A day of training began in this chaotic atmosphere.
Suker had prepared breakfast to help lift their spirits a bit, but the nonstop disturbing news from outside still left everyone uneasy.
They were worried—Worried about their current situation,Worried about what the future would bring.
Under such circumstances, the training atmosphere became unbearable.
Suker could feel it.
These guys just couldn't focus. Anyone suddenly caught in something like this would be the same.
Suker was mentally prepared and had some idea of how things would unfold, so he remained relatively calm.
But the others weren't the same.
The investigation into the "Scandal" was moving forward at full speed.
The entire Italian football scene was on the brink of a devastating earthquake.
May 8th, Italian Football Federation President Carraro and Vice President Mazzini resigned one after another. The federation was taken over by the Olympic Committee.
May 9th, the Italian Prosecutor's Office stepped in, launching investigations and gathering evidence against ten teams, including Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli, and Lazio from both Serie A and Serie B.
On that same day, Maldini walked into the locker room with a heavy expression.
"Everyone who joined before this season, come with me."
With a somber tone, Maldini said, "We're being investigated."
The players stood up in unison.
Except for Suk, Gilardino, and a few others who had only joined this season, everyone else followed Maldini out.
Suker was getting a headache just watching.
Sure, collecting evidence was important—but damn, the Champions League final was right around the corner! Did they really have to mess with AC Milan now?
Couldn't they wait until after the final for a separate investigation?
But this case was too deep, and the Prosecutor's Office dared not show even a hint of negligence. They worked around the clock, launching a full-scale sweep.
May 11th, preliminary findings were released.
Moggi and the Italian Referee Committee were among many named in the prosecution's lawsuit.
On the same day, Juventus officially announced the collective resignation of their board.
Referee De Santis, implicated in the scandal, was removed from the World Cup officiating roster. Juventus was nailed for match-fixing, while AC Milan, Napoli, Lazio, and others remained under suspicion.
Even Italian goalkeeper Buffon was implicated in the scandal.
One revelation after another surfaced.
The entire Italian football world suffered a historic earthquake. Panic and anxiety spread everywhere.
Fans and players alike were unsettled day and night.
May 12th, the Prosecutor's Office announced a pause in the investigation into AC Milan. The case would resume after the Champions League final.
A small mercy.
After all, with the final approaching, this was a matter of national pride for Italian football. The authorities had to weigh their decisions carefully.
Still, the public wasn't buying it.
Match-fixing. Corrupt refs...
Serie A, once hailed as the "Little World Cup," fell into disgrace overnight.
Meanwhile, major clubs from outside Italy began amassing funds like crazy.
They saw this crisis as the perfect chance to plunder Serie A's resources.
Serie A might be sinking—but its players had become hot commodities.
These clubs were poised to strike, checkbooks in hand, ready to storm Italian football as soon as the transfer window opened.
May 16th, with more investigation results released—
Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli, and others were hit hard.
Juventus's stock plummeted on the Milan exchange and trading was suspended.AC Milan and Napoli didn't fare much better.
The Prosecutor's Office held back the full list of those to be indicted.
They stated the official indictment process would begin after the Champions League final.
Amid this pressure, the entire AC Milan squad, exhausted physically and mentally from this ongoing mess, had no choice but to head to Stade de France—for the Champions League final.
"There's a saying," Suker's voice rang out in the silent team bus."When Heaven assigns a great task to someone, it first tests their will, exhausts their body, and starves them—this means that before success, suffering tempers your resolve."
Still, silence.
Suker kept going:
"Backs to the wall, burn the ships, suffer now—then rise!"
He talked until his mouth was dry.
But no one responded.
Suker was anxious.
The final was imminent, and this was the team's state of mind?
Round after round of investigations and bombshell news had completely drained them.
Kaká tugged on Suker's sleeve and shook his head gently.
"Let them be quiet for a while," he said.
Suker slumped back into his seat helplessly.
