Millen immediately informed the Crystal Palace staff.
He called Barcelona to discuss Kai's transfer fee.
[Ding! Side Mission Complete: Win Over Teammates and Pass Trial!]
[Reward Earned: +10 Custom Attribute Points!]
Kai thought for a moment and added all his points to short passing.
[Short Passing: 60 → 70!]
Why not add to long passing?
Because Kai knew very well — his trial had been a great success. Not only were his teammates ecstatic, even the head coach seemed to be reinvigorated. It was clear that a professional contract was right around the corner!
And once he signed a professional contract, he would receive a system reward — a Max Attribute Card!
He planned to use it directly to max out his long passing!
Maxed long passing, paired with max-level vision?
He was confident he could shake up the EFL Championship!
Barcelona.
La Masia Youth Academy.
Laughter erupted from an office.
"Hahaha! That idiot Holloway! They actually signed that freak after the trial!"
"Crystal Palace, a team barely avoiding relegation in the Championship? Makes sense. That kind of desperate move is exactly what lower-league clubs do."
"I never expected that 'freak' to earn us anything, but hey — 500,000 euros isn't a bad return for all those years of training at La Masia!"
"I've agreed to their offer!"
Sporting Director Pablo happily signed the transfer paperwork.
"500,000 euros... isn't that a bit rash? That kid has talent. He's just a little stubborn..." Youth coach Garcia hesitated to finish his sentence.
Pablo waved it off. "Still think 500,000 is low? Don't forget — he's ethnically Chinese! If he were born and raised in China, that'd be a different story. I could've sold him to some dumb Kaiper League club for at least 2 million euros!"
"But now? He's only worth 500,000!"
"I'm only worth 500,000?"
The news quickly reached London.
Kai laughed.
Barça must have gone mad, rushing to sell him off like this.
And based on his past life's memory, 500,000 wasn't exactly a compliment.
"Kai, I personally think you're worth at least 5 million euros!" Holloway said excitedly. "But to be honest, even this 'insultingly low' 500,000 euros — our club has to pay it in installments! Our finances are... in really bad shape."
Holloway and Millen shook their heads and sighed.
Kai was stunned.
500,000 euros, and it's on a payment plan?
Just how broke was this club?
He wasn't just being "sold cheap" — it was a cheap sale on layaway. Completely absurd!
"Are those girls over there also part of the club's budget?" Kai pointed to an open area.
In the distance, over a dozen girls were practicing sexy dance routines — looking wildly out of place on a football pitch.
Millen's face turned awkward as he chuckled, "Kai, you probably don't know — Crystal Palace is the only team in English football with its own cheerleading squad... It's our tradition!"
"Even when our finances were at their worst, those girls chose to stay on without pay. They're a part of Crystal Palace's identity — just like the eagle on our badge."
Hearing that, Kai was intrigued.
Cheerleaders at basketball games were normal — but at football matches? That was rare!
Millen raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Kai, if you really manage to save Crystal Palace from relegation, those cheerleaders will be very grateful to you!"
"They're very passionate. You'll find out soon!"
Beside them, Holloway clapped his hands. "Kai, let's go sign the contract. You'll be eligible to play for Crystal Palace in the next league match!"
He signaled for Millen to prepare the signing process.
Millen pulled Kai toward the club's administrative building.
"The No.10 jersey is available! Want it, Kai?" Millen asked.
Kai nodded with a confident smile. "Of course, I'll wear the No.10!"
He was confident.
The No.10 jersey — it symbolized the undisputed core of the midfield.
And he didn't come here to support anyone else.
He came to become that core!
Crystal Palace Admin Building.
Kai, head coach Holloway, and other staff finalized the contract details.
A two-year professional contract.
Wearing the No.10 jersey for Crystal Palace.
Weekly wage: £5,000.
Release clause: €5 million.
True to his word, Holloway believed Kai was worth at least 5 million, so that was the figure written into the contract.
Once the details were confirmed, Kai signed the contract.
He had no agent yet, so he had to handle all the paperwork himself.
The club representatives also signed and stamped the contract.
Then Kai and Holloway shook hands and hugged.
The modest signing ceremony was captured by a single handheld camera.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered was —
From this moment on —
Kai was officially a professional footballer!
"Welcome to Crystal Palace, Kai!"
"I believe you can lead us out of this swamp and onto the road to revival!"
Holloway's words were filled with hope.
The road to revival?
Millen was momentarily stunned.
That phrase... it moved him.
Crystal Palace had been stuck in mediocrity for years. The club had long forgotten what glory felt like.
In its 105-year history, the only major achievement was an FA Cup runner-up finish, a lonely honor on their sparse trophy wall.
And even that... was a memory from a bygone era.
Could this 16-year-old boy really be the hope of Crystal Palace's revival?
Millen didn't dare imagine it.
But for some reason — he wanted to believe it.