Dynasty Awakening: Building My Own Football Empire-Chapter 235: Camera Crew Crisis

The red light of the camera was blinking. It was a small red eye that followed Michael Sterling everywhere he went. Michael sat in his office trying to eat a sandwich. The Amazon Prime cameraman was standing two feet away filming the sandwich like it was a tactical masterclass.

"Do you have to film me eating?" Michael asked. "It is egg salad. It is not exciting."

"We need human moments Michael," the director whispered from behind the camera. " The fans want to see how a genius fuels his brain."

"I am not fueling my brain," Michael said putting the sandwich down. "I am just hungry."

Arthur Milton was hiding under the desk. He was not hiding from work. He was hiding from the cameras.

"Are they gone Boss?" Arthur whispered from the floor. "I have mustard on my chin. I cannot be seen in 4K resolution with mustard on my chin."

"Get up Arthur," Michael sighed. "We have work to do. The transfer window is still open. We spent all the money on Mateo Vega. Now we need bargains."

"Bargains?" Arthur crawled out and adjusted his purple tie. "We like bargains. Like when you buy one donut and get a second one for free."

"Exactly," Michael said. "We need a defensive beast. Someone scary. Diego is scary but he is only one man. We need a partner for him. Someone who makes strikers want to call their mothers."

Kenji Sato walked in. Today the billionaire was wearing a suit made of velvet. It was deep blue. He looked like a rich wizard.

"Michael," Kenji said ignoring the cameras. "I found him. The data team found the anomaly."

"What anomaly?"

Kenji put a tablet on the desk.

"His name is Vladimir Petrovic. He plays in the second division in Serbia. His nickname is The Bear."

Michael looked at the screen.

The photo showed a man. He was huge. He had a beard that covered half his face. His neck was as wide as a tree trunk. In the photo he was not smiling. He looked like he was thinking about eating a football.

"He looks terrifying," Michael said. "I like him."

"The price is low," Kenji said. "Because nobody goes to the Serbian second division. Also he has a reputation."

"What reputation?"

"They say he once tackled a tractor," Kenji said. "And the tractor broke."

Arthur Milton eyes went wide. "He tackled a farming vehicle? Boss we need him. He can stop Haaland."

"Get his agent on the phone," Michael ordered.

The call was set up. The Amazon cameras zoomed in on the phone. This was the drama they wanted.

The phone rang.

A deep voice answered. It sounded like rocks grinding together.

"Hello. I am Vladimir."

"Hello Vladimir," Michael said trying to sound authoritative. "This is Michael Sterling from Barnsley. We are interested in bringing you to England."

There was a long silence.

"England," Vladimir rumbled. "It rains there. Yes?"

"Yes," Michael admitted. "It rains a lot."

"Good," Vladimir said. "My garden likes rain. I grow roses. Do you have good soil in Yorkshire?"

Michael blinked. He looked at Arthur. Arthur shrugged.

"We have... excellent soil," Michael lied. "Very fertile. Great for roses."

"Then I come," Vladimir said. "I want to play for the Misfits. I see the video of Diego Nunez hitting the car. It was funny."

"The deal is done?" Michael asked surprised.

"If I can bring my roses yes," Vladimir said.

Michael hung up.

"He grows roses," Michael whispered. "The man who tackled a tractor grows roses."

"He is perfect," Arthur said clapping. "A romantic beast."

"One more," Michael said turning the page of his notebook. "We need speed. Amara is fast but he gets tired. We need someone to rotate with him. Someone explosive."

Kenji Sato smiled. He tapped his nose.

"I have a gift Michael. From my homeland."

"Japan?"

"Yes. His name is Kaito Tanaka. He is nineteen. He was released by a big academy because he was too small. They said he would blow away in the wind."

"Is he fast?"

"Michael," Kenji said seriously. "He once raced a bullet train. He lost but it was close." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Bring him in," Michael said. "If he is a reject he belongs with us."

Two days later the Sterling Era Training Complex was buzzing.

The Amazon crew was setting up for the big reveal. The players were gathered on the pitch.

Diego Nunez was wearing a new shirt. It had a picture of his own face on it.

"Who are the new guys Papa Michael?" Diego asked. "Are they fun? Do they like ice cream?"

"You will see Diego," Michael said.

A black van pulled up. The doors opened.

First came Kaito Tanaka.

He was short. Very short. He had spiky hair and he was bouncing on his toes. He looked like he had consumed ten espressos.

"Hello!" Kaito shouted bowing very fast. "I am Kaito! I run fast! Zoom zoom!"

