Free Web NovelTogether with Han Kyungyeong, I visited Elland Road, the home stadium of Leeds United, to watch the final match of the season.
“Welcome. It’s your first time at our home ground, right?”
I nodded at Han Kyungyeong’s question and took a good look around the place for the first time.
By the time we reached the seats reserved for club officials, I couldn’t help but click my tongue in disappointment at the state of the stadium.
“The facilities are really outdated. Even Jamsil or Sajik Baseball Stadiums back home look better than this...”
It had looked decent enough from the outside, but the inside was another story entirely.
The air reeked of must and damp, and the old walls were covered in fan graffiti and cracked paint. freewēbnoveℓ.com
Han Kyungyeong, seemingly sharing my thoughts, chuckled as he spoke.
“The finances were so bad that they even sold the land where the new stadium was supposed to be built. They were about to sell this one too until we stepped in. Even so, the fans are deeply attached to this old place because of its history.”
Well, fans do see things differently. I stopped walking and looked down at the field.
“At least the view from here is good. The turf seems well maintained too. Still, I think a new stadium is needed.”
Elland Road had been Leeds United’s home ground since 1919.
That made it a historic symbol—
and also meant it was ancient.
Even so, it was still one of the ten largest stadiums in England, capable of holding massive crowds.
“We’ll leave this one as a monument to history and build a new stadium somewhere else. The biggest one in England.”
I began walking again toward our seats. When we arrived, Ellen, the club’s director, greeted me warmly.
“Charlie, it’s been a while.”
I shook the hand Ellen offered with a faint smile.
“It has been a while, Ellen. I heard you’ve successfully completed the internal restructuring of the club.”
Ellen hadn’t just held onto the knife I’d handed him.
He’d cut away every youth player rotting the team from the inside and dismissed anyone who defied him, filling the front office only with those who shared his vision.
Thanks to his bold reforms—and his surprising affection for the club—Leeds had finished this season in third place.
If they won today, they would secure second.
Fittingly, the final match of the season would be between second-place Chelsea and third-place Leeds United.
Despite the hasty takeover and the lack of a proper rebuilding period, achieving this much was entirely Ellen’s doing.
“James spared no expense in support. That helped a lot,” Ellen said.
The way he gave credit to Han Kyungyeong made me like him even more.
“Let’s take our seats. The game’s about to start.”
Following Ellen’s lead, we sat down. The stadium was filling fast as fans poured in for the season finale.
Watching the endless flow of supporters, I asked Ellen,
“How’s the supporters’ reaction?”
“At the start of the season, it was mixed. But after we secured a spot near the top, and especially after we signed Ronaldo during the mid-season transfer window, their faith in the club grew.”
Leeds had paid a hefty transfer fee to bring in Ronaldo, who’d missed the early season due to injury.
I wasn’t an expert on football, but I knew legends like Ronaldo and Zidane.
Zinedine Zidane had just broken the transfer record when he moved to Real Madrid, so I’d told them to target Ronaldo next and start negotiations with Inter Milan.
Inter had bought Ronaldo from Barcelona in 1997 for an astonishing twenty-five million pounds.
So when they demanded an absurd one hundred million euros for his transfer, it was no surprise.
Ronaldo was still recovering from injury at the time.
But Ellen proved more capable than expected. He lowered the transfer fee to forty-five million dollars, matched Zidane’s recent salary at Real, and sealed the deal.
After moving to Leeds, Ronaldo focused on rehabilitation with full club support.
Then, in his debut match—he scored a hat trick, announcing a brilliant return.
Ten appearances. Thirteen goals. An insane scoring rate. The fans were ecstatic, and they adored him.
“To be honest, I thought Ronaldo’s prime was long gone. So when James suddenly told me to sign him, I opposed it at first. But when I heard it was your order, Charlie, I had no choice but to do it. Still, I never expected him to perform this well. You were right.”
Ellen gave me the credit, and I laughed softly.
“What do I know about football? Ronaldo was the only player I actually knew. I just wanted him because I liked him. I gave a reckless order out of greed, but it worked out—especially since you got him for a good price. I don’t plan to interfere with club operations much, but when I do request a player, please make sure you get them.”
“Understood.”
As we talked, the players began to enter the pitch.
I clapped as the Leeds players walked out alongside Chelsea’s.
Then the opposing club’s owner, Roman, approached me.
“Charlie, long time no see.”
I stood up and shook the hand he offered.
“Good to see you, Roman. Came to watch the last game of the season?”
“Haha, of course. Funny how Chelsea and Leeds ended up facing each other. A bit earlier than I expected for a showdown.”
“Same here. When I heard the last match was against Chelsea, I delayed everything else just to come.”
Even though I’d bought the club earlier than in my previous life, Roman hadn’t changed his choice.
He’d brought in Peter Kenyon from Manchester United right after acquiring Chelsea.
Then he’d sold off most of the old players and invested over a hundred million pounds to rebuild the squad.
