. "After today's display, I can see you might actually transform the game." He hesitated. "But making it truly popular..."
"I'll make it bigger than you can imagine," Arthur's smile carried absolute certainty. "More popular than you'd dare to dream."
Silence stretched between them before Alun finally nodded. "Let's discuss terms." For the love of football, he'd trust Arthur's vision.
The decision wasn't purely romantic. The old Evros saying rang true: "There's no money in football and chess. Those who love these games love losing money on them." Alun had proved it by pouring his fortune into the association.
His wife had been pushing him to accept Arthur's offer for days. He'd resisted, but today's match - seeing Arthur's innovations in action - had finally convinced him. Perhaps this demon could save the sport he loved while stopping the financial bleeding that threatened his family's future.
***
Arthur's acquisition of the Welsh Premier Football Association sent shockwaves through the football community. When Alun Griffiths willingly sold the organization, insiders were stunned.
Media coverage exploded across all channels. Television crews cornered football enthusiasts for their reactions.
"That demon should stick to what he knows!" one passionate fan raged on camera. "He's already conquered filmmaking and television. Now he wants to destroy our football?"
Newspapers ran sensational headlines:
"Arthur Pendragon Sets Sights on Football: Sources Report Demon Director Investing Hundreds of Thousands in Struggling Sport"
"Financial Folly or Hidden Agenda? Experts Question Arthur's Massive Investment in Profitless Sport"
The financial papers were particularly scathing:
"Arthur's Latest Venture Raises Eyebrows: Analysts Label Football Investment 'Commercially Unsound'"
While the media's interest stemmed more from Arthur's celebrity than any real concern for football, his subsequent actions sparked genuine outrage in the sporting community. His announcement as chairman that he would halt the Welsh Premier League to implement new rules and playing styles drew fierce criticism from football purists and enthusiasts alike.
The football world saw it as an outsider attempting to fundamentally alter their beloved sport. What they didn't realize was that Arthur's vision extended far beyond their traditional understanding of the game.
The Wales Daily's headline screamed: "Arthur's Destroying Football! - Expert Condemns Changes"
Yet the media frenzy had an unexpected effect - people who'd never paid attention to football suddenly found themselves curious about the sport and Arthur's mysterious plans for it.
His announcement that Hellfire Channel would broadcast the next Welsh Premier League sparked fresh controversy. No one had considered football worthy of television coverage before.
As Arthur prepared to leave Wales, reporters swarmed him, firing questions about his football plans. He answered them with his usual calm directness before departing, leaving the media to speculate further.
The revamped Welsh Premier League wouldn't begin for several months, giving him time to refocus on Harry Potter's production. While the football world buzzed with theories about his intentions, Arthur knew the real revolution was just beginning.
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