Monday morning
Sun was up
But Reiji's locker had a shadow
No name
No logo
Just a single envelope
Black seal
He opened it during math class
Inside
A contract
Scouting invitation from a club that didn't officially exist in Japan's registry
Club name: Shadowgate CF
Base: Unknown
Language: English
Offer: Play five unofficial matches across Asia
Payment: Ten million yen upfront
Condition: No press no agents no public games
Leo saw it and almost choked on his juice box
"What is this bro
Some mafia club"
Reiji scanned the back of the letter
There was a single line handwritten in silver ink
You've beaten high schoolers
Now try those who already tasted glory and fell
---
After school
Reiji didn't go to the usual rooftop
He took a train to the industrial district
Abandoned warehouse
Marked on a separate card in the envelope
He entered alone
Inside was turf
Artificial grass
Lines drawn
But barely lit
Six men in training gear were already waiting
A man in a suit stood at the center
"Welcome Ghost
Let's skip the drama
Play a 6v1
You score once
You pass"
Reiji took off his school bag
Dropped it
And smiled
"Don't blink"
---
They charged
Two from the sides
One center
Pressure from all angles
Reiji tapped the ball once to the left
Then dragged it right
Let one defender slip past on purpose
They hesitated
Reiji nutmegged one
Spin turned the next
Faked a long shot
Keeper flinched
He chipped it over
Goal
All in 12 seconds
The man in the suit clapped
"Contract is yours
You'll fly to Bangkok this weekend
Don't wear any colors
You play in black
Always"
---
At school
Reiji lied
Told Coach he had a family thing
Leo covered for him
Kenta and Yamato noticed
But didn't ask
They all felt it
Reiji was entering a new battlefield
---
Saturday night
Bangkok
A hidden pitch under a casino
First match
Shadowgate vs Fallen Talents
A team of ex-prodigies
Injured
Expelled
Forgotten
The moment the whistle blew
It was war
One tackled Reiji with studs up
Another spat at him
Ref didn't care
No cards here
But Reiji adapted
Didn't dribble much
Used space
Used angles
Played one touch
Broke their rhythm
He scored twice
Assisted three
Final score
5–2
But his jersey was torn
Knee bruised
Shoulder scratched
---
In the locker room
A tall German man approached
"You don't belong here
You belong in chaos
In Europe"
Reiji looked at him
"I don't belong anywhere
That's the problem"
The man nodded
"Then keep winning
Make every pitch your country"
---
Back in Japan
Mika sat in her room
Watching footage from a drone
Shadowgate's Bangkok match
She whispered
"So they've started
The Ghost is now a mercenary
And the world is about to know his name the wrong way"