Kai's contract was neither exorbitant nor suspicious, and there was no hint of tax irregularities. However, once certain details were exposed, the fallout quickly turned negative for both Kai and Arsenal.
Regardless of how the information was leaked, the act itself constituted a clear violation of personal privacy and was sufficient grounds for legal action.
Overnight, Arsenal Football Club issued formal notices to the media outlets that had published details of Kai's contract, demanding immediate deletion of the content along with a public apology.
Failure to comply, the club warned, would result in legal proceedings.
Most outlets quickly backed down. After all, their goal had been simple—draw attention, cash in on traffic, and move on.
The first publication to break the story, however, was the French newspaper Le Monde. The outlet neither apologized nor disclosed how it obtained the information.
In response, Arsenal officially initiated legal action.
That said, the club had little time to dwell on lawsuits. The situation had already spiraled out of control.
First came the uproar among Arsenal supporters, triggered by reports that Chelsea were prepared to activate the £100 million release clause.
Then came the internal concern: how had a confidential contract—accessible only to senior staff—found its way into the public domain? Was there a mole inside the club?
Finally, there was the urgent task of damage control—how to steady the situation and calm the growing unrest.
. . .
The next morning, Kai arrived at the training ground earlier than usual. Instead of heading straight to the pitch, he went directly to the office building.
Escorted by staff, he was led into the conference room.
Every senior figure at Arsenal was already present, including the Russian owner.
When Kai entered, the mood in the room shifted. Expressions varied—tension, guilt, frustration, concern.
Wenger stepped forward first, speaking calmly to Kai. Kai trusted him and didn't put on any airs. This wasn't the moment for anger; it was about solving the problem.
"So," Wenger said evenly, "how did a document that only insiders can access end up all over the media?"
Usmanov slammed his hand on the table.
"How was this leaked?" he roared. "Who allowed this to happen?"
His expression was fierce, and several executives visibly stiffened.
Watching it all unfold, Kai felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. One way or another, someone would have to take responsibility.
After Usmanov finished, the room filled with voices condemning the leaker and criticizing the media's lack of ethics.
But it was all noise.
Wenger's patience wore thin.
"Pointing fingers won't help," he said firmly. "The real issue is calming the fans."
He turned to Kai.
"This morning," Kai said calmly, "media crews and supporters were already gathering outside the training ground. More were lining the streets. It's the start of the season—I don't want instability affecting the team."
Martin Hughes nodded. "I agree. Reassuring the fans has to come first."
That sentiment quickly gained support.
All eyes turned to Kai.
How were they supposed to calm the supporters?
Everyone knew the answer—but Kai didn't speak. He waited.
About thirty minutes later, Barnett entered the room.
"The leak of this contract is a serious violation of personal privacy," Barnett said sharply. "The level of detail published suggests near-direct access. The club bears primary responsibility for this failure."
He paused, then added coldly, "Kai is here today out of respect for Arsenal and because of his loyalty to the club. I hope no one mistakes that loyalty as something to exploit."
Silence fell across the room.
Wenger exhaled, stood up, and spoke carefully.
"The club accepts responsibility for the leak and the damage it caused. If an apology is required, you may name anyone present—myself included."
Kai said, waving a hand lightly. "Let's stop circling blame. How do we fix this?"
That was why he was here.
Assigning responsibility could come later.
Wenger glanced at Usmanov, who gave a slight nod.
"We will renegotiate," Wenger said. "A new five-year contract. Improved terms. Improved salary."
"I'm already on the top wage," Kai replied flatly.
"Then you'll be the only one," Wenger said. "No one else at Arsenal will match it."
Kai understood immediately.
"The contract issue can be settled," he said, "but what about the fans?"
"We'll announce once the new deal is signed," Wenger replied.
"That won't be enough," Kai said. "What they're afraid of is the release clause."
And he was right.
Fans didn't care about salary numbers. They feared Chelsea triggering the clause.
If it were any other club, perhaps it wouldn't matter—but Chelsea, under Abramovich, was more than capable of making such a move.
Losing a captain was never impossible.
And how many players could truly ignore an offer worth £100 million?
Could Arsenal stop it?
Could Kai himself refuse that kind of temptation?
"This needs to come from all of us," Kai said seriously. "Together."
What followed was the club's internal investigation—the hunt for the mole.
Confidential contracts could only be leaked by someone on the inside. Most likely, someone high up.
Kai stayed out of it.
He had more important things to focus on.
When he finally stepped onto the training pitch, he immediately noticed it—the squad looked flat, distracted, and unusually subdued.
During training, many of the players kept glancing at Kai with hesitant expressions, as if they wanted to ask something but didn't quite know how to start.
The usual lively atmosphere was gone. Instead, everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts.
After training ended, the team returned to the locker room.
Players sat on the benches, changing, exchanging looks rather than words. The silence said more than any conversation could.
Noticing the tension, Kai let out a quiet sigh and stood up.
"Alright," he said calmly. "What do you want to ask?"
Faced with Kai's directness, the room fell silent. The players looked at one another, unsure who should speak first.
Kai didn't bother waiting.
"You're wondering about the transfer," he said. "And the £100 million release clause, right?"
The locker room seemed to freeze. Several players unconsciously held their breath.
"That part is true," Kai continued.
The reaction was immediate.
The room buzzed with shock. Some players looked uneasy, others openly stunned.
Then Kai added, "But the club said no."
A collective sigh of relief followed—only for the tension to return just as quickly.
Everyone knew the reality. If Chelsea activated the clause and the player agreed, the deal could still happen.
Kai chuckled lightly.
"And I said no as well."
That was not the response they expected.
The players exchanged uncertain looks. Clearly, some of them didn't quite believe him.
"So," Kai continued evenly, "I'll be signing a new five-year contract with Arsenal tomorrow."
Now the mood truly began to shift.
Cazorla looked up, surprised.
"Captain… may I ask what kind of terms they're offering you?"
Kai smiled faintly.
"I don't know exactly what Messi or Ronaldo earn," he said, "but let's just say I'm being treated at a level below that."
Chamberlain's eyes widened.
"You turned down that kind of offer?" he blurted out. "Are you mad?"
Kai shot him a look.
"So you only play football for money?"
Chamberlain shrugged casually.
"Only an idiot turns down that much cash."
Kai paused, speechless for a moment.
"…Alright," he said finally, shaking his head with a half-smile. "Either way, I've already refused. I'm still Arsenal's captain, and I'll keep playing as a Gunner."
He picked up his bag.
"If you still don't believe me," he added over his shoulder, "just wait until tomorrow."
With that, Kai walked out of the locker room.
The moment the door closed, a discussion erupted inside.
Compared to the gloom from earlier, the atmosphere lifted almost instantly. Whatever doubts remained, Kai's words had steadied them. What remained was gossip.
Kai headed toward the underground parking lot, but after a moment's thought, he stopped.
There were even more fans outside now than there had been in the morning. Whether he could even drive out was questionable.
And if he showed his face at the main entrance…
He decided against it.
Instead, he took a familiar detour.
Slipping back above ground, Kai moved smoothly toward the eastern wall, stopping beside a tree he knew all too well. Looking at the spot, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Three years," he muttered. "And I am still climbing walls."
He shook his head in amusement.
. . .
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