Ethan stared at Adam's boots.
They were a pair of worn-out, studded football boots, their leather scuffed and soles barely holding together.
He glanced at the pitch. For once, it hadn't rained in England, but the ground crew had clearly watered the grass before training. The field was slick.
Playing on a wet natural grass pitch in battered boots? No wonder the kid couldn't keep his footing, let alone play at full speed.
"Sir, did you call me?" Adam turned his head, looking surprised. He knew his performance had been terrible. A professional pitch was a different world from the concrete and tarmac he was used to. No matter how flashy street football was, it didn't prepare you for the pace and structure of the pro game.
It seemed his dream of becoming a football star was over before it had even begun. But that was fine. That dream had only sparked the other day after a conversation with Mr. Charles. His next goal should be more realistic—finding a stable job and getting his younger brother out of the drug- and gang-ridden slums.
"Where did you play before?" Ethan asked with a smile.
"My brother is Manora's streetball king!" Alan White, Adam's younger brother, declared proudly.
"Manora..." Ethan's expression shifted slightly as he looked at the two boys.
Manora, located in the northeast of Stratford in London's East End, was the city's largest slum. Despite being part of the capital, it was a world apart—run-down estates, gangs, illegal immigrants, and drug dealers. A place that shattered any romanticized view of London.
Adam straightened up slightly at the mention of his home.
"Have you ever played on a real grass pitch before?" Ethan asked.
Adam hesitated. His pride faded.
"Manora doesn't have parks with grass…" He tried to justify it, but even he knew it sounded weak.
At that moment, the youth coach, Tom, arrived with a pair of boots.
"I didn't expect someone your size to wear a 43!" Tom remarked.
"Put these on, kid. Try again." Ethan patted Adam's shoulder. "Remember, this is your last chance."
Adam's eyes widened. "I still have a chance?"
"Of course." Ethan held up a single finger. "One last chance. Show me your strength—your best skill!"
"Understood, sir! Just watch!" Adam grinned, swapping his ragged boots for the 43-size Adidas studs Tom handed him.
He tested them out with a few steps, then smiled.
"The second half begins!" Tom clapped his hands, signaling the players to return to the pitch.
Adam took a deep breath and stepped onto the field.
By now, morning training had ended, and most players from other age groups had left for school. Only the U18 and U19 squads remained. The younger academy players, having finished their session, gathered at the sidelines, watching Adam with amusement. His earlier struggles had been hard to miss.
The second half kicked off quickly.
Ethan kept his eyes on Adam. He had a feeling there was more to this kid than what he had seen so far.
That first touch earlier—it wasn't a fluke.
But his teammates didn't trust him anymore. Three minutes passed, and Adam still hadn't received the ball.
"He can't even get a touch now," Tom muttered.
"At least he's not slipping anymore," Ethan noted, his curiosity growing.
Though he hadn't seen much of the ball, Adam's movement was interesting. He wasn't hugging the touchline like a traditional winger. Instead, he floated around the pitch, constantly shifting into spaces.
"Watch his positioning, Tom," Ethan said.
Tom studied him for a moment before nodding. "Hmm… something interesting."
"Give him the ball!" Tom shouted from the sideline.
The players hesitated, but when the coach gave an order, they had no choice.
Adam finally received a pass—and stunned everyone with what he did next.
A defender rushed toward him immediately, but with a flick of his right foot, Adam shifted the ball outside and spun away in one fluid motion.
A turn and a burst of acceleration—he was gone.
"What a quick first step!" Ethan's eyes lit up.
And then Adam really caught his attention.
After his turn, he didn't hesitate. He drove straight toward the penalty area, heading right for the heart of the defense. Three defenders stood in his way.
"He should pass it off now," Tom said.
"Not necessarily." Ethan leaned forward, expecting something different.
Adam did not disappoint. He drove forward with the ball as if the defenders in the penalty area didn't exist. His dribbling was quick, and he maintained his rhythm flawlessly. The players he had already bypassed tried to track back, but they could only watch as the gap between them and Adam widened.
His speed with the ball was exceptional!
Ethan's eyes lit up—he could see raw talent in Adam.
The defenders weren't going to let him into the penalty area so easily. The first defender stepped up to challenge him, with another closing in from behind.
But then, Ethan couldn't help but applaud Adam's movement.
With a feint, Adam appeared to pull the ball outward, only to suddenly cut inside, leaving the first defender trailing. Before the second defender could react, he shifted direction again—beating both defenders in an instant!
Lightning-fast footwork!
For a moment, Ethan thought of Lionel Messi—the diminutive Argentine maestro.
Now inside the penalty area, Adam took a quick shot with his right foot. However, he couldn't generate enough power, and the goalkeeper comfortably gathered the ball.
A collective sigh echoed from the sidelines. If that had gone in, it would have been a stunning goal.
Ethan's eyes gleamed. Without hesitation, he activated his "Wise Eyes" skill.
Adam's attributes appeared before him:
Acceleration: 80
Speed: 80
Agility: 83
Dribbling: 82
Technique: 80
Seeing the numbers, Ethan could hardly contain his excitement.
A true gem!
However, Adam wasn't without weaknesses. His stamina, strength, and shooting power were poor. No wonder he lacked the energy to finish after such an explosive dribble. But that could be improved with proper training—right now, he was just a street footballer.
Before long, Adam was at it again.
Receiving the ball on the wing, he accelerated past a defender—one who was at least a couple of years older. With sheer pace, he burst into the penalty area and poked the ball past the goalkeeper before he could react.
"Ohhhhhh!!!!!!"
Adam sprinted toward the sideline and leaped into Alan's arms.
The two kids, one big and one small, celebrated wildly, oblivious to everything around them.
"Sign him!!"
Ethan turned to Steve, the youth academy director, and pointed at Adam, who was still basking in his moment of glory.