Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Unwanted Role

["Welcome, Manager. Your mission begins now."]

Jack Mercer woke up with a splitting headache and an unfamiliar screen floating in front of him.

It wasn't his phone. It wasn't a dream. It was a holographic interface, pulsing with blue light and filled with game-like notifications.

[System Activation Complete!]

[Congratulations! You have been randomly selected for the 'Ultimate Football Revival Challenge!']

[Mission: Purchase a fallen club, rebuild it, and lead it back to the top of world football.]

Jack blinked.

A low chime rang in his ears as more text filled the screen.

Processing club selection…

Selected Club: Manchester City (Current Status: League Two, 22nd place)

Purchase Required. Proceed? [YES] [NO]

Jack's heart stopped.

Manchester City? League Two?!

That wasn't possible.

City were supposed to be a superclub—one of the richest, most dominant teams in the world. The team of De Bruyne, Haaland, and Guardiola's legacy…

Except—no.

Jack scrambled for his phone and Googled Manchester City.

The search results made his stomach turn.

"The Fall of a Superclub: Manchester City Relegated for the Fourth Time"

"From Treble Winners to Bottom of League Two: The Worst Decline in Football History"

"Abu Dhabi Group Finally Sells Manchester City After Years of Failure"

Jack's eyes darted across the articles.

Years of financial mismanagement, reckless spending, and failed projects had driven Manchester City into the ground. When their billionaire owners cut their losses and sold the club, City collapsed.

They were now one step away from non-league football.

And the System wanted him to fix it?

[YES] [NO]

Jack stabbed NO.

[ERROR: Mission is mandatory. Alternative option unavailable.]

[System will automatically process the purchase in 10… 9… 8…]

"WHAT? NO—STOP!" Jack shouted, waving his hands at the screen.

3… 2… 1…

Transaction complete. Congratulations, you are now the owner of Manchester City.

Jack felt a cold sweat break out across his back.

No. No, no, no.

His phone buzzed.

—INCOMING CALL – UNKNOWN NUMBER—

With shaking hands, he answered.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Mr. Mercer!" A cheerful, professional voice greeted him. "Welcome to Manchester City Football Club. My name is Michael Reynolds, and I handle club ownership transitions. I assume the System has already processed your payment?"

Jack's stomach dropped.

"…You're joking."

"I assure you, we take club ownership very seriously," Reynolds continued. "We've already prepared the documents. The press release goes out tomorrow morning. Also, our next match is in three days, so I suggest you—"

"I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RUN A FOOTBALL CLUB!" Jack snapped.

There was a pause.

"Well… you do now."

The screen in front of Jack flickered again, text appearing faster than he could process it. The System was continuing its relentless updates, each line more overwhelming than the last.

[New Role Assigned: Club Owner & Manager]

[Mission Structure Unlocked]

• Each season will have set objectives based on squad quality and tactical approach.

• Outside help is allowed (coaches, scouts, backroom staff), but sponsors will only invest if the club shows promise.

• Your reputation as a manager will grow based on results.

• No penalties for failure, but continued poor performance may lead to job termination.

Jack exhaled deeply. He was stuck. He had no choice now. He was the owner and the manager of Manchester City. The same club that had crumbled beyond recognition. And now, somehow, he had to bring it back to the top. A team that went from winning the Champions League to scrapping for survival in League Two.

His phone buzzed again, and his eyes caught the fine print.

Warning: Failure to meet objectives or intentional poor performance may trigger termination from your role as manager. Additionally, intentional failure will incur severe penalties.

Jack blinked.

Lifetime Debt Activated: Intentional Failure Consequence

• Failure to uphold your duties or sabotage the club will result in a lifetime of crippling debt.

• This debt will follow you permanently, preventing you from working in football again and limiting future career opportunities.

• The debt will have far-reaching effects, impacting not just your career but your personal life as well.

Jack stared at the text for a moment, his mind racing. Lifetime debt? What did that even mean? Was this some kind of sick joke? A punishment he couldn't even escape?

The System wasn't playing around. If he tanked the club on purpose, the consequences would be permanent. He'd be trapped. In football, in life.

Jack slowly ran a hand through his hair. This wasn't just about saving Manchester City anymore. This was about saving himself. The weight of the lifetime debt was something he couldn't even begin to comprehend.

Suddenly, the voice of Michael Reynolds was back on the line, cheerful as ever.

"Well, Mr. Mercer, I trust you're ready for the challenge! The next match is right around the corner. Do let me know if you need anything else!"

Jack didn't respond. His mind was elsewhere.

He had a team to manage. A club to rebuild. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the thought of that lifetime debt clause. If he failed on purpose, if he intentionally threw matches or ruined the team, it wouldn't just be a loss—it would cost him everything.

The pressure was on.

In the back of his mind, Jack heard a ticking clock. Three seasons. That was his window to turn Manchester City around, to meet the season objectives the System had set for him.

He had no experience in managing a football club, but he had no choice. He had to make it work. Or face a lifetime where he couldn't escape the consequences of his decisions.

With the lifetime debt looming over him, the stakes had never been higher. Jack's challenge was no longer simply about rebuilding a fallen football club—it was about salvaging his entire future. The weight of the consequences pressed down on him like a vice, each misstep carrying the threat of unimaginable financial ruin. This wasn't just a job—this was survival. Every decision, every match, every moment now had far-reaching implications, not only for the club but for his very existence. Failure meant more than just losing a football match; it meant being trapped in a cycle of debt, with no way out, no escape from the suffocating consequences of his mistakes.

The System's warning echoed in his mind: Intentional failure would bind him forever. He couldn't afford to risk it, couldn't afford to falter. The world he'd known, the career he'd built as an analyst, could be wiped away in a heartbeat.