Rookies on the Rise: Neom League's Triumphant Opening
The Saudi Neom League, which had set the world abuzz, made a spectacular debut with its opening matches.
Spear and shield, offense and defense. The coaches of both guilds displayed starkly different colors in every aspect, delighting the spectators.
This naturally sparked a massive rivalry — between France and Germany.
French League fans rejoiced at having taught those dumb potato boys a lesson with their proud defensive strategy, while German fans shuddered at the cursed tactic they thought had vanished forever.
The organizers had expected this. After all, the rivalry between Germany and France in Europe was just as fierce as that between Korea and Japan in Asia.
As the matches progressed, hidden rookies emerged one after another.
League fans from every nation were ecstatic, showering their countries’ rookies with unrestrained cheers.
A league for rookies. A league for hunters. Nurturing the future of the league. The future of the world is here.
Saudi Arabia, following Lee Shin’s advice, steadily built the foundation they had so desperately wanted, and the final match of Round 1 confirmed it once again.
※ Saudi Neom League Round 1
Lily Guild (3) : Three Kings Guild (2)
Perhaps as much attention as the opening match went to this final game — the clash between England’s legendary coach, the Blood Lily Julianna, and the three-time World Raid champion, the legendary coach Kang Chan-yong.
The match everyone had been watching ended 3:2 after multiple turnarounds, with Julianna’s Lily Guild emerging victorious. Yet her expression at the interview was anything but pleased.
The reason the usually cheerful woman looked so grim despite winning was simple.
Their performance had been absolute garbage.
That was right. The Three Kings Guild had fielded an absurd squad of nothing but teenagers.
There was a stark difference compared to the Lily Guild, whose rookies were all over twenty and already known in the English League.
Yet the score was still 3:2.
In contrast, Kang Chan-yong, leaning on his cane at the post-defeat interview, wore a bright smile.
The Three Kings Guild’s remarkable point wasn’t just their all-teen squad. They were the only multinational guild in the league.
Namgung Su-ri, daughter of Chang-cheon-geom-je Namgoong Min. Abdul Aziz, the lotus blooming from the mud.
They had also recruited rookies who had been buried in Korea’s second division or crushed under Japan’s massive cartels — talents from around the world who had never seen the light for various reasons, all gathered under the name of the legendary mentor Kang Chan-yong.
A legendary coach who always sought change. That was why Kang Chan-yong had once recruited the young Ma Jang-dong, Kim Jong-phil, and Han Jeong-do into his existing squad.
So if anyone would scour the Neom League for new faces without obsessing over wins and losses, it would be this veteran.
The moment Kang Chan-yong and the Three Kings Guild became the face of the Neom League.
……And behind that moment lay a story.
Kim Jong-phil laughed heartily at the voice coming through the receiver.
That was right. The one who moved Kang Chan-yong was his disciple Kim Jong-phil, and the one who moved Kim Jong-phil from the shadows was the genius representative and Neom League advisor, Lee Shin.
Kim Jong-phil still couldn’t forget Lee Shin in shadow mode, hands clasped before a candle in a darkened room.
Lee Shin, pointing at his own head with a sly grin, wasn’t joking. From mediocre rookies to those representing entire leagues, even potential 200-point next-gen world-class talents — the veteran Lee Shin already had a long list of rookies memorized. His so-called treasure chest of gems?
But realistically, Lee Shin couldn’t nurture them all himself.
No matter how good the rookies were, Lee Shin’s priority was always his guild and his hunters first. He couldn’t throw the already completed guild into chaos for his own greed.
That was why he had created the academy — to discover such talents and give them the chance to shine.
Then the stage called the Neom League appeared. In that case, there was no need to hold back any longer.
As expected, after receiving Lee Shin’s list through Kim Jong-phil’s hands, Kang Chan-yong headed for the Neom League. Just as Lee Shin had said, he instantly recognized the potential of the rookies on the list.
Indeed. From a cold perspective, this brought Lee Shin no benefit whatsoever.
As mentioned before, Mir Guild had already completed its squad, and the chances of these rookies joining Lee Shin’s fold were extremely slim.
Yet he had sent young talents to Kang Chan-yong, one of the world’s greatest nurturers.
It might as well have been raising competitors, but the smiling Kim Jong-phil thought that was precisely what made it so very much like Lee Shin.
Because —
That was the kind of person Kim Jong-phil knew Lee Shin to be.
Meanwhile, around that time.
At Incheon International Airport’s runway.
Lee Shin and the empty-handed Muhammad embraced in front of the private jet.
They had reformed the corrupt Saudi League, built the missing foundation, forged connections with the mainstream leagues, and achieved a leap forward.
All of it was thanks to Lee Shin standing here.
A moment later, after releasing the embrace, the Crown Prince gave a signal, and Hamid, standing behind him, presented an item pouch.
Thus, while the Crown Prince opened a path toward the future today, Lee Shin opened a gateway to yet another world.
Watching the private jet disappear into the sunset sky, Lee Shin turned around.