Master of Surprise Attack

The whistle shrieked.

The national team's practice match was over.

Jung Hyuk had scored three goals for a hat-trick. Oh Jung-hoon had done the same, racking up three of his own. Final score: six to two.

The two youngest players, freshly called up to the national team, had lined up with the reserves and utterly crushed the first team.

And now every player on the pitch, Manager Hong Seong-bo, and the coaching staff stared at the two boys who had just produced this shocking result, faces locked in pure disbelief. The ones who had actually played against them looked especially pale, as if they had just staggered out of a haunted house. A bottomless sense of emptiness sat heavy in their chests.

"…They're nineteen? Is that even possible?"

"He's exactly ten years younger than me…? Damn it. What the hell have I been doing with my life until twenty-nine?"

"Is it just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pure talent…? How can the gap be this wide? I'm a national team player too…"

"Oh Jung-hoon's a monster, sure, but Jung Hyuk is just on another level. No wonder he's tearing it up in the EPL."

The two culprits themselves, meanwhile, looked completely unfazed as they went back over the match. "Review" was generous—it was mostly Oh Jung-hoon firing off questions while Jung Hyuk answered them one by one.

"Hyuk, earlier when I was one-on-one with that defender, I did three stepovers and tried to go right, but he shut me down. What did I mess up?"

"Nothing major with the move itself. The problem is you used the exact same pattern ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the first half."

"Huh? First half…? Oh! Right~! So he already had me figured out?"

"Exactly. And this is just my take, but instead of stringing a bunch of stepovers together, keep them short and hit the shot earlier. It'd be more efficient."

"Yeah? Why? Because too many stepovers kill the shooting window?"

"That, and every extra stepover bleeds off your speed. Makes it easier for the defender to react."

"Ah! That tracks! So then, that thing I did out on the wing in the first half…"

Their conversation didn't stop until the coaches finally called them over. Watching from a distance, Manager Hong Seong-bo muttered under his breath.

"They're incredible, no question… But I can't jump to conclusions yet. I need at least a few more days."

Even he could see that Jung Hyuk and Oh Jung-hoon possessed overwhelming ability inside the national team. Soccer, though, was a team sport. They still hadn't fully settled into the side, so he told himself he needed more time. Of course… that was also a thought he clung to for the sake of his own pride.

Around the same moment, finished with Oh Jung-hoon, Jung Hyuk moved into cool-down work and glanced at a message floating in the empty air.

A reward notice for clearing the mission. A smile tugged at the corner of Jung Hyuk's mouth.

I thought I'd only get the Special Card, but I picked up another card too?

Staying locked in and still taking the shot even after going down in the second half had earned him that extra reward. Right after the goal, he had received a regular Card. So now he was sitting on both a Special Card and a Card—very solid haul.

I want to open them already.

He smacked his lips, wiped the message away, and refocused. Training came first.

Inside the hotel where the national team was camped for training, Jung Hyuk lay on the bed in the room he shared with Oh Jung-hoon and stared at the ceiling. Two cards floated in the air—visible only to him. One Special Card. One regular Card.

He reached for the regular Card first. Ordinary psychology: save the better prize for last. A quick flick of the wrist flipped it over, and the information bloomed into view.

"Yes!"

Jung Hyuk clenched his fist hard. Luck was on his side—points. He could raise his stats right now. The amount that dropped:

"Luck's really riding with me today."

His face lit up. Even one or two points would have been satisfying. Three from a regular Card was excellent. Eager to push his numbers up immediately, he opened his status window.

Lately he had been focused on balancing his attributes, so choosing where to spend the points took no time at all.

"…Insane."

The start was too good. Riding the momentum, he didn't waste a second and opened the Special Card right away.

"Please be something good."

If luck was already this generous, a new trait would be perfect. And then—

An actual trait dropped. And not just any trait—a very special one.

January 25, 2014.

Most Korean soccer fans had already claimed their spots in front of the TV and ordered chicken and beer.

"What kind of chicken should we get? Fried? Spicy?"

"Why even debate it? Just get one fried and one spicy."

"Oh! Good call."

They had turned down other plans and even canceled existing ones just to lock onto the screen. There was no other choice. Today was the friendly between South Korea and Costa Rica—and there was a real chance that Jung Hyuk and Oh Jung-hoon, the pair currently going nuclear in the EPL, would feature.

Then the news fans had been waiting for hit the headlines.

Jung Hyuk and Oh Jung-hoon would start. Korean sports communities exploded. Fans had grown somewhat used to watching the pair in the EPL, but this was their first time in the senior national team. What they would do tonight was the question every fan was dying to see answered.

And now the national team players of Korea and Costa Rica walked out onto the pitch at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was only a friendly, but national pride was on the line with the whole country watching. Tension showed on faces from both sides—especially Korea's. Costa Rica might not have been a household name back home, but their FIFA ranking sat at 32nd, well above Korea's 53rd.

Costa Rica couldn't take Korea lightly either. Even after a rough 2013, Korea remained one of Asia's powerhouses, a side that had once reached a World Cup semifinal and could flip the switch at any moment.

And yet the two youngest players on the pitch looked completely unbothered.

"Jung-hoon, let's go hard."

"Okay! Delivery crosses again today, please."

"Huh? I'm the one scoring."

"Aww~! Why you gotta be like that? Trying to hurt my feelings?"

"Feel free to be hurt."

"Come on, Hyuk! I'll do well, okay? My mom and dad are watching this. I at least have to show ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them their son scoring!"

"…Why are you suddenly bringing up your parents? That's cheap."

"Heh heh! If you don't pass to me, I'm telling Mom and Dad straight up, so choose wisely."

"Wow… pulling the parent card leaves me with nothing. Fine, you idiot. Just finish them when they come."

"Don't even worry. You know how my finishing's been lately."

Jung Hyuk and Oh Jung-hoon chatted like they were strolling into a practice match. Watching on TV, Korean fans lit up.

"Wait—those two don't look nervous at all?"

"Is it because they've been playing in the EPL? They look so relaxed."

"Are they really nineteen? The older guys all look stiff, but Jung Hyuk and Oh Jung-hoon are completely chill."

"Must be the confidence that comes with real ability? Man… that kind of composure just makes me even more excited."

"I really hope Jung Hyuk and Oh Jung-hoon show us something special!"

Expectation surged. And the moment the match between South Korea and Costa Rica kicked off—

"What?!"

"What is that right now?"

"Insane!"

Fans could only stare in shock. The second the whistle blew, Jung Hyuk took the ball and started running. He tore forward at a blistering pace, dribbling through every Costa Rican player who came at him.

And right then, a message floated in front of the eyes of the boy carrying the ball—tied to the trait he had just acquired.