Farewell, Cage!

"Golden rain fell from the Zenith Stadium in Paris!"

"After three years, LPL has once again dominated MSI!"

"An all-Chinese team has reached the pinnacle of the world!"

"This is a glorious moment for the RNG team!"

"This is the ultimate glory for the LPL region!"

In the commentary booth, Wawa's voice was already hoarse, and Miller's eyes were red.

At this moment, all twelve thousand spectators in the Zenith Stadium in Paris were cheering for the new king.

Golden rain fell from the dome, landing on the gleaming MSI championship trophy on the stage, on the shoulders of RNG's five starting players, and in the hearts of every LPL viewer.

On the big screen, Uzi led the way to the KZ players' seat, while Xiaohu and Letme cheered loudly, and Ming and Karsa beamed with joy.

This is May 20, 2018.

Scene from the S8 MSI finals.

RNG defeated KZ 3-1 to become the MSI champion.

……

In the RNG locker room, head coach Heart and general coach Sun Dayong embraced excitedly, and then pulled assistant coach Kim Hyun-sik up.

"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's get on stage!"

"Let's raise a trophy and celebrate!"

The three of them rushed out of the room like madmen and headed straight for the stage.

On the bench, MLXG and Zz1tai were equally excited.

MLXG patted the young man sitting next to him by the water dispenser on the back and said excitedly:

"Jiang Ling, let's go! Let's raise a glass together!"

He stood up as well, casually patting the young man on the shoulder: "Stop dawdling, let's go! I never thought I'd be able to lift an international championship trophy before I retire!"

Jiang Ling looked up at the screen, then looked down again and unscrewed a new bottle of mineral water.

"You may go."

He took a sip of water and said in a flat tone:

"You and Xiangguo played together in the Spring Split, and you're both on the MSI roster."

"One is a substitute, and the other is an emergency substitute."

"And me, I didn't play a single game in the Spring Split..."

"My ID isn't even on the MSI player roster."

Jiang Ling smiled, placed the mineral water bottle on the small table beside him, crossed his arms, shook his head, and sighed:

"Shall we go up and offer the toast?"

"Others aren't ashamed, but I am."

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

MLXG glanced at Jiang Ling, then at Zitai, and sighed, "Alright, let's go! If we're any later, the interview will have to start."

The two, wearing RNG team uniforms, turned and walked out of the rest room.

The room suddenly became empty.

Jiang Ling was left alone, guarding the water dispenser.

On the screen, the golden rain was still falling.

……

Jiang Ling, a 17 graduate of Suzhou University of Science and Technology.

In Season 7, he dominated the Chinese server with his Camille, becoming the first Challenger player in the new season.

In addition, his proficiency with light fighters such as Fiora, Jayce, and Jax is also extremely high!

RNG noticed him.

Trial period, passed, signed a contract, and competed in the Summer Split.

Everything is going smooth.

Jiang Ling won the Best Rookie award during the Summer Split regular season.

Commentators praised him for his "fierce offense and daring fighting spirit," and some on forums called him "the future of LPL top laners," while others said that LPL has finally found a domestic top laner who can carry.

For a time, Jiang Ling was riding high!

But just before the start of the Summer Playoffs, "Walking A" dominated the Korean server, making the Ardent Censer item a hot item.

In the Incense Burner version, the bottom lane reigns supreme.

AD is the father, support is the mother, what is top lane?

Essentially a tool!

In the eyes of LPL teams, top laners in the Ardent Censer meta should play utility roles and tanks, not only serving as a support for the AD carry but also as a support for the AD carry!

"Walking A" is a product of RNG's youth training program, and RNG is a team where the bottom lane holds a very high strategic importance.

In addition, the Ardent Censer system performed quite well in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Jiang Ling then received the notification:

[During the playoffs, Letme (Yan Junze) started, and Demon (Jiang Ling) came off the bench.]

True!

In most people's stereotypes, Jiang Ling is good at playing aggressive top laners, while Letme is better at playing supportive top laners.

The problem is that without any comparison of performance in training matches or any psychological warning, RNG unilaterally informed Jiang Ling verbally that he would be demoted to the bench.

No reason whatsoever!

Jiang Ling went to the coaching staff to inquire about the reason.

