Chapter 56: Chapter 56 I Didn’t Expect You to Be Like This, Deng Kai
"Ding! You’ve earned a victory; your rating for this match is SSS!"
"Reward received: Blue Shards*17, Purple Shards*1, Gold Shards*5, Super Charging Pylons*4, Dragon Special Drink*3... Star Drop ’Actually, My Name Isn’t Gomes’."
"’Actually, My Name Isn’t Gomes’: As the brief shining light of Portugal between the eras of football kings Figo and Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes was once crowned the national team’s top scorer, one of the top ten scorers in European Championship history, and a representative figure of Portugal’s golden generation. However, his real name isn’t Gomes, but Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro. Just as Pele isn’t called Pele, Kaka isn’t called Kaka, and Gomes isn’t called Gomes, neither is Caesar called Caesar. In a stadium, for every ten thousand fans that call you Caesar, your long-shot ability will receive a slight boost! (Resets each match)"
"Ding! You’ve spent Blue Shards*20 and obtained the Player Level Skill ’Instep Pass’."
"Instep Pass: Everything has two sides, feet included. Your passing ability is slightly improved. Your passes using the instep are less likely to be intercepted. Your instep passes have an extremely small chance of turning into a shot."
The post-match rewards from the Lisbon derby were freshly released.
Both Blue and Gold Shards hit the jackpot.
Deng Kai’s first golden superstar-level skill was not far off.
The timing of ’Instep Pass’ couldn’t have been better.
Deng Kai’s current position on the team is at right midfield, which allows his right-foot passes to be more effective.
A fixed position is beneficial for ordinary players and for the stability of the team.
But for a core player, it’s a form of harm.
Even being fixed in the middle is not the best option for players with immense creativity.
Freedom is where they can best showcase their talent.
But there’s a prerequisite, that you have the ability to operate in multiple positions.
Being a right-footed midfielder on the right is for passing.
Being a left-footed center-back on the left is for better defending against crosses.
A left-footed left winger on the left side is also for passing.
A right-footed left winger on the left side is for cutting in and shooting.
For Deng Kai to move from right midfield to the center or even to a free role, he must solve the problem of currently only being able to pass to the left, especially with quick passes.
And the instep is definitely the best solution for ordinary people.
Because not everyone can train their other foot.
At the very least, Deng Kai’s left foot with only a rating of 3 is not enough.
And the effects of ’Instep Pass’ are quite impressive.
The enhancement to passing is only ’slight,’ probably even less than the previous ’moderate.’
But the fact that it can increase the chances of evading interception with instep passes is quite comfortable.
Plus, there’s a very small chance that it could turn into a shot.
It’s an all-around enhancement in passing and shooting.
The pleasant surprise is Nuno Gomes.
He actually also had a drop.
Star Drops, apart from the very few labeled with "wearable," take permanent effect once used.
Deng Kai currently wears Star Drops ’Guardiola’s Tears’ and ’Cech’s Hockey Stick.’
The former boosts vision, the latter provides psychological comfort.
Used Star Drops include ’The Applause of the Flying Dutchman,’ ’Young Ronaldo’s Flames of Revenge,’ ’Young Ronaldo’s Covert Intimidation,’ ’The Panther’s Scrutiny,’ ’Fan Peixi’s Ambition.’
The effects of these drops are also always present.
The special effect of ’I’m Not Called Gomes’ may have a high threshold to activate, but considering that there are stadiums in European football with capacities of over one hundred thousand people, the effect is quite considerable.
In one match, increasing shooting ability ten times in a row, even if each increase is minimal, can cause a qualitative change through the accumulation of quantity.
When Deng Kai steps into a real professional team, this special effect might become one of his core skills!
After all, the stadiums with large capacities are usually those of big clubs, and a player who can perform superbly against big clubs, if not a superstar, then what?
Let’s see how many stadiums have the capacity to hit a hundred thousand and thus push Deng Kai’s shooting enhancement to the limit, shall we?
