Become A Football Legend-Chapter 271: Good News

Later, when the sun began to dip, she took him somewhere else.

They stood in front of the Main Tower in central Frankfurt.

"You’re kidding," he said.

"Nope."

They took the elevator up to the observation deck.

When the doors opened, the skyline stretched out before them in a 360-degree panorama. The river Main reflecting the fading sunlight. Glass skyscrapers catching the last golden rays. The city glowing.

The wind was gentle at that height.

They stepped closer to the railing.

The sun began its descent.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

It was quiet up there. Peaceful.

Lukas rested his forearms on the railing and looked out over the city.

Frankfurt.

Home.

His city.

The place that had embraced him. The place whose fans were begging him not to leave.

The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks.

Joanna slipped her hand into his.

He squeezed it.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

He nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

And this time, he meant it.

The skyline stretched endlessly in front of them, and for the first time since Manchester, his mind wasn’t racing.

It wasn’t tangled.

It was just... still.

And standing there, above the city, with the sun melting into the horizon, he felt something close to peace.

* * *

They got home just after dusk, the city lights beginning to flicker on as they walked back into the apartment block hand in hand.

The quiet of the corridor didn’t feel heavy anymore. It felt calm.

Lukas unlocked the door and they stepped inside together. He kicked off his sneakers near the entrance and began unbuttoning his overshirt as he walked toward the living area.

Just then, his phone started ringing.

He glanced at the screen.

João – FaceTime

He smirked and accepted the call.

"Yo," Lukas said, holding the phone up as he finished unbuttoning his shirt. "What’s up?"

João’s face filled the screen immediately, overly close to the camera as usual.

"What are you doing?" João demanded dramatically. "Why are you undressing? Where’s my sister?"

From somewhere behind Lukas, Joanna’s voice rang out, "Shut up, João!"

Lukas turned the phone slightly so João could see her lounging on the couch.

"She’s right there," Lukas said dryly. "Relax."

João narrowed his eyes. "You’ve had her hostage since last night."

"Jealous?" Lukas shot back.

"Of what?" João scoffed. "Anyway, I didn’t call to check your love life."

His expression shifted.

He was buzzing.

"Guess who’s starting tomorrow?"

Lukas straightened slightly. "No way."

João grinned widely. "Coach just told me. I’m in the XI."

"For real?"

"For real."

Lukas’s smile widened. "That’s huge."

João nodded rapidly. "Riedel got sent off last match. It was between me and another kid. Coach said I’ve been impressing in training."

"Of course you have," Lukas replied. "You’ve been ready."

João puffed his chest slightly. "So you better be in Kaiserslautern tomorrow."

Lukas raised a hand. "Don’t worry. I’ll be there."

João squinted. "Wait... don’t you have a game?"

"Nope," Lukas said. "Got the weekend off. Not in the squad."

João blinked. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

João’s grin got even bigger. "Then we’ll be there together."

There was a brief pause before João added teasingly, "Unless you’re busy negotiating with Manchester City."

Lukas rolled his eyes. "Please."

"I’m joking," João laughed. "But seriously... I’m nervous, man."

Lukas leaned back against the counter. "Calm down. It’s just the start."

João burst out laughing. "Listen to you. Acting like you’re 30."

"I’m just saying."

"You’re younger than me," João reminded him. "Why are you talking like some wise veteran?"

Lukas smirked. "Then why are you acting like a kid?"

João gasped dramatically. "Disrespect."

They both laughed.

"Anyway," João said, calming slightly. "I’m really happy you’re coming."

"I wouldn’t miss it," Lukas replied.

There was a brief, genuine pause.

"I’m proud of you," Lukas added.

João looked at him for a second before grinning again to mask it. "Yeah, yeah. Save the speeches."

"Go to sleep," Lukas said.

"You too."

They exchanged a final nod before ending the call.

Lukas set his phone down for a second — then picked it right back up.

He scrolled to another contact.

Marco

He hit call.

Marco answered quickly. "You don’t rest, do you?"

"Can you get me tickets for tomorrow?" Lukas asked.

"For which match?"

"FC Kaiserslautern vs Darmstadt 98."

There was a slight pause. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Second Bundesliga," Marco said knowingly. "João."

"Yeah."

"You want standard seats?"

"No. Upgrade. VIP box. The whole family’s going to be there anyway. Might as well do it properly."

Marco chuckled. "Consider it done."

There was a beat.

"How are you?" Marco asked more quietly. "I spoke to your dad."

Lukas leaned against the kitchen counter, glancing toward Joanna, who was pretending not to listen.

"I’m okay," he said. "Better."

"Good."

"I just want to see João play."

Marco smiled audibly through the line. "That’s a nice distraction."

"Yeah."

"I’ll sort the tickets."

"Thanks."

They hung up.

Lukas placed his phone on the counter and exhaled softly.

Tomorrow wasn’t about Manchester. Or Madrid. Or his mother.

Tomorrow was about his best friend making his first professional start.

And for the first time in 24 hours, that felt simple.

* * *

The clock on the wall had just ticked past 20:00.

High above the Frankfurt skyline, inside one of the city’s most exclusive private hotels overlooking the river Main, a secluded dining suite sat bathed in warm amber light. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering towers of the financial district, their reflections shimmering across the dark water below. The room itself was insulated from the outside world — thick walnut paneling, muted cream walls, soft jazz humming faintly through hidden speakers.

At the center stood a large circular mahogany table dressed in understated luxury. Crystal glasses caught the light. Fine porcelain plates were arranged with meticulous symmetry. Silver cutlery rested precisely angled beside folded linen napkins. On the table sat an array of carefully curated delicacies: thinly sliced Wagyu carpaccio, seared scallops with citrus glaze, truffle risotto in shallow bowls, and a decanter of aged Bordeaux breathing quietly beside them.

It was not a celebratory dinner.

It was a strategic one.

Seated at one side of the table was a man in his mid-50s. His gray hair was combed neatly back, sharp lines etched across a face that had spent decades negotiating, deciding, and commanding. His posture was upright but relaxed, hands folded lightly in front of him, a gold signet ring resting on his right hand. He wore a dark tailored suit — charcoal with a subtle pinstripe — and a deep burgundy tie. His expression was calm, unreadable.

Beside him sat Christoph Preuß, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Head of First Team Football Affairs. Slightly younger, meticulous, glasses perched low on his nose, fingers interlocked on the table. He was not eating. Neither was the older man.

They were waiting.

The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable. It was deliberate.

A soft knock interrupted the stillness.

The receptionist opened the door discreetly and stepped aside.

Moments later, Markus Krösche walked in.

Measured steps. Navy suit. Tie loosened just slightly — the look of a man who had already worked a full day but whose evening was far from over.

He closed the door behind him and walked toward the table.

The older man rose to his feet.

Krösche extended his hand firmly.

"Good evening, President."

Christoph gave a respectful nod as Krösche greeted the man — Mathias Beck — the President of the Board of Directors of Eintracht Frankfurt e.V and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball Group AG.

"Markus, it’s been a while. Have a seat."