As soon as the season ended, Fort Volturno became eerily quiet.

  That m, the team officially disbahe pyers left for their well-deserved vacations, leaving only Gao Shen and his coag staff behind.

  The pyers might be on holiday, but the coag staff still had much to do mainly preparing for the uping season.

  Fort Volturno required upgrades. There was a need for raining equipment, and the gym o be expanded and improved. Lucas' data analysis team, which had been invaluable throughout the season, was being expao three members, and new office spad equipment were needed for them.

  Carlo, as the chief assistant coach, also o pile reports based on the past season's performance. He had to assess areas for improvement, submit feedbaa, and suggest ges to be implemented during the offseason. Everything had to be pleted within the wo months, before the new season began.

  Gao Shen, oher hand, was the most rexed. He only had two responsibilities: overseeing everything and handling pyer signings.

  ---

  For the first time siaking over as coach of Napoli, Gao Shen found himself with some time to rex. He strolled leisurely around Fort Volturno, taking in the sights of the trainier that had bee like a sed home to him.

  Since arriving at Napoli, his days had been ed by the endless grind of managing a football club. There had hardly been a moment of respite. He was stantly thinking about tactics, training regimens, pyer performances, and uping matches.

  But now, with the season over, he could finally take a moment to reflect.

  He walked up the small mouo the training ground, the spot where fans would often gather to watch the team's sessions. Standing atop the mound, Gao Shen could almost picture his pyers running on the field, w hard to perfect their game.

  Another season had passed.

  He couldn't help but refle all that had happened. His first full season as a coach had been a rollercoaster ride, filled with ups and downs.

  From the early days of the Coppa Italia, where Napoli faced off against Ascoli, Parma, Juventus, Roma, and Inter Min, Gao Shen had entered a wide variety of oppos. In Serie B, he had ruly been threatened his Napoli team was simply to for the petition.

  If not for their focus on the Coppa Italia and a bit of pcy after seg the title early, Gao Shen was fident Napoli could have gone uen for the entire season. The team's strength in Serie B was undeniable.

  Even Juventus, the giants of Italian football, had struggled to tend with his Napoli side.

  Gao Shen still had that fidence, despite the setbacks.

  Of course, there had also beeter moments. The 0-3 loss to Inter Min still stung. It was the worst defeat of his career, and it had haunted him sihat day.

  From a purely statistical standpoint, Napoli's season had been brilliant. As a newly promoted club, they won the Serie B title and reached the semifinals of the Coppa Italia a remarkable achievement.

  And there were individual accodes too. i had finished as Serie B's top scorer, outpag Juventus' David Trezeguet by three goals. Gervinho, Pellè, Hamsik, and Sánchez had all tributed signifitly as well.

  Napoli boasted both the best offense and the best defense in Serie B. They pyed attractive, attag football that was a joy to watch.

  It was a season to be proud of.

  If only there hadn't been that loss to Inter Min.

  Gao Shen couldn't shake the feeling. He would never fet it.

  ---

  As Gao Shen stood atop the mound, Guardio approached from behind, his steps slow and deliberate.

  "Last year, I visited Bielsa iskirts of Rosarientina," Guardio began, standio Gao Shen. "A friend of mine, along with Batistuta, strongly reended I meet him."

  Gao Shen nodded in reition. "When I was in Argentina, I tried to visit him too, but he wasn't home."

  Guardio smiled. "I got lucky that time."

  Gao Shen remained quiet, aowledging the significe of such a meeting.

  "In his home," Guardio tinued, "we analyzed football tacti the most unventional way. We used whatever we had at our disposal furniture, chairs, even the fan as a ter forward. We spent hours talking, disseg every aspect of the game."

  He paused for a moment, a smile crossing his face as he remembered the experience.

  "We talked for over ten hours. And when I was leaving, Bielsa asked me a question."

  Gao Shen turo Guardio, waiting for him to tinue.

