Chapter 401: Lost in Oblivion

He was late.

Just now, Lu Ke had been in the film room, watching game film over and over. Lost in his analysis, he’d actually forgotten the time. It was the official media day—the formal meeting between the team and the media before the game. According to Alliance requirements, all players had to attend, and there was a minimum required interview time. Violators would be fined by the Alliance.

As a rookie, Lu Ke had no interest in the media, but he took the fines very seriously.

It was another Wednesday. Before the official media day, all the players had gathered in the film room to watch film of this week’s opponent. Lu Ke, however, was completely immersed. Even as his teammates and coaches kept urging him to leave, he just waved his hand to show he understood. He never imagined that, lost in his analysis, he’d still forget the time.

Lu Ke was watching last week’s game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. In the fourth quarter, the Giant Team’s defense successfully contained the Patriots’ offensive strategy, laying the crucial groundwork for their team’s victory.

On this current New England Patriots team, which had won three championships in four years, elite quarterback Tom Brady was undoubtedly the center of attention. But knowledgeable fans and industry insiders all understood that the soul of the team was Bill Belichick. The coach could truly be called an old fox; his tactical schemes and feel for the game were unrivaled in the entire NFL, far ahead of anyone else.

Belichick was a tactical master on the field, his clever use of every player having reached a state of perfection. Those unremarkable, unknown players would shine brightly within Belichick’s system, becoming vital cogs in the victory machine.

Of course, the chemistry between Belichick and Brady was undeniable. Brady was called an elite quarterback for a reason, and it was far from being just about his handsome face. His masterful short passes, his choice of when to release the ball amidst Fierce Waves, and his bold, decisive play-calling on long passes in crucial moments were all truly outstanding.

Undoubtedly, Belichick was the true mastermind behind the scenes.

Throughout Belichick’s coaching career, he not only developed a history-making elite quarterback like Brady but also faced countless Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks: Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees. But Belichick’s favorite and most admired opponent had always been Peyton Manning.

The reason was simple: Big Manning and Belichick were both tactical masters on the field, grand strategists capable of deciding the outcome from miles away. Every showdown between the two was a clash of wits and tactics—electrifying and spectacular, like two grandmasters dueling over a chessboard.

But in last week’s game, especially in the fourth quarter, the Giant Team’s defense had managed to contain the Patriots’ offense on a tactical level. They shut down Brady’s signature short-passing game and were remarkably effective in covering Tight End Rob Gronkowski, which was a truly rare feat.

While watching the game film, Lu Ke replayed those few defensive stands over and over. He was observing the changes in the defensive formations and studying the performance of the defensive players—especially the coverage on Gronkowski. This was crucial for this week’s game prep.

Without realizing it, Lu Ke had lost all track of time. It wasn’t until an offensive assistant, Bobby Engram, came back to remind him again that he finally snapped out of it.

He hurried toward the press center, his mind still replaying those last few offensive and defensive possessions.

The Giant Team was not a team that dominated with its defense—otherwise, they wouldn’t be known as being so mercurial. They were a team that advanced on the strength of its offense. They lived and died with Eli Manning. To wit: so far in the first half of the season, the Giant Team ranked first in the Alliance for both interceptions made and interceptions thrown.

On the Giant Team’s Defense Team, only one player was of Pro Bowl caliber: Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul.

The sophomore, who had entered the Alliance as the fifteenth overall pick in the 2010 draft, excelled at everything: rushing the quarterback, defending the run, defending the pass, forcing fumbles, making interceptions, and even scoring on returns. He was a shining, do-it-all force on the field this season.

Safety Antrel Rolle, who made the All-American second team last year; Defensive End Justin Tucker; and Defensive End Osi Umenyiora were all plagued by injuries this season. Their performance had declined to varying degrees, their playing time was severely limited, and their on-field contributions were far from satisfactory.

Relying on just one Jason Pierre-Paul was clearly not enough to completely shut down the New England Patriots, so how did they do it? A well-tailored game plan must have been a major reason.

