Free Web NovelThe second half began, just as fierce as the first, giving the fans plenty to enjoy with the constant back-and-forth attacks.
Chelsea pushed their defensive line higher and went on the offensive—and eventually scored early in the second half.
“Ha-ha-ha! Goal! That’s a goal!”
Roman clapped his hands and cheered, laughing loudly as if to pay me back for teasing him earlier.
“It’s a tie now. Let’s see how it ends.”
I smiled casually, and Roman sat down again.
“Didn’t I tell you? Watching the game together like this after both of us bought clubs—doesn’t it make things much more fun?”
“It does. Surprisingly fun, actually. Feels a bit like competing.”
I answered indifferently, but my eyes didn’t leave the field.
Midway through the second half, Chelsea scored again to take the lead, and I frowned.
“They’ve turned it around. A comeback.”
Roman laughed loudly once more. This time, I couldn’t bring myself to laugh with him.
There were barely fifteen minutes left, and even if we tied the game, the runner-up title would go to Chelsea.
Roman’s overjoyed celebration eventually faded when he noticed how calm I looked. Feeling awkward, he sat back down.
“Did I overdo it?”
“It’s natural to be happy. But it’s still a little early for that.”
You can’t win every game, but losing right next to Roman didn’t sit well with me.
Time slipped away mercilessly. Then, right after the fortieth minute, Ronaldo’s left-footed shot rippled Chelsea’s net.
I smiled faintly and nodded once.
Behind me, Ellen, Ailee, and Han Kyungyeong were shouting at the top of their lungs in delight.
“It’s tied now.”
When I said that, Roman smirked mischievously.
“Even if it ends in a draw, we’ll still take second place.”
The match moved into extra time.
And as if scripted, Ronaldo scored again—this time a final goal.
With a dazzling feint, he slipped past the goalkeeper and gently tapped the ball into the net with his right foot.
I couldn’t hold back and jumped up, both fists clenched.
“Goal! That’s it!”
Roman looked bitter as he glanced up at the scoreboard.
Less than a minute remained—it was practically over.
The final whistle echoed through the stadium, and Elland Road exploded in cheers.
Roman was the first to stand and extend his hand.
“We lost this year, Charlie. But next season, we’ll win the championship.”
“Haha, we don’t plan to give it up that easily. That was a good match.”
For someone who’d just been teasing me earlier, his farewell was remarkably composed.
As he turned to leave, I called out to him.
“Roman, contact me once you’ve confirmed the political situation in Russia. I’ll be watching too, but you’ll probably hear things before I do.”
“Understood. I’ll reach out as soon as I know.”
Roman nodded.
After he left, I turned my gaze back to the field.
The Chelsea players had already headed to the locker room, while the Leeds players stayed behind to greet the fans.
I checked their faces one by one, then looked back.
Behind me, Ailee and Han Kyungyeong were still in each other’s arms, celebrating, which made me laugh unconsciously.
“Seriously—flirting in a sacred football stadium?”
Neither of them heard me, of course, and they didn’t seem eager to separate.
“Haha, let them be. It’s all happiness anyway.”
Ellen approached me at that moment.
“Doesn’t it bother you, seeing your daughter like that?”
“She’s no longer a child—and she’s not really my responsibility anymore. Honestly... if my wife were here, I’d probably be doing the same.”
Sure enough, Ellen’s face was full of joy too. The smile never left his lips—whether from beating Chelsea or sheer relief, I wasn’t sure.
“To be honest, I was worried,” he said. “After letting go of most of the old staff and reshaping the club from scratch, I wasn’t sure we’d make it through this season smoothly. I’m just glad we could prove ourselves through results.”
“It’s thanks to your hard work, Ellen.”
“Thank you. But it’s also because you and James trusted me. Most clubs aren’t like this. Take Roman, for example—he insists on running the team exactly the way he wants.”
Ellen’s humble tone carried genuine sincerity, and I responded with a quiet smile.
By then, the Leeds players had finished greeting the fans and left the field.
But the fans stayed, singing and celebrating their team’s victory.
Watching them, I said to Ellen,
“Ellen, I want to build a new stadium.”
“A new one? You mean an expansion?”
“No, an entirely new stadium. Let’s preserve this one for history—turn it into a museum or a tourist site. The fans wouldn’t object if we do that.”
“Hmm... that’ll cost a lot, even with city support.”
I shook my head. Accepting government funding always meant letting them interfere.
“I don’t intend to take a single penny from the city.”
“But still...”
Ellen hesitated, but I had no interest in owing anyone favors for construction.
“It would be nice to have support, sure. But we’ll build and operate it entirely with our own funds. Look for available land. If we tell the city we’re building a stadium without using their tax money, they’ll offer us good property.”
Ellen nodded, clearly in agreement about the need for a new stadium.
“What kind of scale are you envisioning?”
“Right now, Manchester United’s Old Trafford is the most famous, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then ours should be bigger. After all, we’re rivals in the Roses Derby.”
Ellen, silent for a moment, suddenly recalled something.
