Chapter 117: On The Subway Train Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The English specifically set up a record for football hooligans. As long as one's name was captured inside the records, he would be banned from watching football matches at the stadium. For such fanatical fans like them, banning them from watching games at the stadiums would be akin to depriving them of their lives.
Seeing the group of people in front of him suck in a deep breath, Tang En smiled. "Of course, if any one of you doubts my words, I can ask him to display his reporter pass."
After Tang En finished, Brosnan whipped out his pass from his pocket, which was originally hung around his neck.
"I think you guys must know who I am, so I won't do any self-introduction here." Tang En signaled for Brosnan to step back. He stood at the forefront and said while pointing toward the door at the side, "With this door as the boundary, you guys stay there, and we will stay here. We'll play our match while you will watch your match. Everyone will be safe if nobody crosses the boundary." Tang En clapped his hands. "Isn't this suggestion fantastic?"
"Why do we have to listen to your arrangement?" A bald man shouted from within the crowd.
Tang En looked at him, before pointing toward Brosnan who was behind him. "If you hope to not be able to watch a live match at the stadium in the future, I am completely fine with you coming over."
"Darn it! Even if I were to not watch a match for the rest of my life, I also have to…" The bald guy waved his fists at the back of the crowd.
Tang En saw through his bluff and understood. So, he waved his hands at the other party. "And what? Sir, over there, I feel that you will be more convincing if you say these words in front of your comrades. If you hide behind the crowd and keep asking for a fight, what if a fight really breaks out? Will you then push the others in front of you instead?"
Hearing Tang En word it in this manner, the group of football hooligans naturally turned their heads around and looked at the bald guy.
"Come out. If you really want to hit me, then stand out here in front of me on your own. Let me see how big your fist is." Tang En took a step forward and stopped right in front of the boundary he had set, as if he was not at all worried about the other party really hitting him.
The players behind him were all worried for him. In fact, Dawson was already prepared to lunge at the person if he dared to touch Twain. He did not have the leisure to care about the bans or punishments that would be meted out.
The bald person felt rather guilty under the silent stares. As such, he gritted his teeth and made his way to the front.
Looking at his actions, Brosnan shouted, "What are you doing? I'm warning you…"
Tang En waved his hand to interrupt the agitated reporter. "It's alright, Mr. Brosnan."
The bald person soon in front and looked at Tang En with a face full of smiles and confidence. After that, he turned around and looked at his comrades who remained silent. At that moment, he felt as though he was that slice of beef in between a sandwich…
Tang En was actually very nervous deep down in his heart. He had been carefully choosing his choice of words, and was afraid to antagonize the group of people and rouse their violent tendencies. The only thing he could do right now was to stall for time as much as he could. Once they reached the train station, the crisis should be averted. As gutsy as this group of people were, they would definitely not dare to get physical in front of a reporter and the police, right?
He was here to bring the team to play in the match, not to get into a fight. However, he could absolutely not show any signs of weaknesses in front of this group of people. He had to act tough, and make them feel that even if they were to come together all at once, Tony Twain was not afraid at all!
Tang En was currently thinking… if only he had something like a nunchaku or some sort, he could at least put on a bluff and deter them. On top of that, he could imitate Bruce Lee and shout a few times, and it would most probably make them beat a retreat.
Seeing the awkward look on the bald guy's face, Tang En shrugged his shoulders and said, "Look at how good this is. You guys stay there, while we stay here. We don't interrupt with each other. Pal, we're here to play in the match, not here for a war. What's your name?"
The bald guy reflexively answered, "Simon." Before he could even complete his sentence, he had been pulled back by someone. Following that, another man who appeared to be in his fifties stepped out from behind.
"Mr. Manager, I also don't wish for the wretched media to say after the match, that Millwall's victory wasn't clean." The man pointed at Pierce Brosnan behind Tang En. "Of course even more so, I don't wish for my people to be on the police's blacklist for this kind of thing. We won't do anything," he said as he opened his hands.
Tang En nodded. "Is that so? Then I have to thank you for that." Although he said it like that, Tang En did not turn around and walk back. Instead, he continued to stand there, in between the fans and the players. Deep down, Tang En did not really believe the words of these kinds of people. Ever since Gavin's death, Tang En always detested football hooligans as well as all Millwall fans. Perhaps it was a prejudice, but Tang En did not intend to change his perspective.
The only pity was that he did not have time to tell the players what tactics to use, and how to play during the match.
