: EDG's Rotation Strategy in Preparation for MSI

Over the next few days, EDG underwent closed training in preparation for MSI.

After Scout returned from his leave, the atmosphere at the base was noticeably calmer than usual.

Compared to Lin Xiu's style, which always carried a hint of opportunism and playfulness,

Scout's taciturn, almost ascetic training attitude gave Abu a sense of grounded reassurance.

Inside the training room, Scout was playing duo queue with Clearlove.

The two didn't exchange many words, usually only a few short phrases.

However, half a season of collaboration had forged a deep synergy between them, making them virtually invincible in ranked games.

The factory director sat in his chair, his back ramrod straight, his eyes revealing the unwavering determination characteristic of a veteran.

After a poor performance at the S6 World Championship, he was first benched and then dropped out of the starting lineup in the S7 Spring Split, before collapsing in the semifinals and finals and being relegated to the bench.

This rollercoaster-like emotional journey seemed to have led him into a completely new mode of thinking.

He always felt that he was the cornerstone of EDG, and that he was responsible for protecting everything about EDG.

Therefore, they always feel like they're walking on thin ice during matches. Once they fall behind in crucial rounds, they are immediately overwhelmed by pressure and dare not make any moves.

But now that Lin Xiu is his backup sharpshooter helping him fill the gaps, his psychological pressure has lessened considerably, and his command and operations have become increasingly unrestrained.

"Jungling sometimes requires a bit of selfishness!"

Having realized this, the factory manager changed his previous herbivorous approach.

During scrims against RNG, Clearlove even frequently called on mid laner Scout and support Meiko to help him defend jungle camps.

The entire training match was a best-of-five series.

The factory manager has orchestrated countless team fights involving the mid and bot lanes, including F6 skirmishes, river crab fights, and even control ward fights.

This even made the aggressive Mlxg struggle to cope.

Lin Xiu and Faker rested while watching the game from behind the two.

Lin Xiu held a box of cold pan-fried buns in his hands, eating them casually while observing the situation on the screen.

He glanced back at Faker beside him, whose gaze lingered on Scout's plays for a long time.

His eyes held both scrutiny and respect for Scout's hard work and ability.

"Brother Li, if you keep staring at Scout like that, he'll feel pressured."

Lin Xiu swallowed a mouthful of pan-fried buns and jokingly mumbled something indistinctly.

Faker adjusted his glasses, his gaze remaining fixed on the screen.

"His basic skills are very solid, especially in the last few months, he has improved very quickly."

Scout overheard their conversation, glanced back at Faker, and nodded.

"Sang-hyeok, your laning details have really inspired me a lot. I feel that my laning skills are much more refined than before."

"He should be able to solo kill your idol, Xiaohu, three or four times."

Hearing this, Lin Xiu couldn't help but feel uneasy.

In the original timeline, Scout was indeed the man who took over Faker's mantle, and even led the team to win the World Championship title and the FMVP trophy in S11.

However, in front of Faker, he will always be that junior from SKT.

But in this timeline, Faker actually became a serious contender for the starting position against Scout, and even acknowledged Scout's skill.

This made Lin Xiu feel both gratified and somewhat absurd.

In short, it was a very strange feeling, but he didn't mind looking at it more.

Abu stood behind the factory manager, holding a notebook with a worn-out cover.

He turned to look at Lin Xiu, who was laughing and joking, then at Faker, who was staring blankly at the screen, and finally fixed his gaze on Clearlove.

He patted the factory manager on the shoulder, gesturing for him to come to the terrace to chat after he finished this game.

......

The breeze on the terrace carried a hint of early summer dryness.

Abu pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out but didn't light it, just twirled it between his fingers.

"Mingkai, how are you feeling?"

Abu looked at the distant neon lights, his voice somewhat low.

"Scout is back. What do you think of the mid-jungle rotation? I know you and Scout have played together the longest, which was the foundation for our team's performance in the second half of the regular season."

"But to be honest, even I don't understand Lin Xiu and Lee Sang-hyeok's fighting style."

"That kind of unreasonable dominance and sudden bursts of rhythm are things that you and Scout can't provide right now."

"But how am I supposed to make substitutions? Do I have to make substitutions every time you're down 0-2? It's impossible to come back from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 every time, is it?"

The factory manager leaned against the railing, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and his voice carried a sense of magnanimity:

"Abu, you don't need to test me with those words. I know what you're trying to say."

"Although Lin Xiu is a gossip and always makes sarcastic remarks about me, his fighting spirit is more effective than mine, at least when it comes to tough battles."

"As for Faker, although he sometimes acts strangely, I have never seen another person with such a flawless feeling when he is not having a seizure."

"Even with Easyhoon, who won two consecutive championships with SKT, and Kuro and Crown from last year's LCK, I don't think they put that much pressure on their opponents in the laning phase."

"So my attitude is, we will follow your arrangements. If you feel the game isn't going well and want to try a new combination, even if Scout and I win, we will absolutely obey."

"After all, it was these two guys who helped us win our spot at MSI!"

The factory manager paused, his gaze becoming profound:

"But I must say, if we go to Brazil and face the level of operations of SKT, Lin Xiu's random punches that can defeat a master may not work every time, and Faker's performance is often inconsistent, so I do not accept your direct DNP against us."

"Scout and I are here to provide a safety net for this EDG team. If those two lads falter, we can maintain a minimum standard. That's why I've been working tirelessly these past few days to help Scout get back into form."

Abu nodded and let out a long sigh of relief:

"It's good that you understand. I will respect every team member. What I fear most is that there will be unnecessary competition among you."

"I will keep you and Scout in the starting lineup, but if I feel something is wrong with the game, I will make a substitution regardless of the result."

"In this kind of international competition, all the fans' eyes are on us, and we can't afford to make mistakes."

"After all, this time we're facing SKT, who crushed RNG last year."

When SKT was mentioned, a complex look flashed in Clearlove's eyes, but it quickly turned into a look of relief.

"Yeah, SKT is a two-time consecutive S-series champion. Why are they always so consistent?"

"The good news is that the other two teams in this tournament, G2 and TSM, are not considered strong. We can at least guarantee a spot in the finals, which is much better than finishing in the quarterfinals every year at Worlds."

Abu rolled his eyes.

"So you might as well say that as long as you get to MSI, you're guaranteed at least a top-four finish?"

"Does making it to the semi-finals not count as a success? I think making it to the semi-finals is a success."

"You motherfucker..."