My Football Legends Chat Group-Chapter 31: Number 37.

DING

#NEW MISSION: The Devil’s Invitation

DESCRIPTION: Leeds United, the Fallen Giant of England, is calling. Their scout, Mr. Thompson, sees the rebel spirit in you that Girona’s B-team lacks. The System recognizes this loan as a high-risk, high-reward pathway to legendary status.

Task 1: Accept the Loan Offer and Begin the "English Arc"

REWARDS:

Skill: The Yorkshire Grint (Passive - Increases Physicality in bad weather)

C-grade Recovery Potion

Unlock: "Elland Road" Training Ground

Unlock Rivalry: The War of the Roses

The moment that Rio sat down in the locker room, he heard a notification from the System, prompting him to open the window. As his eyes read the mission description, it instantly resonated with him.

’It turns out the System also thinks I need to toughen up.’ Rio thought inwardly, looking at his ’Physicality: 55’ stat which was still painfully average.

He had already decided that he needed to play regular football to level up, but this mission was the icing on the cake.

’The Yorkshire Grint?’

"Rio, hurry up and get changed. The bus leaves in ten minutes." Mateo called out to him from the doorway, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Ah, one moment!" He called back, quickly grabbing his bag and the Leeds United business card.

Rio stared at the white rose logo on the card. No matter how many times he looked at it, the only word that came to his mind was war. Yet the System had mentioned that his path to becoming a legend lay in the mud of the Championship.

’Does this mean I have to leave Mateo behind?’ Rio thought, a pang of sadness hitting him.

"You okay, superstar?" David Lopez, the veteran defender, sat down next to him. "You look like you’re deciding whether to rob a bank or join a monastery."

Rio chuckled nervously. "Something like that. David... what do you know about Leeds?"

David’s expression changed instantly. He whistled low. "Leeds? Madre mía. That is not a football club, Rio. That is a cult."

"A cult?"

"Yes," David nodded, leaning back. "Their fans are crazy. They hate everyone, and everyone hates them. When they win, the city burns. When they lose, the city burns. It is... intense."

Rio swallowed hard. "The scout said they want rebels."

"Then you will fit right in," David grinned, slapping Rio’s knee. "You have the eyes of a crazy person when you run. Just don’t let them break your legs. The defenders there eat raw meat for breakfast."

Rio managed a weak smile, but David’s words only added fuel to the fire burning in his chest.

As the team boarded the bus, Rio found a seat next to Mateo. His best friend was busy playing a mobile game, his thumbs moving at lightning speed.

"Mateo," Rio said quietly.

"Yeah?" Mateo didn’t look up. "Did you see the B-team coach’s face? He looked like he swallowed a lemon when you called them robots."

"Yeah, about that..." Rio pulled out the card. "A scout talked to me. From England."

Mateo paused. He looked up, his eyes scanning the card. "Leeds United? The team with the crazy Bielsa guy before?"

"Yeah. They want me on loan. For a year."

Mateo stared at the card for a long time. The bus engine hummed beneath them, vibrating through the seats.

"A year," Mateo repeated. "That’s a long time."

"It is," Rio admitted. "But... I need to play, Mateo. I can’t sit on the bench here watching Savinho and Tsygankov. I need minutes. I need to level up."

Mateo looked out the window at the passing streets of Girona. "I know. You’re too good to be a sub. And you’re too impatient to wait."

He turned back to Rio, a small, sad smile on his face. "Go. Go become a monster in England. But if you come back with a terrible accent, I will punch you." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Rio laughed, feeling a massive weight lift off his shoulders. "I promise. No bad accent. Only goals."

[Chat Room Active]

Hand_Of_King: England! Yes! Go to the pubs! Drink the ale! Fight the hooligans!

Total_Football_14: It is the right move. The Championship is a grinding stone. It will polish your technique or crush it. Choose to be the diamond.

The_Phenomenon_9: Bring a coat. It is always cold. And buy bigger shin guards.

Rio typed a quick reply.

Rio_Lance: I’m going. I’m going to conquer England.

The next few days were a blur of paperwork, packing, and emotional goodbyes. His parents were worried, naturally. His mom cried about the food, and his dad cried about the weather.

Leo, however, was his usual pragmatic self.

"Leeds," Leo said, looking at a tactical map of Elland Road on his tablet. "Their pitch is narrow. It suits high pressing. But the grass is often heavy. You need to adjust your dribbling style."

"Thanks, Coach," Rio grinned, ruffling his brother’s hair. "I’ll miss your lectures."

"I’ll text you the analysis after every game," Leo said, dodging the hand. "Don’t think you can escape me just because you’re across the ocean."

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

Finally, the day of departure arrived. Rio stood at the airport gate, a single suitcase in his hand. He looked back at the city that had been his home, the city where he had scored against Real Madrid.

"Goodbye, Girona," he whispered. "I’ll be back."

He boarded the plane, the mission window still glowing faintly in his vision.

[Task 1: Accept the Loan Offer - COMPLETE]

[Reward: Skill ’The Yorkshire Grint’ Acquired]

[Passive Effect Active: Pain Tolerance +10% in Rain/Cold]

Rio smiled. He was ready for the rain.

...

Three Months Later - Elland Road, Leeds

The rain was falling sideways. It was a cold, miserable Tuesday night in November.

The score was 0-0 against Millwall. The game had been a bloodbath of tackles, fouls, and angry shouting.

Rio sat on the bench, shivering under his heavy coat. His first few months had been rough. The physicality was insane. Every time he touched the ball in training, a defender would send him flying.

"Welcome to the Championship, lad," the captain, Liam Cooper, had said after Rio got flattened on his first day.

But Rio hadn’t complained. He had gotten up. Again and again.

"Lance! Get warm!"

The manager, Daniel Farke, shouted from the technical area. He was a German giant with a stern face and a love for possession football.

Rio jumped up, discarding his coat. The cold air hit him like a slap, but he didn’t flinch. The ’Yorkshire Grint’ was working.

He sprinted down the touchline, hearing the roar of the Elland Road crowd. It was different from Girona. It was deeper, angrier, more primal.

"Marching On Together!" they sang, a wall of sound that shook the stands.

"You’re on for Summerville," Farke said, grabbing Rio’s shoulder. "They are tired. They are kicking everything that moves. I want you to run at them. Do not stop."

"Yes, Boss."

Rio stood by the fourth official. The board went up. Number 37.

He ran onto the pitch. The mud squelched under his studs. A Millwall defender, a giant named Cooper, stared at him with dead eyes.

"Fresh meat," the defender muttered.

Rio grinned. He felt the Ferrari Engine humming in the background, ready to be unleashed. He felt the advice of Maradona and Zidane echoing in his mind.

"Meat?" Rio whispered back. "I’m the shark."

The ball was thrown in. Rio received it on the half-turn.

Cooper came flying in, studs up, looking to leave a mark.

In Spain, Rio would have flinched. He would have looked for a foul.

But this was Leeds. This was the war.

Rio planted his foot. He used his new ’Yorkshire Grint’ body strength to absorb the contact. He didn’t fall. He bounced off the defender, spinning into space.

Cooper crashed into the advertising boards, looking shocked.

"Go on, lad!" The crowd roared.

Rio sprinted. The mud flew. The rain stung his face.

[Mission Update: The War of the Roses]

[Objective: Score the Winner in a Derby Match]

[Reward: B-grade Shooting Manual]

Rio saw the goal. He saw the keeper.

He cut inside, unleashed a shot that curled through the rain, and watched as it nestled into the bottom corner.

Rio slid on his knees in the mud, opening his arms to the screaming fans. He was soaked, bruised, and exhausted.