THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
One Year Later

**3 VOLUME: MAESTRO OF THE TIPPELIGAEN**

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Friday, 1 March 2013.

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The mist danced in the streets of Trondheim, making it seem like a magical daydream. The morning sunlight, soft and diffuse, gave way to the first rays of the day, threatening to penetrate the dreamy atmosphere.

Zachary crossed the cold of the morning, his Adidas sneakers smelling the pavement with a constant robot rhythm. He braved the drizzle in the morning to partake in his routine six-mile outdoor run. His breathing became stable, and he showed no signs of slowing down despite already running for four miles.

He didn't mind the cold weather one bit. He made sure to wear waterproof clothes and tights that held raindrops and cold from his skin. Thanks to his careful preparation, he ran as freely as a rabbit in the wild even though the morning temperature was lower than 3 degrees Celsius.

In his previous life, he often used liquor to avoid his difficulties. In her new life, she has focused on exercise as the most effective way to clear her mind, especially when she is having difficulties. For him, running was a dance, the way his soul chose to weave itself into nature.

He always found the peace he needed, the calmness to overcome his problems with just a little sweat. But that morning, Zachary couldn't help but worry about negotiating his contract with Rosenborg.

It has been more than a year since his appearance in the Riga Cup final. With flying colors, he had completed his spell at NF Academy. After his outstanding performances in Riga, he continues to play like a superstar—continues to lead the academy to the semi-finals of the SIA Cup summer in Valencia. In that tournament, Zachary has showcased his amazing dead ball picking skills. He has scored twelve free-kicks and made it out as top scorer despite his team being one of the weakest in the cup.

Despite his outstanding performances, NF Academy have been eliminated by Valencia, the host club, in the semi-finals. His team's failure to win the highly contested cup did not dampen his mood. Instead, he increased the intensity of his training after realizing his skills were not yet adequate to help his team win a simple youth competition.

Zachary hopes his skills can beat opponents in youth competitions. So, he focused his training on Ronaldinho Elastico Dribble and Bend-it like Beckham Juju. He immersed himself in training two crazy-like skills, both in system simulators and in the natural field, throughout July 2012.

Due to his strong focus and dedication, he had mastered it to surpass 100% completion before August. That allowed him to use his new skills to shine at the Norwegian Cup in August 2012.

Thanks to his outstanding performances, NF Academy managed to win the trophy for the first time in history. He also managed to come out as a top scorer and MVP in the tournament. The achievement even made him a little famous on some Norwegian media platforms. Even the magazines Tipsbladet and Mundial have listed him as one of the most promising talents in Norway.

When he turned eighteen in December, the academy had nominated him as the only player who would join Rosenborg's senior team straight from the academy.

Zachary's heart jumped in excitement. He had thought Rosenborg would sign him excitedly after his outstanding performance in his final year at the academy.

However, negotiations with the club did not go as he had hoped. The club only offered him a two-year contract, with a monthly salary of 60,000 Norwegian Kroner. That income was well below the average income of Rosenborg troops.

Emily Anderson, her agent, immediately rejected the offer, even threatening to sue the club if they attempted to exploit her client. Negotiations had failed at the time, with neither side granting any leeway to the other.

Rosenborg claims ownership of Zachary as a player. On the other hand, Emily Anderson argues that the club's management has forced her to sign a fake contract and disregard her rights as a minor. On several occasions, he threatened to report it to FIFA's Legal & Compliance Division.

But, Rosenborg officials did not give up on their stance. They claim offering high-paying contracts to players fresh out of the academy is completely absurd. They did not move in the slightest in the negotiations, choosing to continue slapping Emily's face with the written agreement that bound Zachary with Rosenborg for two years. They acted with a shamelessness that was incomparable.

The previous week, she suggested that Emily agree to a 60,000 NOK deal. As far as he was concerned, it was more than enough money to sustain his monthly spending in Trondheim. However, Emily has used her extraordinary negotiation skills in persuading her to remain patient for a few more days. He has promised to give him a satisfactory salary contract before the start of the 2013 Tippeligaen season.

