The glow of victory lasted exactly as long as it took for the Copper League rulebook to auto-download into their team interface. The 10,000-credit prize, which had felt like infinite wealth, suddenly seemed frighteningly finite. The rulebook wasn't just a list of regulations; it was a gauntlet of hidden costs.
[Copper League Mandatory Requirements:]
· Advanced Medical Bay Installation: 2,000 Credits (One-time fee)
· Licensed Tactical Coach NPC Contract: 1,500 Credits/Month
· League-Grade Scouting Software Suite: 800 Credits/Month
· Player Housing & Training Facility Upkeep: 1,200 Credits/Month
The numbers glared at them from the holoscreen in their newly claimed, but still bare-bones, team headquarters—a small, virtual office space that came with their Copper League qualification.
"We're broke again," Jiro stated, his usual grim practicality returning. "Before we've even kicked a ball."
"The prize money covered the initial fees, but the monthly costs..." Daichi trailed off, running the numbers. "We have a buffer, but not a large one. One bad month and we're insolvent."
The celebration was well and truly over. They were no longer plucky underdogs; they were a small business that had just gone public and realized the immense overhead that came with it.
"It's not just about credits," Kairo said, breaking the gloomy silence. "We're out of our depth. We won on heart and a few clever tricks. The Copper League teams have structure. They have support systems. We need to build ours. Now."
This time, the solution didn't come from a brilliant tactical shift, but from a pragmatic division of labor. Taro, still buzzing from his success fielding sponsorship offers, was appointed Official Team Manager. His boundless energy and genuine likability were perfect for networking, negotiations, and being the friendly public face of Aethelgard.
Daichi, with his analytical mind, became the Director of Football Operations. He would handle the finances, contract details, and the analysis of the intimidating scouting reports that were already flooding in from their new software.
This left Kairo free to focus on the most critical hire: a coach.
The "Free Agent" list for NPC coaches was a vast database of digital personalities, each with their own specialties, personalities, and salary demands. They scrolled through countless profiles.
There was "Gunther the Grim," a disciplinarian from the Nordic server regions who specialized in defensive structure but had a -15% penalty to player morale. There was "Zippy," a hyper-active coach who boosted Speed and Agility but had no tactical instruction whatsoever.
"We need a teacher," Kairo murmured, his eyes scanning the list. "Not a dictator. Someone who can explain the 'why', not just the 'what'."
And then he found him.
Coach Profile: Silas
Specialty:Foundational Tactics & Player Development
Traits:Patient, Explanatory, Adaptive
Unique Ability:Instills Fundamentals - Players under his tutelage have a slightly increased rate of stat growth from training and learn new Abilities 10% faster.
Salary Requirement:1,200 Credits/Month (Below average, due to low reputation)
Bio:A former theorist and youth coach, Silas believes in building players from the ground up. Has little professional team experience, but a deep understanding of the game's core principles.
He was perfect. He wasn't a star, but he was a foundation. Kairo immediately sent a contract offer.
Next was the medical staff. The "Advanced Medical Bay" was just an empty room. They needed a medic. They found "Anya," a no-nonsense virtual physio with a trait called "Preventative Care" that reduced the chance of training injuries by 20%. Her salary was a necessary 800 Credits/month.
The final, and most unexpected, hire came from an application Taro received. It was for a "Morale & Logistics Officer." The applicant was a player named "Chloe," who had been on the opposing Crimson Wolves team during their first match. Her message was straightforward.
"Saw your Gauntlet run. You have the talent. Your logistics are a mess. You need someone to handle the minute-to-minute stuff—scheduling, gear maintenance, managing the new facilities, keeping your heads in the game. I'm organized, I know the league, and I'm tired of losing. Hire me."
After a brief, intense interview conducted by Taro and Daichi, they hired her. She was their first non-original player, a sign that Aethelgard was becoming something bigger than its founding members.
The financial reality was a cold shower. The 5,000 credits Kairo had allocated to the team treasury was now a swirling drain:
· Coach Silas: 1,200
· Medic Anya: 800
· Scouting Software: 800
· Facility Upkeep: 1,200
· Chloe's Salary: 500
Total Monthly Outflow: 4,500 Credits.
They had one month's grace. They needed revenue, fast.
Their first official Copper League match was in two weeks, against a team called the "Avalanche." The scouting report from their new software was brutal. They played a direct, physical 4-4-2, specializing in set-pieces. Their striker had a "Power Header" ability. Their captain had a trait called "Pitch General" that boosted the positioning of nearby defenders.
This was the new reality. No more unknown quantities. Every opponent would be a puzzle with known, dangerous pieces.
Their first training session with Coach Silas was a revelation. He was a tall, slender NPC with a calm demeanor and eyes that missed nothing.
"Congratulations on your promotion," he began, his voice even. "Now, forget everything you think you know."
He didn't start with complex formations. He started with passing. Not just any passing—passing under pressure, with both feet, to a specific foot of a teammate. He broke down the mechanics of a simple tackle, showing them three different angles of approach they had never considered. He was, as his bio promised, building them from the ground up.
While the team trained, Taro secured their first major sponsorship: a one-season, 3,000-credit deal with "Phantom Step Boots" for the whole team, brokered down from their original exclusive demand for Kairo alone. It wasn't enough to make them rich, but it paid the bills for another month.
A week into their new regimen, Kairo felt a difference. The frantic, desperate energy of the Gauntlet was being replaced by a quiet, growing confidence. They were no longer just playing; they were training with purpose. Under Anya's watchful eye, injuries were managed proactively. Under Chloe's organization, their schedules were optimized, and their gear was always at peak condition.
They were becoming a professional outfit.
The day before their match against the Avalanche, Kairo was reviewing the scouting data when a new, official-looking message arrived, not from the league, but from the game's overarching administrative AI.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Player Kairo]
[Your consistent demonstration of advanced tactical understanding and leadership has been logged.]
[You have been granted the 'Player-Coach' proficiency.]
[This allows you to:
· Access advanced tactical data during matches.
· Make minor in-game formation adjustments without a time-out.
· Gain a +5% bonus to the effectiveness of your team's executed game plan.]
It was a small but significant validation. The game itself was recognizing his growth beyond mere player stats. He was being given the tools to truly conduct his symphony.
That night, he stood with his team on the pitch of their new, upgraded training ground, a facility that felt both alien and earned. They were no longer the ragged survivors of the Iron League. They were sharper, smarter, and backed by a small but dedicated staff.
He looked at them—Taro, Jiro, Daichi, Yumi, Ren, Kenji, and the others, with Chloe watching from the sideline—and then to the quiet, observant Coach Silas.
"The Gauntlet was about proving we belonged," Kairo said, his voice carrying easily in the cool, virtual air. "The Copper League is about proving we can build a kingdom. It starts tomorrow. Not with a miracle, but with a plan."
For the first time, they weren't just hoping to win. They were preparing to.