Chapter 1 The Morning in Barcelona

Early morning in Barcelona.

Clouds and mist enveloped the entire Camp Nou training base, as if veiling it in a layer of white gauze.

Messi leaned on his crutches, his hair and training clothes damp with dew. His vision was obscured by the heavy fog, preventing him from seeing far ahead, yet each step he took was clear... much like Barça's prospects in the Champions League this season.

A moment later.

He finally reached the game room.

Skillfully starting the game console, he chose to manage Chelsea...

Messi enjoyed playing video games in his youth; most introverted and shy boys preferred entertainment with less social pressure during their free time.

Suddenly, a brand new disc cover caught his attention.

"New release?"

"A coaching game?"

"Why does it call me Kusidini? Is it because they don't have the rights to my likeness!"

Without thinking much about it.

Messi tore open the packaging and inserted the disc into the game console.

After the loading screen finished spinning.

Accompanied by the stirring Champions League theme music, the main interface displayed a black-haired figure from behind: Spain Number 6 - Li Kang!

Messi was taken aback and pressed the controller.

"The newbie tutorial can be skipped! This game is good; it saves time."

"Where is Chelsea?"

"Could it be another case of no licensing?"

"Never mind, I'll start with Barça."

The game's overall quality was pretty good.

The tactical options were especially extensive, even including a "trash talk" option.

However, the player's authority as "head coach" was surprisingly limited. Aside from setting up tactics, even player transfers and acquisitions could only be suggested to the club, not to mention improving the club's infrastructure.

Messi was engrossed in playing.

Starting with Barça, managed by "Kusidini," everything went smoothly, unstoppable.

The Sextuple. (winning six trophies in a single season)

A 91-rated Kusidini.

Xavi gradually moved away from the main roster, the MSN trio (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) formed, Rakitić arrived at Camp Nou... all events mirrored reality almost perfectly.

Before he knew it, the game time had reached 2015.

He suddenly noticed a fresh batch of "bamboo shoots" emerging from the La Masia youth academy, one of the youngsters was named 'Lee'!

Was there any need to hesitate?

Messi selected the "promote to the first team" option, frantically pressing the controller.

Bang, bang, bang!

The club's objections simultaneously piled up...

He threw down the controller in frustration.

The game continued.

[July Event: La Masia's 17-year-old prodigy, Lee Kang, transfers to Bayer Leverkusen for €1 million.]

Messi: "..."

He suddenly felt that the game's freedom was too limited.

But he still decided to keep playing.

He believed that with his understanding of Barça's tactical system, the 2015-16 Champions League title would be within easy reach. After all, if a match was lost, there was always the option to reload.

....

The fog outside the window gradually dissipated.

Messi was unaware of the passage of time.

He led the in-game Barça into the Champions League quarter-finals as a matter of course, their opponent being Chelsea!

Without pressure, after a series of intricate operations, Messi felt a bit of discomfort in his stomach and quickly hopped and skipped towards the restroom with his crutches.

Fifteen minutes later.

He returned to the game console, staring dumbfounded at the score on the screen!

Barça 0:2 Chelsea!

How was that possible?

The in-game Camp Nou stars were all in peak condition, with no injuries!

His tactical arrangements were also very reasonable!

Why did they lose?

Messi glanced at the names of the goalscorers and couldn't help but freeze.

Lee!

Lee!

Didn't he go to Leverkusen?

The "Barça head coach" immediately scrolled back to the summer transfer window timeline.

What on earth had happened?

[September, on the last day of the summer transfer window, Ms. Skaia accidentally watched a recording of a Champions League qualifying match and spent €5 million to bring Leverkusen's youth player, Lee Kang, to Stamford Bridge!]

[Then Bayer Leverkusen coach Schmidt stated: No one can replace Çalhanoğlu.]

[October, Matić suffered a serious injury from a sliding celebration, Lee Kang welcomed his Premier League debut with two assists and one goal, astonishing Stamford Bridge!]

Messi was stunned.

He immediately pressed the reload option.

The match restarted...

The result remained unchanged.

Barça 0:1 Chelsea.

Reload.

Barça 2:3 Chelsea.

Reload.

Barça 1:2 Chelsea.

Reload.

Barça 0:5 Chelsea...

Messi almost couldn't resist giving the game developers "two wowo's"!

After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly realized he could check the opposing players' attributes and immediately pressed the controller to bring up Lee Kang's stats...

The "Barça head coach" was once again stunned.

[Hidden Bonds:]

[La Masia "Dual" Number 4 Position: Lee Kang, Fabregas.]

[The Spanish Armada: Diego Costa, Lee Kang, Fabregas, Azpilicueta.]

[Discipline: Lee Kang, Ramires.]

[The Legacy of Stamford Bridge: Lee Kang, Drogba.]

[Tactical Gamesmanship: Lee Kang, Mourinho.]

[The Wall of Despair: Lee Kang, Cahill, Terry, Matić.]

[The Blue Colossus: Lee Kang.]

A dazzling array of bonds, shining with golden light!

How could anyone play this!

"Here's two wowo's for you!"

"One more time."

Messi slammed the controller in anger.

The match began.

It was still the familiar script.

In the 18th minute, Lee Kang scored with a curving free kick! Barça 0:1 Chelsea! The Stamford Bridge library erupted.

"Lee even has a celebration animation in this game?"

"The little model of the stands is quite realistic... hmm? Why is he making a heart shape with his hands towards that Asian girl?"

Messi gave up.

Eliminated from the Champions League.

He could only watch Lee Kang's personal timeline from the perspective of an observer.

[May 2016, Chelsea defends their Premier League title, defeats Real Madrid in the Champions League final, and lifts the Big Ears trophy once again.]

[July 2016, Lee Kang represents Germany, battles through the group of death, wins the European Championship, and breaks Platini's goalscoring record.]

[May 2017, Chelsea defends their Premier League title again. Defends their Champions League title.]

[May 2018, Chelsea achieves a three-peat in the Premier League and a three-peat in the Champions League.]

[July 2018, Lee Kang represents Germany in the World Cup, defeats Argentina in the final, and wins the World Cup trophy!]

[January 2019, Lee Kang suffers a severe Achilles tendon injury.]

[March 2020, Lee Kang's farewell match at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea 0:2 Liverpool, ends his short but glorious career.]

...

Messi quietly deleted the save and restarted.

Still starting with Barça.

When the game time reached June 2015 again, Messi frantically pressed the controller, determined to "promote" Lee Kang to Barça's first team no matter what!

This time.

He succeeded!

The lineup interface flashed wildly, displaying a line of subtitles.

[Hidden Bond Triggered: Peak Dream Team Barça!]

"It would be best if Lee could change his nationality to Argentinian."

"Never mind, even without Lee, Argentina has a chance to win the World Cup!"

Before Messi could even be happy.

The timeline jumped to August 2015.

The club's sporting director... actually sold Lee to Arsenal!

Again for €1 million!

Wenger even proposed to pay in installments, over five years!

"What a terrible game!"

"Here's two wowo's for you!"