"Zoom zoom?" Diego laughed. "I like him. He is a little battery."

Then the second figure emerged.

The sun seemed to disappear. A shadow fell over the group.

Vladimir Petrovic stepped out.

He was six feet seven inches tall. His beard was magnificent. He was wearing a floral shirt that looked tiny on his massive frame. He was holding a small potted plant.

The players went silent. Even Diego Nunez took a step back.

"He is a mountain," Jean Luc Dubois whispered dropping his cheese. "A mountain with a flower."

Vladimir walked over to Michael. He extended a hand the size of a shovel.

"Mr Sterling," Vladimir said softly. "This is a Peace Rose. For your office."

Michael took the tiny flower.

"Thank you Vladimir. Welcome to Barnsley."

"Okay!" Michael shouted. "Training match! New guys versus Old guys!"

The Amazon cameras moved closer. This was the moment of truth.

The game started.

Kaito Tanaka got the ball.

"Catch me!" Kaito chirped.

He took off.

It was a blur. He did not run. He glided. He was so low to the ground that he was aerodynamic.

Sergio Ramos tried to catch him. Kaito zipped under Ramos arm.

"He is a mouse!" Ramos shouted. "A rocket mouse!"

Kaito crossed the ball.

It flew towards the box.

Diego Nunez was waiting to head it clear.

But then the shadow arrived.

Vladimir Petrovic did not jump. He just stood on his toes.

Diego jumped. He bounced off Vladimir shoulder like a tennis ball hitting a wall.

Vladimir chested the ball down. He looked at Diego who was lying on the grass.

"Sorry little man," Vladimir said politely. "I did not see you."

Diego sat up. He looked at Vladimir.

Most people would be angry. Diego Nunez was in love.

"LITTLE MAN?" Diego roared with joy. "NOBODY CALLS ME LITTLE MAN! YOU ARE HUGE! BE MY BEST FRIEND!"

Vladimir looked confused. "You are loud. But you have good density. I accept."

After training the Amazon director pulled Michael aside for an interview.

Michael sat in the chair. He was still holding the rose Vladimir gave him.

"Michael," the interviewer asked. "You have signed a Serbian giant who loves flowers and a Japanese sprinter who calls himself Zoom Zoom. Is this a football team or a cartoon?"

Michael smiled. He smelled the rose.

"Football is simple," Michael said. "You need balance. You need the hammer and the needle. Vladimir is the hammer. Kaito is the needle. And Diego..."

He looked out the window where Diego was currently trying to climb onto Vladimir back for a piggyback ride.

"Diego is the glue. The crazy glue."

"Are you done in the market?"

"We have spent all the money," Michael said. "Kenji credit card is smoking. We have the Painter. The Wall. The Bear. The Jet. The Bull. The Tank."

"It sounds like a superhero team."

"It is," Michael said. "The Misfit Avengers. And we have a villain to fight."

"Manchester City?"

"Manchester City," Michael nodded. "They are the end boss."

That evening Michael stayed late in the office.

Arthur was helping Vladimir put his rose collection on the windowsill.

"He named this one Petar," Arthur said. "And this one is Sasha. Boss he names his flowers."

"It shows he cares Arthur," Michael said. "A man who cares about a flower will care about a clean sheet."

Michael looked at his squad list on the whiteboard.

GK: Jan Visser / Max Webster

DEF: Diego Nunez / Vladimir Petrovic / Sergio Ramos / Jean Luc Dubois

MID: Lukas Weber / Leo Stone / Mateo Vega

ATT: Victor Osimhen / Jamie Vardy / Amara / Kaito

It was complete.

The holes were filled. The team had height. It had speed. It had logic. It had magic.

And it had a lot of personality.

The phone rang.

It was Sarah his wife.

"Michael," she said. "Gabriel is watching the news. He saw the big man with the beard."

"What did he say?"

"He said Bear," Sarah laughed. "And then he threw his toy car at the TV."

"He likes him," Michael said. "That is the Gabriel seal of approval."

He hung up.

He looked at the FA Cup. Then he looked at the empty space next to it.

The preseason tour was starting next week. They were going to America.

"Get ready Arthur," Michael said standing up. "Pack your bags. We are taking the circus on the road."

"America?" Arthur asked. "Do they have good donuts in America?"

"Arthur," Michael said seriously. "America is the land of donuts. You will be in paradise."

Arthur pumped his fist. "Yes! The Dynasty goes global!"

Michael turned off the lights. The Peace Rose sat in the moonlight.