Chapter 147: Chapter 101: Fame That Shakes the World, Starting Now

[You have boarded the Steel Griffin]

[The pinnacle creation of Fairy Industry and the Dwarves, capable of carrying multiple people over thousands of miles]

[No triggerable quests currently available]

...

"Mr. Li Wei," the flight attendant’s voice drew Li Wei’s gaze back. "Are you flying to San Antonio for the All-American Bowl?"

"What? Oh, yes, I am," Li Wei said. "Why do you ask?"

"I often watch football, too," the flight attendant said with a smile. "I recognized you as soon as I saw you. I’m the chief purser on this flight, so please let me know if you need anything at all."

Unlike in the Celestial Dynasty, flight attendants in the United States of America weren’t all stunningly attractive. The chief purser looked to be at least a decade older than him, so Li Wei didn’t think she had any designs on him. After a polite exchange, she moved on to greet the other business class passengers.

For this trip to San Antonio, the NBC Television Network had actually covered his round-trip business class tickets, which Li Wei found quite surprising.

He recalled how just over three months ago, he had flown to this foreign country all by himself in economy class. ’Back then, I didn’t know a soul and had to face an uncle whose attitude toward me was a complete unknown.’

Back then, nobody cared about him. Nobody knew who he was.

But now, the NBC Television Network was willing to fly him out for a game, covering his round-trip business class tickets (though the amenities in domestic business class were a far cry from international business or first class). They even paid for Don Quixote’s and Lily’s flights and hotel.

He was even recognized by a flight attendant while boarding, and he now had a certain degree of fame online.

The billionaire owner of an NFL team had casually gifted him a luxury car worth over a hundred thousand USD. He had a beautiful girlfriend whose father was a Russian oligarch. Even a scion of one of the top old money families in the United States of America was exceedingly polite to him...

All of this had changed in just three months. It truly made him sigh with emotion at the unpredictable turns of fate.

After a flight of four hours and fifteen minutes, the plane landed at San Antonio International Airport.

In contrast to snow-covered New York on the East Coast of the United States, the temperature in San Antonio, Texas, was surprisingly still in the twenties Celsius.

Li Wei and the others changed into short-sleeved shirts after getting off the plane.

Before they had even left the airport terminal, Li Wei spotted a group of staff in matching uniforms holding up signs for the All-American Bowl, waiting behind a security line.

"Li Wei, Quarterback, representing the East," Li Wei said, walking up while pulling his suitcase. "These are my relatives—my uncle and my sister."

The staff member was a young white man in his early twenties, wearing a baseball cap with the NBC Sports logo.

Hearing Li Wei’s name, he quickly swiped a few times on the iPad in his hand and confirmed the roster.

"Welcome to San Antonio, Mr. Li Wei. We have your accompanying party’s information on our list." The staffer efficiently pulled three badges from a large pouch hanging around his neck. "This is your player pass, and these two are for family and VIPs. Please wear them at all times during All-American Bowl Week. You’ll need to scan them to enter the venue, exclusive hotel areas, and restaurants."

Li Wei took the badges, glanced at them, and hung the golden player pass around his neck. The pass featured his photo, position, and the words "TOP 100" in large letters.

"Someone will take your luggage to the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Your bus is at Exit C. For the next part of the journey, players and families will need to separate. Family and VIPs should board the white Mercedes-Benz vans. There’s a family lounge in the hotel lobby," the staffer explained, pointing and speaking quickly. "Also, as the number one ranked five-star player and the starting Quarterback for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, Adidas may have a brief gear photoshoot for you in the hotel lobby, so please be prepared."

Li Wei nodded and walked out of the airport terminal with Don Quixote and Lily.

A wave of heat, mixed with the smell of dry dust and vehicle exhaust, washed over them. This was Texas—the land of Westerns and cowboys, and one of the most football-crazy states in the nation.

A black players’ bus was parked by the curb, its body wrapped in a massive advertisement featuring the giant silhouettes of several players.

"That looks like you, Li Wei!" Lily pointed at the side of the bus and exclaimed. "You’re right in the middle!"

Behind the bus was a line of Mercedes-Benz vans, coming and going as they continuously shuttled families to the hotel.

Li Wei watched as Don Quixote and Lily were guided onto one of the vans, then he grabbed his bag and boarded the players’ bus.

A few sturdily-built high school students were already scattered around the bus. They looked to be in their twenties, and the vast majority of them were Black. There were very few white players, making Li Wei, with his appearance and skin color, a complete anomaly.

He casually found a window seat and sat down to wait for the bus to depart.

About twenty minutes passed and four or five more players boarded before the bus slowly pulled away and entered the highway. The San Antonio skyline gradually came into view. Unlike the concrete jungle of New York Manhattan, San Antonio, despite being the seventh-largest city in the United States, was far more sprawling and filled with a rugged, Western character.

Roughly twenty minutes later, the bus slowly came to a stop in front of the San Antonio Grand Hyatt Hotel.