Chapter 23: Draw Cards
Joshua Smith pushed open the door to his modest apartment just after midnight. The celebrations with the coaching staff at the bar near Kenilworth Road had stretched long into the night. Victory tasted sweeter than expected, and with the mood sky-high, everyone had let loose. Even the team's dedicated physio had flushed red from the drinks.
He rubbed his face, still chilled from the evening wind, and turned the key in the gate. The yard was dark except for a faint silhouette on the bench.
"Hey, boy!"
Joshua nearly jumped. Old Maggs sat there in the shadows, with several empty bottles scattered at his feet.
"What are you doing out here so late, Maggs?" Joshua asked, a hint of guilt flickering in his chest despite knowing nothing improper had happened with Lowe.
"Come and drink!" Old Maggs barked, his voice thick with whiskey.
Joshua hesitated for a second, then smiled and walked over. The old groundsman poured a generous measure of whiskey into a glass and thrust it toward him.
"It's been years since I saw Luton play like that," Maggs said, swaying slightly. "Proper football. The kind that makes an old man proud."
Joshua sat on the bench beside him, the wood creaking under their combined weight. "You'll see it often from now on."
"I believe you, lad. You're a proper coach." Maggs turned toward him, eyes glassy but sincere. "Those boos today… that was the bloody paper stirring up trouble. Fans don't know what they've got yet."
Joshua took a slow sip, the warmth spreading through him. "I know. Doesn't bother me."
"Good." Maggs nodded, satisfied. After a long pause, he winked. "If I get to watch football like this every week… I won't complain if things develop with my granddaughter Lowe, either."
Joshua nearly choked on his drink. "Maggs, it's not like that between Lowe and me."
The old man laughed heartily. "Sure, it isn't. She's a beauty, though. You'd be a fool not to notice."
Joshua leaned back against the bench, smiling into his glass. "She is beautiful."
The next morning, Joshua woke with a dull throb in his temples. He had always handled his liquor well, but the combination of the bar celebration and the late-night session with Old Maggs had finally caught up to him. The bedside clock read a few minutes past nine.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face. With the team given the day off after the emphatic win, the training ground would be quiet. Joshua stared at the ceiling for a moment, then remembered he hadn't checked the system since the final whistle yesterday.
A shimmering light curtain materialized in front of him.
"Congratulations on securing your first official victory as a manager! You have earned 300 experience points and one additional card draw opportunity!
The familiar voice was sweet and overly cheerful. Joshua winced.
"You can change your voice," he muttered.
"Affirmative."
The tone instantly switched to a crisp, mechanical one. Much better.
Joshua pulled up his attribute panel. His level remained at 1, but the experience bar now read 300/3000. Winning a League Two matches granted solid progress. Ten wins and he would level up, unlocking an extra card slot.
"An extra draw? So I have two chances now?" he asked.
"Correct."
Joshua pinched his chin, thinking. The mechanical voice continued:
"You may also exchange two draw opportunities for one White Card Exchange Voucher."
"Tell me the probabilities," Joshua said.
"Standard draw: White Card – 80%, Yellow Card – 15%, Green Card – 4%, Blue Card – 0.9%, Purple Card – 0.1%."
Joshua groaned and fell back onto the bed. A one-in-a-thousand chance for the highest tier. Brutal.
He quickly understood the value of the exchange vouchers. Random draws were risky, but vouchers let him select exactly what he needed.
"Can I see the available cards?"
The interface flashed and expanded. Joshua's eyes widened as he browsed the Purple Card section first.
Player Card (Maradona): Grants a designated player all of Maradona's peak attributes for 90 minutes. Cooldown: 1 week. Usable 10 times.
Similar god-tier cards for Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane, Maldini, and countless legends followed. There were also powerful team-wide boosts—passing accuracy +15%, shot accuracy improvements, and massive stamina increases. Joshua's mouth went dry. No wonder purple cards were nearly mythical.
He reluctantly moved to the white cards. Most offered modest, targeted boosts to individual player attributes—heading +5%, long-range shooting +5%, and so on. Tempting, but not worth burning both draws.
"How do I get higher exchange vouchers?" he asked.
"White: 2 draws. Yellow: 4 draws. Green: 8 draws. Blue: 256 draws. Purple follows the same exponential pattern."
Joshua let out a low whistle. The road to the top cards is long.
"Do not despair. Additional rewards can be earned through mission completion."
A new interface appeared.
Main Mission: Save Luton!
Lead Luton to avoid relegation: +500 experience, 1 Green Card Exchange Voucher, 10 draw opportunities.
Lead Luton to promotion: +1500 experience, 1 Blue Card Exchange Voucher, and 10 draw opportunities.
Lead Luton to win the League Two championship: +3000 experience, 1 Blue Card Exchange Voucher, 30 draw opportunities.
Joshua's heart raced. The rewards were mouth-watering. Championship glory wasn't just about survival or pride anymore. It was the fastest path to building an unstoppable squad.
He clenched his fists, a fierce determination settling over him.
Contest!
He would fight for every point, every match, every title. For the rewards, for the club, and for the legacy he intended to build in England.
(End of Chapter 23)
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