Chapter 9: Who Else? Who Wasn't Shocked?

[Shock Value Collected: 39]
[New Player Benefit: First-time exchange for Bundesliga Star Blind Box requires only 40 shock points.]
Just one point short of the shock value?
Who else is here?
Who isn’t shocked?
Li Luo glanced left and right, silently counting the number of people on the training field.
This is bad.
Including the security guard, there were indeed only 39 people.
“...”
A short, stocky figure emerged from the corridor.
It was Tom.
He hurried over to the sideline, whispering excitedly with the assistant coaches, his face gradually filling with astonishment as he waved his chubby hands: “Li! Incredible!”
[Shock Value +1]
Beep! Beep beep~
The training match ended.
The Wolfsburg players all rushed back to the locker room.
Li Luo took the towel Tom handed him and said seriously, “You did an excellent job. I’ll make a call later to get your salary raised.”
Tom was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, “Oh! Praise be to you, kind Li! I’ll work hard for you!”
...
A torrential downpour.
Everyone quickly retreated to the locker room.
Captain Benalio patted Li Luo on the rear.
Vice-captain Schäfer followed suit.
This is a Bundesliga tradition: patting a teammate’s rear signifies approval, encouragement, and camaraderie.
Research from Cologne Sports University points out that appropriate physical contact stimulates oxytocin secretion, conveying positive emotions, relieving stress, and enhancing willingness to cooperate.
Of course, even in the Bundesliga, a pat on the rear doesn’t always mean friendliness.
In a 2004 Bundesliga match, legendary goalkeeper Kahn once pulled down his shorts and thrust his rear at opposing fans in defiance.
“Li, come here.”
“It won’t take long.”
Coach Heijin beckoned Li Luo into the office.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, numerous blue-and-white Volkswagen logos were visible.
Along the banks of the Aller River stood minimalist signboards; Li Luo tried to imagine: “a trench coat man with hands in pockets,” “a red car,” “a sheep grazing with its head down”...
Many buildings dated back to the last century.
One building bore the sign “Vibes Bar Lounge Wolfsburg.”
Under the sign, a group of hefty waiters enthusiastically beckoned customers at the entrance...
“Li?”
Li Luo snapped back to reality.
Heijin handed him a bottle of mineral water.

“You performed excellently in training. I’ve decided to start you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Mr. Heijin.”
“No need to thank me. You’re outstanding. Even in such harsh weather and conditions, your ball skills still reach the level of the Chinese national team... Sorry, I’m not joking. I nearly went to coach in the Chinese Super League and did some prep work.”
Heijin’s expression was serious.
He had criticized the Chinese Super League before, deeming its cash-driven football a regression for competitive sport.
Li Luo was stunned—it was the first time he’d heard such an evaluation. His current skill level, just over 40 points in ball control, was apparently on par with the national team.
Even football novices knew that the Chinese team was weak.
But were the national team players really as poor as he was now?
“There’s one more thing—the tactical resource issue between you and De Bruyne...”
Wolfsburg’s head coach hesitated.
Li Luo smiled. If he replaced De Bruyne as the core now, what would Wolfsburg become? Forget shock points—anger points might be more appropriate.
“No problem, Mr. Heijin.”
“Good! You’re a good lad. I was overthinking, mistaking you for a player who demands a core position... My mistake. The core position is earned on the pitch, not argued for with words.”
Heijin’s expression grew solemn: a super talent like Li Luo, so team-oriented and selfless... Who said he and De Bruyne must compete for tactical resources? They can coexist in midfield. The coaching staff must study this carefully! We need a meeting tonight to optimize the midfield!
Li Luo watched the coach’s ever-changing expression.
He couldn’t help but think: Why are football professionals so strange? I’m in a rush to open star blind boxes.
.....
Back in the locker room.
His teammates were all very warm.
Even the proud Arsenal emperor, Bentner, approached him: “I’ll take you to Resonance Bar to have some fun! In future matches, you better rack up some assists for me.”
That’s pretty intense.
Li Luo remembered the hefty waiters under that sign and shook his head: “Maybe next time. I still have to go home and study.”
Everyone laughed heartily.
They didn’t know the Chinese boy meant studying football knowledge; they thought he meant academic classes.
De Bruyne nodded approvingly; his initial impression of Li Luo was not bad.
....
Twenty minutes later.
Li Luo returned home.
The first thing was to redeem a blind box!
Wait.
First, he called Manchester United to arrange a raise for Tom.
Wolfsburg treated the Manchester United entourage well, allowing them free passage with Li Luo.
Without Tom, he couldn’t redeem a blind box today.
After the call, Manchester United’s uniform department inquired about his wellbeing and said to contact them anytime with requests.
[Use 40 shock points to redeem Bundesliga Star Blind Box?]
[Redeeming...]
Rumble!
A giant card suddenly rose before him!

Unlike the template cards with their colorful patterns, this star blind box card glowed white.
[Blind box opening...]
The white light grew increasingly dazzling.
Within the card, a figure slowly emerged.
Li Luo felt like he was in a Pokémon animation: “Who am I?” “Psyduck” dun~ dun dun dun dun~
[Congratulations on acquiring: Bayern’s Thiago “One-Touch Pass” Module!]
[A prodigious midfielder produced by La Masia youth academy.]
[The Xavi of Barcelona B? Bayern’s Thiago.]
[A cradle of heritage.]
[His one-touch pass can deliver a super magnetic levitation through ball, astonishing all.]
[Everything is under control; he can pass the ball to the rapidly advancing “Santa Claus.”]
[Effect: You have mastered Bayern midfielder Thiago’s “one-touch passing” technique, and your training efficiency for passing attributes is greatly enhanced.]
[Passing: 49↑]
What?
Training efficiency for passing attributes greatly enhanced?
No more disgust from tiny decimal points on Pinduoduo?
“One-touch passing?”
“What does that mean? The textbook didn’t explain it well... Oh, I haven’t learned it yet.”
Li Luo opened his computer and searched his video collection.
“Morata’s Hands-on Passing Tutorial.”
He dragged the progress bar to the one-touch passing chapter.
On the screen, the training ground was bathed in warm sunshine.
Morata, wearing a Juventus jersey, demonstrated with the help of staff.
“The ball comes, don’t stop it. Bam! One-touch switch.”
“The ball comes again, don’t stop it. Bam! One-touch delivery.”
“You can choose short pass, long pass, through ball, or if confident in your technique, perform large-scale distribution to pull the opponent’s defense to the weak side.”
“Of course, during a match, if you don’t observe well, never one-touch pass to the opponent or, worse, into your own goal.”
“If your team has three Moratas, congratulations—you can play dazzling one-two passes!”
“If your team has only one Morata, congratulations too. Your team can let Morata control the timing of acceleration and attacking rhythm, fully utilizing the advantage of one-touch passing: reducing ball possession time, disrupting opponent defensive runs, minimizing possession risk, suddenly breaking through the defensive line, relieving high-pressure defense, shortening offensive transition chains, alleviating teammates’ pressure...”
“Look, a very stylish way to play.”
“If your vision and game reading are poor, even the most exquisite one-touch passing is useless.”
Li Luo suddenly understood.
So that’s it.
Spatial awareness combined with one-touch passing... on the pitch, the power multiplies!
Both offense and defense can manifest tactical value.