World football system-Chapter 68: The Window Opens

Location: London – Emirates Stadium / London Colney

Events: Return from Winter Break, Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, Transfer Rumors, Emilia’s Future, January Window Tension

Snow greeted him again in London.

But this time, it felt colder.

Not the weather—the world.

The moment he stepped back into the Arsenal facility, the air buzzed differently. It was the beginning of January. That time of year when contracts cracked, agents circled, and the media lit fires just to watch them burn.

The January Transfer Window was open.

And despite everything—his form, his goals, his assists, his loyalty—Tobi Oliveira’s name was back in the headlines.

"Real Madrid Watching Oliveira Situation"

"Bayern Interested in Arsenal’s Midfield Gem"

"Arsenal in Standoff Over Tobi’s New Contract Demands?"

He walked into the training ground and felt the stares.

Not malicious. But curious.

People wondered if he’d stay.

Or if London was just a stepping stone.

Arteta called him in within the hour.

Office. Door shut. Silence.

Tobi sat.

The manager didn’t start with words. Just looked.

Then: "You know what the papers are saying."

"I do."

"I’m not worried," Arteta said.

"You’re not?" Tobi raised a brow.

"No," the coach replied. "Because you’re not done here. You know that."

Tobi stared at the desk. "And if I was tempted?"

"Then I’d understand. But I’d remind you—this club made you. We gave you the stage. You earned your place, but we lit the lights."

Tobi didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.

Because deep down, he knew. Arsenal wasn’t just a club anymore. It was his home field.

Still...

His agent had called. Twice.

And one of those times, the word "Madrid" had been said.

That night, Emilia curled up on his couch, laptop on her thighs, hair messy, wearing his oversized Arsenal hoodie.

She looked up. "You’re not sleeping."

"No," he said, standing by the window. "Too many thoughts."

"Let me guess. Football?"

He smiled. "Always."

"You thinking about leaving?"

He didn’t answer.

She stood and walked over. "I’m not going to tell you what to do. But if you’re scared of becoming too big, you already are."

He turned to her.

"I’m scared of becoming empty."

She leaned in. "Then fill yourself with what matters. Not trophies. People."

System Update:

New Quest Thread: Transfer Dilemma (Optional Path Branching)

Buff Active: Home Field Loyalty

Modifier: Emotional Pull – Arsenal Ties +20%, Foreign Club Temptation +15%

Active Objective: Decide Before January 30th

January 4th – Matchday: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

A foggy night. Emirates glowing again.

Arsenal needed this win.

Title race too tight. No margin for error.

Tobi stepped onto the pitch with a strange weight in his chest—not pressure. Not expectation.

Doubt.

The kind he hadn’t felt in over a year.

First whistle blew.

Palace were organized. Compact. Playing a 5-3-2 low block that swallowed the midfield.

For the first twenty minutes, Tobi barely saw the ball. Every touch was met with two bodies. Every turn was shadowed.

He forced a pass to Saka in the 22nd—

Intercepted.

Palace countered.

GOAL.

Arsenal 0 – 1 Crystal Palace

Gasps from the crowd.

And worse—the whispers.

"Tobi’s not sharp tonight."

"Where’s his confidence gone?"

Even Ødegaard looked over during a break in play and raised a brow.

"You good?"

Tobi just nodded.

System Warning:

Focus -5%

Stress Spike Detected

Mental Buff "Emotional Anchor" Inactive – Partner Not Present

She wasn’t there.

Emilia had stayed home—first time since they started dating.

Studying. She’d said it lightly.

But he felt the absence.

45th minute – Halftime

Inside the dressing room, Arteta didn’t shout.

He just looked around the room and said:

"We’re not chasing them. We’re chasing ourselves. The version of us we know we can be."

Then, to Tobi directly: "Be the glue. Not the glory."

He nodded.

Walked back out onto the pitch with fire in his gut. freewebnøvel_com

Second half.

48th minute – Tobi dropped deep, found space, split the lines.

Ødegaard through to Jesus.

Shot—saved.

Rebound—Saka GOAL.

1 – 1

Emirates erupted.

Tobi didn’t celebrate. He jogged to collect the ball.

60th minute – Palace attacked again.

Tobi tracked the run, slid in with a crunching tackle just outside the box.

Won the ball. Got up. Roared.

The crowd responded.

He was back.

70th minute – corner for Arsenal.

Ball floated in.

Cleared.

Tobi at the edge of the box—volleys.

GOAL.

Arsenal 2 – 1 Crystal Palace

His first in weeks.

