Free Web Novel“You don’t want to be a puppet?”
“Yes. If all you need is a name-only president while the owner runs the team however he pleases, then it would be better to appoint someone else, wouldn’t it?”
Even Ailee hadn’t expected Ellen to answer that way—she fidgeted nervously, glancing at Han Kyungyeong.
“I don’t know about other Englishmen, but Leeds United fans have a strange sort of stubbornness. I paid off the club’s debt with my own money and acquired it by proper means. And yet, they say I shouldn’t run it how I want? What kind of logic is that, tsk.”
“Of course, you can’t completely exclude the owner’s influence. You are the club’s owner, that’s undeniable. But it’s also true that without the fans, the club wouldn’t exist.”
The English loved football as much as they took pride in their own clubs.
Surely not only Leeds United fans but supporters of other clubs would feel the same way.
Roman must have been troubled by this as well. I briefly pictured Roman fighting for the championship trophy, then spoke again.
“Then tell me, could you, not me, make Leeds into one unified team?”
“Well, I can’t guarantee that. People all think differently. You can’t satisfy everyone. But at the very least, I can build a team that fans are proud of, and one where players want to play.”
The affection for Leeds shone clearly in Ellen’s eyes as he spoke honestly. His confident manner sparked my interest.
“Confidence suits you. Ellen, do you know what the current atmosphere inside the club is like?”
“I know in general. Taylor stirred things up, and most of the staff have joined the strike. Even the players raised through our youth system are slacking off, I hear.”
“You say you only know in general, but that’s the whole picture. So, Ellen, can you straighten it out? I intend to cut away anything that obstructs the club. That would make you the villain, of course. But you can put your own people in those seats. And I’ll hand over all the records of existing corruption.”
He hesitated, unable to answer readily. Most of the staff and players were people Ellen knew personally.
No matter how much it was for the sake of the club, taking the role of villain wouldn’t sit well.
“Can’t you do it?”
I asked him once more. He shook his head firmly.
“No. Overturning things isn’t the issue. But Taylor isn’t someone you can just dismiss. I’ve been struggling with how to deal with him.”
“What kind of man is Taylor that everyone is so wary of him?”
Neither Ellen nor the rest of the club’s people made sense—why fear him so much?
Well, I suppose you can’t grasp everything from the documents Han Kyungyeong gave me. Maybe I should dig deeper.
“Hmm...”
My face hardened, and Ellen, seeing my expression, slowly began to explain.
“Taylor’s father was once the boss of a gang that was notorious in Leeds—no, across all of England. That’s why everyone fears Taylor. His father is dead now, and the gang has long since been broken up. Still, Taylor took care of those who once belonged to it, so people are afraid of him. Afraid of what might happen to them if they cross him.”
Was it really worth being so terrified of a gang that was long dismantled? I must have shown how absurd I found it, because Ellen looked awkward.
“It must be hard for you to understand. But not everything in this world runs by the law. Sometimes fists are closer than the law. Among the people who make their living in Leeds, there isn’t one who hasn’t owed Taylor’s father some favor.”
I turned to Ailee’s face to see if he was telling the truth.
She didn’t so much as flinch—clearly, she already knew this story.
“Taylor will be arrested.”
“The police won’t be able to touch him. Not the Leeds police.”
“I handed over proof of tax evasion, embezzlement, and a whole list of other crimes. And you’re telling me he won’t be arrested?”
“He’ll find a way out of it. Did you think I didn’t know about his corruption? In the end, I was the one who was driven out...”
Ellen laughed bitterly. Seeing that bitter smile, I finally understood Taylor’s words.
‘So that’s why he dared to roar at me that no one in Leeds could touch him.’
I pictured Taylor’s face again—his murderous glare as he spat that final threat at me.
“Is it enough just to deal with Taylor?”
“Were you listening at all?”
“I heard everything. That’s why I’m asking. If Taylor disappears, will the rest be manageable?”
“Well... if it’s just that, the others won’t be a problem.”
So Taylor has to die.
It was laughable that I’d wasted thought over something so simple. I shrugged my shoulders and said casually,
“Understood. I’ll take care of Taylor myself. The rest, I’ll leave to you.”
Ellen looked shocked, and I continued,
“You said you didn’t want to be a puppet, didn’t you? Having a figurehead president might be convenient. But what I need isn’t a dog waiting for orders. I need someone who will actively run this team. You’ll have plenty of autonomy, but with that comes responsibility. What will you do? Will you take the presidency, or will you walk away?”
I couldn’t focus forever on a football club. Leeds United was nothing more than a toy, acquired to settle a bet with Roman.
What Leeds needed right now was a solid injection of funds, good players, an excellent coaching staff, and a capable leader.
Ellen was standing right in front of me, ticking every box.
“What on earth do you see in me...”
He stammered, stunned. I smiled and replied,
“Even if it took years, you proved your ability by taking a team that dropped from Division One down to Division Two and bringing it back up again.”
Ellen sighed softly, then answered with resolve.
“Alright. If you’ll trust me, I’ll make sure to build a strong team.”
Satisfied with the firm conviction in his words, I nodded and stood first.
I extended my hand with a gentle smile.
“Then I’ll be counting on you, Ellen.”
“And I on you.”
This time Ellen grasped my hand with a much brighter expression.
With the heavy talk over, Han Kyungyeong lightened the mood with a question.
“Ellen, mind if I ask you something?”
Ellen turned toward him.
* * *
“What...?”
“I’ve been staring for a while, and I still can’t believe it. Are you really Ailee’s father? You two look nothing alike.”
Ellen looked dumbfounded, while Ailee groaned and buried her face in her hand. I couldn’t help laughing.
