Chapter 6: The First Offer

Jason stood still, breathing heavily as the club representative approached. The man had a serious expression, clipboard in hand, and eyes that looked as if they had seen a thousand players before him.

Jason had fought for this moment.

Now, the real question was—had he done enough?

"Jason Carter, right?" the man asked, glancing at his notes.

Jason nodded. "Yeah."

The representative studied him for a moment, then smiled. "Good performance out there. Two goals, sharp movement, and solid finishing."

Jason kept his face neutral, but inside, his heartbeat quickened.

"We're looking for a young striker to add depth to our squad," the man continued. "We're a third-division club, but we're ambitious. Would you be interested in coming for a trial with us?"

Jason's breath caught for a second.

A trial.

Not a contract, not a professional deal—but a trial.

Before the system, he might have hesitated. A third-division team wasn't his dream destination. But now?

He saw it for what it was.

An opportunity.

A way back into football.

Before he could answer, another voice cut in.

"Excuse me," a second man approached—a different club rep, slightly older. "I couldn't help but overhear. We might be interested in Jason as well."

Jason turned, surprised.

Two clubs?

Reynolds, standing nearby, smirked. "Looks like you impressed more than just one team."

The second scout continued. "We're from a second-division club, and we've been looking for a young forward to bring into our U21 squad."

Second-division. A step higher than the first offer.

Jason exhaled. This was happening faster than he expected.

Two clubs. Two choices.

One was a third-division team that wanted him for a senior squad trial. If he succeeded, he could be playing first-team football immediately.

The other was a second-division team offering a spot in their U21 squad. It might take longer, but if he proved himself, he could earn a professional contract at a higher level.

Jason turned to Coach Reynolds. "What do you think?"

The assistant coach crossed his arms. "That depends on you, kid."

"Do you want to jump straight into first-team football in a lower division?" Reynolds asked. "Or do you want to take your time and grow in a more structured environment, with a bigger club?"

Jason looked between the two club reps.

This was a huge decision.

And he had to make it now.

Jason closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath.

Then, he looked at the second-division scout.

"I'll take the offer with your U21 team."

The man smiled. "Good choice."

The third-division scout sighed but nodded. "Alright, kid. Best of luck." He shook Jason's hand before walking off.

Reynolds patted Jason's shoulder. "Smart decision. You'll have time to develop, and if you keep improving, you won't stay in the U21 squad for long."

Jason clenched his fists. He had taken the longer path, but he knew it was the right one.

Now, he had to prove he made the right call.

A New Beginning

Jason packed his bags the next morning. His time at the academy was officially over.

Eric leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "So, you really got an offer?"

Jason zipped up his bag. "Yeah."

Eric scoffed. "Lucky bastard."

Jason smirked. "Luck had nothing to do with it."

Eric sighed but then extended a fist. "Good luck, man. Seriously."

Jason bumped fists with him. "Same to you."

With that, he slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out.

He was leaving the academy behind.

A new journey was about to begin.

The Next Step

The club's training facility was much bigger than Jason expected. It wasn't Premier League level, but compared to the academy, it felt professional.

He stepped into the dressing room, where a group of players were already gathered. Some were stretching, others chatting.

All of them were his new teammates.

A few turned as he entered, sizing him up.

A tall, lean forward with sharp features smirked. "You the new guy?"

Jason nodded. "Yeah."

The player leaned back against the bench. "I'm Lucas. Striker. Try not to slow us down."

Jason recognized the type instantly. A rival.

But he didn't flinch.

He just smiled. "We'll see who's slowing who down."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, but before he could reply, the coach entered.

"Alright, lads," the coach said. "Training starts now. Let's see what the new guy can do."

Jason took a deep breath.

His real test was about to begin.