Chapter 100
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Charlie Adam Becomes My Loyal Subordinate
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As expected of Charlie Adam, I suppose.
Just when I thought one knockdown had tamed him for a bit, exactly five minutes later, he flipped out again and charged right back at me.
No... Does this guy not even have a 'rehabilitation' function installed?
"Grrrrraaaah!!!"
Slash—!
I sidestepped his lunge with a slight twist and casually hooked his ankle. He went sliding across the grass, tumbling head over heels.
The real problem came next.
Just as I figured he'd catch his breath, this time he came sprinting full-tilt with his fists up.
"You fucker!! You think a man's gonna give up?! Worst case, we both die!!!"
"...No. Things could get way worse than death."
Whoosh.
I dodged his punch and flicked a knuckle rap right on the crown of his head.
Thwack!
"Gah—urk!!"
Charlie rolled around howling in agony.
I crossed my arms and nodded.
"Good. I'll give you some special attention, Charlie Adam. From now on, you're Park Si-hyun's personal sandbag. Death? That's the easy way out. Becoming my sandbag? That's the real punishment."
Charlie's face twitched for a split second.
"I'll drill that into your body nice and slow from here on out. Charlie Adam Rehabilitation Project: commence."
That set him off again, eyes rolling back as he roared.
"Grrrrraaaah!! I am Charlie Adam!! The manliest man in the world!! I won't submit!! If you wanna break me, hit me harder!!!"
...Yeah, definitely dogged tenacity.
I had to give credit where it was due.
Out of all the players I'd personally tutored so far, none matched Charlie Adam's sheer grit.
Average guys taste pain once and switch straight to 'reflection mode.'
But this one... the more you hit him, the fiercer he gets.
Is this a human or some berserker tribesman?
Of course, that doesn't mean he's beyond reform.
There's a saying in this world:
[If money can't solve it, maybe you just don't have enough.]
My Park Si-hyun version? This:
[If violence can't solve it, maybe you just don't have enough.]
In short, Charlie Adam needed more violence.
I snapped my fingers ever so gently.
"Alright. Prove that tenacity for real this time."
There's a running joke in the EPL that every new player has to face 'General Charlie' for their initiation rite—Charlie Adam's infamous for giving rookies a brutal welcome.
So, now that he's in German 2. Bundesliga? Obviously, he needs his own initiation.
Only then can all the players he hazed before reincarnate in peace.
"Charlie Adam. To become Park Si-hyun's loyal sandbag... prove your grit first."
"Like hell that's happening!!!"
Charlie hauled his staggering body upright, eyes blazing, and charged me at full speed again.
I played matador, stepping aside to let his rush glance off, tripping him, hauling him up just to knuckle-rap him again, then knocking him flat—and every time, he roared even louder.
"Raaagh!! Again!! Hit me harder!!!"
By then, training had ground to a complete halt. Teammates lined up on the grass, betting on the Park Si-hyun vs. Charlie Adam showdown.
"Wanna bet on how long he lasts?"
"Ten minutes for me! He's held out this long—guy's got grit."
"Nah, Si-hyun's the opponent. Five minutes tops."
If the coach hadn't orchestrated this, it'd be a total shitshow. But Frank had seen it coming, arms crossed with a satisfied grin.
"Heh... This is how transfers bond with the team."
Of course, head coach Stefan looked horrified at the words.
Time flew by, and August rolled around—opening day for the 2. Bundesliga.
Rot-Weiss Essen, facing their first-ever 2. Liga opener, pulled out all the stops for a massive home event.
Simple reasons.
One, it was a home game.
Two, they were dead certain they wouldn't lose.
And that certainty boiled down to one thing.
Their first opponent: SSV Reutlingen 05, one of the league's weakest teams.
Frankly, so few people know this team, here's the quick rundown.
Tactics? Questionable if they even exist.
Scoring? Rare as a museum exhibit.
Last season? Miraculously avoided relegation.
That sums it up perfectly.
A team that could drop to 3. Liga any day without raising eyebrows.
Facing that in the opener? The front office went big with fan service.
Fan-voted five lucky supporters kicking penalties on the pitch pre-game.
Honest truth: zero chance they'd risk this if victory wasn't 99% locked.
Win, it's a fond memory. Lose? Eternal black mark on club history.
No one could picture losing to Reutlingen.
Of course, we were drilling hard to nail the event flawlessly, just in case.
Oh, and since you're all wondering about that wild Charlie Adam?
I opened my front door to head to training.
"Welcome home, bro! Car's ready like always. Heater's on in case you're chilly, and I've brewed some tea to soothe your mind."
Who? My good, polite, respectful ex-Soccer Three Founder, now one-eyed loyal hound: Charlie Adam.
Not his car, mind you—his agency's.
Lately, that's my ride to and from training.
Simple reason: Do-yoon hyung's out of country on Modrić business, and Charlie pitched "Bro, ride with me!" ten times a day till I caved.
Plenty of staff could drive besides Do-yoon hyung...
Worried about bothering the agency?
"Oh, Park Si-hyun! Entrust me with safe driving today too! We're grateful you turned Charlie human. We'll serve you forever!"
They're thanking me for reforming him.
I slid into the car and rolled my shoulder casually.
"Whew... right shoulder's acting up."
Before I finished, the loyal dog perked up like lightning.
"Bro! Massage time!!"
Charlie's hands landed on my shoulders in a flash.
Pro-level loyalty and care.
Over-the-top 17-year-old macho devotion at 200%.
With that full-hearted 'macho massage,' the car glided toward training in the smoothest, most peaceful vibe ever.
"Ah~ Charlie. Not hitting the spot. Losing your touch? Wanna rewind a month?"
"H-hee... heek... S-sorry..."
"...Sorry?"
"N-no... I mean, forgive me, bro!!"
Yeah, total peace.
SSV Reutlingen 05.
No name value, but surprisingly deep roots.
1905. The small industrial town of Reutlingen.
Born quietly amid smokestacks piercing the sky from gray textile factories.
They punched through postwar chaos to top the southern German leagues, shining briefly.
But as big pro clubs took over and times changed, their ship began to rock.
Command wobbled, finances bled red. Step by step, down they went.
Yet they never quit easy.
Tiny stadium.
Meager budget.
But black-red-white colors? Never shed.
[We'll rise again.]
Etched in their hearts, promotion from 3. Liga to 2. brought dreams anew.
But... dreams faded fast.
Stuck mid-to-lower table for years. Corruption up top, botched ops, dwindling crowds—they stopped truly watching.
SSV Reutlingen 05: a club on the brink, in one word.
Yet one thing endured: the pride from ruling southern Germany's top flight.
Then came the news.
Newly promoted Rot-Weiss Essen hyping a "special event" for their opener.
For the 2. Bundesliga opener in early August,
we'll draw 5 supporters to join pre-game events on the pitch:
– Mini training session with players
– Penalty kick experience
Please participate!
Optimists call it fan service.
But football folks know.
Big clubs only do this against weaklings.
Why? Lose after hyping an event? Eternal black eye.
So Rot-Weiss Essen's event thrown at Reutlingen? Same as saying:
"You're weak anyway."
"You'll lose anyway, so lemme service our fans."
Club couldn't officially complain.
Rejecting fan service? You'd catch heat—that's industry norm.
But bad vibes? Unstoppable.
That night, Reutlingen fans—usually busy cursing their club—united for once.
"Fine! Relegate us! But beat those bastards!!! Take the opener no matter what!!!"
Fans exploding with emotion.
Club pride on the line.
Rot-Weiss Essen partying lightly in front.
Opener atmosphere? Already lit.