Dynasty Awakening: Building My Own Football Empire-Chapter 207: Seven games left

Michael Sterling stood on the balcony of his office. He held a cup of tea. He felt calm. The win against Wolves had saved their momentum.

Arthur Milton stood next to him. Arthur was eating a bag of wine gums.

"It is too quiet Boss," Arthur said chewing a red sweet. "Usually something explodes by now. Or Diego eats something he should not eat."

"Enjoy the silence Arthur," Michael said. "Silence is a luxury in the Premier League."

Then the silence died.

It started with a low thumping sound. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The water in the tea cup started to vibrate.

"Is that an earthquake?" Arthur asked dropping his bag of sweets. "Did Diego jump too hard?"

"Look up," Michael said pointing at the sky.

A helicopter was descending. It was not a normal helicopter. It was painted entirely in gold. It sparkled in the sun. It looked like a flying piece of jewelry.

The players on the pitch stopped running.

Diego Nunez looked up. He opened his mouth.

"A giant golden bird!" Diego shouted. "Take cover! It might poop on us!"

The helicopter landed in the middle of Pitch 2. The wind from the blades blew Arthur tie into his face.

The door opened.

A man stepped out.

He was young. Maybe twenty five. He wore a purple suit that matched the Barnsley kit exactly. He had sunglasses that looked like they cost more than the bus.

He walked towards the building. He carried a silver briefcase.

"Who is he?" Arthur asked. "Is he a Bond villain?"

"Let us go find out," Michael said.

THE GOLDEN STRANGER

Michael and Arthur walked down to the pitch.

The stranger saw Michael. He took off his sunglasses. He had a wide smile.

"Michael Sterling!" the man shouted. He ran over. He did not shake hands. He bowed. "It is an honor. A true honor."

"Hello," Michael said. "You landed on my grass. The groundsman will be very angry."

"I will buy him a new lawnmower," the stranger said. "A diamond one."

He looked at the players who were gathering around.

"Oh my god," the stranger gasped. "It is them. The Misfits."

He pointed at Diego.

"The Bull! The Human Fridge!"

He pointed at Endrick.

"The Samba Kid!"

He pointed at Arthur.

"And Arthur! The man who loves pastries!"

Arthur blushed. "I am famous?"

"I am Kenji," the man said. "Kenji Sato. I am your biggest fan. Also I am very rich."

"How rich?" Diego Nunez asked stepping forward. "Can you buy me a cow? A whole cow?"

"I can buy you a farm Diego," Kenji said. "I invented the app Pet Rock 2.0. It made billions. I have too much money. It is boring."

Michael looked at Kenji. He seemed harmless. He seemed like a child who had been given the keys to a candy factory.

"Why are you here Kenji?" Michael asked.

"To help," Kenji said lifting the silver briefcase. "And to eat lunch. I heard the canteen food is good."

THE LUNCH

They went to the canteen.

Kenji did not want the pasta. He opened his briefcase.

Inside was not money. It was fish.

High quality fresh fish.

"I brought my own chef," Kenji said.

A man in a white hat appeared from the helicopter. He started slicing the fish on the canteen table.

"This is Bluefin Tuna," Kenji explained. "It was swimming in Japan this morning. Now it is here in Yorkshire."

Diego Nunez sat next to Kenji. Diego stared at the raw fish.

"You eat it raw?" Diego asked. "Like a bear?"

"It is sushi Diego," Kenji said. "Try it."

He gave Diego a piece of fatty tuna.

Diego ate it. His eyes went wide.

"It melts," Diego whispered. "It is like butter made of fish."

"Try the green paste," Kenji said pointing to a lump of wasabi. "It is avocado ice cream. Very sweet."

Michael tried to stop him. "Diego no..."

But it was too late.

Diego took a spoon. He scooped up the entire ball of wasabi. He put it in his mouth.

For three seconds nothing happened.

Then Diego turned red. Then purple. Then blue.

Steam seemed to come out of his ears.

"HOT!" Diego roared. "MY MOUTH IS A VOLCANO! THE AVOCADO IS ANGRY!"

He grabbed a jug of water and drank it all.

The whole room erupted in laughter. Even Jan Visser was laughing.

