The only sounds in the banquet hall were the gentle strains of background music.

No one spoke.

Everyone was stunned, shocked by Suarez's words.

Chen Hero was also taken aback, but unlike the others, he wasn't shocked by Suarez's idea, but by how much Suarez was supporting him… A true brother!

An emotion surged within him, bursting forth. He was excited, and the breath he took rushed out.

"Good!"

He successfully attracted everyone's attention.

Ignoring the gazes of others, Chen Hero strode onto the stage and took the microphone from Suarez.

"Luis is right, if we're going to play, let's play big! So I ask everyone to join me in creating a record! To etch Liverpool's name forever in the most prominent place in the Europa League! This is our first step in returning to Europe, and this first step must not only be firm, but also earth-shattering! We must let all of Europe know—the Red Army that swept across Europe is back! And since we're back, no one can stop us!"

He finished speaking, and the scene was silent.

Then a clap sounded, from an unknown source, as no one looked to see who it was, because more and more applause followed.

Mixed with cheers.

"Well said! Hero!"

"That's right! We are the glorious and great Red Army! We will tell all of Europe that we're back!"

"Screw their mothers! Well said! My blood is boiling!"

"Hero, we'll help you!"

"I'll help you too!"

"Let's play it big together!"

…

The crowd was as excited as if they had been injected with stimulants, waving their fists, pounding the tables, or simply jumping onto the chairs, shouting with red faces and thick necks.

Whether it was the alcohol or Chen Hero's words that excited them so, or whether it was a combination of perfect timing, location, and people, it was impossible to say.

Gerrard and Carragher applauded Chen Hero while marveling at how right Dalglish had been to make Chen Hero the fourth captain… And Carragher had even opposed it, but now he realized he was wrong. Gerrard had been farsighted, supporting Dalglish from the beginning and helping Chen Hero become a qualified captain.

Chen Hero might not have been thinking about how to lead Liverpool, but everything he did had that effect.

This was just an ordinary Christmas dinner, the kind the club held every year. It wasn't a novel idea that Chen Xing had come up with. But these dinners were usually just everyone eating, drinking, and chatting, nothing special.

The first half of today's dinner was the same, ordinary in every way, just bringing everyone together to increase camaraderie and improve cohesion, but to be honest, the effect of doing so might not be that great.

But when Chen Hero and Suarez jumped on stage, the situation changed dramatically.

Suddenly, everyone gathered around the name of Liverpool, expressing their excitement to revitalize the Red Army's glory. Not everyone there was like Gerrard and Carragher, with deep feelings for Liverpool…

Chen Hero was indeed a man with magic.

Or rather…

"His temperament and spirit really match Liverpool's…" Carragher said.

Gerrard stared at Chen Hero's figure, arms raised in the air, and said to Carragher, "We're getting old. Liverpool's future depends on him… I have only one wish now, that before I retire, I can see the rise of the Red Army."

Carragher patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Seeing this today, I suddenly have a lot of confidence. That day won't be too long in coming!"

※※※

At the same time, Chen Xing and Niang were exchanging views on this sudden turn of events. Suarez and Chen Hero taking the stage one after the other had surprised them, but what surprised them even more was the current situation in the room. It was like a movie… everything just happened so suddenly.

"See? Buying Hero was the right move!" Niang was smug—before the bet, Niang had suggested to Chen Xing that he should use all his relationships and power to bring Chen Hero from Napoli to Liverpool. If Chen Xing hadn't taken his advice, Liverpool would not be where they were today.

"Hehe. With Hero around, I don't think we have to worry about Liverpool's future." Chen Hero also laughed. "But it still surprises me—has Hero's energy grown to this point?"

"Look at Martin, he's also surprised…" Niang pointed to Martin O'Neill, who was also wide-eyed, as if he had seen an alien.

Chen Xing looked at Martin O'Neill and nodded. "Of course, everyone here today is surprised! Good job, Hero, this dinner was a great success!"

"I suddenly think the previous Christmas dinners were a joke…"

The two looked at each other and laughed.

