Chapter One: The Last Hand

The clock read 4:22. “Who sent you?” Lu asked. “Nobody. I found an old article about how you helped Zhao Kai.” Lin offered his hand, fingertips pale with nerves. “I can't pay an agency fee. But I can run.” Lu almost told him that the streets were full of people who could run. Their palms touched—and the roar of a stadium crashed directly through his skull. 【LIN YE. TRUE PERFORMANCE VALUE IN TWELVE MONTHS: €4.8 MILLION.】 【MONTH TWENTY-FOUR: €26 MILLION.】 【MONTH THIRTY-SIX PEAK: €73 MILLION.】 【MAJOR INJURY RISK: LEFT ANKLE, 61%. AFTER GAIT CORRECTION: 12%.】 A blinding fragment followed. Blue confetti filled the air. The scoreboard showed 92:14. Lin cut in from the right and curled the ball toward the far corner through three defenders.