The private jet hummed softly as Ibukun stared out at the clouds below. Madrid's skyline loomed in the distance, the Santiago Bernabéu's towering silhouette already visible. Valentina sat across from him, her usual sharp edges softened by the dim cabin lighting.
***SYSTEM MISSION UPDATE***
→ **Primary Objective:** Pass Real Madrid's medical without suspicion
→ **Secondary Objective:** Maintain neural stability (<60% fatigue)
→ **Reward:** 1,500 SP (Stealth Bonus)
→ **Penalty:** System exposure (if detected)
"You're grinding your teeth again," Valentina murmured, not looking up from her tablet. "Relax. They're just tests."
Ibukun flexed his left hand, feeling the lingering stiffness from last week's overload. The System had stabilized, but the memory of his collapse still haunted him.
---
### **The Lion's Den**
The medical facility was all white walls and hushed voices. Doctors in pristine coats ushered him through a battery of tests—ECGs, blood panels, cognitive assessments. The System ran its own parallel diagnostics, masking anomalies in real-time.
***NEURAL CAMOUFLAGE ACTIVE***
→ **Heart Rate:** Artificially stabilized
→ **Cortisol Levels:** Adjusted to baseline
→ **Reaction Time:** Normalized
The head physician, a silver-haired man with piercing eyes, frowned at his clipboard. "Your muscle recovery rates are...unusual."
Valentina smoothly intercepted. "He's 19. Everything about him is unusual."
A technician approached with an fMRI request. The System pulsed a warning:
***CRITICAL THREAT***
→ **Full brain scan may detect neural interface**
→ **Recommended Action:** Diversion
Ibukun clutched his knee suddenly, hissing in pain. "Old injury," he lied. "Flared up during the flight."
The ruse worked—the scan was postponed.
---
### **The Offer**
Florentino Perez's office smelled of leather and power. The Madrid president slid a contract across the mahogany desk, his smile razor-thin.
"We want you to lead our new project," he said. "A blend of youth and legacy."
The terms were staggering:
- €220 million release clause
- Image rights structured for global appeal
- **Page 14, Clause 8:** Mandatory participation in "physiological studies"
Valentina's heel tapped once—their prearranged signal for danger.
The System decoded the subtext:
***HIDDEN AGENDA DETECTED***
→ **Madrid suspects unnatural abilities**
→ **Recommended:** Delay signing
Ibukun met Perez's gaze. "I need to finish the season with Lille."
The old man's smile never wavered. "Of course. Loyalty is...admirable."
---
### **The Message**
Back at the hotel, Ibukun's phone buzzed. An Instagram notification—Mbappé had tagged him in a story.
The image showed a shadowy figure training alone at night, the caption in French:
*"The best ones always hide their methods. @IbukunOkocha"*
The System's analysis was immediate:
***PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBE***
→ **Likelihood Mbappé suspects:** 37%
→ **Recommended Response:** Silence
Valentina snatched the phone. "He's baiting you. Don't take it."
But the System had already generated a new mission:
***CRISIS MANAGEMENT***
→ **Avoid social media engagement (72hrs)**
→ **Reward:** 300 SP (Discipline Bonus)
---
### **The Training Rebalance**
Lille's next training session was lighter, the focus on team patterns rather than individual brilliance. David ran drills beside him, their chemistry growing with each passing week.
***TEAM SYNERGY METRICS***
→ **Unassisted Goals:** 58% → 43%
→ **Assists:** 12 (Season)
→ **New Mission:** Provide 2 assists next match (Reward: 800 SP)
Coach Fonseca blew his whistle. "Let's work on set pieces!"
For the first time in months, Ibukun trained without activating the System's simulation mode. The sun felt warm on his skin, the laughter of teammates unburdened by hidden agendas.
Jay-Jay's hologram watched from the sideline, uncharacteristically quiet.
---
### **The Match: A New Rhythm**
Stade Pierre-Mauroy erupted as Ibukun took the field against Rennes. From kickoff, the difference was palpable—he played within himself, trusting David's runs and Gomes' creativity.
The first assist came in the 28th minute: a simple square pass that David blasted top-corner.
1-0.
The second was subtler—a dummy run that dragged two defenders away, leaving Gomes free to slot home.
2-0.
***MISSION COMPLETE***
→ **Assists:** 2/2
→ **Teamwork Bonus:** +200 SP
As the whistle blew, Valentina waited at the tunnel with rare approval. "Perez called. Again."
Ibukun wiped sweat from his eyes. The System's fatigue meter read 51%—manageable. Sustainable.
"Let him wait."
---