  "He said, 'As a professional pyer, you know everything about the dirty side of football. You've seen all the shady deals, all the dishoy. You knoeople do in the name of the game. So why, with all that knowledge, are you so eager to coach?'"

  Guardio smiled slightly, looking at Gao Shen. "I told him, 'Because I love this feeling. The blood, the iy, the passion of football.'"

  Gao Shen nodded. "That's what makes it all worth it."

  "The football world is full of filth," Guardio tinued. "It's a mae driven by fame and fortune. But at its core, football is still full of raw emotion. And that's what makes it so addictive."

  Gao Shen couldn't agree more. While fans often only see the gmour, there's an undeniable darker side to football a side filled with power struggles, betrayals, and underhaactics.

  But all of that is overshadowed by the pure joy of the game itself.

  "In the months I've spent with you," Guardio said, "I've learned so much. You're not like other coaches. You dare to think, to speak your mind, and to a it. Sometimes I even wonder, 'How is he so sure he's right?' But you always are."

  Gao Shen chuckled, but deep down, he khe truth. He had an advahat others didn't he khe future. He had seen these moments py out, and that gave him fidence.

  "You beat Juventus, demolished Roma, Parma, and dominated Serie B," Guardio tinued. "I've seen it all up close. And in all of it, I saw passion. I saw fire in you, in the pyers, and in Napoli itself."

  It was the kind of football Guardio loved. Passionate, intense, and full of heart.

  Gao Shen uood why Guardio would one day leave Bara when the game became too sterile and possession-based. He valued football's passion above all else.

  Guardio hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "I've been io return to Bara."

  Gao Shen raised an eyebrow, curious.

  "They wao coach the sed team," Guardio expined. "They're struggling in the fourth division, and they need someoo rebuild the squad."

  In the Spanish league system, the sed teams of clubs like Bara and Real Madrid could py in the professional leagues but were not allowed to pete in the same division as their first teams.

  If Gao Shen's memory was correct, in his previous life, Guardio had volunteered to coach Bara's sed team. But in this timelihe club was actively reag out to him.

  "Have you made a decision?" Gao Shen asked with a knowing smile.

  Guardio nodded. "You know, I had promised you that I would stay with you in Serie A season. But I 't refuse Bara's call. They need me."

  Gao Shen uood pletely.

  "I've really been looking forward to seeing you lead Napoli in Serie A," Guardio tinued. "To watch you challehe league, to seek revenge for that 0-3 loss to Inter Min."

  "I'm also looking forward to seeing you and Napoli peting for the Serie A title," he added, his voice tinged with regret. "But… I have to go back."

  It was a decision that made perfect sense. How could someone like Guardio turn down the opportunity to return to his home club and help rebuild it?

  "You know," Gao Shen said with a pyful grin, "when you go back to Bara, I'm fident you'll do great things with the sed team. But you'll be on your own soon enough, and then we'll be rivals."

  "And when that day es," Gao Shen warned, "I won't hold back."

  Guardio chuckled. "I wouldn't expeything less."

  The two shared a knowing look, eaderstanding the passion aermination that drove the other.

  "We'll face each other one day," Guardio said. "And when we do, I'll do everything I to beat you. That's the respect you deserve."

  "Same here," Gao Shen responded with a smile. "We'll both give it our all. Whoever wins will treat the other to dinner."

  "It's a deal," Guardio said, extending his hand. "But I'm fident it'll be my treat."

  "fident, huh?" Gao Shen ughed, pulling Guardio into a tight hug.

  Though their time together had been brief, they had formed a strong bond a bond fed through their shared love of football.

  "Go back to Bara and do well," Gao Shen said, g Guardio on the shoulder. "I'm rooting for you."

  "You too," Guardio replied. "Win that Serie A title. I'll be cheering for you from Bara."

  With that, they shared o look of mutual respect before parting ways.

  As Guardio left Fort Volturno, Gao Shen reflected oime together. He wondered if his presen this timeline had been a blessing or a curse fuardio. Only time would tell.