Before he knew it, his feet had carried him to the door of the press center. Lu Ke carefully pushed the door open, tiptoed inside, and then gently closed it behind him, trying his best not to make any noise or interrupt the ongoing interviews. After turning around, he kept his eyes lowered, his mind still immersed in the game film.

He took two steps, then vaguely sensed something was off. He finally looked up and saw—

Every gaze in the room shot toward him in unison, like ten thousand arrows, instantly making him the center of attention. There were sixty or seventy people in the room, from reporters to teammates to team staff—almost no one was looking away. The feeling was utterly bizarre. Only then did Lu Ke realize he was still on his tiptoes, mimicking a catwalk, in a somewhat awkward pose.

“…Sorry, I’m late. I hope I didn’t interrupt. Please, continue.” Lu Ke changed direction and started walking toward where Logan and Marcus were. But in the next moment, the surrounding reporters swirled toward him like a tornado. The scene was truly a sight to behold.

The official media day was a professional interview setting, divided mainly into two parts.

One part was for free-form interviews. Even special teams players or substitutes could get interview time. All the players were scattered around the press center, and reporters could freely choose whom to interview, moving around and changing subjects at will, much like at a large trade show.

The other part was for the official press conference. A lectern was set up in front of a backdrop featuring team and sponsor logos. The team would arrange for key figures to take the stage and answer questions in a dedicated session. Generally, the team’s star players, trending topics, injured players, and the head coach would take turns at the podium.

It was still the free-form interview stage when, all of a sudden, all the reporters in the vicinity swarmed over, surrounding Lu Ke three layers deep. The sight startled Lu Ke; he had never experienced such a reception.

Lu Ke looked at the bustling crowd of reporters before him, his mind full of unanswered questions. He was only five minutes late. What on earth had happened here?

“Bambi, a question. In just nine weeks, you’ve broken Peyton Manning’s rookie season touchdown record. What are your thoughts on that?”

“After breaking Peyton Manning’s rookie touchdown record, you’re facing Eli Manning this week. Do you feel this game has any special significance?”

“First you tied Kurt Warner’s record, then you broke Peyton Manning’s. As one of the Undrafted Players, did you ever anticipate this day would come?”

“Now, you even have a shot at challenging Tom Brady’s single-season touchdown record. Do you have any special plans for that?”

“Any special expectations for this week’s game? How many touchdowns do you think you can throw?”

…

The questions exploded one after another, like a bombing run. Amidst the cacophony, Lu Ke finally understood what was happening, but he couldn’t get a word in edgewise through the soundwaves. He had no choice but to repeatedly press his hands down, signaling for everyone to quiet down. When that proved useless, he resorted to his ultimate technique, the Lion’s Roar, “QUIET!”

After his shout, the room finally fell silent. The reporters shut their mouths, their eyes wide, staring at him with an intensity that looked like they wanted to devour him alive. It was enough to make one’s skin crawl and break out in goosebumps.

Then, without warning, Logan’s voice rang out, “Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!” There were no other words, just a simple chant of Lu Ke’s nickname, but the meaning was perfectly clear: this was in awe of the new Alliance record Lu Ke had just set.

The other teammates joined in the good-natured jeering, chanting in deep voices, “Bambi!” It wasn’t a full-throated yell, but a deliberately low-pitched chant, a bass chorus that built the atmosphere. It created a powerful sense of an impending storm that spread throughout the press center.

The reporters caught in the middle of it all couldn’t help but show their astonishment. This kind of locker room treatment was unheard of, not just for a rookie, but even for a veteran like Alex Smith. But now, Lu Ke had truly won the recognition and support of the locker room. It was truly magical, and truly shocking.

As the center of the, Lu Ke was genuinely flattered. But he didn’t act timid or overwhelmed. Instead, he walked to the lectern at the front, deliberately raised his hands high like a symphony conductor, and began to guide the chanting, as if to suggest it was time for the bass section to shift to a higher pitch.

With that simple gesture, he instantly diffused the situation, gracefully accepting the cheers. All the players burst into laughter, and the atmosphere in the press center bubbled with even more excitement.

For the first time, they felt the vibrant, youthful energy of this young team, bursting with a vitality that was both eye-catching and astonishing.