The other party's reply was just one sentence: "The incense burner version works for Letme, but not for you."

Jiang Ling: ? ? ?

He continued to question:

"In the Ardent Censer meta, are top laners destined to be mere utility players?"

"Why are you saying I'm not good enough without me even playing in practice matches?"

"Just because I'm good at aggressive top laners doesn't mean I can't play utility top laners!"

"You haven't even given me a try, so why did you immediately bench me without even rotating me to see how it goes?"

Ultimately, the coaching staff told Jiang Ling that this was an arrangement made by management.

He went to question why this decision was made.

But all I received was the message: "Unconditionally obey the club's arrangements."

Jiang Ling felt very aggrieved.

At 21, he wasn't exactly young, but as a recent college graduate, he still had a bit of ambition.

Moreover, he also achieved results on the field, winning the LPL Summer Split Best Rookie Award!

So, he had a huge argument with the management, saying that they were laymen directing professionals and that RNG would be finished sooner or later under their management!

Since then, Jiang Ling has never appeared on the field again.

Initially, many fans online were puzzled as Demon was playing well when he suddenly disappeared.

However, an industry insider revealed: "An RNG player had a conflict with the coaching staff, clashed with management, and is now packing his bags to go home and prepare for graduate school..."

After that, no one cared why Demon was demoted.

Fortunately, when signing the contract, Jiang Ling asked a graduate student from the law school to help review it. Every problem was clearly outlined, and his rights as a contestant were well protected.

For example, after taxes and club cuts, half of the $20 Rookie of the Year award still ends up in his hands.

Even if he's relegated to the bench, according to the contract, the club still has to pay him 50,000 yuan a month...

In fact, during the winter transfer window at the end of 17, more than one club expressed their intention to buy him to RNG.

But in the end, nothing came of it.

Is RNG making an exorbitant demand?

Or is it that the management, who have a grudge against him, don't want to let him go and want to ruin his career?

Jiang Ling didn't know.

But he felt it was probably the latter.

After all, it's a fool not to make money when you can.

Since LPL became a franchise system in 18, player value has increased significantly. Given that RNG has good team performance and an ideal lineup, it is completely illogical that they not only do not sell him but also spend money to support him every month!

Therefore, in Jiang Ling's mind, it was because he had offended the management.

Seeing that he was almost 22 years old and had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with RNG, the other party wanted to waste the most valuable years of his professional career at RNG.

Jiang Ling took it all in stride.

After being sidelined, he began preparing for the civil service exam to pave his way for the future.

Among esports players, a bachelor's degree is a truly high level of education.

Last year, he also helped his team win the LPL runner-up title, which is quite a good result!

With esports developing so rapidly, what if cutting-edge cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou started creating esports-related jobs in the future...?

Isn't that a radish pit tailor-made for him?

Even if becoming a civil servant through esports is a pipe dream, there's still a monthly salary of 50,000 yuan during the contract period.

Jiang Ling's life was truly carefree.

From another perspective, the club provides meals and accommodation and pays high salaries during the exam preparation period.

RNG is such a philanthropist!

Therefore, Jiang Ling did not complain too much about fate.

Even though he was sidelined, he maintained a good mindset.

Of course, watching the RNG team ascend the podium on the screen was also a treat.

Uzi and his teammates raised the trophy, bathed in a shower of golden rain.

It's impossible not to be envious...

"Emotional system successfully bound!"

"Host detected as being sidelined by the club; searching for a new home for the host!"

"..."

In a daze, Jiang Ling seemed to hear a mechanical voice in his mind.

and many more!

System...?

Jiang Ling was suddenly startled and came to her senses!

As a typical young man who often slacks off during university electives to read online novels, he is no stranger to this kind of thing.

He just didn't expect that he could be bound to this thing even without time travel!

Are you helping me find a new employer?

Does this mean...?

Can I leave RNG?

Jiang Ling's lips slowly curled up into a smile.

He looked at the golden rain on the screen, at the figures cheering and jumping on the stage, and at the brand-new MSI championship trophy.

His gaze shifted from envy to indifference.

Immediately afterwards, he turned to look at the RNG team flag with black background and gold lettering next to him, and chuckled:

"Farewell, cage!"