Nou Camp, Nou Camp, and again Nou Camp.
Uh... well, then I guess I have to start by apologizing to Barcelona.
"Huh, what’s happening out there?"
It seemed that an argument was coming from the entrance of the training ground, interrupting Deng Kai’s pleasant inventory time of his rewards.
"Someone seems to be trying to come in to look for you." His teammate Lorenzo had just come from that direction.
"A fan of mine? Let me go check it out, in case they want a photo or an autograph." Deng Kai thought contentedly.
So quickly to have an ardent fan.
Definitely need to friend this discerning supporter.
"Uh, I suggest you don’t go," Lorenzo said with a strange expression, finally unable to hold back his laughter, "The person looking for you is Benfica’s Miguel Veloso."
"Ah?" Deng Kai hadn’t expected it to be him.
"He looks a bit intimidating; feels like he’s here to cause trouble," Lorenzo said, "You can imagine what a guy who’s lost his football dream might do for revenge."
"I suggest we find Coach Maxa, or maybe just call the police."
Deng Kai shook his head; how could he show cowardice?
"No big deal, I’ll go take a look." Deng Kai walked towards the main entrance, "By the way Lorenzo, please call Chris over and tell him to get here immediately."
Although Deng Kai believed in the professional ethics of the Portuguese youth football players, people shouldn’t put all their hopes in someone else’s moral qualities; he needed to have a backup plan.
With the Shadow of Madeira around, I, Kai, am at ease!
...
Separated by the large iron gate, Deng Kai and Veloso stood face to face.
"Come out here, I have something to say to you," Veloso waved Deng Kai over.
"It’s fine to talk right here." Deng Kai was determined not to leave the protection of the iron gate.
"It’s not convenient." Veloso clenched his fists.
"What are you gonna do? You’re looking for trouble with Deng Kai? Damn it, if you’ve got the guts, take me on!" Ronaldo ran over from the distance, thinking Veloso was there to pick a fight with Deng Kai, pushing the iron gate ready to brawl with Veloso.
Veloso let out a cold snort.
As the crowd around them grew, Veloso finally couldn’t hold back, "Don’t touch me, just speak! You, Deng Kai, are about the same age as Chris, but you’re so much shorter. Apart from genetic factors, it could also be related to your personal life habits."
Deng Kai was full of question marks.
What does that mean?
Veloso: "I was a rather outstanding player in the Benfica youth team from a young age, and if it wasn’t for my height not developing as expected, I would have definitely become a cornerstone of Benfica’s main team’s defense!"
"I had good speed, good tackles, excellent defensive abilities, and a passing skill uncommon among ordinary defenders. It’s just my damn height that I can’t grow tall."
"You’re a very good player; I can see countless shining points in you."
"But your height and physicality really are problematic."
"Now is the time when you’re supposed to grow, and if you don’t want to be held back by your height in the future, you should eat more. Others eat three meals a day, you should eat five meals, nutritious ones too."
"Sleep early every day, never stay up late, people who stay up absolutely cannot grow tall."
"Finally, be moderate! Absolutely don’t indulge in women, and don’t secretly do that while looking at your phone at night! That’s what damages the body most!"
Deng Kai was dumbfounded.
Was Veloso... seeing his past self in him and specially came to warn him?
Why do I feel a bit moved?
But...
Seeing everyone around looking at him weirdly, Deng Kai continuously waved his hands, "No, I didn’t, I’m not, I’m wronged, I’ve never engaged in that since I was young..."
Ronaldo sighed deeply and patted Deng Kai on the shoulder, "No wonder you can eat and sleep but never grow taller, so that’s why. I never expected you to be like this, Deng Kai!"
"I was wondering why there’s always a smell of disinfectant on your bed."
Deng Kai: ???
Deng Kai: "That’s because it IS disinfectant!"
Ronaldo: "No need to explain, I get it, man, everyone has to have a hobby. You don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t gamble, it’s normal to be a little frisky!"
Ha ha ha!
A burst of jovial laughter erupted around them.
