"…During the process of juggling the ball, you'll get a feel for the temperament of the football, learn how to control it, how much force to use, and how different parts of your body feel when they touch the ball. Once you become skilled, every part of your body can be used to control the ball. And your opponent will find it very hard to take the ball away from you. Like this."

After explaining the importance of this basic juggling exercise, Lucas flicked the ball up, first juggling it with the top of his foot, then with the top of his thigh. The ball bounced obediently back and forth between his legs and feet, leaving Logan Grant staring in amazement.

Finally, he flicked the ball up again, and just as it was about to hit the ground, his left toe sharply lifted it once more. This time, he used a bit more force, and the ball flew up in front of Logan Grant, soared over his head, and went straight behind him!

"It's hard for you to intercept it now…" Lucas said as he prepared to go around Logan Grant to retrieve the ball.

But before he could finish his sentence, just as he started to move, he saw Logan Grant leap high into the air, stretch out his arms, and… catch the ball directly out of the air!

He raised both hands above his head, grabbing the ball just like grabbing a basketball rebound!

Holding the ball, Logan Grant looked at Lucas: "Doesn't seem that impressive, Lucas. Look, I intercepted it just fine!"

Seeing the smug look on Logan Grant's face, Lucas couldn't help but shout, "You can't use your hands in football, idiot!" After yelling, he covered his face with his hands—what a total rookie…

"Football, football, you play it with your feet! In a football match, you can't use your hands unless you're the goalkeeper! Do you want to be a goalkeeper?" Lucas asked.

Logan Grant asked, "Do goalkeepers make more money?" He only cared about money. He didn't play football because he liked it, but because Gordon said that becoming a professional player could earn him a lot of money—more than he could imagine.

"Of course not as much as forwards! The ones who make the most are always the forwards, because they're the stars! Like me, Lucas, I'm an outstanding forward!" Lucas pointed at himself with his thumb, looking very proud.

He might not stand out among the other youth team players, but in front of a newbie like Logan Grant, he could still show off a bit.

"Then I want to be a forward too!" If he'd known during the trial that forwards made the most money, Logan Grant would have told Lyle without hesitation that his position was forward…

Lucas glanced at Logan Grant: "You? Better work on your basics first, rookie."

"The basics are just juggling the ball?" Logan Grant asked.

"That's just one part of it," Lucas replied. "But if you can't even juggle, then you can forget about becoming a professional player!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's start practicing!" Logan Grant said, full of fighting spirit.

…

Lucas demonstrated juggling again, then broke down each step to explain to Logan Grant.

Throughout the process, Logan Grant listened very attentively.

His eyes were fixed on Lucas's left foot as he juggled, watching how and when he used his strength.

After the explanation, Lucas asked Logan Grant, "Got it?"

Logan Grant said, "It seems a lot like shuttlecock kicking…"

"Shuttlecock kicking? What's that?" Lucas had no idea. "Try juggling it yourself first."

He kicked the ball over to Logan Grant.

Logan Grant remembered that Lucas had flicked the ball up directly from the ground.

Confidently, he tried to imitate, but instead of flicking the ball up, he kicked it straight at Lucas's thigh, almost hitting Lucas's vital parts!

"Whoa! Good thing I dodged fast! Otherwise, you would have ruined my happiness for life!" Lucas said, still shaken.

"Ah… sorry! Sorry!"

Lucas glared at him: "Beginners shouldn't try such advanced moves. Be honest, hold the ball, toss it up gently, and then juggle it with the top of your foot!" He demonstrated for Logan Grant.

Logan Grant was finally able to start juggling.

But, unsurprisingly, juggling and shuttlecock kicking were actually nothing alike. When the ball dropped, he tried to hook it back up with his toe, making it spin in the air, just like kicking a shuttlecock.

But the result was that the ball he hooked hit him right in the face!

Thud!

A dull sound rang out.

"Pfft!" Seeing this, Lucas couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Ahaha! What are you doing? Haha! Idiot! Don't use your toes to juggle! Use the top of your foot, where your shoelaces are—don't go too far forward or too far back… Haha! Or you'll end up like you just did! Hahaha!"

He laughed as he explained to Logan Grant what he'd done wrong.

Logan Grant rubbed his nose hard where the ball had hit him, his eyes almost tearing up from the pain. Looks like it's not the same as shuttlecock kicking… He'd thought that since he could kick a shuttlecock, juggling would be a piece of cake.

So he forgot about shuttlecock kicking, replayed Lucas's demonstration in his mind, and started his second attempt. This time, when the ball landed on his foot, he was careful not to use his toes, but the ball still didn't bounce up gently like in Lucas's demonstration, waiting for him to keep juggling. Instead, it bounced off unpredictably to the side and fell to the ground.