The next day, The Hat Seller featured a massive photograph on its front page, taking up nearly half the space. The image, captured from the opposite side of the dugout, showed Ethan with his arms raised, shouting in triumph beneath a sea of orange-and-red-clad fans. It was the exact moment he celebrated his team's opening goal.
Ethan rubbed his slightly swollen head. The previous night, the coaching staff had gathered at a local bar to celebrate their victory. Winning two consecutive matches was a reason for optimism—especially after defeating Nottingham Forest, a top-tier team from the Championship, at home. The coaching staff, led by Ethan, felt their preseason preparation was paying off.
He closed the small lid of his mailbox and unfolded the latest edition of The Hat Seller.
"Back-to-back wins have made Luton Town, the team with the lowest expectations before the season, a surprising name on everyone's lips. And this success can't be discussed without mentioning the work of their Chinese manager, Ethan. Regardless of pre-season doubts, it's undeniable that Ethan has done an exceptional job, especially in the 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, which gave Luton a huge confidence boost. It might be too soon to claim that this team has been completely reborn, but their fighting spirit is no longer in question. Perhaps it's premature to make bold predictions, but based on their current form, if not for their 30-point deduction, Luton could have realistically competed for at least a promotion play-off spot..."
Thirty points deducted, yet still in the promotion conversation?
Ethan smirked as he reached the article's byline.
Roy Sol.
The thought of the ever-critical Miss Roy—likely gritting her teeth as she typed out those reluctant words of praise—put him in a good mood.
As usual, he saw Roy returning from her morning jog just outside his apartment.
"Miss Roy, excellent article! I've saved a copy!"
Waving the newspaper playfully, Ethan greeted her with a bright smile.
Roy nearly tripped. Seeing this damn guy every morning after her run had already become an annoyance, one that seemed to ruin the rest of her day.
"Hmph..."
The proud journalist lifted her chin, striding past him dismissively.
"Careful there..." Ethan warned with mock concern.
"Mind your own business!!!"
Like a peacock, Roy kept her head held high, her eight-centimeter heels clicking confidently against the pavement—completely unaware of the small pothole ahead…
…
It took her a considerable amount of effort to yank her heel free from the ground.
Meanwhile, Ethan, whistling cheerfully, made his way into the apartment under the burning glare of Roy's furious eyes.
"There's an old saying in China: 'Ignore the wisdom of the experienced, and you'll suffer for it.' Miss Roy, you see? This is what happens when you don't listen..."
His teasing voice echoed down the corridor.
Ethan paid no further attention to the frustrated reporter. With the team winning, media pressure had naturally lessened. A small club like Luton hardly attracted attention from major outlets, and most of their coverage came from local journalists catering to the fans. Had the team lost both games, critics would've torn Ethan apart, labeling him a fraud and his players mere amateurs. But now? If anyone dared print such accusations, the newspaper's office would likely be stormed by furious supporters.
The next match was in the League Cup, scheduled for midweek, followed by another league fixture on Sunday—four days away.
As a reward for their victory, Ethan granted the squad a well-earned day off.
After a quick breakfast back at his apartment, he turned his attention to his football card system.
Before the Nottingham Forest match, the system had issued a new task.
Ethan still wasn't entirely sure how the mission system worked. Was it triggered based on the opponent's level? In the first league game, there had been no tasks, but against Nottingham Forest—an established Championship side—a new challenge had appeared.
It made sense. A well-designed system wouldn't hand out easy rewards. If missions were linked to difficulty, then beating strong teams would naturally yield greater benefits.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. The mission system had its own logic… he just had to figure it out.
Ethan activated the mission system. As expected, the main mission—saving Luton—was still grayed out with no progress, while the task to defeat Nottingham Forest was flashing yellow.
He clicked on the Nottingham Forest mission.
"Mission Completed!"
A voice echoed in his mind. Was it real or just an auditory illusion? Before he could dwell on it, a notification appeared before him.
"You have completed the mission: 'Defeat Nottingham Forest'! Rewards: 600 experience points and one random yellow card draw."
Six hundred experience points—equivalent to winning two League Two matches. Facing a Championship-level opponent came with greater rewards.
He checked his experience panel.
Current XP: 1500/3000
Halfway to leveling up after just two matches!
Ethan did some quick calculations. If he subtracted the 600 experience points from the mission and the 300 XP from Luton's previous league victory, that meant beating Nottingham Forest alone had earned him double the experience of a League Two win.
So, winning against stronger opponents really did come with an experience bonus!
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Though Nottingham Forest were a Championship club, he believed Luton's current squad had more potential. Their core—Vardy, Kanté, and others—weren't yet at their peak, far from the players who would dominate the Premier League in the future. But if they could regularly face stronger Championship opponents, they'd develop faster.
For now, though, the priority was still the league.
Next up—the lottery draw.
A random yellow card.
Yellow cards were a tier above white cards. What would he get this time?
The football card system's screen flashed rapidly. When it stopped, a yellow-glowing card appeared before him.
"Running Speed +7%. Assign to a player of your choice."
Ethan's eyes lit up. This was a game-changer for a pacey player.
Vardy!
He wasted no time deciding. Jamie Vardy was already quick, but with this card, his acceleration and top speed would be even deadlier.
Still, there were 1,500 XP left before the next upgrade. Reaching the next level would unlock an additional card slot—an upgrade he was eager to achieve.
For now, though, he needed to expand his card collection.
After beating Nottingham Forest, he had another lottery draw. This time, it was a white card.
"Strength +1%. Assign to a player of your choice."
A marginal boost.
Ethan sighed, shutting down the football card system.