He pointed to the sky.

Then pulled out his phone after the game.

One message to Emilia: "Next time, don’t leave me alone out there."

Her reply: "I won’t. Ever again."

System Summary:

Match Rating: 8.7

Goal Scored, Key Recovery Logged

Buff Reactivated: Bonded Focus

Transfer Decision Pending: 26 Days Remaining

Reputation Spike: Madrid, Bayern, and PSG Scouting Reports Updated

Club Reaction: Arsenal Preparing New Contract Proposal

Excellent choice. We’ll continue in read-along style, fully immersive and unbroken.

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Rain again.

London never slept long without it.

Tobi stood at Arsenal’s training pitch, sleeves rolled up despite the drizzle, pounding low passes into the net wall with robotic precision. One. Two. Three. Rhythm and repetition. Like breathing.

But his mind was a storm.

> System Status:

Focus: Fractured (Emotional Pull Active)

Buff: Loyalty vs Temptation

Alert: High-Profile Scout in Attendance

---

Earlier that morning...

Edu had pulled him into the office.

"Sit down," the technical director said, setting a file on the desk.

Tobi didn’t sit. "Who?"

Edu tapped the folder. "Emilio Ramos. Real Madrid’s lead talent scout. He’ll be at training today."

Silence.

"You said I wasn’t on the market."

"You’re not. We haven’t offered you. They’re watching anyway."

Tobi rubbed his face. "And the club?"

"Wants you to stay. We’re preparing a new contract. You’ll see it next week."

"And Madrid?"

Edu leaned forward. "Will offer double whatever we do."

Silence again.

Then:

"They want you to replace Jude."

---

Later that day, from the far edge of the pitch, a man in a dark coat with a white umbrella watched every pass Tobi made. Every run. Every glance.

The pressure wasn’t unfamiliar. But this felt different.

Like an audition for a destiny he hadn’t chosen.

Ødegaard jogged past during a passing drill and whispered, "You thinking in pounds or euros?"

Tobi grinned faintly. "I’m thinking about shutting up the voices."

"Then play."

---

> System Update:

External Observer Detected – Real Madrid Tier 1 Scout

Hidden Stat: Composure vs Temptation [68% vs 32%]

System Prediction: Madrid Offer Imminent – 85% Probability

---

That night, Emilia met him outside the stadium.

Not at the gate.

At the roof.

They climbed to their usual hidden perch, overlooking the city, wind biting, stars low and tired.

She wore a beanie and no makeup. Just her. Real. Present.

"Madrid?" she asked quietly.

He nodded.

"I figured. You’ve been quiet all day."

He didn’t say anything. Just kicked his heel against the railing.

She looked down at her gloved hands.

"I got accepted to Cambridge."

His eyes snapped to her.

"What?"

"I didn’t tell you. I didn’t even expect it to happen. I applied for fun. To prove something to myself."

He was quiet.

"When?" he asked.

"Starts in September."

He exhaled. Slow.

"That’s... big."

"I know."

"Do you want to go?"

She looked up at him.

"I don’t know."

They stared at the London skyline together, the hum of the city like distant applause or judgment—it was hard to tell.

---

Over the next few days, things spun faster.

Madrid leaked interest to the media.

Sky Sports broke it first.

"Oliveira to Madrid? La Liga Giants Monitor Arsenal Midfielder"

Then came the YouTube comps. The edits. The tweets. The calls.

His agent rang five times in a day.

"Madrid wants a meeting. ASAP."

Tobi ignored it.

---

But then came Arsenal’s counter.

A new deal.

Five years. £230,000 a week. Captain clause after Ødegaard. Full image rights.

He read the contract in silence.

And didn’t sign it.

Yet.

---

Emilia sat on the kitchen counter that night, legs swinging, wearing his hoodie again.

"I don’t want to be the reason you stay," she said softly.

"You’re not."

"I don’t want to be the reason you leave either."

"You’re not that either."

She looked down. "Then what am I?"

He walked over. Stood between her legs. Took her face in both hands.

"You’re mine."

She blinked. Once.

Then kissed him like the world was ending and she didn’t want to be anywhere else.

---

> System Summary:

Two Worlds Approaching Convergence

Madrid Offer: Pending

Arsenal Offer: Received

Partner Career Path: Cambridge Confirmed

Quest Update: Choose a Future – Decision Deadline: January 31

Romance Arc: Stage 7 of 10

Emotional Buff: Bound Love

Objective for Next Match: Clear Mind, Performance > 9.0

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Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om