CHAPTER 166: CAMPUS

Soriano turned to Txiki. "Then start the process. Reach out to Frankfurt. See if they’re open to selling, or at least discussing the possibility. Feel around for details. That clause might not be what it looks like."

Txiki nodded immediately. "Understood."

"Good," Soriano said, draining his coffee. "Let’s do this the right way. No leaks, no noise. And if what Sky Germany reported is even half-true..." he glanced at the image of Lukas again, frozen mid-strike in a Frankfurt kit, "then seventy-five million could be the cheapest signing of the decade."

Pep smiled faintly. "If we get him," he murmured, "I believe the transition will be a lot smoother."

Outside, the faint whistle of the wind carried across the glass as the Etihad campus stirred to life — another afternoon in Manchester, but perhaps the dawn of something new.

* * *

The early-evening air in Bavaria was crisp and cool as the plane’s wheels touched down. Through the tinted window, Lukas could already see a few fans and airport staff waiting along the glass barriers — phones in hand, ready.

He kept his cap low and his hood up, a black face mask covering half his face, but anonymity was impossible at this point. The glances, the half-whispers, even behind sunglasses, people still knew. Every few steps, he could hear the faint clicks of phone cameras.

"Guess disguise 101 isn’t working anymore," Marco muttered with a smirk as they walked through the jet bridge."I told you the mask makes me look more suspicious," Lukas said under his breath.

Javi chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Relax. They’re just excited. Not every day a sixteen-year-old wins two Man of the Match awards for Germany in a week."

When they reached the arrivals hall, two figures were already waiting near the exit — a young woman in a beige trench coat holding a Puma folder, and a sharply dressed man beside her.

"Lukas! Mr Brandt, Mr Karsten," the woman called out, smiling as she waved them over. Lukas immediately recognised her — Lena, the same Puma representative who’d visited Frankfurt weeks earlier to discuss his image rights.

"Good to see you again," Lukas said, pulling his mask down slightly to reveal a polite smile.

"The pleasure’s mine," Lena replied warmly. "And this is Thomas, our company driver. He’ll take you to headquarters."

Thomas nodded courteously, taking their small luggage trolley and leading them toward the car park. Outside, the company’s sleek black electric SUV gleamed under the sunlight, the white Puma logo stamped elegantly on its side door.

The three settled into the back seats while Thomas navigated out of the airport. Bavaria rolled by in picturesque frames — lush fields, winding roads, distant mountain ridges. Inside, conversation came easily.

"I watched the games," Lena began, glancing at Lukas. "You were brilliant. Three assists and three goals in two matches — at your age, at any age, that’s incredible."

"Thank you," Lukas said modestly. "It still feels a little unreal."

"Unreal or not, the world’s taking notice," Marco added. "I’ve had calls from journalists, agencies, even other brands asking about him."

Lena smiled knowingly. "Not surprised. But, Lukas, let me say this — there’s no rush with any of it. Your development comes first. Still..." She hesitated briefly, choosing her words. "I do think you’ve already outgrown Eintracht Frankfurt."

Lukas blinked. "Outgrown?"

"In the best way possible," she clarified. "You’ve shown you belong at a higher level — somewhere that pushes you into the limelight fervently. Maybe not a super club yet, but something just below that — a team where your growth won’t be stifled. Somewhere with structure, visibility, pressure."

Javi shifted in his seat, curious but cautious. "That’s easier said than done. Leaving Germany at this age is a big step."

"Of course," Lena nodded. "It’s not just football. There’s family, schooling, culture, everything to consider. It’s not a decision to rush — and frankly, I’d advise you not to. But still... It’s something to think about."

The car fell into a thoughtful silence for a few seconds, the hum of the highway filling the space. Lukas watched the scenery slide by: the green expanse, the soft curve of the Bavarian hills.

He finally spoke. "I’ll think about it," he said quietly.

Lena smiled. "That’s all I hoped you’d say."

As the SUV approached the sprawling Puma headquarters — a modern complex of glass, steel, and greenery nestled near Herzogenaurach — Lukas couldn’t help but feel that sense of balance again: part wonder, part uncertainty.

