Battle

Richard leaned back in the passenger seat as Lukas drove him through Dortmund's luxury car district. The city was filled with high-end dealerships, each one showcasing some of the world's finest automobiles behind spotless glass windows.

"So, what are we looking for?" Lukas asked as they pulled up to their first stop.

Richard grinned. "Something fast, stylish, and comfortable."

Evan, sitting in the back, chuckled. "In other words, you want to flex."

Richard smirked. "Of course."

Stepping inside, they were greeted by a salesman in a crisp suit. He immediately began speaking rapid German.

Lukas sighed. "Yeah, I'll handle this." He turned to the salesman, firing off a string of German words while Richard watched, trying to pick out anything he could understand.

The salesman nodded, then led them to the showroom floor, where rows of luxury cars gleamed under the bright lights.

"Alright," Lukas translated, "he's asking what kind of car you're looking for—sports car, SUV, electric?"

Richard rubbed his chin, glancing at the lineup. He had always wanted a supercar, but an SUV might be more practical for everyday use.

"Hmm… let's check out both," he said.

The salesman led them to a sleek, black Lamborghini Huracán STO. It was a beast of a car—low, aggressive, and built for pure speed.

Richard whistled. "Damn. That's clean."

Lukas relayed his interest, and the salesman launched into an enthusiastic pitch.

Richard nudged Lukas. "What's he saying?"

Lukas smirked. "Basically, it's fast, loud, and will turn every head in the city."

Richard ran a hand over the hood. "Tempting."

Next, they checked out a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG. It was massive, powerful, and perfect for daily driving.

Evan crossed his arms. "This is the move. You get comfort, luxury, and still flex hard."

Richard nodded thoughtfully. He could see himself driving this to training, picking up teammates, and not worrying about speed bumps.

Lukas added, "Plus, the Huracán won't be fun in German winters."

Richard sighed. "You guys are really making me be responsible, huh?"

Evan grinned. "Nah, just buy both."

Richard laughed. "You know what? I just might."

With his car choices locked in, it was time for the next step—finding a driver until he got his license.

Lukas had arranged a meeting with three potential drivers, all experienced professionals.

The first was an older German man named Klaus, who barely spoke English. Their interview was basically Lukas translating everything while Richard nodded along awkwardly.

The second was a younger guy named Tobias, who spoke decent English but spent half the interview hyping up Bayern Munich.

Richard frowned. "Yeah… no chance."

The third was a Nigerian-German driver named Chidi, who immediately greeted Richard in fluent Pidgin.

"Bros! You dey find driver?" Chidi grinned.

Richard burst out laughing. "Finally, someone I can talk to properly."

Chidi's qualifications checked out, and he had experience driving for high-profile athletes. Plus, he understood the footballer lifestyle.

"Congrats, Chidi," Richard said, shaking his hand. "You got the job."

Chidi beamed. "Omo, na flex we go flex for this city!"

Richard chuckled. This was shaping up to be a fun ride—literally.

The next day, Richard and Evan returned to the dealership, this time to finalize the purchase and pick up his new ride. Lukas tagged along again, acting as his translator for the final paperwork.

Inside the dealership, the salesman greeted them warmly, already knowing they were there to seal the deal.

"Alright," Evan said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's make this official."

Lukas once again handled the German discussions while Richard and Evan sat across from the dealership's finance team, waiting for their turn to sign.

Since Richard was a foreign player, there were a few extra steps, including:

Registering the car under his name

Ensuring it met all local road requirements

Sorting out insurance

Luckily, Dortmund had already provided legal and financial advisors to help with these things. Once the paperwork was done, Richard reached for his phone to authorize the transfer.

"How much again?" he asked, glancing at the final price.

Lukas translated, "€225,000 after taxes and insurance."

Richard nodded casually. "Alright."

Evan chuckled. "Man, you really just dropping six figures like pocket change now."

Richard smirked and tapped his screen. In seconds, the funds were wired, and the dealership confirmed the transaction.

After what felt like ages of paperwork, the salesman finally held out the keys—a sleek black key fob with the Mercedes logo gleaming under the showroom lights.

Richard grinned. "Now we're talking."

They were led outside, where the black Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG was parked, looking pristine under the evening lights.

Chidi, his newly hired driver, whistled. "Omo! Dis one na big boy levels."

Richard laughed as he climbed into the driver's seat, feeling the premium leather and the smooth grip of the steering wheel. He hit the start button, and the engine roared to life.

By the time they were done with everything—final checks, registration, and an overview of the car's features—it was already late at night.

Richard turned to Lukas and clapped him on the shoulder. "Man, I owe you for this. Appreciate you sticking around all day."

Lukas smiled. "No worries, bro. Just don't crash this thing."

Evan added, "Or do—just make sure it's not on camera."

Richard laughed. "Not happening."

With that, Chidi slid into the driver's seat, and they cruised off into the night, Richard already thinking about where to take his new ride first.

The next morning, the training pitch was unusually subdued as Coach Schmidt gathered the team for a pre-session briefing. The early winter light cast long shadows across the field, and the players settled in, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.

Coach Schmidt began, his tone measured and direct. "Alright, lads. Before we hit the drills today, I want to update you on where we stand. I know it's been a tough season so far."

He paused, letting the gravity of the moment sink in. "In the Bundesliga, we're sitting in 11th place, and we're eight points adrift of that final Champions League qualifying spot. I won't sugarcoat it—we're in a battle, and every point matters."

A murmur ran through the group as Schmidt continued, "And as for the German Cup, well, that ship sailed. We were eliminated after that heavy defeat last month. It's a setback we need to learn from, not an excuse to give up."

The room fell quiet for a moment as the players digested the news. Schmidt's eyes swept the squad, his gaze lingering on a few key figures. "Now, on a more positive note, we have a Champions League fixture coming up. You all remember the first leg against Sporting CP—our 3-0 win was brilliant. But now, we face the second leg at home on February 19th. That's our chance to prove we can not only win at the high level but also get past the group stages."

He let his words echo. "This is your reminder that every training session counts. Every pass, every sprint, every tackle has a purpose. We're not just playing for the league table—we're fighting to get back into European football. And I expect each of you to push harder."

There was a palpable tension in the air—an understanding that the stakes were higher than ever. Some players nodded resolutely, while others exchanged determined looks.

Coach Schmidt's voice softened slightly as he added, "We all know the challenges we face, but remember: adversity breeds strength. Learn from our Cup exit and use that as fuel to bring our best game to the Champions League. We're not out of the fight yet."

As the team dispersed to begin their warm-up, a few senior players whispered encouragement to one another, and the buzz of focused conversation began to fill the locker room. The reality was harsh, but the challenge had ignited a spark—each player understood that their performance in training today could be the turning point for the rest of the season.

On the sidelines, as he laced his boots, Richard Blake listened intently. The statistics, the criticism, and the hope in Coach Schmidt's words all coalesced into a singular determination. Today was another chance—a chance to push harder, learn faster, and prove that he belonged on the biggest stages.

The team's focus was clear, and as they set off onto the pitch, the weight of those real-time statistics and upcoming challenges propelled them forward. The season might have its setbacks, but every drill and every minute of effort was a step toward turning the tide.