[192] The Eve of the Heroes’ Assembly

"One billion in prize money… Ego Jinpachi, that guy is absolutely insane!"

Aboard the helicopter, Hiori muttered in a tone that was somewhere between excitement and shock as he stared at the notification on his phone.

"Instead of using strict rules, he's using a system that directly ties personal interests to the players' choices. That guy… is as infuriating as ever."

Beside him, Yukimiya nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the massive number on the screen, unable to look away.

"Even though we've already received pretty high offers, those were all within this structured environment. They're more like reference points than anything tangible. But now, with this massive sum laid right in front of us, I don't think many people will be able to stay indifferent. Especially considering we're all youth players participating in this project, and the truly elite players—the ones who wouldn't be swayed by money—have all been appointed as coaches. Every move Ego makes is part of a bigger plan for what's coming next."

"Honestly, even the coaches can't ignore that much money."

"Even Noa ended up being pulled into a match by the lure of cash, playing a training game just to give us some perspective. Seeing that, there's no way people are going to recklessly slash their value and ruin the balance of the second phase. If anything, this next phase should be more evenly matched than ever."

"But," added Isagi, "if we go by the rules Ego laid out, someone offering to lower their price is practically unavoidable."

"Huh? Why's that?" Raichi asked, clearly puzzled.

"Didn't they say that lowering your price would affect your future value and reduce your share of the final prize money? With all those risks, who in their right mind would volunteer to devalue themselves?"

The rest of Bastard München's team leaned in, eager to hear the explanation.

"True, the rules Ego explained were meant to make us think twice," Isagi continued. "But those rules were mainly there to prevent guys like Charles from joining teams just for fun and unbalancing the tournament. It's not that we're forbidden from lowering our price—it's more like he laid out the consequences to force us to make real decisions."

Isagi explained openly, and players like Hiori and Reiji, who were more analytically minded, chimed in.

"The whole salary cap and prize system is basically designed to make us weigh our options carefully. This stage isn't just about which team helps you grow as a player. It's also about which team helps your future, your life, and how much you can gain from it."

Upon hearing the others' analysis, players like Yukimiya—who weren't slow thinkers—quickly caught on.

"I see… if we look at it from the prize distribution angle, no matter how high your market value is, if you join a weak team that can't win, you still won't earn anything. So, in that sense, it might be more beneficial to slightly lower your value and join a stronger team with a better chance at the prize. That would be the optimal choice."

"Exactly," Isagi replied. "The higher a team ranks, the more everyone gains. What Ego wants us to consider during this Hero Gathering phase is how to balance our personal payout share against the team's strength. Like he said—this whole thing simulates the environment of a professional athlete. Every choice from now on needs to be weighed with that mindset. If you think about it that way, your payout share is like your tactical role in a club, and the team's strength is the potential of that club."

Isagi looked seriously at the others. "Only by taking all of that into account can we truly consider ourselves professional players."

"..."

Silence fell in the cabin. Everyone had begun thinking deeply—because what they decided next could impact the rest of their lives.

"There's one thing none of you have considered yet."

Just then, the previously silent Kaiser finally spoke up. "Choosing to lower your value isn't all bad—despite what Noa and the rest might say."

"What do you mean, Kaiser?" Isagi asked, frowning. "Voluntarily lowering your value is essentially admitting you're worth less. It'll hurt your chances during contract negotiations and future evaluations. That should be all downside, no?"

"Heh. That's how it looks to naïve kids who still don't understand how brutal pro football is," Kaiser scoffed. "But I can guarantee you this—even if it means giving up any share of the prize money, some players will play for free just to stay in New Hero Battle."

"Why?" He looked around at their stunned faces.

"Because to most players, they're not the stars. They're just supporting cast. They wouldn't earn much of the prize anyway. But this—this is a global stage. Blue Lock TV is a worldwide phenomenon. Even a bench player gets global exposure. Even better? You get seen by clubs from around the world."

He paused. "For many players, this might be their only chance to catch a scout's eye. One good play. One moment of brilliance. That's all it takes. So even if they had to pay to stay in, they would. Add in the chance to train and compete with the best—there's no better development opportunity."

Seeing the others still stunned, Kaiser sneered.

"This world is a hell of a lot crueler than you think. Even the ones who made it into this tournament—the elite from their youth academies—most of them still won't make it to top-tier clubs. The players you see now, the ones you're used to calling 'elite,' are lightyears ahead of what most will ever reach."

"But... if a club sees you playing alongside stars, if you're part of their training sessions, part of highlight reels—that's leverage. And remember: we're all still young. That means we still have potential. A lowered value now can be reversed if you show growth. Clubs care more about what you can become than where you are now."

"Besides, some people won't care about the prize at all. Instead, they'll go to a weaker team to become its star player—gain more playtime, more on-screen moments, and more attention. A sub in a stacked team won't get the same exposure as the MVP of an underdog team." He then turned to Isagi.

"This is all for you, Isagi. You outperformed me in the last match. Don't throw it away with the wrong decision."

"I'm going to crush you fair and square," Kaiser declared, "and climb my way back to the throne of world number one."

"I appreciate the warning," Isagi shot back with a glare, "but there's no way I'm giving you that title without a fight. Bring it on."

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