“Oh, I heard they’re expanding Old Trafford again.”
“How many will it hold after that?”
“Around seventy thousand.”
I thought for a moment before answering.
“Then let’s build ours larger. Start with eighty thousand seats. If they expand further, we’ll adjust the design accordingly.”
“Charlie, that’ll require astronomical funding. Manchester City’s new Etihad Stadium already cost over a hundred million pounds. A larger one would mean at least two hundred million. Manchester City used city funds and leased it for 250 years, so their burden’s lighter, but...”
It had been a while since I’d heard such cautious words. I smiled.
“Don’t worry about the cost. As long as I’m the owner, money won’t be an issue.”
“Even so... I’m afraid reckless investment without a solid revenue structure could worsen finances again.”
Leeds had once been on the brink of bankruptcy. His hesitation was natural—he didn’t want history to repeat itself.
But now was exactly the right time to invest.
Soon, global money would pour into football clubs. Wait too long, and it would be too late.
Player prices would skyrocket, and when owners began overspending, UEFA would introduce Financial Fair Play to restrict investment.
That rule would come into effect when Roman turned Chelsea into a powerhouse and Mansour bought Manchester City with even greater wealth.
After that, club owners could no longer freely inject personal ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ funds.
“No matter the cost, it’s fine. Infrastructure is crucial—expand the club house, training center at Thorp Arch, and youth facilities. All expenses will come from my pocket, not club finances.”
This was the perfect time to invest freely without constraints.
Ellen’s hesitation slowly faded, replaced by a sharp determination.
“You really mean that?”
“Ellen, James and I have far more money than you think. Not bragging—just stating a fact.”
“Understood. I’ll negotiate with Leeds City and prepare a full report.”
“You don’t need to send it to me. Discuss the details with James directly.”
Then I turned to call out behind me.
“Hey, Hyung, that’s enough—come here.” freeweɓnovel.cѳm
At my voice, Han Kyungyeong finally released Ailee and walked down the steps.
I gave him a quick summary of the discussion and asked him to handle any financial support Ellen required.
“Even if you’re back in the States, keep an eye on club matters. Coordinate with Ailee—she’s in charge of finances, right?”
Han Kyungyeong nodded.
“It’s best to have someone I trust managing the money. Not that Ailee isn’t capable—she’s excellent.”
If he said that, then Ailee must indeed be talented, much like Ellen.
“Ellen, proceed as instructed and move quickly on the new stadium. Even if we start construction now, it’ll take at least two or three years.”
I turned to look over the gradually emptying stands.
The crowd was thinning, but the air of victory still lingered.
“It does feel good when a club I own performs well. Next time, I expect a championship.”
A cool breeze brushed against my cheek.
* * *
After finishing all my business in the U.K., I returned to Korea.
The first thing I did was summon Chairman Kim Byungwoo of Joongwoo Group and Chairman Lee Sanggeun of Joongwoo Construction to Pyeongchang-dong.
Kim Byungwoo arrived first.
“It’s been a while, Chairman.”
He bowed lightly in greeting.
“It has. Please, sit down. Chairman Lee should be here soon.”
I gestured lightly, and he sat. Once he was settled, I asked,
“How’s Ilseong?”
“The same. But there’s a strange rumor spreading. You know Chairman Seo Yonggeon collapsed and Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun took over management, right?”
“Yes. What kind of rumor?”
“There’s talk in the securities circles that Ilseong Electronics might be sold.”
That caught me completely off guard.
“Sold? That’s Ilseong Group’s core business. Are you sure?”
“No official statement yet, but with their cash flow dried up, it’s hard to dismiss it as mere gossip.”
As I frowned, Kim Byungwoo continued explaining.
“With money running out, Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun will probably have to sell off some affiliates to secure succession. Maybe not the entire company, but he could abandon the semiconductor division.”
The semiconductor industry’s price war had started earlier than in the original timeline—and would last longer.
Several Japanese semiconductor firms had already withdrawn years ago.
Now the memory chip market was dominated by Korea, the U.S., and Taiwan, all heading toward its breaking point.
Within a year, both the U.S. and Korean governments were likely to intervene.
“Abandon semiconductors...”
Whether Seo Jaehun would actually do that remained uncertain—but if he did, I had to acquire it.
“You wouldn’t have come just because of a rumor. Do you have any concrete leads?”
Kim Byungwoo met my eyes, his expression hard.
“Secretary Lee Seokmin flew to Japan yesterday. The same man who hasn’t left Chairman Seo Yonggeon’s side since his collapse.”
“Secretary Lee Seokmin moved?”
“Yes. I contacted Black Secret to track him.”
Black Secret—the Korean branch of Black Bear.
“He arrived in Japan and went straight to Toshiba.”
“Toshiba...”
Among Japanese semiconductor companies, Toshiba was one of the few still surviving.
“Yes. Out of nowhere, Secretary Lee visits Japan and meets Toshiba right after landing. There’s only one thing that can mean.”
The answer was obvious.
I spoke coldly.
“So—they’re selling the memory division to Toshiba.”
