Chapter 339: National Competition Site

Time flew by, and soon it was time for the national competition.

On this day, over 20 teams gathered to compete. They all assembled in the largest stadium in Kyoto, ready to strive for glory.

Their supporters demonstrated their dedication and enthusiasm, embodying the spirit of true fans and the encouragement of sportsmanship. The spectators donned team-colored apparel, waved flags, and wore team logos on their faces. Some even brought banners, cosplayed popular players, or wore animal costumes.

The spectators who managed to get tickets were jubilant and arrived early to the venue. Those who couldn’t get tickets didn’t lose heart; they were ready to watch the event unfold on their screens.

This event, taking place after a two-year hiatus, drew much attention even from those outside the usual circles. The most talked-about topic was how Fang Zhou managed to gather so many talented individuals to lead an unknown team to the national competition.

“I bet Fang Zhou secretly recruited from youth training camps. How else could he have so many young geniuses?”

“Not really. Fang Zhou may be older now, but his skills are undeniable. Maybe these kids are his fans.”

“Stop debating and let’s talk about their ranking. Top ten seems unlikely, considering this is a national competition, not a casual event.”

“Top ten? I think they might surprise us and make it to the top six!”

On a social media platform, a poll was created specifically for Fang Zhou’s team, asking people to guess their final ranking. Those who guessed correctly would share a 50,000 cash prize. This made Fang Zhou’s team even more well-known.

There was also a team making a comeback after a long hiatus, led by a retired player, evoking the sentiment of “the old general can still fight.”

Some were excited because they hadn’t seen such a large-scale event in two years, while others were drawn in by the event’s extensive promotions, including TV ads and in-game pop-ups, attracting a broader audience.

For the organizers, the more people watched, the more profit the sponsors could make. The heavy promotional efforts paid off, garnering widespread attention and discussion. Even those who usually ignored such events could now talk about them knowledgeably.

The event organizer, smiling widely, stood next to a sponsor, a key investor. Pouring a cup of tea, he said, “Mr. Han, it’s an honor to have you here. We’ve reserved the best seat for you to enjoy the competition.”

The organizer, a chubby man with a trustworthy face, made people lower their guard. Han Xi, sitting by the window, looked at the screen showing the entire arena. She took the tea with a soft smile. “No need for such courtesy. Please, attend to your duties.”

With many tasks at hand, the organizer nodded, “Call for anyone outside if you need anything,” and left.

It was unusual for Han Xi, a well-known figure in the business world, to sponsor a sports event, considering it wasn’t typically profitable. However, the more sponsors, the better, and no one would complain about more money.

Sitting alone in the VIP room, Han Xi watched the competitors as the host energetically introduced each team. The big screen live-streamed their actions, and the cheers and shouts from the audience filled the arena.

Every time a team was introduced, their fans erupted in excitement.

“Next, we have the ‘Star Chasers’ from xx region! They have come to Kyoto with dreams and hopes, eager to claim their star. Let’s look forward to their spectacular performance!”

When introducing Fang Zhou’s team, the host’s voice rose with enthusiasm, reflecting his professionalism and making the audience eager to see if this team could make it to the end.

The camera then panned to the audience, focusing on fans supporting the Star Chasers. A handsome man holding a light sign and a flag appeared briefly, causing a stir among viewers.

“Fang Zhou is here in person! Damn, he looks great. Never get tired of that face!”

“Why isn’t he competing? With his skills, he could win the championship!”

“Come on, Fang Zhou is 26. His reflexes can’t match younger players. Streaming is one thing, but competing is different.”

“He’s the boss now. No need to compete himself. Better to stay behind the scenes.”

Han Xi glanced at Fang Zhou and replied to his message on her phone.

Fang Zhou: Hey, why did you change the team uniform design? Without your company’s logo, what’s the point of your investment?

Han Xi replied: No worries, I’ve found a better way to advertise. You just focus on the competition.

As the host finished introducing all the teams and began to introduce the sponsors, Fang Zhou realized Han Xi had coordinated with the organizers, explaining why she didn’t need to advertise on their uniforms.

Fang Zhou sent another message: Thanks a lot. Otherwise, if we made it to the top ranks, it might have caused problems.

If Fang Zhou’s team wore uniforms with Han Xi’s beauty company logo, they might be suspected of unfair favoritism.

Han Xi smiled and replied: No problem. Just watch the competition. My promise still stands.

With that, Fang Zhou felt a sense of relief and readiness for the challenges ahead.