The train carriage regained its peace, like before those football fans first entered. The two groups of people stood on the two ends of the carriage respectively. In the middle of the two groups were their bosses, who stared at each other silently. Neither side would avert their gaze, because that would be seen as a sign of cowardly escape.
Just like that, they stared at each other, remaining calm and not showing any signs of anxiety or impatience. Even the frequency of their breath was normal. They didn't think about anything, had no expression on their faces, and no feelings from their eyes. They would not show the other party even the slightest flaw and would not let themselves be at a disadvantage.
This was even more tiring than directing the World Cup finals!
Just like that, the air grew heavier amidst the silent exchange. Even Tang En did not know how much longer he could last. He hoped he wouldn't collapse. It was as if the temperature in the train carriage rose, and visible beads of sweat appeared on the foreheads of both parties. Tang En could even feel a drop of sweat rolling down his eyebrow. If he did not blink, it would enter his eye…
Just as Tang En was put in a tight spot, a voice was heard from the top of train carriage. "Entering New Den Stadium station, entering New Den Stadium station…"
The darkness outside of the windows reached its end, and flashes of light could be seen.
Not just Tang En, but almost all of the Nottingham Forest people heaved a long sigh of relief.
They had reached the train station of the match venue.
The train slowly decelerated, and Tang En saw reporter Robson who had once interviewed him at City Ground Stadium. Beside him were reporters from other media, as well as more than 10 policemen in black and bright yellow vest. Tang En knew that this contest with the fans had finally ended.
When the train stabilized and the door opened, the man made a gesture to invite him out. Tang En did not move, and waved his hand for Walker to lead the players off the train first.
Only after the last Nottingham Forest player exited the train carriage did Tang En turn around and walk out. When he was getting off the train carriage, a gust of wind came from the direction of the tunnel, blowing past Tang En. Only then did he realize that his shirt was already completely drenched.
Seeing Tang En come out of the train, the reporters rushed up, with their mikes almost blocking his path.
"If you have any questions I'll address them after the match. Now could you please let my team go to the stadium?" Tang En answered loudly. He pushed away the reporters blocking his way, before running behind the players to catch up to them.
James Robson saw Pierce who was looking around the moment he got off, and pulled him over. "You brat. You made us extremely worried!"
Instead, Brosnan smiled and said, "Mr. Robson, I think I've gotten the best news! Mr. Twain has already allowed me to write the happenings on the subway train and publish them in the newspapers!"
Suddenly, a hoarse shouting voice could be heard coming from the entrance, resounding throughout the entire subway station. "Hurry! Hurry! We have less than 10 minutes' time! Now is the time for all of you to warm up, get running!"
Brosnan turned his head toward the exit. Although they could no longer be spotted, their shadows were still elongating and visible on the stairs.
"Perhaps you're right. Now, I am slightly regretful as to why the person that overslept wasn't me." Robson patted Brosnan and continued, " Let's go, the match is about to begin."
※※※
What made Tang En think of himself as lucky, was that the exit of the subway station had a straight pedestrian walkway to the entrance of the stadium. The stadium was around 500 meters away from the subway station, and was not considered far. What was even luckier for him, was that because the match was about to begin soon, this road which should have been extremely crowded, was only left with the hawkers and very few football fans. As such, his players were able to practically run into the changing room without much interruption.
One minute later, the panting players pushed open the changing room's door. Tang En stopped at the entrance unable to even catch a single breath, shouted loudly, "Change into your jerseys, make sure you wear them correctly! Boots, shin guards…"
Frenzied sounds could be suddenly heard coming out from the changing room.
Tang En turned his head around and looked at the panting Walker. "Walker, you've only been retired for one year… you should train your body."
While panting, Walker replied, "Let's not talk about that now… Tony, you are too awesome! Without doing anything, you were able to stop the other party!"
Dawson, who was in the midst of putting on his shirt, also interjected, "That's right, that's right! I think that everyone was scared stiff at that time. Boss, your performance is too admirable!"
Reid added, "That's right. To be honest, I did not know what to do."
Tang En was extremely happy that everyone felt the same way. Although it was an accident, his prestige among the players had increased yet again. "Andy, it's just that you are too timid… Alright! Enough of the chatter! Quickly change into your clothes, we'll be going on the field! I dare bet you that those b*stards from Millwall must have thought that we were already extremely exhausted, and that they could easily obtain victory. Now, it's time to tell them how sorely wrong they are!"