The grass at the training ground was growing fast and the bank balance of Barnsley Football Club was growing even faster.

But money changes things.

Michael Sterling sat in his office. On his desk sat a mountain of paperwork.

Arthur Milton was sitting on the sofa. He was not wearing his Hawaiian shirt today. He was wearing a suit. He looked uncomfortable. He was loosening his tie every five seconds.

"I hate suits Boss," Arthur complained. "It feels like a snake is hugging my neck."

"We have meetings Arthur," Michael said without looking up. "Serious meetings. You cannot negotiate contracts looking like a tourist."

"But I am a tourist in this world of high finance," Arthur sighed. "I miss the days when we paid players with a sandwich and a promise."

"Those days are gone," Michael said. "Now we pay them with gold."

He picked up the first file.

PLAYER: ISAIAH KING

CURRENT WAGE: £30,000 per week

DEMAND: £150,000 per week

AGENT: MINO RAIOLA JR.

"One hundred and fifty thousand," Michael whispered. "He wants to be paid like a superstar."

"He is a superstar," Arthur noted. "He sold half a million boots. The kid is walking GDP."

The door opened.

Isaiah King walked in. He was wearing sunglasses indoors. He had a new haircut. It was dyed bright blue to match the Conference League logo.

"Yo Boss," Isaiah said sitting down. He put his feet on Michael desk. He was wearing the famous pink boots.

"Feet off the desk Isaiah," Michael said gently.

Isaiah took his feet down. "Sorry Boss. Habit. So. Did you see the numbers? My agent says I am underpaid. He says I am a Ferrari running on diesel money."

"You are paid well Isaiah," Michael said. "But I agree. You have evolved."

Michael pushed a paper across the desk.

"We cannot give you one hundred and fifty. That breaks our wage structure. If I give you that much then Diego will want it. And then Kai will want it. And then Arthur will want a raise to buy more pastries."

Arthur nodded. "I would like more pastries."

"So," Michael continued. "We offer you one hundred thousand. Plus a goal bonus. Plus..."

Michael paused for dramatic effect.

"Plus we give you the image rights for the Asian market. You keep fifty percent of shirt sales in Tokyo."

Isaiah lowered his sunglasses. His eyes went wide.

"Fifty percent?" Isaiah calculated in his head. "That is... that is serious bread Boss. That is tycoon money."

"Take it," Michael said. "Sign the paper. Be the face of the Dynasty."

Isaiah grabbed the pen. He signed with a flourish.

"I am rich!" Isaiah shouted standing up. "I am going to buy a tiger! A blue tiger!"

"Please do not buy a tiger," Michael said. "Diego will try to fight it."

Isaiah left the office dancing. But the mood quickly changed.

The next meeting was not happy.

The door opened and Mateo walked in. The Spanish winger had been with the club since the Championship days. But since the arrival of Erik Olsen the Viking Mateo had sat on the bench.

He looked sad.

"Hola Boss," Mateo said quietly.

"Mateo," Michael said. "Sit down."

"I do not want to sit Boss," Mateo said. "I want to stand. I want to play."

"I know," Michael said. "But Erik is playing well. Isaiah is playing well."

"I am twenty four years old," Mateo said. "I cannot watch from the sideline. The bench is cold. Even in summer."

Arthur looked at his shoes. He hated this part. The goodbye part.

"I have an offer," Mateo said. "Valencia. They want me. They offer five million pounds."

Michael looked at the System stats above Mateo head.

NAME: MATEO

HAPPINESS: LOW

STATUS: SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS

It was business. Brutal cold business.

"You have been a good servant Mateo," Michael said. "You helped us get promoted. You are part of the history."

"But I am not part of the future," Mateo said.

"No," Michael admitted. "You are not."

Michael signed the transfer paper.

"You can go to Valencia. Good luck Mateo."

Mateo nodded. He looked relieved but also sad. He shook Michael hand.

"Goodbye Boss. Tell Diego not to eat my locker."

Mateo walked out.

Arthur let out a long breath.

"That hurts," Arthur said. "I scouted him. He was a good boy."

"We cannot keep everyone Arthur," Michael said. "The train moves forward. Some people have to get off."

To cheer themselves up they left the office.

"Come on," Michael said. "Let us look at the future. The Academy is open."

They walked across the complex.

The construction work was finished. The Sterling Academy stood shining in the sun. It was a glass building next to the main stadium.