※※※

Martin O'Neill didn't share his views with anyone, but his heart was deeply shocked.

He knew Chen Hero was well-liked within the Liverpool team, and he also knew that he was the fourth captain. But his understanding of Chen Hero had never been as deep as it was today. He even felt that today's Chen Hero was someone he had never known before.

When he first took over the team, he thought Chen Hero was well-liked, but only to the extent of treating people to meals. Chen Hero was a captain, but this fourth captain was created by Dalglish, and it must have been because the two had a good personal relationship. Chen Hero was not really suitable to be a captain.

Now it seemed… this arrogant, annoying guy was a natural leader!

He was just a little young. When he was older, more experienced, and more qualified, if he was still at Liverpool, even if he himself was gone, no matter which coach replaced him, they could not ignore his position and influence in the locker room. Who else but him could wear the captain's armband?

He suddenly realized how right he had been to actively build a good relationship with Chen Hero and always stand by his side in the half-season since he had joined the team. Because if you offended such a person in the locker room, the one who would end up fired and unlucky would definitely be you, not Chen Hero.

Within the Red Army, he already possessed his own influence, and it was not small. Such a person was either a football bully, a legend, or both!

※※※

The 2012 Liverpool club Christmas dinner ended in a victorious and inspiring atmosphere. At this dinner, everyone reached a consensus to help Chen Hero score at least twenty goals in the Europa League this season. Everyone said that they would unite closely around Chen Hero, help him, and also help Liverpool make a name for themselves in their first season back in Europe, letting the whole of Europe know they were back.

Everyone was full of passion when they left. The enthusiasm hadn't faded, their faces were flushed, and their emotions were excited. They excitedly discussed what the reaction would be in Europe if Chen Hero really did it. Would they be surprised? Would they question it? Would they find it unbelievable? Or would they fall to the ground, sincerely convinced?

Professional players, in addition to making money, are perhaps most interested in making achievements, winning championships, becoming stars, and becoming the center of attention in the entire football world. If Chen Hero became famous, could Liverpool remain unknown? As Chen Hero's teammates, they would also become the focus of attention in the entire European football world.

Just as Messi is very awesome, but Barcelona as a whole is also the focus of everyone's reports, the most powerful team.

It's the same principle.

※※※

Chen Hero was also in a good mood with the support of his teammates.

Now he was even more confident about the second half of the season, because the team would definitely not give up the Europa League in order to compete for the top four in the league. Driven by this momentum, the team would continue to move forward, and maybe they would go straight to the Europa League final and lift the championship trophy.

With everyone united, what could be difficult for them in this world?

Chen Hero also understood that to surpass Messi, he must rely on the power of the collective. Messi was so successful because he was in Barcelona. If he changed clubs, he might still be a world-class player, but he certainly wouldn't have as many championship honors as he does now…

Chen Hero would not transfer to Barcelona just to win championships, like so-and-so and so-and-so.

He would build a team of his own, invincible, conquering all, sweeping across the world, and pacifying the universe!

To this end, raising everyone's morale was the first step. People always need a goal to have motivation, and the same is true for teams. Teams without specific goals are satisfied with just getting into the top four every season and showing their faces in the Champions League, but that is not what Chen Hero wants.

※※※

Back home, Chen Hero's enthusiasm had not subsided, so without any rest, he went straight into the training instance, looking full of fighting spirit. Van Basten was curious again. "Are you not resting during the holiday? Who are you going to score five goals against this time, Hero?"

Chen Hero smiled. "This time I'm going to play it big in Europe!"

Maradona sneered, and was about to complain, when Chen Hero pointed at him and preemptively shut him up. "They say Messi's eighteen goals are unprecedented and unrepeatable. I want to tell these unworldly bumpkins what is truly 'unprecedented and unrepeatable'!"

Maradona, cut off mid-sentence, grunted and stopped talking.

He decided to continue to make things difficult for Chen Hero and torment him in training.

Only in this matter could he still find a sense of superiority…