The Puma headquarters in Herzogenaurach stood like a monument to modern design — a seamless blend of architecture, innovation, and green sustainability.

The first thing Lukas noticed as the car pulled into the vast campus was how open it all felt. Wide glass buildings framed by pristine lawns and symmetrical stone walkways stretched across the grounds. The main complex shimmered under the Bavarian sun, its sleek metallic panels reflecting the sky. Sculpted trees lined the entry road, and the company’s signature leaping-cat logo — bold and black — stood atop the main building like a crown.

Even Javi, who’d seen more than a few corporate headquarters in his life, couldn’t hide his admiration."This place looks more like a university than a company," he murmured.

Marco chuckled. "It’s a university of money and marketing," he replied, his voice half-joking, half-awed.

Lukas said nothing at first — he just looked around, taking in the futuristic shapes and the hum of quiet efficiency. It wasn’t the grandeur that struck him; it was how alive the place felt. People walked briskly between glass doors, some on phones, others with tablets or rolls of fabric samples. Creativity was everywhere — even the benches looked like they’d been designed by engineers.

Thomas parked the car beside a long marble pathway that led to the entrance. As they stepped out, Lena gestured toward the main lobby doors.

"Welcome to Puma’s world," she said proudly.

Inside, the lobby was even more breathtaking. Natural light flooded through the skylights above, bouncing off polished floors and minimalist furniture. A long, curved digital display ran along one wall, cycling through images of Puma athletes: Neymar celebrating a goal, Jack Grealish dribbling, Memphis Depay posing in streetwear, and Usain Bolt frozen mid-sprint in that iconic lightning pose.

Lukas caught sight of a massive image of Manchester City’s treble-winning squad from the previous season, dressed in Puma kits. He paused for a second longer than he meant to — his mind flickering briefly to the news Fabrizio had released during the weekend about Guardiola being an admirer.

Lena led them past the reception desk and into one of the adjoining buildings. They took an elevator to the second floor and were guided into a spacious conference room overlooking part of the training fields outside.

The room was tastefully designed, with one wall filled with framed jerseys — Dortmund, Milan, City, Marseille, Girona, and even Eintracht Frankfurt’s black-and-red home kit from the current season. On the opposite side stood a row of black leather chairs and a glass table stacked with water bottles, notebooks, and neatly arranged folders bearing the Puma emblem.

"This is beautiful," Javi said quietly, glancing around. "It’s... professional, but also artistic."

"That’s Puma," Marco replied. "Everything is design and message."

Moments later, the door opened, and three people entered. Lena came in first, followed by a sharply dressed man in his forties with salt-and-pepper hair and thin-framed glasses — Markus, one of Puma’s senior executives. Behind him was another man, younger, with a calm but confident demeanour and a small camera case slung over his shoulder — David, the director for the day’s commercial shoot.

"Mr Brandt," Markus said warmly, stepping forward to shake hands with Lukas. "It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. We’ve all been very excited about this collaboration."

"The pleasure’s mine, sir," Lukas replied politely.

Markus turned to shake hands with Javi and Marco, offering both a firm, welcoming smile before gesturing for everyone to sit.

"I hope the flight was smooth?" Markus asked as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"It was, thank you," Marco replied.

Lena sat beside David, unlocking a tablet and sliding it in front of Markus. The screen lit up with a storyboard of what looked like a short film — dynamic sketches of Lukas in training gear, city streets, and stylised lighting setups.

"So," Markus began, clasping his hands, "today’s session is going to be primarily for a short commercial clip we’re producing. It’ll be part of our ’Born Ready’ campaign — highlighting young athletes who redefine what it means to be fearless."

He glanced toward Lukas. "Your story fits that theme perfectly. From academy debut to national team hero in less than a year — it’s the kind of journey we want to show the world."

David nodded in agreement. "We’ll be filming mostly around the training pitch area, then moving to the indoor studio for the lighting shots. Nothing too stressful — mostly action, movement, and expression. The camera just needs to capture your natural energy."

Javi smiled proudly from his seat. "You’ll get plenty of that."