Leon found the dining room adorned with a few simple, festive decorations. On the table, a small, homemade chocolate cake sat proudly, adorned with seventeen candles.

His mom was beaming, a party hat perched precariously on her head.

"Happy birthday, my dear!" she chirped, pulling him into a warm hug. "Seventeen! My little boy is all grown up!"

Leon laughed, feeling a rush of warmth. "Thanks, Mom! You really didn't have to!"

"Nonsense!" she declared. "It's your birthday! And your first one in our new home! Now, make a wish!"

Leon closed his eyes, a familiar image flashing in his mind: lifting the Champions League trophy, then the World Cup.

To be the best in the world, he wished silently, and to win everything. He blew out the candles, a puff of smoke rising into the air.

Just as they were about to cut the cake, his phone buzzed. It was a video call from Byon. Leon answered immediately.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEO!" Byon's face filled the screen, grinning widely. He was wearing a ridiculous party hat. "Seventeen! You're officially an old man now!"

"Thanks, Byon!" Leon laughed. "Look, Mom made a cake!" He angled the phone to show her.

"Oh, Mrs. Fischer! That looks amazing!" Byon exclaimed. "Wish I was there to get a slice! Alex says happy birthday too! He's still recovering from his Chelsea medical, the wimp!"

"Tell him thanks!" Leon chuckled. "And you guys better come visit soon! This villa has a pool, you know!"

"You bet we will!" Byon promised. "Alright, mate, enjoy your cake! Don't get too old on us!"

They chatted for a few more minutes, Byon's infectious energy making Leon's birthday feel even more special. After hanging up, Leon and his mom enjoyed the cake, reminiscing about his childhood, about his journey to becoming a professional footballer.

It was a quiet, intimate celebration, but it felt perfect.

One week later, the Inter Milan training center was buzzing with activity. Pre-season had officially begun. Leon walked onto the training pitch, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. This was his new team. His new challenge.

Coach Chivu (Current: 90) gathered the players. He spoke passionately about the upcoming season, about their ambitions, about building a new era for Inter.

He introduced the new signings: Leon, Cole Palmer (Current: 85), and Julián Álvarez (Current: 87).

"These young men," Chivu declared, gesturing towards them, "are the future of this club. They bring immense talent, hunger, and a winning mentality. We will build something special together."

Leon felt a surge of pride.

He immediately gravitated towards Cole Palmer. "Hey, Cole! Ready for some hard work?"

Palmer grinned. "You know it, Leon! Ready to show Serie A what we're made of!"

They were then split into groups for various drills. Leon found himself in a passing drill with Nicolò Barella (Current: 88), the energetic box-to-box midfielder, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Current: 86), the deep-lying playmaker.

"Ciao, Leon!" Barella greeted him warmly. "Welcome to Inter! We've heard a lot about you!"

"Thanks, Nicolò!" Leon replied, feeling instantly at ease. "Great to be here! Your energy is incredible!"

Çalhanoğlu nodded, a calm smile on his face. "Your passes, Leon, they are beautiful. We will make many goals together."

Leon immediately felt a connection with them. Barella's relentless work rate and Çalhanoğlu's precise passing were exactly what he needed in midfield.

His 'Analyze Player Stats' feature showed their 'Vision' and 'Passing' were incredibly high, complementing his own 'Vision' of 95.

During the passing drill, Leon used his 'sight' to anticipate Barella's runs, hitting perfect through balls that split imaginary defenders. He also found Çalhanoğlu with intricate, short passes that kept the ball moving quickly.

"Magnifico, Leon!" Barella exclaimed after one particularly incisive pass from Leon. "You see everything!"

Leon just grinned. He was already making an impact.

Later, during a small-sided game, Leon, playing on the left wing as Chivu had outlined, found himself directly up against Denzel Dumfries (Current: 84), the powerful right-back. Dumfries was fast and physical, his 'Current' radiating strength.

Leon pulled off a quick 'step-over', then a burst of acceleration, leaving Dumfries momentarily flat-footed.

SWISH! He whipped in a cross, but it was headed clear.

"Good try, Leon!" Dumfries called out, a competitive grin on his face. "You're fast!"

Leon chuckled. "You too, Denzel! This is going to be a fun battle in training!" He felt a sense of friendly rivalry already forming.

He also had a chance to link up with Lautaro Martínez (Current: 88) and Julián Álvarez (Current: 87). Leon's 'Vision' at 95 allowed him to find their intelligent runs with ease.

He hit a curling cross that Lautaro headed just wide. He then threaded a through ball to Álvarez, who clinically finished it.

"Bella, Leon!" Álvarez yelled, giving him a thumbs-up. "Nice pass!"

By the end of the first week of pre-season, Leon felt completely integrated into the team.

He had made friends, understood the tactical vision, and was already impressing his teammates and coaches.

Cole Palmer and Julián Álvarez were quickly becoming his closest friends, their shared youth and ambition creating a strong bond.

He also found a good connection with Barella and Çalhanoğlu in midfield, and even the experienced defenders like Bastoni (Current: 87) and Pavard (Current: 86) were impressed by his talent.

He was learning Italian phrases, adapting to the local culture, and enjoying the vibrant city of Milan. His 'Current: 84' felt sharper than ever, ready for the challenges of Serie A and the Champions League.

One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Leon sat in his villa, exhausted but content.

[SKILL POINTS: 0]

He hadn't earned any yet. He understood. It had to be a unique action in a match. A moment of true brilliance under pressure. He couldn't wait for the pre-season matches to begin, to start earning those Skill Points, to unlock new abilities.