Chapter One: The Fifty-Million-Euro Scar

Images burst through his mind: green grass, white touchlines, eleven running lanes; stadiums he had never entered and yet seemed to know from a lifetime of play. A mechanical woman's voice spoke directly inside his consciousness. [Athletic neural-map compatibility confirmed.] [Host: Lin Mo. Professional registration: expired.] [Player Template System initializing. Searching starter template.] Lin stumbled against the examination bed. The guard outside immediately stepped back, one hand moving toward his belt. “What are you doing?” Lin bit his tongue, using the pain to suppress the stadium spreading behind his eyes. He opened the door and held up the bucket. “Is this what Doctor Fischer lost?”