He turned to the window. On both sides, there were some fans.
But these weren't friendly supporters.
Many were French "neutral" fans holding up signs:
"World's #1 Match-Fixing League!""Fixed Matches FC!""Fake League, Fake Team!"
French fans might not be known for their brawling, but when it came to sarcasm, trolling, and stirring the pot—Europe's undisputed #1.
The moment they got off the plane, the AC Milan players were already nearly pushed to their breaking point.
Huuuhhhhh…
Suker let out a long sigh.
At the hotel, everyone followed the check-in process in silence.
No one said a word—not even Maldini.
Clearly, the internal chaos in Italian football was suffocating them.
Though no official punishments had been issued yet—
No one knew what fate awaited Milan.
Club execs kept saying they were in talks and Milan wouldn't be too affected—but the players remained uneasy.
Even the big boss, Berlusconi, couldn't fix the situation.
The damage was just too severe.
During the pre-match training, players were visibly distracted.
Beyond the match, their minds were on the future.
What punishment awaited Milan?Would it affect them?Where would they go from here?
In recent days, clubs from other leagues had quietly reached out.
Though nothing was official, these teams had offered huge salaries, hoping to sign them after the final.
Serie A was a golden buffet.
And now that the wall was collapsing, the vultures had arrived to feast.
In this state—how could their performance be good?
"I get it now—those old guys are toast tomorrow!"
Suker sat on the bed and said to Kaká.
Kaká sighed.
"They really are in bad shape."
Suker looked at Kaká.
"Then it's up to us."
Kaká's eyes widened.
"Us?"
Despite his immense talent, Kaká had never truly taken on a core role in Milan.
He hadn't been entrusted with that responsibility.
Not because he didn't want it—but because his mindset wasn't ready.
He'd played a supporting role all season. Now, to suddenly become the key man? That was a lot to ask.
"I came up from the Bosnian second division," Suker clenched his fists."I learned one thing—never waste a chance!"
"I won't miss this Champions League final. No matter how hard it is, I'll give it everything!"
"The old guys are done. That means it's time for the young blood!"
Suker pointed at Kaká.
"Just us two. Tomorrow—we go big. Yay or nay?"
Kaká couldn't help but laugh.
"You make it sound like we're robbing a bank."
"Winning the title is like a heist!" Suker said."At this stage, no one gives up. We're in trouble, and Barcelona's probably grinning."
He looked serious.
"You still wanna be a role-player in the club? A benchwarmer in the national team?"
Kaká suddenly fell silent.
"Then go for it! Let it out! Tomorrow is the moment."
"So what if it's Barcelona? So what if they're the 'God Team'?"
"Ronaldinho? The one true god of football?"
"God or not—tomorrow we'll slay a god!"
Suker's eyes were blazing.
"Yay or nay?"
Kaká stared at Suker, stunned.
"You're serious?"
Suker nodded solemnly.
"Ricardo, we both need to realize something—Champions League finals aren't easy to reach.Ask yourself—Will we ever get this close again?"
"Whatever your answer is, even if I have to go it alone, I'm throwing everything I have into tomorrow!"
He paused.
"Don't make me look dissapointed in you."
Suker turned, pulled the blanket over himself.
He'd said all he could.
Even though he talked tough, deep down he was nervous.
That was Ronaldinho out there.
At his peak, the man was like a god.
Sukercouldn't handle him alone.
He needed help.
He'd tried to spark something in Kaká—with his words, with his challenge. He needed Kaká to ignite, to enter that zone.
One man might not be enough.
But two?
He needed Kaká to join him in that fearless, all-out state of mind.
In this twilight of the gods, in a sky blood-red like dusk—
They'd make it even redder.
Who knew the outcome until they gave it everything?
The veterans had faltered—Then the youth must rise!
Suker had never been one to sit and wait for fate.
Just like he said before—
Tomorrow—they would slay a god!