Lord of Entertainment

Chapter 164: Changes in the sport

(Genesis POV)

I'm stuck playing this ridiculous football game, but if it gets Arthur to train me in martial arts, I'll endure it.

The practice wasn't particularly strenuous - not compared to my training at the Royal Academy under Sir Horton. But Arthur clearly surpassed even Sir Horton's combat skills, which explained my parents' insistence on securing him as my instructor.

I gave the game my all, knowing Arthur wouldn't even consider training me otherwise. But these players made me look like a complete novice!

It made no sense. I clearly had superior physical training and martial arts experience, yet they outmaneuvered me at every turn. The whole thing was infuriating and humiliating.

Every time I thought I had the ball under control, someone would slip past my defense with some clever footwork and score.

"Are you even trying? You're playing like a liability out there," Finn called out, shaking his head.

"Just wait!" I shot back. "Once I figure this game out, I'll show all of you who's superior!"

But my boasting couldn't mask how far behind I was. I found myself actually having to focus on the basics - proper dribbling, ball control, accurate passing.

The next day, I swallowed my pride and visited Morty's Cobbler Shop to buy the same boots the other players wore. The difference in performance was immediate, but I still couldn't match their skill level.

As I spent my time playing football with the others, understanding gradually dawned. The more I grasped the game's nuances, the more unexpectedly fascinated I became. And in just a few hours, these players I'd been training with would face another football club in actual competition.

***

(3rd Person POV)

Wales Dragon FC faced Arsenal Wales FC on a quiet afternoon, with only a handful of spectators scattered throughout the massive stadium.

Arthur watched from the stands alongside Genesis and his coaching staff as the teams took their positions. Arsenal Wales's players carried themselves with the swagger of favorites.

"Best of luck," Arsenal's captain sneered at Rhys, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Same to you," Rhys replied with genuine calm, surprising his opponent.

The Arsenal captain's confidence wavered slightly at Rhys's unexpected composure, but he brushed it off with a dismissive snort as the whistle blew.

What unfolded next left the sparse crowd stunned. Wales Dragon players barely used any magic, yet they moved with precision and purpose, scoring through what appeared to be simple but devastatingly effective shots.

"What's wrong with Arsenal's keeper?" an elderly spectator muttered, his decades of football experience showing in his furrowed brow. "Those shots should be easy saves."

"The striker didn't even use magic enhancement," his companion noted with growing confusion.

Arsenal's supporters initially dismissed Wales Dragon's success as luck. Their team was known for superior skill and magical prowess, after all.

But as the match progressed, Wales Dragon's dominance became undeniable. They controlled the game with minimal magic use, relying instead on techniques the audience had never seen before.

"This is impossible! What in blazes are they doing out there?" Arsenal's head coach exploded during a timeout, gathering his bewildered team.

The coach bellowed at the team, unleashing a fierce scolding. After a brief break, they returned to the match, but the Arsenal Wales players were still no match for the formidable Wales Dragon team.

The Arsenal supporters watched in growing confusion as the match unfolded.

"Something feels off," a middle-aged fan muttered, shaking his head. "Wales Dragon barely uses any magic but they're dominating, while Arsenal's throwing everything they've got at them and still losing."

"It's not what you think," an elderly gentleman interrupted, his weathered face marking him as a longtime football observer. "Wales Dragon's technique is far more sophisticated than it appears."

"What do you mean?"

The old expert leaned forward, gesturing toward the field. "Watch closely. They're employing specialized dribbling patterns, shooting techniques I've never seen before. They don't need magic because their fundamental skill gives them the advantage."

Those within earshot turned to him with newfound interest. The middle-aged fan whistled softly. "If they're using such advanced non-magical techniques, their coach must be some kind of football genius."

Murmurs of agreement spread through the nearby spectators.

In his seat, Genesis watched the game with growing fascination. The crowd's impressed reactions only confirmed what he was beginning to understand - football wasn't the simple game he'd dismissed it as.

Arthur observed his team's dominance with mixed feelings. While their performance validated his training, he recognized a potential problem: one-sided matches wouldn't make for compelling television. Moreover, the current rules and play style were too primitive for his vision. It reinforced his determination to acquire the Welsh Premier Football Association and revolutionize the sport entirely.

From his privileged position in the stands, Welsh Premier Football Association Chairman Alun Griffiths watched the match with growing amazement. His eyes kept shifting between the field and Arthur, remembering their conversation days earlier.

"I'll change football," Arthur had told him with quiet confidence. "Starting with Wales Dragon FC, the club I just acquired."

At the time, Alun had dismissed it as typical business bravado. Now, watching Wales Dragon's revolutionary performance, those words carried new weight.

After the match, Arthur found him. "Have you reconsidered my offer?"

Alun released a heavy sigh. "After today's display, I can see you might actually transform the game." He hesitated. "But making it truly popular..."

"I'll make it bigger than you can imagine," Arthur's smile carried absolute certainty. "More popular than you'd dare to dream."

Silence stretched between them before Alun finally nodded. "Let's discuss terms." For the love of football, he'd trust Arthur's vision.

The decision wasn't purely romantic. The old Evros saying rang true: "There's no money in football and chess. Those who love these games love losing money on them." Alun had proved it by pouring his fortune into the association.

His wife had been pushing him to accept Arthur's offer for days. He'd resisted, but today's match - seeing Arthur's innovations in action - had finally convinced him. Perhaps this demon could save the sport he loved while stopping the financial bleeding that threatened his family's future.

***

Arthur's acquisition of the Welsh Premier Football Association sent shockwaves through the football community. When Alun Griffiths willingly sold the organization, insiders were stunned.

Media coverage exploded across all channels. Television crews cornered football enthusiasts for their reactions.

"That demon should stick to what he knows!" one passionate fan raged on camera. "He's already conquered filmmaking and television. Now he wants to destroy our football?"

Newspapers ran sensational headlines:

"Arthur Pendragon Sets Sights on Football: Sources Report Demon Director Investing Hundreds of Thousands in Struggling Sport"

"Financial Folly or Hidden Agenda? Experts Question Arthur's Massive Investment in Profitless Sport"

The financial papers were particularly scathing:

"Arthur's Latest Venture Raises Eyebrows: Analysts Label Football Investment 'Commercially Unsound'"

While the media's interest stemmed more from Arthur's celebrity than any real concern for football, his subsequent actions sparked genuine outrage in the sporting community. His announcement as chairman that he would halt the Welsh Premier League to implement new rules and playing styles drew fierce criticism from football purists and enthusiasts alike.

The football world saw it as an outsider attempting to fundamentally alter their beloved sport. What they didn't realize was that Arthur's vision extended far beyond their traditional understanding of the game.

The Wales Daily's headline screamed: "Arthur's Destroying Football! - Expert Condemns Changes"

Yet the media frenzy had an unexpected effect - people who'd never paid attention to football suddenly found themselves curious about the sport and Arthur's mysterious plans for it.

His announcement that Hellfire Channel would broadcast the next Welsh Premier League sparked fresh controversy. No one had considered football worthy of television coverage before.

As Arthur prepared to leave Wales, reporters swarmed him, firing questions about his football plans. He answered them with his usual calm directness before departing, leaving the media to speculate further.

The revamped Welsh Premier League wouldn't begin for several months, giving him time to refocus on Harry Potter's production. While the football world buzzed with theories about his intentions, Arthur knew the real revolution was just beginning.