The private jet Julian had convinced Doug Ellis to charter was small, cramped, and smelled of stale coffee. Julian didn't mind. He was staring at the glowing blue interface of the [EMINENCE PROTOCOL] as the plane banked over the Atlantic toward Lisbon.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
[ TIME REMAINING UNTIL 'THE SPORTING-UNITED ACCORD': 14 HOURS, 22 MINUTES ]
He had less than a day. In the real timeline, Manchester United would play Sporting CP in a friendly to inaugurate their new stadium, and Sir Alex Ferguson would be so impressed by a skinny kid with highlights in his hair that he wouldn't let the boy leave the stadium without signing a contract.
Julian's high intelligence was currently processing three different negotiation scripts. He wasn't just fighting Sporting; he was fighting the prestige of the "Red Devils."
When the plane touched down, Julian was met by a scout he had hired on the fly—a local Portuguese man with ties to the Sporting Academy. They drove straight to a secluded cafe near the Estádio José Alvalade.
Waiting for him was a man who would become the most powerful agent in the world: Jorge Mendes. In 2003, Mendes was still building his empire, but the Protocol flagged his "Ambition" stat at a staggering 19/20.
"Mr. Vane," Mendes said, his English polished. "You are very young to be a manager. And very bold to fly to Lisbon after losing 6-1. My phone has news, you see."
Julian didn't flinch. He sat down and placed a thick, black folder on the table. Inside wasn't a scouting report—it was a financial roadmap.
"Jorge, Manchester United wants Cristiano for his talent. I want him for his legacy," Julian said, his eyes cold and focused.
"United will offer him a squad number and a place on the bench behind Giggs and Beckham. I am offering him the number 7 shirt at Aston Villa, a system built entirely around his vertical movement, and a 'Buy-Back' clause that triggers in three years for £30 million."
Mendes paused. The "Buy-Back" clause was a concept that wasn't yet standard in 2003. Julian was using his knowledge of future football business to tempt the agent's greed.
[ LAYER 1: EYE OF THE PROGENY – ACTIVE ]
[ TARGET: JORGE MENDES ]
[ CURRENT STATE: INTRIGUED | MENTALITY: OPPORTUNISTIC ]
[ PROBABILITY OF AGREEMENT: 64% ]
"You would build a Premier League team around an 18-year-old?" Mendes asked.
"I'm not building a team, Jorge. I'm building a monopoly," Julian replied. "In my system, Cristiano won't just be a winger. He will be a goal-scoring machine.
By 2006, he will be worth fifty million. If he goes to United now, he's just another piece of Ferguson's puzzle. With me, he is the puzzle."
Julian opened the [BLACK MARKET OF LEGENDS] and spent his remaining 50 Prestige Credits on a one-time consumable: [THE SILVER TONGUE BUFF].
A warmth spread through Julian's chest. His words began to carry a weight that felt almost physical. He spent the next three hours dismantling Mendes's objections.
He showed him data on the "Physical Ceiling" of the Premier League and how Cristiano's specific biomechanics—which the Protocol had mapped from Sporting's youth tapes—would allow him to dominate English defenders.
"You speak like a man who has seen the future," Mendes whispered.
"I just pay more attention to the details than Ferguson does," Julian countered.
By midnight, the deal was struck. Aston Villa would pay £12.5 million—a club-record fee that would make Julian look like a lunatic to the English press—but they had beaten United to the punch.
As Julian walked out of the cafe, the Protocol chimed.
[ NEW MISSION: THE DEBUT OF THE PRODIGY ]
Objective: Cristiano Ronaldo must score or assist on his debut.
Reward: Unlock Function 2: [THE TACTICAL SIMULATION LAB].
Julian looked at the dark silhouette of the Sporting stadium. He had just stolen the greatest player of the next generation from the greatest manager in history.
The "Humble Loss" of 6-1 was being replaced by a heist that would shake the foundations of the league.
He pulled out his phone and called Doug Ellis.
"It's done, Doug. Tell the press to get ready. And tell the groundsman at Villa Park to cut the grass shorter. We're about to start playing at a speed this country isn't ready for."
Julian boarded his flight back to Birmingham. He didn't sleep. He spent the entire four-hour journey in the "Mental Space" provided by the Protocol, drawing up the first drills for a 3-2-2-3 formation.
He knew that when he landed, the "Purge" would have to be ruthless. He had spent the club's entire budget on one teenager. Now, he had to prove the Protocol's math was right.