Zachary has agreed because there is no harm in waiting a few more days. He is confident Rosenborg's management will insist on the terms of their contract despite Emily bidding hard. He has even trained with the first team despite the pending deal.

The club are not the least bit worried that Zachary will escape Norway as not many transfer windows are still open across Europe. His only option at the time was to play for Rosenborg— - one of the giants of Scandinavian football who had qualified for the Europa League that season. The club has a rich history and has been a major contender every Tippeligaen season since the 1960s. Rosenborg officials are confident Zachary will not miss such a golden opportunity.

"Let nature take its course" Zachary murmured to himself in his breathless breath. "What's the point of worrying about this? Whatever happens, I can still play professional football in Europe. I've almost achieved my dream." He clenched his fists as he turned the corner and joined the road to Stjrdalsveien, the location of his new apartment.

For the final 200-meter stretch, he accelerated his pace, quickly approaching the structure of the apartment. He grinned, feeling his mood lighten as the familiar scene flashed by. His lungs struggled to get air as he dashed past the gray bungalow. A few seconds later, he finally stopped in front of a seven-story white and gray building.

Zachary felt an increased nausea from his stomach. He was really exhausted in the last sprint. His feet are empty. Even so, he did not relax. He first stretched his muscles for ten minutes before climbing the stairs to his apartment on the sixth floor.

She had moved out of her previous apartment in the student village of Moholt in early January. The management of the academy has 'advised' him to seek new housing upon graduation. So, he had no choice but to part with Kasongo and his other housemates. He had to live alone because he was the only one who made it into the Rosenborg senior team that year.

Despite this, she loves her new apartment and is ready to sign a rental agreement to pay a deposit of 20,000 NOK and a monthly rent of 12,500 NOK. It consists of a large balcony with good sunshine conditions, just outside the kitchen— which also serves as a living room. In addition, it has one large bedroom, bathroom, and storage space. What Zachary likes most is that the furniture is complete. It contains a luxurious sofa, a large bed, a combination cabinet, an extra refrigerator, a stove, a dishwasher, and a washing machine. That was the reason he agreed to pay such a high rent that exceeded the salary of five months of his previous life at once.

The rental fee would not have been possible if he had not won the cash prize as MVP for Riga and the Norwegian Cup. He has managed to collect a total of 15,000 Euro—10K from Riga and 5K from the Norwegian cup. He was able to pay the rent all year without feeling pinched.

Zachary performed the unreleased Imagine Dragons song (at the top of the world) while continuing up the stairs to his apartment. His mood slightly improved after an hour of training. He even did some dance poses, spinning and shaking his waist as he entered the corridor towards his front door.

"I see that you're in a good mood," a feminine voice interrupted him as he tried to 'sort of' break-dance routine.

Zachary jumped in shock because he was not expecting anyone outside his apartment. He immediately turned around and found Emily Anderson, his agent, waiting at his doorstep. His deep blue eyes observed him with a hint of amusement.

"Come, don't mind me" said Emily, mopping her dark brown wavy hair with her hands to push her back. "Should I try to give you support with an underwear company? You can be great by doing such poses." He added in a serious tone.

"You're back" Zachary said, choosing to ignore his support talks. She would never choose to be a model for a company where she had to be partially naked. What would have happened if his grandmother happened to see such a picture? He'd rather stay broke than face his anger.

"Yes, I'm back" replied Emily, her face blossoming like a field of spring flowers. "And, I finally got some good news about your contract with the club."

"Really," Zachary closed the distance between him and the agent in an instant. "How good is the deal you got from management?" He asked, locking eyes with her.

The corner of his mouth curved into a gentle smile. "I wouldn't say it's the best. However, this new deal is much better than all the previous offers made by lawyers who like to pinch it. I'd say a thousand times better." He emphasizes.

Zachary could barely contain his excitement. He has been worried about a two-month contract. Despite her best efforts to remain patient, she still feels uneasy once in a while, wondering about all the things that could go wrong with negotiations. But there was finally a breakthrough. Hope bloomed within him. He could not wait to hear the new terms of the contract.

"Let's talk inside" he said, a Cheshire cat grin adorning his face.