Thanks to Han’s teasing, the atmosphere softened considerably.
“Alright, I’ll stop bothering you. Enjoy your meal.”
Leaving Ellen and his daughter to eat with Han Kyungyeong, I stepped out of the restaurant.
“Murdoch hasn’t made contact yet?”
As soon as I entered the elevator, I asked Manager Ma.
“No. We told him to respond, but he’s kept silent.”
“Tell Alex to proceed as planned. If he doesn’t want to call, we’ll give him reason to.”
He should’ve taken the chance when I offered it. Smiling coldly, I watched the numbers climb quickly.
Soon the chime sounded, and I stepped out.
“What...?”
“I’m sorry.”
“How could this happen...”
Murdoch, in shock, collapsed back into his chair.
His secretary tried to support him, but Murdoch shook off the hand with a furious glare.
“The police are already on the scene.”
“Is anyone hurt?”
“Your eldest son... he was shot. Tonight may decide his life.”
“Didn’t I tell you to make security your highest priority? How could this happen!”
After meeting Kim Muhyuk, Murdoch had doubled the number of bodyguards protecting his family.
And now this.
“No word from Philip?”
“No. The last contact was last week.”
“You said there was no movement. Then how could this suddenly happen? Damn it... Arrest him at once!”
Murdoch slammed the armrest and roared.
“We’ve found nothing incriminating. Even with Philip’s intel, we can’t tie him down. If he comes into the station, maybe then...” ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
“My son... my eldest, the heir to my media empire, might die, and you talk procedure?”
Nothing was going the way he wanted. Choked with frustration, Murdoch shot to his feet.
“I’ll call the Prime Minister myself.”
He picked up the phone, but the call wouldn’t connect.
“Why the hell won’t he answer?”
He bit his lip and dialed again and again, but the line never picked up.
Slamming the receiver down, he slumped into his chair, his voice low.
“What is Kim Muhyuk doing?”
“Other than acquiring the football club, he’s made no moves. He ignored the police summons as a witness. But LK Law Firm is stirring up everything behind the scenes.”
“....”
“Shall we proceed as planned?”
“What? Are you mocking me?”
Startled by his sharp tone, the secretary shut his mouth. Murdoch clicked his tongue and rubbed his forehead, sighing deeply.
“If stories about Kim Muhyuk hit the press now, who do you think will be next? My second son? My third? Or me?”
Murdoch wasn’t a fool.
He knew the reason Washington tried to dissuade him so desperately, and why the Prime Minister wouldn’t answer his call.
It was all because of one man.
“Who the hell is he, really?”
No matter how many reporters he unleashed or how much money he threw around, he could uncover nothing about Kim Muhyuk.
The more he dug, the more the man dissolved into mist.
Since inheriting a small newspaper from his father as a boy, Murdoch had built a media empire spanning the entire English-speaking world, making countless ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) enemies along the way.
But Kim Muhyuk was unlike any enemy he had ever faced.
He had met the British gangs of the seventies, the brutal New York Mafia of the eighties. But none of them had ever struck a blow at him the way Kim Muhyuk had.
“Get in touch with Kim Muhyuk. Tell him I want to meet again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And bring me every piece of information we have on him. No copies left behind.”
“...Understood.”
After the secretary left, Murdoch sat back with a heavy sigh.
“Damn it... how did it come to this.”
A deep shadow crossed his face as he sank into thought.
* * *
Back at the suite, I was drinking, gazing at the night skyline.
“Boss.”
Manager Ma entered after a knock, bowing. He brought the news I had been waiting for.
“Murdoch contacted us. He wants a meeting. What should we do?”
“So he’s in a rush. Alex must have done good work.”
“It seems so. He was always reliable.”
“Rare for you to give praise.”
I turned at his unexpected words, but he only bowed his head in silence.
“Boring man.”
I chided him lightly and sat down.
“Where does he want to meet?”
“The same place as last time.”
I set down my glass, considering.
‘If you press them, press all the way down.’ frёewebnoѵēl.com
For a long while, the only sound in the quiet room was my fingers tapping the armrest.
Finally, I stopped and spoke.
“Tell him if he wants to meet, he can come here. Tomorrow evening—I have to meet Branch Chief Philip in the morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, one more thing.”
I called him back as he turned to leave.
“Taylor hasn’t been arrested yet, has he?”
“No. We gave the police everything, but they’ve done nothing.”
Just as Ellen had said, the police might be dragging their feet until the matter fizzled out.
The longer this dragged on, the harder it would be to normalize the club.
“Forget it. If we rely on the police, we’ll be waiting forever. Taylor has to die. The method...”
If he was tied to gangs, then gangs should be used.
As if reading my mind, Manager Ma spoke quietly.
“If Ellen’s right, he’s deeply tied to them. A gang may vanish on the surface, but its roots don’t change.”
Where there is light, there is shadow.
You can’t eliminate shadow entirely. Try to wipe it out, and it only retreats deeper underground.
“Even if it seems dismantled, the gang likely survives hidden even deeper. Find their rivals. Promise them ample reward—the price of Taylor’s head.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Make it look like an accidental incident born of gang rivalry.”
When Manager Ma left, bowing, I lifted my glass again.
Tonight, the liquor went down sweet.
The next morning, Philip arrived early.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has.”
I sipped the black tea Manager Ma had prepared, then spoke.
“But Philip—why did you do it?”
Setting down my cup, I fixed him with a cold gaze. Meeting my eyes, Philip flinched.
“Boss, what do you mean...?”
“Did you make good money? I already know you sold my information.”
Watching him swallow hard, I lifted the teacup again.
