The weight of Mystic's words settled heavily on those around him as they struggled to grasp the full meaning of what was unfolding.
Once he was sure his message had sunk in, Mystic continued.
"Like I said earlier, I've done my research on every one of you, you could say I know your potential better than anyone else," he said, letting out a brief snicker before continuing.
" And I'm ready to offer each of you a ten-year contract, starting today if you decide to accept, your starting salary will be a thousand Alliance credits per month."
He paused, locking eyes with them, his tone unwavering.
"And that's just the base pay, as with time, it'll increase. Plus, we'll revise the contracts to include performance bonuses that reflect your value to the team."
To Alfred, Mystic's offer felt rash, too sudden for something so serious but he forced himself to trust his nephew's judgment.
He reminded himself that Mystic had likely done more research on these boys than anyone else.
As for the players, their minds had initially recoiled at the idea of a long-term contract, as the thought of being tied down for ten years was daunting, especially with the assumption that the penalties for breaking such a deal would be severe.
But all that fear vanished the moment they heard the salary.
A thousand Alliance credits a month wouldn't make them rich, but it was more than enough to lift them off the streets, give them a stable life, and still be able to help their families a little, they wouldn't be trapped in the cycle of struggle anymore, they'd have a real path forward.
"I'll sign, but I just want to ask—why ten years? That's clearly the longest contract offer I've heard of at the street level. I know it's not illegal, but is there a reason you'd tie both yourself and us down for that long?" Ogunsalu Damilare said, stepping forward with a smile on his face,
Among the eleven, Damilare was the only one who didn't seem fazed by the whirlwind of events, that familiar grin Mystic remembered so well from his past life lingered on his face, radiating confidence as he spoke.
Mystic responded without hesitation.
"The reason I'm binding you all to a ten-year contract is simple, while others still see you as nothing more than street rats, I see you as unpolished gems, talents too valuable to ever let slip away, my father who is the previous owner of this club, and he lost a street generational talent because he thought loyalty was enough."
He paused, his tone sharpening.
"Don't get me wrong—I believe in loyalty. But I also believe loyalty should be written down and bound in agreement as a lesson from my father's mistake, because if I'm going to dedicate everything I have to turn you into stars, then for the next ten years, I consider you mine. So once you sign, don't even entertain the thought of leaving this club. Got that, Tasty?"
Mystic's use of Damilare's nickname dropped like a bomb.
It wasn't just Tasty who was shocked, everyone was, they understood how Mystic might have known Sunday's nickname, Bgola, since he had a reputation on the streets, and that name practically defined him.
But Tasty? That wasn't a name thrown around publicly, most people just called him Damilare. Only his lovers ever called him Tasty.
"You really weren't lying when you said you did your research on every one of us, huh?" Tasty said with a raised eyebrow, still smiling.
"Of course I could call out each and every one of you by name, your preferred position, and even your nicknames. Don't underestimate how much I know about you, I might even know more than you can imagine," Mystic said, leaving them wondering just how deep his knowledge went. What they couldn't possibly guess was that his insight about them came from memories of his past life, no one would even think of such.
"So, have you made up your mind?" Mystic asked.
"Of course I'm ready to sign with you, My name is Ogunsalu Damilare, but as you already know, most people close to me call me Tasty. So, what should I call you?" he asked with a smirk.
"I'm Mystic Dark, the owner of this football club. But I'd appreciate it if you called me Coach Dark, since I'll also be taking on that role," Mystic replied, just as a system notification popped up at the edge of his vision:
[Ding!]
> Materialise Contract (Y/N)
Without missing a beat, Mystic selected "Y" with his mind, and a contract appeared in his right hand, as he scanned it swiftly, confirming that all the terms matched what he had just explained, there was also a blank field for the penalty clause, and at that moment Mystic imagined how it would be if a figure of a million Alliance credits was there and immediately he watched as it materialized instantly on the page like magic.
Realizing he could shape the contract with his thoughts, he adjusted a few more terms to suit his vision before handing it to Tasty.
Without even glancing at the details or reading a thing except from looking at where he would sign, Tasty asked Segun, the nearest guy, to lend him his back and signed the contract on the spot without hesitation.
The moment Tasty signed the contract, Mystic received a fresh round of system notifications.
[Ding!]
[> First Player Signed: +1000 Player Coins]
[> 10 EXP Earned]
[Level Up!]
[Congratulations! You are now an Amateur-Rank Coach]
"X: Congratulations! With this step, new items will now be accessible in the system shop," Mystic's AI assistant announced, its voice bubbling with excitement as it wiggled toward him.
Mystic glanced at the floating orb with a serious expression, listening intently.
To the others watching, though, the AI's words sounded like unintelligible gibberish.
They couldn't understand why Mystic seemed so focused on the cute, bouncing ball of noise like he could comprehend his words, until out of nowhere, he began pulling out contracts from thin air like magic, handing them out one by one.
With each signature, Mystic earned another 10 EXP.
After discovering that professionals in this world could manifest abilities tied to their roles, like the lawyer he recently fired who could create instant photocopies, Mystic decided to showcase some of his system-linked powers under the guise of having a unique work skill.
Like summoning pre-drafted contracts from mid-air.
-
[Coach Status Tab]
Name: Mystic Dark
Stage: Amateur-Rank Coach
Level: 2 (10%)
Mana Energy: 11/11
Club Name: Dark Elites
Players: 11
Club Rank: Street-Based
Fan Base Level: F
Real-Life Money: 1,002,000
B-Coins: 300
Player Coins: 2,000
Level-Up Bonus:
[Level 1 Bonus: Ordinary Enhanced Boots]
[Level 2 Bonus: Ordinary Training Elixir ×5]