Chapter 608 - 604: So Bad It Makes No Sense

The training room was almost as large as the living room, with a bright, clear floor-to-ceiling window.

Inside were eight high-spec computers. At first, Ethan Sterling thought this meant the substitutes had their own PCs, but he later learned the extra machines were actually spares. Even the computers had their own substitutes.

Of course, the substitute players could use the computers here, but only outside of official practice hours. Otherwise, they would disturb the main team members during their training.

One wall was lined with a large snack cabinet filled with various snacks and drinks. It was mostly stocked with energy drinks meant to keep you sharp and awake, all from their sponsor, Wa-Cha-Cha.

When the two of them entered, the other five team members were already sitting at their computers. They didn’t react much to seeing Ethan Sterling and Chandler Wright, just subconsciously glancing up for a moment.

The captain, Gideon Kent, addressed Chandler Wright, "Chandler, when you have a moment, fill the new guy in on the base rules."

Chandler Wright nodded and said to Ethan Sterling in a low voice, "Once you’re in the training base, no photos, no video, and no audio recording. It’s best not to even take your phone out."

This was standard procedure for protecting a team’s confidential information. Every team did it.

Ethan Sterling didn’t mind. He nodded in understanding.

Chandler Wright reminded him again, "Don’t talk while you’re watching later. They’re all wearing headsets, and your voice will get picked up by their mics."

Ethan Sterling nodded again.

Soon, the team members started a game. Ethan Sterling didn’t wander around, just stood behind them to watch.

As the captain, Gideon Kent was also the team’s shot-caller. All in-game actions had to follow his commands.

But the match had just begun when Ethan Sterling sensed something was off. Even though he hadn’t had particularly high expectations for the school team’s skill, seeing it firsthand still came as a bit of a shock.

’They aren’t what you’d call *bad*.’

’But at best, they’re just mediocre.’

Yet the team members themselves were fired up, trading blows back and forth with their opponents and letting out exclamations from time to time. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought it was some incredible match.

Ethan Sterling snuck a glance at Chandler Wright to gauge his reaction and found him completely expressionless, as if he were already used to all this.

The game ended. They had only managed a narrow victory against a team of randoms, yet the players were overjoyed.

The tall, skinny guy in front of him, Owen Lawson—the one who had opened the door for him earlier—turned around, glanced at Ethan Sterling, and actually asked, "So, could you follow our strategy?"

Ethan Sterling had actually zoned out. The entire game had almost zero entertainment value; there were no brilliant individual highlights, nor was there any spectacular teamwork.

The team fights were a complete mess.

’I really didn’t get it.’

So he shook his head. "I couldn’t follow it."

’Not that I want to understand,’ he thought. ’Watching this would just lower my own standards.’

Hearing this, the players all revealed smug expressions. Owen Lawson’s lips curled. "If you don’t get it, just watch more. Ready for another round, guys?"

The others nodded, and the five of them started another match.

Unwilling to give up just yet, Ethan Sterling stayed to watch. But after ten minutes of the second game, he couldn’t take it anymore. He secretly tugged on Chandler Wright’s wrist.

Chandler Wright turned his head. Ethan Sterling gave him a look, and Chandler, understanding immediately, nodded and led him out of the room.

"Why’d you stop watching?"

Ethan Sterling was too embarrassed to say it directly, his expression a little awkward. "I don’t want to watch anymore."

"Not very exciting, huh?" Chandler Wright asked, playing dumb.

A troubled look appeared on Ethan Sterling’s face. He was a terrible liar. Besides, didn’t Chandler already know whether it was good or not?

’And he’s still asking me?’

Seeing his pained expression, Chandler Wright couldn’t help but laugh. He patted Ethan Sterling’s shoulder reassuringly. "I get you. I’ve been here for a year. You think I don’t know what level our school team is at?"

Ethan Sterling managed a pained smile. ’I don’t get how a team like this still has a sucker for a sponsor. Isn’t this just a complete waste of money?’

"Chandler, is it true that we substitutes have no chance of playing in the Fall Season?"

Chandler Wright gave a helpless laugh. "Basically, unless those five suddenly come down with some terrible illness, we don’t stand a chance."

"Well, in that case, I’m not coming back. There’s no point. I’ll just go tell the club president," Ethan Sterling said, ready to back out. He felt like this was a waste of his time.

’With this time, I’d be better off finding new members to form a new team and prepare for the Winter Season.’

But Chandler Wright quickly shook his head. "No, Ethan Sterling! If you leave, the team can’t compete in the Fall Season."

"Huh?"

"It’s in the Collegiate League rules. A full team has to have five main members and two substitutes. Not one less. So you can’t leave."

Ethan Sterling was speechless.

"Hey, just put up with it. At their skill level, if they get unlucky and draw a strong team in the first round, they’ll probably get eliminated right away. It won’t last long."

Ethan Sterling was speechless.

’He’s not wrong.’

But the next second, the door to the training room flew open. Owen Lawson stormed out, a furious look on his face, and cursed at them, "What the hell were you two talking about?"

Both Ethan Sterling and Chandler Wright jumped. Based on the length of a typical game, their second match shouldn’t have been over yet.

’Unless they surrendered.’

Chandler Wright was genuinely scared. He didn’t want to get on these guys’ bad side; he still wanted to earn his money. He hadn’t realized he’d spoken so loudly.

Owen Lawson snarled, "I fucking heard that. Who said it?"

"I did." To Chandler Wright’s astonishment, Ethan Sterling actually took the blame for him. Chandler’s eyes went wide.

He instinctively started to say, "No, he didn’t—"

But Ethan Sterling didn’t give him the chance. He knew why Chandler was here, but he himself didn’t care. He cut in, "I’m just being honest. Your skill level isn’t quite up to par."

"You—"

Before Owen Lawson could retort in anger, Ethan Sterling emphasized, "Not ’not quite.’ It’s nowhere near good enough."

Just then, the captain, Gideon Kent, and the other team members came out, just in time to hear what Ethan Sterling had said.

One of them said angrily, "You couldn’t even follow our strategy in there, and now you’re out here running your mouth?"

"That’s right, I couldn’t follow it," Ethan Sterling said, his face devoid of expression. "Because it was incomprehensibly bad. You almost got reverse-swept in a match against randoms. Do you really think you played well?"

"Wait, you’re just a sub. Are you trying to lecture us now?"

None of them were convinced. Ethan was a new underclassman and a substitute player. To them, his words were a clear provocation.

Chandler Wright anxiously tugged on Ethan Sterling’s sleeve, signaling for him to stop talking.

But Ethan Sterling felt that since he’d already said it, there was no point in shutting up now. He looked directly at Gideon Kent and said, "Captain, how about you let me have a 1v1 solo match with the other upperclassmen? If any one of them can beat me in a single game, I’ll apologize and leave immediately."