Inside it smelled of fresh paint and ambition.

The walls were decorated with photos of the current first team. There was a huge picture of Danny Fletcher scoring the winner at Old Trafford.

"Inspiration," Michael said pointing at the wall. "Every kid who walks in here sees what is possible."

They walked to the indoor pitch.

It was full of noise.

Thirty kids aged between ten and fourteen were training. They were wearing oversized Barnsley bibs.

And in the middle of them was a familiar figure.

Diego Nunez.

The Bull was supposed to be on holiday. But here he was wearing his construction vest and shouting.

"NO!" Diego roared at a twelve year old boy. "Do not let him pass! Be a wall! Make yourself wide!"

Diego demonstrated. He expanded his chest. He looked like a human square.

The boy tried to copy him. He puffed out his tiny chest.

"Good!" Diego shouted. "Now tackle! Harder!"

Michael smiled.

"He is terrifying them," Arthur whispered.

"He is teaching them," Michael corrected.

They walked over to the sideline.

A coach walked up to them. It was a new hire. A former Dutch international named Van Der Berg.

"Michael," Van Der Berg said. "Welcome. The talent is good. Very good."

"Show me," Michael said.

Van Der Berg pointed to a kid on the left wing.

He was small. He had messy blonde hair. He was dribbling through cones with speed that looked unnatural.

"Who is that?" Michael asked.

"His name is Leo," the coach said. "Leo Stone. He is local. From the coal mining district."

Michael pulled out his phone. The System buzzed.

[PRODIGY DETECTED]

[NAME: LEO STONE]

[AGE: 14]

[POTENTIAL: WORLD CLASS]

[ATTRIBUTE: THE YORKSHIRE MESSI]

"The Yorkshire Messi?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "That is a big title."

"Watch him," Van Der Berg said.

The kid Leo got the ball. Diego Nunez decided to join in the game.

Diego ran at the kid. He was joking of course but a running Diego was scary for anyone.

Leo did not panic. He waited.

Just as Diego arrived Leo dropped his shoulder. He rolled the ball through Diego massive legs.

A nutmeg.

The other kids screamed.

"OHHHHH!"

Diego stopped. He looked down at his legs. He looked at the kid.

Leo Stone looked back fearless.

"Sorry Mr Nunez," the kid said. "Your legs were open."

Diego started to laugh. A booming laugh.

"He got me!" Diego shouted. "The baby got me! Boss! Sign him! Sign him now!"

Michael walked onto the pitch.

He looked at Leo Stone.

"What is your dream Leo?" Michael asked.

"I want to play for Barnsley," Leo said immediately. "I want to play with Isaiah King. I want to wear the black kit."

"You have to work hard," Michael said. "Harder than you ever imagined."

"I am not scared of work," Leo said. "My dad works in a factory. Football is fun. Work is hard."

Michael smiled. That was the attitude.

"Arthur," Michael said. "Get the papers. We are signing a new scholar."

Later that evening Michael stood on the roof of the new academy building.

From here he could see the whole empire.

He could see the stadium with the new stand rising. He could see the training pitches. He could see the restaurant where Luigi was probably cooking pasta.

And he could see the city of Barnsley.

The lights were coming on in the houses. Thousands of people who now walked with their heads held high because of his team.

Arthur joined him. He had finally taken off the tie.

"It has been a busy day Boss," Arthur said. "We spent a lot of money."

"Wage bill up by thirty percent," Michael calculated. "Plus the academy costs."

"Is it worth it?" Arthur asked.

Michael looked down at the pitch where the groundsmen were watering the grass.

"Mateo left today," Michael said. "That was the past leaving. Leo Stone arrived today. That is the future arriving. And Isaiah signed a new deal. That is the present."

He turned to Arthur.

"A Dynasty costs money Arthur. But look at this."

He pointed to the car park.

There were fans waiting. Even though there was no game. They were just waiting to see the players leave. They were wearing the new purple shirts.

"We created this," Michael said. "We built a fire in the cold."

His phone vibrated.

It was a message from Kai Sora.

Kai: Boss. I saw the new contract offer. The money is good. But I have one condition.

Michael sighed.

Michael: What condition Kai?

Kai: I want a designated nap pod in the new locker room. With a heated blanket. And no Diego allowed in there.

Michael laughed.

Michael: Deal.

He put the phone away.

"We are ready Arthur," Michael said. "The squad is happy. The kids are talented. The stadium is growing."

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