Kenji was laughing the hardest.

"I love this team," Kenji wiped a tear. "You guys are the best."

THE PROPOSAL

After lunch Michael took Kenji to his office.

Kenji sat on the sofa. He looked serious now.

"Michael," Kenji said. "I did not come just to feed wasabi to the Bull."

"I guessed that," Michael said. "You have a helicopter."

"I watch every game," Kenji said. "I wake up at 4 AM in Tokyo to watch Barnsley. Why? Because you are different. You play with heart. You play with joy. Modern football is corporate. It is boring. You guys? You are pirates."

"We are Misfits," Michael corrected.

"Exactly," Kenji said. "I was a misfit. I was a nerd. Nobody liked me. Then I made money. Now everyone likes me. But I know who I really am."

He leaned forward.

"I spoke to your owner. Julian Thorne."

Michael raised an eyebrow. "You spoke to Julian?"

"Yes. We played golf last week in Dubai. I told him I want to help."

"Help how?"

"I want to buy ten percent of the club," Kenji said. "I do not want to control it. I do not want to pick the team. That is your job. I just want to fund the crazy ideas."

"What crazy ideas?"

"The academy," Kenji said. "I want to build the best academy in the world. I want to buy new technology. I want to upgrade the stadium so the fans have heated seats."

Michael looked at him.

Usually investors wanted profit. They wanted to sell shirts.

Kenji just looked like a fan who wanted to be part of the story.

"Why?" Michael asked.

"Because life is short," Kenji smiled. "And being part of a legend is better than having money in a bank."

Michael stood up. He looked out the window.

The club was growing. But to compete with City and Newcastle they needed more power. Financial power.

"If Julian agrees," Michael said. "Then I agree. But on one condition."

"Anything."

"No telling me who to sign," Michael said. "And no more tricking Diego with wasabi. He is dangerous when his mouth burns."

"Deal," Kenji shook his hand.

THE NEW FRIEND

They walked back down to the pitch.

The training session was restarting.

Kenji took off his jacket. He was wearing the Barnsley shirt underneath.

"Can I kick a ball?" Kenji asked shyly. "Just once?"

"Go ahead," Michael said.

Kenji ran onto the pitch.

"Hey Bull!" Kenji shouted.

Diego Nunez looked up. He was still drinking milk to cool his tongue.

"You!" Diego pointed. "The spicy man!"

"Pass me the ball!" Kenji yelled.

Diego kicked the ball. It was a hard pass.

Kenji tried to control it. He tripped over the ball. He did a somersault and landed on his back.

"Penalty!" Kenji screamed lying on the grass.

Diego walked over. He looked down at the billionaire.

Then Diego extended a hand.

"You fall funny," Diego said. "I like you. You bring good fish."

He pulled Kenji up.

"You are my friend now," Diego announced. "But next time you eat the green paste first."

"Okay," Kenji laughed dusting off his purple suit. "Next time."

THE INVESTMENT

Later that evening Michael sat in his office.

Arthur ran in. He was holding a piece of paper.

"Boss! Look! The bank account!"

Michael looked.

A transfer had arrived. A very large transfer.

SENDER: KENJI SATO.

REFERENCE: FOR THE MISFITS.

"He was serious," Arthur said. "He actually bought ten percent. We are rich Boss. We can buy gold toilets."

"We will spend it on the academy Arthur," Michael said. "And maybe a new car for you since Turbo dented yours."

"Really?" Arthur eyes lit up. "Can I get a red one?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Get whatever color you want," Michael smiled.

He looked at the helicopter taking off in the distance.

The club was changing. It was becoming a global phenomenon.

But as long as Diego Nunez was still threatening people and Arthur was still eating sweets Michael knew the soul of the club was safe.

They had a new friend. A rich eccentric friend.

And in the race for the title every friend counted.

"Boss," Arthur said.

"Yes?"

"Kenji left a box for you."

Michael looked at the desk. There was a small wooden box.

He opened it.

Inside was a watch. It was vintage. It was simple. And there was a note.

Time is the only thing you cannot buy. Use it well. - Kenji.

Michael put the watch on his wrist.

"Smart man," Michael whispered.

He looked at the fixture list. Seven games left.