Fans mocked him, saying money couldn’t buy trophies—
but Roman silenced them with results.
If he won today, Chelsea would finish runner-up in his first year of ownership.
But for Leeds, this match was also a signal fire of their rebirth.
No one would go easy on the other today.
I introduced Ellen to Roman.
“Roman, this is Ellen, the man I brought in. He manages both the club’s operations and its long-term direction.”
Ellen extended a hand politely.
“Pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Roman. We met briefly before—Ellen.”
“Oh, Director Ellen! I remember. The Ronaldo transfer was a shock even for me.”
Roman clasped Ellen’s hand and grinned. Ellen, glancing at me, replied,
“It was Charlie’s decision.”
“But it was you who cut that transfer fee down, wasn’t it? I tried once myself but gave up the moment I heard the price was a hundred million euros.”
“Charlie told me to buy him no matter the cost, but there was no reason to pay such nonsense. As the one managing the budget, I couldn’t allow it.”
Ellen didn’t back down even in front of Roman.
Roman chuckled admiringly, then asked me,
“Where on earth did you find someone like this, Charlie? I’m jealous.”
With an appreciative look, he turned back to Ellen.
“How about coming to Chelsea instead? I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”
“I’ve been a Leeds fan since long ago. I have no plans to leave.”
“Haha, don’t be greedy, Roman. Ellen is essential to Leeds.”
I teased, and Roman clicked his tongue.
“I’ve always thought it—Charlie, you have an excellent eye for people. I could learn from you.”
“Just luck, really.”
As we chatted, the referee’s whistle echoed through the stadium, signaling kickoff.
Ellen excused himself, leaving Roman and me seated side by side.
From the start, the match was fierce. Both sides launched relentless attacks, but no goals came easily.
“Charlie, have you heard the rumor?”
I turned to Roman, half-distracted from the match.
“What rumor?”
“Putin’s starting another round of taming the oligarchs and the siloviki.”
Taming, huh...
Putin often pressured the two major power blocs—the oligarchs and the siloviki—to consolidate his authority.
“So, someone’s about to fall again?”
“Most likely.”
“Any guesses who? Not you, I hope.”
“Well, thanks to my friendship with you, I’ve somewhat escaped Putin’s direct attention. Of course, being sent off to Chukotka as governor helps too.”
After Putin came to power, Roman had been appointed governor of Chukotka—Russia’s farthest eastern region—at Putin’s own order.
To earn favor, he poured his personal fortune into building hospitals, schools, and kindergartens in the impoverished province.
He often joked that he’d only serve as governor for four years, but who knew if that would actually be up to him.
Taking a sip of coffee, Roman continued.
“Chairman Mikhail Khodorkovsky has made too many unfriendly remarks toward Putin. To strengthen his position ahead of the upcoming elections, Putin might use him as a scapegoat.”
“Ah... right. He criticized Putin’s pipeline policies and corruption, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
Putin had made it clear he would no longer ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ tolerate political interference from oligarchs.
Most had bowed their heads in submission.
But Yukos chairman Khodorkovsky was different.
He publicly criticized Putin and even funded opposition parties—directly challenging him.
He’d seen what happened to Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky, yet still dared to defy Putin.
From Putin’s perspective, there was no forgiving that.
I chuckled and made a joke.
“Then you’ll become the richest man in Russia, Roman.”
“Don’t say that. I’d rather live quietly and long.”
Roman waved his hands with a serious face, and I burst out laughing.
But my laughter was drowned by the roar of Leeds fans.
Just before the first half ended, Ronaldo scored a brilliant header for the opening goal.
I stood and clapped loudly, thrilled, while Roman frowned beside me.
“Haha, one-nil.”
“The second half’s still left, Charlie,” he grumbled.
His tone made me want to tease him further, but I held back and picked up the earlier conversation.
“Yukos, huh... quite tempting.”
“Are you interested?”
“If the chairman really falls, the company will be broken apart, right? Western Europe will surely want a piece. Seems a waste to let it go. Don’t you feel the same, Roman?”
“I do. But if you’re interested, I’ll stay out of it.”
Roman’s firm answer made me raise an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t win against you. In the end, Putin will decide who takes it. Competing with you isn’t something I can win. I have no desire to make you my enemy.”
“But it’s still the second-largest oil company after Gazprom. Wouldn’t you regret it?”
“Maybe a little... but my life’s worth more than that.”
A realistic answer. I nodded.
Yukos was definitely worth acquiring. If Khodorkovsky was arrested and the company dismantled, it would float on the market like ripe fruit.
When that happened, I’d persuade Putin to let me take it.
“If that opportunity really comes, I’ll take Yukos.”
“I figured you would. If Khodorkovsky really falls, I’ll help you secure it.”
Roman’s tone was more humble than ever—he’d clearly learned his lesson after being burned once.
“Good. If you help me, I’ll repay the favor someday.”
“Thank you.”
We exchanged smiles, then turned our eyes back to the field as the second half began.
