Chapter Two: The One-Pound Club

“Then don't select me.” Something almost became a smile on the old man's face. 【Training Mission complete: Full session with first team.】 【Reward: Cohesion +3; Basic recovery-equipment voucher.】 A red warning followed. 【Emergency Operations Mission: Seven-Day Survival.】 【Within seven days: Generate £20,000 new revenue; register 16 players; complete temporary main-stand safety works.】 【Failure: Cash-flow rating falls to zero; league membership likely lost.】 Seven days. Twenty thousand pounds. Five players. One dangerous stand. Mara ran from the offices, phone in hand. “The tax authority rejected the schedule. They want another fifteen thousand by Friday or they freeze the account.” The players had not left. Everyone heard.