December had arrived.
Winter had officially descended upon England.
London, known as the City of Fog, suffered from the effects of its temperate oceanic climate—cold, wet, and misty winters.
There was no match today.
Kai and Fan Sijing were sitting in the dining room at home, blowing out candles.
It was Fan Sijing's birthday.
"What did you wish for?"
Kai asked with a smile.
Fan Sijing pulled a cheeky face. "Not telling! If I say it out loud, it won't come true!"
The two began cutting the cake.
Rain pattered softly on the eaves outside.
Inside, a fire crackled warmly in the hearth.
Fan Sijing gazed at Kai as he cut the cake. Her eyes slowly welled with tears.
"Next year this time… will you still be here to spend my birthday with me?"
Kai paused for a second. "Why wouldn't I?"
Fan Sijing wiped her tears and pouted, sounding wronged, "Your agent said you'll be joining a big club next summer. By then, you'll be a global superstar. You'll meet tons of gorgeous girls, international supermodels... I'll look like a bumpkin compared to them. You won't want to hang out with me anymore."
Kai couldn't help but laugh.
"You've been watching too many movies. Who says becoming a football star means I'll be surrounded by models?"
He grinned and winked. "Or wait... do you not want me to join a big club and become a superstar?"
Fan Sijing puffed up her cheeks. "Of course I want you to get better and better!"
They sat by the fire, sharing the cake.
Suddenly, Kai slapped a piece of it onto Fan Sijing's cheek.
The girl squealed and instantly retaliated with a slice of her own.
A cake war broke out in the dining room.
In minutes, the place was a disaster zone.
Knock knock knock.
Someone was at the door.
It was Pintus, arriving with his training equipment.
This strict, no-nonsense "devil coach" showed up on time every day—rain or shine.
"Go train! I'll clean up here."
Fan Sijing escorted Kai to the stairs, watching as he and Pintus headed up to the rooftop training area.
Her eyes lingered on Kai's back, and her gaze softened.
"My wish... was for you to stay healthy, not get injured playing football. And when you do become a world-class star—please, don't forget me," she whispered.
---
As December settled in, English football plunged into a real war of attrition.
There's no winter break in England.
Not even Christmas guarantees rest.
Sometimes, the FA even schedules special "Christmas fixtures" purely for commercial gain!
Although Crystal Palace was only a Championship team, their schedule was still packed.
From this month forward, they faced a daunting new challenge:
Dual-front warfare.
And after completing his previous two main missions, Kai's third main quest finally appeared!
> [Main Quest 3: Lead Crystal Palace to the Final in the FA Cup!]
[Reward: Depends on final placement. Maximum: Black Gold Chest!]
[Buff active during FA Cup: +20% Stamina, -50% Injury Chance]
Kai's eyes lit up.
A new challenge had begun!
---
The very next day, after training, Kai was invited to the coach's office.
At this point, he was considered Crystal Palace's undisputed core.
Beyond tactical discussions, the coaching staff now regularly sought his opinion on team matters.
"Kai, come take a look at our schedule..."
Holloway waved him over, looking slightly grim.
The fixture list was pinned up on the wall.
After a glance, Kai understood the problem instantly.
"We're going to fight on two fronts?"
Holloway nodded solemnly. "The FA Cup's about to begin. Early in the season—before you joined—we were knocked out of the League Cup in the first round, so we only have to worry about the league and the FA Cup now."
"The FA Cup starts from Round 3 for Championship teams like us."
He frowned.
"But we've never managed dual competitions well. Financial problems forced us to sell many backups. Sometimes we can't even fill the 18-man matchday squad…"
Kai nodded in understanding.
This was no surprise.
Even Premier League teams struggle with multiple competitions.
Success in knockout matches requires a strong starting XI.
But sustained success on multiple fronts demands depth—which Palace lacked.
No depth means exhaustion.
No rotation means injuries.
Failing on all fronts becomes a real threat.
For many clubs, the response is simple:
Abandon certain tournaments to focus on one goal.
"Our bench is... thin."
Kai said bluntly.
Millen, the assistant coach, sighed.
"That's the biggest headache. We barely have one backup per position. We discussed this and decided: give up on the FA Cup and focus on the league."
Holloway added, frowning, "I'm afraid the extra burden will destroy our season. No silverware, no promotion—total disaster."
The coaching staff was clearly in distress.
They'd reluctantly decided to give up the FA Cup to chase promotion.
But Kai refused to accept this.
Whether for the sake of his main quest—or his burning desire for championships—
He wouldn't let go of any opportunity to win!
Kai shook his head firmly.
He tapped on the schedule chart with determined eyes.
"This season—we give up nothing. We fight on both fronts."
"When you rotate the squad, I'll help you plan the most balanced lineups."
"And me? I'll play every match—league and cup!"
Boom.
Holloway's eyes widened in shock!
He exchanged a look with Millen, both clearly hesitant.
"Full attendance? Kai, that's too much for your body, and…"
Kai cut him off.
"No worries about that."
He had the FA Cup buff—20% more stamina and half the risk of injury.
Perfectly capable of playing both fronts without issue!
"As for another worry you might have—what if the offense falters when our striker rests?"
Holloway inhaled deeply and nodded.
"If Vaughn is rotated, we only have Zaha left. And his scoring efficiency…"
Kai smiled.
"No matter who's on the field—I can unlock their potential."
"And if needed... I'll carry the attack myself."
Now equipped with the Golden Line: Extraordinary Long Shot,
Kai's scoring ability was Golden Boot-level.
As his words fell,
Holloway and Millen stood silently, exchanging stunned glances.
His confidence was palpable—
Radiating like fire and igniting something in them.
This was no ordinary player.
This was Crystal Palace's unshakable core.
Their youngest-ever captain.
A player beloved by his teammates and worshipped by fans.
His fighting spirit would fuel the entire squad.
Deeply moved, Holloway stepped forward and clasped Kai's hand.
"Kai!"
"Lead Crystal Palace forward, heads held high!"
"We will be your strongest support! Every decision you make—will have our full backing!"