Chapter 314: Howl of the Mighty Wind
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Three cards were placed in front of Dai Li. They had a golden framework and a wooden texture, but the central area of the cards was blank.
"This item is called duplicate card. What is it used for?" Dai Li asked.
"You still remember the athlete illustrated handbook you obtained last time, right? With this duplicate card, you could spend 10,000 points of experience to duplicate any athlete into the card," the system explained.
Now Dai Li realized that his duplicate card and the athlete illustrated handbook he obtained before were in one kit, which should be used together.
"After duplicating an athlete, what can the card be used for?" Dai Li continued to ask.
"Then you could use the duplicate card to get 70% of the capabilities of the duplicated athlete for 12 hours," the system said.
"Now I only have Anshan Wang in my athlete illustrated handbook. If I duplicate the capability of Anshan Wang with the card and use it for me, in the next 12 hours, I could be a 70% Anshan Wang, right?" Dai Li continued to ask.
"Exactly! The stronger the athlete you duplicate, the stronger effect you will have," the system said.
Dai Li reckoned a bit in his mind. On the ground of Anshan Wang's strength, 70% of his capability would be enough to participate in the matches of the Olympic Games. With the duplicate card, he could be turned into a top-notch table tennis player at any time, though of course, only for 12 hours. Also he would have to spend 10,000 points of experience.
I am a coach, not an athlete. I don't need to participate in the match personally. Dai Li shook his head. Although he didn't figure out the detailed function of the duplicate card, he still felt it was something incredible.
I only have Anshan Wang, who is a top-level athlete, in my athlete illustrated handbook. If I could use the duplicate card after collecting more athletes of other events, couldn't I become an almighty athlete? 70% of the level of the best athletes in the world is still unattainable for many professional athletes in their whole life. After thinking of this, Dai Li was a little bit delighted.
However, when he realized he only had three cards, he was a little bit disappointed.
It's a pity that I only got duplicate cards, and each of them can only be used for 12 hours, Dai Li thought ruefully.
The system immediately started its introduction. "Although you only have three cards, you could benefit from two features of the card. First, it can be used repeatedly. One card can be used for 12 hours. After 12 hours, the card will be turned into a blank card again, and you need to duplicate the athlete in your handbook again."
"Oh, then I don't need to worry about using up the cards," Dai Li said. "In this way, one card is enough, it's not necessary to give me three cards."
"The reason that you get three cards lies in the second feature of the duplicate card. The cards can be used together. You could use two cards or three cards together, and the effects would be superimposed," the system explained.
"That is to say, I could use three duplicate cards to duplicate three athletes, and use all three cards on me, then I could have 70% of the capabilities of the three athletes simultaneously, right?"
"Right, but with one condition. The athletes duplicated by you should be athletes of different sports. For example, if you have duplicated one table tennis player with one card, the athletes you duplicate for the second and the third card should not be table tennis players anymore. You have to duplicate athletes of other sports."
...
The Olympic Games were over. The National Table Tennis Team returned with four gold medals, which was not surprising to anyone.
After their return, a lot of activities were waiting for the athletes of the National Table Tennis Team. The meritorious staff members behind the scenes, like Dai Li, were also awarded accordingly.
As the national sport, table tennis was quite popular among the people in China. Along with the rising of the webcast and We Media, TV broadcasting was not the only way to watch the matches anymore. More and more people started to enjoy table tennis matches in different through various media, which made table tennis more popular.
Moreover, the marketing of the athletes had been drastically improved. Star players were widely publicized, which had cultivated a lot of young fans.
A few years ago, the main audiences of table tennis were middle-aged and elderly people. Now more and more young fans had rejuvenated the table tennis event in China.
The atmosphere of table tennis in China was improving, and more and more people started to pay attention to table tennis. For table tennis itself, everything was developing in the right direction.
...
One day, during lunch, many coaches were caught in a discussion in the canteen of the National Table Tennis Team.
"Have you heard about it? The Table Tennis Association said a reform is coming."
"A reform? We have reforms every year, but our table tennis team is still number one in the world. Don't worry, the table tennis teams of other countries won't be any threat to us."
"I've heard that this time is different. This time the high level management wants to reform the management mode and try to implement the so-called 'flat management.'"
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know. However, according to the hearsay, the position of the General Coach and the Head Coach might be cancelled. The team will only have a coach of the men's team and a coach of the women's team, who are of the same level and under the direct management of higher staff."
"That can't be possible! If the General Coach is cancelled, where should Coach Gu go? He couldn't be the coach of the men's team, could he? That's a demotion! What's more, Coach Gu is the backbone of the National Table Tennis Team. He has borne hardship without complaint for so many years, and has made remarkable contributions to our team. His efforts are crucial to the current achievements of our team."
"I also hope this is not for real. After so many years, the National Table Tennis Team finally established a mature framework. We have our own standards for player selection, training, team-building, scientific research, and match preparation. A sudden reform might change all of that."
Everyone was talking about the issue, but many of them didn't take it seriously or realize the severity of what was about to happen.
...
One week later, the key players went to Rongzhou to participate in the open tournament of the International Table Tennis Federation.
While the matches were ongoing, the Table Tennis Association suddenly declared that Zhizhong Gu was no longer the General Coach of the National Table Tennis Team, and he was transferred to the Table Tennis Association to act as a Vice Chairman.
This could be regarded as changing horse mid-race.
The reform of the National Table Tennis Team was also unveiled at this point.