“It’ll have to be after the New Year. Spring Festival is pretty early this year.” David Wright found the match date between Hundred Blossoms and Excellent Era, and also commented as he caught a glimpse of the New Year’s Eve date.

“Is it almost New Year’s?” John Carter also looked at the calendar.

“Yeah, the holiday schedule is already set. What are your plans?” David Wright asked.

“Nothing special,” John Carter said.

“Still staying here?” David Wright asked.

“Probably!” John Carter replied.

“Mm…” David Wright just responded like that. Even if he was curious, he wouldn’t ask questions that would make someone uncomfortable.

“Well then, see you after the New Year,” he said.

“See you after the New Year,” John Carter nodded.

“Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year.”

Spring Festival. The annual New Year’s Eve, the day to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.

Yet on this day, the doors of the Excellent Era internet café were still open, with the owner Charles Foster personally bustling in and out. Every year on this day at the end of the year, Charles Foster would give his employees the day off, then handle everything inside and out by himself, throwing away all the accumulated junk from the year that hadn’t yet been discarded, thoroughly clearing out the old on this day of renewal.

Although now everyone knew that Charles Foster was no longer just the small owner of an internet café. Last year, the Excellent Era team he had invested in and built from scratch won the championship in the league’s debut season. Now, Charles Foster was the owner of a successful team—a big name.

But this more prominent identity still hadn’t erased his habits. When New Year’s Eve came, he still personally tidied up his internet café.

“Brother Foster.” Just as he was busy going in and out, Charles Foster suddenly heard someone call him. He poked his head out and saw John Carter and Emily Brooks standing outside the café.

“Oh, it’s you two!” Charles Foster greeted them with a big smile. In the past, these two were regulars at his Excellent Era internet café, and in a sense, part of his economic backbone. And now, even more impressive, John Carter was the absolute core of his Excellent Era team, the key contributor who led them to the championship last season.

“Busy? Need any help?” John Carter rolled up his sleeves.

“No, absolutely not!” Charles Foster hurried over and pressed down John Carter’s hand. “Your hands are way too valuable now. Don’t do this kind of stuff. Even if you just hurt a finger, it’d be a huge problem.”

“It’s not that serious…” John Carter was a bit speechless.

“Better safe than sorry.” Charles Foster insisted, refusing to let John Carter help no matter what.

“I’ll help then.” Emily Brooks, seeing the stalemate, immediately volunteered.

“Oh no, that’s even worse. How could I let Little Emily do this kind of work?” Charles Foster quickly came over to stop her too. He knew this girl’s background well and had always looked after her. He couldn’t bear to let such a pretty girl do dirty work.

“Besides, your hands have an extraordinary lineage too, so you should take good care of them!” Charles Foster sighed, but after saying it, he froze, realizing he’d brought up something he probably shouldn’t have.

“Uh… I’ll get back to work. You two go have fun, and remember to come for dinner tonight!” Charles Foster made a hasty retreat back into the Excellent Era internet café.

Ethan Brooks.

He would never forget that name—the other young man who, together with John Carter, played Glory day and night in his internet café.

The two’s outstanding skills quickly caught Charles Foster’s attention. Back then, he also played Glory, and after teaming up with these two super experts, life in the game was as glorious as could be. The Excellent Dynasty guild he founded was as powerful as a real dynasty, all thanks to having these two top players holding the fort.

As Glory’s competitive nature grew, more and more tournaments became popular in the community. Any competition that John Carter and Ethan Brooks entered was a clean sweep.

Eventually, the Glory game company organized the “Glory Pro League,” a commercial brand tournament. Charles Foster knew the real opportunity had come. He quickly formed the Excellent Era team to sign up, and the most important thing before that, of course, was to recruit John Carter and Ethan Brooks.

The two boys, passionate about gaming and Glory, were easily convinced. Charles Foster signed them as pro players, but not long after that, Ethan Brooks tragically died in a car accident. His young life ended just like that.

The league was established, Excellent Era smoothly became a competitor in the league, and everyone saw a bright future here.

From day one, John Carter no longer had his best, strongest partner by his side.

But he still swept through the league.

The early years of the Glory League belonged to John Carter, belonged to the Battle God One Autumn Leaf.

But now, in the ongoing second season, the newly promoted Hundred Blossoms team was the most eye-catching, and the concept of a dual-core lineup was gradually taking root.

Dual-core, huh?

Whenever this topic came up, Charles Foster would think of Ethan Brooks. If not for that accident, he believed everyone would have already witnessed what a true dual-core was.

What a pity…