Leon left Coach Chivu's office, a thoughtful smile on his face. Left wing.
It was an unexpected challenge, but one he was eager to embrace.
He made his way back to the main lobby of the training center, where his mom (Current: 89) was waiting patiently.
"Alright, Mom," Leon said, "we're done here for today. We can head back to the villa."
Just as they were about to leave, Leon spotted Cole Palmer (Current: 85) sitting on a sofa in the corner, scrolling through his phone. Palmer looked up, saw Leon, and his face lit up.
"Leon! Over here!" Palmer called out, waving him over. "Just doing a quick live stream for the fans! Come say hi!"
Leon's heart sank slightly. A live stream? He wasn't a huge fan of constant social media interaction, preferring to let his football do the talking.
He liked posting pictures, but live video felt a bit too much, too exposed. He remembered the overwhelming number of followers, the constant comments. He didn't love the idea.
But Palmer was already gesturing, and a few fans who were still lingering in the lobby were looking over, excited. Leon sighed internally, forcing a smile. He walked over.
"Hey, Cole," Leon said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Palmer grinned, holding his phone up. "Alright, guys, look who it is! Our new number 10, Leon Fischer! Say hi to the fans, Leo!"
Leon leaned into the frame, feeling a bit awkward. "Uh, hi everyone! Great to be here at Inter. Forza Inter!" He gave a quick, slightly stiff wave.
Palmer chuckled, clearly sensing Leon's discomfort. "Don't worry, he's just shy! He's a man of few words, but his feet do all the talking, right, Leo?"
Leon laughed, feeling a bit more relaxed. "Something like that!"
"So, Leon," Palmer continued, playing the interviewer, "how are you feeling about joining Inter? Excited to play in Serie A, in the Champions League?"
"Absolutely," Leon replied, his voice gaining confidence as he talked about football. "Incredibly excited. It's a massive challenge, a new league, new opponents. But the vision here, with Mr. Chivu, and with players like you and Julián... it's a project I truly believe in. We're going to work incredibly hard to bring Inter back to the very top."
"And what about the No. 10 jersey?" Palmer asked, a twinkle in his eye. "Big shoes to fill, right?"
Leon grinned. "Huge shoes. But it's an honor. I'm ready to embrace the challenge and give everything for this club."
They chatted for a few more minutes, answering some fan questions that Palmer read out. Leon found himself relaxing, enjoying the banter with Palmer.
Palmer was easygoing, funny, and clearly passionate about football. He had a good 'Current' rating for 'Composure' and 'Charisma', Leon's 'Analyze Player Stats' feature noted.
"Alright, Leon, thanks for joining!" Palmer said, wrapping up the live stream. "You're a natural, mate! See, not so bad, right?"
"Better than I thought, actually," Leon admitted, feeling a genuine smile now. "Thanks for making it easy, Cole."
"Anytime!" Palmer replied, turning off his phone. "Seriously though, Leon, I'm buzzing to play with you. Your vision is insane. We're going to link up so well."
"Same here, Cole," Leon said, feeling a genuine connection. "Your dribbling, your creativity... it's going to be a lot of fun."
They talked for a few more minutes about training, about Milan, about their shared excitement for the upcoming season. Leon felt a sense of relief.
He had found his first friend in the new team. Someone he could connect with, someone who understood the pressure and the ambition.
"Hey," Leon said, pulling out his own phone. "Want to exchange Facelook details? So we can coordinate our next live stream, of course." He winked.
Palmer laughed. "Definitely! And maybe some behind-the-scenes training videos! The fans will go wild!"
They exchanged contact information, and Leon felt a pleasant warmth. This was what it was all about. Building connections, finding camaraderie, even in a new country, at a new club.
He left the training center with his mom, feeling lighter, more settled. The initial awkwardness of the live stream had faded, replaced by the genuine connection he'd made with Palmer.
They drove back to the villa, the setting sun painting the Milan skyline in hues of orange and purple. Leon's mom was already chatting excitedly about decorating the new place.
Back in his room, Leon took off his new suit. He looked at his Inter Milan No. 10 jersey, draped over a chair. He picked it up, feeling the fabric, the weight of the number. It was real. He was here.
He changed into comfortable clothes, then got into bed. He closed his eyes, his mind replaying the day. The villa, the pool, the call with Alex, the connection with Palmer, the excitement of the press conference.
Just as he was drifting off, a familiar shimmer appeared in his vision.
[HELP SYSTEM - CONGRATULATIONS!]
[QUEST COMPLETED: ENSURE YOUR NEXT CLUB IS AN ITALIAN TEAM!]
Leon's eyes snapped open. Ten points! He had completed the quest. The System was truly guiding him, pushing him towards his ultimate goal.
He now had 11 points.